《Immortal Taoist》 1: Mortals
In the Yuan Dynasty Imperial capital, a young girl stood with deep eyes; she was clothed in a black robe with long hair that fell on her shoulders, and melancholic feeling exuded from her body, making one wonder who she was.
This girl was Meng Lin; she wasn''t someone from this world; in reality, she grew up on earth and was an up-and-coming university student, but all changed when she was hit by a truck on her way from school to wake up in an ancient-looking bedroom.
After she opened her eyes she was suddenly bombarded with memories, from then on her soul fused with the Meng Lin in the imperial city, but her identity wasn''t simple, her father was the prime minister of the Yuan dynasty and was looked favorably by the emperor thus Meng Lin had been given time to come to terms of her situation.
Thanks to her father''s position, Meng Lin had access to a lot of information about what kind of world she was in, and from what she saw, it looked like ancient China; she also discovered something that made her especially excited about this world, immortal cultivation exists.
It''s common knowledge amongst the masses. For example, Meng Lin is already being recruited by a sect, and both her father and mother can cultivate, and she also knows that the imperial family is a major family from a sect of immortals.
''It''s tomorrow that I will be beginning my cultivation journey.'' Meng Lin had been rather excited about that since she arrived in this world. ''I mean, who wouldn''t want to be immortal and fly around the sky freely? I loved cultivation novels back on earth.
Back on earth, Meng Lin was an orphan, but in this world, she has a family, so she doesn''t regret being here.
Meng Lin had been walking around the imperial city with some guards for some time and was bored, so they began to walk back to their family''s mansion; they lived in the east of the imperial city. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Meng Lin arrived back home just in time to eat, but just when she entered her room, she saw a man with his back turned to her, the man exuded a scholarly aura and seemed to be someone capable, as he turned you could see that he had a stern face but when facing Meng Lin only affection was seen from the depth of his profound eyes.
This person is Meng Lin''s father and the prime minister of the Yuan dynasty, Meng Long.
"Lin''er, you''re here." Meng Long had a slight smile on his face as he looked at Meng Lin. His daughter has always been a calm and enigmatic individual since her youth, and she also possesses a noble and stable aura, which makes her look distinguished.
"Yes father, your daughter has just returned."Meng Lin still possesses the memories of the previous owner; thus, she knows how to interact with her father.
"Good, I need to speak to you about something important, the day has finally come for you to start your cultivation, but first let''s sit while we talk"
He sat down at the table in the room while gesturing for Meng Lin to sit.
After observing his daughter for a moment Ming Long nodded his head and began to speak.
"First let me tell you of the origin of our family nine hundred years ago when our ancestor was saved by an immortal when he was a kid, back then he didn''t even have a surname, he lived his life as an orphan, the immortal took him as a disciple and gave him a name which then started our family"
"The sect that our Ancestor joined is called the Levitation Sect but you''ll learn more about it in the future when you reach the sect tomorrow to join as an outer sect disciple, no matter who your parents are no one can skip the stage of outer disciples"
"For promotion into upper ranks, you need to be in a higher realm and make a contribution to the sect," Meng Lin''s father then paused and inquired to Meng Lin with his eyes to see if she had any questions.
"Father, what are the different realms that you speak of?" Meng Lin knew what the realms were, but she wanted to know from her father as realms have different names in different novels.
"I''m not allowed to tell you too much but I''ll tell you of the first and second realms, the first realm is the Qi gathering realm, the objective in this realm is to absorb spiritual Qi in your body and strengthen your dantian, once you reach the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm you can enter in the Foundation Realm, but don''t rush, even geniuses take four years to reach peak Qi gathering realm"
After that, her father explained other things about cultivation, but Meng Lin, without any knowledge of them, couldn''t understand and thus could only memorize.
The father and daughter duo continued to speak for the rest of the day, and Meng Long told Meng Lin to get ready herself before the appointed hour. 2: Senior brother Ren Ming
''It''s finally time to leave the Imperial City, I wonder how life is like in the Levitation Sect...'' Meng Lin was currently daydreaming as she was dressed by the few servants at her side, in reality aside from excitement she also felt pressure because she is going towards an unknown place.
In the Capital, she didn''t fear anything as her father was here, but it would be the first time she would go to a place without protection since she arrived in this world, it was time for her to grow some courage, thus she calmed herself and her bearing instantly changed from her previous pressured look she returned to her composed and calm look.
Meng Lin then exited the bathroom and directly went toward her father''s study, where the two of them began to speak a little more about the details.
"Lin''er don''t forget the moment you arrive at the sect you are no longer under my protection, thus don''t be too conceited about others, if it is just a conflict between youngster I won''t interfere, but if someone from the older generation interfere you don''t have to worry I''ll take care of it," Meng Long spoke with great confidence.
"Yes Father, don''t worry about it. I know how to conduct myself, in any case, I go there to reach Immortality not to create unnecessary trouble for myself, but if someone wants to step on me he will first have to ask if I agree." In her head, Meng Long began to guess how strong her father could be since he was so confident in himself.
"Alright, then it''s time, I don''t know when I''ll see you again so take care of yourself, also take this." Meng Long handed a little pouch to Meng Lin "It''s a Spatial Pouch or some call it a storage bag, with this you won''t have any problem of storage in the future, I''ve left somethings in there but you won''t be able to open it before you reach the Qi Gathering Realm."
"Thanks, father, you also need to take care of yourself since you''ll be alone in the Capital in the future, I''ll make you proud and come back home when I have success in my cultivation." Meng Lin also grew a little emotional, it was perhaps due to the soul of the previous owner. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
"Alright, then go!" Meng Long made three seals with his hand and an array began to activate around Meng Lin before she disappeared from the room, then Meng Long turned around with a slightly sad face before quickly regaining his bearing and leaving the study.
At the same time, Levitation Sect, Outer Sect Entrance.
A bright Array lit up in the center of a square, in the midst of it a young woman appeared, she wore a white robe and exuded a noble a distinguished aura with long black hair that went down to her waist. This person was Meng Lin who had been sent here by her father.
Meng Lin began to look around, the first thing she realized was that she was alone at the foot of a giant mountain, if she isn''t mistaken it should be the Deep Spirit Mountain Range at the north of the Yuan Dynasty since her father had told her that she would be sent there.
Just as she was looking around, Meng Lin heard a buzzing sound in the sky, and when she looked up she saw a man clothed in a black robe standing atop a flying sword descending towards her.
"Oh"
"Hey Junior, I waited for some time, good to finally meet one, my name is Ren Ming, I''m an Inner Disciple of the Sect on a mission to escort the new disciples to the test area." The man seemed to have a friendly disposition but Meng Lin didn''t lower her guard instead she just politely responded.
"Hello Senior, this one''s name is Meng Lin, I came here today to join the sect, I''ll follow your instruction." From what Meng Lin had heard from her father, the first two realms of cultivation were Qi Gathering Realm and Foundation Establishment Realm, it was a pretty simple system similar to a lot of novels she had read in her previous life, so she was able to imagine what strength someone like Ren Ming who was an Inner Disciple and most likely a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator possessed, thus she was respectful when she replied.
"Alright, then let us go, Elder Meng is the one who will conduct the test to the new disciple this year. He is a pretty gentle person so don''t worry too much about it." After he finished speaking, Ren Ming brought Meng Lin flying along with him toward the Recruitment Hall.
Meng Lin looked mystified at the sight of her flying even though it wasn''t her own doing, it was the dream of countless humans back on Earth and she had just accomplished it after only a month in this world, she already couldn''t wait to enter the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"Here we are Junior, we will meet again when you enter the Inner Sect, see you another time if fate allows it." Ren Ming brought Meng Lin to the Recruitment Hall and then swiftly departed on his flying sword.
"Thanks for the trip, Senior." Meng Lin respectfully clasped her hands and fist before turning around and entering the Recruitment Hall.
''Alright!'' Meng Lin took a deep breath, as her figure disappeared behind the door of the Recruitment Hall.
3: Spiritual Root
''This should be Elder Meng.'' After she thought of this Meng Lin immediately cupped her hands and fist and saluted toward the Elder.
"Greetings Elder." Despite standing in front of a man who could kill her in an instant, Meng Lin remained calm and it was noticed by the Elder who showed a rather surprised expression.
Usually, the new disciples would be stressed or at least nervous when entering the room but the young woman before him looked at him calmly as if nothing unusual happened, there was even a trace of excitement hidden in the depths of her eyes.
"Hmm, go sit there I''ll begin the test." Elder Meng then pointed at a straw mat and then began to explain. "This test will determine how far you can go in your future cultivation, in reality, we already know that you''ll be able to start cultivation because of your background, but we don''t know what your potential is. Potential for cultivation is not that important, as long as you have willpower, I''ll now check the purity of your Spiritual Root." Elder Meng had the air of a teacher as he began to give Meng Lin some new information.
''I see so this isn''t a talent-based world, Seeing as both my parents are cultivators, my purity shouldn''t be too bad, but I don''t know how it is measured.'' Meng Lin began to think in her head but she stayed focused while listening to Elder Meng, seeing the shifts in her gaze, Elder Meng smiled and continued to explain.
"Spiritual Root is formed from the Five Elements, it represents your compatibility to each of the elements and will decide the path you will take in the future, the five elements are Fire, Earth, Gold, Wood, and finally Water, obviously each element has its strength and weakness but it is unnecessary to care about it before you achieve some success in your cultivation." Listening to Elder Meng''s words Meng Lin wasn''t surprised as it was something common in cultivation novel. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
"Alright enough about this, it''s time to start the test, you don''t have to do anything just let my Spiritual Energy probe your Spiritual Root and I''ll be able to tell you potential." After saying this, a thin strand of Blue Qi emerged from Elder Meng''s finger and directly entered Meng Lin''s body.
Meng Lin only felt slightly strange for some time before the sensation disappeared.
"Hmm not bad, you''re only slightly less talented than a genius , I''ll tell you about your Spiritual Root in details, in your case your Spiritual Root is as following, Water, Fire, Gold, Wood and finally Earth, thus I recommend you to cultivate in this direction starting with Water, In the future as you would need fewer efforts compared to others, in any case, everyone is the same in the Qi Gathering Realm so you have some time to think about it, here take this and go to your designated chamber, also take this book, it is the Basic Qi Cultivation Method from our Sect, on it are the records on how to cultivate in the Qi Gathering Realm. I hope we''ll meet again when you obtained some success in your cultivation." After finishing speaking Elder Meng disappeared from the room and Meng Lin was brought outside of it.
''Alright, it''s finally time!'' Meng Lin''s eyes contained traces of excitement and she went directly towards the Area indicated by the map, soon she had arrived in the Outer Parts of the Outer Sect and found her designated place, it looked like the cultivation cave she had read about.
"So this is my place now. Alright, it looks pretty good and the scenery outside is also beautiful." In reality, Meng Lin didn''t care where she would stay but seeing the place she was rather happy about it.
Meng Lin soon entered the cave and closed behind her using the switch she found in her room, a giant stone blocked the entrance to her cave and some blue stone lit up the inside of the dark cave.
"These should be Luminous Stone that father mentioned yesterday. No matter, I should directly begin to cultivate, the faster I reach the Foundation Building Realm the better it will be." Thus Meng Lin directly sat cross-legged on her stone bed and took out the book she received from Elder Meng, but when she touched it something strange happened.
[Discovered Cultivation Method, Basic Qi Gathering]
[Initializing Immortal Taoists System]
[User detected: Meng Lin, System Bound.]
Meng Lin looked stunned when she saw the screen that had appeared before her, it was the legendary system that most transmigrators received when they go to another world.
After some time Meng Lin couldn''t help but laugh, with a system, her path to becoming an Immortal being should be a lot easier than ever, but she didn''t laugh for too long since she didn''t know the specific ability of the system. 4: Immortal Taoists system
Meng Lin touched the book again to see if she would be proven wrong.
[Discovered Levitation''s Sect Low-Level Qi Cultivation Method, Basic Qi Gathering]
[Do you wish to Learn]
Unsurprised by something like this, Meng Lin replied.
"Yes"
A massive flood of information began to pour into her brain.
"Oh"
Meng Lin felt a spark in her head with information after information being poured into her brain, after some time passed Meng Lin began to sort out the information in her head
''So this is how you cultivate, I already know the method to circulate qi, plus I don''t need to have a high comprehension to learn any cultivation method.
Meng Lin became filled with expectations as to what she could do in the future with this system.
Looking down at the book with fading shimmering light "The book is not destroyed after learning it as well, that saves me a lot of trouble"
Meng Lin began to sit down to try cultivating for the very first time.
With her eyes closed she could feel the air around her with small particles floating here and there, as she let go of her mind she could see small particles coming towards her in masses with different colors, utilizing her knowledge of the cultivation method from book Meng Lin began to focus on the blue particles out of all the different colors.
for the first time, Meng Lin began to feel energy; with her body being filled with Qi, she circulated it throughout her body again and again. Meng Lin gradually lost her perception of time.
**7 hours later **
With a final breath, Meng Lin stopped her Qi circulation; after seven long hours, Meng Lin opened her eyes to examine her result.
"system"
[Meng Lin]
[special physique: Brute Qi physique]
[Qi Gathering Realm 2 Stage]
[Experience points: 20/3000]
Taoist Gacha wheel: available
[Spiritual root]
[Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth]
[Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering]
Meng Lin looked at the panel which displayed different things as she noticed something.
she was a little surprised at her realm increase; as she just went past the first realm, she could feel incredible power coursing through her body; what surprised her, even more, was the section for her physique, which she attributed her easy breakthrough towards.
Meng Lin lifted her hand and focused deep into her body as ever since she first broke through she had this feeling that she had two completely different energy sources.
Inside her dantian she could feel a small mass of chaotic energy next to her normal Qi, she reached out to it to manifest her Qi and an unstable ball of blue Qi gathered on her palm radiating to explode, she immediately stopped her Qi circulation to her arm, in which the blue ball of Qi vanished. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
"is that the Brute Qi" " Faced with the unknown, Meng Lin could only hope to know the answer in the near future.
She decided to continue cultivating as she felt it was extremely easy to break through the qi-gathering realms.
And so, after eating a bit, she went on to cultivate for two more days before shifting out of her hunger to go through to more realms.
she had noticed that after breaking through 3 more realms, impurities in her body were pushed out through her pores and she felt extremely filthy.
feeling disgusted Meng Lin immediately went to the bathroom to rid herself of the filth.
After cleaning up, Memg Lin finally had time to think of what to do next, as right now, if she went outside, she would be showing that she broke through five realms in 3 nights.
Although Meng Lin is all for it she knows how dangerous the cultivation world could be "From jealousy to human furnace, most cultivators take advantage of the situation to benefit themselves and the Levitation Sect does not have a good reputation from what father was saying"
Meng Lin began to think of ways that people could exploit her, she had to avoid showing her cultivation realm to outsiders for now.
''Let''s see what this system can do'' thought Meng Lin as she had not explored all the system had to offer
"System"
[Meng Lin]
[special physique: Brute Qi physique]
[Qi Gathering Realm 5 Stage]
[Experience points: 200/6000]
System coin: 0
Taoist Gacha wheel: available
[Spiritual root]
[Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth]
[Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering]
[Market]
Meng Lin went straight to the market tab as she was interested to see what the system had to offer
[Qi gathering pill]
help gather the surrounding Qi faster after consuming
:30 system coins
[Concealing talisman]
Hide the body of the user for 2 minutes
:100 system coins
[Luminescent light]
Summons an orb of light to follow the user for 30 minutes
:10 system coins
Divine Qi gathering pill
Summon a heavenly amount of divine Qi in your position
:immortal jade x5
After browsing through the system market of 20 items Meng Lin finally found what she needed
[Cultivation suppressing talisman lv.3]
The user is able to suppress their cultivation base to the intended target.
All below nascent soul are affected
: 200 system coins
As she doesn''t have any system coins right now she can only hope that the system gacha wheel has the talisman, she left the market tab to try her luck on the system gacha wheel, and Low and behold a small wheel was summoned in front of her and in the wheel was the talisman with multiple kinds of stuff as well.
Dragon tiger sword
Soul wondering pills x5
Lv.1 Alchemist furnace
Cultivation suppression talisman lv.5
Divine Bone strengthing pill x2
[system meridian]
Beginner system pack
[Inventory]
Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique
Immortal jades x9
"This wheel has a higher version of the cultivation suppression talisman but it also has some really nice stuffs"
Meng Lin was elated to find it in the wheel, so she reached out with her hand to spin it, hoping to get the talisman; the wheel sprung for 5 seconds and with it the hopes of Meng Lin, but unsurprisingly, it didn''t land as she had hoped.
Beginner system pack
Floating above her hand is the beginner system pack
[do you wish to open the package]
"Yes," said Meng Lin as her hope was dashed, but she also had expected this; she was not a lucky person anyway.
[Recived 400 system coins, 20 spirit stones, Qi gathering pills x3, cold steel sword]
Meng Lin smiled as she expected to see something like this and with the system coin in hand, she went straight to the system market to buy the cultivation suppression talisman.
"System"
[Meng Lin]
[special physique: Brute Qi physique]
[Qi Gathering Realm 5] suppressed(1)
[Experience points: 200/6000]
System coin: 200
Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable
[Spiritual root]
[Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth]
[Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering]
[Market]
"So it grays out. After I buy it, huh? I can finally rest till tomorrow." After looking at her stats, Meng Lin yawned as she finally had peace of mind to rest; she went to sleep right away before any more surprises could happen. 5: Wild Spirit beasts
After having been transmigrated into this world, Meng Lin had never been in any bad situations, so she didn''t have to fight since she had her bodyguards and her father to protect her; she knew that what she lacked right now would be experience in combat and she had to fix that.
Meng Lin reached the outer disciple hall, and the place was bustling with outer sect disciples going about their business.
Not wanting to stand out she walked slowly along the hall looking for the mission board when a girl in a pink dress suddenly approached her.
with a smile across her face, she asked, "Are you new here? Do you need anything?".
by the Aura that the girl is admitting Meng Lin judged that she was a Qi gathering realm cultivator at the 3rd stage.
A little curious Meng Lin replied "Yes, and how did you know"
"Oh, I have never seen you before, and I know all outer sect disciples; by the way, what is your name? My name is Yu Yun. Nice to meet you," said the girl with a cheeky smile while a light flashed in her eyes.
"Meng Lin"
"Meng Lin how can I help you, I know about all kinds of information here"
"Oh, then can you tell me why most disciples here are talking about encountering weird spirit beasts"
"That is big news concerning the cultivation world so you''ll have to pay 2000 spirit stones to know that," said the girl with a cheeky smile.
"No thanks, I just came for the mission board," said Meng Lin as she walked past her, she was not looking to get swindled.
''Hump you''re no fun'' Meng Lin suddenly heard the girl''s voice reverberate in her head as she looked back to find nobody there.
Looking at her surroundings, she noticed that everyone was going with their business, and nobody reacted any differently. ''What was that? Was that some old grandma?''. having read a lot of novels, Meng Lin couldn''t stop that thought from filling her head, but right now, she has no way of confirming that.
Not making sense of the girl in pink Meng Lin could only put it in the back of her mind as she continued to do what she came here to do in the first place.
Looking at the board on which should be missions pinned with different ranks corresponding to the threat level.
Meng Lin could see only one mission on the board, all of which seemed simple to do, ranging from cleaning the sect to patrolling the perimeter of the sect.
Meng Lin searched up and down until she found something that suited her.
"Hmm.. I''ll get this one"
Meng ling headed to the Westmount Valley, which is one of the locations that the sect uses to gather herbs and plants. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The mission was to pick a certain flower but Meng Lin was not going there just for that, the Westmount Valley has spirit beasts only in the first rank, so Meng Lin was going there to test her strength
**Westmount Valley **
Meng Lin entered the valley with a little bit of expectation, but after 10 minutes of walking around the valley and seeing no spirit beast, she chose to make them come to her instead as she looked for a clearing between the trees to use one of the items she got from the system market.
Before coming to Westmount Valley Meng Lin had bought a few useful things from the system market, one of which was the beast-attracting candle
[beast attracting candle] lv1
Beasts are attracted to the smell of the candle after it is lit; it releases a sweet smell to spirit beasts.
System coin:30
Meng Lin lit the candle and the smoke from the candle started to drift into the air.
After five minutes, Meng Lin saw her first-ever spirit beast; it was a normal-looking wolf with a small horn protruding from its head.
"Growl"
Right after appearing, it didn''t stop to assess the situation but lunged for Meng Lin right away.
Meng Lin felt a palpitating heartbeat and began gathering Qi towards her left hand before punching out with all her might toward the wolf''s head.
crack!
the spirit beast''s head burst open, splattering blood all over the place, she had killed it instantly.
''Whoops, I was too flustered, I should have adjusted my strength to match my enemy''
Meng Lin sighed and bent down to reach inside the head of the spirit beast to look for the Beast core but alas her hands came out empty, she was not surprised as Beast cores are only found in extremely rare spirit beasts, one in a thousand, so she was not disappointed as she had very little use for it anyways.
Before her second opponent appeared, Meng Lin wanted to eat, so she wiped her hand off the blood from earlier and took out her cold steel sword to dismember the wolf; gathering fire Qi to light a small fire, she began to cook a skewered piece to eat.
2 minutes later, it was done and looked appetizing; she bit down on it with expectation but quickly spat it out right away as the taste was unbearable.
''Ugh, why do they taste so bad? Are spirit beasts not supposed to be eaten, and here I thought I could eat them,'' Meng Lin thought with a sour face as she imagined that in the future,e, she would get to try heavenly meat textures like in a lot of those anime shows.
Meng Lin started looking around as she realized that the smell of the candle that she had lit had gone out.
Not satisfied with the wait Meng Lin took 2 more candles to light up.
A minute later, she heard a sound in the bushes to her left, but as she turned to look, she saw a shadow below her, and she tightened her hold on the cold steel sword to strike up above her.
"Shrill"
There came a scream as a shadow fell on the ground, Meng Lin looked over to see the bleeding figure of a black monkey.
Not giving it a chance to get up Meng Lin gathered qi in her sword to deliver a final slash to the monkey.
''What kind of spirit beast is this, it was smart enough to distract me.
As she was thinking this, from the bush where the noise came from, a shadow sprung out with claws aimed toward her head.
"What"
Caught off guard Meng Lin didn''t have time to defend herself as the claws of the monkey arrived at her head when suddenly an aura burst from her body.
"Peng"
The monkey''s claws were violently repelled by a chaotic Qi around, causing it to move back a little. However, Meng Lin didn''t miss the golden opportunity as she raised her sword to slash the monkey with her sword imbued with brute Qi.
Boom!
A small arc of chaotic qi was released from the blade towards the monkey pulverizing it instantly.
As Meng Lin looked at the damage dealt by her attack, she didn''t fail to notice that she had been surrounded by more than a dozen monkeys, with one being considerably different than the others.
On top of the trees to her left is a monkey with a huge grin on its face giving off an aura no less than a cultivator at the peak of the Qi gathering realm.
Meng Lin looked at all this with a serious look as arcs of chaotic Qi released from her body. 6: Fierce battle
Having used 2 candles Meng Lin was expecting some increase in numbers but she didn''t think it would be this much showing up.
"Roar"
The huge monkey that was twice the size of the others roared and all the monkeys roared after it.
10 out of the 12 smaller monkeys jumped down from their trees and started to lunch an attack against Meng Lin, they charged at her from all directions.
Meng Lin had prepared herself for this as she calmed her palpitating heart and jumped towards the monkey closest to her.
Her sword that was glowing blue and releasing power threatening to destroy itself easily sliced it''s target in half and released a sword beam towards the monkey behind the first one.
With that wave of Qi from the sword, a crack formed at the hilt of the sword.
''Damn'' Meng Lin did not fail to realize the cause as there came a peng sound on her back, behind her a monkey was squealing as it''s claw felt the shock from the recoil of its surprise attack.
Meng Lin turned and lunged her sword into its neck and slashed horizontally, beheding it entirely.
She did not stop at that as she jumped from one monkey to another, she wanted to finish this battle before her brute Qi destroys her Sword completely.
''It''s only those three left'' thought Meng Lin as she slashed the last monkey that was attacking her.
Up in the trees the two monkeys by the huge monkey yelled and charged it.
""Roar""
They jumped off of the branches and turned to attack her, clawing and biting at her vitals.
Cleng!!
Blocking the claws coming towards her and dodging the bites aimed at her head Meng Lin raised her sword and released powerful qi as she slashed out a wave of chaotic qi towards the monkeys. the attack tore through the torso of one monkey and cut the other one in half.
The sword cracked even more as it struggled to contain the brute qi surrounding it. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
The huge Monkey that was watching all this finally moved as it left an afterimage on the tree it was standing on before completely disappearing from Meng Lin''s vision.
She suddenly felt a chill down her spine and before she could react the monkey lifted up its arm and clawed at her back releasing qi upon impact.
Meng Lin completely cought off guard recived an attack so powerful that the brute qi protecting her couldn''t do a thing against it, she was lunched towards a tree as her Qi was ripped to shreds.
Boom
The tree barely intact from the crash fell on the ground and Meng Lin lifted herself up, her face was pale as she was experiencing pain never felt before.
"Ugh"
Having recived such a fearsome attack she was momentarily dazed but realizing the critical situation she activated her brute qi once more and looked at the huge monkey with hate in her eyes, who knew that a rank one spirit beast was this powerful.
She began to think that she had been going about this all wrong, she had used her strongest state right at the beginning, now she had little energy to spare.
If she had saved up her Brute Qi at the beginning she would have stood a chance but all was not lost yet as she still survived.
"And failing to kill me on your first strike is a big mistake" Meng Lin said coldly as she picked up her broken sword that was filled with cracks, she turned and dashed up into the trees.
The monkey, with it''s sneering smile didn''t move to follow, not until she was 30 meters away did it sprint after her.
Meng Lin looked back and smiled a little, having been moving at a shocking speed before she could tell that the huge monkey was toying with her based on the speed it was following her now.
But she was counting on it as she was not running away blindly, her goal was a waterfall that was close by.
''a few more seconds and we''ll reach it''
"Roar"
Behind her the monkey roared as if to rile up its pray but Meng Lin didn''t stop nor react to the roar as she kept moving while gathering brute Qi on her sword.
seeing no reaction from it''s pray the hugh monkey became angry and started increasing its speed from 30 meter to 15 in a matter of a second.
Meng Lin gritted her teeths and furiously poured Qi into her sword while simultaneously taking a talisman out of her storage bag to put on the sword.
''Almost there''
The huge monkey''s growl could be heard right behind her as she felt that same chill envelope her as when she was attacked earlier, but unlike earlier she had a counter this time.
She didn''t even turn around as she tossed the sword with all her might behind her.
Boom
"ROAR"
The cold steel sword which was full of brute qi had explode and the sword shards traveling at super speed lunched themselves into the monkey''s face causing it to scream in pain.
The huge monkey''s roar filled the air as it fell to the ground to cover it''s face, shards of blades were lunged inside the whole right side of it''s face causing him to have a menacing look.
Meng Lin didn''t stop to look at the result as she dived deep into water without any hesitation.
7: Formless
**the Levitation Sect**
Inside the sect master''s abode, in a room with lavish decorations and bright pearl ornaments two people are walking out of a teleportation array as element particles shot out of the circle of the array.
Walking out of the array was a middle aged man wearing a blue robe and with cold expression, while the other is a young man wearing black clothes with sharp eyes.
"So father, why did you want me to come here so suddenly?" The young man asked respectfully.
"Little Rui I brought you here from your sect because I want you to be there for the competition between us and The Raging Fire Sect that''s going to come up soon" the middle aged man said with a soft voice.
"But father wouldn''t it be better if I just wait for the sect competition between the Breeze Sect and the Soul Shattering Sect" the young man said with confusion.
The middle aged man looked at the young man with a slight pity in his eyes and looked down and said "Little Rui, i want you to observe this one as your training for the upcoming one in your sect, and I also wanted to see the techniques you inherited from your mother"
"Father" the young man said with a sad expression as he looked at the middle aged man.
"Your mother''s death still troubles me so i would rather you start here for the competition than be in that sect" the middle aged man said as he took out a pendant with a small picture of a beautiful woman inside.
"Here I am giving this to you" said the middle aged man as he handed the pendant to the young man.
"But father isn''t this something that you had since childhood" the young man was slightly shocked as this was something his father never allowed anyone to touch even his mother, and yet he is giving it to him.
"Thank you father I''ll make sure to treasure it" the young man said as he touched the pendant with care.
Just as the middle aged man was about to talk the door to the room opened and a man walked in exuding the aura of a scholar.
"I sensed you through my spiritual consciousness sect master so I came as soon as possible." The man said
"Long Yi you came at the right time, escort Xiao Riu here to the direct diciples quarters." The middle aged man lost all of his caring attitude from earlier and went to a majestic sect master.
The young man, now known as Xiao Rui didn''t fine this strange as he stepped out to greet the man that has the scholar air around him.
"Hello uncle Yi how have you been"
Long Yi looked at the young man that looks to be twenty years old, his voice had a cold undertone and his aura was heavy too.
"young lord, you have progressed fast" said Long Yi with full honesty as he, a cultivator at the peak of the Soul Wondering realm sensed danger from a late stage cultivator.
"It''s nothing really", said the Xiao Riu as he let out a chuckle.
''so this is a cultivator from a rank 4 sect, we are miles apart, I wonder how young lord even got into that sect'' Long Yi sighed as he wondered how vast the differences between rank 3 sects and rank 4 sects were.
** Westmount Valley ** This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Inside the waters of the waterfall is Meng Lin, the moment she jumped into the water she called out inside her mind.
''System''
[Meng Lin]
[special physique: Brute Qi physique]
[Qi Gathering Realm 5 Stage]
[Experience points: 287/6000]
System coin: 60
Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable
[Spiritual root]
[Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth]
[Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering]
[Market]
Boom
Meng Lin suddenly heard a sound up above her and looking up she could see the disfigured face of the huge monkey, it swam crazy towards her with stretched claws.
Meng Lin felt a chill down her spine and went straight to the market section and scrolled towards the very bottom
To buy what would help her in this situation.
[Formless Water Talismen]
When the talisman is attached, it can change one''s form to water for a whole day, only usable in water.
50 :system coin
After buying the talisman she immediately attached it to her body.
Meng Lin''s body which was seconds away from death suddenly glowed blue before turning into nothing.
Oooo!
the monkey swiped at nothing but water and couldn''t perceive what was going on, it''s pray which was at death''s door was suddenly gone.
"Roar"
The monkey roared out as it''s eyes glowed red, it was truly mad as it''s roar sent shockwaves in the water with the water surrounding it chunking from vibration.
Persistent, the monkey stayed in the same area for 5 minutes but with no air and target in sight, it had no choice but to go back up for air.
For the next three hours on the waterfall the monkey kept smashing and trashing about, and finally after finding nobody, it could only grunt and go back to its home in the jungle.
**3 hours earlier **
Inside the water of the waterfall Meng Lin found her self in a peculiar situation as she couldn''t feel, talk, hear and see anything, the only thing that she could do was think and move her consciousness slowly in the water but she was bearly able to form clear thoughts.
She had become water herself, as if her body had merged with the water, she had no arms and no legs, she had become water itself.
She felt like she would go crazy, she only had the small ability to form thoughts and with what little thought that she had, she kept persisting and trying all kinds methods.
Ever so slowly she released her consciousness from one area to another but felt only the weavings of water.
**7 hours later **
She tried to focus her consciousness inside the waters but she only found more water, her consciousness moved so slow that it takes hours to make any real progress.
**8 hours later **
she moved down or what she thought was down and kept moving down for what seems like an eternity.
she was down until she couldn''t go anymore as she was blocked by the bedrock.
**2 hours later **
Meng lin decided to just wait it out as she saw no way out of this slow moving consciousness.
It was at that moment that she suddenly "felt" something, her mind became clear as she could finally "think" even if it was just a little bit faster than before.
**3 hours later **
she noticed that if she focused inside the water at the boundarys between the bedrock that she could "feel" something.
that something was Qi as between the bedrock and the water she could "see" water and earth qi jumbled up together.
she noticed the way they interacted to the microscopic level, in between the water qi and the earth qi there was also a minuscule layer of a different qi between them, it seemed as if there was something that kept the two different type of elements separate, yet also together.
**4 hours later **
Meng Lin had arrived at a discovery, but as she began to ponder about it she suddenly felt water, she could see and feel, she could hear her muffled cough blocked by water and she could feel water invading her mouth.
Gasp!!
She regained her senses in that moment as she surrounded herself with qi to let the water flow around her.
at the waterfall, just above the surface of the water, water bubbles came up and as the bubble broke on the surface of the water, a girl clad in a black and white robe sprung out of the water onto the dry lan, drenched in water.
Meng Lin had returned to the surface with a scar mark on her back but with newfound discoveries, she breathed in the refreshing air as she said slowly
"Finally back" 8: Mutation Meng Lin felt refreshed after coming out of the water, the scar on her back still tingles but she had learned to bear with it. She looked around the place to find the whole area around the waterfall destroyed with the huge monkey being the likely suspect. Seeing no trace of life around Meng Lin was anout to call out the system when panels began to appear infront of her. [Congratulations for having experienced a slight moment of enlightenment] [you Have recived a reward for achieving your first ever enlightenment] [recived taoist gacha wheel ticket] [recived the formless cultivation method] [Do you wish to accept the rewards] Yes In front of Meng Lin appeared a floating book shimmering with golden lights that faded in and out of existence, one moment it would be releasing the most brilliant light and the next it cease to exist from reality. Enlightenment Meng Lins thoughts were on the sentence from the system, she couldnt help but thing back to when she could suddenly see the qi between the water and earth qi. Speaking of which Meng Lin went back to the system panel to see what had changed. [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Qi Gathering Realm 5 Stage] [Experience points: 287/6000] System coin: 10 Taoist Gacha wheel: available [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated Elemental Qi] [Mud] Comprehension 9% [Erosion] Comprehension 9% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Market] Mutated Elemental Qi, mud and erosion Meng Lin was surprised to see such things in there. She wasnt surprised at the mud being there, as its the combination of water and earth but erosion, and for her Elemental qi to mutate just from viewing that, she didnt think that was all there was to it. She began focus on the [Mud] and lines of text started appearing under the [Mud]. [Mud] Water Qi combined with earth Qi allows the manipulation of thick and heavy mud. She began to ponder before doing the same thing to the [Erosion]. [Erosion] Water combined with earth becomes Erosion, the ability to corrode away any and all material. Any and all materials, does that mean that it would work on me as well A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. And she noticed the comprehension percentage next to them meaning that she hadnt comprehend them yet. Meng Lin began to collect her thoughts, she looked at herself and sighed at how unkept she was looking right now, after finding a hidden place she cleaned her self up and change her clothes. Only after doing all that did she start walking towards the sects direction. **2 days later ** **levitation sect** System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Qi Gathering Realm 8 Stage] suppressed [Experience points: 4535/6000] System coin: 10 Taoist Gacha wheel: available [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 9% [Erosion] Comprehension 9% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Market] The fusion between two different elements, Water and earth, That was the the discovery that Meng Lin had made two days ago. after leaving that waterfall and drying herself with fire qi, Ming Lin went right back to the sect, her mission having been long forgotten. It was only after getting to the sect did she realize that she hadnt picked up any flowers but luckily for her there was no sect punishment for failure of missions. She wouldnt officially be considered a sect member before becoming an inner sect diciple, the sect was not strict to the outer sect diciples, however she liked it that way. Right now Meng Lin was back in her cave cultivating to reach the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm so she could learn the formless cultivation method. Taking out the book she read. [Discovered Formless sects core High Tier cultivation method] [Formless cultivation method] Become one with everything under the realm and disappear from the prying eyes of All. Requirements: [experience enlightenment through being formless.] [Reach foundation cultivation to learn] Having gotten this cultivation method she wanted to see what she could do with it. But it was not just for that she was dying to have her rematch against that hugh monkey, after tasting defeat for the first time in her life she had developed an intense hatred for that feeling. So she felt that it should be brought to an end, and what better way than to kill that monkey, Now one might wonder how she was going to fine the monkey in that jungle full of spirit beast, the answer to that was in her storage bag. Currently inside of her storage bag is a small talisman glowing, its this talisman that would lead her to it. [double Tracking talisman]lv2 After one talisman is attached to a target, the general location of the target can be found using the other one. 20: system coin Back then she had used the talisman on the sword and caused it to break and lunged it deep inside the monkeys face. That was why when she came back she began cultivating non stop. Having been cultivating for 2 days Meng Lin was able to heal the scar on her back somewhat, but until she gets a healing treatment of some kind, she was going to have to keep that scar on her body, she got up and decided to head to the outer disciple sect hall. This time to go to the library, she had to read up on the spirit beast and the cultivation world a little more. After leaving her cave, she walked towards the outer disciple sect hall and along the way she would see outer sect diciples going about their business all while not paying attention to her. She reached the hall an began to walk past the mission board. It was only now that Meng Lin noticed that this outer sect hall was a pretty big building. It had the mission board for missions, a training room for any outer sect disciple and even a place where diciples could buy, sell and trade things with each other. after wondering for a few minutes Meng Lin finally reached the library. She entered and looked around, she could see rows of bookshelves with a counter in front of the door. An old man was sitting behind the counter with a book in hand, he seemed so forcused on the book that Meng Lin wouldnt be surprised if he didnt notice if she walked past him. You can take a book with you from the first floor Meng Lin heard the old man speak as he finally took his eyes off the book to look at her. After gazing at her he raised an eyebrow before gazing back at the book in his hand. Meng Lin looked at the old man who seemed to have lost interest in her and pondered. She walked towards the rows of bookshelf across the counter and after looking through rows of bookshelfs for about 10 minutes she selected 3 books to take to the counter. Here Meng Lin said as she placed the books onto the counter. Make sure you bring them back here in three days time said the old man as his eye didnt leave his book. Meng Lin nodded and put them in her storage bag as she left the libary, having gotten what she came here for she was about leave to go back to her cultivation cave when she remembered that she would have to learn some techniques and not just rely on her brute qi for battle all the time. So after leaving the outer sect hall she headed towards the Innermost sect hall to look for a suitable technique for herself to learn. And who knows maybe if i learned a technique that is better suited for me, i could even multiply my battle power Meng Lin had these thoughts in her head as she headed towards the innermost part of the mountain. 9: Techniques The innermost part of the mountain was still considered the outer sect because the entire mountain was the outer sect mountain, the Levitation Sect consists of three separate mountains and most of their members are within the inner sect mountain. The Innermost sect hall was for only the outer sect diciples, but unlike the outer sect hall it only had the mission board and the lecture hall with just books on the second and third floor. Most of the sect techniques here were low grade techniques that are commonly seen in the cultivation world, seeing almost no use in them the sect held it within the innermost sect hall. Meng Lin walked for a little before arriving at the innermost sect hall, there was a huge crowd gathered at the door and she had identified them to be outer sect diciples forming a circle around the door of the innermost sect hall. Most diciples here were giving off the aura of cultivators from the 7, 8 and nine stage of the qi gathering realm. And at the door were two guys that were releasing aura at the peak of the qi gathering realm, both of them were identical young man of roughly 20 years old and in their hand were spears. Both were silently looking ahead as though they were waiting for something, the outer sect diciples were murmuring between themselves so Meng Lin blended with the crowd as to accurately listen to the gossip going on. ther why are there two gate guards here, They were not here yesterday asked a fat diciple at 6 stage of the qi gathering realm. Oh you didnt hear Dong Su, someone stole one of the important techniques from the third floor, so an inner sect sect disciple was tasked with this place answered a cultivator at the 8th stage of The Qi gathering realm. Stole but how, isnt outer sect elder Li here he was called for a meeting between sect elders today so hes not here, and take a good look, those arent guards, they are puppets. Hearing that Meng Lin looked at the guards by the door more carefully and she could see that they had dead eyes and unmoving expressions with wooden skin. Those are puppets Meng was a little shocked, because if one was not paying attention they would be mistaken for real peoples. After a while someone finally came to the door Alright you guys can go in A man in a black robe came out with a serious expression, he had broad shoulders and he held a deep gaze in his eyes. He waved his hand and the guards glowed blue and turned into lights to be stored inside his storage bag. Having done that he threw out a flying sword to jump on and he flew deeper into the sect. The outer sect diciples outside began to go inside the innermost sect hall. Meng Lin noticed that in front of the door was an array formation, she walked through it along with the others and was finally able to see the other side of this room. On the left side of the room was nothing but a staircase leading to the second floor and on the right side was the sect mission board. Most if not all of the disciples there were gathering at the mission board, Meng Lin was a little curious so she went alone to check it out. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. On the board were all kinds of missions, but most of them were missions that could be dangerous if handed alone. As the Diciples began looking through the board, Meng Lin put her hand under her chin to ponder. I dont recommend that you take missions from here newbie Ming Lin turned to the voice to fine the sect diciple that was asking questions earlier, he was a fat person with a naive smile on his face. Hello my name is Dong Su and you can call be fatty Su, whats yours said the young man as he cuffed his hands together to make a fist, he had the look of someone that was trying to act serious. Meng Lin she returned his gesture, wondering why he suddenly spoke to her. Meng Lin you were not going to take a mission from that board right Dong Su said with a serious look in his eyes. I was wondering why most diciples here are at the last stages, the only one thats in the lower stages is me here Meng Lin is a cultivator at the 8 stage right now but to anyone else she should be a cultivator at the 1 stage of qi gathering realm, she could guess the reason but she wanted to be sure. only those at the late stages of qi gathering realm are allowed here the fatty said with closed eyes as he folds his hands in his chest. Oh but you are allowed to go through the books to learn one technique on the second floor the fatty said again with even more dramatic flare as he turned around to turn his back towards Ming Lin. He was about to continue speaking when suddenly he was called out through the crowd. fatty su Oh ah, my comrade is calling me, well have to bid farewell here almost getting knocked out of his dramatic act he walked into the crowd in large strides. Meng Lin didnt know how to react to this, she could only wave at him as he dashed into the crowd. She began to think as she walked to the staircase towards the second floor. Arriving at the end of the staircase she saw a door with words at the top. Only take one Meng Lin smile slightly and walked inside the door. The place was quite small with only four rows of bookshelf on one side, and on top of each shelf is written. *Sect techniques * *Sword techniques * *Fist/palm techniques* * auxiliary techniques * To the the other side of the room is a stair case leading toward the third floor but standing on each side of the stare cast were two guards that were unresponsive. Meng Lin Looked toward them for a minute and then went towards the first bookshelf, she touched the first book on the shelf to see a panel appear before her. [Discovered Levitation''s Sect Low-Level technique, waighted fist] [Do you want to learn it] She opened the book to read it, but other than the illustrations for the training being cool looking she didnt show much interest in it as she doesnt see herself as a brawler. She touched the next one from the sect techniques [Discovered Levitation''s Sect Low-Level technique, flow] Opening and looking through this book she saw that it was mostly about the concept of wind and the way to utilize your wind qi to make your attacks faster. Meng Lin started moving all around from one area to the next. *Fist area* [Discovered Levitation''s Sect Low-Level technique, dragon tiger fist] *weapon area* [Discovered Levitation''s Sect Low-Level technique, vermillion sword style ] * auxiliary area* [Discovered Levitation''s Sect Low-Level technique, sonic vibration] Meng Lin made sure to look through all the books to make sure that she didnt miss any book that might be different, but unfortunately for her she couldnt find any such book. After looking throug every book she choosed four of the most suitable books for her to learn. [You have learned Levitation''s Sect Low-Level technique, focused Qi control] [You have learned Levitation''s Sect Low-Level sword technique, waterfall slash] [You have learned Levitation''s Sect Low-Level auxiliary technique, Refine Yin Qi] [You have learned Levitation''s Sect Low-Level techniques, surge] Meng Lin didnt want to learn more techniques, she wanted to focus on her water spiritual element since most of her inner qi is water qi, and learning a bunch of techniques would make it a little hard for her to focus on one. Now having finished with everything on the second floor she grabbed one of the books to take with her. She went to the first floor and looked around to see a couple of diciples still looking through the mission board. As she walked out the door of the hall the floor lit up a little and went back to normal. So it does scan who goes in and out of this building Meng Lin had already guessed that when she was going into the building because at that time it lit up as well. Since she had just taken one book from the second floor she wasnt bothered with it and went straight home to digest all that she had collected for today. 10: Meeting **Levitation sect** **Underground meeting room** In a room with little to no light, Four peoples were gathered at a table in the center of a room, behind each of these peoples is a glowing sphere, and each one is different in color with unique features. What brought about this meeting first grand elder said a man with a smile. He was in all red and had a glowing red sphere behind his back, his smile was of confidence and arrogance as though everything was in his control. We are expecting it to happen sooner than later said the only woman there, she had on a long black dress with a gray sphere of Qi behind her that pulsates with force. This soon the man in red said with a little drop in his smile. Yes as little Han has said it is going to happen soon so I had already sent Shu to collect the last materials required for the formation. An old man with white hair and eyes said as he reached for his storage device, behind his back is a Blue ball of Qi that had a slight crack in it. Here Little Han the old man said as he took out a storage bag from his ring and handed over to the woman. Will this plan really work said the last man that had kept quiet till now, he was a middle aged man in yellow robe with a golden ball of Qi behind him. Do you not trust our genius formation master here Xiu Ye the man in red asked as his smile grew a little as he looks in the direction of the woman. No I would never, I was just thinking of what you had the sect leader do grand elder, is it a wise decision to involve the upper grade sects into this the middle aged man in yellow replied back as he looks toward the white haired old man. Hearing the mention of the upper grade sects everyone on the table became silent, upper grade sects like the breeze sect have a lot of power, if they tread this the wrong way then they could end up dead. I am hoping that we wouldnt have to, but if the formation doesnt work than we will have to bring the breeze sect into this The white haired old man looked down as he said that. As you all know, they have been influencing the spirit beasts around our sect so for now well have to keep an eye out for for the traitors doing their bidding in the sect the first grand elder said with a slight anger as he released a wave of energy from his body, the wave traveled fast as it changed the wind flow for a moment. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The red haired man said looked at the grand elder and said those traitors, I can say with confidence that my section doesnt have a suspicious person Suspicious person, wasnt there a repot about someone stealing from there second grand elder the woman asked in a sort tone with a skeptical expression. You know as well as I who it was that did it, and its not really a suspicious person the man in red said with a weary smile. First Grand elder Id like to go back to my abode if that was everything The middle aged man in yellow, Xiu Ye asked the old man with an inpatient voice. Hmm, yes, that was eveything lets end it at that the old man said as he started to fade from the chair he was on till he disappeared. the other three stared to go through that same thing before disappearing as well. **Meng Lins cave** Phew Meng Lin blew out as she finished refining her qi for the last time, the regular Qi gathered in her sea of consciousness will slowly but surely be refined into a different form with the Refine Yin Qi. The more one cultivates in it, the more cold their qi will be until eventually the qi freezes anything the may come into contact with it. As she finished training with her last technique she sat down to take out the books that she had gotten from the library, and on the cover of all three books were the letters. *The Dynasties* *Cultivators realm * *Spirit beasts * Thats right, she had judged that she needed to know about these the most. She opened the book about the cultivation realms as she was actually excited about the prospect of reading this. Sure she had heard of different realms already like the foundation establishment realm and the Narscent Soul realm but she wanted to know about all the realms, from top to bottom. On the first page of the cultivation book, there was a list of all the realms recorded till now Qi gathering realm Foundation establishment realm Gold core realm Soul wondering realm Nascent soul realm Ensoulment realm So there are 6 recorded realms Meng Lin began to thing as she put her hand under her chin. From what the other diciple were saying, the highest realm in this sect is the soul wondering realm, so its a whole four realm difference from me now, I wonder what realm my father is at Meng Lin began to be excited about the future as she looked through the stages for each cultivation realm. All realms after the qi gathering realm are split into 4 stages, the early stage, the middle stage, the late stage and the peak stage of cultivation. In the qi gathering realm a cultivator would be circulating qi throughout their body slowly, with the amount of qi increasing by the realm until you turn all your qi into liquid inside your Dantian and reach the foundation establishment realm. When one builds their foundation into a core is when they reached the Gold Core stage, and in this stage ones Dantian is used to form a roating gold core. The book showed the ways to reach the next realm until the gold core realm, it ended without showing the next three stages after that. But Meng Lin was not disappointed with that, as she had a whole new idea about her path in cultivation for the future. 11: Revisit Opening the * dynasties* books Meng Lin started reading, but unlike the cultivation book this book had a lot of pages so it took her almost 2 hours just to get through the whole book. The place that we reside in is the Yuan kingdom, A kingdom that spanned across the whole land, along with other Kingdoms in the Luna continent. There are a total of 5 different kingdoms in the Luan continent and out of all of them the yuan kingdom was ranked the third in terms of resources, located at the northern side of the continent, it has thousands of cities and even more peoples, with its capital being in the center of the empire. In each kingdom are sects that act on their own but protect the kingdom as compensation. There are a total of 9 sects in the Yuan Kingdom and the Levitation sect was one of them. And it was actually considered one of the best, standing toe to toe with the Raging Flames Sect, it has a thousand years of history so it had a firm standing. So only these two are fourth grade sects As she continues to read she discovered that to be a fourth grade sect you have to have a nascent soul cultivator. *All sects are considered first grade sects until they have a foundation establishment realm cultivators and to be a second grade sect you have to have a gold core cultivatior* *soul wondering are third grade and nascent soul are naturally the forth grade sects*.This was was written across the book This is a little concerning but it should be alright since old geezers are usually in seclusion Meng Lin said as she contemplates her realm situation . Speaking of System Meng Lin called out. [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Qi Gathering Realm 8 Stage] suppressed [Experience points: 4535/6000] System coin: 10 Taoist Gacha wheel: available [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 9% [Erosion] Comprehension 9% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Market] The gacha wheel is available so I hope I get something good this time Meng Lin said with a little excitement in her voice. a small wheel was summoned in front of her and in the wheel were the same stuffs. Stolen story; please report. Dragon tiger sword Soul wondering pills x5 Lv.1 Alchemist furnace Cultivation suppression talisman lv.5 Divine Bone strengthing pill x2 [system meridian] Beginner system pack [inventory] Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique Immortal jades x9 This time I hope I get this technique Meng Lin said with expectation. [Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique] Last time she was in the wheel she hadnt thought much of this technique but after going through her first battle she realized how overpowering the brute Qi was. With that thought in mind she raised her hand and spung the wheel, and the wheel spung for roughy 5 seconds before stopping without suspense. [You have recived Inventory] Inventory Meng Lin said with disappointment as she had expected the beginner system pack or the cultivation suppression talisman but rather she got inventory. well itll be useful for sure but Meng Lin shook her head as she stopped thinking about it. The only other thing that she can do in the system is with the system coin but she had so little of it. Is this all the system has meng Lin said with even more disappointment. She was about to close the tab when she suddenly saw rows of letter. [Reach higher realms for all features of the system to be unlocked] Meng Lin froze for a second before putting her hand under her chin to ponder, she let out a wary smile before pulling her focus back to reality. She still had 10 system coin and that was enough for what she had in mind right now, she went to the sect market to buy a sword. [Normal sword] A regular sword that was constructed from metal by mortals. 10: System coin Meng Lin bought the sword and got ready to leave her cave again, but this time her destination was the Westmount Valley, that monkey had to die. Westmount Valley Meng Lin was rushing through the trees with a little qi imbued in her legs to run. Since she didnt have any candles to attract beast to her she figured why not just go to them. And there was no guarantee that the huge monkey would come to her, it should be smart enough to know remember the smell of the candle anc if even those regular monkeys were smart enough to set traps, it would likely know what was going on. Meng Lin arrived at the waterfall, hoping to fine it there but she found nothing, the place that they had battled at was also the same except for skeletal remains, she took out the small talisman in her storage bag while pointing at all directions but it still remained unresponsive. As Meng Lin was getting fed up with running around she suddenly sensed a flair in qi from the front as she let out a smile and rushed towards the area Jumping from tree to tree Meng Lin finally found a spirit beast, and not just one but two, In front of her was a black lepord chasing a white deer and both of them were releasing aura at the peak of the qi gathering realm. If she was interested, she would have waited and followed them to find out where the deer was leading them but not being interested and fed up she immediately released her aura at the 8th stage of the qi gathering realm. She jumped up from the tree she was on with a sword in hand as she called out surge Water qi gathered at her blade and she sliced at the two spirit beast, a chunking wave of qi washed towards both unsuspecting spirit beast as the lepord that was behind was the target to be hit by the wave of qi. The gathered qi sliced into the lepords back two legs but stopped as it ran out of energy. The lepord now immobilized fell to the ground since it couldnt stand anymore. Oh, is it because surge is not a sword technique Meng Lin thought as she began to descend from the sky. She was a little surprised as she was expecting the attack to slice it in two, but from this she knew that spirit beast at the peak stages were hard to kill. But Meng Lin was thinking about that from the perspective of normal disciples, she was different Landing on the leopard she stabbed it in the head with her qi covered blade as she lunged for the deer that was running away. Qi gathered around her body as she supplied the sword with the right amount, she slashed with her sword and the swords speed suddenly tripled as she voiced a sword technique this time. Waterfall slash The deer not having enough reaction time to dodge was met with a fast qi slash that traveled through its body and destroying three big trees before stopping at the forth. wow maybe I should restrain from using this thought Meng Lin as she felt a third of her qi gone from just that one slash, she began to gather their corpse inside her storage bag. As she put the corpses in the inventory the small talisman that had been quiet all this time finally began to glow. 12: Crisis Noticing the small talisman Meng Lin held it out in front of her, the talisman started glowing and vibrating towards one direction as if it were a magnet. Meng Lin dashed towards the direction that the talisman was reaching towards, running between the trees she gripped the sword in her hand preparing for anything along the way. She ran towards the direction for about two minutes before stopping and hiding behind a tree. In front of her is a cave opening with a big rock next to the cave, the entrance was covered with battle marks all over the ground. She put her talisman away and was about to step forward to check the cave when she suddenly noticed a black shadow coiled up in the shadows of the rock by the entrance of the cave. It was a black snake and roughly about 5 meters but coiled up together it looked much smaller than it actually was. The moment Meng Lin noticed the snake she suddenly felt a chill down her spine, having experienced this sensation before she immediately know to turn towards her back and hold out her Qi covered sword. PENG Ugh The sword in her hand cracked as it nearly broke from the force of the attack, the recoil from her sword was so strong that she had to take a step back to lessen the force of the impact. Stopping herself she raised her head to look at the attacker. Hiss With a body coiled up together it let out a hiss sound as it brought back its head for one more attack, it was a black snake of roughly 5 meters. Meng Lin was shocked to see her attacker, wasnt this the snake that she was just looking at. she noticed that the snake was letting out aura at the peak of the first realm, so she began gathering more qi into her sword when she suddenly felt a chill down her spine again. Not knowing what she was about to face she immediately reached inside her dantian to bring out the brute qi that she had been saving till now. Her body glowed up as she let go of her sword, she smiled as she had been wanting to try a new move ever since she learned her techniques. She gathered water qi and brute qi into her left hand and turned around with her palm open. Surge she said with a soft voice as the water and brute Qi gathered in her hand was released. But contrary to her expectations things didnt go as planned, the brute qi in her hand didnt release a wave of chaotic water but rather it released an immense wave of brute qi as all traces of water qi vanished the moment it left her body. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Rumble With force the brute qi spread out, it engulfed its target in a wave of chaotic energy as the whole entrance became bright from just the Qi alone. Meng Lin looked at the shocking scene as her body released qi threatening to destroy all it touches. Feeling satisfied she turned from her brute qi to her normal qi as she reached for her sword that was behind her. She didnt want to use the brute Qi until necessary, thats the reason she hadnt used it the whole day, and she wanted to learn to to fight without relying on it. On the other side the Black snake hissed as it lunged towards her in a long black blur. With a light show behind her Meng Lin smiled as she had long expected an attack from the snake, she swung her sword and called out. Waterfall slash Qi gathered around her blade as she sliced horizontally towards the black blur coming towards her. The snake having no time to react met the slash head on and was sliced into two parts that dropped to the ground. The attack from the brute qi was finally dimming down as Meng Lin looks towards the area, and in front of the entrance on the ground with a bloodied figure was a long dead corpse of roughly 5 meters. No wonder said Meng Lin as she thought back at that time, back when she suddenly felt a chill. There were two black snake of roughly 5 meters, one out in the open and another hiding in the trees. When she was attacked first she had assumed it was the snake under the shadow of the big rock, that it just had some weird ability to teleport, but it turns out that there were two of them. But its really weird Meng Lin Put her hand under her chin as she wondered, both of these snakes were giving off power at the peak of the first realm. That makes every spirit beast that Ive had encountered so far at the peak the first realm This place is barely supposed to have any spirit beast at the peak stages let alone five of them on different occasions including the monkey. She began to think about the prospect of fighting dozens of peak stage spirit beasts. She looked at herself, from start to finish she hadnt gotten a single scratch from those snake, just that alone boosted her confidence so she collected the corpses and looked at the entrance. She took out the talisman and sure enough it was pointing towards the Cave. She stepped into the cave with the talisman as her source of light, it was a cave big enough for three bears to walk in with no hindrance, so she didnt have a problem with it. One minute into the cave she noticed Luminous Stones at the top of the walls of the cave and raised her eyebrows as she thought Luminous Stones, only cultivators use these so why are they in this random cave, was this cave left behind by a fellow cultivator in the past she was still looking around with vigilance for any unusual activity. Walking for 4 minutes straight she reached the end which was a big area with a glowing pool at the center of it, on the ground next to the pool were blue colored flowers glowing with vitality, there were a bunch of spots unrooted with just four such flowers remaining. The flowers would attract anyone by the way they glow but Meng Lin was too focused on the Pool at the center to notice. The Pool was glowing with blue light as Meng Lin noted that at the center of the pool was a Lutos flower and it was releasing so much Qi that even she was enticed to just jump straight into the pool to retrieve it. she came closer to the pool and was hit with a wave of qi as her eyes gleam in wonderance, she took a step closer to look inside the pool when she was met with a pair of cold murderous eyes in the water. Boom Her eyes widen and she entered her Brute Qi state right away as she was flung backwards by the creature, she balanced herself in the air and landed on her feets. Her aura dimmed a little as a little of it was used to block that attack, she looked towards the pool with some serious and nervousness as she wiped blood coming from her nose. Coming out of the pool is a beautiful long black snake with eyes full of fury as its aura shot through the roof. It released an aura never felt before by Meng Lin as she confirmed with herself that this was a spirit beast at the second realm. 13: Explosive Meng Lin looked at the giant snake in the pool, it looked to be about 12 meters long with its body being the size of a whole human torso, its skin glossed with a black luster as it hissed out. Hisss She let go of her sword again which was already covered in fine cracks, just for the seconds that theyd been in contact it was almost about to break, without her sword she took a stance even though she doesnt know hand-to-hand combat too well. The snake hissed and moved, it launched itself at her at unimaginable speed as its head leaned forward for a bite at her. Meng Lin held out her left hand and opened her fingers as she called out. Surge This time she didnt add any water qi in her attack as the Brute Qi would just destroy it once they are released from her body, only brute Qi gathered inside of her palm as she waved it in the air. Boom The chaotic qi sprung all around the area as it came in a wave, it reached the snake halfway through its attack but the snake couldnt be bothered to dodge the attack. White light covered the whole area. And Meng Lin looked at the attack with all her attention, her left palm was still out as she didnt think that was enough. And she was right because through the white chaotic qi a blur suddenly dashed out, its beautiful glossy skin has dimmed a bit but it still held threatening power, it opened its mouth to gather energy. Having already expected a return from the snake she was about to call out surge again when the snake flying in a blur suddenly released a bolt of lightning from its mouth. The attack moved at the speed of lightning and left no room for her to dodge as it hit her with full force. Puchi The attack tore through her left thigh and left a trail of lightning across the battlefield, her Brute Qi that covered her body had a small hole in it as its defensive properties couldnt hold against the lighting. Urg Meng Lin felt excruciating pain in her left thigh like it was on fire but she still didnt hold down her left hand as she called out again. Surge using almost half of all her Brute Qi she gathered a massive amount of qi in her hand. Boom Hisss The area was covered in more chaotic qi again with the snakes roar as it was enveloped and pushed back with the Brute Qi again, the walls of the cave showed cracks as they were barely able to withstand the explosion. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Meng Lin knew that without a proper fighting method, she could not allow the snake to come closer to her and so she could only rely on surge to keep pushing the snake back, and hopefully spamming the attack does a good amount of damage. Roar Out from the chaotic white light came the snake again as it looked more damaged than before, its glossy skin was covered with big burns and it was moving much slower than before. Surge she called out again. The snake was already angry so it gathered a massive amount of energy in its mouth before releasing it in a burst of lightning. Boom At the same time as Meng Lins surge was used, the snakes massive burst of lightning was released, both energies collided with a massive explosion taking place covering the whole area in dirt and smoke. The snake was not affected by the explosion and didnt stop its sprint as it went through the smoke and appeared right before her, it opened its gaping mouth dripping with saliva ready to tear into her body. Meng Lin looked at this with no change in expression as she even had a slight excitement in her eyes, In a swift motion she grabbed the sword on the ground, and called out. waterfall slash Brute Qi gathered in her palm as it traveled towards her sword, she put all of her remaining Brute Qi into her sword, and she slashed out with the sword that was covered in fine cracks ready to break at any moment. BOOM Brute Qi gathered to form a Horizontal line across the whole area, it was condensed chaotic energy that was released in a wide area, it met the snakes gaping mouth and tore through it like butter and traveled towards the other end of the area to leave a long scar on the cave wall. The snakes body was flung backward as it left a trail of blood on the ground. Meng Lin looked at the attack with a satisfied expression, her sword was gone with only the hilt remaining. She was about to walk forward when she suddenly felt pain again on her left side, she had forgotten that her left thigh was injured. [Congratulations for defeating a foe a realm higher than you] [You have received a Taoist gacha wheel ticket] [You have received a Sword Art: thunderbolt Flash] Meng Lin sat down since she was feeling too much pain standing up she looked at the notifications and she puts her left hand under her chin. She wasnt that shocked at the notification as she had assumed long ago that to get rewarded she would have to do things not commonly seen or done. So I was right that the rewards are related to the event that transpires She was thinking of what other things were there that can get the system to reward her. And this is a sword art, probably related to the attack used by the snake System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Qi Gathering Realm 8 Stage] [Experience points: 4535/6000] System coin:0 Taoist Gacha wheel: available [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 9% [Erosion] Comprehension 9% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Market] Wasting no time she went straight to the system gacha wheel, a small wheel appeared in front of her and she reached out to spin the wheel, not even bothering to look at the items on the wheel. [Recived Beginner system pack] A system pack again, it seems that I have a lower chance with all the others She didnt fret over it as she was actually in a good mood, because in front of her is the pool undamaged by the raging battle that took place a moment ago. Even now it released a massive amount of energy, she got up and walked closer to touch it and it was unlike any water she had come across. It was thick and heavy and would prove hard to move inside with just physical strength alone. Nevertheless, she still has her normal qi to help boost her strength so without even taking her clothes off she jumped into the water. 14: Preparation **Raging Flames Sect** On an ancient ship that glowed with mystical energy, there were wings at the front and back of the ship that made it hover a little above the ground. at a podium on the ship with dozens of floating flames, a man was giving a speech in front of an audience of hundreds of sect members. The man had a muscular body with long flaming red hair that glowed with mystical strength. It was the sect master of the raging flames sect, he was releasing threatening qi that would burn all those close to him. For you to make it this far shows your resolve so do not bring a bad name to your sect the sect master said with a prideful voice. When you face your challenges I want you to fight like a real cultivator, and the one to impress me the most will have a chance of being my diciple he announces to the sect disciples. you have been given your rooms, the inner sect diciples are to be in the lower decks while the inherent diciples will be in the middle decks, sect elders are at the top decks so for the next two weeks before we reach the Levitation Sect make sure you are in top condition, you are dismissed As the diciples started to return to their courters a woman came from the left side of the podium, she was a beautiful woman with red hair and she had an amused expression on her face. You know how things will turn out so whats with all the encouragement That was necessary said the sect master as he waved his right hand in the air, with a cold expression he asked. What did you come here for anyways The woman noticed a small barrier surrounding them but didnt care much and said with an amusing smile. Oh nothing, cant a sister just come give their brother a send off The man looked at the woman before sighing and asking in a serious voice What did the grand elders think about the plan the man asked. Only grand elder Su is against the method of the plan, the other five all didnt object the woman said with a sad expression. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.Master huh, well thats to be expected there was no change in the mans expression as he said this. Waving his hand again the barrier surrounding them vanished and the man looked toward one of the floating balls of fire and said how long do you plan on hiding there Hua Oh, as expected of father, you noticed from the beginning said a voice from out of nowhere. The woman looked towards the direction of the voice and one of the floating flame balls in the air suddenly moved closer towards them before transforming into a young man with red hair. He was clad in all red and he floated down towards them with an arrogant smile. if it isnt Hua the woman said with a slight smile. Auntie Song the young man greeted as he put his hands together in a gesture. The sect leader looked at him and said. You have gotten better at your Fire Transformation Art, no one in the gold core realm should notice you Thanks father, but I still have ways to go before reaching your level, the young said in an exciting tone as he reached for his storage bag. I was told to give this to you by master the young man said with a cheerful smile on his face, he took out a box to hand towards his father. The man held the box in his hand before putting it away, he looked towards the young man before saying. Go send second grand elder my thanks, the ship is about to start so wait for our return Yes father the young man said as his body began to burst in flames, disappearing from the podium. The man looked towards the woman before saying look after him for a while before he too disappeared in a burst of flame. **Levitation Sect** In the inherent diciples courters in a spacious room with bright lit ornaments a young man was cultivating, taking in qi in small bursts of air. It was Xiao Riu the son of the sect master, he had not left his room after getting here, and had not stopped cultivating as well. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked towards the door to his room, a tab came from his door and he released his spiritual consciousness to look. Finding nobody he raised his eyebrows before looking closer with his spiritual consciousness to notice something. At the door on the ground was a small piece of paper, he got up and opened the door before picking it up to view, it was an invitation letter. *Tomorrow at the peach blossom tree in the inner sect courters, all inherited diciples are invited.* He smiled at the thought, no doubt that there were some inherited disciples that were curious about him, but he too was curious as to how they could compare to him. Storing the paper he closed the door before going back to cultivating again, breathing in and out with qi entering his body slowly. **Elsewere** Thats it At another location in the inherited diciples courters in a room with beautiful flowers and ornaments a beautiful girl was sitting in a chair, dressed in all white with a small beast on her lap she had a sly smile on her face when she asked. Yes that was his response a middle aged woman replied respectfully, she was releasing power at the foundation establishment stage. Well it seems that Ill get to see something interesting tomorrow the girl smiled as she touched the small spirit beast in her hand. And how about the other six she asked as she pets the small beast again They all agreed to come except for first ranker Gong Rou Replied the middle aged woman again. Thank you Bai Qian, you have been a big help the girl said with a smile on her face. It is my duty my lady Bai Qian replied respectfully. 15: Contemplation **Westmount valley** Deep in a cave inside of a pool was Meng Lin, she had been absorbing qi for 4 hours at an alarming rate, her body was trembling with power and she kept her eyes close to look deep within her self, inside her dantian was a raging tide of qi filling every corner. Her realm had reached its limit and she could not absorb anymore qi, she opened her eyes and swam out of the water. Coming out of the pool she realized her body felt heavy and she looking down her eyes widen in shock as her body was three times her normal size. The qi inside her raged and threatened to explode and all her wounds itch because of it. She breathed in air as her body sent small pulses of energy around her. Her heart was beating at a fast rate and she could barely think straight, siting down by the side of the pool she concentrated on circulating the qi throughout her body over and over. **8 hours later ** Meng Lin opened her eyes as she circulated her final cycle, her body had shrunk down to its normal size, and she had reached the peak of the qi gathering realm, she was ready to go into the next realm. Taking out the book on cultivation realms she wanted to reread the whole process of how to break through to the next realm so she doesnt make any mistakes. According to the book there were three methods to enter the foundation establishment realm realm, one needed a large amount of qi, a foundation establishment pill or get a cultivator at the Nascent soul realm to use their own powers to help you to break through to the next realm. To reach the realm one needed to change all the qi energy in their dantian into liquid to form a small sea of liquid qi as their energy source, then they would be the Foundation Establishment Realm. Knowing that it was going to require a lot of time and energy she reached for her storage bag, inside is the system package that she had not opened till now. Next to it was the talisman that was still glowing, taking it out it she saw it immediately flew out of her hand towards the halved corpses of the snake. Meng Lin looked at this with a thoughtful expression, when she first saw the snake she had naturally assumed that the monkey was no more but seeing this just confirmed her thoughts. Taking out the system package from the storage bag she was met with a prompt right away. [do you wish to open the package] Yes [Recived 430 system coin, 62 spirit stone, bone strengthening pills x4, soul gathering array] This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Appearing in front of her was 62 blue glowing stones, four small white pills and a gray sealed scroll. Looking towards the scroll she began to wonder what it could do but would put it aside as her goal was actually a specific item in the system market. [Soul confusing array] Confuses the soul of anyone below soul wondering realm to leave the area of the array 150: System coin System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Qi Gathering Realm 9 Stage] [Experience points: 6000/6000] System coin:430 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 9% [Erosion] Comprehension 9% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Market] Going to the market, she bought the array and browsed through the market for anything interesting, there were somethings but she didnt end up buying anything else. She looked around the area only to finally notice the four little flowers by the side of the pool, and just like the pool they were unharmed by the battle that happened a few hours ago. Rigidity crouching down to pick one up she noticed that it held a lot of qi inside. Thinking that it might be useful later she collected all four into her storage bag and looked towards the center of the pool where the lutos flower was. She thought for a moment before turning around to look at the corpse. She walked towards the corpse before putting it into her storage bag, she looked for one last time around the area. It was empty except for the pool and a trail of blood from the snake, Meng Lin didnt stay long after, walking towards the exist of the cave. Step Step Step After a few minutes of walking through the luminous stone path she was finally back at the entrance. She noticed that the sky was getting dark so she quickly set up the soul confusion array which came in the form of white lingering fog, in her hand is the talisman which prevents her from being affected. Finished with her things she quickly rigidly ran across the trees towards the sects location. Arriving at the sect she immediately went to her cave unbothered with the mission she took again. After getting into her cave she sat down to meditate before going to sleep. **Early morning** Getting up in the morning she readied herself before wearing an all black robe. Going outside her cave she walked towards a familiar direction, she was going to go to the outer sect hall to return the books she took and see if she could get something for her injuries. As much as she didnt care about getting scars across her body she didnt want to look like a brute to others and they could also be detrimental in the future. Arriving at the familiar hall she looked around before heading to the to library, opening the door she could see the same old man reading his book again. This time she didnt wait before going up to him and putting the books down on the counter. Thud Getting interrupted, the old man meanly looked at the books on the counter before looking back at the book in his hand. Meng Lin didnt wait to see his reaction as she went for the door of the library when out of nowhere she heard the old mans voice. Whats your name Pausing for a moment she looked back and saw that the old man was still reading his book like he hadnt asked her a question. Meng Lin she uttered before getting out the door. Back in the hall again she started wandering around the area with her hand under her chin, she was wandering why the old man would ask for her name, could he maybe see through her cultivation base or was he asking because he needed the name of the one who returned the books, even though he didnt ask for it when she first took the books. Those thoughts were keeping her distracted as she reached her destination, an area with little outer sect diciples, on top of a door just like the library was the writings *outer diciples shop* 16: Buying Opening the door she realized that it was way different from what she was thinking. It looked just like a normal store with items on shelves that were small containers with barriers around them. What shocked her the most was the place was quite, she had expected this place to be bustling with people. On the shelves were items like pills and weapons that gave off small qi, walking between these she found a counter in the middle of the room and a beautiful woman garbed in yellow robe was sitting behind it. She had accessories all around her body that glimmer in the light. Standing next to her Meng Lin felt that this woman loved jewelry a little too much. The lady getting up from her lying posture looked towards Meng Lin. Oh youre a new face, is there anything that you would like to buy, trade or sell the woman got up and said with a wide smile on her face. Yes this is my first time here, do you have anything for scar treatment Meng Lin said politely while looking at the woman, she was giving off the aura of a peak Qi gathering realm cultivator. Scars the woman said with a pondering expression. follow me, I know the perfect thing for you the woman walked across the counter towards the shelves with items, stoping on a shelve with a small white bottle she pointed out. This is what you need for scar injuries, taking it everyday for a week will leave your skin spotless like nothing happened Giving a short speech about the product the lady reached her hand into the case with her hand going through the barrier, she retrieved the white bottle and handed it to Meng Lin. And how much is it Meng Lin said as she examined the bottle in her hand. The seller wanted 15 spirit stone for it, but just for you junior sister Ill make it 13 spirit stones, actually the seller at first wanted to trade with it but after realizing that no one wanted to trade he decided to sell it, honestly that guy cant ju oh anyways what do you think. Realizing that she had been going off tracked she went right back to asking Meng Lin. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The seller Meng Lin asked as she had thought this place to be a store. Oh yeah, this is your first time here, Ill explain, here all disciples come to sell their items with a price tag to them, some would trade for something else while most would want spirit stones the woman said with smile on her face. And they trust you to look after their stuffs? Meng lin asked in doubt. Of course they do, the sects got their back the lady said with a excited look in her eyes. Looking at her Meng Lin choosed to not pry and took out 13 spirit stones from her storage bag. Here, thank you for lowering the price, may I know who you are? My name is Miao Yue but you can call me sister Yue, most diciples call me that as well so dont be shy okay and i will always be here if you need any help, the lady put her hand together while saying that, she looked at Meng Lin with an excited expression. Sister Yue huh Meng Lin said. Seeing no reaction to her name being called the lady choosed to laugh it off and asked. would that be all Do you have any swords here as well Meng Lin asked this as she thought back to her swords. If possible she would want multiple swords but as she was not trying to look suspicious she could only buy one at the moment. Of course but flying swords are expensive I just need a somewhat durable sword no flying sword or swords with qi Meng Lin said as she was not looking for an amazing sword that could hold off her brute qi for a long time, she just needed it for a one time use. Walking towards a shelf a little closer to the counter she got a sword from the barrier, the sword looked a little shiny with no trace of qi inside of it. Yes that works and whats the price of this one not waiting for another explanation from the lady she immediately asked for the price while taking the sword. The sword is for 3 spirit stones, that one diciple that brought this here was actually the one to make it I see replied Meng Lin as she began taking out three spirit stones. He was really desperate for spirit stones so he brought here a whole bunch of armors and weapons to sell, unfortunately for him only one of his items could be put on shelf so he was really devastated the lady took the three spirit stones while speaking. Is that so Meng Lin said as she prepared to leave the room. Yes he too was a newer diciple like you but since he wanted to be a blacksmith without any spirit stones he tried to sell all his stuff here so the lady continued. Sister Yue I have to go do something so maybe next time Meng Lin said with a polite smile on her face, she wanted to leave now and running out seems rude so she asked her. Oh okay, I hope you come visit soon the lady said with a sad expression on her face she waved at Meng Lin who started to walk out of the store. Meng Lin walked out and while thinking about her next move, she had this feeling that she had to breakthrough to the next stage as soon as possible. Her dantian was already filled with qi so she would just focus on condescending the qi into liquid. As she had nothing else to do at the hall she went straight to her cave to prepared for her trip to the westmount valley again. 17: Introduction Inside of her cave Meng Lin decided to sit down and sort out all of the items that she has, taking out all of them from her storage bag she began to wonder about their use in the future. She had 6 important items right now in her storage bag. Ranking them on their usefulness she thought that it would go with the Soul Gathering Scroll being last place since it has no uses for her right now. Afterwards would be the formless cultivation method which can only be learned in foundation establishment and the four flowers that were by the pool since she didnt know their use. The two different pills and the sword art were the things that she could use right now. She didnt count the spirit stones because she didnt need to use them all her life until a minute ago. Taking the bone strengthening pills from the rest she put one in her mouth while closing her eyes and circulating her qi, a minute later she opened her eyes. Not feeling any different she took the last two pills at the same time, she wondered if anything different would happen, but other than feeling a slight itch in her body she didnt feel anything. Stopping her circulation she looked at her hand, she didnt feel any different but that could be because she doesnt know how strong she is, or what strength was added on. Well find out later Putting the thought to the back of her mind she took out the book dropped from the giant snake. [Sword Art: Thunderbolt Flash] [Do you wish to learn] The same system prompt appeared again, after saying yes she recived a big flood of information about the sword art. What the techniques does is actually simple it was a technique that creates a burst of lightning proportional to the amount of qi given to it, Meng Lin though that it was a simple enough technique. right now, the only thing I can use is the qi gathering pills but they may be useful in the Foundation Establishment Realm so Ill leave them alone Meng Lin didnt want to waste them, she began to get up before taking all of her clothes off. She applied the ointment from the bottle on her scars before getting ready to leave for the westmount valley again. **Inherent diciples courters** in a spacious room with brightly lit ornaments on the ceiling a young man was finishing up his last circulation of cultivation. He got up, ready to go towards this supposed meeting between inherent diciples. Still adorned in his black robe he closed the door behind him before tossing a flying sword and jumping on it, pouring little qi in it he flew towards the area with the only peach blossom tree around. The inherent diciples area is considered small compared to the inner and the outer sect mountains however since only a select few member of diciples reside in it it looked big to the eye. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Not taking too much time Xiao Riu was able to reach the place with relative ease, jumping down at an area not far away from the peach blossom tree, he decided to walk the rest of the way there. Admiring the place while comparing it to his own sect Xiao Riu became impressed with the area. The road was beautifully done with tiles of shimmering stone on the floor that would lit up the area even at this time, he took his time before arriving at his destination. A big peach blossom tree was situated in the middle of a small pond with a small pavilion right by side of the tree, in that pavilion would be where the meeting place would be taking place. Reaching the pavilion door Xiao Riu was greeted by two different womans at the door, both womans were at the peak of the Qi gathering realm. Opening the door they invited him in while politely bowing their heads. Going inside the building Xiao Riu saw a staircase which lead to the viewing area of the pavilion. Going up he was met with luxurious furnitures with decorations all around, it was a place with multiple peoples emitting different auras. There were five peoples sitting on chairs with one person standing behind one of the chairs. Looking towards them, Xiao Ru was met with a beautiful girl dressed in all white with a small beast on her lap. Sitting in the middle seat she looked towards Xiao Riu with a sly smile on her face and standing behind her was a middle aged woman with closed eyes. Looking at her left Xiao Riu saw two identical mens sitting next to each other, they had on identical brown robes and they looked at him with serious looks in their eyes. On the girls right he saw a man and a woman, the woman had on a cold expression with a sharp look in her eyes, while the man was politely smiling at Xiao Riu. Getting up from his sit the man welcome Xiao Riu. Welcome senior brother Xiao Riu its a pleasure to finally meet you Likewise Xiao Riu replied with a curious look in his eyes he sat down at the only sit available in the room. Seeing this, the girl in white smiled and said. Allow me to introduce everyone to you, that girl with the mean looking eyes is Lin Luan ranked last place in strength The girl now known as Lin Luan looked at the girl in white with a annoyed look in her eyes before looking away. These two serious twins on my left are Han Tianyu and Han Yian both ranking 6th and 5th after each other hearing the girl in white say their rank the twins also kept quite. This one is someone you might know, Long Xun the girl said while point towards the man that greeted Xiao Riu. Long Xiao Riu asked while looking at Long Xun. Yes cousin, I am ranked 4th and Long Yi is my father Long Xun Said while taping his chest with pride. Uncle Yi huh The girl in white raised an eyebrow at that before speaking while stroking the beast on her lap. my name is Lu Xin and I am ranked third in strength, I hope we get along I am Xiao Riu Xiao Riu introduced himself while looking towards the spirit beast on her lap, it was quietly sleeping but judging by the Qi it is releasing he confirmed it to be a rank 4 beast in the beginner stage. We know all about you Xiao Rui, you are the sect masters son right, Everyone here is wondering where you were till now Lu Xin asked a question that was on everyones mind, they looked towards him, with even Long Xun looking at him for an answer. sorry, but I made a vow not to say remembering the breeze sect Xiao Riu could only decline to answer that question. Oh if it were a vow then you cant break it realizing the implication of a vow Long Xun could only reply with a down face, he had been wondering about that for a while since his father wouldnt tell him. Xiao Riu looked at him before letting out a wary smile, as he was about to say something, he suddenly felt a presence near the pavilion before looking at the staircase. Long Xun wondered why his cousin stopped, he was about to ask when suddenly a pressure descended upon everybody in the room. The pressure was so heavy that everyone in the room couldnt move with the middle aged woman behind Lu Xun experiencing the worst of it, her legs bucked with her qi going out of control and threatening to explode out of her sea of Qi. Que The small beast on Lu Xuns lab suddenly opened its eyes before it released a burst of qi disrupting the pressure upon everybody. Finally free Lu Xun Looked towards the staircase with a worried expression You she said after seeing who it was. A man came up the stairs, he wore all red with red eyes and hair and he released a threatening amount of qi as he walked towards everyone. Xiao Riu looked at the newcomer with raised eyebrows, because the realm of this man was the same as him, a cultivator at the Soul Wondering Realm. 18: Man vs beast Weng Feng, you brokethrough but why are you here Lu Xun asked with a nervous expression on her face. The red haired man smirked at her before saying. Is this how you talk to the number one inherent diciple saying this he released another threatening pressure this time focused only on Lu Xun. The small beast on Lu Xuns lap had its eyes on this newcomer since he got here so it was prepared for any attack, it released the same burst of qi again disrupting his pressure once more. Tsk Weng Feng looked towards the small beast. Your sister must really love you to give you a rank 4 spirit beast as a pet, although i wouldnt mind taking your snow fox Lu Xin looked towards him with a sneer. You must be joking, you have the arrogance to say that you are number one I am the first to breakthrough to the Soul Wondering Realm so its only natural that I be the first ranked Weng Feng said as he looked towards the other inherent diciples. What, do you all disagree with me as well The room turned silent, the other inherited diciples didnt say anything, even Long Xun kept quite. Because their ranks were decided depending on their cultivation realms Weng Feng was not wrong in saying what he just said. Lu Xin let out a slight laugh before saying only when you defeat Gong Rou, would I accept you as the first ranker Weng Feng looked at her with cold eyes before suddenly pointing a finger towards her, qi instantly gathered in his finger as he said. Do I look like I care about your approval, never mention that name in front of me Weng Feng do you not fear the Lu family anymore someone said from the sideline , Long Xun who had been silent till now finally opened his mouth. He doesnt care about Lu Xin to to point of standing up for her, but he was worried about a fight breaking out, he thought bringing up the Lu family might scare him. But he was wrong because when Weng Feng heard this it only angered him further, he suddenly gathered even more power to his finger before shooting it towards Lu Xin. He looked at her with hatred in his eyes. So what if she has the Lu family, i have a backer too, so why would i be afraid of them like before. A ray of extremely hot fire left a trail in the air as it headed towards Lu Xin, right as it arrived at her seat it exploded into a scorching wave of fire that threatened to consume everything in the room. Lu Xin knew that the attack would blow the whole pavilion apart but she didnt show fear as she called out the small beasts name. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Que Boom An explosion occurred destroying the whole top floor of the pavilion before settling down. The flames slowly died down only to reveal that surrounding the body of everyone in the room was a beautiful water barrier that protected them from the flame that had just exploded. The small fox had disappeared from Lu Xins lap and appeared right in front of Weng Feng. It opened its small mouth while a projection of a big mouth appeared around Weng Feng, it bit down with force intending to tear him apart. Peng Weng Lin was lunched out of the pavilion as the whole room collapsed from the impact. the small fox felt a recoil from its bite so it knew that its attack was blocked, it jumped forward to look properly at Weng Feng who landed not far away. Getting a good look at him the beast realized that covering the whole right arm of Weng Feng was a red Armor that was glowing with force. The small beast felt threatened and so gathered a massive amount of water qi in its body that went out of its body to cover it in thick layers of Qi that resembled Armor. it jumped towards Weng Feng once more, this time fully armed. Reaching him it delivered a blow with its claw that left a hugh scar across the ground. Peng Weng Feng blocked the attack which blasted him even farther away however he stood his ground and gathered qi in his Armored arm before firing a powerful beam that struck the Armored fox pushing it back slightly. Impressive Weng Feng said after not seeing any damage to the fox. Peng Peng The whole area surrounding the peach blossom tree began to be covered in marks as the beast and cultivator continued fighting. Looking from afar Long Xun asked Lu Xin what was on his mind. Do you think your spirit beast can take him down Dont worry, he overestimate himself, if he had battled Que fully Armored he might have stood a chance, but now Lu Xin said as she took out a small talisman before crushing it soon after. Armored Xiao Riu from the side began to think. Its something only cultivators at the soul woundering stage can do, while its true that their strength increases the more armor that they have, however Xiao Riu didnt think that it would go as smooth as they as wished, he looked at the man and beast fight from afar with a thoughtful expression. Boom Heh is that the best that you can do Weng Feng said with blood coming from his mouth, he retrieved an item from his storage bag that glowed with power. He lunched himself towards the spirit beast as he let out a menacing smile, he planned to finish this before taking even more damage. The small fox feeling a threat gathered a large amount of energy in its mouth before releasing it in a beam of highly concentrated water qi that obliterated everything in its path before landing on Weng Fengs figure. As the attack landed on him Weng Feng disappeared from his location before appearing across the beast, he tossed the small item in his hand revealing it to be a scroll glowing with inscription runes. The scroll opened up while it was being thrown and released a hugh magmatic force towards the small fox before swallowing it entirely. Everything happened so fast that those inherent disciples watching couldnt see what happened clearly. Lu Xin, Lin Luan, the twin brothers and Xun Long were baffled at the sudden quietness on the battlefield. A second later Weng Feng appeared before them, he was battered with a few patches of blood on his robe, yet he had on a hugh smile on his face. Lu Xin looking at him with a cold expression. What did you do Weng Feng looked at all the inherent diciples before he lifted his hand to reveal a scroll with inscriptions. From now on its mine, if you want it back than come get it he said before continuing Now lets continue where we left off Boom Another pressure descended upon everybody in the room but this time without the small beast to intervene all the inherent diciple found it difficult to stand as they were forced to their knees, all of them were at the peak of the Gold Core Realm yet they were powerless against him. Weng Feng stop Lu Xin feeling that pressure once again started to get worried, she was not worried about herself but rather for Bai Qian, her attendant. Bai Qian being the only cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm there felt her qi going haywire and out of control, it was taking all of her strength to keep herself together. And why should I listen to you Weng Feng said as he increased the pressure even more. Bai Qians body started glowing, her liquid sea of qi within her dantian was ready to burst open. 19: Xiao Riu’s strength All of a sudden a small burst of qi was sent out to disturb the pressure decending upon everyone. The whole place stood still, Weng Feng looked towards the one who disrupted his pressure with cold eyes. Standing with presence was a young man in a black robe and sharp eyes, coming from his body was wisps of qi that radiate soul wondering realm. You, who are you Weng Feng hadnt noticed the young man at first, when he first came there he had thought him to be some random servent, so he had not bothered to look at him properly. My name is Xiao Riu Weng Feng heard the young man say and thinking of the name, he immediately linked it to the sect masters son that had returned recently. So its you, what are you doing interfering in my business not the least bothered Weng Feng showed him a cold look. His energy skyrocketed and his body became covered in flames, he pointed a finger towards Xiao Riu, with his aura changing he called out. Skystrider Arrow A massive amount of qi was gathered into his finger and released at an alarming speed that took the shape of a large flaming arrow that arrived at Xiao Rius face instantly. Boom Wind was blown in all directions as all those close to Xiao Riu were blown away by the attack, the pavilion that was on its last legs had collapsed completely. Brother Xiao Riu landing not far away from the pavilion Yi Long shouted with worry, that attack was too fast to anyone to react. Dont worry, I am fine answered a voice behind him, turning around he saw the same young man in a black robe with no scratch whatsoever on his being. Xiao Riu had on a cold expression as he shifted his attention towards Weng Feng, he didnt like how he was attacked out of nowhere. Wait here He said as he started walking towards Weng Feng with a steady pace, from his body appeared a pressure. Book! A pressure so immense decended upon the whole field, his aura exuded off his body and the floor around him started to deepen. Impossible looking at Xiao Riu walking towards him from afar, Weng Feng had a surprised look on his face, dodging an attack that close should not be possible, even he wouldnt be able to do it and yet this young man was able to do it. Storing the scroll in his storage bag he lunched himself towards Xiao Riu at lightning speed as his right arm began to be covered in Armor again. He was prepared to fight full force against this person if need be. Reaching a couple of meters from Xiao Riu he suddenly started to get slower. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. He felt pressure surround his body like he was in water, completely shattering his momentum. Being all too familiar with pressure he stopped his movement and released a burst of qi in all directions before sprinting towards Xiao Riu again. He had done as intended but he noticed that the pressure was still there and the closer he was to him the slower he becomes. Five meters away and he couldnt sprint towards Xiao Riu anymore, his breathing became more heavy and he felt like a boulder was placed on his shoulders. Heavy and almost out of breath he was having difficulties walking up to him, but he still persisted and walked steadily through the pressure. Three meters away and his body became completely immobilized, it was glued to the ground, he couldnt bring his leg up anymore. His breathing became ragged and he couldnt move anymore, he noticed that as Xiao Riu walks up to him the pressure continued to increase. With each walk, the pressure placed upon Weng Feng would go up slightly and his breathing would become even more unstable. Six feets away and Weng Fengs knee finally buckled, he was forced to get on his hands and knees, he felt the air stick to him like wall and he looked up at Xiao Riu who was standing right infront of him. You asked what I was doing interfering in your business right taking one step forward Xiao Riu asked. Weng Feng felt the increase in the pressure and felt even more suffocated as he couldnt hold his head up anymore, he could barely hold himself up. Ill tell you Xiao Riu said as he looked down upon Weng Feng, remembering the past he stepped forward one more time. I dont like to see the weak suffer Feeling an increase in the pressure once again Weng Feng couldnt hold on any longer and hit the ground with force. Blood was coming out of his mouth and he drifted into unconsciousness. the pressure had became too much for him to bear. Xiao Riu looked at him and didnt show a shed of sympathy as he raised his leg for another step. Thats enough A soft voice called out from the side and along with the voice was a force strong enough to disrupt the pressure surrounding the area. A beautiful woman in a white dress appeared before him, she was floating a few feets off the ground and she had Lu Xin walking by her side. Severely injuring or killing an inherent diciple could get you in a lot of trouble, even if you are the sect masters son And you are Xiao Riu asked curiously even though he had already guessed that the lady was most probably related to Lu Xin judging from the way they looked. Senior brother Riu this is my sister Lu Yung she is an inner sect elder Lu Xin from the side said as she walked up to him, she walked up to Weng Feng who was on the ground and took his storage bag. Looking through it she took out a scroll with inscription runes and handed it to the lady. Its this The lady took the scroll from Lu Xin, tapping the runes on the scroll she destroyed them and handed the scroll back to Lu Xin. Well for now Ill take this one to the sects infirmary, you can take care of the rest right the lady, Lu Yung said as she floated towards Weng Feng. Reaching her hand out, Weng Feng was directly lifted from the dirt and floated by her side. She took out a flying sword and stepped on it while pouring qi into it before flying off into the distance with Weng Feng by her side. looking at her from afar, Xiao Riu wondered how he would fare against her if they fought, but he shook his head as he put that though to the back of his mind. Forgive me senior brother Riu, its my fault that this happened Looking towards his right Xiao Riu saw Lu Xin with a small smile. It doesnt matter, he was rude Xiao Riu said as he thought back to the way Weng Feng behaved. right Lu Xin said as she Looked down, she blamed herself. She had wanted to check out the strength of this newcomer but she didnt think that Weng Feng would show up, and in the next realm for that matter. Brother Riu Yi Long said from afar as he along with the twins and Lin Luan started to gather towards Xiao Riu and Lu Xin. **Westmount valley** Meng Lin drifted through the trees and arrived at the cave entrance with no difficulty. Looking around the place, she noticed that there were footprints around the whole floor, human footprints that disappeared not far from the cave entrance. Meng Lin worried a little, she believed that the array would be enough to keep this place secret but she neglected to think about the possibility of this place being known by others beforehand. 20: Understanding The fog was still lingering in the air which means that the array was not destroyed. Looking around the whole array formation, she heaved a sigh of relief after finding out that all of the array were in the right places. she calmed down as she began to think, putting her hand under her chin, she immediately ruled out the possibility of it being an outer sect disciple. they wouldnt come here to dangerous places and since the footprints disappeared after just a few meters from the cave she knew that the culprit had to be able to use a flying sword, and only Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators and above can do that. She thought since the array is in place, no one above the soul woundering real was here, but I cant rule out the possibility of them just not breaking the array She hoped that she was just overthinking things because she hates trouble, going inside the cave she had on a cautious face as she walked under the luminous stones. Arriving at end of the cave, she looked towards the pool which was giving off a large amount of qi, it was the same as last before with no abnormalities. After coming closer and she confirmed that nothing was different about the pool. Only then was her mind was at ease, she sat down next to the pool and closed her eyes. Looking inside her dantian which was filled with qi she began to focus on a a large amount of qi in her dantian to gather them together, condensing them them together she saw them turn into a droplets of water. The drops of water were not water but in fact just pure qi and only when she turns her entire sea of qi into liquid would she have brokenthrough. She had just used one tenth of her qi to forge those small droplets of liquid qi so her qi lowered a bit, circulating her qi inside her body she began gathering qi from the surroundings outside to refill her sea of qi. The aura around the pool chunked as the qi converged towards Meng Lin, and two minutes later her dantian was filled with qi again. Stopping her qi circulation she began to once again turn her qi into liquid. This time using all of her qi from her dantian she condensed them into drops of liquid qi that joined the first group of liquid qi to get even bigger. Ten minutes later and her dantian was empty of qi but she had made a little progress, floating above her empty sea of qi was a small sphere of liquid qi that was gathered from her normal qi. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Opening her eyes Meng Lin felt drained as she began to stand up, walking towards the pool in the cave she stopped right before it. Taking her robe off she jumped into the pool with only her inner garment, she noticed a difference this time in the water. her body was moving freely without out even being strengthened by her qi, she naturally assumed this was because of the bone strengthing pills that she took before. Sinking to the bottom of the pool she closed her eyes and began absorbing qi again, taking no more than 30 minutes her dantian became filled again. She gathered all of the qi inside of her dantian again to form drops of liquid qi that joined the others. 5 minutes later, after all of her qi bad turned into liquid qi she continued her cycle of absorbing qi in the water to fill up her dantian and than condensing all that qi together to form liquid qi. **Levitation sect** Deep Underground under the sect masters palace was a room decorated to the outmost extent with all sorts of stylish stuffs. At the center of the room was an old man sitting down meditating, behind the old man was a cracked floating sphere pulsating with power. The old man was meditating silently with no fluctuation in the qi surrounding him, it was as if he was not cultivating at all. Opening his eyes he looked towards the door to the room, waving his hand the door opened to reveal a shadow bowing down at the door. How did it go Shu, do you have it the old man asked. Yes grandmaster, the last item has been collected the shadow not looking up answered as he took out a storage bag before tossing it to the old man. Catching the storage bag the old man looked through its content before saying. perfect, little Han was just asking about it the old man smiled a little as with this the formation would be complete, looking towards the shadow, he noticed that the shadow wasnt retreating so he asked. Do you have anything else to report Yes, I have confirmed that Lu Qin will be arriving at the sect competition Lu Qin huh, okay you are dismissed the old man looked thoughtful as he repeats the name. The shadow by the door became consumed with darkness before disappearing instantly. Waving his hand the old man closed the door and got back to mediating silently, his thoughts a mystery. **6 hours later** **Westmount Valley** Inside the pool at the end of the cave, Meng Lin opened her eyes, she moved her body with ease as she propelled herself towards the top of the pool, jumping out of the pool she landed on the ground. Remembering something she called out. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Qi Gathering Realm 9 Stage] [Experience points: 100%/10%] System coin:280 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 9% [Erosion] Comprehension 9% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Market] Oh looking at her experience points she noticed that it had changed from its regular numbers to percentages. And judging from how its ten out of a hundred she assumed its corresponding to the amount of liquid qi in her dantian. If she kept it up than in about a week she would have brokenthrough to the next realm. Her thoughts went back to why she called out the system, she had just remembered her mutated Elemental Qi and since she had system coins, she could buy more Formless Water Talismen to see if she could increase their percentage. But that would be for the future as her top priority right now was to break through. Drying herself of the water she put her robe back on before heading out of the cave. 21: Bizzarre **3 days later ** **Westmount Valley ** Meng Lin was siting by the side of the pool, lost in though, the system had said that new functions would be unlocked when she breaks through to new realms, meaning that the system cant process without her, but the opposite is also true. She had read a book or two where in the end the system turns out to be the main villain but at her current point she doubts that she needed to worry about that, her realm was progressing fast but she had attributed that to her special physique. Which made her wonder how she got it in the first place, its not like the physique had anything to do with her system or herself from earth. Physique means your body composition, which would mean that it was either from her family, random mutation or a higher power. And speaking of her family, she had no recollection of her mother, when she had arrived to this world she was always with her father and the memories of her mother were fuzzy. She would have to ask her father about her mother when she had the chance. Raising her hand she gathered her brute qi into her hand. She had noticed the four properties that this energy has. The first is that it doesnt combine with anything else, and would just destroy said thing if tried. Second the brute qi in her dantian would increase as her realm increases, thirdly is that it blocks attacks depending on the amount of qi she puts in her shield surrounding her body. And four she can use the brute qi for any technique in her arsenal which increases their damage considerably. Thinking of ways to make it even more useful, she had thought of filling up her dantian with just brute qi and trying to liquify it to turn it into liquid qi. But she had determined that it wouldnt work based on the fact that its chaotic, trying to turn it into something else doesnt work, and even if it was possible it would take years upon years just to fill up her dantian with just liquid brute qi. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Luckily she was able to have this much freedom in the sect, from what she has seen, the sect doesnt consider qi gathering realm cultivators that important and they only bother with those at the peak of the realm or those from special families. She had noticed that they encourage outer sect diciples to cultivate but they dont do anything like giving rewards to help with their growth progress, she assumed that only the inner sect diciples would get that privilege. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Qi Gathering Realm 9 Stage] [Experience points: 100%/43%] System coin:280 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 9% [Erosion] Comprehension 9% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Market] Going through the system market she looked for anything that might help develop something that was on her mind since she had gotten the system. An army, or more specifically subordinates, she had long realized that having underlings make things easier sometimes, the system is the perfect equipment for creating such things. But the only thing remotely close to something like that in the system market is a single pill. [Qi Realm Origin Essence] Consuming it makes any normal person a peak qi gathering realm cultivator, but they cant ever cultivate past that realm. 900: System coin The cost is high and there are downsides to consuming the pill, she obviously hadnt considered buying something like that. She could only put the thought at the back of her mind, getting up from her seated position she looked at the center of the pool where the lutos flower was. She had been avoiding getting in contact with it because she assumed that the source of all this qi from the pool was this flower, and plucking it might cause some unnecessary things. Walking out of the cave she looked towards sky and the sun was still up, today she had finished her practice early as she wanted to throughly check the whole valley. For the past few days that she had been here, she had not encountered a single spirit beast. Her last encounter was with that black snake and judging by the fact that it was a rank two spirit beast which was equivalent to foundation establishment realm cultivators she had assumed that it went on a killing spreed, devouring almost every rank 1 spirit beast around, or the rest were scared away to other areas. Leisurely jumping through the trees Meng Lin was wondering why such a bizarre thing like that had happened in such a low grade area which should only have rank 1 spirit beasts. Looking from tree to tree and to hidden areas all around the valley, she had not seen a single creature in the forest of trees, going by the waterfall she checked the whole stream up the fall but to no avail, that too was empty with not even a single aquatic life. Seeing no spirit beast she wasnt all that worried as she already had assumptions, she could only go back to the sect after collecting the flowers for her mission. Lately shes been collecting them and stacking up a little amount of sect contribution points just to not seem suspicious. 22: Gold Returning to the sect Meng Lin went straight towards the outer sect hall. She walked a little past the mission board before reaching a door with the mission sign. Opening it she was greeted with a small room without anything but a counter with a young boy behind it, the room was small and quiet. The boy had his head on the counter and promptly got up when he heard the door open, seeing someone familiar he went back to laying his head on the counter and asked. What mission did you complete this time Meng Lin looked up at the boy, he looked to be about 12 years old, but he was an inner sect disciple that had been been put in this room for whatever reason. Its the same mission senior brother Li Meng Lin said as she takes out the flower for the mission to hand to him. Again, why are you coming here every day for so little sect contribution I just like picking flowers Meng Lin kept it simple as she answered his question. Receiving the item he stored the flower in his storage bag before taking out a brush. He stretched his hand out to Meng Lin who gave him a small golden pendent with the number 6. Taping his brush on it, he was able to add the required amount of sect contributions on the pendant changing the number to 9. You should join those group missions, the rewards are higher handing the pendant and a single spirit stone to Meng Lin the young man encouraged her to do joint missions. I will think about it Meng Lin answered as she got ready to leave the room, but of course what was on her mind was i will not be joining any form of group missions she does not trust random strangers with her life so she wouldnt take that route. Leaving the small room, Meng Lin slowly walked towards the inner most part of the hall, she was heading to the outer disciple shop on the far end of the hall. As she walks past all the different rooms she thought back to when she first came here, she had not realized how many different places were in this building. Come to think of it, I still dont know who that girl Yu Yun is remembering that girl in pink who disappeared instantly, she still couldnt guess anything from their encounter. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Reaching her destination Meng Lin opened the door right away, in the room were the same shelves with items and a counter in the middle. Sitting behind that counter is Miao Yue, dressed in her jewelry robe she had on a serious expression while focusing on an item in her hand, momentarily without looking up Miao Yue said in a strong tone. Youre late Whos late Meng Lin walked in towards the counter and asked with a curious voice. Miao Yue hearing a female voice answering her was brought back from her dazed look as she looked up to meet Meng Lins gaze. oh sorry about that, I was too focused on an item from one of my previous customers. Laying the item, a coin on the counter she stood up and looked at Meng Lin with her friendly smile. Customers Meng Lin asked thinking back. Yes, but forget about that, now you were on my mind since that day. I had forgotten to ask for your name, can you tell me now Oh, Meng Lin she said as she too realized that she hadnt been asked that moment. Writing down the name on a tablet Miao Yue replied with a smile. Meng Lin, do you need my help with anything at all Remembering back to when Miao Yue had said to come to her if she ever needed help Meng Lin shook her head and said. No, I came to buy a sword again, the last one was destroyed Coming up with a believable excuse Meng Lin wanted to buy another sword to add to her stock. She thought that adding more was for the best, since they would just get destroyed anyways. Hearing that Meng Lins sword was destroyed Miao Yue was not shocked, as mortal swords with barely any qi easily get destroyed in a lot of way by nonhuman strength, thus making them not suitable for cultivators. Not looking at Meng Lin for confirmation on what kind of sword that she wants Miao Yue started waking towards one of the shelves with a sword. I have the perfect one for you, although Its a bit expensive Reaching her hand into the barrier around the sword, she drew it out handed it to Meng Lin. This one is a poorly made low grade sword, but it should satisfy you for a long time talking with confidence Miao Yue was sure Meng Lin would like this weapon. Looking at the sword that shines with luster meng Lin became tempted but quickly regained her focus as she handed the sword back. I want a normal sword But you didnt even hear the price, its only 16 spirit stones Miao Yue said while holding up two fingers. It is too expensive, i only have a couple spirit stones with me Meng Lin thought that lack of money is a reasonable answer to give from a new diciple. I can lend you some if you dont have enough for it I dont borrow money, its something I dont do, so Ill just take a normal sword, besides i wont be using it for anything big, just cutting flowers Meng Lin said with a slight smile on her face. Okay finally relenting Miao Yue didnt push forward with the low grade sword, she had wanted to make it easier for Ming Lin but if it was not something that Meng Lin wanted than she could not force it. Thinking for a minute she retrieved a sword from her storage bag, other than the color of the sword being gold it looked just like any other sword made by mortals. What is it Reaching for the sword Meng Lin realized that it was heavy, and glowing gold, it gave her the feeling of being at a spot light. It is something that I had before joining the sect, I had it made gold to match my fashion but it ended up being useless, so Ill sell it to you for 3 spirit stones Miao Yue said with a grin as she gets to sell something that is essentially nothing. Storing the sword in her storage bag, Meng Lin readily headed to the door as she had gotten what she came here for. See you next time Meng Lin heard from behind her, waving her hand, she left the room with her mood slightly risen. 23: Breakthrough **4 days later** **Westmount Valley ** Early morning a young girl dressed in a black robe was walking through the trees, she was admiring the now flourishing trees after a few days of no activity throughout the forest. Meng Lin was leisurely walking towards the cave entrance, Lightning was occasionally coming from her feets as she walked and yet she seemed relaxed. She was currently looking at her system status with a happy smile. [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Qi Gathering Realm 9 Stage] [Experience points: 100%/89%] System coin:280 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 9% [Erosion] Comprehension 9% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Market] She was almost there with her experience, and it was only a matter of time before she reached the phase of the foundation establishment. Right now she is focusing on her leg which was occasionally tingling. She was running lightning through it as a fir of training, she stopped her qi flow and blew a small breath out. Phew She had started to involve her techniques in her daily routine, she wanted to see if she could keep the Thunderbolt Flash technique always active like the others but that proved to be difficult as she couldnt keep it from going haywire and flashing everywhere. She had been using her refine qi technique for the last 3 days and she had noticed a small improvement in her qi movement, which was already being boosted by her Focus Qi Control. She reached the cave entrance while lost in thought, small clouds of fog covered the area and kept any unwanted trespassers away. Taking out a small glowing talisman in her storage bag, she was easily able to pass the lingering fog ahead, walking in a carefree way Meng Lin reached the pool with a smile on her face. she was in a good mood because today would be the day that she would reach the foundation establishment stage, she would be able to fly now. Stolen novel; please report. She already envied those that could fly on swords in the sky and her only time flying was with that inner sect diciple, at the time she was more curious than happy. Not taking her clothes off Meng Lin jumped into the pool and got into the right position to gather qi. She stopped her momentarily excitement and closed her eyes to look inside her dantian. Her dantian was full of qi already so she began to condense them into large drops of liquid qi in her dantian, the drops would combine with the sea of liquid qi that has covered a large portion of the dantian. Her efficiency has improved dramatically after she started using those techniques and it only took her four minutes to condense them as she readily absorbed the surrounding qi from the pool. She easily became focused on the cycle that she had been doing for the last few days that she didnt notice the passage of time. **3 hours later** Meng Lin was awakened from her dazed cultivation to suddenly feeling nothing, she could feel that there was no qi surrounding her and felt little wind blowing around her body. Opening her eyes she was left shell shocked, her surroundings were empty and there was no water in sight, she was sitting on a hard floor that looked like it did not have any traces of water on it. Standing up and looking around she saw that at the center of the pool, or what used to be a pool was the lutos flower. It was withering and slowly turning into dust. Meng Lin was baffled, what exactly had happened? Its dying, did she absorb too much qi, but it didnt show any signs that it was dying, random thoughts were currently flying in her mind as she began to think. But Meng Lin could not come to any conclusions as to why that had happened, perplexed she called out. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Qi Gathering Realm 9 Stage] [Experience points: 100%96%] System coin:280 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 9% [Erosion] Comprehension 9% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Market] The system is not showing any weird changes so its not because of me meaning the plant dying was either from outside interference. Or too much qi absorption or maybe it just dies after a certain period of time Meng Lin began thinking after looking through her system. She had been worried that her special physique might have been the problem but it seems not. its unlikely for this to be outside interference, so Meng Lin ruled it out since no one or thing other than her is here. Dying of age is reasonable but she doubts that it was that, the pool running dry was the most reasonable option since she had been using it every single day since she saw it. Though she doesnt know if shes right or not, looking at her system menu, she was really disappointed, it couldnt have waited to disappear after her breakthrough, she sighed. Sitting down on the floor, she began to wonder, it would probably take a whole week to fill up her dantian to completion without the pool and she didnt want to wait for that, she came expecting for a breakthrough so she was not leaving without it. Making up her mind she took out a small glowing pill, it was one of her qi gathering pills that she had planned to use after her breakthrough. Popping it inside her mouth she closed her eyes and began to circulate her qi, focusing on her surroundings she began to gather more qi or rather more qi began to gather around her position. Outside of her cave in the whole valley, qi slowly began moving towards her direction, it was not as readily available as the pool but it was more than enough for just a handful of drops of liquid qi. Her hair began blowing in the air and her body became the center of a small cyclone of qi. At 98% her dantian started to solidify and her dantain began to follow its instinct, gathering more and more qi from her surrounding to reach a new height. At 99% her internal energy fluctuations reached a level where her body could not contain it any longer, pulses of energy were washing away anything from three meters away from her. At 100% Meng Lin felt her dantian harden as every drop of qi became liquid, only then did she open her eyes. 24: Foundation Establishment Realm Large amounts qi was swirling around Meng Lin when she opened her eyes, she felt her body light and her vision improving but most importantly of all, she could feel power coursing through her whole being. Her heart was palpitating with excitement and joy as her dantian was returning to normal, she knew that shed broken through without a problem. Calming down she noticed that the last amount of qi surrounding her was beginning to fade and she closed her eyes to concentrate into her dantian. The large body of liquid qi in her dantian had shrunken down to a third of her dantians size, it was smaller than before and yet it pulsed with more power than before. Her Brute Qi was quietly situated in her dantian, it had double its size and remained floating in the air. Focusing her mind elsewhere she could feel qi coursing through her body with some clustered around her scars on her back and leg, the wounds were already healed but had scars left, her qi was trying to slowly mend the areas. Meng Lin smiled slightly, she was already seeing one of the benefits of being a foundation establishment cultivator, self recovery. Qi gathering cultivators cant do that, it was one of the reasons that they arent considered useful until they reach foundation establishment. Stopping her qi circulation she opened her eyes to system messages popping up. [Congratulations for reaching a new realm, you have recived rewards for your achievement] [You have received foundation establishment pill x1, intermediate system pack] [The system has updated, the alchemist and blacksmith section has been unlocked] Looking through the system messages, Meng Lin pondered as she puts her hand under her chin, she doesnt know much about alchemist and blacksmith but she knows that they are really useful professions. As much as she knows their importance, she didnt like the thought of doing them since she has the system, she could just get the pills by buying them from the market or by getting them as rewards. She put the thought at the back of her mind since it was a win win situation for her, looking ahead she saw that appearing in front of her was the two floating items of her achievement. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The foundation establishment pill which she has received looked to be more of a trophy than meaningful since she was already a foundation establishment cultivator, it wouldnt make sense for the system to consider that a reward. But she still took it as it might be useful for something else later, turning her attention to the important one she smiled. This was her first intermediate system package so she was curious as to what it holds, reaching out and grabbing the package she was immediately met with the prompt. [Do you wish to open the package] Yes It glowed bright before shattering to show the contents in it, the light disappeared to reveal four items appearing in front of her. [You have recived 1210 system coins, 250 spirit stones, concealment talisman, medium grade axe, rattle serpent egg, 5 beast forage] Meng Lin raised her eyebrows at the system message she didnt think in this direction but it didnt matter, as the light faded what appeared before her were an axe, talisman, egg and a weird plant. She had expected the increase in the system coins and spirit stones but she had not expected them to be this much, what got her raising her eyebrows was the egg that appeared, she was no expert in handling eggs so she was slightly concerned about it. She could only shook her head as what happens in the future would be seen in the future, reaching her hand out to touch it she was surprised. [Rattle serpent egg] Inside is a spirit beast with a rank 2 bloodline, once hatched it quickly grows to the peak of a rank two spirit beast where it can no longer go any further. Below the egg was a small description, the contents werent what shocked her, the reason she was given a shock was because the system normally doesnt show descriptions. Only when they are in the system market would she see their description, the only exception to that was books and techniques so she became curious. Trying to touch the axe she was given a small description again, the system had said that it had updated but she had just assumed that it had just unlocked the alchemist and blacksmith section. She began to think of what items she had and thinking quick she took out a flower that was glowing slightly, it was one of the four flowers that were by the pool. As she held it in her hand she waited for a small description to pop up but nothing happened which left her disappointed, it seems that the description only works on system items. But she had expected this as it would be too much if she could know about anything that she came into contact with. Snapping out of her thoughts, she began to get up, she was still under the dry pool so she jumped towards the surface before landing gracefully. She looked around before heading towards the outside, it was too bad that she would be leaving this place and most likely never coming back, the pool was gone and she doubts that she could get any more uses from here. Reaching the entrance she noticed that the sun was still up, it seems that not much time had passed since her arrival here, and the fog was still lingering around the entrance. Coming out of the cave she took the soul confusing array surrounding the entrance. Since she was done with the cave she stored the array inside her storage bag for further use before turning to leave. She still had stuffs to do, one of which is learning the Formless cultivation method which needed her to be a foundation establishment cultivator. As she walked through the trees lost in thought she suddenly felt a chill down her back. Boom 25: Strategic Jumping to the side Meng Lin heard a loud explosion coming from where she was originally standing. Looking at the spot, she saw a glowing arrow stuck to the ground, it tore a small chunk of the ground and looked unmovable, turning her head back towards the cave she looked up. Up 30 meters up on the small mountain that the cave was situated at was a cliff, the arrow had been fired from that cliff. 6 individuals were standing on the cliff looking down upon her, they were all dressed in a long black robe that covered their faces. All of them were giving off the aura of a foundation establishment stage cultivator and it seems like all six of them were cultivators at the beginning stages. One by one they all raised their hands from their robe revealing a bow, and not uttering a single word they gathered qi into their hand before firing an arrow towards her. Meng Lin was given a shock as the arrows arrived infront of her almost instantaneously, giving her no room to dodge. Peng The arrows had traveled faster than the one before so the ground cracked more under their impact and debris and dust was scattered around the area. When the dust settled Meng Lin was revealed under the smoke and dust to be completely unscathed. She was in the middle of small hole and covering her left arm was her brute qi, the arrows were nowhere to be seen. She grimaced in pain, the arrows were stronger than she had expected, she had thought that a single arm was all that she needed but it appears that she had underestimated the enemy. Her arm was almost paralyzed from the impact just now, she would have to be careful of those arrows from now on. Looking up at the attackers she dashed towards them with her newfound speed while taking out a sword emitting very little qi. The robed figures seeing their attack successfully blocked didnt show any responses and gathered more qi into their arrows. They fired once more at Meng Lin who in response started sprinting in a zigzag pattern dodging all of their arrows. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom The surrounding ground was getting ravaged worse and worse with each explosion from their arrows and Meng Lin was making use of the debris and smoke to get closer without sustaining any damage. She looked at them with thoughts running through her head, she was getting closer to them and yet they didnt seem responsive as they fired rapid arrows towards her, one of which almost hitting her. She arrived a few meters away from the cliff before throwing her sword high up on the cliff wall, gathering brute qi into her legs she jumped as high as she could. Her body elevated from the force of the jump and she found herself high up in the air, she had jumped 20 meters in the air before gravity started to work on her again. The cliff had been too high for her to jump on but she was not surprised by that as her aim was not the cliff but the sword that she had thrown before. Using it as a springboard she jumped further up the cliff to see the six robed attackers. Two of them were already far in the back gathering a large amount of qi into their bows, she had determined them to be a little dangerous so she gathered brute qi in her hand, ready for any surprise attack. The four robed figures in the front had swords in their hand and were waiting for her arrival, their swords glowed red and they attacked at the same time. Their moves were simultaneous, making her feel more uncomfortable, four cross shaped crescent slashes came headed her way. Surge As she landed on the ground she waved her hand and her brute qi surged outward, it covered a wide area and clashed against their red crescent slashs. Boom! The slashes were powerful yet the brute qi easily tore through the combined attacks and landed on the four robed figures, they were sent flying further back where two massive arrows came hurtling her way. Meng Lin couldnt possibly block them otherwise she would be blown back down the cliff so with limited options she choose to jump high into the air bearly dodging the arrows. While in the air she took out an axe before looking towards the enemy, the four robed sword wielders had been blown back into the two archers causing them to fall to the ground, the blast had ripped their robes finally revealing their faces. And yet they didnt seem all that bothered about it, like it didnt matter. They went back to grabbing their swords and bows before getting up again. Meng Lin looking carefully at their facial features before finally understanding her circumstance. As she landed on the ground she held her stance before raising the axe in the air. Brute qi gathered in it as she swang down with great power shattering the stones on the ground and sending a suffocating qi force towards them. BOOM A few seconds later the explosion cleared to reveal a hugh slash across the ground, Meng Lin raised an eyebrow as the slash seems to have something else in it. Looking down at her axe she was suprised to see only a single crack on it, she had expected to only see the handle, it seems that it wasnt a medium grade item for nothing. Looking at the result of her attack she could only see the small pieces of wood left of her enemies, holding her axe over her head she let out an expression of satisfaction as she walked up to check up on them. 26: Formless Cultivation Method Just as I thought meng Lin thought while looking down at the floor, she heaved a sigh of relief once she realized that she hadnt killed any real person, down infront of her were the gathered remains of her enemies. Wooden limbs and body parts were scattered around her making it clear what she was fighting against this whole time, she had been fighting puppets not real peoples. So its all of them, I was expecting at least one of them to be the mastermind Meng Lin thought back, she had her suspicions a few minutes earlier when she saw their synchronizing movements. But the fact that all of them were foundation establishment stage puppets just gave her more headache to deal with because it means that their backgrounds were not simple. She couldnt guess as to how hard it was to create puppets of this caliber but she assumed that no foundation establishment stage cultivator was capable of doing it. After checking all the wooden parts and not finding anything useful she decided to leave right away as she expected for an even higher level puppet to come survey this area because of what happened. Turning her back to the destroyed puppets she jumped down the cliff and started sprinting towards the sect, this time choosing a different route and going at a steady pace careful of any potential dangers. **Levitation Sect** **Inner sect courters** In a room darkly lit by candles, a man in a black robe was sitting crossed leg in the middle of the room. If Meng Lin were she would be shocked because the man was non other than the one that was at the innermost hall of the outer sect mountain. All around the room was rows of humanoid puppets that were unfinished and across the man was a giant that looked to be twice his size with a gaping hole through its stomach. It was a red giant that had a strong threatening aura coming from its gaping hole, it was glowing red and burning yet the giant stood there motionless with a blank expression as if not alive. What The man sitting across was suddenly startled awake from his cultivation and opened his eyes with a surprise look before stopping his unique cultivation. The man had asked nobody in particular as he tried to figure out what he just felt. those six stationary puppets checking his spiritual consciousness, he realized that his connection with the six puppets were erased meaning they had been destroyed or were taken by force. He was surprised because he had ordered them to not engage anyone above their realm. Their only job was to observe and report any unusual activity at the valley, their cloaks were unique low grade equipment that hide them from the spiritual sense of higher staged cultivators. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. After some calculations he was sure that all those six puppets were destroyed, since they were puppets created with his cleargreen wood he was sure no cultivator under the Narscent Soul stage would be able to refine it by force and he heavily doubts that any random Narscent Soul cultivator would go out of their way to refine some low grade puppets. they may have been discovered by one of the sect elders so I shouldnt be too surprise, it doesnt matter anyway since those were only stationary foundation establishment puppets the man looked infront of him towards the giant before going back to his usual cultivation. Right now if i could just finish this puppet than all would be worth it, i wouldnt have to worry about those elders and wouldnt be so limited with my movements The man thought and began focusing on the giants body, white sparks flew around as he began imbuing the giant with his spiritual qi, the hole in the giant began glowing again while releasing terrifying power. **Outer sect courters** After arriving to the sect Meng Lin went straight to her cave, she was exhausted mentally from today so she wanted to relax a little. Closing the cave behind her she sat down and began meditating, no qi was swirling around her and no noise was coming from her body, she was genuinely meditating, freeing her mind of all worries and entering a subtle trance. After two hours of just meditating she opened her eyes, taking out her storage bag she began to think ahead. Inside were the qi gathering pills, the concealment talisman and the beast forage, which actually might come in handy later on, her actual objective for now was the glowing book floating in the storage space, the Formless cultivation method. Taking out the book she was given a prompt immediately. [Do you wish to learn The Formless Cultivation Method] Yes Replying immediately Meng Lin felt the book in her hand dissipate into light before suddenly becoming aware of more in her head. Knowledge of certain things became alive in her mind, from knowing how to lower her presence in a crowd to knowing how to erase her existence from all under the heavens. Her heart beat faster while she had a gleeful smile on her face after realizing the usefulness of this cultivation method that seemingly has 3 stages. She could cultivate the first method right now but the other methods need her to reach higher heights of power. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(early)] [Experience points: 3%] System coin:1490 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 9% [Erosion] Comprehension 9% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] Calling out the system Meng Lin saw a new added section on the cultivation techniques section. Focusing her mind to it she was able to see a description under the cultivation method. [Formless Cultivation Method] Form 1: form concealing Form 2: locked Form 3: locked From the information that she just received, cultivating the first method gives her the ability to conceal her self into anything that has form, its like hiding in the shadow of something, except in this case she overlaps her existance with said object to not be traced. Its a very useful ability for stealth, and could be used for hiding from enemies in the near future. Looking below form 1 she saw that form 2 and 3 were locked, she naturally knew that she had to reach a higher realm to unlock them. Even though it says locked Meng Lin knew a little about the second form, a sneak peak if you may as if to encourage her to reach higher realms. But knowing about it and utilizing it are two completely different things so she calmed down and decided to take a break in the form of sleep. 27: Arrival **Levitation sect** **Outer sect hall** The outer sect hall was bustling with activity as always with different outer sect disciples going about their business. The hall was big with multiple rooms that each serve a different purpose and in one of these room was Meng Lin sitting down and shuffling through books. Today Meng Lin had decided to go to the library to read upon spirit beast and puppets and any related techniques. Now that she had broken through to the foundation establishment realm she is easily able to comprehend things more as she was already on her third book. For some reason the old man was not here today, there was only a sign by the counter with the rules of the library on it. At the door of the library was an array which she assumed to react for those that break the rule upon leaving the library. She decided to read the books here as one of the rule was to only take two book out, she didnt want to test the array by taking more books than necessary, the old man seemed way too mysterious to her. Closing the third book she sighed a little upon learning more information about puppets. The time and resources that goes into creating foundation establishment realm puppets is a lot. And to just leave 6 such puppets lying around like they didnt matter is what was bothering her. She was glad that she got out of the valley fast, now she doesnt plan on going there anymore. Not unless she was confident with her self, taking the only books about beast eggs and raising spirits beasts she decided that she had learnt enough for today. Getting out the door, she felt the array lit before going back to normal, since she had what she needed she left the outer sect hall which seemed to be bustling even more then ever. Reaching her cave Meng Lin decided to meditate a little to digest what she had just read. 2 hours later she woke up and decided to go back to something that she had put aside for a while now, her mutated Elemental Qi. It says mutated but Meng Lin highly doubt that it meant that her spirit root itself would mutate, she could assume that it means that her spiritual qi would have the properties of Mud and Erosion which are both combination of earth and water. Of course seeing the mutation she naturally assumed that if she was to put herself in a situation where she could perceive the state in between fire and wind that she would have a different property added towards her overall elements. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! However she still does not know of a scenario where that might happen, but all that was for the future as today she wants to bring up her percentage with the mud and the erosion to see what would really happen. Leaving the cave she started heading towards a small area by the side of her cave, it was a small stream of water that was flowing through the mountain. Everytime that she leaves her cave she would always notice it by the side but since she didnt care for it she would just leave it alone, yet now it has a use. Arriving at the steam she opened her system, browsing through her system market she was given a small surprise to suddenly notice a few new items on the list. She had not looked through her system market after the system update but it was still within her expectation that something like this would happen so she was not overly surprised. Buying 8 formless water talisman she casually spent 400 system coins so she wouldnt have to open the system market over and over again. Eight glowing talisman appeared infront of her, she took one in her hand while she sent the rest into the inventory with her thought. Not taking off her clothes she jumped into the stream while crushing the talisman once again entering the stage of formlessness. **Elsewhere** Approximately 20 miles away from the levitation sect was a large venue with rows of seats where powerful cultivators currently reside, a stage was erected at the center of the venue with a big barrier surrounding the stage. At the highest point of the venue were two seats that were designed extravagantly, currently no one was occupying these seats while half the surrounding seats were fully packed with all sorts of cultivators, half of the venue was full yet quite at the same time. Sitting on the left side of the two seats was Long Yi and Xiao Riu, the advisor and the son of the sect master of the levitation sect, they too were quite like everyone else and seemed to be waiting for something. Even though everyone seemed to be quietly waiting for something, most of them were having conversations between themselves under the vail of their spiritual consciousness, an ability that all cultivators inherently get after reaching the foundation establishment realm. One such conversation was taking place between a grey robed old man and a blue robed man, the blue robed man was sitting with an anticipating look in his eyes, while the grey robed old man looked stoic with a bored expression. Whats taking so long said the blue robed man with a little annoyance. Havent you been to one of these before, it always takes time the grey robed old man had his eyes closed while he answered. I know but I cant wait to see what shener has to show after all my efforts the blue robed man said with a huge smile, he was proud of himself for having done so much for his diciple. If he can make it to the top 20 then it was worth it Yes the blue robed man said while thinking about all the diciples participating in the competition. I heard that Gong Rou, the first ranked inherent diciple broke through to the Soul Wondering realm a week ago, its amazing that were having so many diciples surpass us the blue robed man said as he thought about the current news. Yes the previous generation did not reach that realm before being appointed as sect elders the grey robed old man thought back to the past as he answered. As these two were getting absorbed in their conversation, their surrounding cultivators suddenly began to spread their consciousness outside the venue towards a certain direction. Noticing this action they too spread their consciousness in that direction. 5 miles away from the venue was a flying ship that was adorned with multiple wings and spectacular arrays at the bottom of the ship. The ship was moving fast, having traveled 2 miles in the second that it came into view as it began to descend before landing a few meters away from the venue. 28: Strong Gathering Currently on the upper deck of the ship rows of sect elders were standing behind their sect leader, who had a serene expression on his face. there were many elders mingling in their finest attire as this was an important occasion. The sect master was no exception as he had on a red robe that shimmered with power, he spread his spiritual consciousness around the whole ship before he flung his hand into the sky. A small burst of flame gathered above the ship to form a large flameing bird, its whole body was covered in flames and it released threatening heat as it flapped its wings. Jumping atop the bird he looked down upon those on the ship before speaking with a qi amplified voice. take your diciples to their respective areas before taking your seats Not uttering more than needed, he flew up with the flaming bird into the sky, his spiritual consciousness spreading even further revealing a path through the clouds. After traveling for nearly two minutes in the cloudy air he finally reached his destination where atop a small floating cloud was a carriage, the carriage had 2 spirit small spirit beast mounting the carriage. After looking at them closely, he noticed that they were both rank 4 spirit beasts that seemed to be of the same bloodline, they were azure birds, they were beast known for their speed more than anything. Arriving a few meters away from the carriage the sect master suddenly felt a spiritual consciousness emerging from the carriage heading his way. As he was sure of who it was, he didnt bother to bring up any defense before letting it wash over him. Its been a good while since Ive seen that face of yours, Lee Rua hearing a familiar voice, the sect master smiled slightly before asking back. Thats the first thing you say to an old friend Xin Riu, you havent changed one bit the Raging Flame Sect master said as he shook his head. The door to the carriage opened to reveal the face of the sect master of the levitation sect. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Haha, its good to see you doing well, come in, we have much to discuss His smiling face turned solem as he invites his friend over. **Levitation Sect** **Underground room** In a large, dimly lit room with a deep, serene atmosphere multiple strong beings were having a discussion. Surrounding a table with a large glowing disk was 7 individuals that appeared to have a glowing orbs behind their back, three of these individuals were the first 3 Grand Elders of the levitation sect while the other 4 were all individuals of similar level. Where shall we begin The First Grand Elder said, he had a gray robe on while floating behind his back is a Blue sphere of Qi that had a slight crack in it. You are not going to wait for your Fourth Grand Elder said a man in all white with a few red lines, floating behind him was a red sphere of Qi, that would occasionally vibrate. No, she is supervising the formation, as you may know we have traitors in our midst the first elder said. Lets talk about this formation of yours first, are you sure it will work sitting next to the man in white was a young woman with red eyes, floating behind her is a red sphere of qi that seemed unstable, occasionally releasing burst of heavy qi. Ill have you know, that our little Han is a genius unlike anyone in this room, show some respect Adorning his bright red robe with a glowing red sphere behind his back, the Second Grand Elder smirked while releasing a sudden burst of red qi towards the woman. caught completely off guard the woman was hit with the burst of red qi that made her disoriented for a second. Feng Lee, dont you have any dignity regaining herself the woman asked with a face full of fury, the sphere behind her started shaking violently and released massive amounts of qi, that threatened to destroy the surroundings. The room temperature suddenly increased as only fire Qi was released from the sphere of qi and everyones attention was brought to the woman. control yourself Duo Sung said the man in white, he released his spiritual consciousness and began to forcefully wrap around the sphere behind her, containing the massive amount of qi being released from it. The woman, Duo Sung, realizing her mistake closed her eyes before forcing on her dantian. Was it a wise decision to bring her here, I doubt this newborn will be useful the Second Grand Master, Feng Lee said as he inspects the lingering Qi in the air as if he was not responsible for what just happened. she is very useful, our trump card if you may, so i wouldnt underestimate her a gray haired old woman said, her eyes were closed and behind her was a red glowing sphere that faded in and out of existence. Looking towards the first grand elder, the old woman asked a question on her mind. Shang Lee its time you tell us why you want us to do this competition when we have bigger things at our hand Showing a slight smile at being called a name he had almost forgotten, First Grand Elder Shang Lee looked towards the old woman before looking at the disk on the table. Currently inside the disk was an image of a venue along with a ship next to it, small specks of peoples were moving from the ship to the venue as if ants. Youll see very soon, the answer will be revealed in the competition 29: First stage **Venue** At the venue, the seats were packed with cultivators all readiating powerful aura most of which were from the Gold Core Realm. In the middle of the venue was the stage, one side of the stage was filled with Levitation sect disciples while the other side was filled with Raging Flames Sect diciples, there was a divide yet there was no intense looming atmosphere around the place as the two side both were quite and organized as if not about have a bout. Standing on the Levitation sects side was Weng Feng, adorned in a black robe, he was standing next to Lu Xun who had on her shoulder her fox spirit beast Que. Next to her were Yi Long, the twins Han Tianyu and Han Yian and Lin Luan who still had the same cold expression from that day. Standing not far from them was a man, wearing a full black robe with a sword strapped to his back, he looked completely lost in his own world, seemingly not paying attention to anyone. Qi was wantonly coming off his body as if he had endless amounts, making his surroundings vacant with no one willing to be close to him. He was Gong Ruo, having been training all this time, through hard work he had finally broken through to the Soul Wondering Realm. I would like to welcome our guests from afar, I am Lu Yung, and I will be the organizer of this first round, now all combatants listen a soft voice announced out loud. Floating a few feets off the floor Lu Yung had a cold expression on her face as she was a little annoyed, they just had to pick her to be the organizer of this first stage. The rules are simple, each sects diciples is to guard a construct after entering my stage, while the other sects diciples also have to do the same. Whichever team destroys the opposing teams construct will be the winners of this first stage. The ten diciples that contribute the most will be exempt from participating in the coming stages until the last one Looking at the diciples from the levitation sect, primarily at Feng Chen, she added. and the ten diciples that contributed the least will be eliminated What Small discussions started brewing between the quiet diciples, it would seem that everyone had no choice but to be cooperate in this first stage. Suddenly, at the front of the Raging Flame diciples a man in all red that had red eyes suddenly asked. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.What are these constructs asking a question on mist diciples mind. It could be anything but when you see it you will know replying with an ambiguous statement Lu Yung closed her eyes and raised her hands slowly, spreading her spiritual consciousness she was able to identify everyone on the stage. She flicked her finger taking out 40 jade coins from her storage bag, spreading them throughout the stage into every disciples hand she said. Each of you will be given a jade coin, make sure that you keep it on you at all times Under the crowds gaze the stage started lighting up to reveal inscriptions on the floor, the lights reached out to engulf both Lu Yung and the roughly 50 diciples leaving the stage entirely empty. **unknown place ** Zheng Zheng Hearing a noise again and again, Lu Xun was woken up feeling heavy wind current against her face making her open her eyes in shock. She realized that she was falling and quickly turned herself around before getting into the right position to balance herself. She began to gather qi to her leg which formed a small halo around her leg, making her fall as light as a feather. Free from the airs currents she looked over her shoulder before saying. thanks Quo The small fox beast happily looked at her before withdrawing its spiritual consciousness before closing its eyes. Knowing that her spirit beast is not much of a talker Lu Xun started assessing her surroundings. Looking around she saw that all the inner sect disciples from the levitation sect were falling a few dozen meter below her. she couldnt see Gong Rou but she could see all the other inherent disciples falling from the same height as her, each of them taking measures to make sure to land safely. looking far into the distance she realized that the raging flame sect diciples were falling at another location into a sandy desert which was a few miles from the forest. So we were separated, from the start Lu Xun thought as she knew that it must be for them to come up with plans to make the competition more interesting. After falling for roughly one minute, Mu Lins feets touched the ground before she started rushing towards a specific location, when she was falling she had noticed that there was a large glowing orb in the middle of the forest. The orb had to be the thing that they had to protect, and she would assume everyone to know that since it was the only thing that they had seen in the sky. After sprinting through the trees for a few minutes she finally saw it up close, it looked to be a huge glowing sphere of light. Judging from how much qi it was releasing she assumed that it was an important thing to this whole dimension, maybe breaking it ejects everyone from this dimension. Huh slightly surprised she looked down next to the sphere and to see someone sitting next to it. Gong Rou, so hes the first to arrive here Arriving at the sphere she stopped a few feets from Gong Rou before asking. Gong Rou, i am surprised to see you here, this isnt normally you, you would have gone to the other teams base as soon as you can Sitting crossed legged, Gong Rou opened his eyes before speaking towards her. This is a team competition, not a solo one so I dont have that luxury Yes if you dont contribute to the team, even you would be eliminated, that aside we have to wait for the others to come before coming up with a plan Lu Xun said as she looked around before sitting down with Quo in her lap. I already have a plan, you just have to follow it to win looking at Xin Lu, Gong Rou didnt wait for her reply before continuing. Ill guard the base here, while you, Feng Chen and the rest go and destroy their base Judging by how Feng Chen is behaving, I dont think that he is to be trusted, so dont rely on him, I will be the backup if all else fails You dont have to tell me, I get it, by the way do you know why we were given these jade coins taking out the jade coin that they were given Lu Xun asked a question that had been on her mind. I thought that you would know since your sister was the one who gave it to us, but i dont think its purpose is anything bad, maybe to protect us in a critical situation Gong Ruo said as he suddenly noticed something, he raised his head and looked up into the distance before saying. Theyre here 30: On A Loose Across a sandy desert, footprints were scattered across the field, boulders filled half of the desert and there was little to no vegetation in the sand. Near the center of the desert, standing on a tall boulder was a man in all red with red eyes, surrounding him were 4 peoples that all looked to be looking at something. Across from them, imbedded inside a small boulder was a glowing white sphere that seemed to be releasing endless Qi. That must be it said the man in red, taking out a talisman from his storage bag, he crushed it signaling for the others to come together. Do we really have to work with those wimps just to clear this stage said a soft voice. Sitting down next to the man while swinging her legs, a young girl wearing a pink robe said as she looked towards the man in red. We will have to, working together is the point of this stage the man said as he looked on into the distance. Hearing him, the girl knew that she couldnt refute him, she looked down with an amused expression while thinking about something. Whats taking them so long Dong Yi Suddenly a deep voice called out from between them. A tall man with broad shoulders and an intimidating aura around his body was standing next to the two, overshadowing them, he was standing at almost two meters tall with a giant axe laying on his side that. Hearing him, the man in red looked at a certain direction as he noticed someone coming through his spiritual consciousness before replying. why are you always in a rush, Wu Pan, this desert is wide, its not surprising that it would take some time for them For them huh, you talk as if you can go across this whole desert in seconds Said a young man in a red and black robe, he was sitting down with his eyes closed and legs crossed together with a youthful look on him. It seems that you still havent understood the difference between the Gold Core Realm and the Soul Wondering Realm Tao Tao said the man in red. dont be so smug Dong Yi, In a few days Ill be breaking through then it wouldnt be just you and Yue that are in that Realm The young man said with an annoyed expression before he stood up and suddenly noticed something through his spiritual consciousness. The tall man also looked towards a towards a certain direction before saying. Finally the girl in pink also got up from her seated position while saying We had them group up together for the search just in case there were spirit beast, but it doesnt seem like that was necessary A few dozen meters in the distance was a group of 20 Raging Flame Sect diciples were running towards them with panicked expressions. Hmm the man in red looked towards them before suddenly feeling something moving fast through his spiritual consciousness towards them. Yuere, protect the base the man said before suddenly lunching himself towards the group of 20 diciples that were running towards them. What The young man and the tall man both said together as they looked at the man in red who left behind a big hole on the boulder causing it to start collapsing. Moving across the whole field in one leap, the man in red arrived before the group before suddenly waving his hand and conjuring up a barrier around them. Boom A huge explosion was suddenly heard as something huge impacted the barrier that was put up. The diciples in the barrier looked terribly frightened as though they had been just seen their life flash before their eyes. The man in red, Dong Yi landed on the ground before he looked behind the diciples, standing not too far from them was a man wearing a black robe with a slight smirk on his face. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Strong qi was being released from him, making it clear that he was a Soul Wondering Realm cultivator. Its him Dong Yi said as he recalled back to when they were at the stage, he remembered this person along with another man. They both were the only Soul Wondering Realm diciples of the Levitation Sect so he made sure to keep an eye out for them. Spreading his spiritual consciousness as far as possible, Dong Yi tried to figure out if this was a possible set up but he couldnt feel anything from his spiritual consciousness. Why is he here, are there more of them, he couldnt have come here without any support right You dont have to worry about the others, theyre not here, its just me Weng Feng looked towards Dong Yi with a grin, as he had said, there was no one else besides him. Is he confident that he can take us all on Dong Yi thought as he began walking towards Weng Feng, qi gathered around both his arms before forming an armor made of fire around his arm. Gathering his spiritual consciousness he sent a small message into the ears of the raging flame diciples. get out of here, the others are at that location, make sure you guard it well Leaping at Weng Feng, Dong Yi gathered qi into his hand before he clapped together with his hands towards Weng Feng. Peng A wave of fire was released from the clap that headed towards Weng Feng, the color of the air turned red as the heat being produced became apparent. The fire was extremely hot and would be able to melt anyone in the Gold Core Realm had they been the target of the clap but Weng Feng was not faced as he too covered his hands with flaming armor before pointing a finger towards Dong Yi. A beam of light was shot out from his fingertip towards the fire, the beam was fast approaching and left a white line in the air as it plunged into the flames. Boom The beam of light and the flame collided to create a massive wave of flames that dissipated just as suddenly as it had appeared. Hmm Seeing that the opponent was able to counter his attack so readily Dong Yi started gathering more qi across his body, the Qi, mostly fire Qi went out of his body to cover him in thick layers of Qi that started to resemble armor. Weng Feng looked at the process and also started gathering qi around his body, before he too became fully covered in a red armor from head to toe. Feeling surging waves of strength in the armor, Weng Feng clenched his fist before gathering fire qi into his fist. He punched the air towards Dong Yi and released a small shockwave across the field before lunging himself towards Dong Yi. Boom Black fiery smoke filled the surrounding air with small clusters of flames falling on the sand, a figure jumped out of the smoke landing a few meters away. Clang Weng Feng Looked at his left arm that had its armor peeled off, his hand was bleeding and a sharp cut had formed across his wrist to his forearm. It seems that i still need practice Weng Feng thought as from the corner of his eyes he could see the thick layer of black smoke settling down around the area. Walking from it was an armored Dong Yi who looked unscathed, he walked with heavy steps and flaming eyes, intending on finishing this battle fast. Weng Feng, understanding the severity of the situation took out a long spear from his storage bag before pointing it towards Dong Yi. Gathering Qi into the spear he loudly called out. Blazing Spear Flames covered his spear, with the spearhead beginning to rotate like a drill while sending out blazing waves of heat in the surroundings. Bringing his right leg behind him, he sprinted through the field leaving behind a small crater in the sand. He arrived infront of Dong Yi and thrusted his spear with a large force that left behind a small trail of fire in the air as it collided with its target. Boom A large explosion was made in the sand to reveal Weng Feng standing in a big crater, the crater was filled with flames that made the whole place feel like a furnace. The sand looked unnatural under the fiery atmosphere as the flames sizzled with noise. Weng Feng having used one of his most destructive attacks was halfspent and retreated his armor around his body to conserve energy. He thought back to a moment ago before spreading his spiritual consciousness. Wha Weng Feng said in surprise as he looked ahead in a certain direction. Tap Tap The sound of heavy footsteps was heard as a man in a red robe was revealed a few meters away from the crater. You Weng Feng said as he thought back to how his attack was received, he was not shocked that his opponent was alive more-so that he was unscathed, he had been using a technique and yet it was intercepted without any techniques involved. Ha, your strength is impressive, I was planning on not moving an inch and yet I was force back Dong Yi said as he walked up while flinging his arms. At the last second he had discarded his armor around his body before focusing it onto his arms to counteract the spear technique, after doing so his arms felt really sore. Weng Feng clenched his teeth at the thought, he had used his strongest technique along with a medium rank weapon and yet the result was not what he had expected. Is that it Huh Weng Feng was brought back from his thoughts as he looked towards Dong Yi. Is that it Dong Yi asked once again as he looked at Weng Feng, if this was all then Dong Yi was confused as to how he could come here with such confidence. It seems I need to rephrase myself Brilliance Crystal Dong Yi said as he raised his right arm, gathering a large amount of qi into his hand, he formed a large spike that released dangerous energy as it hovered in-between the two. Since you actually tried to kill my fellow sect diciples you can be our test as to what happens when you die here Dong Yi said with a cold expression as he waved his hand. The hovering spike was suddenly filled with a blinding light as in the next instant it disappeared. Argh Weng Feng felt an overwhelming fear and suddenly screamed, his body was being engulfed with a foreign energy and he felt his very soul burning. You probably wouldnt feel true fear if I just destroy your body, but seeing as you have a more compact soul, this will do Dong Yi said as he looked towards the screaming Weng Feng, who was scrambling across the sandy desert as his scream echoed through the sky. GAAAH His screamed and screamed until he felt his very being collapse before his will began sinking into unconsciousness. 31: Child Prodigy **Meanwhile** At the Venue, across the seats gasps of shock and surprise were being uttered as everyone looked towards the stage that had a projection of what was currently happening in the desert. A sect elder of the levitation sect, an old man wearing all black suddenly became furious at what was happening at the stage. He released massive qi around his body and jumped from his seat towards the stage. Peng He came with force as he collided with a barrier surrounding the stage. Stop this madness now Lu Yung the old man said as he banged on the barrier with his hands. Not receiving an answer he started gathering qi, he intended to release the full power of a cultivator at the peak of the Soul Wondering Realm. Enough elder Weng, you are making a scene suddenly a voice was heard through the sky making everyone at the venue look up. Slowly levitating towards the venue, both sect masters from the Levitation Sect and Raging Flame Sect descended upon the crowd next to their respective seats. How can you say that Sect Master Xin Riu, you would let one of your inherent diciples die like this the old man said in anger as he pointed at the barrier that currently holds his diciple. He starting screaming at the barrier Lu Yung, Is this not a competition between sects, why are they killing each other A soft voice replied from the stage This whole ordeal started with you diciple attacking first so shouldnt he take responsibility Hearing this made the old man even more angry as he began releasing large amounts of qi into his surroundings preparing to use a technique. Enough Suddenly a voice reverberated across the whole venue shaking everyone into their core. The atmosphere changed and a looming pressure began to be felt by everyone, a massive hole opened up in the sky before a massive face formed from within it. Seeing that face all levitation sect members got up before bowing their heads. We greet you First Grand Elder Hmm the old man muttered as he looked towards the stage, standing on the stage was a girl in white bowing towards him and looking towards her right he saw a woman standing crossed arm gazing deep into his eyes. Taking his eyes off the stage, he looked at the whole venue before looking towards Elder Weng who was also bowing down enough of your childish behavior, you are a sect elder, act with dignity You didnt think that we had already foreseen something like this, what do you think the purpose of the jade coins were. Proceed with the competitions said the First Grand Elder as he slowly dissipated from the hole before it closed up in the sky, taking along with it the pressure that descended upon everyone there. **The Stage** Thud Dong Yi sighed a little seeing Weng Feng drop to the ground, he does not like mindlessly killing but he does not like what this person was doing, besides he wanted to see the results. And he was not disappointed as right after Weng Feng dropped to the ground a green light suddenly emerged from his body, enveloping him and causing the whole place to be brightly lit in green. Ugh Looking at the sudden bright light, Dong Yi felt a slight pain to his eyes before covering his face with his hand, a second later he noticed that the light was dimming down and disappeared along with the body of Weng Feng. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. So I was right in thinking that you are protected after coming here or at the very least you dont die Dong Yi thought as he looked at the small hole in the sand where Weng Feng used to be at. But he didnt fully trust those thoughts of his as the green light might just be a sign that you are being taken back to the stage. Looking at where he left the others he spread his spiritual consciousness to check up on their situation before looking at the a specific area next to the forest in the distance. Senior brother Shin had better make this worth it Dong Yi thought as he started walking back towards his group. A few miles in the sky was, across a few meters in length was a large floating stage that was obscured by the clouds in the sky and sitting atop that stage was Lu Yung who had her eyes closed. Suddenly a burst of green light came at the edge of the stage before revealing Weng Feng lying on the floor. At the moment, Lu Yungs thoughts seemed to be elsewhere as she was sitting crossed legged on the floor where qi was constantly swerving around her. Her consciousness was spread afar covering the few dozen miles of this whole dimension, making her know what was going on at all times. Currently she was gazing on the forest, and she was able to see the whole forest in all its beauty. She was able to notice things to the minute detail as nothing could escape from her gaze. She focused on the center of the forest and watched as the small little group of sect diciples that seemed to be sitting down unmoving suddenly started to move and spread out. At the center of the forest was the glowing sphere that still seemed release endless energy. A group of 25 peoples were sitting next to it and preparing for the plan that was about to commence. Lets go Standing up Lu Xun commanded for the others to follow her as she walked towards the desert with her Que atop her shoulder. Following her was the twins and Lin Luan along with 10 other inner sect diciples, some of which seemed to be the most confident among them. Standing at the center of the inner sect diciples was a young boy that seemed to be about 12 years old, he had a carefree expression on his face as he walked along with the others. But had Meng Lin been there she would have had a face full of shock as this was her senior brother Li that was stationed at room next to the mission board. Gong Ruo remained seated along with Long Xun and the 10 remaining inner sect diciples, as they prepare themselves for any upcoming battles. Had it not been for the fox spirit beast on Lu Xuns shoulder and the little prodigy, Gong Rou would not have trusted this group with the success of this plan. However he does not believe that they have the fighting force capable of overwhelming the raging flame sect diciples, and yet he was not worried for their safety as he would be watching over them. Sprinting a few minutes out of the forest Lu Xun and the others were able to finally reach the edge of the forest where all that was in front of them was sand. The whole desert seemed to be an endless sea of sand and dust, with no end in sight as it spread out before her, and with her spiritual consciousness she could only cover about one tenth of the desert. Lu Xun sighed at the thought of her strength, had she been a Soul Wondering Realm cultivator she might have been able to cover at least three times more of the desert. Shaking her head she put the thought at the back of her mind as she looked over her shoulder. Que would be fighting all 3 of the Soul Wondering Realm cultivators on the enemys side, but she should be ok with Gong Ruos arrows, so i am counting on you four to make it count She said as she looked at the the twins and Lin Luan who nodded their heads, turning her head to the back she looked at the young boy with an expectant smile on her face. We are expecting a lot out of you Lin Hua, as the first ranker of the inner sect diciples, your strength will come in handy, The surrounding diciples all nodded their heads remembering what they had seen of Lin Hua. The Child Prodigy, he was the youngest diciple to reach the Gold Core Realm, and that opinion was shared by all across the Yuan Kingdom with its vast majority of cultivators from its 9 sects. But it was more than that, he was amongs the few in the sect with a heavenly physique. Ill make sure to not disappointed you senior sister Lu the boy named Lin Hua said as he nodded his head confidently. But i think that senior brother Ren could do better than me he added. Ren Ming Lu Xun said with raised eyebrows as she looked towards the very back of the inner sect diciples. Standing at the back of the sect diciples was a man clothed in a black robe that had a smile on his face, he was giving off a friendly disposition to anyone who look at him. Releasing her spiritual consciousness towards him, Lu Xun didnt notice any abnormalities or unique things about him so she furrowed her brows in confusion. He was just a cultivator on the edge of breaking through to the Gold Core Realm which was not that much different from the others. If Lin Hua respects you then you must be a good fighter, you will be leading the inner sect diciples then Lu Xun said as she looked at the man. Hmm, I will do my best Ren Ming said as he clasped his hands in respect. Lu Xun looked at the man before nodding her head and leading the group, while in her head she was thinking. unlike his sister Lin Luan, Lin Hua was gifted from the beginning with talent, he could have been an inherent diciple had the Lin family allowed it so perhaps this Ren Ming would have been the first ranker had that had happened Lu Xun thought as she continuously spreads her spiritual consciousness into the distance. It didnt matter much to her because the more strong diciples that they have the higher of success that this plan of her will be. 32. Fights As he stepped out onto the big boulder that the others seemed to have found for themselves Dong Yi began looked towards the other boulders making sure that the inner sect diciples were unharmed. Did you kill him the young man, Tao Tao said as he stood up from his cross legged position. He didnt die said the girl in pink as she continues to swing her legs on the edge. taking out a small jade coin she said with a chuckle seems that there really was good use for these Dong Yi nooded before thinking back to when he and the others received the jade coins. The coin didnt seemed to have any unique features, right as when he had gotten it, he enveloped it with his spiritual consciousness to scan for any arrays or formations that might have been hidden from the naked eye. But the only thing he noticed about it was the large amount of Qi in the coin that made it difficult to look inside of it To be able to put so much Qi into such a small coin he thought for a second before shooking his head. In any case it is not simple if it was able to recover someone from my Brillance Crystal Art Dong Yi said as he suddenly felt something. He looked far towards the forest at the edge of the desert. He didnt need to release his spiritual consciousness to perceive what was happening. The others also noticed something in the distance, all not failing to act the same as each of them held the same expression. Something blinding was moving towards them at an extremely fast speed, speeds that even Dong Yi couldnt reach, standing up with a surprise look on his face, he released his spiritual consciousness to see what was really headed toward them. It was bright but his spiritual consciousness was able to make out the figure of a small fox that was fully covered on all sides by an armor of blue spiritual Qi. This fox was only 8 inches long and its appearance seemed to belong to the snow fox race which are a rare breed of fox spirit beast known for their cold attitude and fast speed. Damn it Dong Yi uttered as he remembered that this was the same fox that was on an inherent of the Levitation sect. He knew that standing here and not stopping it until it was upon them would pose a risk so Dong Yi jumped out with his maximum speed intending to stop it before it comes any closer. The others once again received the same treatment from a few minutes ago as the large boulder under their feet was suddenly crushed to pieces making all of them jump for safety. Not bothering with anything, Dong Yis body began to be enveloped by a large blazing Qi that put together layers upon layer of qi to form an armor onto him, swiping his storage bag, he took out a red sword that glowed with an aura of heat, its red glow indicating its affinity with the fire element as it fit perfectly with his armor. Seeing the snow fox right upon him he raised his sword in midair and called out. Brilliance crystal art, bloom A vibrant red crystal came into existence behind him before splitting into five different pieces that suddenly glowed brightly before disappearing. The snow fox that hadnt even reduced its speed found itself in between 5 shards of red crystal that appeared so suddenly before glowing. BOOM The shards of crystals had exploded creating five giant clouds of fire that engulfed the fox in the middle. Landing on the ground with a heavy step, Dong Yi looked at the explosion that occurred a few dozen meters away. Hes gaze was cold as he knew that this whole thing might have been a trap to lure him out, he wanted to finish this battle quickly as to avoid that. Taking large strides towards the fire crater that the explosion had caused, he raised his sword once again as he called out. Come out, I know that this was not enough to defeat you However, no answer was heard as the fire burned in the crater obscuring any views from outside, just as he was about to spread his spiritual consciousness to check, Dong Yi suddenly felt something from his side before swinging full force into that direction. Clang Feeling surprising resistance he backed up to see what that was, only to realise that there was a pool of blue miasma in front of his eye. The miasma was chunking and inside it was the snow fox that seemed to be releasing way more power than previously possible. Its eyes were glowing blue and its fur was radiating in the same colour, Its Qi, wallowing around its body and steadily increasing over time and its body which was no more than 8 inches was also growing more and more, slowly inching towards a meter long. Dong Yi couldnt help but take a step back as this was something that he doesnt have confidence dealing with, This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.judging from the amount of qi that this fox was releasing he realized that it must be in the next stage, this would be his first time fighting a Rank 4 medium stage spirit beast. he gripped his sword and looked at the fox with determination, he has to face it or else they just might lose because of him, if he could just hold out for Senior Brother Shins plan, then it would be worth it. Noticing the stress that was put upon its opponent, the snow fox let out an earsplitting shrill and with a burst of energy, shot out of the blue miasma with its claws open in an attempt to attack Dong Yi. Dong Yi quickly reacted, maneuvering his body to the side before using his sword to block the swift attack of the fox. Clang The attack was blocked but the power sent him tumbling across the sand as he got up feeling heavy weight upon his arm. Yet the Snow Fox didnt give him any time as it continues to lunge towards him shredding small chunks of his armor every time he receives a blow he couldnt block or dodge. Urg Dong Yi uttered as he was blown further back again upon blocking with his sword, steam was coming off the exposed parts of his body under the armor as right after he perspires, the heat around him would evaporate it. Getting up he looked towards the fox that was slowly coming towards him, he is still able to dodge and block the attacks but his strength was waning by the second and its only a matter of time before he runs out of qi. Knowing the severity of the situation he could only sigh and brace for more. Boom Being flung once again, Dong Yi tumbled across the sand. He stood up with a big gash across his chest, his armor was no more, and his robe was torn to shreds revealing his slim but rebuts body underneath, his body, hair and face were in a mess, but he still gave off a cold and determined aura. The Fox, that seemed to be toying with him released bursts of qi in waves intending to make this its final attack, gathering a large amount of water qi, it opened its mouth, about to unleash a devastating attack before it suddenly came to a halt looking towards a specific direction. Huh Dong Yi said as he looked up towards the same direction, a few meters away in the sky was a familiar figure levitating, behind her was a pair of wings that shimmered with power. Yuere Dong Yi exclaimed as his heart leapt with joy and worry. The girl in pink nodded before turning towards the Snow Fox, putting her hands together she said out loud. Darkness A black mist spread out from between her hands, slowly spreading across the whole sky, the black mist seemed to have a will of its own as it didnt need her command before it suddenly descend onto the desert casting everything in a 20 meter radius in total darkness. Being engulfed by the darkness Dong Yi felt his senses almost shut off as his sight became blurry, he could only make out a few details in front of him but everything around him was near pitch black. Seemingly not bothered by the darkness he looked towards his right, where standing was the young girl. I''ve come to save you, you can thank me later the girl said with a laugh as she continues her playfulness even in this moment. Placing a glowing palm onto his shoulder, she said. Ill be using our Dual Cultivation Technique, you should be able to at least fight on even terms now the girl said as all of a sudden her voice became hoarse. Having experienced the drawbacks before, she knew that she wouldnt be able to do much after this as her eyelids became heavy and her breathing became strained. The darkness surrounding the whole area was suddenly lifted as the girl found it hard to keep it in place, gathering her remaining strength she jumped back trying to leave the battlefield. Looking at her Dong Yi couldnt help but feel a little sadness in his heart, he didnt say anything as he already knew her situation, instead he started focusing on the unique Qi that had been put inside his body. He felt like he had been taken out from a place of emptiness as suddenly his eyes glowed bright before he hissed in pain. Looking down he saw the big wound across his chest begin to close slowly as he felt energy coursing through his body. His qi which was on the course of depletion was getting restored and growing stronger, new layers of qi started forming around his body, bringing back his armor. He felt strengthened, stronger than before and his qi started rising way past what it once was before. Shrill suddenly a high shrill voice was heard from across him as the Fox came sprinting towards him, its eyes were filled with annoyance as it appeared before him with its claws stretched out. Boom Brillance Crystal Art, Brillance A large Qi was released all of a sudden accompanied by the voice of a happy Dong Yi, his sword was raised in the air and his Qi was frantically moving around his body. The Snow Fox, Que was suddenly blasted back by the force of the Qi, Clutching deep into the sand it looked towards him with a wide eye, it was shocked at the sudden change. Dong Yis Technique seemed to have only started as his whole body became bathed in Fire Qi, his Realm which seems to have had a sudden increase became more stable and behind him was a glaring light that resembled the brilliance of the sun. The Fox, Que responded with opening its mouth and gathering a large amount of Water Qi into it before releasing a wide beam that was like a surging wave consuming all in its path. Seeing the surging wave of water Qi Dong Yi raised his sword and slashed out. A large sword slash that made the atmosphere look red suddenly appeared, the slash was so hot that it appeared white upon being released from the sword as it threatened to burn all in its path. Dong Yis sword slash clashed against the water wave, sizzling sounds were heard as the water Qi was split apart by the sword beam that didnt even lose its might, not stopping it engulfed Que along with its surroundings causing everything to be in flames. The Fox screamed out in pain as a large blazing fire was suddenly created that engulfed its whole body. The fire continued to burn while the fox screamed out in agony, its heart bursting with newfound hatred for fire. Opening its eyes in anger its whole body suddenly released a new strength as the fire was instantly put out before revealing a meter long Fox, its body was blue having turned to ice, freezing the whole 15 meters around it. Dong Yi raised his sword and slowly walked up to the frozen fox, staring into its icy glare, he noticed that its eyes seem to have a newfound hatred towards him, he thought for a second he gathered bright red Qi from his sword into his armor. His armor which covered his whole body red suddenly burst out with newfound power as flames started coming out from its back forming a giant wing made from blazing flames. As he was about to call out the name of his technique he suddenly heard a piercing noise. Shua Boom Not getting time to process the sound he was hit with a powerful force that sent him flying in the opposite direction. What Dong Yi uttered as he found his footing before coming to a stop a few meters away. Looking at where he had been hit, he noticed an arrow deep inside his chest, inside his armor as he suddenly began to feel pain causing throughout his chest. Pulling the arrow out and throwing it on the ground he had a grim expression as he looked towards the forest where the arrow had come from. A bearly perceptible figure was floating above the forest glowing in white light, appearing like a beacon of hope. 33. Higher stage **Elsewhere** A pink figure was rigidly running in the desert through the boulders with a heavily breathing, she didnt stop for a moment until she heard her name being called. Lu Yue Turning towards the direction, she saw a young man jumping from boulder to boulder coming towards her with a worried expression. Tao Tao seeing someone she knew she finally heaved a sigh of relief as she smiled and walked towards him. Having lost all her strength, the young girl, Lu Yue was worried that she might be ambushed but with someone to protect her she could finally relax. Why do you do things so recklessly, we all could have gone to help the young man said with a slight anger on his face as he held her up before jumping atop a boulder. We cant afford that, we have to protect the sphere, that was what Senior Brother Shin left us to do the girl said as she remembered the instructions that they were specifically given after arriving at the desert. Huh the young man said as he suddenly stopped with a confused look on his face. Whats the matter the girl asked after seeing the perplexed look on his face. Theres a.. Crackle The boulder below them suddenly cracked open and out came spinning blades of wind and metal aiming towards them. before the girl had time to react, she felt her body being thrown back as she heard a loud explosion behind her. Boom **At the same time ** At the center of the desert, standing on a boulder next to the sphere of light, a tall man was looking on into the distance with an excited expression on his face. Wu Pan had just witnessed Dong Yis breakthrough with his spiritual consciousness and he watched on in enthusiasm. having another one in that realm is sure to make us win this competition he thought as he recalled the strength shown back to all of them. Looking around the whole desert, he focused his spiritual consciousness towards Tao Tao who was retrieving the other inherent diciple, Lu Yue. Swiping across her with his spiritual consciousness, Wu Pan couldnt help but purse his lips as he wondered why she even cultivated such a technique. He mused, that technique is very strong but I cant help but feel it is not worth it The user gets no benefits while only causing damage to the body. Although he was lost in his thoughts he didnt fail to realize that something had just happened. Spreading his spiritual consciousness again to confirm, he realized that it was somehow blocked from the direction of those two. Getting up and picking his Axe, he was about to call to the others before he suddenly felt a small pressure decend upon the whole area. Releasing a burst of Qi into the air, he broke it and started gathering qi towards his axe. He looked towards the distance, he noticed a small group of peoples sprinting towards them. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The other diciples also got up seeing the crowd coming, they readied their weapons, and released their spiritual consciousness, preparing themselvs for a possible fight. Looking closely towards them he realized that it was about a dozen peoples with a girl in white running at the front. Is that Wu Pan said a little worried as he remembered reading the records about her. Frantically looking over her shoulder, only when he realized that she doesnt have her spirit beast did his worry dissipate a little. Knowing that he cant let them get close, Wu Pan held his axe up over his shoulder before he bellowed out with a deep voice. Ceng Mu and Yung Lee, you two protect the sphere, all the others are to engage in combat Right as he said that he jumped into the air before raising his axe into the air. He arrived a few dozen meters from the sphere and called out a powerful name as he slashed down with all his might into the ground right infront of the group of incoming enemy. Earth Art, Quake Boom A loud sound resounded from the ground and a strong tremor quaked the area, everyone firmly held their legs on the ground as the attack had created a large crater on the desert floor, making any further movement impossible. Huff.. Wu Pan breathed out as he started gathering his Qi, he was about to lunge towards the girl in the group before he heard a soft voice coming from the girl. Secret Art, Extremity Fang Swish Suddenly, a small black blade coated in black Qi abruptly shot out from her hand before approaching within the distance, it moved fast as it appeared right before his face. Clang Bringing up his axe to defend against the attack, he was met with the large force behind the attack as his whole body was blown back a few meters away from the others. Finding his balance in the air he looked towards the others where they had already started clashing blades with each other, they were outnumbered and yet the enemy was not being overpowered by his own sect diciples. Because from the enemy side was a man that was single handling going against 4 diciples, while telling the others what to do. Gritting his teeth he was about to jump back into the fray before he suddenly heard a voice behind him. You should be looking towards me a soft voice called out from behind him making him suddenly turn around in anticipation for an attack. But nothing came as he looked around, standing there was a woman attired in black robe with a sword in hand and a mysterious cold aura. Damn it he said as he charged towards her with his axe raised in the air, crashing it down, he was surprised to find it blocked by the girl with little difficulty. Looking at her sword which was coated in a black substance he yelled out before swinging from side to side, trying to find an opening through her sword. The girl merely stood there as she brushed aside his wild blows and then she gripped her sword with both her hands as she struck back at him with the point of her sword. Boom Instantly a powerful force was unleashed as the sword pierced through the air and made contact with him, though he had managed to receive the blow with his Axe again, he was blown back a few meters again. Tumbling across the floor he dragged his Axe across the sand, lessening the force of the tumble. If I could just hold on for a little while Wu Pan thought as he realized that he could not land a heavy enough blow to end this battle fast. **Elsewere** Youre Weak a voice was heard from a battlefield as blood was being thrown with every movement that was made. The girl in pink, Lu Yue was standing far away from a bloodied battlefield as she stared feeling guilt and hatred toward herself. She was forced to watch like a damsel in distress when she could have contributed significantly had she not decide too soon. Clang Clang Dozens of flying swords came flying through the air as their target revealed itself to be a bloodied figure that was maneuvering through them with ease. Tao Tao chuckled as he looked towards the young boy that was currently standing a few meters away from him. You really are weak he taunted again as he kept dodging through the flying swords, his left arm was mangled while the rest of his body was not far behind. He was hit hard by that sneak attack but after having received that attack his opponent couldnt land another attack on him anymore. It prompted him to be cocky and arrogant again, after all, most of his techniques were all speed based and he doesnt believe anyone in the same realm can outperform him in that category. The young boy felt a little irritated having been spending the past few minutes not landing an attack on Tao Tao, Being belittled like this was a first so he started gathering all his flying swords fusing them together, forming into a big sickle with blades on all sides. Not bothering to call out the full technique name, he said. Scythe In which a blinding light came from the sickle before turning into a blood red scythe that was releasing a dark aura. Flicking his hand towards Tao Tao, the boy had a cold expression on his face as he sent the scythe hurtling towards the bloodied Tao Tao who surprisingly showed a smirk on his face before raising his able arm in the air to call out. Secret Art Reflect 34. It’s Over Knowing how terrifying the scythe was, the young boy panicked at its sudden appearance infront of him. Swish Right as the young boy reacted he felt heavy wind against his face before being met with the giant scythe that was releasing destructive energy. Boom A hugh explosion came about as the scythe came into contact with a thin barrier of qi that the boy had just been able to bearly put up. The battlefield became filled with smoke as Tao Tao jumped back to resist the wind current from the explosion. Damn you.. cough cough A small brused and battened person came from the smoke as he cursed out loud with clear fury in his voice. Seeing this Tao Tao smirked while laughing out loud. You may be a child prodigy but it seems thats only in terms of cultivation, in the end, you are still just a child you dont even know how to defend against your own attack he continued his taunt as he swept through the boy with his spiritual consciousness. Damn it he thought after noticing the little amount of damage that the boy had received. Knowing that it wouldnt be too long before he is unable to fight he started gathering the little amount of qi into his dantian towards his feet before calling out. Soaring Steps Facing away from the young boy towards the the girl in pink, his legs started glistening with qi as he dashed forward. Moving at incredible speeds he was able to reach the girl instantly before picking her up. Turning his head towards the boy he moved his mouth saying something inaudible before dashing into the distance again. YOU the boy bellowed out as his eyes became filled with rage while anger overwhelmed his heart. Suddenly a massive pillar of dark qi was released from his body and he dashed off after them while releasing madden amounts of qi that turned the surrounding area to black. **Elsewere** Clang Clang Sounds of blows filled the air as Dong Yi brandished his red sword and fired a white beam of fire qi onto the stationary Fox. Clang A huge explosion rocked the desert with sand flying around the place and yet it all seemed meaningless as the fox was revealed unscathed. This Dong Yi said as he looked at the fox trying to come up with something, right after the fox had frozen itself all attacks that reach it would not even dent it. It had made itself the most duration thing that Dong Yi had ever seen so he was a little baffled. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Swish Swish Blue Arrows came flying from the distance, each of them aiming for the vital spots of Dong Yis body. Clang Clang Damn it Dong Yi said as he slashed the arrows, he was frustrated with the situation, turning his attention to the distance he gathered Qi before he started sprinting towards the forest. If no damage works on the fox then it would be pointless to just sit there and wait for arrows to come flying his way, he decided to go for their base. Releasing his spiritual consciousness to cover the desert he became a little worried after noticing that his spiritual consciousness seemed to be blocked by something around the center of the desert where the white sphere and his sect disciples were. Stoping for a second he was about to rush for that area before he notified arrows already arriving near him. Clang Clang Parring them again he noticed a little large force moving towards his location, it was the Fox that had unfrozen itself as it appeared a few meters away from Dong Yi, it opened its mouth and shot out a beam of surging Water Qi. Dong Yi seeing that the Fox was not frozen anymore gathered a large amount of Qi into his sword which began shining in a dark red flame, the fox was not frozen so this might be his best shot at taking it down. Brilliance Crystal Art: Suns Crystal Slashing across the surging water qi he released a huge red beam that stretched across the whole area before it headed towards the wave of water qi. The fox seeing this in return blasted another beam of qi that went and doubled the strength of the first one making the confrontation of the two even more deadly. Boom the collision between the two shook the whole area as on one side was an overwhelming blue and the other a destructive force of red. Both couldnt overtake the other as their attack were in equal amount causing a large amount of steam to rise up into the sky filling the whole radius in smoke. This is it Dong Yi coldly said as he gathered even more qi into his sword before raising it into the air, he was about to call out a name before he heard a noise coming from his side. Swish Huh Dong Yi said as he turned around. In front of him was a clear white arrow that came from the midst of the steam as it was aimed straight for his head. It came with such force and suddenness that Dong Yi became stunned, but knowing the severity of the situation, he brought his sword down in an attempt to the block the arrow. Boom A tremendous loud explosion followed afterwards as qi exploded out with great force. It rumbled and shifted the air around as right afterwards came a surge of blue qi that submerged the whole area, destroying all those in sight. **At the forest** Huff huff Gong Ron breathed out in exhaustion as he had just used almost all of his qi into that last shot, but with that one of their strongest enemies was no more. Slowly floating down towards the others he was met with Long Xun who asked. Are you alright Nodding his head Gong Ron was about to say something when suddenly they heard a rumbling noise. Raising their head to the sky Gong Ron noticed that there was thunder gathering to form a big spear that was radiating a threatening aura as it fell straight down towards them. Looking at its trajectory Gong Ron jumped forward towards it before it could reach its target, the white sphere. Boom A deafening sound was heard as lightning spread across the whole region covering people and trees alike. Oh, not bad a voice was heard from the sky as clouds formed together to make a young man with long red hair and eyes. Radiating waves of qi surge from his body and he looked towards the ground where the rest of levitation sect disciples was. They were in state of panic as they looked at the figure next to the white sphere. Lying prone on the ground was Gong Ron, his clothes were in tatters with multiple wounds all over his body, his head was bleeding profusely and he seemed to be barely conscious after taking that attack. I was sure that itd end in one strike the man said as he smiled at the others on the ground, his voice was gentle but there was an underline of arrogance to it as he seemed to view everything with a surreal playfulness. Raising his hand up he gathered qi that condensed into his palm, before forming into a spear of lightning, he coldly looked at the white sphere and said. This time I wont miss Down on the ground Long Xun shuddered as he looked at the man throwing the spear. It was headed towards the white sphere that they should be guarding, he knew that it would be their lost if it gets destroyed so he willed all his strength before jumping in front of the attack. Boom Crackle A crack was heard as the white sphere fell apart with the shocked face of Long Xun in midair as a hole had opened up right at his stomach, the spear was met with little resistance as it had gone right through his body. Falling on the ground, Long Xun could only thing Its over Thud 35 Darkened Sky **Unknown Location** Currently at the back of the sects mountains, at a completely restricted area of the sect hundreds of arrays seemed to overlap each other. They surrounded all surfaces as they swirl around the area to form a hazy atmosphere that seemed to be separating the inside and the outside of the restricted area. Anyone that tries to look at the inside would be greeted with blinding light while any spiritual consciousness would just bounce back to its user. A few meters from the restricted area a spiritual consciousness was spread across as Qi suddenly started gathering around making the environment become quite. Everything seemed to be under the control of something as everything became still, the Qi gathered around to form a small portal that seemed to be glowing in richness. Seven silhouettes became visible from the light as an old man with a cracked orb behind him led the others as they passed through the portal. At his right was a man in red that stepped forward before calmly calling out into the sky. Little Han, you can open a path now After saying that, the Second Grand Elder stepped to the side and waited while the First Grand Elder Looked towards the others that seemed to be inspecting this particular area in front of them, one of them, the man in white looked towards him before saying. Im Impressed, this is strong enough to even threaten my defense, and it seems that the one who built it is a nascent soul cultivator only at the early stage at that the man said as he looked to his left where a woman with red hair and eyes was standing. The First Grand Elder smiled a little before saying. Yes, its as you have said, but Its only after months of preparation was something like this achieved Not to mention the resources The old man thought with pride as movement finally came from the front. The swearling arrays stopped moving before opening a small gap in between each other. And a gush of qi was blownout through the gap that would make any Soul Wondering Cultivator think that it was a blessed land in there. And yet the 7 individuals at the receiving end of it didnt seemed faze as they slowly walked into the gap. **At the Venue** As the sun rose up high and the breeze stirred the flimsy decor around the venue. The crowd began pouring into their seats with each of them calmly anticipating the coming competition. Seated at the same seats, an old man in a gray robe was sitting next to a man in a blue robe who seems to be looking at the stage, the man in blue was beaming with excitement and smiling with a carefree demeanor. The old man adorned in gray seated next to him sighed while closing his eyes, he started to communicate something through his spiritual consciousness. Arent you being too happy right now what do you mean shener was able to place such a high rank the man in blue replied as he looked towards the stage wherein was the ranking by the side, he was completely unaware of how his friend was perceiving him. The gray robed old man shook his head as he looked at his fellow daoist, it was unsightly to see someone smile so widely in a group of serious cultivators. He sighed and looked down at the stage, he thought back to the hazy figure of a young man full of vigor and hope, he started smiling slightly before focusing on the stage. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. She did well for a starter looking directly at the corner of the stage the old man saw the organizer of the first competition Lu Yung standing by the ranking board that was still up. Hmm the blue robed man muttered after he was finally brought back from his bliss as he stared at the old man in gray She did work hard, her concentration and spiritual consciousness is really impressive, but I still dont know why they allowed her to be the organizer by herself Testing her mental capacity is a good direction, if I remember correctly she is only 40 years old, the fact that she was able to get this far this quick is a testament to the Lu family with their resource, not to mention that she has a special physique that drastically helps her cultivate the old man said while stroking his beard-covered chin. The grand sect elders would have obviously wanted to see her capabilities he thought. The blue robed man nodded along as he thought for a moment, he perked up when he noticed that an equipment was being brought up stage. And it was not just him, almost all the elders from the Levitation Sect were looking at it closely. This equipment would be the entirety of the second competition between the two sects. It was the result of 40 outer sect elders working together to create it, it had no fault in it and was personally inspected by all the Raging Flame Elders. And even they were as excited about it as the Levitation Sect Elders, but most of them were watchful of this because the two sects had different standards for their own disciples. Seeing their disciples participate in a mental capacity test was something that they took seriously since the mind is so easily influenced. Seated at the top of the crowd were the sect masters, having not taken much interest in the last competition they were now slightly interested In this as this was of somewhat importance. Down on the stage were the disciples in line that would be participating in the event, the top 10 disciples were seated in the crowd having been exempt from the following competitions, while the last 10 disciples were eliminated from the competitions. At the center of the stage was a large spiral crystal with swirling engravings, the crystal was glowing with a faint bluish glow and was standing about as tall as a person, it would be the stuff used to assess the mental capacity and aptitude of the disciples. Standing next to the large spiral crystal was a man, wearing a long robe that showcased some of the intricate engravings of the Levitation Sect, he stood proudly with an air of dignity, raising his hand in the air he began speaking. Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the second stage competition, my name is Han Li and I will be the organizer of this event, I am coming forward as a representative of the 40 Levitation Sect Elders that created this item before you Looking towards the spiral crystal he continues Today we stand on the edge of a new beginning, an opportunity for our two sects to unearth the hidden mental talents of our young geniuses He looked at the disciples lined up on the side and continued the rules are simple, you walk up to the crystal and place your hand on it, you will all experience different things on different levels but you will be graded accordingly, and the sect with the higher points will be the winner of this competition at the end And now this event may start, come up and place your hand on the crystal he concludes as he takes a step back and folds his hands, looking at the first disciple on the line he waits for their response. The disciple, a member of the Raging Flames Sect was the first to come up to the crystal as he nervously approached before placing his palm onto it. At first, nothing unusual happened but then suddenly the crystal started to emit a yellow light that slowly encased the disciple within it, it flickered out of existence taking along the disciple with it. The blueish light around the crystal began to surge as it radiates an energy throughout the stage. Everyone present were focused as they watched the energy slowly turn into a screen that displayed the disciple in a black void, the screen had a hourglass timer on its side that was slowly going down. The disciple inside the seemed to be confused as he looked around when he noticed bubbled were coming from his mouth and nose, only a second later did he realize that he was in deep water, he tried to keep himself afloat as he desperately used his hands and feet to try and go somewhere and yet it seemed useless. On the stage some disciples were confused as to why he didnt use his qi but the smart ones were already coming up with reasons as to why he couldnt. The audience looked at the disciple in the screen, he was obviously frightened and seemed confused, but after struggling like that for a few minutes he suddenly lost the ability to keep himself up before slowly floating downward in the water, with the hourglass being only halfway down. The screen disappeared before the crystal began surging with qi again, a few seconds later the disciple was brought back standing in the same position that he once was. He took a deep breath and sighed in relief before looking around in confusion, his face was pale with a little bit of bitterness in the depth of his eyes. The organizer, Han Li began speaking once more as he wrote down Do Sue, 50 points, you managed to stay afloat for halfway through this first level Ok now He was about to call onto the next one before he suddenly found something strange, looking up at the sky he realized that it had turned dark. Not just him, everyone was looking at the sky because as far as the eye can see the whole sky had turned dark. 36. Transparency Boom Darkness vailed the sky and heavy pressure descended from the heavens, the air tightened around the venue and everyone stood with heavy oppressive weight upon them. Hump A soft voice was heard throughout as a large burst of light spread from the stage of the venue. The brilliant beam of light was propelled into the sky and came into contact with the dark sky, breaking through as it easily shattered like glass. The light spread out across the sky illuminating the venue and dispersing the darkness that had encased the whole area showing the clear sky in the air that had not been visible before. Everyones gaze was at where the light had come from, they looked towards the corner of the stage where the first organizer Lu Yung was standing with shocked expressions as all of them knew that no Soul Wondering cultivator was able to do that. The venue became quite as they all started making their own assumptions of her with those that were perceptible knowing that she was not the cause of that light. Everyone suddenly started looking up with worried expressions, the darkness may have been lifted but the pressure had still remained on everyone that was on the ground, a pressure that seemed to be building up in momentum as it made every individuals heart sink in. Crack A cracking noise was heard in the sky as it began to open up or rather to crack down before slowly making a makeshift large gate that led into the void. Nothingness, oppressive currents were weaving inside of it threatening to destroy any spiritual activity thus making it impossible for anyone to dare set foot inside. And yet within that nothingness seemed to be activity, a large carriage like shuttle with no mount was slowly coming through the gate with its size being hundreds of meters across as it brought its front through the gate. It was giving off a strong presence that seemed to be blocking off any spiritual consciousness from scanning it. A small door was opened from its front wherein came a large group of cultivators that stormed out before forming two parallel lines in front of the door. Each of them were wearing armor from head to toe and carrying a variety of weaponry with them, however most of them seemed to be releasing aura of the soul wondering realm, a difficult realm that would make any single cultivator be able to form their own sect and yet here they were lined up like harden warriors. The crowd below was shell shocked when they saw the events that were unfolding before their eyes. the imposing line of roughly 100 cultivators were the least of their concerns as the massive shuttle that was radiating strong presence was more alarming. It was releasing power comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator. CLINK CLINK CLINK Heavy footsteps were heard as a silhouette emerged from the carriage to reveal a young man not even thirty years old. With a head full of long white hair he adorned a gold robe that glowed from the constant outflow of his spiritual energy. It seems to be both absorbing his qi and hiding his realm from any perceiving gaze at the same time, he had an unusual aura around him that was seemingly covered up by his arrogant eyes. Floating along with him on his sides were two voluptuous women that had on revealing robes, they had no spiritual energy, but it was evident that they were not ordinary people. Behind them was a patch of space that seemed to be bending every time they moved, their figures were slim and they walked with a grace that could put even the most prestigious of dancers to shame. Every man would be gazing at their figure in lustrous detail if they were not all looking at the giant figure behind the trio. A massive figure was slowly walking behind them from the side, he was adorned from head to toe with armor and walked alongside them as if he was on the ground. With clear impacts of his heavy steps being heard throughout the quiet venue, everyones eyes were focused onto him as he seemed to be emitting a strange presence of a Nascent Soul cultivator. The young man in front noticed the stares and stepped forward a couple feet before shouting in a loud and dominating voice. I demand that you bring forward your sects highest authority As the young man said this, the area seemed to vibrate as his voice echoed throughout. The pressure that was upon everyones heart was intensified as waves of suppressive force descended from the massive armored giant into the surrounding atmosphere. A burst of light appeared once more from the stage as the suppressive force was lifted from the area, while an equally potent force was released from the light as it aimed toward the young man who had just demanded with his voice. But the force did not travel fast before it was snuffed out by the massive figure behind the young man as it stepped forward in front of the young man. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The young man had on a shocked face while this was happening, he looked at the light as his expression quickly changed from shock to a face full of anger and disdain. He spoke once more. I will not take such humiliation, who do you think you are, come out Thats what you should be answering yourself a female voice said from the brilliant light which ceased to reveal from it a figure that slowly floated up. The mesmerizing figure of a woman that looked a lot like the organizer Yu Yung was facing the sky. She was wearing a luxurious robe that shimmered with a silver shine all around her while behind her was a small white sphere that was shimmering with white qi. The woman looked up into the sky with a slight worry in her eyes, and yet it the arrogance that the young man in front of her was displaying seemed to have gotten under her skin as she carried herself with an annoyed demeanor. A woman? The young man laughed as he looked at her with distain in his eyes, unaffected by her words, he carefully looked at her face before laughing again. He continued What do I think I am?, I think that I can do whatever I want and so what can you do about it, I should have you killed for that but seeing as I need a few more bed warmers, I allow you to join my harem He put up his right hand in an inviting gesture with laughter in his voice as he spoke. Hump the woman snorted with rage in her voice as her eyes glazed over in coldness while the small white sphere floating behind her began to quiver before slowly sinking into her back. Clouds gathered around the sky while thunder roared in the backgrounds, everything lost their meaning while a brilliant light became the center of attention. The wind howled and whipped around the venue as the brilliant light ceased to reveal it its stead something else. Floating at about three meters high was the mesmerizing woman in an ethereal white dress. Her long, jet black hair rippled around her in the wind, revealing her graceful features, features that would be more appreciated if they were not transparent. The crowd below gasped at the sight in front of them, the womans whole body was transparent and seemed to be in another dimension altogether. Seeing this the young man stood unfettered with a hint of amusement in his eyes. He looked towards a certain spot In the sky before he shook his head in disappointment, pointing a finger towards the woman. his arrogance not the slightest bit diminished as he spoke with anger in his voice. Its a pity that you rejected my goodwill and any act of rejection towards me is offensive, sentinel bring her here Rumble The massive armored giant didnt utter a single word as its body suddenly began to glow in red. Massive energy was released as it raised one of its massive hand in the air, following which a portion of his hand became transparent as it clawed towards the woman. For a moment, space shook as a massive transparent hand appeared in front of the woman. It opened up its fingers to grasp her into its grip all the while releasing a loud roaring sound like thunder that echoed throughout the area. The crowd below could hardly make out what happened through their spiritual consciousness as they suddenly heard a loud booming sound echo across the venue causing the elders to grunt in pain and the disciples to pass out in shock. Ugh Lu Yung, the former organizer next to the stage felt her heart beat quicken as she began to worry for the woman in the sky. Just the sound produced from an attack that was not even directed towards her was causing her ears to hurt. She looked up in the sky while clenching her fists in worry, her grandmaster was going to be facing against the attack in full force with no support. Up in the sky the small figure in front of the massive hand had not even moved. she looked unfazed as her pupils glowed silver before she waved her hand in a swiping motion. The swipe, while small resulted in an invisible force meeting the hand that was just a few inches away from her. Boom The sky became white for a moment as the two forces connected, the large hand that seemed to encompass the woman was instantly obliterated as the force from the blast continued on its trajectory, headed towards the massive armored giant. Clang The massive armored giant shook and rumbled for a moment before it too was suddenly thrown back. Its body moving a few steps back as it stamped its foot in the air stopping right before the young man with the arrogant smile. You uttered the young man, his long white hair blowing back in the wind revealing a handsome face, framed by an intricate tattoo next to his ears. His eyes flashed dangerously as he looked at the massive armored giant before him, turning his gaze towards the woman he laughed out loud before licking his lips. an interesting thing, arent you, my sentinel usually doesnt require any move after that, but today I get to witness more, you shall suffer for making me feel shame woman Showing sharp teeths his voice became deep as he menacingly glared at the woman with contempt in his eyes before tapping gently on the massive armored giant. Use all your strength The quiet giant finally let out a noise as it raised its head in the air and roared with frightening intensity as it marched towards the woman. Its heavy armor creaking with each step as it moved through the air with its massive body releasing newfound energy. With each step that it takes its body began to slowly become transparent, until eventually its whole body became see-through. It released maddening aura as its qi whipped in the atmosphere causing pressure to flow downward. raising its hand in the air it gathered energy from the surroundings as it harnessed it into two big gauntlets that appeared on its hand, appearing in front of the woman it punched with a hand that was transparent yet carried enormous force. It caused the space between to tighten as wind compressed around its target, stopping with any movement throughout the area. The woman seeing all this finally became serious about this confrontation. She closed her eyes and placing her hands in front of her as she gathered her qi and concentrated it towards her head before opening her eyes again. Her eyes now blazing silver suddenly released an intense wave of force which clashed with the giants punch and created an explosive shockwave that rocked the entire area. It caused the entire venue to shake as the shockwave boiled in the air before dissipating. When it cleared, the crowd below were dumbfounded as they saw that through their spiritual consciousness, the woman had been propelled several dozen miles away in an instant before finally colliding with a mountain in the distance. It created a huge crater that replaced the entire mountaintop. "What That was all it took for the crowd on the venue to react as they stared in disbelief at the spectacle before their eyes, they could not understanding the difference between the individuals in this realm that had opened itself up today. Hahaha laughter reverberated through the air as the young man began to laugh cynically as he shook his head in a mocking manner. Looking towards the crowd below he said,You fools truly haven''t seen the strength of experts but its to be expected from a backwater place like this Go get her sentinel he ordered as the giant acknowledged with a nod as its transparent body suddenly morphed into a huge fiery ball that dashed into the distance moving through miles in an instant. Now then the young man said as he turned his head towards the sky towards a specific spot in the air i will not repeat myself, show yourselves you cowards, do you think that I Di Luan cant tell who is peeking towards me he smiled as he said this with an air of provocation and distain in his voice clearly seeing everyone as beneath him. 37. No Resistance Rumble The sky suddenly shook, a cluster of clouds started to move within the air as several pressures descended upon the area, the dozens of clouds were full of Qi as they gathered together to form a small portal that glowed in richness. No less than seconds later figures could be seen on the other side of the portal as they all radiated strength of the Nascent Soul Realm, they were all seated in their seats as an old man at the front perked up before speaking to the young man. Son of Venerable Luan, since you are here I will be courteous and invite you to join our little gathering the old man, the First Grand Elder said as he not only seems to know the young man but the father of the young man as well. Hah , acting the fool huh the young man said laughably as he didnt seem bothered with the pressure that the 7 Nascent Soul cultivators on the other side of the portal were exuding at all. You should be kneeling down a man in all red next to the First Grand Elder suddenly said out loud as fiery qi rushed out of his body with the cultivators eyes glinted with killing intent. He seem to be offended by the attitude that the young man was using, he was about to say something before a hand interrupted him, the First Grand Elder had put his hand in front of him, stopping the man from any rash moves. It is not polite to insult the guest in ones own home, with the looming threat growing by the day, it is not wise to make enemies at the moment the old man said as he glanced at the man in red who was sitting next to him. Oh, so you do know something the young man said on the other side as he arrogantly smirked. Good As the young man finished speaking a fiery blazing sphere was seen in the horizon as it didnt take a second before appearing in front the young man. Blowing his fine white long hair, the blazing sphere started morphing as what replaced its spot became a massive armored giant that had a woman in its arm. Oh and youre still alive after that the young man said as he examines the woman with his spiritual consciousness. the woman was pale with beads of sweat on her face as one of her arms was deformed and broken while her silver dress was torn in multiple places. Bood was flowing from her stomach which seemed to be mending itself together as a hole had been torn through it. Barely scraping past her dantian which was releasing little energy she was injured yet her sharp aura was eerily cold around the area. It focused on the 7 Nascent Soul cultivators that were on the other side of the portal as even unconscious she was still aware of her surroundings. I am sorry for my colleagues behavior towards your jokes, the Lu family matriarch is not know for her jokes the old man said before looking towards the injured woman. Still keeping your pretense up the young man said, his voice turned cold as he looked at the old man, his demeanor completely shifting from his previous one as he now started looking intimidating. They say that the difference between the early stage and the middle stage of the nascent soul realm is as wide as the heavens and the earth but the same is true for the late and the peak the old man said as he touched his beard, his gaze calm and clear, his emotions hidden as he looked towards the young man who seemingly understood his message. Haha, as wide as the heaven and the earth, you really know how to compare the realms the young man said as his cold look changed while he let out a funny laugh his tone indicating that he didnt believe it, he seems to remember something as he looked towards the old man before speaking again. Alright Ill come join you as I was handed an important task to do, see to it that your friend behaves after she wakes, otherwise I wont be so kind next time the young man said as he remembered how he was almost embarrassed. No he would have been embarrassed earlier had he not played it off, yes he had played it off. He looked towards the portal before suddenly remembered something. Spreading his arms, he allowed the two voluptuous women by his side to cling to him as he walked along into the portal not the least bit caring about the view that was paced upon him. He nodded his head gesturing towards the massive giant who followed behind them along with the injured woman in arm. they went into the portal as their back figure slowly disappeared from the view of the crowd who looked up in awe, worry and fear while the portal closed in front of them. **Levitation Sect** **Restricted area** In a dark hall surrounded by countless formations, a group of 8 individuals were currently seated around a table that had a small disk in the middle, an arrogant voice could be heard from one of them as a young man with long white hair voiced his thought as he looked around the hall. You have a nice atmosphere here, the qi is so thick that it would make anyone feel intoxicated Thank you for the praise, these formations around us trap qi and were set up by our Forth Grand Elder, she has been developing her skills well the old man answered. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Seated opposite the young man was an old man with a smile that trailed his lips, his eyes were still as no emotion could be read from his expression. Now then, for the matter at hand the young man spoke again, this time his tone serious as he looked at the old man, I have come to collect the four individuals here that have ancestors soul Four A number that was not on any of the minds of the 7 other individuals that were on the table. The old man looked at the young man with a curious look before looking at the other members on the table, all of their eyes now fixed on the young man before he looked back and asked. I am sorry to disappoint you but it seems that you were misinformed, there are currently only 3 such individuals amongst our youngsters Oh, so youre saying I was mistaken the young man said with a slightly raised eyebrow, he showed a sly smirk on his face before he asked how were you able to identify such individuals, you dont have any such information The answer to that is right in front of you the old man said as he looked down at the table. The young man following his eyes saw a small disk on the table that began to glow before reveling a familiar location on the other side, the venue. There were 3 individuals amongst the crowd of elders an disciples that currently glowed in red, the color seemed unnoticeable to the others around them as only the 8 seated on the other side of the disk were able to perceive it. this little device can detect soul fluctuations and hidden souls, so we would have noticed anyone else had they been releasing this red glow the old man continued as he looked up at the young man. Hump, unlike your device which views only this small area, ours can spam across this whole region, and before arriving here three days ago we had detected that there was 4 such individuals, 3 at your venue and one at your sect right here the young man said as he seemed unfazed. I can assure you that i have throughly searched every individual that was at the sect, the other 6 here can be my witnesses the old man said as he looked towards the other individuals. A man in all white from the Raging Flames Sect said, thats right, after the first competition where he showed us this device, he searched every individual that was in a few kilometers around the sect just to be sure So youre saying that I was lying, the young man asked as he looked at the old man with intent in his eyes. The old man merely smiled and suggested for him to use his own device to which the young man snapped his fingers together. There is nothing that can be hidden from me so you had better not be lying the young man boasted as he looked behind him. One of the two voluptuous woman standing by his side next to the massive giant seemingly took out something from thin air as she handed it to the young man. A circler tablet was placed upon the table as the young man poured qi into it, the tablet suddenly released a large burst of qi that reminded the 7 individuals of spiritual consciousness before it started spreading outward. Anything and anyone that the burst of energy touches would be non reactive as even the Nascent Soul cultivators seated around the table wouldnt have noticed had it not been for the circular table that was on the table that showed something. With the table as the center, the tablet slowly revealed the surroundings from the inside of the restricted area to the outside. It continued to the whole sect before going beyond to the venue and any further area in the whole region, the tablet had covered a magnitude of distance and yet only three red dots could be seen as the young man sprung up in shock from his overconfidence, what Not just him everyone one the table were shocked, not for the same reasons though. The young man and the two voluptuous woman behind him were shocked because it really only showed three individuals with luans soul while the rest were shocked at this device being able to bypass any and all things such as the arrays of the restricted area. I am impressed, you have such an amazing device that it not only scans the sect with ease but the entire region at that, all while unnoticeable as well the old man commented as he and every one here were genuinely impressed. Hmm, the young man replied as he looked confused, there was no way for the device to not work properly so why did it not reveal the last individual, the young man thought to himself as he looked upon the 3 identified individuals. Currently upon the circular tablet he was looking at was a young woman in white dress, she was slightly levitating on the stage, tending to the unconscious disciples. She picked up a child that seemed only about 12 years old as the red light surrounding her began to jump as if Interactive with the red light that was surrounding the young boy. Across the venue seated together with the elders of the Raging Flames Sect, a young man with long red hair and eyes was currently meditating as the red light surrounding him jumped while he tends to his wound. Alright then Ill be taking these as per fathers orders the young man said as he coldly stood up, looking towards the old man, he warned, Ill advice you to leave here as soon as possible the young man said as he was genuinely giving an advice. He turned behind him gesturing towards one of the woman, the one wearing the least revealing robes nodded before suddenly opening her arms wide as a small portal began forming in front of her before she stood aside. The seven Nascent Soul cultivators didnt stop him as the old man spread his spiritual consciousness towards the portal penetrating it and spreading it to the people at the venue. Noticing this the young man didnt utter any words as a smile formed on his lips, he stepped out of the portal into the air and looked towards the crowd below him with the two women and the massive giant following behind him. He specifically looked towards the individuals at hand before he then said out loud with a demanding presence. You and you, follow me, we have a long journey ahead of us the young man said as he pointed towards the young man with the long red hair and eyes from the Raging Flames Sect as well as the organizer of the first competition, Lu Yung, that seemed to have a shock face. He didnt forget to add towards Lu Yung, bring that young boy with you as well The crowd was silent as they had just received orders from a spiritual consciousness that was from the First Grand Elder, letting them know of the situation. So without any fanfare or any resistance the three individuals in question were brought into the shuttle together with the young man as the crowd could only watch, the line of about a hundred souls wondering cultivators also retreated back into the small door of the shuttle as the door closed with no suspense. The portal was still up as the 7 individuals on the other side watch the shuttle go back into the Hugh crack in space which had mended itself around the shuttle. A sigh was released from an old woman as she closed her eyes in fear seemingly remembering something, a woman with red eyes was looking hatefully at the portal as it closed after having lost contact with its owner. The man in white looked towards the woman before uttering, its for the best, we arent strong enough to protect them, we were lucky that it was not the Configuration sect but the Palace that had come to take them The old nodded as he added, Venerable Luan has made a vow so you shouldnt worry The others nodded, the quiet third Grand Elder interjecting as he got up anyways its almost time for the formation to be complete, why not see where little Han left off 38. Meng Lin’s Problems Early morning at the peak of the sun, across the quiet caves of the outer sect disciples courters a figure slowly rose from a runny stream that was situated near one of the disciple caves, she walked out of the streams before taking a long breath. Meng Lin had just finished with her now daily routine as she stood up with water dripping through her wet robe, raising her hand a fiery wind blew across her body throwing her jet black hair into the air as it left it in disarray. Finished with drying herself she looked around before heading back to her cave, she had a light smile on her face as she walked back, musing over what she had just been through. Closing the cave door behind her she sat through the luminescent light in the darkness as she thought about what her next step would be. She wanted to test herself or at the least know her limits with this new realm before she could proceed with something that she had her mind on. Thinking back to her fights with the puppets she realized that she had still not learned how to fly on a flying sword which could prove to be fetal in some situations. All the swords that were currently in her possession were not strong enough to withstand the constant qi that would be coursing through them so she would need something else. As far as she had witnessed only disciples at the 3 late stages of Qi gathering realm were equipped with flying sword and of course the foundation realm cultivators would have them as she remembered that senior brother that had brought her to the sect. She sighed as she was honestly getting annoyed with hiding her strength from the sect. She knew that she could survive on her own without being in a sect but at the thought of her father who brought her here and the unknown possibilities that would come with leaving the sect she decided to wait until she had enough strength. She had noticed another flaw within herself while she had been fighting those puppets on the cliff, she had become scared after the battle, scared that she had finally killed a person in this new life. She was no idiot as she knew of the life that entails after coming to this world and she was no stranger to death having watched a few moments of real killings from her past life but she always knew that watching and participating in the events would be completely different. Well sighing and worrying about it will do me no good, I can only hope that the end result of my actions will be worth it she thought as she remembered the wonders feeling she gets while imagining the peak of the cultivation world. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Hah, system [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(early)] [Experience points: 8%] System coin:1490 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 35% [Erosion] Comprehension 35% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] This percentage seems to be increasing steadily with each time that I use the formless talisman, the first time granted me 10 while the second time granted me 11 and now this third try added 14 more percentages to the initial 21 percentage, I wonder if all my comprehension is increasing or just my comprehension of this particular subject is growing the more I use the talisman Meng Lin asked nobody in particular as she closed her eyes and began meditating, she had made it a habit to start doing these ever so often. Losing track of time in her timeless cave she woke up a few hours later before taking a long breath as she finally got up from her seated position. Thinking for a moment she slowly started taking off her robe along the next layer of clothing after that she she checked the wounds that she had been inflicted with. As she cannot see the wound on her back she could only take out a shiny sword from her storage bag as she position it to her back and try to see the reflection off the item. The wound on her back was still there and had scarred over with the edges slowly peeling off and revealing new skin, looking down at her left thigh she realized that the wound seemed to be barely visible as it seemed to have healed way faster than the scar on her back. Taking a new set of robes from her storage bag she dressed herself into a new gray outfit with an air of mystery around as she walked out of the door to her cave. Her goal being the outer sect hall or more specifically the mission board of the outer sect hall, she wanted to try her luck with a new area that she could use for figuring out her full strength. Walking down the mountain she went through the system as she took out a worn out talisman. The cultivation suppression talisman that had been with her since the day that the system was activated. She had been using it every time that she needed to be in public so she didnt care of the way it looked, more so if there was a limit to it as it was getting worn out. Putting the talisman under her robe she suppressed herself again as she went to the outer sect hall which didnt take much time before she set foot into the building. As always it seemed to be bustling with activity with a few disciples running around the place, remembering a place that she frequented she thought to check it out and see if she could find herself any disguises. But as she reaches the place that says *outer disciples shop *she was surprised to see a sign before it stating that it would not be available for a few days, she found that weird but thinking nothing of it she went back to the mission board as she wasnt really worried for a disguise. Looking over the board which seemed to have a few intriguing locations she took a paper that she liked from the board before storing it inside her storage bag. walking out of the sect hall she decided to head straight to the location on the paper as she had nothing else to do. 39. Orchid Spring Mountain Wind blew onto the horizon as a gray shadow was sprinting through the air, one step on the ground and the shadow would travel dozens of meters through the air before landing on the ground again. As wind blew across the sprinting figure a jet black hair would be sprayed in the wind as the figure only stopped after arriving at her destination. Finally Meng Lin said as she stood infront of the entrance to a giant mountain. She had finally arrived at her goal after carefully running for almost a whole hour, it was not surprising to her as this was not a location within the sects boundaries but rather an open location for the different sects throughout the region. It seems to be a secluded location as she noticed right away how overgrown everything was, the grass was at knee high and the trees seemed to be brimming with vitality making it apparent that at least this area was unused. Meng Lin didnt want to waste any time and wanted to go straight in as she was eager to test her. She jumped across the trees before stopping a few meters in as she looked at a specific tree that was surrounded by flowers all around. Only after seeing that tree did she realize as to why this place was named Orchid Spring Mountain, the bland tree stood place with roughly 10 orchid flowers surrounding it as it created a beautiful scenery that anyone would appreciate. Looking through the area she realized that roughly at every 20 meters there was one such tree with orchid flowers as they painted the place with wonder that blended the red flowers with the green scenery. Anyone would feel allured once they see this beautiful scene, but yet this beauty seems to have a hidden secret as Meng Lin uprooted one such red flower and brought it to her nose before trying to smell the scent. What She realized something incredible as she couldnt find any scent to the flower at all, picking another one up she tried to smell again only to feel a faint sensation throughout her lower region as her head became lightheaded. Pulling back she felt the discomfort that soon faded away, she started thinking back to the mission which was to collect one hundred orchid flowers. She now knew of the reason why it remained there on the mission board as it was only after feeling that sensation was she able to guess as to what this flower could do. This flowers scent was obviously dangerous as she felt light headed just from taking two breaths of it, any normal Qi gathering realm cultivator would have been intoxicated from that, so she could imagine as to why the mission was not popular for the outer sect disciples. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Hmm she uttered confused as she wondered why they even made getting this flower a mission, who would want it or does it have other uses in the alchemy department that I am unaware of She thought as she remembered how sometimes alchemists use bad material to create better pills, she shook her head and began focusing on her surroundings. There were a dozen places that seemed to occupy spirit beast as Meng Lin felt over a dozen different aura in the 60 meters that her spiritual consciousness could reach. Gathering Qi into her leg she jumped on to one of the tall trees as she surveyed the area, taking out a small makeshift vail she covered her face as she headed towards one direction. She knew that she wouldnt encounter anyone who would recognize her here even without the veil but it didnt hurt to be careful as this was an open area. She jumped from tree to tree making sure to avoid any orchid-flower covered trees as she went towards the one of the strongest aura around the place. After traveling for a few minutes she finally arrived near the spot, on top of a tree at a distance she could see a large swamp with the shadow a large beast in it. Spreading her spiritual consciousness towards the creature she was able to recognize it right away as she identified it to be a crocodile that was at least 10 meters long as its body seemed full of strength. But as soon as her spiritual consciousness reached the creature it instantly became aware of her presence as it released threatening energy into the surroundings to make its strength apparent. It finally came to the surface as its scales glowed with luster from the surging qi hidden within, it was a spirit beast of the 2 rank and one at the middle stage at that. As this would be her first time facing off against a crocodile Meng Lin took out her giant axe and released all her aura revealing her strength to be at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, she jumped down to the ground with a thud causing a small creator as she approached the creature one step at a time. The creature that revealed itself to be a crocodile didnt appear cautious as it lunged out of the water towards her right away, its mouth being opened wide as its sharp teeth became reinforced with qi, it threatened to kill her in one bite. Bringing her axe in front if her she gathered qi into her arm as she slashed horizontally with her axe, the axe carried strong wind as it met with the sharp teeth of the crocodile that similarly moved with speed. Peng Meng Lin winced in pain as she felt her hand almost lose control of her axe, taking a step back she placed the head of the axe onto the ground as she looked towards the crocodile and noticed it too reacting the same way. Its head was lowered and eyes pained as it felt the force in its teeth, she had parried the attack successfully and didnt plan on letting it recover from the recoil. As right when the crocodile brought its head up, the axe which was facing the ground was twisted over before being pulled upward with force towards the head. This time the blade of the axe was covered with electricity as Meng Lin implemented her Thunderbolt Flash technique in a fight for the first time. And it didnt disappoint as she felt her axe supported with newfound speed that slashed upward towards the crocodiles head releasing a burst of thunder as it came into contact with the creature. Boom A large crater was formed in front of Meng Lin as she looked towards the result, the crocodile had been blown in the air as it flew past the water swamp before crashing into a tree in the distance. Hah Meng Lin breathed out as she dropped the axe, her arms were incredibly stressed. When she used the Thunderbolt Flash just now she didnt account for the burst of speed that would come along with it so her arms had to pay the price. Bringing her arm up to inspect she sighed in relief when she realized that nothing was wrong. She looked onto the unmoving crocodile in the distance before picking up her axe again, she had to see what had become of the creature. 40. Threatened **Orchid Spring Mountain** Its a little stronger than I thought Meng Lin thought as she looked at the dead crocodile in front of her, its head had been split in two and blood was flowing out of it as its heart pumped blood for the last time. She had assumed that the Thunderbolt Flash technique would be more useful in escaping rather than attacking but she was proven wrong as it could be one of her deadliest attacks if it was paired with brute Qi well it was a sword technique so I shouldnt be surprised She thought it could happen but she still had no way of mixing another element into brute Qi so she would have to experiment with it more. Looking down at the corpse she stored it inside her storage bag before looking at the swamp where the creature came from. Spreading her spiritual consciousness into it she was disappointed to discover nothing except some scraps of bone that the crocodile had consumed. She looked afar as she forcused on another strong aura before jumping onto a tree, she thought for a second before continuing to head towards her next location. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(early)] [Experience points: 8%] System coin:1490 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 35% [Erosion] Comprehension 35% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] As her vail had been blown away in her last attack she decided to see if she could find any replacement in the system. Going through the 60 items in the system market she was not disappointed as she saw a mask in the first few rows and focusing on it she was met with a small description. [Headwear: golden Mask] An accessory with no nose, mouth or eye holes, its purpose is to hide the users face while they see through it. System coin: 20 The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Although she found what she was looking for, she didnt want to buy it until she really needed it so she decided to wait. As she was about to continue to her destination she suddenly found herself feeling a chill to her core. Jumping to the side she was surprised to see that nothing had happened, perplexed she released her spiritual consciousness only to not discover anything as well. She was confused, she had definitely felt that chill everytime that she was about to be attacked and yet she didnt see anything around her that could pose a threat. Treading lightly with a thoughtful expression she continued to her targeted location all while making sure to keep an eye out for any surprise attacks. Moving through the trees for a few minutes she finally reached the aura, it was a flaming creature that had its back facing her as it lay upon a large boulder seemingly not worried about anything. Releasing her spiritual consciousness towards it she readied herself as she took out her axe once more, the creature was awaken by her spiritual consciousness as it didnt even stand up, only turning its head towards her. It looked to be a goat with a large horn on its head as its whole body was burning in flames, its eyes were red and flaming as it finally got up and face her. It was about as tall as a human with its length being about 6 meters, it jumped down to the ground and started walking towards her all while slowly releasing qi. Its whole body began to be engulfed in flames as its silhouette became the only thing visible to Meng Lin, its qi continued to rise as it sent waves of hot currents through the air. Not knowing how much stronger this creature at the late stage would be she decided to play it save as she too released all her strength, raising her axe in the air she decided to attack as she lunged forward while cladding her axe in the Thunderbolt Flash Technique. Slashing towards the beast she was met with an enormous force as she clashed with the fiery claw of the beast that readiated destructive heat. Clang Expecting such force she held her foot onto the floor which ruptured under her foot as she brought her fire covered arms up into the air before calling out a name. Waterfall Slash The dry air became steamy as a large amount of water qi gathered to form a vertical slash in front of Meng Lin, the flames on her hands were put out as her axe was brought down with force, it threatened to tear into anything in its path. The beast which perceived the attack as a threat opened its mouth up as its whole head transformed into a large draconic head, it roared back into the incoming attack sending a shockwave all around. Boom Ugh, Meng Lin uttered as she was blown back, her grip on the axe tightened as she flipped in the air to land safely on the ground, her attack had been stopped. She looked at the Beast infront of her as she released her spiritual consciousness, the beast was undamaged as it roared again before lunging towards her. Meng Lin didnt want to be on the defense so she too charged towards the beast, this time cladding her whole body in the Thunderbolt Flash technique. Her speed multiplied and her figure became a blur as she utilized her fastest speed possible, she held the axe in front of her and pushed with all her strength forming a giant lightning bolt that met with the creatures assault. Boom Wha Meng Lin said in shock, as she felt herself being thrown back, her grip on her axe loosened and before she could make sense of their situation, the shadow of a claw appeared before her face threatening to rip into her. Clang Boom Cough she coughed as she felt the impact with the ground, she had lost her axe and could only resort to her Brute Qi to protect her face at that moment. Looking up at the creature coming down towards her she raised her left hand before uttering. Surge Chaotic Brute Qi gathered around before being released in a shockingly single burst, she had focused half of it onto that single burst as she witnessed a shocking sight. Boom A large ball of Chaotic Qi was released as it covered the body of the creature, the shocking flames around the creature were extinguished as it screamed in pain. The perimeter became white for a second as Meng Lin used this time to jump out of the small crater that she was laying in, landing not far from the attack she finally assessed the situation around her. 41. Critical Meng Lin carefully looked at the attack as she released her spiritual consciousness around the surroundings, she needed to be sure of the condition of the attack and of any unsuspecting attacks. As she was focusing more than ever, she didnt fail to notice something happening in her spiritual consciousness. A bright beam of light shot out from within the surge attack and shot right through where she was standing. Boom A large amount of force was produced as a small explosion appeared on the ground as the beam continued on a few meters even after hitting its target. Fire was produced in waves as the surrounding trees in the area started catching smoke before bursting in flames. Having moved out of the way at the last moment Meng Lin was able to tell how strong that beam was as she felt blazing heat when it traveled past her. When she looked at the destruction produced by the beam she became slightly worried before looking towards the source of the destruction, she wasnt sure if her brute Qi could block it. She looked around before noticing some orchid flowers burning, she became even more concerned as she noticed the scentless fog in the air. She worried that the more they fight the more orchid flowers would be burnt and the more the scent would increase, it seems that I would have to take care of this quick she thought as she looked towards the creature. The creature, coming from the subsiding surge attack had fury in its eyes, its Draconic head had become bigger while its body had become smaller, it looked hideously dangerous with its head which amassed half its size as it opened its mouth before roaring out loud. ROAR!! Meng Lin grimaced as she felt her ears ringing, carefully looking at the beast she didnt fail to notice its blackened and burnt body. It seems that it had taken a considerable amount of damage from that last attack but Meng Lin was more surprised that it only did that amount since it contained half of her brute Qi. Taking something out from her storage bag she cautiously looked at the creature which now became a hideous beast. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. She feels her instincts scream and her hands shake as the creature slowly moved, in a blur it suddenly appeared over her. She felt goosebumps all around as she dropped what was in her hand before jumping back 15 meters. She traced her storage bag, this time taking a sword out from within, as she landed she heard a loud noise from where she was originally standing. CHOMP Crackle A large chunk of the ground was gone as well as one tree trunk, they were bitten as she saw a gaping hole on the ground where everything once was. The creature didnt seem to want to give her time as it looked her way before lowering its head, its head which had a large draconic horn suddenly started glowing as large amount of qi formed into the horn. Swish A beam of pure fire was produced as it headed towards her at a fast speed, its intensity was at its peak as it threatened to burn through anything in its path. Meng Lin had already anticipated this attack as right after seeing the creature lower its head she raised her sword in the air before slashing down with a chaotic brightly colored sword that shattered instantly after releasing the sword technique. Waterfall Slash A thin layer of highly concentrated Qi was released in the air as the whole area changed color, Brute Qi was condensed into a single unit of attack which left pressure behind as it headed for the creature. Not being sure of her defensive capabilities Meng Lin wanted to cancel out the beam before it could reach her but as the thin Layer of brute Qi was about to collide with the beam of pure fire. She was shocked to see a change in the trajectory of the beam as it turned left, away from the sword slash before heading back towards her again. She was given a fright as she looked at the attack right infront of her, clenching her fists and gritting her teeth she forced all her Brute Qi to appear before her. She also sent out her spiritual consciousness towards the creature, specifically towards the array underneath the creature. The creature which already had its legs folded ready to jump suddenly become dazed as the attacks which were moving at speeds too fast for Meng Lin to react to met their target. A beam of pure fire struck Meng Lins body while a highly concentrated slash struck the creatures head. Boom Boom! Two big explosions happened simultaneously as the surroundings of roughly 20 meters became flattened, the trees in the background which were blazing in flames became more intense as any life around became extinguished. The explosion settled but the dust and smoke continued as on one side of the battlefield was the hideous figure of a beast on the ground with a heavy gash on its head from which blood flowed. Around the beast was a crookedly placed array that was producing white fog in the air around the 20 meter wreckage as it went to cover the only other being in the area that was on the other side of the battlefield. The scarred figure of a body, a body covered in large burns all around as it lay bare in the rubble with occasional hard breaths coming from it. A few minutes later and the dust had settled and yet everything remained silent around the area except for the large lingering fog of orchid flowers and the occasional twist in the array fog around the 20 meter radius. 42. injuries Cough Cough Meng Lin coughed as she breathed heavily, her eyes opened to the sight of darkness overhead with the source of light being the dim rays of the moon up above, her sight was hazy but she could see enough. Time seemed to have passed as its now nighttime and she had been unconscious for several hours till now, remembering her surroundings she tried to get up but. Urg As soon as she placed her hands on the ground she winced in pain as she felt them hurting after coming into contact with the ground. She thought for a second before checking her qi and noticing that half of it had recovered, she released her spiritual consciousness to check the condition of her body. It seemed that she had sustained a large amount damage seeing as she was basically naked except for a few rags that were here and there on her body. Luckily for Meng Lin, her face had sustained little damage since she had placed her hands up for protection at the last moment, the same could not be said for the rest of her body which was covered with burns from her torso all the way to her legs. The burns looked quite bad but she could tell that the injuries werent serious and considering her self recovery she assumed that in a few days they would all be gone. She laughed warily as she was just about done treating her last injures and now she already has another one to take care of. She was annoyed by that but she didnt regret it as now she was more aware of her limits against spirit beasts, with that thought in mind she was finally reminded of her surroundings as she began spreading her spiritual consciousness outward. The ground was covered with battle marks as heat patches and deep holes filled the area, her spiritual consciousness spread as it came into contact with something. It looked to be a creature with a small body and a large head, its head which looked vary dangerous had a large slash across it as it actually split the head in half. Meng Lin was a little surprised at the result of her attack as she expected it to severely damage it but not to the degree that it had been. But she should have expected it considering the creature was in a dazed state when the sword slash hit it and it didnt use any qi to defend itself from it. It would have probably survived that attack had it not been for the quick thinking of Meng Lin. She knew that it was way too fast and it would not allow itself to get hit by her slash so she used her only chance at victory. Her Soul Confusing Array which came in the form of a sealed scroll that she had dropped onto the ground earlier, she finally had a use for this item since its last use at the Westmount Valley. As the name suggests, it confuses the soul of anyone below the Soul Wandering Realm and seeing as this creature was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm she thought to try it and she was proven correct. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. It releases a white fog that surrounded the intended target and since she had set the target as the 20 meter radius around their battle she didnt worry much when she realized that she had been unconscious for several hours in this place. Thinking about their fight for a minute she continued spreading her spiritual consciousness outside of the the 20 meters as she wanted to see what happened with the forest after the trees were set ablaze. Hmm She uttered as she wondered, the trees around were charred and after 40 more meters she could see that the fires had stopped with some form of lingering qi in the air, she doesnt know of what exactly happened but she could think of something. A spirit beast might be the one to have stopped the spread and seeing as the qi came all the way to her array she assumed that the array made it leave the area since only a Soul Wandering Realm cultivator or a rank 4 spirit beast would be able to notice the array in place. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(early)] [Experience points: 12%] System coin:1490 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 35% [Erosion] Comprehension 36% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] Opening the system tab Meng Lin raised her eyebrows at the small change that her screen had displayed, her experience point had almost doubled and one of her Elemental Qi had an increase of 1 percent. She didnt think her experience would double but she could only attribute it to the fights that she had taken a few hours ago. As for her comprehension of erosion increasing, she thought of the burns across her body. The fact that it increases with other methods was surprising but she didnt even think of entertaining the idea of feeling pain. Going to the system market she searched before finally finding something that she needed, focusing on the item she was able to see its description as she smiled slightly. [Receptor talisman] An ingenious creation of the system that allows for one to control the receptor of ones body, but the system warns that this item is dangerous if not used correctly. 1 hour use. System coins: 70 She was happy to have seen this in the system market as with this she could finally have a pain free life, she hopes that she one day comes across a technique that is like this as it would be of great help in her journey. Buying the item and losing 70 system coins she placed it upon herself with a little difficulty as she suddenly gained a connection, she knew exactly what to do to increase all her receptors and what to do to lessen the senses of her receptors. She felt that if she wanted to she could increase the pressure, temperature and light intensity that her skin was feeling but she didnt have the thought of experimenting right now, she was going to be mainly using it to lessen the pain upon her skin. Standing up with no effort or at least no pain Meng Lin began looking across the battlefield before remembering her situation. She took the last pieces of clothing off her body before taking out a new set of robe from her storage bag. She adorned herself in a new gray and black robe before heading towards the dead creature. Arriving a few seconds later she took the creature into her storage bag and looked at the glowing scroll on the ground that had been underneath the creature. she picked it up before cutting of her connection to it, looking around she noticed the white lingering fog in the air disappearing, and the surroundings becoming visible with moonlight. She was about pick a direction to head towards but she suddenly felt her body react to something in the air. Her face became red and her eyes became hazy while her body became hot, quickly realizing the issue she adjusted one of her receptors before finally becoming clear headed. Ha She sighed in relief as she tried to control herself, she had completely forgotten about the problem of the orchid flower. I guess that the scent increased in the air because of the trees with orchid flowers, they burned as well Meng Lin thought as she looked at the array in her hand. She was also slightly shocked at the Soul Confusing Array being able to prevent that harmful thing from coming inside its perimeter. She was shocked and happy since it allowed for her to be able to buy something that coincidentally counters it. She noticed that the increase in scent had been big since it was strong enough to cause her to almost fall to it after just a few seconds of coming in contact with it. Knowing that she only has one hour, Meng Lin began sprinting towards a direction hoping to reach a safe place before her timer went out. 43. Stage Breakthrough **Orchid Spring Forest ** Inside a dimly lit cave with a luminescent light on the cave ceiling a gray robed young girl was sitting crossed legged on the floor. the cave was currently filled with qi as they surround the girl within a small cyclone, she was absorbing qi at a shocking level with each breath that she takes and her aura which was of the early stage of the foundation Establishment Realm was becoming more powerful and the burnt scars underneath her robes were visibly healing little by little. With every breath that she takes the less qi that would be seen in the air as after a few minutes of her absorption the small cyclone of qi around her stopped having been finally used up. The large qi in the air was gone but the girl sitting crossed legged didnt move as her eyes remained closed and her face was covered in sweat, she seemed to be having an internal battle as occasionally qi would burst out of her before stopping at the walls of the cave. With a long breath the girl in gray opened her eyes which held a sharp aura with a hint of ruthlessness as she looked down at her hand, the skin of her hand was red with swelling but she smile a little as she realized the dark burnt marks were gone. It seems that it was worth it she uttered as she took out a small white pill, it was the last Qi gathering pill that she has left, having just used one on herself just now she planned to keep this one in case she reached a certain point of difficulty with her cultivation. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(middle)] [Experience points: 22%] System coin:1420 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 35% [Erosion] Comprehension 36% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] She was currently very happy about herself, not only did she have a breakthrough in her realm but she also learned a lot about herself from her 1 hour of experience with her receptors. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She was originally planning on returning back to her sect after getting up but since it was night time and she was curious about the talisman that was on her mind she decided to just carve a small hole in the mountain and stay until the next day. She also knew that even though she lessened her receptors of stimulant and pain she would only be in that state for a 1 hour period, focusing all her attention on breaking through her realm right after the talisman wore off helped her recover greatly from the effects that plagued her body. Her body had healed considerably and changed her original thoughts of healing after a few weeks to healing after just a few days, she felt stronger than before and the sea of liquid qi that was inside her Dantian had increased a little as well. Having spent the few hours here meticulously cultivating Meng Lin finally had a peace of mind as she decided to let sleep overtake her and slumber into the night. **Meanwhile** Elsewhere in Orchid Spring Mountain, in a small empty field devoid of trees a tent was set upon the tall grass, standing at the entrance of the tent was a hooded figure that looked to be guarding it as their aura covered the surrounding areas of the tent. The aura was dark and unusual as from one moment it would be showing the middle stage of the Foundation establishment realm and the next it would be showing the early stage of the Foundation establishment realm, the hooded figure appeared board as they brought their hand up to their mouth before yawning, they were nonchalant even with the loud noises coming from the tent. Inside the tent which was a few meters wide was the loud screams of a woman along with the occasional sounds of a whip being cracked in the air, a mans laughter accompanied the screaming as the tent swayed with the wind blowing in the quiet night. The hooded figure which was guarding the tent noticed something as they looked towards the forest with focus in their eyes, in the forest from a distance came another hooded figure that moved with the wind before arriving at the entrance of the tent, he bowed down before speaking out loud. Boss Su, i have located the person that you sent me out to get the hooded figure which was another man said with a tinge of fear in his voice, he kept his head bowed down as he noticed the screaming coming from inside the tent stop. Crack A loud sound cracked in the air as a blur appeared instantly in front of the kneeling hooded figure, the blur struck the figure with force as air whipped and the blasted figure of the kneeling hooded man became seen in the air a moment later. Boom Dust raised in the air as a small crater was formed a few meters away from the tent, the blur that struck out lost its force and fell on the floor near the tents entrance revealing it to be a whip with sharp spikes on it. I ordered you to bring her here so where is she a young voice said from the tent as a heavy footsteps was heard later. The crater where the dust had settled reveled the hooded figure on the ground slowly getting up with a fearful demeanor, he didnt seem to have sustained any damage from that attack but he quickly bowed down with his head on the ground while saying. But its not my fault boss she is in that mind altering array again, but worry not this time i have identified her new location and we just have to wait until she comes out before bringing her to you as he said this his body began trembling, he didnt dare look up as he heard the heavy steps stop by the tent entrance. A shadow loomed from within the tent as the young voice continued with arrogance and destain in his voice. you better do as you say otherwise I have no need for you The hooded figure felt a gaze upon him before being directed at the forest as the young voice said again with lustful longing in his voice while he raised his whip up in the air. I am getting tired of these three useless toys, maybe this feeling that I continue to have will finally be buried with this new one that Ill reward Crack 44. Torturous discovery The rays of sunlight hit the ground as many creatures awoke from their slumbers, throughout the quiet forest of the Orchid Spring Mountains began the first pounding noise. Peng Boom An explosion rocked the area as giant clouds of debris rose in the air, a qi covered shadow jumpd out of the smoke and landed on a nearby tree before looking down at the smoke. The shadows hair was blowing in the air as it revealed the face of a young girl with sharp eyes, she held a cracked sword in hand and with a confused expression. It was Meng Lin, she had just gotten out of her makeshift cave with a sword in hand when she felt danger from all around, had it not been for her quick reaction when she brought out her brute Qi then she could have been seriously injured. She looked at the explosion, the size of which seemed strong enough to cause critical damage to her, her thoughts were running as she released her spiritual consciousness into the surroundings. Her eyebrows became raised afterwards as she noticed that it was not revealing anything to her, she was puzzled but remained cautious because anything that could cause that explosion would at least have to be at the level of foundation establishment. As she was about to jump down to investigate the perimeter she suddenly saw a blur appear before her with a hand stretched open. With no time to evade her eyes could only widen at the sight of the hand appearing as she didnt have any time to react. Boom A loud explosion was produced as Meng Lin was sent flying in the air, the tree that she was standing atop became a blazing fire as it showed the intensity of the flames. Meng Lin flying in the air with her face red from the flaming explosion looked back at the tree burning before thinking of something, landing with strong momentum on another tree she was about to jump when she felt the same blur appearing before her again. Boom Another explosion wipped the area as the tree that she had just landed on snapped under pressure, it fell to the ground along with force as a big thud was heard. Is that all youve got a calm voice sounded from the smoke as wind blew away the smoke filled air, on top of the broken down tree laying on the ground was the angry face of Meng Lin as she stood with no visible damage to her body. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. A hand was right infront of her face with her own hand gripping onto it, chaotic white qi covered her body as she finally looked at the culprit of her assault, a hooded black robed figure. The hooded black robed figure didnt seem fazed as they didnt say any words before raised their other hand to her face. Boom Another explosion took place as the solid ground beneath them both caved in, the explosion had been so powerful that it cleared a 10 meter radius and yet. I guess that is all youve got a voice was heard from the smoke which alarmed the hooded figure, with anxiety they tried to pull their arms away from Meng Lin but to no avail. Meng Lin once again released a burst of wind qi in the air area the area of its obscurity as she looked upon the struggling cultivator with a darkened gaze. She tightened the grip in her hand before she noticed sizzling noise coming from it, looking closely she saw that the Brute qi seemed to be burning away at the fabric, it was a new discovery for her so she became intrigued in it before finally seeing a response from the other party. Ahh A loud scream escaped from the hooded figure as they found themselves in agonizing pain. a response Meng Lin said as she focused on the figure more closely, they appeared to be a man wearing all black along with a small symbol of a wolf on the robe, she didnt know of that symbol but she now knew to investigate it. He was a cultivator in the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm and he only seemed proficient in that exploding technique. Looking at him as he trashed around wallowing in pain Meng Lin held a little fear in her heart as she wondered what she would do if she was in his position. She was thinking to herself but soon shook her head, she thought to not continue thinking like that if she wanted to be a true cultivator, she should absolutely show no mercy to someone who attacked her out of nowhere. Aughhh The man continued to scream in pain as she noticed brute qi seeping all across his hand she pulled him forward before grabbing out with her other hand. GASP! The man held by his throat was suddenly raised in the air before being slammed into the ground. Boom a small crater formed where he lay with a burnt handprint on his neck, injured and in pain with her grip still not releasing his hand he couldnt do a thing. His hood which was covering his face came off reveling his face underneath, an average looking face with unkept hair and a fearful expression with tears in his eyes. Please make it stop He said with trembling voice as he looked at his hand still held by Meng Lin, he could still feel the burning sensation in his skin which made him feel like his soul was burning. He couldnt think of anything that would stop this weird qi as even when he tried to protect himself with his own qi it didnt work. Make it stop? Meng Lin repeated as she tightened her grip on his hand, she looked at the man with anger in her eyes before asking, why did you attack me? Ahh The man screamed out in more pain pain as he felt the painful sensation increase, he kept on repeating the words please to Meng Lin who choosed to let them fall on deaf ears and reciprocate with her own. Why did you attack me? She continued, only after a minute had gone by did she finally released the mans hand, her hands were off but they were only slightly off the mans body as if to tell him that she would continue holding onto him if he does not agree to answer. The man finally free didnt dare to do anything, his face was sweating with beads of sweat as he finally had room to breathe, his chest heaved up and down as he took a moment to breathe. The sensation was gone but he could still tell that her hand was there, so with a trembling body and fear in his voice he decided to finally speak. 45. Wu Dou A few miles away in an empty area devoid of trees with the suns rays illuminating the area, a tent was placed with two hooded figures guarding the entrance. The tent was silent with the only noise heard from inside being the occasional loud snore of a young man alongside the quiet whimpering of 3 women. The atmosphere around the tent was quiet with both men standing on either side of the tent entrance, they both wore and looked the same and yet one would notice the difference between them at first glance, both were giving off different auras. One of them was tall and surrounded with powerful aura that released qi comparable to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm while the other one was standing short and surrounded with dark and unusual aura that flickered between the early and middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Whats taking Xin Quo so long, if he doesnt hurry up, the little boss will be mad, why did you not go back and get her quicker, Wu Dou the inpatient voice of a young man was heard from one of the men as the one with the dark and unusual aura spoke. Hump a snot was heard from the tall one, Wu Dou, he looked at the young black hooded man before replying back. Xin Quo is at the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm while the girl is only at the beginning stage, i dont need to be involved He looked back at the tent while continuing, besides thats not my job, the little boss still has the Visonary Lamp, my orders from the second boss was to make sure nothing happens to it Had it not been for that do you think that i would even be here he added as he looked back at the short young man with the usual aura. The aura around the man increased as he released qi that was on the border of a peak realm cultivator, the little boss plays around too much, we already collected the Orchid spring flowers but he still wants to stay and play around with the diciples of these small sects he added on with annoyance in his voice. He thought that the only reason that the little boss was surrounded with Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators was because of how reckless he was. Someone as special as him should not be grouped with trash like that, he cursed himself for feeling fear over the little boss and wanted to shout out loud but he kept his thoughts hidden as he knew of the consequences that awaits him had he disobeyed. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. He was about to continue voicing his annoyance when he suddenly realized something, looking at the distance in the trees he saw something moving fast towards them. Across from them a few miles away was a white cloud of chaotic light moving through the forest with incredible speed, in seconds it tore through the trees and arrived at their location. Wu Dou, the first to notice it had already spread his spiritual consciousness attempting to know what it was and yet when his spiritual consciousness touched the light he grasped his head in pain as he felt a burning sensation from his spiritual consciousness, an intense painful sensation that stunned him for a moment. Looking at the chaotic light that was practically infront of his face he was able to see inside the cloud of chaotic white light and see the sources of such power, it was a weapon that resembled an axe and it moved fast as it left trails of destruction in its wake before arriving at its target. The chaotic qi Axe landed and struck a black barrier that was released at the last second as the young man with the unusual dark aura stepped out attempting to stop the attack, unfortunately the barrier broke apart instantly producing a large explosion that rocked the area. BOOM!! A large white light illuminated the whole area with a small gray blur flashing across the place, any weak cultivator exposed to such light would find themselves in serious trouble, parts of the tent fell down with the majority of it still standing, smoke filled the whole area before being blown away instantly by a powerful aura. Wu Dou got up with a large aura being released from his body, his realm of the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm was made aware as his eyes darted around the place before being drawn to the almost broken down tent, knowing the object of his mission and the safety of the little boss who was only at the beginning stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm he rushed inside the tent. Going inside the tent which was half broken down Wu Dou saw the unconscious body of their young boss, a young chubby man adorned in luxurious robes that were stained with blood, he was laying on a bed with 4 other woman, 3 of which were bloodied with bruises on their exposed bodies with the forth one being adorned in gray robe and under the debris of the broken part of the tent. Seeing the Little Boss like that Wu Dou panicked and didnt even pay attention to the situation, releasing his spiritual consciousness he was able to see that the little boss was only injured slightly, while the 4 women were close to dying. Looking around the place he turned to the center of the tent where he saw a red glowing lamp on the table, seeing the Visionary Lamp safe he finally calmed down, it seems that only the 4 women were severely affected by that explosion. Wait 4 he repeated as he suddenly came to a realization, he was about to turn around when he suddenly heard a soft voice coming from behind him. waterfall slash A thin layer of highly concentrated Qi was released in the air as the whole tent was blasted apart, Brute Qi came to being as it condensed into a single line that moved fast. Fuck Wu Dou cursed out loud as he quickly turned around, he was only able to do that as he saw a blade appear infront of his face before everything turned black. 46. View Point Peng Blood was sprayed in the air with the wind blowing loudly from the recoil of a collision, a body dropped to the ground while Meng Lin stood watching, in her left hand were remnants of a broken Gold blade. Her eyes carried a complexion of emotions that when looking carefully seemed as if she had some regrets, she thought to herself once again about the path that she was taking. She contemplated the gravity of her actions and her heart felt heavy, a human being lay infront of her dead, killed by her own hands, but it had to be done and she knew it, it had to start somewhere if she was serious about her goal. So.. She said before shaking her head, she needed to deal with the situation at hand before thinking about stuff like that. She raised her head to look at the dead body on the ground before looking past it to the floating light above it, thinking back to a few moments ago, she remembered a bright red light had been produced when her attack tore through the mans body and hit the lamp. She was not surprised as to how the lamp was intact after receiving an attack from her, she had been able to get a considerable amount of information from the guy that attacked her first, and with that knowledge she was able to excecute a perfect plan where she didnt have to do much of anything, Meng Lin thought as she turned to the unconscious people behind her, I didnt think the level of destruction would be this big, but at least they are still alive She had initially intended for the axe to slow down the two hooded men while she sneaks in the tent to rescue the women but who would have thought that only one of them would put up a barrier while the other one stood frozen for a second. Walking over to the bed, Meng Lin finally took a good look at this little boss of the Golden Fang Bandits. He was an obese person with a big figure and thick grey hair, he had a young face and was adorned in a luxurious robe. Taking a seated posture over him she placed her hand onto his shoulder while releasing her spiritual consciousness, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes she focused hard onto his body covering it with her spiritual consciousness before coming to a new perspective. She marveled a little, she didnt even expect to pull this off but now everything inside him is under her eyes, the currents of energy that ran through his body, his spiritual consciousness that seemed dormant, his very dantian which was the source of his strength and what she was looking for. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Coursing her Qi into his body she surround his dantian with her own Qi before locking it in place, preventing him from using his qi, for the moment at least. Hah She breathed out with a small smile of wonder before opening her eyes again, she got up from her seated position before looking at the women besides him, their faces were black and blue and lashes and lacerations covered their entire body with some of them oozing fresh blood. gazing upon them like this made her small smile of wonder disappear before being replaced with sorrow and a glint of fury in her eyes. She didnt need to release her spiritual consciousness towards them to know what kind of pain that they had been inflicted. Waving her hand towards them she released a small suction which covered their body before pulling them out of existence, she had placed them inside the system inventory, which is able to keep whatever inside in a timeless zone, their injuries were too severe to try and treat in this environment. She looked at the unconscious little boss before doing the same, she needed to know more about this organization and she planned to get it from him. She turned to the floating lamp before storing that as well, taking a look around the place which was now only a bed in the middle of a field with dents and cracks from the earlier explosion she was surprised to discover the lack of a weapon, her axe. Not just her axe she couldnt find the man in black that tried to block it, even with her spiritual consciousness spread out she couldnt find him, placing a finger under her chin she thought back to the moment of the big explosion, she vividly remembered how the axe tore through the black barrier that was put up before striking at the man. She thought back to the earlier hooded man that attacked her infront of the cave and remembered that he was also able to hide from her spiritual consciousness, the only way she was able to get him was by predicting what he would do next, which she couldnt do in this situation, she was about to give up when she realized that her axe was missing as well which suddenly brought a smile to her face. If I cant find the man then Ill find the axe she thought as she closed her eyes and forcused deep within herself, it was her second time doing this so she was easily able to start channeling her Qi outwards into her surroundings, she felt a slight tug in a direction and followed the sensation, quickly it grew stronger and in a few seconds she was able to clearly pinpoint where exactly her axe was. Opening her eyes she followed the sensation and headed in a straight path towards only one destination. Moving away from the area devoid of trees she quickly found herself surrounded by the familiar trees of the Orchid Spring Mountain. jumping from one tree to another she stumbled upon the target of her pursuit, her axe stuck to a tree. Finding the situation weird she released her spiritual consciousness out of habit before coming back empty handed, jumping to the tree that had her axe she could only hold a disappointing look as she realized that the hooded man probably left it here after finding himself being followed. She sighed a little as she knows what that entails in the future before she shook her head, changing her focus, she looked at her axe which now has more cracks from her earlier use of the Brute Qi before storing it into her storage bag. she turned back and headed to her cave, it would seem that she has her hands full now, she has a lot of stuff to do. 47. Assumptions Ugh Opening his eyes to a dark environment, the little boss groaned as signs of pain reached his body, his head throbbed and his vision blurred and he couldnt help but gasp in shock. Caugh Caugh Wha he uttered confused, only after a few seconds did he notice the position he was in, he was sitting down against a something and his arms were tied behind his back, his eyes were blurry and he felt sore all over his body. What is this he asked as he couldnt understand how he got here, he looked around the cave but everything was dark in his blurry vision. Xin Quo, Wu Dou, Mu Lee where are you, whats going on He yelled demanding an answer as his thoughts could only go to those three for the position that he found himself in. Finally awake a heavy scrapping voice answered him as he heard a tapping noise coming from a few feets away. Suddenly dim light shined down from above as the little boss finally recognized where he was. He was inside a cavern and looking over to the direction of the voice he saw the blurry scene of a gray robed figure seated on a chair with their fingers tapping at the armrest of the chair producing a tapping noise. Your men are dead, if you dont want to die then I expect you to answer my questions the figure said as threatening aura came from their body, it was clear that they were not playing around and it sent shivers down the little bosss spine, he was being threatened. With his body shaking in fear, the little boss accepted the facts Who are you?, what do you want he asked, hoping that see if they had a feeble heart. Tap Tap Tap And yet he received no answer as the only thing he received was the tapping on the armrest that had not stopped even now, the figure spoke once more with a ruthless tone in their voice. I ask the questions here, if you say anything else other than the answers then Ill kill you Kill me the little boss repeated in his mind as he swallowed saliva, he felt fear and anger coursing through his vain, how dare someone threaten him, he looked at the figure with fury as this was his first time being threatened like this. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. He didnt know who this person was but he vowed to torture them to the outmost when he gets his hand on them. Ok he responded while holding back the thoughts that were being thrown around in his head, for now he would act submissive, since he was curious about this person. What was your objective coming to the Orchid Spring Mountain the voice of the figure sounded once again, this time asking a question that confused the little boss. What does he mean, everyone knows why our organization do that, could it be that he doesnt know that or does he just want to see if I would answer wrongly the little boss thought to just answer correctly on the off chance that he was being tested. I was tasked to pick up the Orchid Spring flowers he replied looking for a reaction from the gray robes figure. Tap Tap The figure tapped in the armrest for a few seconds before asking another question Then why did you bring along those three women Three women the little boss repeated before remembering about them. oh you mean the three toys he said with a dry laugh. Three toys the gray figure repeated his words as the tapping on the armrest stopped. The little boss opened his eyes and suddenly came to a realization, maybe this was a test from his second brother, it had to be, that would be the only reason that all this would make sense, because he cant just go from soundly sleeping in his tent with his toys to waking up in this dim room instantly. He smiled slightly as he thought to himself, why didnt he see it before, of course his second brother would try to test him with such a thing, his second brother was probably angry with him for not returning back with the Visonary Lamp so he did this to teach him a lesson. He let out a small laugh before turning his forcus back to the gray figure dont worry they didnt get in the way of my objective, I have already collected the flowers he said with a tinge of boastfulness in his voice. His voice rang loud and reverberated in the quiet cave room, he looked at the gray figure waiting for a response but he received a different kind of response from the one he was expecting. Boom Pressure suddenly decended inside the cave and the little boss felt massive weight upon his shoulders, with difficulty he took a deep breath before looking at the seated figure radiating aura. What are you doing, do you want to die he asked as he generally felt confusion, even if this was a test from his second brother, he wouldnt allow for things to go this far. The seated figure finally got up from their seat and walked up to him before looking down towards him. Feeling a little insulted the little boss raised his head to finally look at the person who had threatened him before. Their face was completely covered with a gold mask that had no holes even for the eyes and nose, they had long silky hair flowing over their shoulder and he could faintly smell a pleasant aroma coming from this person. You he said as he reached something that felt like dread, his second brother doesnt have anyone like this in his men and he was sure that there were no foundation establishment female cultivator in the organization. Remembering their earlier conversations he was about to speak up before a hand suddenly grasped his head. You brought this upon yourself, I told you to not say anything other than the answers A cold voice was heard from behind the mask as the hand grasped his head tighter before bringing him face to face. 48. Reinforced Will A large suction force emerged from Meng Lins hand before the little boss was dragged out of existence and into the void of the system inventory. Meng Lin stood there for a moment before bringing her hand up to her face to remove the golden mask on her face. She had brought this mask from the system market just for this occasion and yet she was dissatisfied with the result, that good for nothing little boss didnt reveal anything that she didnt already know and he only raised her blood pressure with each time he talked. She had warned him that she would kill him but she decided to leave it be, if she did kill him then she would have to be spending her life running from powerful cultivators, some of which could have means unknown to her. But considering that one of them escaped, she could only hope that they dont know that it was her that attacked them. She couldnt help but think back to what she had learned about them, The Golden Fang Bandits, the result of a series of bandits joining together to form one large faction that operates out in the open without any fear of the larger sects, they numbered in the thousands and have places in several regions of the kingdoms, they were becoming increasingly arrogant after one of their leaders reached the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm. She sighed before opening up her inventory panel to look at the seven things that occupy the inventory boxes, the seven consist of 5 small individuals, one small egg and another smaller lamp that had red light surrounding it. Looking at the little boss which occupied a large space in one of the boxes window, Meng Lin thought to herself, although she wouldnt kill him, she thought that him living in a timeless environment like the system inventory from now on was no different from him being dead, the only reason she didnt kill him was because of her worries and she was still apprehensive about killing another human being. Sigh She knew that thinking about it would bring her no relief so she could only hope that it would becames easier for her in the future with time. As she was thinking this to herself she thought to finally take a look at her spoils of victory from earlier, the storage bag that she had obtained from the little boss. Reaching inside her robe, she took out a small bag before spreading her spiritual consciousness into it, checking the contents of the bag. She was slightly surprised to find that the bag actually had a smaller space then the one she holds, a majority of the space was covered in orchid spring flowers alongside a few different kinds of alchemy pills and a jade box that glowed with an aura of spirituality. She wanted to check the box first but when her spiritual consciousness came in contact with it she found herself feeling a slight pain before retreating her spiritual consciousness, she felt it surprisingly hurt which baffled her, it was the first time she experienced pain to her spiritual consciousness and it wasnt pleasant. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. She would have to check it out in the future but for now she directed her attention onto the other stuffs in the storage bag, mainly the different kinds of alchemy pills, taking a few of them out she realized that she doesnt have any way of identifying them, they might all be beneficial to her or they might all be detrimental to her, regardless she didnt think to try them just to see the effects. Taking her spiritual consciousness from the inside of the storage bag she revealed a disappointing look, she thought to herself that she needed to study more about the different kinds of pills seeing as she has roughly 13 pills lying around with no way way of identifying them. Now then she thought as she focused back on the inventory panel, looking specifically towards the three women, she was thinking about what could she do with them, from her earlier view with her spiritual consciousness she could tell that they were cultivators of the Qi Gathering Realm with one of them being at the 7th stage while the other two were at the 5th stage, they were unconscious and would take a while before waking up naturally. From her interrogation of the first hooded person that attacked her she learned that they were members of a sect called the Immortal Elixer Sect. The Golden Fang Bandits had a lot of trading partners and the the Immortal Elixer Sect was among those organization that traded with them, the Golden Fang Bandits would provide herbs for the Immortal Elixer Sect while the Immortal Elixer Sect provided pills in return. The Immortal Elixer Sect was one of those sects that specializes in alchemy and nothing more, their members were at a high risk of dying from going outside and collecting special herbs like the orchid spring flowers, so they make up for it in other ways like trading. Meng Ling could think of several reasons as to why these three women were like this but she thought to ask them directly since she doesnt really know their circumstances, and an added benefit to helping them was that they would identify what each pills were between the 13 pills that she has found. Looking through the system market she didnt take long to find what she was looking for, a perfect item for this particular situation. [Rejuvenating Incense] A potential form of recovery with an incense that contains rare herbs that heal wounds and allow the body to recover at a faster rate. :140 System coins Buying the incense which came in the form of a foot-long stick Meng Lin was surprised to smell a pleasant scent from it, it smelled really good and assured her that it would work. Lighting up the tip of the incense with little effort she gently brought out the women before laying them down on a cloth one by one. As she looked at them once more her heart ached, their pale faces looked tired, their arms looked so thin and easily breakable and their bodies were full of lacerations, but what really made her heart ache was the fear that they would feel from now on, she could only hope that they would be strong willed enough to overcome it. As Meng Lin thought to herself the cave began to get filled with a small fog from the incense, and she judged that it would last for at least two hours, more than enough time for the women to heal seeing how she herself was already feeling her wounds itch. She wanted to stay until they awoke but she already had things planned out, she wanted accomplish what she came here to do in the first place, to test her limits and after looking at these women that thought was more reinforced then ever. After leaving a few robes by the side of the unconscious women Meng Lin went to the cave entrance where she set the Soul Confusing Array before heading out in the light of day. 49. Visionary Lamp Waterfall slash Above the trees of the Orchid Spring Mountain, a big crescent slash of water qi shot up with lightning cracks at a fast speed before crashing against one of the wings of a large Hawk. Rumble Every animal around the area could hear a loud rumbling sound that filled the air as the body of the Hawk crashed onto the ground. Having been dealt a severe blow, the Hawk, a rank 2 spirit beast of the late stage was writhing in pain, howling and yelping as its massive wings fluttered around uncontrollably. Waterfall slash a familiar calm voice sounded in the distance, and soon, a similar crescent slash filled with water and lightning appeared before heading towards the defenseless Hawk. Boom A large explosion filled the air, accompanied by the sound of a yelp as the Hawk became no more. slowly a gray figure with an axe walked out of the trees before stopping at the edge of the explosion, it was none other than Meng Lin who held a dissatisfied look in her eyes. Not enough she said as she thought about how easily she was able to take care of the Hawk, when she was at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm she was able to hold her own against a spirit beast at the middle stage, a-bit with the use of the Thunderbolt Flash Technique. And it was the same now that she was at the middle stage, it would seem that she would have to be going against the strongest spirit beast around if she ever expects to see her limits now. As for how to identify the strongest Spirit beast, she thought to use one of the items that were in her possession now, one of the items that she had in her inventory, the Visonary Lamp. From the explanation of that hooded man, it was this item that was able to locate her without her knowing and it would be this item that she would use. As for why she didnt try to find out through her spiritual consciousness, it was because of just how vast the mountain was, she could only roughly cover about 80 meters with her spiritual consciousness while this mountain was hundreds if not thousands of meters wide with areas that she couldnt possibly know without careful observation and time, which she doesnt have a lot of. System Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(middle)] [Experience points: 24%] System coin:1240 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 35% [Erosion] Comprehension 36% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] Opening the inventory panel she took out the lamp which still radiated red light, she still remembered the little sentence about this lamp. It can make you see anything you want in your surroundings although crude in the way it was said it made her realize how much of an importance it held if they had to send someone at the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm just to look over it. Holding it by its handle she poured qi into the Visonary Lamp which caused the red light to brighten up, her gaze suddenly shifted from her eyes into a wide range of the area as in the next second she could see her whole body, even the top of her head and all the details around her. Adding more qi into the lamp she saw her view becoming wider and wider before gazing at herself as just a dot in the cluster of trees around her. although the view was wonderful it was not her objective, thinking about what was said about the lamp she concentrated her thoughts onto spirit beasts, the strongest spirit beast around. At once the view zoomed through the trees concentrating on the strongest being in the region and in the next second her vision was shifted to a clearing in the middle of the mountain, the sight that greeted her was alarming as she beheld a group of ten giant black apes in a rocky landscape with tall flowers of Orchid Spring Flowers. The apes were big, rough in size and as large as an elephant and they each exuded large amounts of spiritual energy, with several of them possessing the aura of high ranking spirit beast, likely at the the peak stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Having received her answer she cut off her supply of qi with the lamp, with her vision seemingly reversing back and landing on her eye view again. Oh she said in slight surprise as she felt her balance return to her, she held herself up with the axe in her hand and blinked her eyes, her eyes were dizzy and her vision was blurred, but she already knew that this was an effect of using the Lamp. Taking a few seconds to clear her mind she began to think once again about what she saw, roughy 10 massive apes with the strongest sprit beast of this mountain being one of them. She began to play out scenarios in her head and thought about her options, she knew that if she went in there as she was now then she would be attacked by all of them and she would likely not be able to take them all down. She looked down at her giant axe before shaking her head, she only has this axe and one other sword in her arsenal and she knew that they would not be enough, the axe was already cracked and a few more uses would destroy it while the sword would be destroyed instantly after one use. Opening her system market, she could only hope to find herself a suitable partner or replacement for the axe which was already cracked due to the Brute Qi. And she wasnt disappointed as she soon found a suitable item on the market that caught her eye. [Dragon Jade seal] a medium grade Circular Platform that can be utilized in many different unique ways, primarily used as weaponry and transportation. :590 system coin 50. Dragon Jade Seal **Orchid Spring Mountain** At a rocky terrain near the center of the mountain lay orchid spring flowers that differ from the rest, unlike their counterparts these ones were not attached to any other trees as they themselves have grown to be the size of a large tree, each filled the area, appearing very close to each other, creating a wondrous environment that would leave one entranced. Unlike other areas of the forest that only held small amounts of orchid spring flowers, this single area arranged with orchid spring flowers as large as trees has so much concentration that the invisible scent in the air started forming into small vapors. ROAR! A Beasts roar could be heard through the trees as even with the large concentration of orchid spring flowers, the place was thriving with powerful spirit beast. In one particular area of the orchid spring trees was a small gathering of powerful spirit beast, The Orchid Mountain Apes. A dozen giant black apes were parading through the giant trees that clustered around each other, with no vigilance held in their eyes they took themselves to be majestic and intimidating, the most powerful force in the Mountain. They were giants, rough in size and 5 meters tall, they each exuded large amounts of spiritual energy that pushed away the small vapor around their location. But even though several of them were releasing power at the peak of rank 2, one in particular held a powerful aura around him that was a little different, unique, his domineering presence commanded the rest of the giant apes to submit and obey, together they formed a formidable force that non dared to gaze at, let alone go against. Yet a pair of eyes was gazing upon them from afar as a petite gray robed figure stood silently in the air, under her feet was a green circular platform that hovered up higher behind the trees. She surveyed them one by one before her eyes locked on the dominant ape, yet the moment she did so a cold chill was shot down her spine as she saw the creature look back at her, eyes blazing with malice and dominance. Roar!! The giant ape roared and commanded the other apes to attack, it felt insulted that such a weak and small creature would gaze at him and not bow their head in submission. The other apes roared back in response, meeting the call for violence with the same enthusiasm, a savage stampede quickly filled the trees, as 6 of the three giant apes started rushing toward her all at once. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Bizarrely the gray robes figure, Meng Lin didnt show much emotion as she charged at them, with the green circular platform under her, the Dragon Jade Seal moved at a shocking speed as it approached the apes. Appearing in her had was a cracked giant axe that started glowing with power as she slowly revealed her cultivation realm. Right when the Dragon Jade Seal was a few meters away from the giant apes she jumped up to land upon a tree while concentrating on the Dragon Jade Seal which started to emit a horrifying power. Not stopping its shocking travel speed, it released powerful pressure on the whole battlefield causing the giant apes to all come to a halt as it headed towards the most powerful of the bunch, A rank 2 ape at the late stage. Boom The area was lit up with an explosion of green light as the giant ape was hit by the seals power, the other apes stagger back from the ensuing shockwave while Meng Lin was nowhere to be seen. The explosion settled down to reveal the damaged figure of an ape that was barely breathing as it landed on a a tree with a thud and the Dragon Jade Seal stuck to his body having stopped glowing in green. Roar Roar Roar! The 5 remaining apes that consist of 2 other at the late stage and 3 at the middle stage were in anger as they gathered around the crucially wounded figure of their companion frantically looking around, trying to find the perpetrator. Surge Meng Lins voice was heard a few meters away as she revealed herself behind a tree with a small smile upon her face, her gaze was not focused as her concentration seem elsewhere. ROAR!! The apes angrily roared as they looked towards Meng Lin with vengeful looks, they prepared to attack when they felt something right under their feets. Whoosh The sound of sea waves filled the air as right before them, from the circular weapon stuck to their wounded companion came a white light, followed by a burst of powerful water qi that engulfed the surroundings along with the 5 apes. Boom! The powerful water qi violently exploded in a chaotic manner, producing an enormous light that filled the area for a few seconds. Meng Lin looked at the explosion with a thoughtful expression while releasing her spiritual consciousness outward, she hoped to finish this battle before the last three apes arrive, especially the leader since she wasnt sure of his true strength. She bearly had any Qi left inside her dantian as she used all of it in the last two attacks with the Dragon Jade Seal. Looking on as the explosion settle she put her axe down before she switched from her normal Qi to her Brute Qi and slowly raised her arm towards the apes revealed in the explosion. two apes at the late stage were all that was left as the other three at the middle stage and the first at the late stage couldnt withstand the strength of the surge technique. They roared out loud before charging towards her releasing savage energy around them, they both felt a coming attack from her so they charged at her wanting to intervene before it happened, and yet it was all for naught as they heard the words. Surge An explosion was produced once more, this time a smaller yet more powerful one as after the explosion settled and the white lights dissipated, what was left of the two was revealed to Meng Lin. Which was revealed to be nothing. 51. Lighting Tribulation ROAR!! Trees fell under the path of 3 bellowing apes as they released large amounts of energy that seemed to carry with them a terrifying pressure, the fastest of them being the leader as it arrived before Meng Lin way ahead of the others before reaching out with one of its arms towards her, it gathered terrifying qi force into its hand before swiping down towards Meng Lin in a frightening motion. Peng A recoil resounded as the tree under Meng Lin was torn apart with she herself and her axe being blown away like a rag doll a few meters back. Boom A small crater formed on one of the trees as a green light emerged at her impact point shaking the surrounding trees with a small shockwave. Roar The domineering monkey leader roared into the sky with anger and fury before launching itself onto the distant tree where Meng Lin had landed. Arriving before the tree, it turned its massive leg in the air before bringing it down with shocking force. Peng The tree turned rigid before collapsing with the ape not stopping its leg and raising it and stomping down again and again unto the crater of the tree even though it felt hard recoils from its stomp. Roar Roar Two roars sounded in the distance as the two late apes jumped through the trees before finally arriving at their leaders earlier point of attack, the area which housed their dead companions. They were about to pass the area and catch up to their leader when both of them heard a soft calm voice behind them. Waterfall slash Crack! The sound of a blade cracking accompanied the soft voice as both of them felt an alarming crisis behind them, they brought out their spiritual energy but to no avail as a sharp crescent slash of chaotic qi tore through the both of them before traveling to their leader ahead not losing its power in the least. Boom A shocking explosion ensued as the attack landed on the last ape, the explosion covered a large area as any tree in the 10 meter perimeter was cut down and torn apart with a large crater being formed on the ground. Landing on the ground Meng Lin looked upon the scene of her own doing with a worried expression, in her hand was the half broken down axe that only had a small part remaining, she was hoping that the Dragon Jade Seal under the foot of the ape could withstand the brute Qi being produced and react to the one stored inside it. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. She had used over half of her brute qi in that one attack so she was not surprised at how she was able to kill two unarmed rank 2 beast at the peak stage, so she was more worried for her new weapon. having the unique ability to shift with the user and the ability to store qi inside it as well as having fast transportation speed, Meng Lin was fond of her new weapon and wanted to keep it for as long as possible since the system market only had that one. She had shifted places with the Dragon Jade Seal has soon as she realized how overwhelming the leader of the apes was, she felt a sense of urgency at the moment she was blasted by the ape, making her implement this new strategy. ROAR!! But of course she also knew that it was not going to be enough as the beast was too strong to be defeated by a sneak attack and yet she showed a shocked face as she witnessed something that was unexpected. This is her heart thumped hard and she released her spiritual consciousness, with a shocked face Meng Lin confirmed that the ape had survived but what was more surprising was the size of the ape which had doubled and a small speck of gold light in its chest releasing bursts of energy, she had not seen it before but she was sure that it was a the formation of a gold core. No wonder the lamp showed you to be the strongest in this mountain Roar!! The ape roared once again releasing a wave of energy that shook the ground, its focus seemed elsewhere as it roared into the sky, which started forming clouds upon clouds around, before they gradually began quaking with thunderstorms. Meng Lin contained her surprise look before she too looked up at the clouds in the sky, her heart pounded and she felt fear, thunder flashed all around and her eyes opened wide, she felt a presence descend upon the area, a presence that didnt belong to this world. The enormous ape and Meng Lin stared at the clouds swirling and expanding, before a bolt of thunder flashed before their eyes. Boom Roar! Meng Lin watched as thunder rolled through the area after a bolt of thunder struck down upon the ape, the ape roared in pain while the small speck in its chest grew a little bigger. Boom The ape roared as it experienced another wave of thunderbolt, its furs were being burnt and its eyes held a fearful fury within them. Boom Meng Lin watched on with a fearful excitement as she saw an opportunity arise from the situation, she was witnessing one of the greatest challenges of spiritual beings and she knew the rewards of overcoming this obstacles, she was sure that once the ape becomes a rank 3 spirit beast then she would have no way of protecting herself nor escaping the beast. Boom But she can use it to her advantage, she just had to kill the beast before he overcomes this lighting tribulation, if she remembered correctly then there is only three thunderbolts left, and if she wants to strike then the second to last would be the perfect moment. Boom Once again a thunderbolt struck down accompanied by the roar of the ape, the apes body was burned with patches of smoked flesh being revealed, energy raged on his body and he roared out in pain. The ape realized the situation that it was in, it had witnessed it before, it just had to endure two more and then it would truly would have no equal, it roared up against the heaven in defiance even with the large amount of pain in its eyes, its just a few more it thought. Boom Roar! It roared once again as it felt the lighting coursing through its body, it was covered in more wounds than ever before but it felt more spiritual intensity then ever before, the small speck of gold had turned into a core and now needed only this last thunderbolt to polish it. The lightning bolts in the sky gathered themselves for one last attack and the ape below readied itself for one more, it took one last breath before it would begin the process of being reborn anew but that thought was short lived once as a voice was heard in between the quaking of thunder. Waterfall Slash 52. System Reward Boom From right under apes feet, a burst of chaotic qi was released in a line to form a white light that covered the figure of the ape in a small intense explosion that shone with power. white light filled the area before a 5 meter long slash appeared on the ground and raise smoke and debris in the air. The dust settled to reveal the figure of the ape laying on the ground inside the crater, its wounds were too severe and it lay dead with a slash across its body that tore it in two. Meng looked on as she grew slightly sad, because across her new weapon, the Dragon Jade Seal was a big line that revealed itself to be a crack in the weapon. The brute qi had been carefully released from the weapon and yet it still damaged it she thought with her head down before she noticed something bizarre, the core inside the apes chest was still releasing bursts of energy as even with the ape dead the tribulation was still continuing on. Rumble Meng Lin looked up to see the thundercloud still there rumbling with even more intensity before releasing the last thunderbolt onto the already dead ape. Boom Lightning traveled through the ground while the presence and roar of the thunder soon faded, the core within the ape soon shone with might and splendor as it turned pure gold. [Congratulations for having witnessed a moment of enlightenment] [you have received a reward for witnessing heavenly tribulation for the first time] [received taoist gacha wheel ticket] [received the Lesser Grade Talent Nurturing fruit] [Do you wish to accept the rewards] Meng Lin raised an eyebrow as she wasnt expecting this, a reward from the system, the last time something like this that happened was when she discovered the mutated spirit roots. Yes She said with a little enthusiasm as she wondered what her reward would be this time, she had gotten the Formless Cultivation Method last time and she still hadnt learned all about it, so she was curious about what she would get this time. A burst of light came from nowhere as the whole area was illuminated with a unique aura, the bright light soon faded to reveal a glowing red fruit that hovered in the air releasing small waves of energy. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Lesser grade talent nurturing fruit huh, judging by the name it probably means that it would increase your talent after you eat it, but you can never be too sure Meng Lin thought as she brought her hand up to the fruit before grasping it. And as she expected a prompt came In response to her grasp to identify what kind of fruit it truly was. [Lesser grade Talent Nurturing Fruit] A talent nurturing fruit of the lower plane, it is extremely valuable and improves body constitution by reorganizing the spiritual organs, can only be consumed by an individual once. Meng Lin opened her eyes in surprise, and her heart throbbed with emotion as she couldnt describe it, she was currently looking at the word lower plane with all sorts of thoughts coming to her head. Lower plane, does that mean that this world is the lower plane or does it just mean that the system got it from the lower plane and presented it to her here. but if that was the case then what would this place be called, and seeing as the system said lower plane she naturally assumed that there was a middle and and upper tier of plane which made her really happy, she now has an idea of how to proceed in the future. I will find out eventually so I shouldnt be thinking so much about it Meng Lin said as she forcused on the fruit in her hand, it was a red fruit with bumpy skin and it was painting the whole environment with a unique desirable aura. She stored it right away as she didnt want any unexpected things to happen, a talent nurturing fruit that improves the body constitution, its a little similar to the 3 body strengthening pills that she ate before and she wanted to see the difference between them right away, but that had to wait until the right time so she would keep it inside the inventory for now. With the fruit gone the environment was restored to normal and Meng Lin looked around the battlefield. The sky was clear and the sun shone over the trees that remain overhead, the area surrounding the dead ape was a crater with a thick slash across that dug deep into the earth. Meng Lin walked forward before arriving at the location of the dead ape, the ape retained its size of 3 times the size of the other apes which made it a behemoth even when laying down. And yet its whole body was covered in burnt marks as well as the slash across its body which killed it, Meng Lin remembered the bizarre scene a moment ago before carefully examining the body of the ape. Releasing her spiritual consciousness towards the ape she was able to see a glowing gold energy ball inside the chest of the ape, its dantian was no more having been transformed into a gold core, a fully grown gold core. I wonder if all spirit beast have them even when they are dead she said as she released her spiritual qi to her hand before raising it, she slashed down across the chest of the ape with her spirit qi of the middle stage. Peng Wha Meng Lin uttered as she realized that her Qi was not able to go through the apes skin, she was slightly shocked at that, even though the ape was dead with its skin covered with burnt marks her attack still wasnt able to go through. Seeing this made her reaffirm her thought before, if the ape had completed the tribulation then she would have been killed no doubt. With closed eyes she forcused deep within herself and gathered the last amount of brute Qi into her hand before slashing it the chest of the ape. Rumble A large sound was produced as the dead ape received a small cut on its chest, it didnt go all the way through but it was enough for Meng Lin as she saw a glimmering golden hue coming from the cut. Reaching her left hand into the cut she grasped a large orb before pulling it out, with it came a spurt of blood that covered her whole left hand. And yet Meng Lin was unbothered as her eyes stayed focused onto the orb in her hand, it was a condensed form of qi that was releasing waves of energy all around even affecting her somewhat. A Gold Core Meng Lin grinned with wonder and excitement, she has not seen anyone in the gold core realm and yet she already has the core of a rank 3 spirit beast. 53. Confusion Sucking the golden core inside her inventory, Meng Lin looked ahead at the dead ape in front of her before storing it inside her storage bag, looking around at the devastation caused by their fights she thought about her development, she was developing too fast, it had not even been a full month and she had gone from not having any qi to being able to content with a spirit beast on the brink of rank 3. She knew that a stable foundation was needed for a cultivator to be successful and not encounter bottleneck problems later on in life but she didnt want to stunt her growth when she could achieve higher realms and reach her goals faster. Sigh She thought a little before focusing back on her surroundings, a small fog was forming around as the surrounding orchid spring flower scent began to return to the area, not planing to be affected by it she started gathering qi into her legs and jumped from tree to tree heading towards the cave. **Elsewhere** Ugh a weak voice sounded, Xi Lin woke up to her skin itching and the view of a cave ceiling with luminescent light, her head hurt and her whole body itched, lifting her hand to her forehead her eyes regained clearity. AAAAH! A scream left her mouth once she saw the scars on her forearm, her memory flashed to the sound of a whip alongside the screams of her sister and Xi Lin started breathing rough and hard, hyperventilating before fainting from the shock. A few minutes later she opened her eyes to the feeling of her skin itching once again, this time with a dazed look, she regained her awareness and sat up with slight difficulty, her skin was shivering and her eyes held tears, clenching her arm up she forced herself to calm down before accessing the situation. What is she uttered with a hoarse voice as she realized her surroundings, she was in a cave system with a large amount of lingering fog in the air, she smelled a nice scent around the place before being reminded of the gut wrenching smell of a tent. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Gritting her teeth she looked around before being met with the sight of her sister, her sister whose whole body was filed with scars all around, her face was barely recognizable as scars formed all over it, The tears in her eyes that she had been holding back came gushing out and she reached her hand to her sisters face. Laner, Im sorry she asked herself with pain in her voice, her head was pounding hard with her heartbeat ringing clear, she cried tears of misery and regret while thinking about the sister she was told to protect, what have I done she said. Wiping the tears on her face she told herself to be strong for her sister before standing up, her body ached while her itching diminished a little, she realized that she had been laying down on a piece of cloth, completely different from the luxurious bed in the tent, besides that was three neatly folded robes of different colors at the side along with the burning of an incense. What is going on, she said utterly confused, did someone save us, but who and where are they she thought while looking around, she couldn''t make sense of the situation, taking one of the robes folded besides them she opened it up and looked at the size, she still held a suspicion that this whole thing was just a set up to make her feel hopeful, but seeing the size of the robes she worried less. Wearing one of the robes she made slight adjustment to some area before walking in the direction of the cave entrance, she had to know where they were before even thinking about leaving here, but the moment that she was about to place her foot onto the cave entrance she suddenly became dazed, turning around she walked back inside the cave with no conscious of her own. huh What was that just now Xin Lin said with a surprised face, she was sure that she had just stepped out the cave entrance and yet she found herself back here beside her sister. Turning around with worried eyes she tried walking out the entrance only to find herself in front of her sister once again. What is going on she said with a shocked expression, that would mean that they could not leave and were stuck here from now on, she started worrying that it might be the little boss that was messing with her but couldnt find any reason as to why. With worried sweat on her face she sat down and closed her eyes, since she could not do anything about the situation she could only cultivate until the other two get waken up by the incense. Ever since she woke up she had been thinking about the incense at the back of her head, because even with her feelings coming to the surface at the moment, in her core she was an alchemist so she was able to mostly identify what the incense does. Not only is it healing all three of them but it is also increasing their vitality a little with faster recovery time than most medications out there, so she thought to take advantage of the situation and increase her knowledge of new medical procedures with her Elixer Construe Art. 54. Choices Crack A thick branch snapped from under pressure as Meng Lin jumped from one tree to another with lightning arcs around her legs. She was in an elated mood with the reward that she received from the system but with that elation were thoughts about the potential reasons of the system. She didnt have that much thought about the system at first, treating it as the golden spoon that she received as a transmigrator but she couldnt help wonder if there was more to it. she awakened it right when she came into contact with the Qi gathering cultivation method but that alone doesnt tell her anything. The System called itself the Immortal Taoist System so would that mean that its intentions is to make her an immortal Taoist but what comes after that. Crack Another thick branch snapped underfoot and Meng Lin continued on to another tree. Her thoughts went towards the new weapon that she had gotten, The Dragon Jade Seal, even though she had stored it alongside the Apes carcass, most if not all of its functionality were lost with that single crack at the center. If only there was a weapon that remains undamaged after use of brute Qi she hoped as she took a step onto another thick branch. Crack A fruit from the lower plane, a plane, is it considered a dimension, or a realm, or is it completely separate from all that Meng Lin thought hard as she traveled through the trees, her hair danced in the wind and her eyes zoomed through the trees before her, she heard another crack under her foot. Looking down at the arcs of lightning on her leg she stepped onto another branch with focus. Crack Jumping forward and leaving the tree behind her, she became slightly annoyed, she realized that she cant delicately control her qi, so everytime her leg came into contact with the branchs they breaks, even when she is trying to control her qi. She is cultivating the Focused Qi Control, which as the name implies makes your qi easier to control but it appears to not be enough anymore. She couldnt help but wonder if her fast progression was the reason but it could also be because her realm had increased and the Focused Qi Control was not suitable for the realm. Crack Moving across the trees at a fast speed, it didnt take much time for her to reach the cave entrance which was surrounded with a small hue of fog. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Hmm Meng Lin uttered as after reaching the place the first thing that she came to her mind was her current situation. Carefully thinking about it she decided to put on the gold mask that she brought from the system, right now the Golden Fang Bandits dont know her face so she wanted to refrain from revealing it to anyone who might have a connection with them. Taking a glowing talisman out from within her robe she walked through the entrance not intending to remove the array scroll that she had placed there earlier. Sob Sob Sob Right after stepping inside Meng Lin heard the sound of a silent cry, and walking further in with faint steps, she saw the three girls down on the floor fully awake. The sobs seemed to be coming from a young woman that had her hands up to her face with her whole body shaking in anguish. another woman tended to her with a face full of pained grief, while the last one appeared lost in space with blank eyes. All three womens exposed body parts were covered with scars as even with the robes covering most of their injuries, anyone looking at them would feel a sense of unease. Looking towards the two women with slightly identical features, Meng Lin came to a sudden realization before her eyes traveled to the other woman staring into space when suddenly. The womans eyes widened and she sprung into action with her qi releasing automatically, her eyes held caution and fear as well as a gleam of unwavering courage as she spoke out loud. Whos there Huh Meng Lin said slightly surprised, she was not even within the reach of the luminescent light and she was already found out, she wondered if it was some kind of technique, more importantly she hadnt even assessed the complete situation and she was already being looked upon with caution. The other two women quickly got up, holding onto each other, with completely different outlooks, one held her sisters back with fear and terror while the other held her sister behind her with concern and curiosity and fear in her eyes. Well considering what happened I shouldnt be surprised They heard a distorted voice from the shadows with a figure walking closer into the dim light above them. Dont worry, I not an enemy they heard from the figure as it stepped out of the shadow reveling itself to be a woman that had on a gray robe with a gold faceless mask covering their face. You, then who are you the cautious woman asked as she didnt bring down her her cautious stance even with the new information, her eyes still held their fear and courage and she seemed ready to fight. She said that she is not an enemy De Sijie, so calm down Xin Lin, the older sister tending to the sobbing girl said towards the cautious woman as she already came to that conclusion a few moments ago. And how can you be sure The woman replied, not taking her eyes off Meng Lin, after what had happened before she didnt intend to put her trust in others so easily. These scarred over injuries are all the proof you need, that as well as the clothes you are wearing, you should know from those things that this person is not an enemy, nor is she with the Golden Fang Bandits Xin Lin spoke with slight anxious worry, she didnt want their savior to be offended because of their behavior. Its as your friend there said, i am not an enemy Meng Lin interjected with a slight smile on her face, her face was hidden behind the mask making any facial expression hidden from view. However I am also not an ally as well, it would be wise for you to listen You have two options at this moment, if you fail to choose one of them then you will die She Coldly said as Qi started to release from her body, making her threat very much apparent. I knew it the woman, De Sijie said as she backed up a little, her eyes held different emotions with fear being in the very center, but yet she persisted and held her stance against the impossible. And what are the options Xin Lin asked as she brought her sister even closer to herself, her thoughts were to just be calm and wait, they still hadnt heard the options yet but her face was pale with slight sweats as she wondered countless things in her head. 55. Fealty Its simple really, to save you three, I have made an enemy of the Golden Fang Bandits, so this is for my protection Im sure youve noticed the trick at the entrance, I cant let you leave here for the simple fact that i dont trust you Meng Lin said while maintaining her Qi around her. Most likely after they leave this place they will be caught by the Golden Fang Bandits to be interrogated, just like your typical cultivation cliche moment and she isnt trying to let that happen. With the bizarre wonders of the cultivation World, she wouldnt be surprised if the Golden Fang bandits have a way to find her through them. So she would only give them one choice, With the alternative one being kept in her system inventory until she was confident enough in her strength to let them go. She raised two fingers, indicating the two choices that she had said. First you spend the rest of your life rotting in this cave, or second swearing a Heavenly oath of fidelity towards me Meng Lin said as she put the two fingers down one after the other. What, you think I would swear a heavenly oath for someone like you De Sijie replied with clear anger in her voice, that was no different than being a slave, she felt insulted. The two sisters also didnt agree, as even the calm and curious one of the two Xin Lin kept quiet, indicating her stance at not responding. Well thats to be expected Meng Lin said as she knew full well about what she was asking from them. Dont you want revenge though she added as she watched the reaction of all three. Throb Revenge, De Sijies heart beat increased and her anger turned to hatred, her eyes squinted and she opened her mouth to ask. And how can we get revenge, you yourself said that you are hiding from the Golden Fang Bandits, so what makes you say that with such confidence Xin Lin and her sister at the side were listening intently, revenge was a foreign concept to them, all they had initially wanted was a safe haven. However Xin Lins eyes began burning with anger and hatred as she could feel her skin crawl with her ears ringing from her sisters screams, she looked towards her sister who felt the same anger before looking at Meng Lin waiting for a reply. Oh so you were listening before, what if I say that you can have revenge on the little boss right here and now Meng Lin brought out something that had very little use for her. She initially wanted to use him in the future against the Golden Fang Bandits but the company of three loyal followers was necessary for the stuff she had planned in the future. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. What, you captured him, where is he Xin Lin asked with her sister behind her finally raising her head to look at Meng Lin with gleaming eyes. Yes I have him, but I am not just promising revenge upon him but to all those that wronged you And what makes you think well trust you De Sijie asked an important question as she and the two women harbor little trust in others after what happened to them, to get them to trust others is now an impossible challenge. The Qi being maintained by Meng Lin suddenly railed up as she made a decision, raising her head up she said Thats why I brought up the Heavenly Oaths, I say this oath to the heavens right now, if you swear fatality towards me today then Ill deliver you revenge upon all those that wronged you are you crazy De Sijie asked as she didnt know how to respond, this woman made a heavenly oath look so simple that it almost looked suspicious, however as soon as those words left her mouth a golden light suddenly permeated the the cave ceiling before landing upon the figure of Meng Lin. The light turned into small golden chains that dug deep within her body through her robes, clinging to her soul. Hmm Xin Lin uttered as she didnt expect that, this was just her second time but she was very familiar with the aura of the heavenly chains, more importantly she didnt think their savior would shackle herself just for their fidelity, was loyalty that difficult to find these days. A Heavenly Oath or Vow affects a persons soul and binds them to the heaven, its impossible to get rid of them and one has to fulfill their vow until their last breath. a heavenly oath is not something that a cultivator should joke about miss Xin Lin said after recovering from her shock, she had said that however in her mind all doubts if not most were gone after seeing what just happened, While De Sijie kept quiet on the sidelines. Im afraid it was my only way of getting to you, now you know that I am not lying about this Meng Lin said as she noticed her qi finally getting back under her control, besides its only effective if you all pledge your fidelity so its my win anyways. Can you show us the little boss first Xin Lin said as she came to a decision, looking back at her sister for a moment she looked towards De Sijie who also looked back at her having come to a decision. With a raised eyebrow behind the mask, Meng Lin looks at how they interacted before raising her hand up, gathering her qi into a large spiral sphere she snuck the unconscious little boss out of the inventory before letting him fall to the floor while withdrawing her qi. THUD Gasp A small gasp left the mouth of the sisters while De Sijie at the the side suddenly started walking forward with eyes burning with fury. She didnt walk further as the surrounding qi from Meng Lin blocked her way. Let me through De Sijie asked, not removing her fiery gaze from the little boss. Swear fidelity and i will give him to you The two sisters also walked up closer with the one speaking this time being the little sister, as she said something that shocked her sister. I swear fidelity towards you the girl said with a myriad of emotions in her eyes, looking towards her big sister she mouthed sorry with very little guilt in her eyes. Xin Lin seeing her sister like this didnt know what to do so she choosed to not dwell in it as she too vowed out loud. I will also swear fidelity to you Hmm Meng Lin uttered while thinking about this turn of event, she looked towards De Sijie who was keeping quiet before saying I guess you dont want your revenge with obvious sarcasm in her voice. Yet, De Sijie didnt react to the words as she seemed to be thinking really hard about something, looking up towards Meng Lin she sighed before uttering the same thing. I swear fidelity to you Ill accept all your oaths Meng Lin said when suddenly the air in the cave shifted and a golden light permitted the whole place covering all their figures. A few seconds later the light faded and Meng Lin felt a connection, looking down at the little boss on the floor she turned around before walking towards the entrance of the cave. do what you want she said having gotten what she wanted. 56. Objective Stepping outside of the cave, Meng Lin jumped upon a nearby tree in the area before finding a comfortable posture to sit in. Dangling her legs in the air she looked at the sky with countless thoughts in her head, she now has three loyal followers that wouldn''t betray her easily, her future plans can finally be implemented. Her enemy is the powerful bandit group known as the Golden Fang Bandits, which has multiple branches all over the Luan continent, with her current region, the Soaring Cloud Region having 3 such branches. At her current strength, she would be lucky to even take out one of their branches considering a cultivator of the Gold Core is stationed in each of those locations. But she didnt fret as she was going to start small and then work her way up, she had been looking for ways to get stronger, faster and pinning herself against this opponent is perfect, they were bandits and she didnt like how they operate especially towards women. Just the thought of what happened to those women made her dislike anything connected to the bandits, she could have been one of those womens and she grimaced at the thought of such a thing. One of the main things that she lacked in this world was information, even the basic kinds of information she doesnt have, if it hadn''t been for her hiding her strength things might have been different. But she wouldnt let everything be in the hands of luck, she would determine the best course of action for herself and do that, she had come this far so it must be working. Thinking about her goal she realized that she had a lot to do. Those girls will be the backbone and the Formless Cultivation Method will be the core, Meng Lins gaze harden behind her mask as she thought more about her plan. She wanted to create a shadow organization that operate in assassinations and information gathering with its members being well versed in the Formless Cultivation Method. She wanted to use the Formless Cultivation Method because of its perfect ability to conceal, but she had a long way to go to be able to do such a thing, firstly she would have to find a way around the requirement of using it. She had determined that not everyone is like her and so it would take quite a while for a single person to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. So the only thing that she can do is make them learn it while still in their current realm, it would be better that way, and as for how to do that. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(middle)] [Experience points: 40%] System coin:450 Taoist Gacha wheel: available [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 36% [Erosion] Comprehension 37% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] Oh, my percentage has increased, and a shocking amount at that, its almost doubled, its no doubt from that Gold Core experience this is the first time that she noticed it, but it seems that when she witnessed the Lighting Tribulation of a higher being at close, she got a more profound understanding of her path ahead, thus increasing her percentage. Her comprehension increased as well but only by one percent, so she didnt bother to think twice about it. Going to the system market she scrolled through the page with a bright expression before leaving with a dejected expression. She was hoping to find a solution to her earlier problem with the Formless Cultivation Method but it seems that she had been too confident with the system market. Looking at her system panel, her eyes suddenly darted towards the Gacha Wheel before her eyes brightened again. But as she was about to raise her hand towards the wheel she suddenly felt a thug at her soul before looking towards the cave entrance. I guess theyre done She said as she jumped down from her seated position, landing softy next to the entrance before dissipating the fog of the Soul Confusing scroll which revelead a shimmering scroll on the floor. Picking it up Meng Lin waited at the side, having no intentions of going in there, she didnt want to know what had become of the little boss, as long as he was dead. Step Step Step A figure came walking out of the cave entrance before stopping a few feet from Meng Lin, it was De Sijie who had on a complex expression, her robe had patches of blood on it with her hand being mostly covered in it. Behind her came the two sister who were in a similar state having just finished their torture. Is he dead Meng Lin asked as she didnt really care what was done to him as long as he was no more. Yes, he died quite painfully the one to answer was Xin Lin as she appeared to hold a smile on her face as she said so. Her sister kept a straight face as no emotion could be seen from her, yet her eyes seemed to be indicating that she wasnt feeling sad no more. De Sijie seemed to not be happy about what happened as she asked Meng Lin what was on her mind. So what is your objective in asking for our loyalty she asked, since they had vowed their loyalty to towards Meng Lin, she naturally wanted to know what for. She had realized that she had been to hasty, she should have asked that question before vowing to the heavens, the thought of revenge was too enticing for her at the time. Hmm, My objective Meng Lin said as she put her hand under her chin behind her mask. I have may objectives in my head but for now, how about the complete eradication of the Golden Fang Bandits 57. Foundation Establishment Pill Hahaha, complete eradication, those are strong words coming from you De Sijie laughed as she hear the seriousness in Meng Lins voice, making her statement all the more amusin to her. i dont know which stage you are but I know that you are only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, stop playing around with empty words Empty, they are not empty words as I will do what I set out to do Meng Lin said as she gave De Sijie an imposing glare which was blocked by her gold mask. Do you even know what you are up against De Sijie asked dropping her laughter with a cold stern gaze directed towards Meng Lin, three scars were currently overlapped on her face, making her gaze that much more savage. Xin Lin, at the side saw the exchange and stepped forward, her eyes lighting up and she spoke softly. I wanted to ask, what was that incense that you used on us Raising her arms up and showing the scars underneath her robes she said My body feels invigorating and cleansed while my blood flow has improved, its effects are remarkable Ill explain later, but for now how about you tell me what these pills are She asked as she swiped over her storage bag, bringing out a dozen pills. Half of these are low quality pills, but there are some good ones in there Xin Lin said as she recognized them instantly, taking one from Meng Lins palm, she said. This is the Marrow Cleansing Pill, it can cleanse impurities inside a cultivator''s body, making cultivation easier, although this one is of a law quality it will still work Taking them one by one she continued explaining a Detoxification Pill that gets rid of poison from rank one spirit beast, a Calming pill that helps you maintain clearity and a Poison pill that makes you suffer from internal injuries before dying. Oh Meng Lin uttered as her eyes hidden underneath her mask fluctuated a little, its a good thing that she didnt carelessly take them without knowing them. This is Xin Lin suddenly exclaimed as she picked up the last pill that glowed a little, a Foundation Establishment Pill What De Sijie at the side suddenly interrupted, her eyes filled with surprise, how can such a valuable pill end up with that fatty? Of all people. A foundation establishment pill, its a pill that Qi gathering Realm cultivators use to breakthrough to the next realm Xin Lin explained even thought she knows it was unnecessary as Meng Lin was someone of the Foundation Establishment Realm already. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Thank you for your explanation, I take it thats all of them Meng Lin asked as she wanted to make sure. Yes, thats everything Xin Lin replied as she returned the pill in her hand back to Meng Lin, whereupon Meng Lin, stored them back inside her storage bag. De Sijie, who was about to say something kept quiet and looked to the side with a hardened face. Now, its time you tell me how you ended up in that situation Meng Lin asked as she wanted to know personally. How we ended up like that Xin Lin repeated as her brightly lit expression was overshadowed with gloominess. Lowering her head and gazing at the ground, she felt sadness fill her chest before her numerous memories seemed to unravel in her mind, she couldnt even bear to look at her sister in the eye as her own eyes started filling up. Whats there to know about their story, isnt it because she loved the wrong person De Sijie said in a huff and looked away. She didnt like the sight of a weakling letting emotions get the better of them, so she always looked down upon Xin Lin for her misfortune as if it was not her own fault for her and her sister ending up that way. Meng Lin looked at the riled up De Sijie before looking back towards Xin Lin. I want to know what exactly happened, so speak, Hmm Drip Drip Meng Lin raised an eyebrow as she noticed that tears were running down Xin Lins bowed face and staining the ground. She watched as Xin Lin raised her head up with determination in her eyes and spoke with a trembling voice. **Levitation Sect** A few miles away from the Sect was a small secluded area with clusters of trees that obscure the environment from outside views. Behind the trees was a small alter that had been erect on the ground, at the center of the altar was a giant compass that radiated an eerie red light as its head pointed towards a certain direction away from the sect. standing around the altar were two peoples that were conversing with each other while gazing upon the compass. Why is lord Yuan still not acting out, its been over two days since the compass became still, it has found the target and yet he still hasnt given us any orders, what could he be thinking one of the two, a middle aged man in a blue robe said with a trace of worry in his voice. The other man, a young man with a scheming face kept quiet for a second before responding he could be waiting for the people of the Palace to be out of reach before acting The Palace the middle aged man asked, seemingly remembering about them. Yes, as you know the Wicked Prince, Di Luan came to take three youngsters with luans soul, he was accompanied by very powerful beings so it would be unwise to move now the young man said as he stood with arms crossed, he held a baffaled look as he added. Its puzzling how this last person was not discovered by the Heaven Tracking Tablet and yet was noticed by our lesser Soul Compass But thats the problem, what if that person hides again, we would never be able to find them the middle aged man said as he brought his worries to light. I know that but we can only leave it to chance, Lord Yuan understands so he will not blame us if the compass stops functioning, beside its just a few more hours before we can move The young man said as he let out an eerie smile, he was curious as to what kind of physique it was that they would be stealing. But what if that person returns to the Levitation Sect before then, what then. the middle aged man continued to bring up his worries, making the young man look towards the middle aged man as if he were a fool. then we wait for lord Yuans orders, isnt it just another third rate sect, it seems youre not very bright, uncle. 58. One hour So thats what happened Meng Lin asked as she looked towards Xin Lins sister, Xin Lan for confirmation. And what she received was resounding yes which made her raise her left hand up to her chin. it really was the case of loving the wrong person, she had read a lot of novels like that and this situation was no different from most of them. Weather if it was for love or desire, in the end, it would only lead to tragedy, she made sure to keep that in the back of her head as she moved forward from now on. Turning her mask covered face towards De Sijie, she was about to speak when she was interrupted. You have my loyalty and thats all you need, I wont delve in the details of my past De Sijie said in a firm yet gentle voice, From now on, my only duty is to carry out your order, you do the same as you vowed. As I vowed Meng Lin repeated the words before shaking her head from side to side, she naturally will do what she set out to do, but for now. I dont suppose you three have a place to stay she asked as her gaze mostly focused on De Sijie, the Xin sisters came from a small village from the southern part of the Soaring Cloud Region and she doubts that they know much. De Sijie seemed more confident in her ability than the others thus giving the impression that she has a strong background. And yet Meng Lins thoughts were thrown out the window when the same De Sijie looked at her in confusion. Dont ask us, of course we dont have a place like that, I mean just look at our realm De Sijie said as she pointed out their current situation. Hmm Meng Lin uttered, not sure of how to proceed. She was about to head back to her sect and she couldnt just walk in with three other girl in tow, it seems that they would have to be on vacation in the inventory for a while, until she could figure something out. Raising her arm in the air, she suddenly released her qi into the surroundings without warning the trio, startling them, a bright light appeared in the area before surrounding the girls. A few seconds later the light faded taking with it any signs that the three Immortal Elixers disciples were there to begin with. Now then Meng Lin said as she gazed at the cave entrance before her, thinking for a moment she walked forward intending to do one last thing before leaving. Stolen story; please report. She didnt want to use this cave but she couldnt help it since it was the only decent one around this whole place and she didnt even plan to go all the way in. Thud Dropping the Soul Confusing Scroll on the ground at the entrance, Meng Lin stopped on the other side of the entrance before siting down rigidly on the rocks at the entrance of the cave. Right now she has a mysterious jade box that resides in another storage bag which she couldnt touch, so she could only toss it inside her inventory. She has countless beast carcasses that date back to the Westmount Valley, from rank 0 to rank 3 and now she holds the gold core of that same 3 spirit beast. She now identified the pills that she has with half of them being worthless, but at least she now knows what they are. A foundation establishment Pill, it could be useful in elevating one of the three girls into a more useful role. And lastly she holds the Lesser Grade Talent Nurturing fruit, which was the purpose of her stay here in the first place. she was tempted to give it to one of the girls just to see their growth but her own growth was more important and she was naturally curious about the taste of the fruit. Inventory Meng Lin looked at the many slots in the inventory before focusing on two items, the talent nurturing fruit and the spirit beast egg. Taking out the beast egg she looked at its description once more. [Rattle serpent egg] inside is spirit beast with a rank 2 bloodline, once hatched it quickly grows to the peak of a rank two spirit beast where it can no longer go any further. According to the book that she had read about the spirit beast eggs, the way to hatch them is through soaking them in the blood of a spirit beast of the same Rank for 10 day and 10 nights, naturally she didnt have the time to make such an effort back then. However she had also read that an even faster way to make them hatch is through a stronger spirit beast which not only takes an hour but makes them even stronger and she met all the conditions for that. Now then she said as she laid down the beast egg gently on a soft surface before taking out the rank three ape carcass. THUD A hugh sound emerged from within the cave as the body of the Ape Barely fit within the little cave walls, the surrounding walls were cramped with Meng Lin being happy that she stayed at the entrance and had not gotten deeper. Standing next to the Ape Meng Lin gathered brute Qi into her hand before slashing down with the Waterfall Slash technique. Swish A small but deep slice was created on the dead body of the ape and Meng Lin placed the egg right underneath the wound. She waited for a couple seconds before she saw blood oozing out of the wound and onto the egg, the egg which was unresponsive all these times suddenly started glowing red as it began absorbing something from within the blood of the ape, Blood Essence. Meng Lin looked at all this from right under her mask before shifting her focus onto something else, It should only take about an hour she said as she sat rigidly again. Huff Taking off the golden mask that covered her face she breathed out with her soft lips before bringing up the inventory panel. Reaching inside she took out the Lesser Grade Talent Nurturing fruit which began painting the whole surrounding with a different spectra of light. Its purple light traveled fast as in a few seconds it stopped around the cave entrance and the giant ape carcass before filling the cramped space with wonder. The spirit beast egg started glowing with even more power as it began to wobbles from side to side as if reacting to the purple light in the air. Had she been of a calm mind Meng Lin would have noticed the bizarre behavior of the egg but her eyes were fuzzy with anticipation as she brought the fruit up to her lip and bit into it. 59. Aftertaste Thump Thump Thump Meng Lin felt a whole new sensation of power as she chewed the fruit in her mouth, tasting the delightful sweetness with each bite. This was even more delicious than she had expected. it''s power was extraordinary as she felt her heart beating faster with every second that passed, it was as if she was about to burst from the sensation. Gulp Swallowing it, her body thumped alongside her heartbeat and she felt something happen to her dantian where her liquid spiritual sea resides. Ahh All of a sudden she winced in pain and grabbed her stomach as she felt pain to her Dantian, it was expanding ever so slight that she wouldnt even have noticed it had it not been for the pain. Gritting her teeth she endured as she noticed that it was not just her dantian as her whole body seemed to be changing from the inside. Her spiritual vains all around her body widened and stretched while her meridians loosened to the point of opening themselves, her forehead burned with a new feeling as she felt a change in her spiritual consciousness as well. She had no doubt that she was going through a massive change as the changes inside started affecting her outer organ with her skin also starting to flush a faint red as she felt her skin hardened and her eyes burn. The pain began to subside and Meng Lin was able to get up to a crossed legged position and circulate qi through her newfound internal organs. While doing so an overwhelming feeling of comfort and belonging washed over her as she felt the qi energy circulating through her body, it was like she had just left behind a cramped vessel and had entered a new wider one. Madden amounts of qi was circulating through her veins traveling several times faster than before with even stronger force being carried within them. Her countless meridians which she had not touched before were suddenly the forcus of her will as she directed her qi onto one of them. Boom A deep and loud sound of thunder resounded in her mind as the qi which she used to hit the meridian was unable to go through it as it was repelled back. Wha Meng Lin exclaimed in her mind as she thought for a small second before focusing her gaze elsewhere. Her Dantian which had been expanding had finally stopped as its size had increased by 1/3 with new space being available for her liquid qi to be stored in. Her spiritual sea raged in her mind as the Qi Gathering Cultivation Method worked diligently to take more qi from the outside and store it in the spiritual sea. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. A few minutes later and her spiritual sea became full of qi, now having the capacity to hold more liquid qi. Opening her eyes which glowed with a purple hue, she looked upon the world with a newfound clarity. Yet the sight that met hers was of another with similar eyes as she became slight startled. With eyes glowing with a lesser purple hue, a small coiled up snake was gazing at her with eyes full of intellect. Around it was a puddle of blood as the blood from the giant ape had long stopped flowing. She couldnt see the shells but Meng Lin was sure, It was undoubtedly the snake from her egg as it seemed to match the description that she had read of their species. Looking at it, Meng Lin picked up her gold mask and put it away before getting up to approach it, stopping a few feets before the snake she bent down before stretching her arm out to it. Clang Hmm Meng Lin uttered as she looked at her finger before looking at the snake which hadnt moved from its position. She was slightly surprised, not at the speed and intellect of the snake but rather at the durability of her body, it seems that she would have to thoroughly inspect herself. Bringing her arm closer to the snake she wasnt surprised as it slowly crawled towards her before attempting to bite again, this time with even more force. Meng Lin smiled a little as she noticed the snakes small teeth pierced through her skin, She picked up the snake gently with her other hand and teased. Youre not very friendly Bringing it closer she got a better look at the snake, it was only about 2 feet long with its width being super small, it would have looked no different then the others of its own species had it not been for the small purple hue that were coming from its eyes. With a gaze that seem to be indicating something to Meng Lin who nodded her head, yes, from now on you are my, Meng Lins spirit beast Thumb The creature shone with golden light before it stopped biting Meng Lins finger, its gaze suddenly turned excited as it looked at Meng Lin. [Congratulation to the host for forming a contract with a spirit beast] [The spirit beast garden is unlocked] Oh Meng Lin said with surprise as she saw the prompt from the system, gazing back at the creature. A small smile formed on the side of her mouth and she held onto the little creature, Petting its head with a warm smile, she finally decided to name it Purple. Spirit beast garden Meng Lin said as a small screen appeared before her, on the screen was a small garden that had an empty slot at the side, touching the slot Meng Lin saw another screen. This time just a statement as it asked Meng Lin to add a spirit beast, she looked at the prompt before looking down at the small snake coiling around her fingers. Purple I choose you She yelled out stretching her hand and startling the little snake before a small golden light appeared around the little snake and took it away. The little snake appeared in the unfamiliar place as it didnt get freaked out but rather looked at everything with curiosity before slithering through the garden which was only a few meters long. Meng Lin gazing at the little snake in the screen covered her face as her face turned red from embarrassment, she had been suddenly reminded of something from earth as she said a phrase that she used to say as a child. Shaking her head, she didnt want to let herself indulge in these little moments so her gaze became focused with a strong purple hue as she knew her path. She looked at the massive corpse infront of her before taking the ape carcass into her inventory. Thinking for a second she started unloosing her robe before throwing it to the side and taking out a new one. Gathering a little fire qi she set the robe on the sude ablaze before wearing the new one, a blue and white robe. Walking up to the cave entrance she picked up the soul confusing scroll before walking out of the entrance. Step Step Walking for a few meters away she looked back at the entrance before waving her hand. Boom! The cave ceiling that had been cracked under pressure from the apes carcass was now completely collapsed, preventing anyone else from accessing the cave, this was also her way of hiding the dead body of the little boss. she said as she looked towards the distant horizon. Lets get back to the sect 60. Return **Levitation Sect** **Outer Sect mountain** In a hugh mountain range with complex terrain all around stood the entrance to the Levitation Sect on one mountainside. Unlike most sects that luxuriously decorate their entrances, the entrance to the Levitation Sect was not extravagant, It was simply a hugh gate that was constantly open with outer sect diciples walking in and out of the sect from various chores. It doesnt serve much purpose than to be an entrance to the outer sect diciples as the mountain they reside on is only for the outer sect members. At the entrance is a powerful spiritual array that scans through the diciples as they walk in and out to make sure no spies or enemies are entering the sect. Every outer sect diciple was given a token of identity by the recruitment hall when they first got their spiritual roots tested, the token served as an identification as well as a symbol of an Outer Sect Diciple. One only needed the token to enter the outer sect mountain as the Levitation Sect didnt place much emphasis on the security of the outer sect mountain. The Levitation Sect is a sects that doesnt consider outer sect diciples as part of the sect, to be a true diciple they would have to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. This view is shared by countless other powerful sects, seeing the outer sect disciples as but more mouths to feed and extra weight. However within a couple thousand outer sect disciples there are a select few that have great potential to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm and be considered inner sect disciples. It was because of this idea that the outer sect mountain was built, because within these outer sect diciples might be someone to be revered in the future. Whereas the entrance to the inner sect was on a whole different level of security, it consisted of an invisible barrier that encompassed several mountains as well as a strict arrangement of the guard posts including its outer sect mountain. Currently within this strict arrangement of security in the inner sect courters was a terrible power brewing. Within a dimly lit room with an assortment of puppets all around was a black robed man with a sly smile on his face. Infront of the man stood a red giant, white sparks flew all around the body of the giant as it stood fully complete, its eyes which were blank suddenly lit up with fire as it released terrifying power all around. The man stood up from his seated position and said finally Taking out a small talisman he put a strand of qi inside making it light up, the talisman exploded and the man stood still, his eyes closed and he forcued within his forehead, the place where his spiritual consciousness lay dormant, his Spiritual Palace. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Within his Spiritual Palace which should only have his spiritual consciousness was a small blob of dark substance, it twitched a little before bursting into a corporal body with vile aura. With eyes red as a flaming ruby, the newcomer smiled. Youre ready. Yes master Yuan The man replied. Good, Now I can make better use of you, prepare for it is just an hour away The stranger said before vanishing as mysteriously as he came, leaving no trace behind except for the blob that receded into its original state. The man opened his eyes and his smile widen even more, he looked around his creations before siting down once again, he had to be ready for whats to come. **Outer Sect Courters** At the entrance of the mountain was the figure of a young woman adorned in a blue and white robe, her hair swayed in the wind as her figure moved through the entrance. Her gaze exhibited an intensely that was enchanting as purple hue shone through her pupils. Walking in broad daylight the young woman would be an attraction had it not been for something lowering her aura. It was none other than Meng Lin who had just returned from the Ochid Spring Mountain, her cultivation was suppressed and and her Formless Cultivation Method was currently active. None was gazing at her as she operated the Formless Cultivation Method to lower her presence, she headed to her own cave as she didnt want to submit the orchid spring flowers from her recent mission. It would be too suspicious if someone of her realm was able to enter the Orchid Spring Mountain, let alone be able to pick up the flower without being affected. She had noticed that the sect wasnt as strict as she had imagined but that was all going to her benefit so she wouldnt complain. Reaching her cave she opened the door before closing it behind her. Sigh Meng Lin let out a big sigh as she felt at home, she may not have shown it but she was slightly nervous back there. Siting down and crossing her legs she thought back to what she had realized on her way back to the sect. Her speed had increased exponentially as it took her half the time that it would normally take to get back. She was itching to test herself against a real opponent but she decided to be patient, it was not long that she broke through, so she decided to She closed her eyes and relaxed her body, letting go of all her thoughts as she entered a state of meditation. Breathing in and out, she revitalized her mental fortitude, letting her mind be free at last. It had not even been an hour when Meng Lin was interrupted in her meditation, her forehead burned and her spiritual consciousness burst out with a new purple light before locking onto something. Her eyes twitched as she felt her heart beat accelerate like never before, she could feel a presence in her cave, something or someone gazing at her with eyes full of curiosity and expectation. Opening her eyes, she turned towards the person with a calm yet silent gaze. Oh a soft voice sounded as a girl in a pink dress appeared in Meng Lins view. Its you Meng Lin uttered as her gaze hardened, she remembered meeting this same girl when she first arrived at the outer sect hall, she never would have imagined that it would be her. You, you can see me the girl said astonished, her gaze focused and her face showed some confusion before returning back to normal. Well this is abnormal, I never would have thought that you would gain such a thing in your little mission, I knew I should have followed you there as well the girl muttered before raising her head up to something and vanishing on the spot. What Meng Lin exclaimed before increasing the range of her spiritual consciousness, when suddenly the ground below her began to shake. It was not just the ground, the whole cave system was shacking, and the shaking came from deeper in the ground as Meng Lin instinctively knew to go outside. A loud sound suddenly traveled through the air as the whole area was dyed with the noise of a colossal rumbling followed by a big explosion. BOOM!! Meng Lin felt her ears ring and her eyes widened, when suddenly an immense force slammed against her, sending her flying down the mountain. not just her the entire mountain seemed to be struck by an aftershock as the back of the mountain collapsed, destroying with it countless diciples caves. 61. Crystal Portal Getting her bearings in the air Meng Lin landed next to a tree with little effort before looking at the direction she felt the force coming from. The inner sect courters **Inner Sect Courters** A dark aura suddenly erupted within the inner sect courters and shot into the sky before spreading throughout the sect in the form of dark clouds that covered the entire mountain range. the sky itself seemed to ripple like a pond as it reflected the inner sect courters as well as all the other sections of the levitation sect including the outer sect mountain. From within the reflective clouds an incredible pressure burst forth, space suddenly cracked and a massive presences decended. The presence was so complex that it felt as if it was from the heavens themselves, it came from within the crack before solidifying together to create a giant red crystal. The crystal stretched out in all directions, its width reaching a few dozen meters while its height reaching the same number, the massive presence that had filled the entire sect was no more and in its place, was a giant red crystal! All that happened in a couple second and the Levitation sect members were finally able to react to the situation. Dozens of spiritual energies spiked and several hundred cultivators from the inner sect mountain began floating upward to investigate. Inner sect disciples at the Foundation Establishment Realm and sect elders at the Gold Core Realm were the majority of the crowd as only a few were in the Soul Wondering Realm. A blue robed man and a gray robed old man were the first to arrive by the portal as the rest arrived soon after. A few of them held fearful expressions and some held a knowing expression as they gazed at the crystal, as if they had seen it before. After looking at the crystal up close the gray robed old man knew exactly what was happening and he didnt hesitate to take out a talisman before breaking it into pieces, when suddenly the big red crystal began to shine. a blur emerged form within the crystal before zooming towards them, it appeared in front of the old man before striking out with its claws open. Zing The old man in gray had no time to react as he was only at the Gold Core Realm. He only comprehended the situation after he saw a big claw in front of his face that appeared stuck in time as someone seemed to have intervened. Demonic beast The old man exclaimed with a shocked and terrified face before he flew away looking at the one that saved his life. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. A group of core sect members appeared and a dozens more sect elders arrived, at the front was the Sect Master, Xin Riu who held a thoughtful expression as he gazed at the stuck figure in the air that revealed its form. It was a monsters figure with two wings and four eyes, its aura was terrible and it released energy equivalent to an early rank 4 spirit beast. its gaze was chaotic as even though it couldnt move it appeared wild with no reasoning to think. Long Yi, go and terminate it the Sect master said while turning towards his four attendant behind him. you three create that barrier as soon as possible Yes sect master the four behind him began acting out as ordered when suddenly a laughter rang out right underneath them. Looking down, the crowd saw a man in a black robe standing inside a hugh crater, his aura was that of a Soul Wondering Realm cultivator and he laughed before spreading his arms wide open. With a wide smile he said Go forth my beautiful creations Seemingly from out of nowhere, hundreds of puppets appeared, all radiating power at the Foundation Establishment Realm, dozens of puppets were in the Gold Core Realm with some remarkable ones showing Soul Wondering Realm aura as they ran rampant and attacked the crowd directly above. Although surprised many sect elders were prepared for the assault, and the barrage of magical puppets were met with a variety of spiritual energy as the entire area suddenly became a battlefield. Spiritual energy ran through the sky as spiritual symbols and seals flew about, destructive streams of golden lighting filled the air as fights broke out between magical puppets and humans alike. In the midst of the fights was the Sect Master who hesitated a little before reaching out with his hand towards the stuck giant figure that came from the crystal. Boom The bizarre creature frozen in time suddenly shook before exploding in a burst of red light, The sect master gazed at the result before changing his instructions as he turned towards his attendants. Long Yi seal it And you three hurry and set the barrier, before its too late he added as he flew down towards the man that seemed responsible for all this. Landing on the crater that spanned the area the Sect Master spoke with a stern voice. I presume youre Shang Juan The black robed man held a contempt gaze before replying with a smile. I havent been called that in a long while, so youre my replacement, I guess the old man moved on huhtut, speaking with a dissatisfied voice he added. It doesnt really matter who I am anymore, I have a task to complete, this place is going to be destroyed shortly, his sect and all its members will be nothing more than a pile of ashes Sect Master Xin Riu looked at the man before him with pity in his eyes before reaching out with his hand. A field of destructive energy surrounded his body, and he quickly chanted some obscure incantations. A second later he looked at the black robed man before speaking again, this time with a glow in his eyes. He was right that this is your fate, I cant do anything to stop it, but I can at least give you a painless death Nirvana Blade A spiritual light instantly flooded the area and a silver blade appeared in Sect Masters hand as he raised it before slashing down in a swift motion. A bright light instantly consumed everything in its path and within seconds the black robed man, Shang Juan was consumed as well. Hmm The sect master uttered as he realized something, releasing his spiritual consciousness, his gaze hardened as he saw the answer right away. His light faded and he looked at the result of his attack, the blacked robed man was no more as within his place only scrapes wood were left behind. Sect Master Xin Riu held a deep sense of unease as he realized that it had been a puppet that he was talking to all along. If that was a puppet then the real Shang Juan had already made his escape, Sect Master Xin Riu grumbled as he thought of what to do next, when he suddenly felt dizzy before looking up at the crystal that began to shine. The three cultivators at the late stage of the Soul Wondering Realm had already began to take action when suddenly the red crystal lit up again. A terrible feeling emerged from within the hearts of everyone as a more powerful figure stepped through. 62. Demoness The figure of a woman stepped through the giant red crystal. she was covered in an ancient robe with an orb in her hand, her eyes were a shade of red and her gaze wondered around as if inquiring about something. The woman would have looked no different from a human had it not been for the sharp horn on her head which suddenly started glowing. the three cultivators at the crystal immediately felt impending doom as they lost control of their bodies right when the woman arrived. Unable to move, their eyes locking onto her own, her mouth finally moved to form a condescending smile when a beam of light suddenly struck, evaporating the three cultivators with no resistance at all. The horn of the woman stopped glowing and she opened her fair mouth to speak while gazing at the orb in her hand. This Realm has its own will, you had the audacity to defy it and bring in foreign beings, what are you really after she said in a deep voice, as if speaking to someone before her horn glimmered once again. the environment suddenly changed and the will of other beings made themselves know as right above the sect came a cluster of powerful wills. Rumble The sky suddenly shook, and clouds started to move as several pressures descended upon the area, dozens of clouds became filled with Qi and they gathered together to form a small portal that glowed in richness. Powerful pressure descended on the battlefield as everyone stopped what they were doing to pay close attention to what was happening. A host of 6 silhouettes appeared from the small portal, each one filled with a unique and powerful aura as multiple Nascent Soul cultivators made themselves known, behind each of them was spheres gleaming with various colors. At the front was an old man that gazed at everything with calmness as dozens of spiritual energy lurked around him, as if asking for his orders, he was clearly the leading figure of the group, floating a few meters from the giant crystal the womans gaze focused as soon as she saw the old man, seemingly knowing something. By the old mans side was a man in red that exuded a strong and dangerous aura, his gaze were drawn to the woman the moment he got there and they burned with hatred. Behind the duo was the Grand elders from the Raging Flame Sect, from the Levitation sect only two of their four grand elders appeared. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Leading the grand elders from the raging flames sect a man in all white that gazed at the current situation before turning to the old man with tranquil eyes. It seems it couldnt be done on time, spoke the man as if it wasnt something that bothered him, the old man kept his calm gaze as he nodded along not the least showing his emotions. The man in red suddenly received an order and a smile formed on his lip, a cross symbol appeared on his forehead and his figure disappeared with a flash. He appeared dozens of meters behind the woman, his target being the giant crystal, his hand glowed with a powerful aura and a moment later he brought it down onto the colossus crystal, attempting to destroy it. The woman raised an eyebrow, her focus gaze didnt shift from the old man as she said. It was a clever move but its already too late Boom An explosion resonated throughout the area as the crystal suddenly burst into countless pieces, it was in pieces yet it didnt disappear as the couple dozens pieces flew across different parts of the mountain range before slamming onto anything in their paths and rooting themselves into the earth. Over dozens pieces of the broken crystal scattered around the sect, and they all began to shine as demonic creatures began to emerge from them. Dozens of rank 2 and 3 creatures started pouring into the sect, they began to rampage through the sect attacking both cultivator and puppet alike as only destructive impulses filled their minds. The old mans face darkened as he watched the newly formed monsters wreak havoc across the sect, many of the defending cultivators and puppets were swallowed up in their rampage as they mercilessly attacked anything. With clear emotion in his voice he uttered, So its come to this Without turning his gaze to the three from the raging flames sect behind him he said I need you four to help destroy the pieces, Feng Lee and I well be exterminating this one now He then flew towards the woman, the three of them could see his figure start glowing an otherworldly gold as he let off a deafening wave of energy that engulfed the whole area. The three from the Raging flame sect started to move and the man in red appeared right next to the First Grand elder, his gaze was even more intense as the cross symbol on his head began to glow in with scarlet light. The demoness in front of them appeared surprised, her gaze turned to the leaving figures from the raging flame sect before she exclaimed with a wide grin. You are either underestimating me, or overestimating yourself, old man! Demoness, dont waste our time talking, today will be known as the day you met your end said the man in red as he raised his hand in which a multicolored sword appeared. **Outer sect courters** Meng Lin held a confused expression as she gazed at the dark clouds in the sky, she had just witnessed a colossus crystal the size of a small mountain, only for it to shatter a few minutes later. The earth beneath Meng Lin shook violently as two crystal pieces slammed onto to ground, etching themselves firmly in the mountain. One of them appeared about 70 meters from her, and the other was out of her line of sight as it landed on the other side of the mountain. "What is this?" Meng Lin muttered as she released her spiritual consciousness towards the crystal, only to be met with a mysterious force that pushed it back. Shocking her, her spiritual consciousness was a little mysterious as even she doesnt what it might be capable of and yet she was pushed back by an unknown force from the crystal. She was about to try a different method to investigate when she saw the crystal suddenly beginning to shine. 63. Barrier A demonic beast stepped through the crystal and it began growling madly, its power was equivalent to the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm and it spotted Meng Lin right away. Roar! Without the slightest hesitation, the demonic beast roared and charged towards Meng Lin whos hand began to rise. Waiting for a few seconds for the creature to reach her place Meng Lin called out one of her techniques. Surge Massive water qi circulated in her body and burst forth in the form of a huge wave as it engulfed the demonic beast whose fate became unknown. Releasing her spiritual consciousness outward Meng Lin was able to bypass the wave of her technique to view the damage being dealt to the beast, and she became solemn. Jumping a few meters back and standing upon a thick branch of a tree Meng Lin looked on as the creature burst through her attack with incredible damage being shown on its body. It was barely standing still and yet it roared with fury in its eyes as it charged once again. The beast was coming but Meng Lins focus was elsewhere as she detected a fluctuation in her spiritual consciousness near the crystal, making her realize that another was coming through. Bringing her focus back to the demonic beast that was a few meters from her Meng Lin didnt bother to use any techniques as she jumped towards the creature breaking the thick branch below her. With her arms coved with thick but little qi she went head on with the demonic beast critically injured before punching out with powerful force. Boom Red blood burst into the air like a rain as the body of the demonic beasts was immediately smashed into pieces. Landing softly onto the ground Meng Lin was slightly impressed at her strength, the punch she delivered earlier mostly consisted of her bodys strength, she only added little qi and the results was shocking. However she was slightly concerned and confused about the situation, had the sect been attacked or was there an accident that occurred in the sect, well no matter the circumstances she had to first leave the sect, whatever was happening is clearly out of her league. Turning her gaze towards the crystal she wasnt surprised to see another demonic creature coming out as the fluctuation earlier was from the crystal shining. A similar demonic beast stood at the crystal roaring loudly before sprinting towards Meng Lin, clearly this one had the same goal as the previous, it wanted Meng Lin dead. Looking at the demonic beast coming Meng Lin waited until it was in a 5 meters range before she raised her hand up. An immense power gathered in her palm before turning into a condensed ball of thunder that was released in a small but concentrated beam right at the beasts face. Boom! This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Coming into contact with the beast that radiated similar power at the middle stage of the foundation establishment realm, the beam tore through its head in a straight line and it didnt decrease in power as it struck the trees behind the beast destroying them all instantly. Thud Wow Meng Lin said as the beast fell right before her. Thinking back to the Westmount Valley, she remembered how the black snake used the same move, now seeings its true destructiveness she realized that this could be another offensive technique in her arsenal, an offensive Thunderbolt Flash technique. Now looking at the two weird and similar beast that radiated dark energy Meng Lin stored them in her inventory before raising her gaze to the sky above the inner sects. Rumble The sky was illuminating with brilliant rays of light as energy from something started to mix with thunderclouds, lighting up the whole sect for a moment. I have to leave now Meng Lin said as lightning covered her whole body and with a dash she disappeared into the distance. Running down the mountain at a fast pace, Meng Lin saw outer sect disciples running in confusion, obviously confused about the situation and running from something. Continuing forward Meng Lin thought back to the crystal that struck her side of the mountain, she remembered that there was two of them, if that was the case. Roar!!! Many loud roars pierced the air, breaking her out of her thoughts, looking forward she witnessed a demonic beast devouring a running outer-sect disciple. her gaze hardened and her thoughts became uncertain, sprinting forward she ran towards the creature, unbothered to even attack. Boom The early stage rank 2 beast was hit with such force that it was sent flying back into the distance as Meng Lin paid it no heed, her focus now was to leave the sect. Arriving at the entrance Meng Lin held a grimace as she noticed a crystal around the corner, around the crystal was a crowd of demonic beast as they feasted on outer sect disciples as if they were cattle. Turning her gaze to the entrance with its gates wide open Meng Lin attempted to dash through when suddenly. Peng Ugh Meng Lin faltered back and she held her forehead, looking up she could see an enormous barrier stretching across the area, as not only was this entrance sealed, the entire mountain range seemed to be covered in thick red barrier that seemed unbreakable. She was about to try again when she heard the noise of the demonic beast getting louder and louder, it seemed that she was noticed. Turning her gaze behind her she looked on as over a dozen demonic beast started savagely sprinting towards her, but she remained unperturbed as he raised her hand up into the air again. The lighting surrounding her gathered to her palm before forming a small cracking ball of qi, pouring more qi into it Meng Lin looked on as it grew bigger and bigger before turning into a giant ball of blazing lighting that started affecting the surroundings. With a smile she threw it towards the incoming demonic beast and a bright explosion soon followed. BOOM! Releasing her spiritual consciousness she held a satisfied expression as she noticed that only two remained alive in the explosion and they were not looking good. It was only to be expected as she used a third of her power in that moment, the demonic beast that remained were releasing aura of the late stage and they charged towards her, all while not caring about the injuries on their bodies. As these demonic beast were of a higher realm, Meng Lins gaze turned serious as she pointed with a finger when lighting started gathering again, slashing horizontally with her hand a beam of high intensity lighting was released horizontally before sharply cutting into the two demonic beasts. Meng Lin was about to go forward and collect the corpses when the crystal at the corner started to shine again, this time with even more light as another demonic beast emerged. However this next creature to come out the crystal shocked Meng Lin as it was a combination of two different things, a giant spider crawled through the crystal and a human torso rested on the top. It held the naked torso of a man with a horn on top of his head, there was countless eyes on his face and they gazed at the closest being around, Meng Lin. Looking at the newcomer Meng Lin knew instantly how dangerous it was, it wasnt because its eyes held intellect nor was it because it looked horrifying. It was because of the fact that this demonic beast was releasing an aura even more powerful than any peak stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, an aura infinitely closer the the Gold Core Realm. It was a peak level demonic beast completely different from a normal spirit beast, Meng Lin gulped a little as the faintest glimmer of fear and excitement appeared in her heart. 64. Demonic Spider **Inner sect Mountain** At the sky of the levitation sect, multi colored thunder flashed across the area as three figures exchanged blows. Clang A burst of energy was released and the three figures drew back, floating hundreds of meters apart from each other. From one side of the battlefield was the first and second Grand Elders of the Levitation Sect. The old man and the man in red, the old mans body was brightly lit with gold light while the man in red had a sharpened dangerous aura all around him. Ha, is that it the man in reds voice traveled through the sky as droplets of blood fell from his sword, he had drawn blood from the woman. Across his forehead was a crossed symbol that glowed crimson and in his hand was a multicolored sword that released dangerous lighting. From the other side of the battlefield was a woman with ancient attire, on her head was a horn that glowed in color, and in her hand an orb that she gripped onto tightly. across her cheek was a cut that healed instantly and her eyes glowed red as her gaze held anger within. Dont get corky brat, dont think that you can win with just a Top Grade Spirit Weapon alone The woman gaze traveled down at the orb in her hand, before she muttered under her breath. whats taking so long. **Outer sect mountain** Waterfall slash Clang Waterfall slash Clang Surge Boom! At the entrance of the outer sect mountain was a barrage of attacks being launched towards the figure of a giant spider with a human torso. Its body was engulfed in a big surge of water qi, and yet it traveled through without the slightest trace of damage. At the other side, Meng Lin gritted her teeth, almost all of her Qi was depleted and yet she was not able to land a single scratch. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Her eyes glowed with a unique purple hue and she regained her calmness, she began to carefully examine the demonic beast. It has eight legs, the two front legs have a thicker carapace while the others dont have that, its human torso has arms with sharp claws as well as a horn that was glowing a little. Gazing at its chest, Meng Lin noticed something before a sly smile appeared on her face. Weak the torso on the spider looked towards her with jagged teeth as it jumped towards Meng Lin, all while releasing threatening aura. In the air Its two front legs were glimmering with power as it approached Meng Lin whos whole body started emitting a chaotic aura. Boom Coming down with force, its two front legs slammed down onto Meng Lin, causing a massive crack to appear on the ground. The demonic beasts attack has landed but it doesnt appear to be happy as its face showed a pained expression for the first time. Small sizzling noises came from within the dust clouds to reveal Meng Lins hand gripping onto the two front legs of the spider. Half her figure was buried in the earth, and yet her eyes gleamed with power as brute qi surround her. The demonic beast roared out loud while the horn on its head glowed bright before releasing a powerful beam. Puchi A small hole opened up on Meng Lins body as a beam ripped through her left shoulder. What Meng Lin thought as she didnt even see it coming, the speed was too great, her figure lowered a little but she didnt let go of the two powerful front legs of the demonic beast. Haa.. ha bearing with the pain she uttered a scream before pushing upward with all her strength, causing the demonic beast to falter backwards in a rocking motion. Jumping out of the waist high hole that she had been in, she gathered brute QI in her right hand to punch out with a shocking amount of force. Boom! The demonic beast was sent flying backward, landing on the ground a few meters away. Meng Lin looked at her shoulder with a pained expression, it was burning and the pain was unbearable. She looked on as the demonic beast got up from the ground with a small dent in its body. The demonic beasts eyes suddenly changed as madden amount of qi began to be released in its entirety. The sky darkened a little and thunder flashed across the whole mountain before rain began to drop onto them. Roar! The beast roared towards Meng Lin whos focus was on the chest of the beast. On the chest of the beast was a hollow golden orb that seem to have just formed, the more qi that the beast released, the more corporal the orb became. Roar The beast roared once more before running towards Meng Lin with its many legs, its speed was fast and before Meng Lin could react, it was already upon her once more with its two front legs. Peng A clear sound of a recoil was heard as Meng Lin didnt intend to grasp the legs once again. In her hand was a circular object that glowed green, it was her Dragon Jade Seal. Although it currently has a crack in it and it couldnt be used properly Meng Lin still took it out as she didnt have any other weapons to use. The beast recovered from its recoil before bringing its front legs up as well as its human torso closer to use its claws. Its sharp claws glowed in a bright light as it drew them closer with blood red color onto them. Peng Placing the two meter long dragon jade seal infront of her, Meng Lin took the shock of the three clashes before bringing it up to perform one last attack. She had long noticed the Brute qi breaking down the dragon jade seal, so with nothing to lose but a broken weapon, Meng Lin gathered all her brute qi before bringing it dowm in a swift motion. Warerfall slash Everything became silent for a moment as the soft voice of Meng Lin sounded, a large span of raindrops disappeared as the space became covered with immense chaotic energy. A bright light burst from the entrance of the outer sect mountain before traveling a few dozen meters into the outer sect mountain, destroying anything in its path. 65. Metamorphosis Ha Meng Lin breathed heavily as her body lost all brute energy, within her hands was the remains of the Dragon Jade Seal, having been reduced to just a few shards. Infront of her was a large slash across the ground that traveled for a few dozen meters, creating a small gap on the mountain. Crouching down due to the straining pain on her shoulder, she released her spiritual consciousness into the area, making sure not to lower her guard. Gurr Hmm Meng Lins gaze harden as she noticed something, within the range of her spiritual consciousness, she saw the figure of the demonic beast, which was still alive. Its still alive Meng Lin thought as she focused more onto the beast with her spiritual consciousness, it was about 30 meters away from her, having withstood her attack to the end. Across its body was a giant cut right in the middle that traveled from her human torso to the back of the demonic spider body, it should have been cut in half and yet it was not dead. ROAR!! The human head on the spider yelled with a big roar and dark qi suddenly burst from within his body, covering the surrounding area with dangerous force. On its chest was a core that was starting to glow in gold, and within seconds it completely formed. Rumble Rumble The sky above rumbled and roared as the rain drops became more intense, and from within all that roar a presence appeared from the heavens. Meng Lin looked at the sky feeling the presence appear with a weight lifted from her chest. she had used her strongest move possible with the brute qi and the demonic beast still wasnt dead, so naturally with no place to escape she worried for her life. However, now with the incredible damage that she had inflicted upon the demonic beast, she wouldnt be surprised if it dies within the first few strikes of the heavenly tribulation lightning that would surely descend. She held a smiling expression as she stood up straight, she watched as thunder roared in the darkened clouds before something astonishing happened. The presence which appeared for a brief moment has suddenly disappeared. How can this be Meng Lin said as she looked at the lightning in the clouds receding before looking at the demonic beast further away. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. the gold core on its chest was formed but it still havent fully undergone a tribulation, the demonic beast didnt seem to have even noticed what was happening as it roared once again with newfound strength. Boom A field of energy was released with the demonic spider as the center, its whole body started to crawl together as it seemed to be undergoing its own unique transformation. From its dark energy field strands of qi began turning into spider silks as in a few seconds, the whole demonic beast was encased in a cocoon of spider silks. Sensing the shift in the demonic beasts energy Meng Lin began to run, however against all expectations she ran towards the demonic beasts cocoon. with the support of her remaining normal qi Meng Lin ran as fast as she could, appearing before the cocoon in a few seconds. With sweat running down her face Meng Lin stretched out her hand towards the cocoon before a large suction force began to surround her hand. It was her last chance, she was sure that the demonic beast was about to breakthrough into the next realm, so while its still in its metamorphosis, she wanted to suck it inside her inventory before it was too late. Her inventory can work on weaker beings even if they want to resist, however any stronger being could easily resist the suction force coming from her hand. That is if they resist, so while its not able to do anything Meng Lin thought to bet everything at stake and store it inside her inventory. After its stored inside her inventory then no matter what was happening to it , it would be frozen in time not undergoing its unique transformation forever. That was her plan, however like all things in life not everything goes as planned. Peng [ERROR] Meng Lins eyes widened as she became genuinely shocked, the system inventory wasnt working, and what is this prompt. Her thoughts suddenly became a jumble as there was nothing that she can do now, the metamorphosis was finished. With widened eyes Meng Lin gazed at the cocoon of spider silk suddenly glow with profound power before bursting in a spectacular fashion. Boom The force slammed onto Meng Lin who was only a few inches from the cocoon sending her flying like a ragdoll. Thud Ugh Meng Lins eyes opened with unclearly before she forced herself to get up with difficulty, her body felt heavy while her whole right hand went numb. Her left shoulder had a hole in it thus making it difficult to move it and now her right hand which had been stretched out to touch the cocoon was severely injured to the point of going numb. Fortunately she had not broken any bones from that small explosion, however she doesnt know if she should call her current situation fortunate. For the first time in Meng Lins cultivation journey, she encountered a moment where everything was not going her way. Her last attack with the brute Qi didnt work, her plan to use the heavenly tribulation also didnt work and now her plan to use her system inventory has backfired against her. She stood up with difficulty as her robe was tattered with mud and wet from the rain, she had cuts running through it and a few pieces missing. Her hair held the same fate has her clothes, now she looks no different from a beggar, the only thing different were her eyes. Even in this moment her eyes held their purple hue, Meng Lin looked around for a moment before her gaze landed the demonic beast. However, it seemed that he has really gone through an actual metamorphosis as he looked nothing like before, she was now addressing the demonic spider as a he because he looked more human than ever before. A few meters from her stood the humanoid figure, a humanoid man completely different from the demonic beast. The only thing that could connect them now would be the eight spider like limbs coming from his back. A horn on his head glimmered with new light and he released more power than Meng Lin has ever seen. His aura seem relaxed and his eyes held a curious intellect as they gazed at the closest being around him once again. 66. Disparity With an overwhelming feeling of despair Meng Lin took a step back for the first time in her life as she felt fear to her core. The humanoid demonic beast in front of her was gazing at her as if a child seeing their new toy. He brought his gaze back to himself and he gazed at his hand while muttering to himself. My lifespan has increased Meng Lin, not the least bit interested in waiting along, jumped backward before sprinting as fast as she could, her direction towards the inner sect mountains. The whole sect is surrounded by the giant barrier so she cant leave the sect, with nothing else to lose she headed towards the inner sect. However her slow dash in the eyes of the humanoid spider appeared amusing as he didnt chase after her right away. He closed his eyes as he seemed to be receiving something, inherit memories flooded his brain and he opened his eyes. The curious intellect held within his eyes turned to pure brutality as a wide smile appeared on his face before he disappeared from his current location. Running through the infested mountain, Meng Lin came to a stop after spotting s few demonic beast before her, gritting her teeth she thought to do something before she heard the voice of the humanoid spider once again. Are you done running Appearing right behind her, Meng Lin felt her neck being held within sharp claws as beads of sweat appeared on her face. Argh The grip tightened around her neck and her face lost all color, her feet left the ground and she was suspended in the air. Dont think I forgot the hideous scar you gave me a moment ago Being lifted into the air Meng Lin was brought down with a huge force with her head slammed into the ground. Boom Feeling lightheaded, Meng Lin felt excruciating pain to her face as debris was raised into the air. Puchi Ugh Meng Lin grunted in pain, she felt pain to her leg and a hole opened up right above her left ankle. The horn of the humanoid demonic spider started shimmering once more as another hole opened up on her right ankle. The demonic spider grabbed her left hand before lifting her up off the ground, with jaggard teeth it opened its mouth wide before biting down on soft flesh. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Ahh Meng Lin yelped in pain as she felt her left hand hurt in an excruciating amount of pain, the demons teeths didnt stop and chewed through her hand, biting more off her body. Her heartbeat pumped furiously and tears appeared in her eyes, a small chunk of meat was missing from her forearm, it was small but the pain was unbearable. Without being able to bear with this newfound pain, Meng Lins eyes rolled to the back of her head and she lost consciousness from shock. The humanoid demonic beast was not aware of the state of Meng Lins mind as he chewed the flesh within his mouth before swallowing it. He was about to continue with his meal when suddenly he was interrupted by a young voice. thats enough Grunting with an annoyed face the humanoid demonic spider turned his gaze to the side to see a young man with a scheming face as well as a middle aged man at his side. Standing with no fear within his eyes the young man continued. Hand her over, youve had your fun its mine The humanoid demonic beast growled and spoke while showing his teeth, clearly he disliked these newcomers. A new aura was suddenly released from him, within his chest a golden core shone and the surroundings began to change. Spikes that resemble spider legs grew all around the area, changing the scenery in an instant. A Core Manifestation the young man said, his eyes squinted closer and he thought for a second. However shaking his head he stopped thinking before a compass suddenly appeared within his hand. Looking down at the compass in his hand he confirmed the target before turning to the middle aged man at his side. Wen ji go and retrieve her, Lord Yuan is about to make his appearance so its best for us to leave before that The middle aged man, having no problems with being ordered around by the young man walked forward with no force before a gradual shift started to appear in the air. Shua A pressure suddenly began to appear around him before spreading and encompassing the humanoid demonic spider. Step Step Step With each step that the middle aged man took, the more powerful the pressure became until eventually the humanoid demonic beast was brought to his knees with the majestic scenery being destroyed in an instant. Stopping a few steps before the beast, the middle aged man picked Meng Lin up before placing her over his shoulder and then turning around as if he didnt notice the demonic beast. The young man with the scheming face held a light smile as he gazed at the unconscious body of Meng Lin before he turned his attention towards the humanoid demonic beast, still frozen where he kneeled. Since you seem to be different from the rest well allow you to live as to not incite the wrath of that demoness up there Turning to leave, the young man looked back before with a disdainful smile as he continued to say. But make no mistake, you are only alive because we allowed you to live Qi became apparent in the air as the two cultivators slowly began to float before flying off the outer sect mountain, passing through the barrier with no problems. The humanoid demonic beast, finally free from the pressure held a complex expression as countless thoughts began to fly in his head. Damn it with an enraged exclamation he slammed against the ground raising dust everywhere. He, a newly awakened royalty was actually forced to his knees by humans, he couldnt do anything. Again, its humans His inherent memories flashed and his gaze darkened even further, he was about to get up from his kneeling position when he suddenly felt something. Ugh An excruciating pain suddenly came from within his stomach as he felt the insides of his stomach being corroded by something. Ahh He screamed as he felt it not only affect his internal organs but his spiritual organs as well. His Dantian started showing signs of deterioration and his spiritual vains became disorganized all around his stomach and he began to feel nauseating. With no way to deal with it he roared out loud and scratched at the ground as he felt dreadful fear. Ahhhhh Releasing large amounts of dark qi in the area, his horn started shimmering with light before he shot out a blazing qi into the sky that radiated power no early Gold Core being could muster. 67. Lord Yuan **Inner sect courters** Spiritual talismans flew all around while different energy signatures ran rampant throughout the sect battlefield. Cultivators and demonic beast fought against one another and the entire place was filled with dead and destruction. Crack A woman with red eyes slowly floated away and left behind her the remnants of a destroyed crystal. Duo Sung, the new Nascent Soul cultivator of the Raging Flame sect gazed at the edge of the inner sect mountains and she released her spiritual consciousness to encompass thousands of meters. Within her spiritual consciousness was the battle between the three nascent soul beings above the sect and with each clash came a resounding sound that filled the air with pressure that pushed her spiritual consciousness away. Her gaze locked onto a man in red who wielded a beautiful multicolored sword that was resonating with lighting from the clouds. Damn that Feng Lee where did he get a top grade spirit weapon, no wonder that demon is having trouble, this must be his reason for being so confident in himself, hump. As she began to get lost in her thought she suddenly saw a light in the corner of her eyes, turning her head she a bright beam aimed at the sky, its target unknown. Not knowing what it was coming from, she immediately flew towards the Outer Sect Mountain naturally curious about what it was coming from. A few seconds later and she appeared before right above the light, she was slightly shocked as the light was coming from non other than a demonic beast, one that gave her a weird feeling. what is this she said raising her hand towards the beast, the air around the beast tightened and she was about to capture it when suddenly she felt a powerful presence approaching. YOU A giant shadow loomed over, and the red eyed girl looked up at the sky to see a grotesque hand coming down towards her in a swift motion. Her eyes glowed red as she instantly realized that this was an attack from someone at a higher stage. Her body became covered in blue flames before she disappearing in a burst of flames. Boom The outer sect mountain was shaken as one side of the mountain completely collapsed with a huge handprint left behind. A few dozen meters from the mountain appeared the demoness, with an extended hand that glowed with a dark aura. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. She looked to the side to see a burst of blue flames appear before she noticed something behind her. Where do you think youre going Hearing the distasteful voice of the man in red, the demoness turned before extending her claws which were met with multicolored light. Slice A multicolored sword met her claws and it sliced through like butter, cutting off a few fingers from the demoness before heading towards her head. HAA The demoness suddenly roared and her voice mixed with her dark Qi to create a sonic burst that pushed the man slightly away. Is that sword the only thing that you have The demoness said as she didnt let her guard down, she looked behind the man in red to see the old man, whos body started to change. The cracked core floating behind him, suddenly merged into his body and his body slowly started becoming transparent. The same thing started happening with the man in red as two narcent soul cultivators brought out one of their strongest cards. Damn it the demoness said with gritted teeth, she wasnt worried about the old man but more so about the man in red. Both men were at the middle stage of the Nascent Soul Realm so they naturally couldnt compete with her, even with her Realm being at the middle stage as well. But because of that sword she didnt want to let any chance appear where it might pose a threat to her life. She looked to the side to see the woman with red eyes appearing from the burst of flames and she looked down to speak to the orb in her hand. Dont you think its time that you show yourself, i dont have much time left here Hehehe now that everyone is getting serious, i think it really is time to make my appearance A distorted voice sounded in the sky before the whole sky started shining, the barrier around the whole sect started to change before coming together to create a dark substance. The small blob of dark substance twitched before bursting into a corporal body with vile aura. A man adorned in a taoist robe came into existence, dark and vile aura covered his body and his eyes shone red with a gleam, as if they were gem like rubies. His rank was that of the Nascent Soul Realm cultivator but his body gave off a suppressing feeling the moment that it appeared, making it clear that his stage was that of a higher level. His aura was felt all around the sect making the other two from the Raging Flame Sect notice his presence. The old man, in his translucent state gazed at the man before speaking. I should have known, Lord Yuan Oh I didnt realize that i had become so famous, how did you come to know me the man said with a smile on his face and yet his eyes held no emotion as he spoke. What is the king of the kingdom doing here, its not like theres anything here that could catch your eyes the old man asked as he didnt seemed all that worried about the situation at hand. Lord Yuans eyes shifted slightly as he opened his mouth to speak with no emotion once again youre quite knowledgeable, you seem to know something else, impressive however i am not one to waste my time talking with the dead so Raising his hand to the sky, he gathered qi before striking out with his palm. Dragon Figure Palm Roar A dragons roar sounded and the clouds moved before a giant palm appeared in from of the old man completely skipping past the man in red. The attack was met with another attack as the old man sent out a palm attack of his own. Secret Art, Pressure Palm Boom! A gush of wind blew all around and a silhouette was sent flying before stopping a few meters from the explosion. Ohh Lord Yuan uttered as his eyebrows raised for the first time, he looked at the old man that was coughing blood. You ok the man in red said as he flew towards the old man who was getting his bearings straight. Ha, so this is the difference in stage between a middle and late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, even while integrated i was hurt. The old man said as he noticed his transparent body covered in cracks with blood running down his face. He looked towards the man in red before saying It seems that we will have to resort to that replica from my Narscent Soul Shard. 68. Mysterious Eye The Second Grand Elder, the man in red also seeing no way out, nodded with a slight pity on his face. Turning towards the duo of Lord Yuan and the demoness he brought his sword up before slashing out with a technique. Secret Art, Deep Extremity Fang His multicolored sword became coated in black Qi that abruptly shot a black crescent moon that surged towards both lord Yuan and the demoness. Lord Yuan looked at the pitch black attack coming his way before snorting and yelling out word. BURST His voice amplified by his internal spiritual qi became a deadly weapon as the black crescent slash heading his way slowly dispersed through the air. Hyump, dont embarrass yourself kid he said as he gazed at the man in red that looked to be affected by his action just now. Lord Yuan was about to continue speaking before he noticed something in the hand of the man in red, squinting his eyes togather he wondered a little before deciding to stop playing around. Behind his back appeared his Nascent Soul that seemed dark to the naked eye yet a blob to the spiritual consciousness. He raised his hand which started turning transparent before he brought it down while uttering the same technique as before. Dragon Figure Palm However, unlike before this time his technique didnt just produce the sound of a dragons roar but rather the figure of an actual dragon that roared out with an all powerful wave before rushing towards its intended target, the man in red. The man in red, Feng Lee smiled a little at the sight as in his hand was a piece of sphere that was gold in color and radiated intense Qi to its surroundings while also being majestic in might. The attack approached and he didnt hesitate, bringing the piece of golden sphere into his mouth at the same time as the attack landed. BOOM! A resounding explosion lit the area, the whole sky shook and small cracks started appearing in the space near the explosion. The attack drew the attention of everyone in the sect as not only them but it was visible to anyone in a 5 mile radius to the sect ground. Hehe, now theres only 5 left Lord Yuan said as he gazed at the old man that was slightly pushed away by the explosion, he was about to taunt before noticing the deep gaze that the old mans eyes held. The gaze seemed to be looking in his direction but he realized that it was not directed towards him, but rather behind him thus making him confused as there was nothing behind him. What are yo he was about to ask when suddenly he heard from behind him. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Extremity Art His eyes widened and he brought up his spiritual shield right away, however even that proved to be useless. Peng Ugh Lord Yuan grunted as he felt an immense amount of pain and pressure on his back before he was sent flying to the earth below. Rumble The whole inner sect mountain shook from the impact and a massive crater was formed on the surface of the mountain, every witness was left agape as even the battlefield below became quiet. The demonesss eyes held a surprised expression as her whole body began to turn into a giant creature, a spider with a large horn on its head. Her dark energy skyrocketed and her giant horn started shimming with a dark light, she was at her strongest state yet her multiple eyes held a cautions look as they gazed at the being that caused her so much caution. Before her was the man in red, his body was still transparent and he would have looked no different from before had his left eyes not been glowing gold. His eyes turned and he gazed at the demoness, making her feel immense pressure as the golden glow from within his left eyes caused her to feel completely naked infront of him. She felt pressure however that was all, as she raised her two front legs before breaking out with her own attack. Inherent Art, Sky Rending Silk From between her two front legs came a condensed light that stretched across the sky, and radiated power comparable to the late stage of the Narcent Soul Realm. No matter how powerful the man in red was, if that attacked landed then it would all be over she thought as it was shot out in a burst. Suaa The white silk traveled fast and it caused space to bend around it as it instantly appeared before the man in red, who looked towards it with a unperturbed expression. Secret Art, Deep Extremity Fang Slash A black crescent moon appeared, its target the the silk infront if him, however it didnt surge towards the white silky thread but rather met it with the softest touch possible, causing the bend in space to disappear. TING! The demoness watched as her attack which was as far reaching as the whole mountain range was cut in half, disappearing like small silks from a ribbon. Puchi Blood sprayed and the demonesss giant spider body received a hugh slash across its body, causing green blood to spurt into the air. The man in red was about to continue attack when he suddenly disappeared from where he was standing. Crack!! From where he stood appeared two giant hands of blob that clapped together causing the entire space to collapse. The man in red appeared a few meters away before looking at where he previously stood. where he once stood was now an empty area of void and darkness and he looked down towards where attack had come from. Hahahah, so you have something similar, is that a physique? Or a bloodline trait, a mystical eye. Lord Yuans voice sounded and he slowly revealed himself from within the massive crater. Flying upward, he appeared before everyone with his body turning transparent and his energy skyrocketing into the sky, his ruby like eyes gazed towards the man in red and his lips formed a condescending smile. Feng Lee the man in red felt the air around him tighten with his body locked in place. His left eye glowed with even more gold light before he began to move in an erratic motion, a few moves later and he was freed from his space binding. Disappearing from where he stood and appearing further back from Lord Yuan. Ohh, it has to be because of that eye, does it allow one to instantly understand and adapt to the situation he voiced his thoughts as he gazed at the man in red for a confirmation, not the least bit surprised by what just happened. With eyes full of smiles he continued no no, then does it allow one to understand the structure of what they are looking at, thus allowing one to instantly find a counter Feeling a rare emotion that he had almost forgotten Lord Yuan spoke more with dim curiosity in his eyes. Ive never seen that before, I might have to add it to my collection afterward, but first a little experiment. His body which was already in its transparent state, suddenly burst with newfound power as his energy changed to became completely different. You may have that Mystical eye but that alone will not defeat me His energy which was a dark qi before shifted and changed into a pure white energy that seemed unblemished to the world, his aura increased and he spoke with a grin. Lets see what you can do against energy already in its purest state, against the Refined Qi Physique 69. Range Firmament Refiner With crimson ruby eyes Lord Yuana transparent body became surrounded with pure white qi, the energy was released and the color of the sky changed to accommodate this new brilliance. Feng Lee, the man in red became more focused as his left eye lit up with even more golden light. His body dimmed slightly before vibrating in his transparent state, slowly he faded from the view of everyone around, disappearing in the folds of space, his presence entirely gone. Hyump, you think a little trick like that can work against me Lord Yuan snorted. His gaze wondered and the air continued to flow, he lifted his hand into the sky to use a technique in his newfound state. Secret art, Domain Lock As he spoke those words, the surrounding space began to tremble and shake. A powerful energy field formed around him, locking down any movement within its range. Even the air seemed to be frozen in place. However, just as Lord Yuan had completed his attack, Feng Lee reappeared behind him, having been forced out from the folds of space. His body was covered in multicolored light, and his left eye was glowing even brighter, with his multicolored swordsword branded he shouted. Extremity Art, Pressure Piercing Slash! A beam of intense multicolored light shot out from his sword, intending on piercing through Lord Yuans transparent body. Peng However a recoil was produced as the beam collided with Lord Yuans body, but it did not penetrate him as Feng Lee had hoped. Instead, Lord Yuans body was unshaken with pure refined Qi protecting his body. Feng Lee was slightly surprised by this as it was his strongest move but it was too late and Lord Yuan had already launched a counter attack, aiming to take advantage of Feng Lees moment of surprise. The pure white qi surrounding his body riled up and he sent out a powerful punch towards Feng Lee''s chest. Feng Lee quickly reacted and dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the punch which left a crack in space, He then counterattacked with a quick slash towards Lord Yuan''s arm, hoping to weaken his opponent''s offensive capabilities. Peng But once again, Lord Yuan''s refined qi protected him, leaving no damage on his arm. Feng Lee gritted his teeth, realizing that this battle was not going to be easy. Lord Yuan was much stronger than himself and if he let himself get hit with any attack then he would be severely injured. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. You dodged, but can you keep up Lord Yuan said as he struck out with his fist once more, attacking relentlessly, his movements swift and precise. Peng Using his sword as a shield Feng Lee was shocked to feel the force behind Lord Yuans punches as he was pushed back a few meters away. Against a barrage of precise attacks Feng Lee struggled to keep up. He knew he had to come up with a new strategy, or he would lose this battle. He took a deep breath and focused his energy onto his left eye, trying to sense Lord Yuan''s weak points. Knowing that was his only chance. However it was unfruitful as he couldnt even gain a semblance of understanding over this particular energy. With sweat running down his face he suddenly lunged forward, aiming for Lord Yuan''s torso. This time, his attack succeeded, and he managed to pierce through Lord Yuan''s refined qi, causing him to stagger back in the air. Ohh Lord Yuan became slightly surprised as he hadn''t expected Feng Lee to make such a bold move. Feng Lee did not waste any time and quickly followed up with a series of quick slashes, each one producing a beam of multicolored light as he utilized his Extremity Art in all his attacks. Seeing a barrage of multicolored lights coming his way, Lord Yuan finally decided to stop playing around as his expression turned serious. He raised his hand, and a powerful burst of energy surged out, causing the surrounding air to tremble and distort. The multicolored lights instantly dissipated, and the area was filled with a deafening rumble. Lord Yuan''s eyes glinted red as the pure energy surrounding his transparent body became amplified, speaking coldly he said. Playtime is over He stepped forward, and the space beneath him cracked as he disappeared from where he stood. Appearing behind the Feng Lee he struck with lightning-fast speed, his fist filled with explosive pure energy. Cought off guard Feng Lee was unable to react in time. With a loud boom, he was sent flying, crashing into the sect grounds and creating a massive crater. Lord Yuan slowly floated gracefully in the air, his eyes glowing with a fierce intensity as he surveyed the area. The remaining Raging Flames Grand Elders across the levitation sect had arrived but even they were hesitant about what to do. The demoness was floating at the size, with a long gash on her body, she watched while mending to her wounds as her focus stayed on the crater beneath her. Inside the crater lay the body of Feng Lee whos transparent body showed numerous cracks as well as the leyout of a punch on his chest, he coughed blood and looked at the sky fading in and out of consciousness. Up in the air, Lord Yuan stood alone in the clearing, his transparent body radiating with amplified pure white energy. He had shown his true power, and yet was not pleased as he gazed towards the old man. The old mans transparent body was filled with cracks and damage but his eyes still held their calmness. Finding this calmness abnormal Lord Yuan raised his hand once again, and a large amount of amplified pure white energy became apparent in the air. Condensing it into a ball that grew bigger and bigger he floated above the levitation sect and released the energy in a burst of light. Bringing down his hand Lord Yuan said, This is the end. Range Firmament Refiner The light spread out in all directions, illuminating everything in its path and leaving the air shimmering with its power. The light displayed terrifying might as it swallowed anything in its path, the crowd below looked on with helplessness and fear as the light engulfed them, not leaving a trace in its path. A few seconds later and the light disappeared, Lord Yuan stood there, his eyes cold and emotionless as he surveyed the aftermath of his attack. he chuckled with annoyance before uttering. So thats why 70. Faint Consciousness What happened the demoness at the side asked as she noticed the abnormality as well. Beneath them was the levitation sect, and roaming in it was the demonic beasts and puppets alike however any and all cultivators seemed to have vanished with no trace of their existence as even the dead bodies werent spared. Its because of that Lord Yuan said pointing towards the edge of the barrier surrounding the whole levitation sect. Surrounding the levitation sect was a glowing blue sphere with thousands of words intricately arranged to form the outline of a formation. It should be a Grand Teleportation Formation, but for it to be able to bypass my barrier, it should not be an ordinary one Flicking his finger the barrier surrounding the whole sect was lifted and the demonic beasts inside started roaming outside the confines of the sect. What are you going to do now, news of this will spread and your name will be mentioned the demoness asked as she transformed back to her human form, her horn glowed and she looked towards the mountain below. Her words were directed towards Lord Yuan but her focus was towards the outer sect mountain below. It matters not, it will only affect this clone, besides I was getting tired of its role Lord Yuans transparent body gradually solidified and became corporal while his pure white qi also lessened and turned black, turning towards the demoness he said. Youve got what you want and Ive got what I want, that ends our contract, Ill be leaving now He suddenly glowed before bursting into a blob that slowly dissolved in the air, leaving only a faint trace of his qi behind. Seeing that, the demoness let out a sigh of relief before looking down towards the sect, the Demonic Crystal is destroyed so its another 2 years before I can connect the two realms again She floated down before landing on the flattened ground of the outer sect mountain. Waving her hand towards a specific spot she unearthed the unconscious body of the Humanoid Demonic Spider before flying upward into the dark clouds, leaving the abandoned sect behind. **** Meng Lin slowly opened her eyes to the sight of a vast, open field surrounded by towering mountains and purple pullers that stretched towards the heavens. The sun was shining brightly, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers. Confused, she looked down at herself and saw that she was wearing a long, flowing robe of deep blue silk with pattens of chaotic water ripples all over the robe. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She opened her mouth to see a bubble coming out and she looked around confused as her breathing wasnt affected, she felt weightless as her body floated in the air as If inside flowing water. Her head felt fuzzy and she couldnt think straight, she couldnt move her body causing her to feel a slight panic. Suddenly she heard a voice calling out to her, and she turned to see a figure approaching her from the distance. As it drew closer, she saw a young girl in a pink robe, the same girl that she met before the sect was attacked. You Meng Lin said as she recalled the girl. What is this, did I die?" she asked, thinking about her last moment before losing consciousness. The girl giggled. "Of course youre not dead, we''re in your subconscious, or in another term your Spiritual Palace," she said. Meng Lin''s eyes widened in surprise. She looked around and uttered, this is my subconscious, how did I get here?" she asked. "Normally you wouldnt be able to get here before the Soul Wondering Realm but I left a strand of my consciousness and forced you to get here in a dream state, but it will only be for a few minutes. Because of that you will only experience this like a dream and you might not even remember it when you wake up but I didnt really have much time back then, I want to help you with your cultivation. You have a lot of potential." Why Meng Lin asked as she tried to understand why this girl wanted to help her, she couldnt help think of ulterior motives. The girl smiled warmly. "I can see that you''re confused, i cant explain now but you will find out when you get stronger Now, let''s get started, we dont have much time left Meng Lin felt a slight warmth as she nodded. "Yes, I''m ready," she said. "What do I need to do?" Just close your eyes and let your mind wonder, Ill take care of the rest. **Yuan Dynasty** **Imperial Capital** Within a brightly lit room with vividly coloured red and gold walls, a man in black sat cross-legged in the center of the room. It was the man with the puppets, Shang Juan, he had retreated from the battlefield and now waited for his masters return. He suddenly stopped his cultivation as he felt a familiar feeling, infront him a blob of dark substance came into being before forming togather to create the corporeal body of a man, Lord Yuan. Shang Juan went to his knees in prostration before saying. Master Yuan Get up Shang Juan, as Ive promised, the Levitation Sect is no more, unfortunately the remaining survivors used a Grand Formation to teleport. Lord Yuan looked thoughtful as he continued But thats also good, you can go hunt them down when youre strong enough Yes master Shang Juan replied respectfully, knowing that his master had already fulfilled his promise. Has your diciple brother recovered his target Lord Yuan asked as the main point of that attack had been the person with Luans Soul. Yes master, junior brother Ren Luo has brought back the girl, she is currently in the Origin Prison Room Smiling Lord Yuan said Good, lets go as he led the way towards the Origin Soul Room, along the way Shang Juan kept quiet as he observed his master who seemed to be in a great mood. They walked down a hugh corridor before being met with Wen Ji, the middle aged man and Ren Luo the young man with the scheming face. Behind them was a door that held multiple indicate carvings, as well as several other unique designs. Greetings master Ren Luo said as he stood up to greet his master, the middle aged man following soon after. Hmm, Lord Yuan acknowledged before reaching out to open the door, stepping inside he saw a small bed with the figure of a young girl laying on the bed, in deep sleep. Shes sleeping, shall I wake her up, Ren Luo asked towards Lord Yuan who shook his head as he came closer to the bed. This face, Ive seen it somewhere he said, turning towards Ren Luo he asked. What is her background Ren Luo hesitated for a moment before answering. "I apologize master, but weve not yet been able to investigate that. How long until the Grand Formation Is ready It shall be ready in a few hours, master Ren Luo replied. Hmm Lord Yuans ruby eyes studied the face of the girl carefully, trying to remember where he had seen her before when suddenly, his brows raised in recognition. 71. Emperor of Yuan Kingdom **Yuan Dynasty** **Imperial Capital** Meng Lin slowly opened her eyes, still feeling groggy from her long dream. She blinked a few times, trying to adjust to her surroundings. She was sitting in a room that looked like it belonged to a palace. The walls were adorned with intricate patterns and the furniture looked expensive. As she looked around, she realized that she was not alone. Sitting across from her was a man with a serious expression on his face. He was dressed in a black robe, and his hair was tied back in a ponytail. She had never seen him before. "Who are you?" Meng Lin asked, her voice coming out hoarse. The man''s red ruby eyes softened slightly as he said. "My name is Lord Yuan. You were brought to me by my disciples. You will be the 13th one, a part of my collection. Meng Lin''s heart started to race as she became sobar instantly, "Collection? What do you mean, what happened to the Levitation Sect. The Levitation Sect is no more, it is nothing but rubbles now. Meng Lin''s eyes widened in doubt, the Levitation Sect, it has Narscent Soul Cultivators, how can it just fall like that Pardon me, I shouldve said that they retreated and escaped, no Narsent Soul Cultivator was killed however the Levitation Sect itself it no more What do you mean by collection Meng Lin asked while her heart rate increased faster. Lord Yuan smiled, but it didn''t reach his eyes. "I am a collector of rare and interesting people. People with unique traits, abilities and physiques all tracing back to one being. You are one of those people." Meng Lin''s mind spung, countless things came to her mind and she asked "whats your purpose in doing that!" I will take your Soul for myself and use it to advance the Soul Unity of my Configure Art, furthering my cultivation. Hearing this Meng Lin''s eyes grew closer as she tried to feel her inner qi however she noticed a restraining force in the room, a force making everything inactive. Oh you noticed the force, good. It''s this room, its a Top Grade Spiritual tool to ensure your compliance. Don''t worry, it won''t harm you as long as you cooperate. Meng Lin felt a sense of dread wash over her. She tried to resist and feel her spiritual qi, but it was no use, even her brute Qi was inactive. Lord Yuan stood up and walked towards her. "Don''t worry, Meng Lin. You will not suffer. I will make sure of that." Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Meng Lin felt a chill run down her spine, she knew she was in trouble. She had never felt so helpless before, however thinking a little she looked up to ask. How do you know my name As far as she was concerned, she didnt remember meeting this person and at most only 3 people know of her name in the levitation sect, so how did he uncover that. Lord Yuan smiled a little as he put his hand in his robe, taking out something. It was a pendent, a golden dragon pendent. Meng Lin''s eyes widened in shock as she recalled in her memory, this is an identification plate of the emperor, youre Yes, I am the current emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, and your father has served me for many years now as prime minister. Meng Lins blood ran cold as the realization of who she was standing in front of her, Emperor. never did I think he would conceive someone like you. As Lord Yuan continued to talk, Meng Lin''s mind raced, trying to come up with a plan, however thinking back to everything that happened. she knew that her situation was hopeless. What could she do in such a situation against such a powerful enemy?, an enemy strong enough to destroy a whole sect. Few Hours Huh in between the words of Lord Yuan, Meng Lin saw a hope, a chance. He said that she would be kept here for a few hours before she had her soul extracted, in that time she would keep her wits about her, be patient and think of a way out of this mess. I wont involve your father but the moment that you try to escape then he pays for it came Lord Yuans next words, pouring water onto her small spark of hope. She nodded slowly, trying to hide her disappointment and slight killing intent. She knew she had to play along and wait for the right opportunity, she cant show her displeasure at being threatened with her father. Lord Yuan left the room, leaving Meng Lin alone once again. She felt a sense of relief as she was finally able to take a breather and think of a plan. She started pacing back and forth, trying to think of something. She knew she had to act fast if she wanted to survive. Meng Lin remembered her father had given her a secret talisman to use in case of an emergency. It was in case she got herself in trouble with the other diciples of the Levitation Sect, If she broke that talisman, her father would know that she was in trouble and would instantly rush to the sect, or so he said. However she soon realized that it was no good, her fathers cultivation realm was definitely lower than that emperor, if she contacted him then he would definitely be killed. And the talisman was only under the pretext that she was in the levitation sect, so would her father even know where to go look for her. Taking a deep breath she forced herself to be calm down before thinking out. System And came infront of her the panel that she had not seen for a while. [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(middle)] [Experience points: 56%] System coin:450 Taoist Gacha wheel: available [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 36% [Erosion] Comprehension 37% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] Going to the Gacha Wheel, Meng Lin looked at the 9 items on the wheel with hopeful expectation. Dragon tiger sword Soul wondering pills x5 Lv.1 Alchemist furnace Cultivation suppression talisman lv.5 Divine Bone strengthing pill x2 [system meridian] >Intermediate system pack >Inheritance: Ancestral Symbol Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique Immortal jades x9 Meng Lin thought If theres anything that can possibly be done then its through the use of the system, she had to see whether the system can give her a chance or not. And the Gacha Wheel was just one of those chances, she hoped that it would be enough. 72. Origin Soul Prison As expected Meng Lin thought as she recognized two new slots that were added onto the Gacha Wheel. >Inheritance: Ancestral Symbol >Intermediate grade system pack She had half expected for the system pack to change to the intermediate grade based on the fact that she was rewarded with an intermediate system pack when she reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. As for the new item, she didnt really expect that; rather she expected for the spot that said [Inventory] to be grayed out since she had already gotten it. But this makes things simpler, she didnt want to think about when all of her items in the system became grayed out. Now, what could this be?. Ming Lin asked herself as she gazed at the symbol that took the form of crimson words on the Gacha Wheel. It seemed to contain a powerful attraction as Meng Lin felt a twinge of excitement while pondering what the item could be. As she stared at the crimson words, Meng Lin couldn''t help but wonder if it would be something that would help her in her cultivation practice, or something that would help her in this particular situation. Meng Lin closed her eyes and took a deep breath before spinning the wheel. She prayed for something that could help her escape from her current situation. The wheel spun and spun, and with each spin, Meng Lins eyes followed the wheel, making sure to not miss anything, until finally it landed on something. Inheritance: Ancestral Symbol Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed in surprise and hope, as she read the words on the Gacha Wheel. She wondered if the system was helping her. The chances were slim for something like this to occur, nevertheless she quickly clicked on the crimson floating words that appeared to see what it was all about. The description read: Inheritance: Ancestral Symbol a powerful symbol passed down through cultivation generations, containing ancient knowledge and techniques. Can only be inherited by those with a special bloodline. Meng Lin felt a rush of hope as she realized that this item could be just what she needed, however that was to be seen, she quickly claimed the item and waited, and waited. Yet nothing happened, she felt nothing, Meng Lin was confused and nervous. She had expected some sort of immediate effect, but nothing had changed. She wondered if she had done something wrong. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. She felt something appear inside her dantian but she felt it become unresponsive right after, she thought for a second before sighing out loud. She assumed that it was because of this room, it was filled with a force that stopped all functions of spiritual energy and it did not allow for her to properly connect with the ancestral symbol. Meng Lin knew that she had to wait for when she leaves the room to activate the power of the Inherence. She closed her eyes and thought of countless scenarios, but her mind was clouded with fear and uncertainty. She knew she couldnt do much, she felt hopeless. **Yuan dynasty, Imperial capital** **Underground Room** Inside a small room with dim light, Lord Yuan stood, his mind deep in thought as he stared at a formation being made on the floor. His disciples, Shang Juan and Ren Luo stood by the side as they gazed at a group of formation masters doing the finishing touches of a Grand Formation. Shang Juan, you and Ren Luo shall take the Origin Soul Prison to my main body, whatever you do make sure to not open the Soul Prison until you reach your destination Yes master Yuan Shang Juan said in agreement as he was made aware of the reason that his master was cautious of the girl in the soul prison, if the girl was able to hide from the forces of the Palace then its worth paying attention and being careful about. But master Ren Luo said, about to voice his thoughts, however he was cut off by his master who said. Yes i know, you will be teleported to the domains of the Shattering Soul Sect and they are likely to sense the piece of Luans Soul, they will try to intercept you to retrieve her, so be careful on the way I will give you my storage bag as this clones end is near, within the storage bag are countless ways for you to protect yourselves, we dont have much time so go get the soul prison Yes master Ren Luo bowed, having his thoughts resolved, he quickly got up to head up the stairs, his objective to retrieve the soul prison. Lord Yuan looked at the leaving figure of Ren Luo before turning towards Shang Juan. How is your pagoda accommodating? It is comfortable enough, Shang Juan replied with a smile My pagoda has an inherited spiritual vein so its easily able to hold onto a single Gold Core cultivator. Good, we cant be careful enough, now that we have something that will make it hard for her to escape, I dont have to worry about what might happen on the way Shang Juan nooded while touching the side of his waist which held a small pagoda that glowed with richness, he thought for a second before speaking. Master, is it really worth losing this clone, even though it was cultivated to this realm, it still has a lot of potential? Lord Yuan sighed, I know, but this clone has served its purpose, and it is better to be safe than sorry. We cannot let the Cultivation Alliance know yet, it could potentially cause harm to my plans. Shang Juan nodded in understanding, he knew that Lord Yuan had a lot at stake and couldn''t afford any mistakes. As they waited for Ren Luo to come back with the Soul Prison, Shang Juan couldn''t help but feel a sense of unease. He knew that he had to be cautious, as the forces of the Palace were becoming more and more aggressive and the hidden dangers that the Divine Soul Sect ''s actions posed were getting more and more inconspicuous. He was already prepared for all the worst-case scenarios, and is prepared to risk everything he had to accomplish this mission, but he couldnt help but feel that he had left something out, as if something was still hidden underneath the surface. The room fell into silence as they waited for Ren Luo to return, the only sound being the faint hum of the Grand Formation which was finished. 73. Sky Dragon Region "Master, I have retrieved the Soul Prison", Ren Luo said, with a hint of exhaustion in his voice. Within his hands was a small jade box which resembled a room, emitting a faint golden light. Lord Yuan nodded in approval and motioned for Shang Juan to take the Soul Prison seeing the exhausted state of Ren Luo. Shang Juan bowed and took the Soul Prison, before turning to Lord Yuan and saying, "Master, we will not fail you." Putting the jade box on his waist next to the small pagoda he turned and walked towards the Grand Formation in the room. Lord Yuan looked towards Ren Luo before handing over his storage bag. Careful not to touch the items that you cannot control Ren Luo nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. He knew that some items inside the storage bag were dangerous and powerful, and that he needed to exercise caution when handling them. He walked up to the Grand Formation before stepping through with Shang Juan. The floor beneath them lit up with a bright blue light before they felt a shift in their awareness, their vision being blurred with light before they were nowhere to be seen. Lord Yuans ruby red eyes returned to their empty emotionless state and he gestured towards the others in the room. Dismantle the Grand Formation and destroy this room. The formation masters obeyed his orders without speaking a word, and began to dismantle the grand formation, while Lord Yuan turned to leave the underground room, his thoughts a mystery. **Luan Kingdom** **Sky Dragon Region** In the middle of nowhere, an ancient Platform was erect with no signs of deterioration, across the platform was a large number of intricate designs that resemble a formation. Suddenly the floor shone with splendor and two figures appeared on the platform, it was the diciple duo Shang Juan and Ren Luo. Ren Luo looked around, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger and Shang Juan checked the Soul Prison making sure nothing had happened. Bringing his attention back to the surroundings he said lets wear the masks Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. He quickly took out two masks from his storage bag, handing one to Ren Luo, both of them put them on before Shang Juan spoke once again. Lets go, we need to move quickly before were noticed He urged Ren Luo to follow him as they released their qi before flying towards a specific direction. As they flew, they could feel the eyes of countless beast underneath the forest beneath them. Shang Juan was on high alert as he knew that the Luan Kingdom was completely different from the 4 other kingdoms, he had only come to understand that after he was taken in by his master. The forest underneath them was termed the Forgotten Forest because of the many dangers it posed to cultivators and It was filled with powerful beasts and hidden traps, making it a dangerous place for anyone to venture into. And because of all that, no cultivator dares to venture into the forest thus receiving the name Forgotten. However, Shang Juan and Ren Luo were lucky as they were in the outskirts of the forest which was only filled with rank 2 and rank 3 spirit beast. So they only had to release their cultivation base of the Late stage of the Soul Wondering Realm to intimidate the spirit beast and make them keep their distance. They traveled like that for one hour until they left the forest completely, and continued on their way across the plains for another hour before they arrived at their destination. A cluster of mountains rose in the distance, and in the center of those mountains lay ancient ruins. Shang Juan and Ren Luo made their way towards the ruins, keeping their masks on and their senses on high alert for any signs of danger. As they approached the entrance, they could sense a powerful aura emanating from within the ruins, an aura that remained them of the ancient. The ruins were filled with traps and obstacles, but Shang Juan and Ren Luo were skilled cultivators and they managed to navigate their way through the ruins with ease. Finally, they arrived at the innermost area of the ruins, where a small formation lay on the floor. The two immediately recognized the formation as an ancient teleportation formation, which could transport them to any location in the Luan Kingdom. Through the use of this formation, they would not attract the attention of the Cultivation Alliances towards the Configuration Sect, thus keeping their masters secrets hidden. Shang Juan and Ren Luo had already made their preparations and were ready to teleport when suddenly a large slash was released towards them. Boom ! The slash hit the ground, creating a huge crater and sending dirt and rocks flying everywhere. Hand over the captive , a strong and imposing voice rang out as Shang Juan and Ren Lou looked into the distance. A young man with a single sword on his back was standing in the middle of the air with a sharp aura around him. It was him that had just released that sword slash and Shang Juan immediately recognized him as one of the Seven Sword Stars, Wu Dao! Ranked 5th on the Rising Star Ranks. Shang Juan and Ren Luo quickly took defensive postures, ready to fight if necessary. "What do you mean captive ," Shang Juan said, his voice calm and measured. "We are just passing through, and we mean no harm to anyone." Wu Dao sneered, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the two disciples. "You expect me to believe that? You are wearing masks, and you have a Soul Prison, something mainly used on cultivators with Luans Soul, That is enough evidence for me." Shang Juan and Ren Luo remained silent, knowing that any words spoken now would be useless. Clank They prepared themselves with Shang Juan taking out a giant red puppet while Ren Luos body started to be covered in blood colored Armor. In the air Wu Dao looked at the duo below him before taking out his sword which gleamed in the sunlight. "Very well then. 74. Fierce Struggle Since you refused to hand over the captive, then you leave me with no choice" Wu Dao charged forward, his sword slashing through the air with deadly precision, creating a crescent beam that headed their direction. Shang Juans fingers moved and the red giants eyes which were blank suddenly lit up with fire as it released terrifying power all around. Peng A ringing sound reverberated across the ruins as the body of the giant held no scratches, having taken the slash with no damage. Ren Luo disappeared from where he stood before appearing near Wu Duo, his fingers stretched open as he used a technique. Blood Mist Art: Blood Palm! Ren Luo''s technique appeared incredibly fast, and Wu Duo saw little time to react as a blood red palm moved towards his face. Slash A cut appeared on the powerful blood red palm as it was torn right through by Wu Dao who was only able to slash once as the red giant puppet had already closed in on him. its massive fists slamming down on him with incredible force, sending him tumbling for a moment. Ran Luo took advantage of the distraction and charged forward, his blood red Armor flashing red as he aimed for Wu Dao''s neck with a sharp claw. Swish Wu Dao managed to dodge the attack, but he was forced to retreat, his sword swinging through the air to keep Ran Luo as bay as he prepared to use a technique of his own. "Waning Moon Art: Crescent Shock ! Wu Dao slammed his sword into the ground, causing the earth to vibrate and send a sonic boom towards Ren Luo. Boom! Ren Luo was sent flying, his blood red armor flashing red as it protected him from the impact. Shang Juan saw the opportunity and flicked his finger forward, the red giant flashed through the air and slammed down towards Wu Dao. Wu Dao acted quickly and raised his sword against the giant, blocking the attack with a loud clang, then quickly spun around and unleashed an explosive slash that sent the giant flying back. He was about to continue attacking when suddenly he saw a shadow covering the sky, looking up he gasped in shock as a giant jade Box loomed over him. HAA The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Shang Juan shouted and used a large amount of his qi to control the Origin Soul Prision, a Top Grade Spiritual item. Before Wu Dao could react the Jade Box slammed into him, burying him into the dirt, causing the entire ruin to shake with a rumble. Good, keep him trapped underneath Ren Luo said appearing beside Shang Juan with a cold look in his eyes. We have to take care of him before the others Shang Juan was about to say something when suddenly he sensed a powerful force coming from underneath the Soul Prison. The ground shook as a pillar of light burst from underneath the Soul Prison, throwing it aside. Wu Dao appeared, his eyes glowed with a fierce aura and his body began to be covered with a new aura, causing the surrounding area to be filled with a terrifying force. Heh, so youve used it, The Sword Physique Shang Juan said with a hint of admiration in his voice. Wu Dao stood before them, his sword glowing with a brilliant light, his body now emanating a powerful aura that shook the entire ruins. "I will not let you leave here with the captive," he said, his voice filled with destain and anger. Shang Juan and Ren Luo exchanged a quick glance, realizing that this battle was far from over. With a nod, they too underwent changes as their bodies began to lit up in light and a pillar of light began to rise from where they stood. This.. Wu Dao uttered in shock as it was revealed to him that these two masked individuals in front of him also have Special physiques, making them even more formidable opponents. He gripped his sword tightly, bracing himself for the battle that was about to come. The ruins shook with the power of their auras as just their presence seemed to cause the air to swirl around them. Waning Moon Art: Threefold Creacent Slash Wu Dao roared out the technique of his Waning Moon Art and three blinding creacent slashes erupted from his sword before traveling fast, causing the air to shift away from him. Two slashes headed towards Shang Juan while a single slash went off to Ren Luo at the side. Hyump Shang Juan with a Green Aura around him flicked his fingers and the giant puppet appeared infront of him. Yet It was different from before, its body had undergone changes as its whole skin was covered in green inscriptions. It raised its two arms with the green inscriptions all over its skin glowing up in support. Peng! The two crescent slashes collided with the giant, causing a massive explosion that sent shockwaves throughout the ruins. Ren Luo, on the other hand also relied on his Physique as he let the attack strike into his body. Peng! The attack had struck but it seemed frozen, as a moment later it was slowly absorbed into Ren Luos body, he laughed maniacally as his aura increased out into the ruins. Heh, you dont know my physique do you, I have the Absorbent Physique, any attack towards me will only fuel me So Is that all you got he grinned as he raised his hand and unleashed a barrage of blood-red energy blasts towards Wu Dao. Boom!!!! Wu Dao dodged and weaved through the blasts, his sword flashing as he cut them with ease. He then charged towards Ren Luo to just use direct physical attack. His Sword Physique allowed him to move with incredible speed and precision with his sword striking with deadly accuracy as everything stood like a string in his eyes. Ren Luo''s Absorbent Physique couldnt do anything about attacks that were physical so he could only try his best to dodge the attacks and perry them with his blood red armor. Shang Juans giant red puppet joined the battle with its body glowing with green inscriptions, the same green color as Shang Juans aura. Their swords and fist collided in a fierce display of power as they each fought with all their might. The ruins shook with each strike and the sound of metal against metal echoing throughout the area. Boom Wu Dao was send tumbling back as he blocked an attack of the red giant. Getting his bearings straight he said. Curse those inscriptions, you leave me no choice Shang Juan and Ren Luo who were seeing a path to victory watched in astonishment as Wu Dao roared out. Waning Moon Art: 75. Red Eclipse! Waning Moon Art: Ninefold Crescent Slash Wu Dao roared as he unleashed his technique, his sword glowing with a blinding light as he swung it nine times in rapid succession. The air was filled with the sound of metal against metal as nine crescent slashes collided with the giant and Ren Luo''s blood-red armor. The ruins shook with each strike, the ground cracking and breaking apart under their feet. Shang Juan''s green inscriptions flickered as he struggled to maintain control over his puppet, his eyes widening in shock as he realized the power of Wu Dao''s attack. Ren Lou was spared from that has his armor only received one attack and he instantly absorbed it with his physique. However Wu Dao didnt seem to forget him as he charged towards him right after, his sword glowing with another blinding light. Waning Moon Art: Full Slash, Twofold His sword released a single slash that shot out in ferocity. You think that will work again Ren Luo arrogantly spoke as he once again didnt block the attack, allowing it to hit him. Peng! He smiled as the attack stopped but his smile turned to horror as he noticed that this slash was different. He had absorbed it but there was another layered slash behind it, thus he was hit by the second slash and sent flying. Wu Dao didnt have the courtesy of time as a red giant appeared behind him to punch out with frightening might. Peng! Wu Dao quickly turned around and raised his sword, blocking the punch with all his strength but the impact sent him sliding back, his feet digging into the ground as he struggled to keep his balance. The red giant covered in inscriptions was relentless. It continued to attack, its fists pounding down on Wu Dao with incredible force. Wu Dao gritted his teeth and focused his energy, channeling it into his sword. With a fierce yell, he swung his sword in a wide arc, unleashing a powerful wave of energy as he called out a technique. Secret Art: Waning Moon Boom! As Wu Dao released his secret art, a massive explosion shook the ruins, sending debris and dust flying everywhere. The red giants body began cracking and crumbling under the force of the attack, before exploding into a shower of red sparks. Wu Dao stood amidst the chaos, his hair and clothes billowing in the wind as he caught his breath. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. he was about to release his spiritual consciousness when suddenly he felt a shadow covering the sky. BOOM! A massive explosion rocked the ruins and caused a massive crater to form underfoot as Wu Dao dodged the attack. Barely managing to evade it in time, he looked up and saw that it was a massive jade box hurtling towards him. However just like the red giant, intricate green inscriptions covered the whole box, empowering the Origin Soul Prision. Shang Juan stood with fury in his eyes as he spoke through his mask. How dare you destroy something i spent years creating "Ren Luo may have told you his Physique, but even if you know mine, theres nothing you can do about it," he growled his voice low and menacing as he was truly mad. Wu Dao gritted his teeth as he faced Shang Juan, knowing that he was facing a formidable opponent. He had to think fast and come up with a plan if he wanted to survive this encounter. Dont forget about me suddenly he heard from behind him and his face sank, he turned but it was too late. A blood red fist struck Wu Dao from behind, sending him flying across the ruins. He groaned in pain as he struggled to get back to his feet, his mind racing as he tried to figure out his next move. Looking around he found that Ren Luo was nowhere to be seen, confusing him on where the attack had come from. Steadying himself, he focused his energy and scanned the area, trying to sense any signs of danger. Suddenly, he felt a surge of energy coming from a behind him again. It was Ren Luo with cracks all over his Armor as he sent out another blood red fist. Boom Debris was raised in the air as Wu Dao quickly dodged the attack, his mind working as he used another powerful technique. Waning Moon Art: Full Moon Slash! His sword glowed with a bright white light as he swung it towards Ren Luo, who was already damaged with his armor on its last legs. Bang! A huge inpact was sent and the force of the impact sent Ren Luo stumbling backwards, his armor cracking under the force of the blow. Wu Dao seized the opportunity and struck again, this time aiming for a weak spot in Ren Luo''s armor. And with a loud crack, the armor shattered with Ren Luo falling to his knees. Raising his sword, Wu Dao was about to deliver the final blow when Ren Luos body burst into molts of lights. Disappearing before reappearing in another location with a haggard expression as he passed out soon after. Shang Juan watched from a distance, his eyes narrowing in anger and frustration as he saw what happened. Damn it he gritted his teeth and threw all the spiritual energy he has into the inscriptions on the Soul Prision. Wu Dao''s eyes widened as he watched from a distance as a bright light lit the area, the inscriptions on the jade box glowed with an ominous green light. he knew that he had to end this quickly before he ran out of energy, so he focused his energy, channeling it into his sword as he prepared to unleash his ultimate technique. He had to save the person imprisoned inside the Soul Prison, but he also knew that he only has one attack remaining. He could most likely save them if he did this right but he also worried that it wouldnt be able to work, after all he was dealing with a Top Grade Spiritual Tool. He gritted his teeth before he looked towards the masked individual in front of him, laughing out loud he said. What I think doesnt matter because all things under my Sword Physique are strings He bellowed out. Secret Art: Lunar Eclipse! Shing!! Wu Dao''s sword glowed with an intense white light, that turned dark red as he swung his sword in a circle with all his might. Rumble The sky darkened as a massive red moon appeared before them, casting an eerie glow over the battlefield. Shang Juans eyes widened in shock as he realized the gravity of the situation. As the red moon appeared it moved instantly, appearing before the Soul Prision before Shang Juan had time to react. Rumble! A colossal rumble filled the air with a staggering force, as the sword struck the Soul Prison. The green inscriptions on the box flickered for a moment before shattering into pieces, and the Soul Prison itself was slowly torn apart as a single person became revealed inside in the explosion. 76. Qi Discharge. **Origin Soul Prison** **Few minutes Earlier** Meng Lin opened her eyes to the walls of the room, she breathed out as she got done with her meditation, she hadnt forcused on it but she had noticed something strange. She could hear rumbling coming from outside, a feeling of panic filled her whole being and she felt a foreboding feeling envelope her. She got up to walk to one of the walls when suddenly she felt a violent force pulling her down before hearing a massive boom that left her ears ringing. For a split second she felt her qi being activated before she watched in shock as the walls of the room lit up with green inscriptions before she heard a deafening noise. CLANG!!! A massive noise reverberated throughout the entire room with Meng Lin feeling it spread to her bones. Caugh She coughed up blood as her head became filled with the ringing sound of the room, she couldnt hear anything in her ears and she felt blood trickling down all her orifices as she struggled to stay conscious. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy and sluggish, like she was moving through thick mud. She realized that if her body had not been strengthen, then with her cultivation she would undoubtably be dead. She closed her eyes and focused on herself, trying to think of something when suddenly, she felt a surge of energy coming somewhere. Opening her eyes she watched in shock as a small crack appeared on the floor, before a blinding light shone through the entire room. She squinted her eyes as she felt her whole body burning, a small amount of qi entered the room and Meng Lin felt faint from just being in contact with it. Gasp Meng Lin suddenly gasped as she felt something inside her dantian, the ancestral symbol which was inactive was glowing with a crimson light and she felt herself bathed in a red light. She knew then that something was happening outside the room causing the explosions that she had been hearing. However she doesnt know of the situation so she focused her qi around her body, trying her best to not die in the process. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The cracks on the floor expanded to cover the whole room before Meng Lin felt the floor crumble as the entire room shattered into pieces, causing Meng Lin see the sight beyond the room. This is Meng Lin gazed in wonder as she tried to make sense of the situation, before her was two cultivators with brilliant amount of qi around their bodies and she felt that she would be killed just being in their presence. One was a young man with a sword, his aura scattering around to resemble swords as he faced off against a masked individual whos whole body was covered with a green light with intricate inscriptions flying around him. She realized that she was floating in the air and quickly tried to regain her composure. The Soul Prison had shattered into pieces, and without it Meng Lin felt a surge of energy rushing towards her. Her eyebrows raised as she realized that it was all surging towards the ancestral symbol in her Dantian. She felt her body being filled with a red and unstable energy that caused her to feel a sense of fear and unease. She had no knowledge of the effects but she realized that it was too powerful for her to handle. She struggled to control the energy, but it was like trying to control a raging storm. It was too chaotic and unpredictable, and she knew that if she didn''t do something soon, it wouldnt bode well for her. Shing The aura around her changed and a bright crimson light filled the ruin, Wu Dao and Shang Juan both looked in shock as they realized a massive amount of energy was being gathered. Energy that of the Foundation Eatablishment Realm but with an aura that made them feel like slight threat. Meng Lin''s eyes glowed with a bright purple hue as she focused all of her willpower on controlling the energy. She could feel the ancestral symbol in her dantian glowing brighter with each passing moment. Until finally it reached a breaking point as Meng Lin screamed out with a pained expression before releasing all her qi at once. Boom! The energy exploded outwards in a blinding flash of light, covering everything in its path as both Wu Dao and Shang Juan were engulfed. Rumble The ruins shook before a massive eruption filled the mountain, causing a huge blaze to erupt into the sky. Meng Lin fell to the ground, her body exhausted and drained of energy. She could feel the ancestral symbol slowly settle down, leaving her feeling weak and vulnerable. As the dust settled, Wu Dao and Shang Juan emerged from the smoke, both looking worse for wear. Wu Dao was covered in bruises and cuts, while Shang Juan''s mask was cracked and his inscriptions were flickering. They both looked towards Meng Lin, who was lying on the ground, her eyes closed and her body barely moving. Wu Dao rushed over to her, his heart racing as he checked her pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief as he felt her pulse beating steadily. "She''s alive," he said, his voice filled with relief. Shang Juan stood nearby, his eyes narrowed as he watched Wu Dao crouched down. He was about to confront Wu Dao when suddenly he sensed something, gritting his teeth he thought for a second before jumping back to pick up the unconscious figure of Ren Luo. Inside his spiritual consciousness he detected three groups headed this way so with a reluctant expression he turned to use the small formation upon the floor as a burst of light began covering both him and Ren Luo. Shang Juan had on a dark expression as he knew what awaited him and Ren Luo however thinking about the pagoda on his waist he calmed down, praising Ren Luo for his quick thinking. He knew that he had underestimated Wu Dao, and that he had paid the price for that. He silently vowed to never make the same mistake again as his vision became filled with light before his surroundings were replaced with another. 77. Beguiliment Meng Lin slowly opened her eyes, her body feeling heavy and her head pounding with pain. She tried to sit up, but her body felt weak and she couldn''t move. She looked around and realized that she was in a large room, with beautiful decorations and expensive furnishings. On the ceiling were blue luminescent light that radiated warmth through her skin. She tried to remember what had happened, but her mind was hazy and she couldn''t piece together the events that had led to her being here. Suddenly, the door to the room opened and a man walked in. He was tall man, with short black hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore a black robe with a silver trim, and Meng Lin could sense a powerful aura emanating from him, however she also felt a sense of trust in him. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The man walked over to her and sat down on the bed, looking at her with a kind expression. "My name is Wen Boshan, and you are in a courtyard of the Soul Shattering Sect he said. "You were found captive by masked men inside our sect''s boundary, and we brought you here to heal your injuries." Meng Lin tried to sit up, but Liang Feng gently pushed her back down. "Rest, you are still recovering," he said. "A few spiritual vains were disoriented and your orifices were damaged, we will talk more when you are feeling better." Meng Lin nodded, feeling confused and disoriented. She couldn''t remember anything about being captured by masked men. But she did recognize a mask man in her memories after the prison room was destroyed. As she lay there, she noticed that her qi was slowly recovering and she was no longer in pain. She felt lightheaded so she slept through it, trying to get to a right state of mind. After some time, Wen Boshan returned to check on her and they began to talk. Meng Lin asked him about the masked men and if they had any leads on who they were and why they had captured her. Wen Boshan looked at her with a serious expression. "We are still investigating the matter, but we believe that the masked men are individuals who are targeting cultivators with Luans soul Meng Lin listened intently, trying to piece together her memories. She remembered being at the ruins as well as the prision room. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "Do You know of Lord Yuan, the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty," she asked with curiosity. Wen Boshan''s expression turned solem as he nodded. "Yes, we are aware of him. He is a dangerous individual who colluded with demons and attacked one of the rank 4 sects at the north The north? Yes, the Levitation Sect. They were attacked by Lord Yuan and his army of demons, and many of their disciples and elders were killed in the process, they were only able to escape through a grand teleportation formation. Meng Lin''s heart remained unmoved as this was knowledge that she already knows, yet it seems that she was also one of the reasons for the attack. Wen Boshan looked back at her with a weird expression before continuing. "Have you not heard of the news." Hmm, what news Because of the attack on the Levitation Sect, the Cultivation Alliance sent out dozens of Narscent Soul Cultivators that razed the whole Yuan kingdom capital in retaliation, destroying almost everything in it What Hearing that the capital was destroyed , Meng Lin felt a mixture of shock and sadness. "The citizens and civilians, are they okay?" she asked, hoping for something. Wen Boshan looked at her with raised eyebrows. "I am sorry to say that the casualties were high. All the innocent people lost their lives in the attack." Thumb Meng Lin felt tears welling up in her eyes as she thought about the father she had known and loved. She felt a sense of guilt at her own powerlessness. So was he captured Meng Lin asked with a sadness in her eyes as she wondered what happened in the end. No he was killed, although he killed 4 other Narscent Soul Cultivators, he was overwhelmed in the end Meng Lin felt a sense of relief mixed with her sadness, Lord Yuan was a dangerous and powerful opponent, and his death meant that he could no longer come for her, making her safety assured. But the loss of life, both on the side of the Cultivation Alliance and the innocent civilians, was a heavy price to pay, she hoped her father was alive. Earlier when I said the north you acted shock, are you not someone of this place Wen Boshan asked with curiosity. Meng Lin shook her head no, judging by what you said I can only assume that this is not in the Yuan Kingdom but rather one of the other 4 youre from the Yuan Kingdom, if so how did you get here, are you in any way connected to the event that just transpired Meng Lin hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should reveal her secrets. But she felt that Wen Boshan could be trusted, seeing as he had no reason to play games with her. "I am originally from the Yuan Kingdom," she began. "A few months ago I joined and became a diciple of the Levitation Sect, however because of the incident, I was captured by Lord Yuan Wen Boshan listened intently, his expression serious and focused as he didnt interrupt Meng Lin. Thats when I awakened here Wen Boshan sighed, his expression troubled "I see. It seems that you have been through a lot," he said. "But you are safe now, and you dont have to hide anymore, this Sect of ours considers anyone with Luan Soul as a great potential so you are welcome to stay with us and cultivate here." Hearing from him Meng Lin felt a sense of relief and gratitude. She had hidden herself from the very beginning so she felt a sense of peace having said everything. "Thank you," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "I will do my best to contribute to the sect." Wen Boshan nodded, his expression kind. "We are happy to have you here, Meng Lin. You are now a member of the Soul Shattering Sect, and we will do everything we can to help you grow and become stronger." Meng Lin nodded, feeling grateful for his kindness. She knew that she had a lot to learn about this new place and the people in it. But for now, she was just relieved to be alive and in good hands, she smiled with a relieved expression. However at the back of her mind she couldnt help but feel that something was off. 78. Division Heads After Meng Lin was told to rest and Wen Bonshon left the room Meng Lin immediately thought about the system, since she couldnt understand what was going on. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(middle)] (Beguiled affect) 2 minutes remaining [Experience points: 71%] System coin:450 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] [Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 36% [Erosion] Comprehension 40% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] Hmm laying on the bed Meng Lin looked in the air at the invisible panel before her. She noted that her experience points had increased by 15% and she attributed that to the strange thing that happened to her after the ancestral symbol activated. She looked further and saw that the Taoist Gacha wheel was now unavailable, meaning she couldn''t spin it for rewards. However, she still had 450 system coins remaining. Meng Lin then checked her spiritual root and found that her Mutated spirit root, Erosion, had increased in comprehension by 4 percent, a higher rate than ever, however she also noticed how the Mud one didnt increase. Meng Lin couldn''t help but wonder what had happened to her during the activation of the ancestral symbol for both her experience points and her comprehension in erosion to increase like that. However the stuff that made her utter something was the affect next to her cultivation stage, the Beguilement affect. Going by the meaning of the word Meng Lin began thinking a little as she couldnt help but chuckle after coming to a realization. No wonder I was so easily able to blurt out my entire history to a stranger However seeing as its only for a short period she assumed that Wen Bonshan was most certainly sent to get intel from her, to see if she was to be trusted. However Meng Lin didnt fluster over it as she knew that she couldnt cultivate properly before because she hid her strength. She also wanted to see what she could achieve with the help of a sect as opposed to just working alone. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. She shook her head and slowly got up to sit on the bed, she decided to use this time to meditate and try to understand the changes in her spiritual root and cultivation techniques as well as her ancestral symbol. She cant completely feel her cultivation base so she took two pills from her worn out storage bag. Inside her hand appeared the marrow cleansing pill and the calming pill, pills that she had taken from the little boss of the Golden Fang Bandits. Popping them into her mouth she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing to try to calm her mind. She felt the energy within her body flowing smoothly, and she began to sense the different elements around her. She felt the water in the air, the warmth of the fire, the hardness of the earth, the flexibility of the wood, and the shining brightness of the gold. As she continued to meditate, she felt a sudden surge of energy within her. It was as if a dam had burst open, and she was flooded with power. She opened her eyes and saw that her Foundation Establishment Stage had returned to normal, and the Beguilement affect had disappeared, however that was not all. Meng Lin finally felt a reaction from the Ancestral Symbol as she felt a surge of energy within her, and suddenly, she was flooded with knowledge and techniques that she had never known before. She saw images of an ancient cultivation method, powerful techniques for controlling the elements, and secret knowledge about the nature of the world. She felt her mind expanding and her understanding deepening, as if she had been given access to a vast library of wisdom, wisdom that was beyond her wildest dreams. Meng Lin was amazed by what she was experiencing, and she knew that this inheritance was a precious gift, a gift from the system. She resolved to study it carefully and master its secrets, so that she could become a powerful cultivator and achieve her goals. With renewed determination, Meng Lin continued to meditate and explore the depths of her new inheritance. She knew that the path ahead would be long and difficult, but she was ready to face any challenge that came her way, for she was now a cultivator with an ancestral legacy to uphold. **** Wen Bonshan was currently in a room with 6 peoples who all gave off varying degrees of aura, each of them a Division Head of the Soul Shattering Sect. They were all discussing the recent events that were taking place, including the appearance of masked men inside their sect zone. What are your thoughts on the motive behind the two masked men that our prodigy Wu Dao fought? one of the Division Heads, an old man with a long white beard asked. I dont really care, i am more intrigued in the fact that those two have Luans Soul, another Division Head, a middle aged man with short hair replied. If we count them as well as the little girl that was brought back then that would make 20 known younglings with Luans Soul, theres still 13 more out there a voluptuous woman said with a chuckle. We need to find them before our enemies do, another Division Head, a burly man with a scar on his face, spoke up. Yes, it was not long ago that the Palace was able to locate 3 of them in one area, if things keep going like this then well lose the thing that made us famous in the first place the voluptuous woman said. Agreed. We must increase our efforts and find a better method of locating them the old man with the white beard said. Speaking off, didnt you say that the girl was from the Levitation sect the voluptuous woman asked as she looked towards Wen Bonshan who was standing by the side. Wen Bonshan nodded. "Yes, she was from the Levitation Sect. However she only recently joined If I remember correctly then those other three were also from the same region, why didnt the Palace take her as well the voluptuous woman asked with a curious smile. Another Division Head, a quiet man spoke with a deep voice It could be a case where she only recently activated the sous properties after the Palace left That could make sense as to why Lord Yuan attacked the Sect afterward, seeing as he too has Luans Soul the burly man with the scar said. Unfortunately because of his death, well have to wait a few years before his physique can resurface in someone the old man held his beard as he wondered out loud. Now to the final point, which branch will be overseeing the new recruit from the Levitation Sect?" He asked, bringing the conversation back on track. 79. Sect Vows Meng Lin continued to meditate and study her newly acquired inheritance, completely unaware of the discussions taking place within the Soul Shattering Sect. She opened her eyes and smiled to herself, happy with the knowledge she had gained. Taking a small moment to look around the place Meng Lin stood up before heading towards the door. As she stepped outside, she was greeted by a beautiful courtyard with a large pond in the center. Looking at the sky she could see a beautiful night sky with countless stars shining across the horizon. Being dazed for a moment she recovered before walking around the courtyard, taking in the sights and sounds of the place. Taking a seat by the side of the pond, Meng Lin closed her eyes and let herself be consumed by tranquility, something she hadn''t felt in a long time. She thought about her past life, a life she hadnt thought about since her inception. She thought about how she was in her orphanage, with no one to rely on but herself and the hardships she faced just to get a some form of closure. Back then the thought of a happy life was what kept her eyes full of hope, but now when she thought about the wonders of the cultivation world her eyes would brighten with hope and determination. She wondered about the tranquility of the upper echelon of power and if the experience would be any different than this. However she knew that the only way of knowing was actually cultivating towards that point so she steeled her heart. As her thoughts drifted, she became aware of a presence nearby. She opened her eyes to see a figure standing by the side. It was Wen Bonshan, the one who tended to her. "How are you finding this place?" he asked. Meng Lin looked at him before smiling and replied, "I feel at peace here. I am grateful for that The Wen Bonshan nodded and said, "That is good to hear. However, there are some matters that need to be taken care of Come, Ill explain as we travel he added as he waved his hand to take something out of his storage bag. A small fan appeared before growing to a few meters as Wen Bonshan jumped onto it before signaling for Meng Lin to do the same. Meng Lin followed suit, jumping onto the fan and holding onto Wen Bonshan lightly as it lifted off the ground. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. As they flew towards the direction of the Soul Shattering Sect''s registration hall, Wen Bonshan began to explain the situation to Meng Lin. "I will be taking you to get your sect token, since you were not an inner sect disciple of the Levitation Sect, we do not have to worry about your vows," he said. Meng Lin was surprised. "Vows? What kind of vows?" she asked. Wen Bonshan explained, "Vows of loyalty and dedication to the sect, vows to uphold its values and contribute to its growth. every sect member is required to say the vows, its usually the outer sect members that dont have that requirement. Her turned his head to say to Meng Lin As someone with Luans soul, you will be treated differently. every person with Luans soul can jump the ladder to be considered a direct disciple of the sect, however, you need to contribute to the sect before they allow you" Meng Lin nodded, taking in the information, she asked what exactly is Luans Soul and how did it come about Wen Bonshan hesitated for a moment before answering, "Luan''s Soul is a name given to people with Powerful Physiques, because of their interconnected resonance, it is said to be the remnant power of a cultivator at the Ensoulment Realm. However, some also say that it is just the name given to anyone with a rare physique, named after the continent itself The truth is still a mystery, as there has never been any evidence of of the two things I mentioned." Meng Lin nodded, understanding the situation better. She realized that she had a lot to learn about the cultivation world and the different physiques and abilities that existed within it. As they landed in front of the registration hall Wen Bonshan led her inside, the hall was quiet except for the sound of a few disciples talking softly amongst themselves. Wen Bonshan approached the front desk and spoke to the receptionist, explaining that Meng Lin needed to get her sect token. The receptionist nodded and handed over a form for Meng Lin to fill out, which included her name, age, and cultivation level. Meng Lin quickly filled out the form before handing it back to the receptionist, who then quickly handed her a small gold token with the Soul Shattering Sects emblem inscribed on one side and her name on the other. "This is your sect token. It will allow you access to certain areas of the sect and is required for any missions or tasks assigned to you," Wen Bonshan explained. Meng Lin took the token, examining it closely Why is it gold Meng Lin asked, curious about the significance of the color. Wen Bonshan smiled, "The gold token represents that you are one of the 7 with Luans Soul, it only has benefit inside the sect so dont casually show it to outsiders Meng Lin nodded, understanding the importance of the token. "Now, for your residency, you will have to choose one of the 6 divisions Wen Bonshan said, remembering the meeting. Divisions? Meng Lin, who had never heard of it asked Wen Bonshan to elaborate on them. "The Soul Shattering Sect is divided into six different divisions, each with its own focus and purpose. They are the Weapons Division, the Formation Division, the Alchemy Division, the Beast Division, the Medicine Division, and the Martial Arts Division," Wen Bonshan explained. Meng Lin was intrigued, and she asked, "What are the differences between these divisions?" Wen Bonshan smiled, "The Weapons Division focuses on blacksmiths and cultivation of weapons techniques. The Formation Division focuses on the creation of talismans and the manipulation of formations. The Alchemy Division focuses on the creation of pills and elixirs. The Beast Division focuses on the cultivation of beasts and beasts taming. The Medicine Division focuses on the healing arts and the study of medicinal herbs. The Martial Arts Division focuses on physical training and the cultivation of martial techniques." Meng Lin listened carefully, considering her options, quickly eliminating the Medicine Division and the Formation Division as she knew they didnt fit her interests. Im interested in the Weapons Division and the Martial Arts Division, Meng Lin said, Which one do you think would be better for me? 80. Courtyard Occupier Wen Bonshan thought for a moment before answering, Based on your talents and skills, I think the Martial Arts Division would be a better fit for you. The Weapons Division requires a deep understanding of blacksmithing techniques and the properties of different metals, which takes years of study and practice. Meng Lin nodded in agreement, Okay, Ill choose the Martial Arts Division then. Wen Bonshan led Meng Lin to the Martial Arts Divisions registration desk, where she filled out another form and received her quarters assignment. Meng Lin was asked to choose a courtyard on a small piece of map which showed hundreds of different courtyards within the division. She choosed a courtyard that was located near the center of the division with a good balance of seclusion and accessibility. She wondered as to why the courtyards had no names but she didnt question it and kept the small map inside her storage bag. After leaving the registration hall, Wen Bonshan led Meng Lin through the air towards the Martial Arts Division. As they flew, Wen Bonshan explained to Meng Lin the different areas of the Martial Arts Division. There were various training grounds for different styles of martial arts, as well as sparring areas, qi gathering halls, and even a library with books on martial arts and cultivation techniques. Meng Lin was fascinated by the variety of facilities available in a single division and couldnt help wondering if all divisions were like that. She was led onto a forest terrain before seeing a single large mountain that reached for the sky. Wen Bonshan explained that it was the main location of the Martial Arts Division. It was a vast plateau with various courtyards and several other buildings on it. Landing at the foot of the mountain Wen Bonshan explained. I cant go any further but you should be able to locate the courtyard through the map Meng Lin nooded as she took a deep breath before walking to the entrance at the foot of the mountain. There were a few disciples guarding it, each of whom has the aura of the the Foundation Establishment Realm. From time to time, other disciples came in and out, presumably they were going to their tasks or done with their tasks outside of the Mountain. Meng Lin approached one of the guards and showed him her sect token, which glimmered gold, shocking the guard and getting the attention of the others. The guard examined the token closely before looking at Meng Lins face, as if etching it into his memories, he nooded and allowed her to pass. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Meng Lin walked through with countless gazes upon her, causing her to feel slightly self conscious but regardless she followed the map and made her way up the mountain. She passed by various places and diciples with some of them giving her curious glances as she walked by. She noticed that no diciple was flying through the air even though everyone here was at Foundation Establishment and above. Theres probably a rule against it she thought as she didnt pay much attention to it. It took a few dozen minutes with Meng Lin occasionally being distracted by the beautiful scenery around, but she finally arrived at her courtyard. A courtyard in a secluded area of the mountain, surrounded by a giant barrier that blocked all intrusions. Meng Lin took out her gold sect token before bringing it closer to the barrier, causing it to glow and open up a small entrance for her to pass through. She stepped inside and was suprised to see that her courtyard was spacious and well-maintained. She walked around, admiring the different features of the courtyard, such as the small pond and the rock garden. She felt a sense of peace and tranquility wash over her as she took in the beauty of her new home. But her peace was short-lived as she suddenly heard a noise, she looked towards the door of the house to see a burly young man coming out, he suddenly burst into a fury as he yelled out. Wha, What are you doing in my courter, how did you even get in Meng Lin was taken aback by the sudden outburst and quickly explained, Im sorry, I was assigned this courtyard by the Martial Arts Division. I have the map and my sect token to prove it. The young man narrowed his eyes and examined Meng Lins gold token before grunting, assigned?, you mean you picked it Ah well Meng Lin said with a weary expression, I.. It doesnt matter, leave, i dont fight girls, go pick another one, the girls section are at the back of the mountain the burly man said as he turned around. Hearing this Meng Lin was slightly shocked but quickly understood the situation, and a placated smile appeared on her face. Ill be staying in this courtyard. Since you dont fight girls, then Ill request that you leave, i dont like to share What?!! The burly man turned around in surprise, his face contorting into anger. How dare you! This is my courtyard, dont think i wont raise a hand at you just because of what I said Meng Lin was not intimidated by his anger and said. You got this courtyard from the last owner through force right, ill be doing the same then Meng Lin said as she released a large spiritual qi of the in the surroundings causing the burly man to squint his eyes in anger. He was taken aback by Meng Lins sudden display of power and he could sense the strength of her spiritual qi, which was much higher than his own. He hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and relenting, he didnt want to fight a girl Fine, you can have this courtyard. Ill just go find another one. Meng Lin nodded in satisfaction as the burly man stormed out of the barrier after taking care of his things. She knew that even if she left this courtyard and went to look for another that it would not make a difference. The map only showed roughy 500 courtyard, and Wen Bonshan said that there are over a thousand inner sect diciples in a single Division, so she assumed all courtyards were filled, she didnt want to go to another courtyard just to repeat the same thing. Plus she needed a courtyard with a pond and she saw that only a couple courtyard have that. She realized that she wasnt exactly polite about it but it didnt matter, her mood was currently not in the right place. She had to at least assert herself in this new environment and show that she was not to be underestimated as well, although. Haa Meng Lin let out a sigh as she thought of the situation. She didnt want to start off on the wrong foot with her fellow disciples, but it seems that she already did. 81. Multiple Breakthroughs Hey did you hear, we have a new diciple, a diciple with a Gold Token Yeah, I heard that they forced Pan Tong out of his courtyard Really? That''s quite surprising, isnt he ranked on the Inner Diciples Rankings, I wonder who this new disciple is and what their cultivation level is like I heard that it was a girl, thats why Pan Tong didnt fight her What, a girl on this side of the mountain?, why didnt she choose one of the Cherry Blossom Courtyards? Well, whoever the reason, I''m sure It will be interesting to see how she fare against Lu Xuan The news of Meng Lin''s arrival quickly spread throughout the Martial Arts Division. Many of the disciples were curious about this new addition with a gold token, which indicated Special Physique. Some of the disciples were excited to meet her but others were skeptical, wondering if she was just another entitled newcomer with a privileged background like the last one. While a small portion were apprehensive, wondering if she would be a threat to their own standings in the division. Many saw that she didnt leave her courtyard for the whole day even when peoples went to her courtyard to get her attention. They called and yelled while knocking on her barrier, with the courtyard being completely unresponsive. This went on for 3 days with the new diciple Meng Lin not leaving her courtyard, even for meals or meetings for cultivation aids. And amidst that time, rumors began to circulate about why she wasnt coming out, with some even saying that its because she looks ugly. And others wondered if she was just entitled and viewed everything outside as beneath her. As the days went by, the rumors only grew more wild and varied. Some said that she was ill, while others speculated that she was training in isolation to prepare for a big challenge. But one thing was for sure, the disciples were becoming increasingly curious, even a little bit anxious, to see what this new disciple with a gold token was like. Despite the whispers and speculation surrounding her, Meng Lin remained oblivious as the fifth day arrived and Meng Lin jumped out of her pond with her clothes sticking to her skin, outlining her figure. Her aura was flailing around uncontrollably and she sat down to circulate her qi. she was easily able to move qi through her widened spiritual vains and she felt the surge of energy within her reaching a boiling point before an explosion was heard in her mind, flooding her entire body with power. Huff Meng Lin let out a deep breath, her eyes twitching slightly before she opened them with a purple hue. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. In front of her appeared a panel showcasing what she had been doing all this time. [Congratulations for having exceeded Your Spiritual Roots] [You have received a reward for having two new Elemental Qi Control] [you have received taoist gacha wheel ticket] [you have received the item: Cherubic Fertile Soil] [you have received the Top Grade Item: Nether Bracelets] [Do you wish to accept the rewards] A Top Grade Item, as well as a Gacha wheel ticket, it seems that exceeding the spiritual roots is a big deal Meng Lin thought out loud. So thats the correct term for it, Elemental Qi Control she thought as she stopped referring to the corrosive and mud spiritual qi as spiritual roots. Yes Meng Lin said and a burst of light appears with two different items floating in front of her. Meng Lin examined the items closely, marveling at their intricacy and power. The cherubic fertile soil came in the form of a soil no less than 3 feet tall with its width being the same size. Touching it, Meng Lin was able to see the description which read. [Cherubic Fertile Soil] a rare unique soil provides all the necessary nutrients for spiritual plants, the soils properties greatly increase the growth of spiritual plants, with its true uniqueness providing nutrients for plants that far exceed the average spiritual plant. Excitement filled her as she realized the possibilities this item presented, with the cherubic fertile soil, she could nurture a powerful plant without doing much. Turning her attention to the set of bracelets by the side she tapped them, wanting to see their description. [Nether Bracelets] a set of powerful bracelets that are corrosive and wear down even the toughest of materials. I seem to have gotten a reward for each of my respective new elemental Qi control Meng Lin thought while thinking about the last time a similar thing happened. Her thoughts soon came back to the another thing as she called out. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(Late)] [Experience points: 1%] System coin:450 Taoist Gacha wheel: available [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] >[Mutated spirit root] [Mud] Comprehension 100% >[Erosion] Comprehension 100% [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] She had finally broken through after 5 days of continuous practice. She was now experiencing a surge of satisfaction as she saw her cultivation level had increased to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Her realm has increased, meaning her Brute Qi has increased as well. And with her mutated spirit roots/Elemental Qi Control fully comprehended, Meng Lin felt that if she wanted to, she could create both Mud and corrosive fog. It was a completely new feeling to her where as before she was only able to slightly create the 5 elements. With a Mud and Erosion Elemetal Control, she wondered if her attacks would be more powerful if she used those elements. And she couldnt help but think about techniques that utilize those elements, would using the techniques also increase the effectiveness. Meng Lin was excited to explore the possibilities of her new abilities, but she knew that she needed to focus on her cultivation first. Splash Meng Lins forcus was brought back to reality as she looked at the pond in front of her, within was the silhouette of a three meter long snake with the aura of a peak 1 spirit beast. It was her spirit beast, Purple, from the moment it had hatched to now, it had only been a matter of a few days and it had grown from its original size of a few feets to a whole three meter snake. The system wasnt joking when it said that they grew up fast Meng Lin said as she got up from her seated position. Splash Yes, I know you want more beast forage, honestly how can you like that thing Meng Lin chuckled with a smile. She walked over to the pond and reached out to pet the snake, feeling its smooth scales beneath her fingers. I think its time for us to go out and explore the Martial Arts Division, what do you think? Purple hissed and Meng Lin took it as an agreement as she took out the strange looking beast forage that Purple liked so much. 82. Mysterious Senior Sister Meng Lins courtyard barrier flickered for the first time before the figure of a young girl stepped out. Her body was wrapped in a blue robe, with silver trims on the edge which added more to her black eyes and hair. As she walked out of her courtyard she took out the small map given to her, looking through it she wondered where to begin exploring the martial arts division. Hey there Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her, sending a shiver down her spine, turning around Meng Lin saw a young girl with a pale skin. She had a pair of blank eyes that looked hollow to the light and long black hair that flowed down her back. The girl wore the standard white robe of a sect diciple and she had a wide smile on her face, completely contrasting with her eyes. Meng Lin felt a hint of fear just from looking at her, she didn''t know how to address her, the girl had the eyes of a dead person. More importantly the courtyard barrier was only a few feets away from her and this girl was able to appear in between her and the barrier without notice. The girl noticed Meng Lin''s hesitation and smiled warmly, "Don''t be afraid, I''m not here to harm you. My name is Yue Feng, and I''m a disciple just like you." Recovering from her shock Meng Lin said respectfully, "Greetings, senior sister Yue Feng. I''m Meng Lin, a new disciple of the martial arts division." Yue Feng nodded, "I know. It''s always good to see new blood in the sect. You caused quite a shock within the division?" A shock Meng Lin was surprised, "Did I?" Yue Feng nodded, "Yes, you arrived with a gold token and no one knew who you were or where you came from. It''s not often that we get someone with Luans soul joining us." Yue Feng chuckled. "But let''s not talk about that now. You''re going to explore the martial arts division, right? I can help you with that." Meng Lin was wary but she didnt let the chance slide and said, "Thank you, senior sister. I would appreciate any guidance you could offer." Yue Feng grinned, "Great! Let''s start with one of the training pagodas. That''s where most of the disciples gather to practice their martial arts skills. We might even see something interesting happening there Meng Lin, not knowing the place could only nod her head, "Lead the way, senior sister." Yue Feng smiled before gesturing for Meng Lin to follow her towards the training grounds. As they walked, she explained some of the basic rules and customs of the martial arts division. Meng Lin listened attentively, grateful for the insider knowledge. They passed by a few disciples that were giving the duo curious glances, some even stopping to stare. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Meng Lin looked towards Yue Feng who didnt pay much attention to them, continuing to talk to Meng Lin. And as they approached the training pagoda, Yue Feng explained what kind of training pagoda it was. Its called the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda, and it was designed to train disciples in fighting against spirit beasts, there are a total of 12 floors and each floor has a different level of difficulty. Theres also a ranking board next to the entrance of the pagoda, at the top displays the names of the disciples who have completed the pagoda and their time, and below that are the disciples that participated and their scores Are you on that ranking board as well Meng Lin asked with curiosity. Yue Feng nooded her head, "yes, but I''ve only made it to the 8th floor so far, it gets really tough after that." Meng Lin nodded, impressed. As they arrived near the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda, Meng Lin could feel the energy in the air. Before them was a tall tower that gave off a powerful aura, it was intimidating and yet mesmerizing at the same time. Yue Fengs eyebrows raised, "there are fewer diciples than expected You call that fewer Meng Lin wanted to say as she looked at the dozens of diciples surrounding the pagoda. A few were gazing at the two as they made their arrival, upon arrival she could hear some of them murmur. Its Senior Sister Yue Feng one of them said, but who is that by her side Shes Meng Lin, the new disciple with the gold token another replied. So shes the one youve been talking about Yes, like I said Meng Lin was slightly nervous but Yue Feng walked with a blank face and continued to speak as if she hadnt noticed them. There are a total of 12 gates all around the pagoda, so you dont have to wait for others when you want to enter And the diciples outside will only see your progress through the ranking board as to avoid your secrets being revealed. Thats what I like about these pagodas, the sect understands that no one will want to reveal their Secret Arts under the watchful eyes of their rivals Yue Feng said with a laugh at the fact. Meng Lin nodded, understanding it completely, she looked at the pagoda before turning her gaze at the ranking board on the side. On it is the list of all the participants that challenged the pagoda. Meng Li, feeling interested took a look and her eyebrows raised at the list of names. There were 100 names etched onto the board with a score next to their names, At the very top of the ranking board were 5 named that glimmered in gold, making their position known. YueQue - Golden Ranked Tang Zuo - Golden Ranked Fu Xuan - Golden Ranked Wei Wei - Golden Ranked Han Li - Golden Ranked Even though the names above were renowned throughout the sect Meng Lin didnt know them, so she could only try to memorize the names. She didnt raise her eyebrows at that but she did raise her eyebrows at the ranking board below it. The rankings of the disciples that are listed on the board. This is Meng Lin thought as she gazed at the board with a weird expression, she turned to Yue Feng who didnt seem to be paying attention as she kept walking. Coming closer to the pagoda, Meng Lin saw a wide space open up before them with the murmurs of the crowd slightly going down. The disciples were talking between themselves with a few gazing at the duo, there were even some who took out talisman to notify others after seeing them. Meng Lin noticing this, tried her best to keep a makeshift blank face and not pay attention to them, she turned to Yue Feng and asked. So can multiple diciples participate Meng Lin asked. No, the trial is only for one person But you said multiple diciples can enter it at the same time Meng Lin asked, a-bit curious, she had some thoughts but she didnt want to assume. Yue Feng grinned, oh that?, the Pagoda has the capacity to individually set up a trial for every diciple inside, impressive right Meng Lin nodded slightly impressed, she was impressed by the design of the pagoda and the training it offered to its diciples. Well how about it, you wanna try it out Yue Feng asked with her eye black with her lips smiling in excitement. Yes she said, mentally preparing herself, she was intrigued and curious to see how the pagoda works. Go ahead, Ill be cheering for you from outside Yue Feng said with a clap. Meng Lin nooded before walking towards the pagoda, she was feeling butterflies in her stomach and excitement was taking over her. 83. Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda: Ancient Beasts As she entered the pagoda, she felt a shift in focus before her surroundings changed. The inside was much larger than she had expected, the size of this single floor was at least 20 meters high and wide enough to fit her entire courtyard, more over the entire scenery was different, there was a small sun up above with walls on the side. She felt a faint spiritual qi surrounding her. It was a different feeling from the usual Qi energy she was used to but she felt that it was more pure and refined, as if it had been filtered through layers of purification. She wanted to look at all the different changes around the tower but was interrupted by a growl. Growl Meng Lin turned her attention to the source of the sound and saw a spirit beast standing in front of her. It was a giant wolf with silver fur and blue eyes, its fangs bared in a snarl. Information about the creature instantly appeared in her mind, it was a Silver Fur Wolf, a normal yet powerful Rank 2 spirit beast known for its strength and speed. Gazing at the early rank 2 creature Meng Lin was able to know the weaknesses of the creature at once. She couldnt help but smile a little, marveling at the inherent memories of the Ancestral Symbol, which was already making itself useful. The Silver Wolf growed once again before charging at her with its body turning into a blue blur. Hump Meng Lin only looked at it once before releasing her aura. The whole surroundings turned a shade of blue as Meng Lin released her aura of the Late stage. Boom! The Silver Fur Wolf was thrown backwards by the force of her aura, crashing into the Pagoda wall before falling to the ground with a thud. Meng Lin calmly walked towards the wolf, her eyes cold and calm, with a wave of her hand, a beam of spiritual qi shot out and struck the wolf''s forehead. Puchi The Silver Fur Wolf let out a final whimper before collapsing onto the ground, its body dissolving into a cloud of mist. Meng Lin looked at the disappearing mist before bringing a hand up to her chin and speculating, "This pagoda must be creating these creatures, the higher one goes the higher the strength and skill of these spirit beasts will be, I have to be careful and keep my guard up." She looked around before noticing a glowing door on the side, leading to the next level of the pagoda. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Without hesitation, Meng Lin walked towards it and pushed it open before stepping through. As she stepped through the gate, the surroundings changed once again. This time, she found herself in a dense forest, with tall trees and thick undergrowth. She could hear the sounds of birds and animals in the distance, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers and plants. Meng Lin knew that this was not a real forest, but a creation of the pagoda. She walked steady yet cautiously, her senses alert for any danger. Suddenly, she heard a rustling sound in the bushes ahead of her. She quickly looked over, ready for whatever might come her way. Out of the bushes emerged a creature she had never seen before. It was a large, six-legged beast with green scales and sharp claws, its eyes fixed on her. Meng Lin quickly analyzed the creature and realized that it was a Rank 2 spirit beast, known as a Six Legged Wolf. It was a creature with the bloodline of a six legged beast called Enmu, which were once regarded as extremely dangerous. It once held its own against one of the venerable tier mythical beasts of the legend, however because of a realm war their species were all but extinct. She didnt think that she would see this here, it seems that the cultivator that cunstructed this tower has some way of creating this sort of ancient creature. Roar With a powerful jaw and a tough hide it released the aura of an early stage Rank 2 beast and pounced towards Meng Lin with its mouth open. Without wasting any time, Meng Lin did the same thing as before, releasing her own aura in response. This time releasing an arc of lighting that instantly penetrated the head of the creature, killing it instantly. The Six Legged Wolf''s body fell to the ground, its green scales fading into mist. Meng Lin looked at the now empty clearing, feeling a sense of deep melancholy and curiosity. Six Legged Wolfs were vulnerable to lightning so it was no surprise that she easily killed it, even though it had the blood of an enmu, which is naturally more powerful than a regular spirit beast. She looked around before noticing the gate to the next floor. Which appeared right after she killed the beast. She walked towards it, her steps steady and cautious, she pushed open the gate and the surroundings changed once again. This time, she found herself in a rocky landscape, with steep cliffs and jagged rocks. She could feel the spiritual qi of the earth pulsing through the ground beneath her feet, and the air was filled with the scent of minerals and rocks. Meng Lin walked forward, her eyes scanning the rocky terrain for any signs of a spirit beast. Suddenly, she heard a rumbling sound from above. Looking up, she saw a massive boulder rolling and hurtling towards her at breakneck speed. She quickly analyzed the boulder and realized that it was a middle Rank 2 spirit beast known as a Rock Toad. Rumble It arrived before her with in seconds, just as Meng Lin was done with her analysis. However with lightning-fast reflexes, Meng Lin dodged the boulder, easily avoiding being hit. Roar The Rock Toad let out an angry roar turning and charging at her again, this time with even more ferocity. Meng Lin stood her ground, her aura not flashing out again. She didn dodge like last time but rather went on the offensive, raising her fair arm before punching the incoming spirit beast. Boom a powerful blast of raw power traced the air as she shattered the boulder into countless pieces, sending the Rock Toad flying backwards. The Rock Toad crashed into the ground before its rocky body crumbled into dust. Meng Lin looked at the spirit beast disappearing with a slight nod, she was able to deal with it with just her physical body and that naturally made her happy. She realized that she should look for a physical cultivation manual, otherwise it would waste the incredible raw strength held within her body. She looked at the empty landscape before she walked towards the glowing door leading to the next level, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her. 84. Dragon Blood, Winged Fire Horse Meng Lin stepped through the gate and found herself in a vast, open plain. The grass stretched out as far as she could see, and the sky was a bright blue with a few fluffy clouds. She took a deep breath of the fresh air and felt a sense of peace wash over her. But that peace was soon shattered by a loud roar. Looking around, Meng Lin saw a massive creature charging towards her. It was a giant, vicious-looking boar with razor-sharp tusks and a thick hide. Meng Lin quickly analyzed the creature and realized that it was a middle stage Rank 2 spirit beast known as a Razorback Boar, it was another ancient creature with a trace of a Monstrous Elephant blood. Roar The Razorback Boar charged at her with incredible speed, its tusks aimed straight at her. Meng Lin didn''t panic, instead she focused her energy and released a burst of spiritual qi, forming a shield around her body. Peng Hmm The boar crashed into the shield with a loud noise, causing Meng Lin to experience a shocking might as she felt her legs indent into the ground. This middle stage spirit beast actually had the strength of a late rank 2 spirit beast, it was ferocious however it was unable to penetrate the barrier. Meng Lin then struck out with her fair palm, which became coated with a dark qi. Peng A wave of corrosive energy was unleashed into the air as the boar was sent flying backwards. The boar crashed into the ground and lay still with a large hole in its body, its body turned into a cloud of mist before disappearing from the battlefield. Meng Lin looked at the disappearing mist and couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She was getting better at handling these spirit beasts, and she knew that her cultivation was improving with each encounter. She looked at her hand which held numerous small scratches as if countless small insects just tried to tear through her skin. A corrosive effect of her own ability, Corrosive Qi, Meng Lin narrowed her eyes, it seems that she had to be careful of when to use it, however the thoughts of her new Bracelets put that thought to rest. She looked around and saw the gate to the next floor, before walking to it. As she stepped through the gate, the surroundings changed once again. This time, she found herself in a dark, eerie forest filled with twisted trees and tangled vines. She could feel a sense of danger in the air, and she knew that this would be a difficult challenge. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Suddenly, she heard a low growl. Looking around, she saw a pair of glowing eyes in the darkness. Meng Lin quickly analyzed the creature and realized that it was a late stage Rank 2 spirit beast known as a Shadow Panther. The Shadow Panther pounced towards her with incredible speed, its claws aimed straight at her throat. Meng Lin didn''t panic, instead she focused her energy and released a burst of spiritual qi, dodging the attack with ease. The Shadow Panther landed on the ground and quickly turned to face her again, its eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. The Shadow Panther charged at her again, but this time Meng Lin was ready, she stood her ground, her aura pulsing with power. She struck out with her palm, unleashing a powerful blast of qi that hit the panther and sent it flying backwards. The Shadow Panther crashed into a tree, its body falling down to the ground, it got up again with a growl, seemingly unharmed by the attack. The panther charged at her again, its movements fluid and graceful. Meng Lin dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws. She struck out with her palm once again, but this time the panther was too quick. It dodged the attack and leapt towards her, its jaws open wide. Meng Lin focused her energy and changed the trajectory of her palm to unleash a burst of spiritual qi while calling out a technique. Waterfall Slash A powerful qi was released from her palm, taking the form of a sharp, slicing blade of water that struck the panther head-on. The Shadow Panther let out a loud roar as it was hit by the Waterfall Slash, its body falling to the ground in two before turning into mist. She looked around and saw the gate to the next floor before heading forward, she was actually looking forward to the next battle. As she stepped through the gate, the surroundings changed once again. This time, she found herself in a barren wasteland with rugged terrain and a scorching sun overhead. She could feel the heat radiating off the ground, and she knew that this would be a bit difficult. Suddenly, she heard a loud noise. Looking around, she saw a massive creature charging towards her. It was a fiery-red horse with wings and sharp claws and a powerful tail. Meng Lin quickly analyzed the creature and realized that it was a late Rank 2 ancient spirit beast known as a Winged Fire Horse. A creature with the ancient blood of an actual Dragon, a mythical beast, seeing this, Meng Lins curiosity increased even more. The Winged Fire Horse pounced towards her with incredible speed, its claws aimed straight at her. Meng Lin quickly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack as a big scar opened up on the ground. She focused her energy and released a burst of spiritual qi, forming a shield around her body. The Fire Horse crashed into the shield, its claws bouncing off harmlessly while causing indentations on the shield. Meng Lin then struck out with her palm, unleashing a powerful blast of qi that hit the dragon and sent it tumbling backwards. The Fire Horse forced itself to stop and quickly looked up again, its eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. Meng Lin realized that this was going to be a tougher fight than she had anticipated, however she knew its weakness. The Fire Horse is a fierce ancient spirit beast, and it seemed to be able to withstand her attacks, however. Roar!! The fire horse charged at her again, but this time Meng Lin was ready. She stood her ground, her aura pulsing with power. She quickly covered herself with the lightning, using her technique thunderbolt Flash. Out of her palm appeared a condensed ball of lighting that quickly grew into a giant ball of lightning that was suspended in the air. Meng Lin waited for the Fire horse to reach only a few meters before she unleashed the lightning blast that hit the horse and sent it flying backwards. While the Winged Fire Horse was midair Meng Lin pointed a finger, gathering large amounts of lightning qi before coming out in one straight burst. Puchi A big hole opened up on the stomach of the The Fire horse as it crashed into a rock formation, its body falling to the ground and turning into mist. Meng Lin stood there for a moment, catching her breath, she had beaten an ancient spirit beast of the same realm without relying on her brute Qi. She realized that it wouldnt have been possible if not for her widen spiritual vains, which incredibly increased the output of her qi, It naturally made her quite happy to know this. 85. Peak stage Rank 2 Ancient Spirit Beast; Night Basilisk Meng Lin stepped through the next gate and found herself in a dark, underground cave. The air was damp and musty, and she could hear the sound of dripping water echoing throughout the cavern. Suddenly, she heard a low noise. Looking around, she saw a pair of small glowing eyes in the darkness. Meng Lin quickly analyzed the creature and knew it to be a peak stage Rank 2 spirit beast known as a Golden Eyed - Shadow Snake. The snake was about ten feets long and had a jet-black body with shimmering scales. The snake slithered towards Meng Lin, its forked tongue flicking in and out of its mouth. Meng Lin remained calm and focused. She knew that this Shadow Snake was small but venomous and had to be handled with caution. As the snake approached her, Meng Lin stepped back slowly, keeping her eyes locked on the creature. She could see the venom dripping from its fangs, ready to strike. With lightning speed, the snake lunged towards her, but Meng Lin was ready. She sidestepped the attack and raised her hand, summoning a burst of corrosive qi. The energy hit the snake, sending it flying backward with a large mark on its body, the snake hissed in pain as it felt a corrosive fog cover its body. The skin of the shadow snake started to deteriorate at an alarming speed as it thrashed around on the floor. Meng Lin didnt let go of the opportunity to strike, raising her arm and sending a powerful qi across her spiritual vains. Surge A surge of water qi gathered before blasting towards the writhed snake. Boom! The impact sent the snake crashing into the cave wall, where it slumped to the ground, motionless before turning into mist. Meng Lin looked around and saw the gate to the next floor. She walked towards it, thinking about what ancient spirit beast she might see this time. As she stepped through the gate, the surroundings changed once again. This time, she found herself in a vast, open field with a clear blue sky overhead. She could feel a sense of calmness here, looking around she saw a massive creature gazing towards her. It was a giant, serpentine creature with scales as black as night standing on 2 hind legs, with eyes that glowed with an otherworldly light. Meng Lin quickly analyzed the creature and realized that it was a peak stage Rank 2 ancient spirit beast known as a Night Basilisk. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. A creature with a durable body, as well as mysterious abilities, Meng Lin knew that this battle would be her toughest yet. The Night Basilisk didnt charge in a frenzy like the rest but rather, opened its mouth to gather qi, causing Meng Lins expression to change. A large rarzor sharp energy blade formed in the Night Basilisks mouth, and it charged towards Meng Lin with incredible speed. Meng Lin quickly reacted, summoning her Brute Qi as she realized how much of a threat the attack was. Peng!! The energy blade struck, causing a loud explosion. Meng Lin was thrown back by the force but remained on her feet. The Night Basilisk continued to open its mouth, preparing another attack, but Meng Lin remained calm and focused. She knew that the Night Basilisk was vulnerable in some areas, and she had to find a way to strike where it matters. Gathering her brute qi into her arm Meng Lin created a powerful chaotic wave that forced the Night Basilisk to stop and stagger back. Meng Lin took advantage of the moment and charged towards the beast. She leaped onto its back, gathering a large amount of chaotic qi into her palms which she directed towards the Night Basilisks neck. The brute qi hit the Night Basilisks neck, causing it to roar in pain, twisting its body in countless directions, causing small holes to form on the floor. Meng Lin was not expecting the Night Basilisk to suddenly rear up, throwing her off its back with incredible force. Boom Meng Lin hit the ground hard, feeling the impact reverberate through her body, however she quickly got up, ready to face the Night Basilisk once again. The creature charged towards her, its eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity. It summoned all its strength, with its body suddenly turning red as it lunged. When the Night Basilisks body turned red, its strength, speed and various other attributes increased, causing it to be more ferocious. Peng Meng Lin wasnt fast enough to dodge the attack, and she was struck head-on by the Night Basilisks powerful fangs. She flew backwards, crashing into a nearby boulder, feeling a sharp pain shoot through her body. Meng Lin got up with little difficulty and couldnt help but wonder about the next 4 stages, this ancient spirit beast was already this powerful. Nevertheless she gathered a third of her brute qi into her hand as she didnt want to be on the defense, she slashed down her her hand while uttering the technique. Waterfall Slash A massive wave of Brute qi surged towards the Night Basilisk, forming a crescent slash that arrived before it immediately. Boom! The beast roared in pain as it was thrown back, crashing into the ground. Meng Lin took advantage of the moment and charged towards the beast, gathering a large amount of her brute qi onto her hand. Jumping forward she aimed at the head of the beast as she brought down her fist, covered with chaotic qi. The Night Basilisk attempted to dodge, but Meng Lin''s attack was too fast and too powerful. Her fist struck the beast''s head, destroying it instantly, causing its body to turn into mist on the spot. Meng Lin stood over the disappearing corpse with slight exhaustion, but victorious. She looked over at the door that appeared before thinking about her chances. She was pretty confident that if she used her Corrosive bracelets then she could win the next round. As for the next two after that, she didnt want to entertain the idea, if what she thinks is correct then the last layer of the pagoda holds a rank 3 spirit beast. Thinking about her experience with rank 3 spirit beasts Meng Lin couldnt help but wonder how she would face against them now. She wanted to try it but she realized that this much was enough, she didnt want to show all her strength to the sect, its always better to have a few hidden trump cards. Anyways, she had done what she had set out to do, which was to clear the 8 floor, now her strength should be know by the masses as least. 86. Liang Chen **Few Minutes Earlier ** Outside the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda, Yue Feng watched as Meng Lins name finally appeared on the ranking board. 100. Meng Lin - 2nd Floor The crowd around her murmured in surprise, intrigued by Meng Lin''s sudden rise in the rankings. As they watched, the numbers on the board changed, and Meng Lin''s name rose higher and higher. 86. Meng Lin - 3rd Floor 56. Meng Lin - 4th Floor Each time her name climbed a floor, the crowd grew more and more louder. They became increasingly vocal about Meng Lin. Do you think she would reach the 6th floor. Impossible, she''s just a new disciple Yeah but she has a special physique, right And we dont even know her stage she seems to be making good progress. Maybe she has some secret technique or powerful cultivation method. 22. Meng Lin - 5th Floor As Meng Lin''s name reached the 5th floor, the crowd started to get concerned and startled. Wow, she''s really moving up. Can she keep this pace up? 15. Meng Lin - 6th Floor this new disciple is overshadowing Pan Tong. This is going to be interesting. As Meng Lin reached the 6th floor, Yue Feng who had been silently watching began to pay attention. 11. Meng Lin - 7th Floor She did it! She made it to the 7th floor! This is incredible. I''ve never seen a new disciple climb so high in their first try. I wonder what kind of spirit beast she''s facing on the 7th floor. It must be incredibly powerful. Shes not coming out, you dont think that she can still continue to the next floor right. That.. The atmosphere in the crowd suddenly became tense as everyone waited to see if Meng Lin could push even further. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. What do we have here suddenly a young man in the sects robe, with a symbol on his forehead walked in between the crowd as disciples made way for him. He arrived by the side of Yue Feng before speaking out loud. Hmph, I dont see whats so impressive about this Meng Lin. I bet she wont even make it to the 8th floor. The crowd turned to look at the newcomer, some of them recognizing him as one of the top disciples in the Division, the unruly Liang Chen. if it isnt Liang Chen. What brings you here? Yue Feng asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice. I came to see what all the fuss was about. Seems like everyone is making a big deal out of nothing, Liang Chen replied with a smirk. The crowd murmured amongst themselves, some of them keeping quiet as they knew the temperament of Liang Chen. Oh really? Then why dont you try climbing the tower yourself and see how far you can go? Yue Feng challenged, her eyes flashing with something. Liang Chen laughed. Why bother? I already know I can make it to the top. No need to waste my time. You on the other hand are intentionally not showing your true colors, admit it, the reason you brought her here was to see how much of a threat she would be to your dear beloved Liang Chen said with clear sarcasm in his voice. Yue Feng''s expression hardened, her deadpan eyes turned to Liang Chen before she spoke. Your voice is very annoying. The crowd grew silent, uncomfortable with the tense atmosphere between the two top disciples. Liang Chen''s smirk didnt faltered for a moment, and he continued to speak. Is that all you have to say? I expected more from the top female disciple in the Division. Yue Feng didn''t take the bait. I have better things to do than argue with you, Liang Chen. Like what? Train yourself to catch up to Lu Xuan''s level? Liang Chen retorted with a sneer. Yue Feng''s eyes narrowed. I don''t need to catch up to anyone. My cultivation is my own concern. Sure, keep telling yourself that, Liang Chen said dismissively as he smirked. The crowd watched Yue Feng and Liang Chen argue, but their attention was still focused on the ranking board, waiting to see if Meng Lin would make it to the 8th floor. And just as they were about to give up hope, her name appeared once again. 8. Meng Lin - 8th Floor The crowd erupted into and uproar and shock, amazed by what they were seeing. Wow, she did it! She made it to the 8th floor! I can''t even imagine how strong she must be to get this far. As the crowd continued to talk, one of the entrance to the pagoda shone before Meng Lin stepped out, her face flushed with both excitement and exhaustion. Yue Feng watched as Meng Lin made her way towards the crowd, her eyes narrowing with something. As Meng Lin approached the crowd, Yue Feng came forward with the lingering Liang Chen behind her. Congratulations on making it to the 8th floor, Yue Feng said, a small hint of admiration in her voice. Meng Lin smiled gratefully. Thank you, Senior Yue. Liang Chen rolled his eyes. It''s not that impressive. Yue Feng glared at him. You have no idea what it takes to climb the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda. Don''t underestimate her achievements. Meng Lin looked between the two top disciples, sensing the tension between them. Hump Liang Chen turned towards Meng Lin before sneering, Don''t get too comfortable with your position. It won''t last long. Meng Lin''s expression hardened and a purple hue appeared in her eyes. I understand, senior brother. With that, Meng Lin turned towards Yue Feng, i will be returning back to my courtyard to digest my experiences with the tower, excuse me. Yue Feng nodded, watching as Meng Lin walked away, she turned to face Liang Chen, her eyes blank as she uttered. I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself, Liang Chen. Your arrogance is not welcome here. Liang Chen shrugged, a smirk on his face. Suit yourself, Yue Feng. But mark my words, that new disciple is nothing compared to me. Yue Feng didn''t reply, instead turning on her heel and walking away. She had better things to do than argue with someone who couldn''t see the potential in others. how does someone like him have a special physique. She sighed as she thought of the unfairness of the world. 87. Gacha Wheel, Intermediate System Pack Meng Lin returned to her courtyard, her mind buzzing with the experiences she had in the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda. As she sat down to meditate and digest her experiences, she couldn''t help but think about the two Senior diciples that she met today. Yue Feng and Liang Chen, Yue Feng gave her the feeling of a quiet and reserved person, her blank eyes made it almost impossible to see what the other was truly thinking. Liang Chen, on the other hand , was the complete opposite. He was loud, arrogant, and seemed to take pleasure in belittling others. Meng Lin couldn''t understand the man but she felt a strong sense of both urgency and danger when he got near her. As she continued to meditate, she realized that it wasn''t her place to judge others. She had her own goals to focus on, and she couldn''t let the actions of others distract her from her path. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(Late)] [Experience points: 6%] System coin:450 Taoist Gacha wheel: available [Spiritual root] [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant : [Elemental Qi - Mud] Variant: [Elemental Qi - Erosion] [Cultivation methods: Basic Qi Gathering] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] Meng Lin smiled as she saw her experience points increase. She had made progress in her cultivation and she knew that it was all thanks to the Pagoda. She decided to focus on her new elemental Qi control, specifically the mud and erosion variants. She had notice that the system changed their designs and she attributed that to her comprehension of them. She wanted to understand them better and see how she could use them to improve her cultivation. As she meditated, she shut out any thoughts and feelings while immersing in the emptiness of her mind. A couple hours later Meng Lin opened her eyes before shifting focus to her Elemental Qi, trying to understand the layout of the two. She felt the mud Qi flow through her, thick and heavy, like the earth itself. While the erosion Qi felt sharp and corrosive, like a powerful acid. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. She experimented with controlling the Qi and found that she could manipulate the mud variant to create a dense shield around her body, while the erosion variant could be used to corrode and weaken her opponents'' defenses. She also realized that her Mud Qi was rich with nutritious effects, as well as a coating and sealing effect, it hardens at her request and she could form a variety of shapes and structures with it. On the other hand, her Erosion Qi had a unique ability to dissolve and break down any material, even spiritual weapons and armors, however it doesnt differentiate friend and foe and she could get caught in it. Ever since Meng Lin had fully comprehended the two she had wondered what the difference was between them and natural spiritual qi in the air. What she realized was that the regular spiritual qi in the air could only be described as having a low concentration while variant Elemental Qi would have rich concentration. Cultivators perform rich concentration through various manuals or techniques thus increasing their Qi quality. If a cultivator reaches a certain realm they might be able to change their normal five elements into elemental qi, exponentially increasing their power. Meng Lin was fascinated by the versatility of her elemental Qis and how they could be used in different situations. She couldnt help but think of how far she could really go in the ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda. It would be way better if I can have a sword she thought, however thinking about her brute qi she sighed. I wonder if theres a place I can buy some equipments. I still havent gotten my diciples uniform and my flying sword, so I might as well go out again. However before that, she still had one more thing to take care of, she looked at the Gacha Wheel option which shone available and she clicked on it. Dragon tiger sword Soul wondering pills x5 Lv.1 Alchemist furnace Cultivation suppression talisman lv.5 Divine Bone strengthing pill x2 [system meridian] Intermediate system pack >Superior Booze gift bag Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique Immortal jades x9 Meng Lin looked at the new addition, superior booze gift bag, and couldnt help but become curious. Booze, she didnt think that could ever appear in the Gacha Wheel, however she should have expected it, considering all the other things that appeared there. She didnt waste any more time and a small wheel appeared before her and she stretched her hand to spin it. Watching the wheel spin for a few seconds, Meng Lin raised an eyebrow when the wheel stopped, having landed on a slot. Intermediate system pack Meng Lin was a little excited to see what the pack contained, the last time she opened one was when she just stepped through the Foundation Establishment Realm. [Do you wish to open the package] Yes It glowed bright before shattering to show the contents in it, the light disappeared to reveal items appearing in front of her. [You have recived 1000 system coins, 400 spirit stones, 1 concealment talisman, Purple Cloud Grass x4, 5 beast forage] Meng Lin smiled as she saw the contents of the pack. The system coins and spirit stones would be useful for purchasing equipment and materials, while the concealment talisman would be handy in case she needed to hide her presence. This would be her second one as she still had not used the first one, she had been saving it for an extreme situation. It can only hide from Soul Wondering cultivators and below so it would have been completely useless, had she used it against Lord Yuan when she was captured. Turning her head to the last two rewards she smiled as she looked at the beast forage, she had been wondering about it lately. And the Purple Cloud Grass was a rare medicinal herb that she could use to exchange or refine pills as it was a little rare. Overall, it was a good haul from the intermediate system pack. Oh Meng Lin suddenly remembered, swiping against her storage bag, 4 flowers suddenly appeared, glowing blue with qi. It was the four flowers that were by the side of the pond where she met the early Rank 2 Lighting Python. Before she couldnt find a method of identifying the four flowers so she kept them in her storage bag and gradually forget about them. Qi tendrail Flowers, they were known to have a variety of uses, including refining pills and enhancing some body cultivation techniques. Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel grateful for stumbling upon them as they really might be of use to her. With her mind at ease, Meng Lin got up from her crossed legged position and headed towards one of the division building for new diciples. 88. Mystic Luner Sword A few minutes later Meng Lin arrived at the building with the help of her small map, she saw a disciples walking out of the building, carrying bags and boxes in his hand. Meng Lin entered the building and was greeted by a receptionist. Hello, how may I assist you? the receptionist asked. I am a new disciple and I have come to receive my uniform and flying sword, Meng Lin replied. Ah, I see. May I see your Sect Token? the receptionist asked as she looked curiously at Meng Lin. Here Meng Lin replied and took out her Gold Token, causing the receptionist to pause for a moment. Ah, yes. Wait a minute, Ill get your stuff for you right away the receptionist said coming out of her daze as she quickly walked to a room behind her. A few minutes later the receptionist returned with a box in her hands. Here is your uniform and flying sword. Congratulations on becoming a disciple of the Soul Shattering Sect, she knowingly said with a smile. Meng Lin didnt think much about it and thanked the receptionist before checking the box in her hand. The uniform was the sect uniform with the emblem of the Martial Arts Division on the chest. Next to it, the flying sword was a simple silver sword with a red tassel glowing with the aura of a low grade weapon. She noticed 20 low grade spirit stones in the side and she turned to the receptionist who quickly explained. All inner sect diciples get 20 low grade spirit stones every month, they can wait and let it pile up before coming to get it as well Meng Lin nooded before storing the box and turning around before suddenly stopping. Is it possible to bring a few servants from outside? Meng Lin asked the receptionist. The receptionist looked surprised at the question but quickly composed herself. It is possible, but they will have to go through a screening process and be approved by the Sect before they can enter. You will also have to take responsibility for them and ensure that they follow the Sects rules and regulations, she replied. Meng Lin nodded Thank you for your help, she said before leaving the building with her new uniform and flying sword. As she left the building she began to think. This time, she was given her disciple uniform and a low-grade sword. It wasn''t much, but it was a start. She decided to go and see what stuff she could buy with the spirit stones that she has. Walking towards a small teleportation area, she passed through the formation before arriving at a new environment, she saw that it was bustling with activity. So this is the Inner sect market Meng Lin thought as she remembered what was said about it. A joint venue of all the divisions, its for both diciples and Sect elders to use and it holds all that one needed There were various stalls selling all sorts of items, from cultivation manuals to weapons and armor. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Meng Lin walked around, taking in all the sights and sounds. She couldn''t help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of peoples as well as options available to her. She passed a few diciples that shot glances at her but she didnt mind it, and after some browsing, Meng Lin finally found a shop that caught her eye. It was a small shop that sold various types of unique weapons As she looked around the shop, she noticed a beautiful sword on display. It was made of a rare metal called Mystic Lunar Stone and with the intricate designs etched into the blade, Meng Lin wouldnt be surprised if it was sold in an auction. She picked up the sword and felt its weight in her hands. It was perfectly balanced and felt like an extension of her body. It was a High Grade Weapon with a heavy aura that felt as cold as ice, a Mystic Luner sword. How much for this sword? Meng Lin asked the shopkeeper. That sword is a rare find, it will cost you 5000 low grade spirit stones or 50 middle grade spirit stones, Sect Points are fine as well the shopkeeper replied. Meng Lin paused for a moment, considering the price. It was a hefty sum, and she didnt have the money. She only had a little over 700 spirit stones and they were all low grade, she hasnt even laid eyes on a single middle grade spirit stone not to mention a high grade one. From her memory she knew that you would need 100 low grade spirit stones to get a single middle grade spirit stone and the same is for high grade spirit stones. She thought about her options for a moment before putting the sword back down and asked the shopkeeper about any way of contacting him, in case she didnt see him here the next day. She didnt forget to bring out her gold token as she had had long noticed that it would probably make transactions with vendors a lot easier. The shopkeeper looked at the token before looking at her to nod his head, giving her a small talisman. When you what to contact me, inject your spiritual qi into it and you can talk through it However, I wont give you this talisman for free, its 10 low grade stone he said stretching out his hand. Meng Lin took out her spirit stones and paid the shopkeeper for the talisman before leaving the shop. She browsed through the market but couldnt find anything that matched the sword, in the end she purchased two low grade swords for 60 spirit stones. she knew that at the level that the Brute Qi was at, normal swords wouldnt last even a mili- second in battle. As she left the market and headed back to her courtyard, Meng Lin couldnt help but think about the whole day, it was a bit exhausting. As she arrived at her courtyard with the help of her little map, Meng Lin saw someone standing next to the courtyard barrier, seemingly waiting for something. It was a tall man with scar on his forehead, his eyes were stern and he had a fierce aura around him. Meng Lin felt a bit intimidated by him, but she didnt let it show. Excuse me, may I ask who you are? Meng Lin asked politely. I am Luo Su, I came to check out the diciple Liang Chen was talking about. the man replied with a gruff voice. Hearing his name Meng Lin was surprised, she didnt expect to meet him so soon. Thank you for coming to see me, Senior Brother Luo Su. I am Meng Lin, she introduced herself. Luo Su looked at Meng Lin from head to toe, sizing her up. Not bad, you look weak. But I can see that you have monstrous strength he said, before suddenly disappearing from where he stood. Meng Lins eyes widen as she quickly reacted, clenching her fist she turned before punching out. Boom ! The ground shook as a powerful shockwave was released from a collision punch, causing the entire courtyard to tremble. Luo Su reappeared a few meters away, a look of surprise on his face. Not bad, you really do have some power in that tiny body of yours, he said. Whats the meaning of this Senior Brother Meng Lin asked clearly shocked. Luo Su chuckled. I just wanted to test your strength, and I must say I am impressed Hearing him, Meng Lins eyes narrowed before she said back with an awkward smile thank you for your praise senior brother Luo Su nodded. as long as you dont slack off like Liang Chen then our Division will definitely win this years divisions ranking, dont disappoint With that, Luo Su gave her a deep look before disappearing into thin air, leaving Meng Lin standing there, with an awkward smile on her face. She pursed her lip before shaking her head and turning before entering her courtyard. She didnt know what to say, because she clearly remembered the top 10 rankings for the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda. And that man was way above her. [Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda Floor Rankings] 1. Xu Ruan 10th floor 2. Luo Su 10th floor 3. Lu Xuan - 10th floor 4. Xie Ru - 9th floor 5. Liam Mu - 9th floor 6. Yue Feng - 8th floor 7. Zu Zuan - 8th floor 8. Meng Lin - 8th floor 9. Xian Xian - 7th floor 10. Liang Ru - 7th floor 89. Review Meng Lin sighed, feeling a bit discouraged, it has only been a single day and she had already attracted so much attention. She shook her head, reminding herself to not think about it too much, she sat cross legged onto her bed before closing her eyes and taking several deep breaths. She focused on calming her mind and clearing her thoughts, as she meditated, she felt her mind becoming more clear and relaxed. She focused on her breathing, letting go of any worries or distractions. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes feeling refreshed and renewed, cultivating the mind is of great importance to a cultivator, lest they experience qi deviation. Meng Lin then proceeded to check her storage bag, she went through the list of items one by one, double-checking to make sure she didn''t forget anything important. She had two foundation establishment pills, one from the system reward after her breakthrough to foundation establishment realm and the other from the young boss of the golden fang bandits. She also had two concealing talismans from the system, which would help her avoid any being below the Narscent Soul Realm. Next is a qi gathering pill, the last qi gathering pill, she had used the other two for her breakthroughs but this one she wouldnt use it for that. The Visionary Lamp, which would help her trace or find something that she wanted, it made her wonder if it could trace them if she thought about treasures or rare herbs. The Nether Bracelets, a top grade item which is not only powerful but could also help her use corrosive Elemental Qi without the worry of damaging herself. She also had fertil soil, which would help provide nutrients and grow plants faster. She has 4 Qi tendrail Flowers and 4 Purple Cloud Flowers which if combined with some other ingredients could be useful in the creation of cultivation pills. She had 646 low grade spirit stones, which she could use to buy items or cultivate with as they are essentially small rocks filled with spiritual qi. She also has a rank 3 gold core, the corpse of a rank 3 beast and various beast corpses ranging from rank 1 to 2 beasts, which she could sell or use to cultivate her body. She also has the storage bag of the little boss which has the mysterious Jade box that she wasnt able to open even now, after that is area in the storage bag mostly full of orchid spring flowers. Meng Lin wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible, she didnt want to associate herself with something like that. Second to last, she had the trio of girls and one bandit in her inventory, who she felt embarrassed for, having kept them there for so long. And lastly she also has the Soul Array, it could hide her from enemies and affect souls below the Soul Wondering Realm. If used correctly, it could help her all the way through the Gold Core Realm so she valued it greatly. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Satisfied with her review, Meng Lin put away her storage bag and prepared to train. She got up from her bed and decided to practice with her sword. She took out the low grade sword that she had been given and began to practice her usual technique forms. She swung the sword in graceful arcs, injecting only a little bit of qi into it as she tried to feel the weight of the blade and the fluidity of her movements. She practiced for 2 hours, losing herself in the flow of the movements as she went from slashing out subtle attacks to executing quick and precise movements. As she practiced, thoughts came to her, thoughts about the girl in pink, the last she remembered of her was when the sect was under siege. She didnt have time to think about it but the words of the girl had left a mark in her heart. *I knew I should have followed you there as well* It was the last words of the girl that had made her think, surely the girl hadnt been following her ever since they first met, if thats the case then just how much does she know. Her abnormally fast cultivation pace, her Brute Qi Physique or maybe even the system. Meng Lin hoped that she was thinking too much into it however she could never rule it out. As for the identity of the girl, that too was unknown and she couldnt help but think about her mother. Ever since she transmigrated, she had not met her mother and even her father had not mentioned anything about her, as if she had a died long ago. However, Meng Lin knew that, that was not the case because even now she couldnt recollect any memories about her. It was as if all memories of her were blocked, leaving a few fragments of blurry shadows. Slash Slash Thrust Meng Lins movements became more intense as she was brought back from her thought, focusing solely on her swordplay. She felt her mind clear again as she continued to practice, and soon she was lost in the fluidity of her movements once again. 3 more hours passed, and she finally stopped, feeling exhausted but satisfied with her progress. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and looked at the trembling sword in her sore hands. She knew that with enough practice, any weapon would become an extension of her body, a part of her being, a dangerous level of mastery. Meng Lin smiled, feeling a little accomplished. It had been a while since she lost herself in concentration like this and she was naturally happy with her performance. Putting away her sword she took her sore body to clean up before going to bed. She knew that she had a long way to go on her cultivation journey, but she was determined to continue on and uncover the mysteries of her past as well as get stronger. As she lay in bed, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, focusing on calming her mind and letting go of any lingering thoughts. She felt her body relax and soon she drifted off into a deep and peaceful sleep. But her peaceful slumber was soon interrupted by a vivid dream, a dream in which she found herself watching someone being tortured. Meng Lin was confused at first, not understanding why she was witnessing such a gruesome scene. But soon, she came to her senses and tried to move, but her limbs were bound by an invisible force, and she was unable to move. She felt the ancestral symbol pulsing through her chest in her dantian and she looked up at the scene. The cultivator being tortured was a middle aged man, with an even build with his hair obscuring his face. He did not scream or beg for mercy, instead, he spoke with his tormentor in a calm and collected manner. Meng Lin could hear their conversation clearly, and the voice sent shivers down her spine. As she stood there she saw the torturer grew increasingly angry, and they began to use various methods to extract the information they wanted. Stop! Meng Lin yelled as she watched the torturer take out out a sharp blade and begin to slice into the man''s flesh, but her voice was unheard. The scene became more and more gruesome, and Meng Lin felt sick to her stomach. She wanted nothing more than to do something but she couldnt move. But just as she thought it couldn''t get any worse, the man being tortured suddenly turned his head to look at her. Meng Lin gasped, feeling a jolt of fear run through her body as their eyes met and she instantly recognized the man. 90. Exchanging For More Meng Lin woke up, gasping for breath and covered in sweat. She could feel shock and horror wash over her as if shed been there and experienced it in real time. It took her a while to calm down and her heart was heavy with uncertainty. She knew that it was just a dream, but the images were still fresh in her mind, and she couldn''t shake off the feeling of unease that lingered. She closed her eyes and focused on calming down and suppressing the pulsing ancestral symbol that was in her Dantian. A few minutes later she opened her eyes to realize she that it had already been the next day, with the sun already high in the sky. Meng Lin got up from her bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up. As she washed her face, she couldn''t help but think about her dream. She wondered if it was just a product of her imagination or if it was a vision sent by the ancestral symbol. She has a large abundance of memories worth five hundred to six hundred years of history, experience and knowledge, and there were a few instance of cultivators receiving insights and visions through their ancestral symbols, but she had never experienced it herself so she cant be sure. Meng Lin shook her head, deciding to not think about it too much for the time being. She realized that even if it was true, she couldnt do anything about it, the only thing she could do was continue to improve her cultivation. She went back to her room and started to prepare herself for the day ahead. Meng Lin decided to head out to another division building once again, she needed spirit stones. A few minutes later she arrived at the division building, she could see other diciples going in and out of the building as at the top it says. *Inner Sect Exchange Center* it was a sect exchange center where cultivators could exchange items or sell them for resources from the sect. Meng Lin made her way inside and headed straight to the exchange counter. As she approached the exchange counter, she was greeted by a friendly middle-aged man who had a warm smile on his face. "Hello there, young lady. How can I assist you today?" he asked. Meng Lin smiled back and handed him a storage bag, within it are the items she had brought. "I would like to exchange these for spirit stones please," she said. The man looked through the items with a raised eyebrow before he nodded. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "These are of good quality. I can offer you a fair exchange rate," he said. Meng Lin nooded, waiting as the man thought for a moment before speaking. For the spirit beasts, I assume you already know that they are at a fixed price, early stage Rank 1 is 20, middle stage is 40, late stage is 60 while the peak is 80 Meng Lin nooded as she didnt think much about it, her focus were on the Rank 2 corpses. For the next ones, the rank 2, it is 200, 400, 600 and 900 for each stage of the realm, But depending on the damage dealt to the body of the spirit beast, the price may vary Meng Lin nodded again, understanding the pricing system. Now lets count, four peak Rank 1 spirit beast totaled to 320 low grade spirit stones,for rank 2, its one early stage Lighting snake, one middle stage Razorteeth Crocodile and one Dragon blooded Dear, the Fiend Deer All that added with two peak rank 2 ape carcasses and the 17 Orchid Spring Flower would be 4250 low grade spirit stones Meng Lin was pleased with the amount she would be receiving in exchange for her items so she agreed to the exchange immediately. The man handed her the spirit stones, and Meng Lin counted them before putting them in her storage ring. She thought for a moment as she doesnt have the required amount for that Lunar Stone sword and she wanted to buy even more things after that. She asked, how much is the exchange rate for a rank 3 spirit beast Thats 2500 for the early stage, 4000 for the middle stage, 6500 for the late stage and lastly its 8000 for the peak stage Meng Lin nodded, considering her options. She had known that rank 3 spirit beasts were incredibly rare and powerful, so their corpses were sought after. After a moment of hesitation, she made a decision. "I would like to exchange with you an early stage rank 3 beast corpse" she said to the man. The man''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "An early stage rank 3 spirit beast corpse? That''s quite a rarity, young lady. Are you sure you have one to exchange?" Meng Lin nodded confidently. "Yes, I do. I came across it during my cultivation journey." The man nodded, impressed. "Very well, the exchange rate for an early stage rank 3 spirit beast corpse is 2500 low grade spirit stones. Do you have it with you?" Meng Lin nodded and took out another storage bag and handed it over to the man, who examined it closely before nodding with approval. "This is indeed an early stage rank 3 spirit beast corpse. I will offer you the exchange rate of 2500 low grade spirit stones, since its intact he said. Meng Lin agreed to the exchange and received the spirit stones in return as well as her two storage bags. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" he asked. Meng Lin thought for a moment and then asked, "Do you have any cultivation techniques or martial arts manuals available?" The man nodded his head. "Yes, we have a wide selection of cultivation techniques and martial arts manuals however those can only be exchanged with sect points Meng Lin nodded, understanding the exchange system. She knew that sect points were earned through completing missions and contributing to the sect. "Thank you, I will keep that in mind," she said to the man. With her new resources in hand, Meng Lin left the exchange center feeling satisfied and ready to continue with her plan. Wasting no time she headed towards the teleportation area which took her a few dozen minutes before arriving. She passed through the formation before arriving at a new environment again with the same bustling of activity as yesterday. Meng Lin walked around before heading towards a single shop, a small shop at the corner of the market. After arriving, she instantly saw the shopkeeper, who upon seeing her, greeted her with a smile. "Welcome back, young lady. Have you come for that sword?" he asked. Meng Lin nodded. "Yes, I have. I would like to purchase the Mystic Lunar Sword," she said, unintentionally giving the sword a name while handing over the required 5000 low grade spirit stones. The shopkeeper examined the spirit stones before nodding with approval. "Very well, the sword is yours," he said, handing over the sword to Meng Lin. Meng Lin took the sword and felt its weight in her hands once again. She knows the power and potential within the The Mystic Luner stone, and she plans to make it a valuable asset in her cultivation journey. "Thank you," she said to the shopkeeper before leaving the shop with a placated smile on her face. 91. Black Tortoise Essence Art Meng Lin continued to go around the market and buys a few things like metals and spiritual items that she requires. Along the way she browsed through several vendors with cultivation manuals and techniques, looking for something that would complement her current cultivation path. However she didnt see anything that caught her eyes and so she decided to return and see if the system market had anything worthwhile. Upon returning to her courtyard, Meng Lin activated her system and went to the market right away. Focusing on the cultivation arts and manuals she was quickly presented with a list of techniques and manuals, each with their own unique benefits and requirements. Meng Lin browsed through the list and after careful scrutinizations she found one that caught her eye, "Black Tortoise Essence Art", a body refining art with five cycles, each one focused on an aspect of the Black Tortoise. Hesitating a bit she purchased the Manuel for 880 system coins before a small book appeared in front of her. Reaching out to it she saw the familiar system message that started her on her journey. [Discovered A Low-grade High Tier Manuel, Black Tortoise Essence Art] [Do you wish to Learn] Meng Lin paused for a moment, considering the offer. She knew that High Tier cultivation Arts were rare and difficult to obtain but they were even more difficult to learn. Cultivation techniques and cultivation manuals were two different things with the manuals requiring intensive training, representing the foundation of a cultivators strength. It cant be changed and will become the basis for the next manual that will be following after it. Techniques on the other hand are representing attacks or methods that require just a bit of learning to use, with the attack increasing with the amount of comprehension put into it. She felt slightly embarrassed, knowing that she didnt focus on cultivation Manuals as she only learned a few technique skills and was already content with those. As she looked at the book floating in front of her, Meng Lin decided to study the manual on her own first. She opened the book and began to read through it, studying the techniques and cycles of the Black Tortoise Essence Art. As she read through the manual, Meng Lin realized that the Black Tortoise Essence Art was more complex than she had initially thought. The techniques required precise movements and a deep understanding of the body''s spiritual Vains and channels. Meng Lin spent a few more minutes studying the manual, reading and re-reading each section until she felt that she had a basic understanding of the 5 techniques. The Black Tortoise Essence Art was a body refining art that focused on strengthening the cultivators body through five different cycles. It can be cultivated to the Nascent soul Realm with its full potential being unleashed at the peak of cultivation. The first cycle focused on the Black Tortoises body, allowing the qi gathering around to transform and be incorporated into the bodys flesh and bone. the second cycle focused on enhancing the spiritual veins and internal organs, making them durable enough to withstand and carry qi pressure that would otherwise be impossible to carry. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The third cycle focused on the insanely strong stomach of the Black Tortoise, which upon swallowing anything would be transformed and refined to increase the cultivator''s strength and durability. The fourth cycle of the Black Tortoise Essence Art focused on the creature''s powerful claws. These claws were not only used for hunting and defense, but also contained immense energy that could be harnessed by a skilled cultivator. Through the use of this cycle, a practitioner could refine their own nails as claws, increasing their sharpness and power, and infusing them with the same energy that the Taotie possessed, it allowed for devastating attacks and unparalleled strength in hand techniques. The final cycle of the Black Tortoise Essence Art was the most difficult and dangerous, It focuses on the creature''s powerful snake tail. Through this cycle, cultivators can refine their own spine and tailbone, creating a tail that is as strong and flexible as the Black Tortoises. By channeling spiritual consciousness into their tail, cultivators can nurture a semi conscious mind to strike their enemies with incredible force, additionally, their spine will become more resilient, allowing them to withstand and recover from injuries more quickly. She was excited to test all of them but she wants to experiment a little so she decided to sit down and cultivate the first layer of the Black Tortoise Essence Art. She closed her eyes and focused on her body, trying to feel the spiritual energy flowing through her veins and channels. She began to move her qi in a slow and deliberate manner, following the instructions in the manual. As she did, she felt a little bit of something, a subtle change in the flow of her spiritual energy. It was a small change, but it was enough to make her feel excited and hopeful. She continued to move and cultivate, slowly building up her understanding and control of the Black Tortoise Essence Art. After two hours of training, Meng Lin opened her eyes and felt a sense of satisfaction. She had made progress, albeit small. None the less she was amazed by the cycles of the Black Tortoise Essence Art. She knew that mastering this art would take time and effort, even with all the intricate details that she now has a hold of. Taking out a piece of talisman she recorded her experience and comprehension before deciding to finally learn the manual through the system. Right after she said yes to the floating option before her Meng Lin felt a surge in her head as more informations began to flow into her mind. She felt her body responding to the information, as if it was waking up from a deep slumber. Meng Lins body immediately began to practice the first cycle, focusing on the Taoties body. She closed her eyes and cleared her mind, utilizing the techniques from her memory, which was completely different from before. She could feel the qi gathered around her, flowing into her body like water and transforming into a warm and soothing energy. As Meng Lin concentrated on the techniques, she could feel her body changing vividly. She could sense the energy flowing through her body, and it was as if she could feel every single cell in her body multiplying and strengthening. Meng Lin felt as if she had entered into a different state of consciousness, as if she had transcended the physical realm and entered into a world of pure energy and power. As she continued to focus on the first cycle, she could feel her body becoming more and more powerful. She could feel her muscles expanding and becoming denser, her bones becoming stronger and more resilient. Within a few hours, Meng Lin had already made significant progress in the first cycle of the Black Tortoise Essence Art. She had already surpassed what she thought was possible for her body. Meng Lin was in awe of the power of this cultivation speed, and she was eager to see what else she could accomplish with it. She continued to practice, pushing herself to the limit, until she felt that she could unleash her bodys full force in every move that she does. In just four hours, Meng Lin had achieved more than she ever thought was possible. She had mastered the first cycle of the Black Tortoise Essence Art, and she was already looking forward to mastering the other four cycles. She opened her eyes and grinned at the idea before turning her focus to the system, it seems that she had been looking down on this particular function of the system, with it she could learn untold amounts of techniques in just a single day. She realized that she only learned two other manuals since the beginning and they were the qi gathering method and the Formless Cultivation method. The qi gathering method was only a low grade art so she didnt feel all that impressed by the systems function. The Formless Cultivation Method has realm requirements, making it impossible to learn everything at once. But there were plenty of such manuals in the system market and if she used the systems function well then it could essentially become a second golden finger, no a cheat. She laughed like a child at the prospect of such a path and she barely had sleep at night with the large amount of vigor in her body. 92. Leopard Garden Meng Lin walked through the beautiful roads of the sect, her eyes darting from one building to the other. She took out a small map which showed all the buildings around her before changing directions to walk towards a certain direction. After a few minutes of walking, she finally spotted the building she was looking for. It was a tall, imposing structure with the sect''s emblem etched onto its front doors. At the top says *Sect Missions* . Having some thoughts in her head Meng Lin pushed open the doors and stepped inside. The interior of the building was surprisingly quiet, the only sounds coming from the scratching of quills on paper and the occasional murmur of voices, even when the building had quiet a bit of disciples. Meng Lin walked up to the front desk before speaking. "Excuse me," she said, "I''m looking to post a mission The man at the desk looked up from his paperwork and asked. "Do you have the authority Meng Lin replied with a nod, showing her gold token. The man nodded. "Very well," he said. "Just fill out on this talisman and we''ll post your mission on the boards. Meng Lin took the talisman and began to fill it out and once she had finished, she handed the form back to the man and watched as it glowed before disappearing. "That will be 20 spirit stones for posting a mission on another divisions mission board," the man said. Another divisions board? Meng Lin thought as she paid the fee and began to walk away, she hoped it doesnt take long, the mission should be easy for any blacksmith. As Meng Lin was about to leave she quickly noticed a crowd of people around something, it was the mission board for the Martial Arts Division. "Do you see that? It''s a 6th star mission! That''s incredibly dangerous!" Naturally as a cultivator Meng Lin was able to hear what they were saying, and listening to the crowd made her raise an eyebrow, she knows that missions were numbered from one to six depending on the difficulty level. The mission that she posted was only at the second star of difficulty and it was only because she wasnt comfortable writing it as a first star mission that she didnt lower it further, otherwise she could get someone who doesnt fit her requirements, but now a 6th star. With curiosity getting the better of her, Meng Lin made her way over to the board to see what all the fuss was about. As she made her way through the crowd, she finally caught a glimpse of the mission as everyone around began talking between themselves about the mission. "It says it requires a team of cultivators at the the Foundation Establishment Realm with a Gold Core leading the mission." "Why would they even offer a mission like that? There aren''t many cultivators who have reached that level." "And there''s no direct explanation on what the mission is about. That makes it even more weird." The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "I wouldn''t even think of attempting that mission. The chances of death are too high." "With such a dangerous level, usually only the most influential factions in the Division would be able to pick it up right It was clear that no one around was willing to take on such a dangerous mission, Meng Lin included, but she was curious about what was so special about it that the Sect would choose not to show the mission details. Meng Lin made a mental note to keep an eye on the mission and to see if anyone would actually attempt it. For now, she was content with completing her own tasks and improving her cultivation. As she already had a plan for the day, Meng Lin didnt stay for long as she left the building, heading to the Market once again. This time looking for three spicific items. Meng Lin walked through the bustling market, her eyes scanning the various stalls and shops for the items she needed. After browsing through the Market for god knows how long Meng Lin was finally able to get the items she wanted and for a decent price too. Although her storage bag was empty of spirit stones, she couldnt help but laugh at herself for her lack of money. Now all thats left is a branch of a Rainbow Tree muttered Meng Lin as she walked towards the teleportation formations, returning towards her division mountain. Moving through the mountainous terrain of the Martial Arts Division, Meng Lin headed towards a small section of the small map covered with cherry blossoms threes, the courtyards of female disciples. Alonge the way Meng Lin walked past beautiful scenery and gardens that she had never seen before, they seemed to be vibrant and alive. Perhaps it was the excitement of meeting other female cultivators or perhaps it was the thrill of the unknown, but Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel a sense of wonder and awe as she walked. Finally, she arrived at the cherry blossom courtyards and made her way towards the center. It was a beautiful area, filled with cherry blossom trees all around the multiple different courtyards around. The cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, their delicate pink and white petals fluttering gently in the breeze. Meng Lin walked through the area, admiring the beauty of the cherry blossoms and the wonder of the petals. She became lost in thought as a voice jolted her form her dazed state. Meng Lin, right, youre the new diciple that is living in the mens courters Meng Lin turned around to see a young female disciple standing in front of her, a smile on her face, she wore the standard inner disciple white robe, it contracted well with all the cheery blossom around. "Yes, that''s me," Meng Lin replied slightly embarrassed, she was a little surprised that she lost herself in admiration for a moment. "I''m Xiaojie," the girl said, introducing herself. "I heard you were moving around the whole sect lately but who knew youd come visit the cherry blossom trees today. Meng Lin nodded, a little unsure of what to say. She wasn''t used to people being so friendly towards her, especially someone she had just met. "It''s nice to meet you, Xiaojie," Meng Lin said politely. Xiaojie smiled. "I''ve heard a lot about you, Meng Lin. You''re quite talented, aren''t you?" Meng Lin felt a little embarrassed by the compliment. "I don''t know about that," she said. "I''m still learning a lot." Xiaojie giggled. "Don''t be so modest, not even Lu Xuan underestimates you so you shouldnt underestimate yourself too Lu Xuan Meng Lin repeated, hearing about a familiar name. Isnt the cherry blossom courters nice, Xiaojie changed the subject, I love coming here to relax and admire the beauty of the cherry blossoms. It''s such a peaceful place." Meng Lin smiled, feeling a little more at ease with Xiaojie''s friendly demeanor. "Yes, it''s really beautiful here. I can see why you like coming here." Her smile subsided as she continued to say I actually came for that, I heard that there is a Cherry Blossom Tree here that turns color from time to time Do you know if any of the courtyards have them?" Hearing that, Xiaojie''s eyes lit up, "Yes! you must be talking about the legendary Rainbow Cherry Blossom Tree, its in a courtyard in the Leopard Garden! The Leopard Garden? Meng Lin repeated, feeling a little confused. She had never heard of such a place before. Xiaojie nodded. "Yes, it''s a special garden that surrounds the courtyards of the strongest Female Diciples, only a few select disciples are allowed to enter It''s said that the Rainbow Cherry Blossom Tree only blooms once every few years, and when it does, its petals turn into a rainbow of colors." Meng Lin nooded, confirming with herself. "That sounds incredible," she said. "I would love to see it." Xiaojies smile dropped. "Maybe one day you will. But for now, let''s enjoy the beauty of these cherry blossoms right here." Meng Lin nodded with a chuckle, feeling Xiaojie''s company and the chance to relax and enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossom trees. 93. The Mission Invitation After spending a few minutes admiring the beautiful scenery, Meng Lin bid farewell to Xiaojie and walked around for a few minutes before taking out a talisman from her robe. Injecting a small amount of qi into it she said. "Feng Yue, you live in the Leopard Garden right, do you have a moment? I have a proposition for you," Meng Lin said. "Meng Lin?" Almost immediately a blank voice replied back through the talisman. **** The next day, Meng Lin sat down at a luxurious table, admiring the intricate designs that adorned the restaurant. She is currently sitting in one of the most known restaurants in the Martial Arts Division, Golden Lotus Restaurant, a three story building with complex architecture, and intricate decorations that stretch from the ground floor all the way to the roof. The walls were painted with ornate patterns and the ceiling was adorned with luminescent stones with crystals that sparkled in the light. As she looked around, she saw that the tables were made of the finest wood and the chairs were softly padded with velvet cushions. Meng Lin smiled as she realized that this floor must be quite expensive seeing as she was the only one sitting here, it was her first time at a place like this and she couldnt help but think as to what led her here. Yesterday, Before they parted ways Yue Feng recommended this restaurant as a place to meet, and she didnt think much about it at the time as she was in a hurry, but now. She couldnt help but have a weak smile as she didnt think it would be like this, she was running low on spirit stones so something like this seemed a bit out of reach for her. As she sat there, seemingly waiting for something, she couldn''t help but hear the gossip of a few diciples down below. On the second floor of the restaurant was the gossip of a few diciples that talked as they ate. "Really, something happened in the Leopard Garden?" "Yes, you didnt hear that Lu Xuan and Feng Yue almost had a fight! "What could it be about?" "I dont know however, the entire Leopard Garden is on lockdown now, Lu Xuan isnt letting anyone in." Meng Lin couldn''t help but shake her head in disapproval, it appears that she really cant understand Lu Xuan. Why was she so stubborn? Its just a branch, its not like the entire tree was taken Meng Lin muttered to herself. Youve gone and made her furious, and thats all you can say a voice was heard from behind her, causing Meng Lin to turn around. Appearing before her was Feng Yue, and with the usual expressionless face, she said in a deep voice, You better not let her find out, if she does, you apologize immediately Feng Yue came forward to seat before continuing. then again, its not like she will let it go, she is too prideful and arrogant for that Meng Lin nodded, understanding where Feng Yue was coming from, she had heard that Lu Xuan was the type of person who had a hard time letting things go. Stolen story; please report. "But why do I need to apologize?" Meng Lin asked, a bit reluctant. "I didn''t do anything wrong." Feng Yue smiled. "Yes, technically, its not a part of her courtyard so she had no right to care about it "Anyways, i came for another matter altogether Feng Yue continued. Meng Lin looked up in surprise. "Oh? What''s that?" Feng Yue leaned backwards, her thoughts a mystery, how about we eat first Meng Lin nodded, realizing that Feng Yue was probably going to be talking about an important topic. They ordered their food in silence with the the hustle and bustle of the restaurant in the lower floors. Looking at the food in front of her Meng Lin felt her appetite appear and she realized that she was more hungry than she had thought, without further thought she began to dig in. Raising an eyebrow at the delectableness of the food she ate, Meng Lin felt pleasantly surprised. As they ate, Feng Yue finally spoke up. "I want to ask for your help." Meng Lin raised her head from her meal. "My help? With what?" "Have you been hearing about the 6th star mission going around the sect Meng Lin nodded. I would like to invite you to join in on the completion of the mission Meng Lins gaze hardened as she realized the seriousness of the situation. Putting down the tableware she asked What kind of mission is it exactly? Feng Yue leaned in closer. We need to retrieve an artifact of the sect deep in the nether cloud domains of the south. As you may or may not know, the Nether Cloud Domain is a completely separate dimension that opens once every 10 years The last time it was open, Han Li, our sect prodigy at the time ventured within with one of our three sect artifact in hand sect artifact? Meng Lin interrupted, her interest piqued, having no memory of such a thing. "What is it?" Feng Yue stopped for a moment before answering. "It''s a weapon. A weapon that was forged by our sect''s founder and imbued with his spiritual imprint Meng Lins eyes shone with admiration. That weapon must be powerful then she naturally knew of what a spiritual imprint was, its a small consciousness that lingers for centuries, teaching whom ever it deems worthy. "I see," Meng Lin said if its so precious, why would the sect not just send the strongest cultivators to retrieve it Feng Yue sighed. "Unfortunately, only those with a bone frame below the age of 30 can enter, so the sect can only post it as a mission since it matches the age of Foundation Establishment diciples Meng Lin thought about the situation before asking an important question. What is this Nether Cloud Domain, why did the sect prodigy go there, and what kind of dangers are we facing?" Feng Yue leaned in with her hollow eyes and started to explain. "The Nether Cloud Domain is a place filled with rare resources and treasures with unknown mysteries. It is said that the dangers include demonic beasts, poisonous plants, and most importantly, other cultivators from other sects who are willing to kill for the treasures that lie within." "But why did Han Li go there?" Meng Lin asked, still curious. Feng Yue paused for a moment before continuing. "Han Li went to retrieve a rare material for his own cultivation, but he also had a personal mission to complete. He was searching for a way to cure his master''s illness, and he believed that the Nether Cloud Domain held the answer." Meng Lin listened attentively, taking in all of the information. She knew that going on this mission would be dangerous, but the opportunities far outweighed the risks, it was too tempting to resist. Plus the strength of those there will not be of a higher realm, and if there are any then with the items that she has, she was confident in at least ensuring her own escape. "Alright I''m joining!" she exclaimed, having made her decision. Feng Yue smiled. "Good, I knew you would be interested. Weve already gathered a team of cultivators We Meng Lin asked, a bit confused by the way Feng Yue was addressing. Yes, the sect wouldnt allow us to participate if we dont have a cultivator at the Gold Core Realm with a bone frame under 30. And since we dont have that we wait for a week, he can surly get it done in the next few days Feng Yue said ambiguously with a smile as she didnt plan to stay for long. Standing up, she said when the Nether Cloud Domain opens in two weeks is when we set off, see you then Feng Yue left Meng Lin who nodded back, feeling excitement and nerves building up inside her. This mission would be her chance to experience an explosive growth and gain valuable experience in the cultivation world. Miss a waiter, a young girl at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm came over to Meng Lins table, interrupting her from her thoughts. "Excuse me, miss, but the payment for this floor''s meal is due," the waiter said, causing Meng Lin to feel a bit awkward. Feng Yue had left without paying. 94. Young Blacksmith Meng Lin walked out of the restaurant with a small pout on her face, she had spent her last remaining spirit stones on the meal. She hadnt expected Feng Yue to have left without paying, she cried crocodile tears at the thought of her last spirit stones. Luckily it was just the meal, and not the reservation for the entire floor, Meng Lin pitied herself, no wonder the floor was empty, but why did Feng Yue waste so much spirit stones just for that. Its a good thing I snatched that young boss of the bandits with the hundreds of Orchid Spring Flowers in the storage bag, she could probably make more spirit stones than what she lost these past days. Thats 15 spirit stones per flower and she has more than three hundred of those kinds of flowers. As she walked through the sect she couldnt help but think about the conversation a few minutes ago. The Nether Cloud Domains, it strangely has the same name as my bracelets from the system, I wonder it they have any connections A different dimension, full of treasures and dangers, its a lot like those events that happen in cultivation novels, hopefully its not as dangerous. Arriving at her courtyard, Meng Lin saw someone waiting for outside the barrier. It was a young man wearing the standard white robes of inner sect disciples, however on his chest was an emblem, a different emblem. With dark circles around his eyes, the young man looked down at the floor, his focus elsewhere. Meng Lin frowned, wondering who he was, he was clearly only at the peak of the qi gathering realm and yet he was an inner sect diciple. "Excuse me, you are?" she asked, approaching him with a curious gaze. Oh The young man was startled awake before turning to her and cupping his fists in nervousness. "Greetings Senior Sister, my name is Ruan Lee, umm, ah you requested a mission right Meng Lin raised an eyebrow. "Yes, are you a blacksmith? Ruan Lee nooded, pointing to the symbol on his chest. Alright, lets exchange here then, do you have your notes Ruan Lee nodded again, handing over a thick journal that looked like it had seen better days. Meng Lin raised an eyebrow at that, she had mentioned in the mission about a more detailed version, she didnt think it would look like this. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. She took the journal and flipped through the pages filled with detailed notes and experimental logs and closed the book with a satisfied smile, turning to Ruan Lee she said. This is excellent work, it will help a lot Ruan Lee looked at her in surprise, he thought that she was going to be like the rest and refuse him, he couldnt help but worry. Umm, yes Not knowing what to do he scratched the back of his head with a nervous smile. Here Meng Lin said as she took out a small bag. Inside is the mission reward, you can get the sect points from the sect at the sects mission building Ruan Lee nooded before taking the bag to look inside. After taking a look inside Ruan Lees dark circled eyes widened as he hurriedly closed the bag. Thank you Senior Sister, youre too kind Meng Lin shrugged. Am just fulfilling my end of the bargain, Keep up the good work and continue to contribute to the sects growth. Ruan Lee nodded, quickly saying a few thanks before leaving. As he left, Meng Lin couldnt help but wonder about him, he seems to be not having enough sleep, and he was awfully nervous. Meng Lin looked at the book in her hand before smiling, since it was a rewarding experience, she added 12 more Orchid Spring Flowers to the original mission reward which as it turns out was only sect points. Sect points that she wouldnt have to be the one to give as the sect would pay for her first mission posted as long as the reward was under 50 mission points. Meng Lin turned to enter her courtyard while the barrier flickered to let her in. Walking over to the pond she let out Purple, the slithering snake from her systems beast garden. Splash the snake floated in the pond, seeming to enjoy coming outside as it circled the edges while splashing water everywhere. Meng Lin took out two beast forage before tossing them inside as she made her way towards one of the untouched rooms in the courtyard. Sitting down and positioning her body she crossed her legs before closing her eyes to meditate. Splash Splash Splash A few hours passed and she felt her mind and body rejuvenated, opening her she took out the journal given to her before she opened it to read it. Inside was everything about blacksmithing from rank 1 to rank 3, equivalent to being able to create a low grade weapon. Alongside it are the materials, item grades and even some unique qi movements. Meng Lin flipped through the pages, her eyes scanning over the intricate diagrams and precise measurements. She was impressed by the level of detail and dedication Ruan Lee had put into his craft. This really is excellent, Meng Li said as all of a sudden she felt that she had cheated Ruan Li of this. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(Late)] [Experience points: 9%] System coin:450 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 1st Layer] Techniques: [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin raised her eyebrows as she was not expecting the system to change the details once again but it probably was because of herself influencing it. Her gaze travled to the end, where she focused onto the blacksmith and alchemy. Back then when she had received the two options as a reward from the system, she didnt use them as they required more understanding and knowledge than what she had at the time. But now, with Ruan Lees notes, and her memories from the ancestral symbol she could start to delve deeper into the world of blacksmithing and alchemy. Meng Lin smiled to herself, feeling excited at the prospect of learning more and expanding her skills so she didnt waste time before viewing the blacksmiths panel. 95. Blacksmiths Panel [Blacksmith (beginning) 0%] Weapon slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: none Meng Lin narrowed her eyes at the panel before her, trying to figure out what each function meant. As its her first time, she had never seen the blacksmith panel before and was eager to learn. She focused on the first function listed, the weapon slot. From what she could gather, it seemed to be where she could select the type of weapon she wanted to create. Next, she looked at the ingredients function. Meng Lin assumed it was where she could select the materials she wanted to use for her creation. And lastly was the chance of success, she wondered if it will show the chance based on the ingredients listed or if it was something else. She remembered the large amounts of clearstone rock and iron she had bought earlier and thought to experiment a bit with the panel. She began with selecting the weapon slot and was presented with another list. [Weapon Options] [Item Options] Clicking on the weapon options Meng Lin was greeted with a very long list. 1. Sword - A long, sharp-bladed weapon that is commonly used by cultivators. It is a versatile weapon that can be used for both offense and defense. 2. Bow - A ranged weapon that shoots arrows. It is commonly used by cultivators who specialize in archery. 3. Staff - A long, wooden weapon that is used for striking and blocking attacks. It is often used by cultivators who specialize in magical spells. 4. Whips - A long, flexible weapon that is used for entangling and restraining opponents. It is often used by cultivators who specialize in capturing and subduing enemies. She was amazed at the variety of weapons listed in the panel, she had only known about swords seeing as its the most common weapon used by cultivators. The panel was showing her weapons that she doesnt even know of. Meng Lin went back to the previous panel to see the items that she could create. Item Options: 1. Alchemy Furnace - A device used for refining pills and elixirs. It is often used by cultivators who specialize in alchemy. 2. Formation Flags - Flags used to create formations that can enhance or weaken certain aspects of the environment. They are often used by cultivators who specialize in formations and traps. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. 3. Refining Cauldron - A device used for refining weapons and armor. It is often used by cultivators who specialize in weapon and armor crafting. 4. Soul Crystal - A crystal that contains a cultivator''s soul. It is often used as a backup in case of death. Meng Lin was fascinated by the items listed. She saw some of some of them but didn''t know of them beforehand. She made a mental note to learn more about them in the future. Meng Lin selected a basic sword and was shown the ingredients she required which matched the materials already has. Taking out the ingredients Meng Lin saw a small couldron appear before her, a refining couldron whichs inside were completely void of color. She tossed the ingredients inside while two more panel appear before her. [Blacksmith (beginning) 0%] Weapon slot: [normal sword] Ingredients: [ Clearstone rockx1, Ironx2, Coal2x, SandDustx2] Chance of success: 50% The first panel showed the overall panel with the success rate of the creation, which was currently at 50%. Meng Lin began wonder why it wasnt higher, she had already gathered all the ingredients listed and it was just a normal sword, completely different from a cultivators sword so why was the success rate at 50. She racked her brain for a while before coming to the conclusion that the success rate was based upon her knowledge and experience as a blacksmith. She realized that the success rate was not only determined by the ingredients but also by her skills and expertise as a blacksmith. She took a deep breath and focused her attention on the second panel, which showed a start button. Meng Lin hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was ready to start the forging process. But she knew that she wouldn''t learn anything by just staring at the panel. With a hopeful look on her face, she clicked the start button. The couldron began to heat up, and a countdown appeared on the couldron. 1:27 seconds. Meng Lin watched as the void insides of the couldron began to light up, while she began to imagine the ingredients fusing inside. She couldn''t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation as she waited for the countdown to be completed. As the countdown reached zero, a loud ding echoed through the air, signaling something had happened. Meng Lin was about to approach the couldron when suddenly a system panel appeared before her face, surprising her. [Congratulations for successfully creating your first weapon] [You have received a reward for creating your first weapon] [you have received taoist gacha wheel ticket] [you have received the items:, Clearstone rockx24, Ironx16, Coalx5, SandDustx8] [You have gained experience for creating a normal sword] [Do you wish to accept the rewards] Meng Lin was ecstatic, she had successfully created her first weapon and even received a reward for it. She wanted to try the Gacha wheel right away but she let it go as she focused on the others. She looked at the ingredients she had received and noticed that she had gotten more than she had put in. She assumed it was probably because she would not get a reward like that again, maybe when she reaches a breakthrough in blacksmith. [Do you wish to accept the rewards] Meng Lin naturally picked yes while the bunch of ingredients appeared floating before her, it made her feel proud even though there was practically nothing to be proud about. She reached out to grab the sword that appeared above the couldron but quickly pulled her hand back as it was still too hot to touch. Meng Lin stood there, admiring the sword that she had created. It wasn''t perfect, but it was a start. She knew that she had a lot to learn and improve upon, but she felt that she had it easy compared to the other blacksmiths. Meng Lin decided to spend the rest of the day exploring the blacksmithing panel. She experimented with different ordinary weapons as the system wouldnt allow her to create any cultivation weapons as a beginner. As the hours passed, Meng Lin began to feel more and more confident in her abilities, even her cultivation experience had increased by 1% just from doing blacksmithing. She had created several more weapons, each one with the succes rate better than the last, the only unfortunate thing was the lack of ingredients as she began to run out of them. As the sun began to set, Meng Lin knew that it was time to call it a day. She gathered up her newly created weapons and stored them before finally getting up from her crossed legged position. Ouu.. Meng Lin winced as her legs protested from being in the same position for so long. She stretched her limbs and took one last look at the blacksmith panel before leaving the room to go take a bath. 96. Pagoda Of Five Elements Meng Lin woke up early the next morning, feeling refreshed and excited. After breakfast, she quickly headed to the sect exchange building, excited to see what she could get with her easily-earned flowers. As she entered the building, on the counter she was greeted by the same man. "Hello there! What can I help you with today?" the man asked with a smile. Meng Lin replied, "I would like to exchange these orchid spring flowers for some spirit stones, please." She handed the man the storage with only the flowers inside. The man nodded and took the storage bag, looking inside it his eyes widened as he looked back up to Meng Lin. If you dont mind me asking, how did you get all this Meng Lin smiled, giving a vague answer while involving the Golden Fang Bandits. The man nodded, coming up with some thoughts by Meng Lin''s words. "Well, you certainly have a lot of flowers here. Let me count them for you," he said as he began to count. After a few minutes, he looked back up at Meng Lin. "You have a total of 422 orchid spring flowers. That totals to 6330 low grade spirit stones." Meng Lin face beamed with a smile as she stood not even a little bit surprised, she had obviously counted and calculated before coming here. "Wow, that''s a lot more than I expected," she said, feeling somewhat relieved. The man nodded. "Yes, it is a significant amount. You can exchange them for other items in the exchange building or keep them for yourself." Meng Lin thought for a moment before deciding to exchange some of the spirit stones for some better quality materials for her blacksmithing. She thanked the man and left the building, feeling excited about her money. As she walked out she didnt head back home but rather towards the training grounds where the pagodas are located. Meng Lin was going for the pagodas as she was allowed to use one particular pagoda up to two hours free of cost every day. It was called the Pagoda of Five Elements, and it was said to be one of the least challenging but more rewarding training grounds in the sect. Meng Lin arrived at the pagoda with little difficulty, she was greeted by an empty place with three or four diciples. Unlike the Ancient Spirit beast pagoda which gave off an imposing aura, the pagoda of 5 elements gave of the feeling of tranquility and balance. The challenges were not meant to test one''s strength or battle prowess, but rather their ability to control and manipulate the elements as well as help cultivate in seclusion. Sitting at the door of the pagoda was an old man who upon seeing someone approach the pagoda asked for sect points before letting the diciple enter. After waiting in the line of 3, Meng Lin approached the old man who looked at her weirdly. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Without even confirming with Meng Lin he said, 2 hours is your limit, stay for more and youll pay Meng Lin was taken aback by the old man''s laidback attitude. She had never encountered someone with such an abrupt attitude in the sect before. "I understand," she said with a polite nod. "I will make sure to finish my training within the two-hour limit." The old man merely grunted and gestured for her to enter the pagoda. Meng Lin took a deep breath and stepped inside, feeling her surroundings change as she saw herself in a completely different place. She was surrounded by over a hundred orbs of different colors with each radiating different elements. She was floating in space and she could feel the energy and power of the elements surrounding her. She knew that she had to act fast if she was going to make the most of her two hours. Spreading her spiritual consciousness, she realized that there were a total of 130 orbs of qi and she realized that she was able to move the floating orbs, the more orbs she moved, the more tasking it becomes for her. She started with the water elements, even though there was no floor she still crossed legged in space and closed her eyes. With her abnormally powerful spiritual consciousness, she was able to move 13 blue orbs to surround her, letting the qi inside chunk before flowing around her. She began to practice the Black Tortoise Essence Art while the surrounding qi began to slowly become incorporated into her bodys flesh and bone. She could feel the power of the water element flowing through her, and it was a feeling of tranquility and calmness. After an hour of practicing with the first layer, she thought to see if she could understand the next layer. She continued to practice the Black Tortoise Essence Art, this time instead of absorbing spiritual qi. She choosed to circulate her qi throughout her spiritual vains, with each spin being faster, sharper and more dangerous to her veins. She knew that this was a risky move, but she was determined to push her limits and see how far she could go. The second layer of the Black Tortoise Essence Art was much more challenging than the first one. It required a higher level of control over her qi so she would be able to stop when the pressure was too much, but Meng Lin was always having trouble with qi control making it more dangerous for her. She knew that she would not be able to master the second layer until the pressure within her spiritual vains were strong enough to reach outside her body. She focused her mind to the outmost as with each spin of her qi, she could feel death looming over, but she persisted and continued to circulate. Rumble! Suddenly, she was brought back to reality by the sound of a booming voice. "Time''s up Meng Lin abruptly woke up, quickly calming down her qi circulation before stopping her cultivation. Her face was drenched in sweat as she only then realized that she had completely lost track of time. She suddenly felt a force surround her before finding herself in front of the old man, who looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "You seem to have pushed yourself quite hard," he said, his voice laced with a hint of concern. Meng Lin nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. "Yes, I did. I''m sorry I lost track of time." The old man shook his head. "No need to apologize. It''s good to push yourself, but you must also know your limits, never dance with death for more than an instant, remember that." Meng Lin nooded, "Thank you," she said, bowing to the old man before leaving the pagoda feeling a bit ashamed. As she walked back home, she thought about what the old man had said. She knew that she needed to push herself, but she also needed to be careful not to overdo it. She made a mental note to work on her qi control and to be more mindful of her limits in the future. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(Late)] [Experience points: 15%] System coin:570 Taoist Gacha wheel: available Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 1st Layer] Techniques: [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lins eyes flashed with joy as she realized that she had made quiet a bit of progress in her cultivation, she had gained 5 percent. Despite her exhaustion, she felt happy and fulfilled, knowing that she had found a new source of cultivation. She suddenly looked forward to the next day, so that she could train in the Pagoda of Five Elements again. 97. Purple, Rank 2 Middle Stage The next three days Meng Lin was fully immersed in her training. She spent every morning practicing her blacksmithing and every afternoon at the Pagoda of Five Elements. She was determined to make the most out of her two hours every day and train herself to new heights. She continued to practice the Black Tortoise Essence Art and focused on improving her Qi control. She also experimented with her variant elemental Qi, Mud and Erosion, trying to find ways to incorporate them into her cultivation fights. By the end of the third day, she had made significant progress and felt more confident in her abilities, more so in the mud elemental Qi. She also used her newly acquired spirit stones to purchase better quality materials for her blacksmithing, creating weapons and items that significantly improved the percentage on her blacksmith panel. She was fully focused on her cultivation and wasnt particularly interested with anything else. The fourth day was a little different as the first thing she did after waking up was to go to the sect market and to buy some materials that she could use for a low grade item. Yet as she walked through the market, she noticed a commotion near one of the stalls. She approached to see what was going on and saw a group of cultivators arguing with the stall owner. "What''s going on?" Meng Lin asked one of the bystanders. The bystander, a man with shrewd face said little baby, this stall owner cheated them of their money." Meng Lin frowned, not liking the way the cultivator spoke to her. She approached another one before asking the same question. This cultivator, a flustered young man explained that the cultivators had bought some materials from the stall owner but were now claiming that they were of low quality and demanding a refund. Meng Lin walked forward to inspect the materials and saw that they were of decent quality, she instantly knew that the cultivators were trying to scam the stall owner. She didnt know weather to lauge or cry because this was a sect market, not some common place in the cultivation world for a main character to shine. She was about to walk away when she suddenly heard someone yell. "These materials are of good quality. You have no right to demand a refund." It was the stall owner, who had grown tired of the cultivators complaints. The cultivators grew angry at the stall owners words and began to argue loudly. Meng Lin watched from the sidelines, curious but not wanting to get involved. Suddenly, a young man appeared, his face contorted in anger. He pushed his way through the group of cultivators and confronted them. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. "You guys are trying to scam this poor stall owner, arent you?" he said, his voice ringing loud and clear in the crowded market, getting more attention from the bustling market. The angry cultivators turned to face him, their expressions hostile. "Mind your own business," one of them snarled. The young man didnt back down. "This is my business," he said firmly. "I won''t stand by and watch as you try to cheat someone out of their hard-earned money." Meng Lin watched with a raised eyebrow as the young man stood his ground, his eyes blazing with determination. She was actually quite suprised because she knew the young man. The argument continued, with the young man and the cultivators shouting at each other. Meng Lin listened to the heated exchange, her arm under her chin, interest piqued. Finally, the cultivators gave up and stormed off, cursing under their breath. The young man turned to the stall owner and smiled. "Are you okay?" he asked. The stall owner nodded, a look of gratitude on his face. "Thank you, young man," he said. "You saved me from a lot of trouble." The young man shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. "It was nothing," he said. "I just can''t stand bullies." Meng Lin watched as the young man walked away, feeling a little weary of the situation. She knew that it had only been a few days since she had last seen him but he seemed to have gone through a big change. She suddenly couldnt help but jokingly wonder if he was a main character in this cultivation world, not only had the young mans attitude change but his realm, aura and personality seemed to be different as well. The young man was Ruan Lee, the blacksmith with dark circles around the eyes, this time he didnt speak with nervousness but rather with confidence and his realm had increased to the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Meng Lin couldn''t help but be curious about what had happened to him in such a short amount of time. Regardless she didnt think too much about it, she bought some new materials and headed back home, more interested in her own cultivation. As she entered into her courtyard she heard a big splash coming from the pond and a large head emerged from underneath the surface. Hiss The snake splashed in the water, radiating aura equal to a middle stage rank 2 spirit beast, it was Purple who had been constantly growing in size and strength as Meng Lin continued to feed it beast forage everyday. Meng Lin only now realized how much bigger Purple had grown since she first acquired it. Its body was almost 12 meters long as its shimmering gray scales contrasted well with the faint purple hue in its eyes. Meng Lin was in awe of the spirit beast''s growth, and she couldn''t help but feel jealous of it. She approached the pond and reached out to stroke Purple''s head. The spirit beast hissed contentedly, enjoying the attention. Meng Lin smiled, feeling grateful for having such a loyal companion on her cultivation journey. She quickly fed Purple one more beast forage, hoping to further improve its strength. As she watched Purple devour the beast forage, Meng Lin headed towards the blacksmith room which currently has various weapons piled around with no care about them. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(Late)] [Experience points: 32%] System coin:570 Taoist Gacha wheel: available Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 1st Layer] Techniques: [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Focusing onto the blacksmith option Meng Lin was quickly greeted with the main panel for her blacksmith. [Blacksmith (beginning) 100%] Weapon slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: none Meng Lin smiled, feeling proud of her progress. She had improved from 0% to 100% after 4 days of refining swords, spears and other items. And she hoped that after today that all her efforts in the past four days would bloom some significant results. 98. Low Grade Weapon, Thunderstripped Sword Meng Lin was currently seated in her blacksmith room, in her hand was the journal filled with details about blacksmithing. Her eyes were immersed in the book as she carefully studied and reread the parts mentioning Low grade spirit weapons. After a few minutes of reading Meng Lin closed the book before calling out the system to head to the blacksmiths panel. [Blacksmith (beginning) 100%] Weapon slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: none These past few days she had been focused on improving her percentage and finally it has reached the hundred percent. The next step forward was to try and create a low grade weapon or item, otherwise she wouldnt be able to change the beginner status on the panel. Focusing on the weapons slot she quickly choosed a low grade sword which caused the whole panel to change once more. Knowing the ingredient for the weapon she also added them to the couldron before the panel showed the chance of success. [Blacksmith (beginning) 100%] Weapon slot: Low grade Sword Ingredients: Light Iron6, Fire Ore4, Shadow String, Thunder Wood1 Chance of success: 20% Meng Lin looked at the ingredients, carefully examining each one. She knew that the success rate would not rise anymore because of her current rank as a beginner blacksmith. Once she creates an actual low grade weapon then the success rate will rise and continue to rise as she makes more. Having just a 20 percent success of success Meng Lin didnt let it discourage her. Because she knows without the small refining cauldron doing most of the work then she would be spending months just to reach her current success rate. She took a deep breath and pressed the start button, she watched as the couldron showed a timer, one even more than the last ones. 5:99 seconds. Meng Lin took this time to carefully release her spiritual consciousness towards the couldron. Because the insides of the couldron were a void to the eye, she used her spiritual consciousness to sense what was happening inside. She didnt intend to interfere in the refining process but to rather watch and analyze so she could get an understanding. She watched as the Light Iron began to heat up until it was glowing red, Then, the Fire Ore began to be absorbed into the Light Iron as the red Iron began to take the shape of a blade on both ends. As she watched, she saw the Shadow String and Thunder Wood move towards the blade gradually melting to take the shape of a hilt that would provide a secure grip for the wielder. Finally, she saw their auras combined together, making them fuse into a cohesive whole. As Meng Lin was watching the scene, a loud ding echoed through the air, signaling the completion of the countdown. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Meng Lin opened her eyes with an expectant glow as she hoped to see system panels appear before her eyes, and she wasnt misled as a small panel appeared. [You have gained experience for creating a spiritual sword] The small glow within Meng Lins eyes suddenly dimmed, she hadnt manage to create a low grade spirit weapon However, she didn''t let it discourage her. She knew that failure was a part of the learning process, and that she needed to keep trying until she succeeded. Meng Lin carefully examined the floating sword above the couldron, she noted that the sword had spirituality however the harmony between the four ingredients werent good. She could sense that the aura of the sword was weak and unbalanced, which meant that it wouldn''t be very effective in combat and has a chance of suddenly losing function mid battle. Meng Lin took a breath and focused her attention on the journal once more. She searched for any clues or tips that could help her improve the harmony between the ingredients. Even though she knows that her knowledge would not increase as she already memorized the whole journey, she thought to still reread the journal. After a few minutes of reading, she decided to try again, she choosed a low grade sword and carefully took out the ingredients before putting them inside the refining couldron. She noticed that the chance of success had increased by 5 percent and attributed that to the last failure in creation. She pressed the start button once more, and this time she watched as the ingredients began to fuse together. As the countdown reached its end, Meng Lin held her breath, hoping for a better result this time. When the panel appeared again, she saw that the message was different and it caused her to spring in joy. [Congratulations! You have successfully created a low grade spirit weapon: Thunderstripped Sword] [For successfully creating a low grade weapon for the first time you have received the items: Light Iron13, Fire Ore10, Shadow Strings9, Thunder Wood10. Meng Lin couldn''t contain her excitement as she looked at the sword floating above the cauldron. It wasnt a beautiful weapon, but it had a sharp blade and a sturdy hilt made of Shadow Strings and Thunder Wood. She took the sword from the cauldron and examined it closely. It was somewhat imperfect compared to the two other low grade sprit swords that she had but it was still a low grade sword. Meng Lin felt a sense of pride and accomplishment as she held the Sword in her hands. She knew that she still had a long way to go for her to bring her plan to fruition, but this was definitely a step in the right direction. As the sun was reaching its peak, Meng Lin felt it was time to go towards the training grounds, to the Pagoda of five Elements. She left her blacksmith room and headed towards the pagoda and after a few minutes of her happily walking towards the pagoda she finally reached it. The pagoda, like always barely had a any diciples, this day Meng Lin found only one other diciple there, however the familiar face made her halt her steps. It was Liang Chen, the arrogant man with the symbol on his forehead, he seemed to have noticed her as well as he turned to look in her direction. Seeing her he grinned and said we meet again, greenhorn Meng Lin didnt want to engage in a conversation with him so she just nooded. You know Ill also be participating in the mission too he continued, trying to get a reaction out of her. Meng Lin just shrugged, she had expected something like that, she ignored his presence and walked towards the old man who was sitting at the entrance of the pagoda. The old man looked up as she approached, his eyes filled with a warm light. Welcome, he said. Meng Lin bowed respectfully to the old man before speaking. Master, I have come to train. The old man nodded in approval before pointing towards the entrance of the pagoda. Enter the pagoda and choose the elements you wish to train in, however remember he said, not finishing his words. Meng Lin nodded before entering the pagoda, leaving the old man and Liang Chen at the entrance. Liang Chen, who had been observing their interaction, couldn''t help but laugh, That girl, it almost seems like youre infatuated with her. The old man simply smiled and shook his head. Nonsense, young one. I simply see potential in her, potential that came in the form of determination to succeed. Liang Chen raised an eyebrow. And you think its all about determination, not talent? The old man looked towards the pagoda where Meng Lin had disappeared into. that remains to be seen young one, only time will tell. Liang Chen snorted before stepping towards the gate. I highly doubt that. As he entered the pagoda, he felt his surroundings change, he was in space with orbs of light appearing around him. He released his spiritual consciousness which surrounded the whole space and didnt fail to notice Meng Lin who was quite a bit far away. Surrounding her were 15 orbs of light that all represented the water element that were releasing qi. He scoffed at the sight before closing his eyes and concentrating, orbs began to move around him to slowly circle him. After a few seconds he became surrounded by 25 orbs of different color as even with all that he opened his eyes. Looking over at her once again he scorned, feeling not the least bit of strain to his spiritual consciousness. 99. Threatening Confrontation Meng Lin walked through the sect divisions with a pensive expression, deep in thought about her recent experiences in the Pagoda of Five Elements. She felt that one more round in the pagoda will allow her to master the second layer of her Black Tortoise Essence Art. With that she could use even more power without restrain as her spiritual vains will be able to support her and not be overwhelmed. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(Late)] [Experience points: 35%] System coin:570 Taoist Gacha wheel: available Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 1st Layer] Techniques: [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] A smile beamed across Meng Lins face as she saw the progression of her experience points, its a shame she couldnt get exp from killing monsters otherwise she would have already been at the peak. She quickly checked her inventory and decided to head to the system market first to see if there were any useful items she could purchase. As she was browsing through the slots, she came across an advanced sword technique. Celestial Moonlit Blade - This technique integrates the grace of the Dancing Sword technique, the precision of the Waterfall Slash technique, and the agility of the Clear Moon Sword technique to create a beautiful attack that can cut through the darkness and illuminate the battlefield. Its a High Tier sword technique that introduced the concept of three different sword techniques. The reason she was somewhat interested in it was because of the fact that she already learned the Waterfall Slash technique. She couldnt help but image the Waterfall Slash combined with two different sword techniques, it would surly be a sight to see. She sighed a little as she saw the price, it was even more expensive than the Black Taotie Essence Art. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Luckily she had the Gacha Wheel ticket, if she was unlucky as always then she should get the intermediate system pack, with the system coin from that she would purchase it. She continued to look around the market panel but didn''t find anything else of interest. Having existed the system she couldnt help but think about what happened inside the Pagoda with Liang Chen, she didnt know if that was considered showing off or if he was just showing that he was superior. Regardless she was a bit surprised by his performance, in fact she felt that he could probably have gotten more orbs but for some reason choosed not to. As Meng Lin was lost in thought she didn''t notice a group of men approach her until they stopped her in her tracks. "Hey, you!" A booming voice sounded in Meng Lins mind causing her to almost wince in pain, the strength in the voice was powerful enough to make her eyes widen. She looked around she to see a group of disciples following a man in his late 20s, the group was all dressed in the uniform of the sect, but the different symbols on their chest meant they werent from around. The man in the lead has a calm demeanor, he was the one who had just spoken up just now. Watching the group Meng Lin was suprised as almost all of them seemed to be releasing aura at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Only the man in the lead didnt seem to be releasing his aura, but even without that Meng Lin realized that this man was clearly someone of a higher realm. He stood with his arms crossed and asked in a deep voice Meng Lin, the new diciple, you posted a mission for Ruan Lee, correct?" Meng Lin nodded cautiously quickly remembering the blacksmith boy with the dark circles around his eyes, unsure of where this conversation was headed. "Ruan Lee was someone on my blacklist and you helped him, I specifically instructed everyone in the inner section to turn a blind eye to him, and yet you didnt," the man said, his tone turning cold. Meng Lin furrowed her brows, "on your blacklist? The man''s expression didnt change, "yes, for the simple fact that you didnt know Ill only deman an apology." Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she considered the man''s words. She didn''t like being threatened. But she also didn''t want to cause trouble with someone who clearly had power and influence within the sect. After a moment of hesitation Meng Lin shook her head, "I''m sorry, but I can''t apologize, that goes against my principles as a cultivator." The man''s eyes narrowed, "You''re making a mistake, girl. Apologize and Ill let you be" Meng Lin stood her ground, refusing to back down. She knew that she hadn''t done anything wrong, and she wasn''t going to apologize for it. Moreover at her current position, she doubted that he would be able to do anything to her in the sect. The young man expression darkened. "Fine. If that''s how you want it, to keep my image you leave me with no choice, I''ll make sure you are set as an example, he said turning to leave. Meng Lin watched as the man and his followers walked away, feeling a sense of unease wash over her, its not every day you get threatened. She thought back to the recent actions of Ruan Lee, and couldnt help but wonder about how similar all this feels to the novels she read. She shook her head as she knew that this encounter was far from over and headed back to her courtyard, with a slight worry on her face. Over on the other side, as the man walked away from Meng Lin, one of his followers couldnt help but ask. Master Wei Han, couldnt you have taken care of that diciple just now, the sect wouldnt care if you step out of line once in a while. The man, Wei Han snorted, you think the sect will turn a blind eye to one of the few with Luans Soul, Ill take care of her outside the sect He continued "The problem is that Ruan Lee brat, in a matter of a single week hes gone from the peak of the qi gathering realm to the peak of the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and because of that the sect is taking note of him, now it will be harder to deal with him But couldnt you just set challengers for both of them another follower in the group asked. Wei Han nooded as he replied yes, the sect does allow for a challenge to the death, however it can only be done one time so Ill have to be careful who to pick Unfortunately the sect wouldnt allow something like that for one like her so Ill have to just wait 100. Divine Bone Strengthing Pills Meng Lin arrived at her courtyard with no problem and went to her training room as she felt a sense of urgency. Opening the system she directly went to the Gacha Wheel, where she saw the panel appear the same. Dragon tiger sword Soul wondering pills x5 Lv.1 Alchemist furnace Cultivation suppression talisman lv.5 Divine Bone strengthing pill x2 [system meridian] Intermediate system pack Superior Booze gift bag Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique Immortal jades x9 Meng Lin took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She knew that the Gacha Wheel was unpredictable sometimes but she hoped to get the intermediate system pack. With it she could learn the high tier sword technique and that will increase her strength even more. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to spin the wheel. The wheel spun around rapidly, and Meng Lin watched with bated breath as it slowed down. It finally came to a stop not on the expectant system pack but rather on one of the other items. Divine Bone Strengthening Pill x2. Meng Lin sighed, disappointed in her luck and not getting what she wanted, but she knew that the pill would still be useful to her. She knew that any rewards from the Gacha Wheel was beneficial in their own way. She looked at the two floating pills. Examining them closely, they were small, golden pills, that emitted a faint glow in the room. Meng Lin hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should take them now or wait until later. In the end, she decided to take one, hoping that it would help her in her cultivation. She swallowed one of the pills and immediately felt a strange sensation in her body. It was as if something was crawling inside her bones, changing them from the inside out. Meng Lin gritted her teeth as the feeling intensified. It was a painful process, but she knew that it was the process of her bones changing. As the process continued, Meng Lin felt her bones crack and break while new ones grew in their place. It was a strange sensation, but she could feel her body becoming stronger with every passing moment. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Meng Lin felt a surge of power from within as her bone density increased, making her stronger and more resilient. Her body trembled as the transformation continued, and she could feel the creaks spreading throughout her entire skeletal system. After what felt like an eternity, the feeling gradually subsided, and Meng Lin opened her eyes, feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. She flexed her muscles, feeling the newfound strength coursing through her body. She knew that the Divine Bone Strengthening Pill had worked wonders for her, and she couldn''t wait to see how it would affect her cultivation in the long run. With a smile on her face, Meng Lin left the training room, feeling more confident in her abilities than ever before. She felt invincible and she thought to see just how much of it was her imagination. Without hesitation, she left her courtyard and began walking towards the Pagoda of Ancient Spirit Beast, this time with a determination to clear the next towers. Taking only a few minutes to arrive she saw less diciples than before, but just like before they began murmuring between themselves as soon as they saw her. Its her, Meng Lin, the one that reached the top 10 in her first try You dont think shes here to challenge the pagoda again, right another asked. Meng Lin ignored the whispers and looked at the ranking board once again, with the same names etched in gold at the top. She took a deep breath, knowing that she had a long fight ahead of her, but she was ready for it. Meng Lin stepped into the pagoda and felt her surroundings change. Unlike the last time where she started on the first floor, this time she was directly transported to the 8th floor as she felt the familiar environment once more. However, unlike the last environment which was a vast open field, this time she found herself in a dense forest, with tall trees reaching towards the sky. Meng Lin knew that this environment would pose a challenge as it would limit her visibility and mobility. She took a breath and began to move forward, her senses on alert, ready for any sudden movements that may come her way. As she moved deeper into the forest, she heard a rustling sound and saw movement in the corner of her eye. She turned towards the source of the movement and saw a massive creature, its body covered in thick fur, with sharp claws and teeth, charging towards her. Meng Lin quickly recognized the creature as a peak stage Rank 2 ancient spirit beast known as a Forest Wolf. A creature with exceptional agility and strength, known to possess a deadly bite that could stunt even the strongest of cultivators. The Forest Wolf charged towards her, its claws and teeth glinting in the sunlight, Meng Lin realized that it was using qi to increase their sharpness. As the Forest Wolf got closer, Meng Lin leaped into the air, her single step forming a small shockwave around her. She landed on a nearby tree branch, amazed at her strength, she hadnt even used her full strength in that step. The Forest Wolf, snarled at her before disappearing from where it stood. Meng Lin quickly took out one of her low grade swords and covered it with a large amount of corrosive qi. The air before her shifted as the Forest Wolf appeared and bit down with a deadly force. However Meng Lin was prepared, she swung her sword towards the Forest Wolf, aiming for its neck. Waterfall slash Meng Lin uttered, unleashing a powerful torrent of water qi that sliced through the air and struck the Forest Wolf. The corrosive qi on her sword combined with the water qi causing the Forest Wolf''s neck to slice, burn and deteriorate. The Forest Wolf howled in pain and backed away, giving Meng Lin the opportunity to strike again. Meng Lin leaped forward, her corrosive covered sword slicing through the air once again, this time aiming for its hind legs. The sword struck the Forest Wolf''s legs, leaving more deep gashes, making it difficult for the creature to stand. Meng Lin followed up with a swift waterfall slash to the Forest Wolf''s head, killing it instantly. Meng Lin let out a breath she didn''t know she was holding, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She looked at the wolf corpse that began to turn to mist and marveled at her own strength. It seems her abilities had improved by quiet a bit, she didnt even need the use of her brute qi to deal with an ancient spirit beast one realm above her own. Meng Lin looked around and saw the gate to the next floor, she knew that the Pagoda was not to be taken lightly, but she was confident in her abilities. 101. Golden Desert Meng Lin stepped through the gate and felt another familiar environment envelop her. This time, she was in a desert, with the scorching sun beating down on her. She could feel the heat radiating off the sand, making it difficult for her to move. Meng Lin took a deep breath and began to move forward, knowing that she had to keep her guard up as there could be danger lurking in the sand. As she walked deeper into the desert, she felt her throat becoming dry, and her skin losing its moisture. Meng Lin knew that she had to find water soon, or she may not make it to the end of the floor. As she walked deeper into the desert, she saw a figure in the distance. Meng Lin squinted her eyes, trying to make out who it was. As the figure got closer, she saw that it was a man, dressed in sandy robes, with a blank expression on his face. Meng Lin looked at the man, wondering if he was a disciple of the Pagoda or if he was a sect elder. She approached him cautiously, her hand brandishing her low grade sword, ready to defend herself. "Excuse me," she said, her voice hoarse from the hot air. The man looked at her with empty eyes, before suddenly opening his mouth to reveal jagged teeth causing Meng Lin to suddenly remember something. Boom! A large spike suddenly erupted from the sand, directly hitting Meng Lins body. Ah she grunted in pain, but was relieved to see that the attack had not gone through her skin, it was worth learning the Black Tortoise Essence Art. She quickly jumped back, her heart racing with fear. Meng Lin realized that the man in the sandy robes was not a disciple of the Pagoda, nor was he a sect elder. She looked as the man suddenly released threatening aura before engulfing himself with sand. Shrill!! From within the sand emerged a giant gold scorpion with a reddish brown stinger at the back. Meng Lin knew that she had to be careful as the scorpion was a beast well past the stage of rank 2, it was a half-step Rank 3 spirit beast, a Golden Desert Scorpion. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Its know for its sand manipulation and stinger which kills with a single blow. Meng Lin took a deep breath and prepared herself for battle. She released all her aura before coating her sword with crossive qi. The Golden Desert Scorpion charged at her, its pincers opening and closing, ready to strike. Meng Lin quickly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the pincers as she swung down with her sword. Peng! Sparks flew in the air as Meng Lin astonishingly discovered that her corrosive qi was unable to penetrate the scorpion''s thick exoskeleton. The scorpion retaliated by swinging its stinger at her, which she brought her sword up to defend against. Crack! Meng Lin''s eyes widened as her sword shattered under the force of the scorpion''s stinger. She quickly activated her brute qi before being met with the scorpions stinger. Peng! Meng Lin was pushed back by the force of the attack, but managed to maintain her footing. She gritted her teeth, realizing that low grade weapons were not going to work against this powerful spirit beast, she needed to come up with something else. Shrill!! As the scorpion prepared to strike again, Meng Lin deactivated her brute qi and traced her fingers over her storage bag. However three large spikes appeared from the sand around the scorpion, launching at Meng Lin with great speed. Meng Lin jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the spikes as she continued to focus her energy. She traced her fingers over her storage bag once more, pulling out two dark bracelets that gave off incredible aura. It was the top grade items, Nether Braclets, Meng Lin quickly put on the bracelets and felt a power surge through her being. Instantly understanding its use, she charged towards the scorpion, whichs stinger started to grow red, signaling an upcoming attack. Jumping in the air, Meng Lin suddenly saw the stinger stretch out to appear before her and her eyes glowed with a purple hue. Peng! While in midair Meng Lin grabbed the incoming stinger with her bare hands, causing her to fly back before landing on the sand. Shrill!! The scorpion screamed as it struggled to free its stinger, but Meng Lin held on tight, a very large corrosive qi surrounded her hands and seeped into the stinger of the scorpion, preventing it from breaking free. Haaa With all her strength, Meng Lin pulled on the stinger, causing the giant scorpion to fly towards her. As it got closer, Meng Lin released her grip, and ran with her fastest speed towards the scorpion as she intends to Intercept it. Boom! Crack! With a powerful punch, Meng Lin sent the scorpion flying back, its body crashing into the sand with a loud thud. Meng Lin panted a bit, feeling the strain of the battle on her body. She looked at the scorpion, seeing that it was still alive but heavily injured. She knew that it would be dangerous to leave it alive, as it still poses a threat. Taking a deep breath, she charged towards the scorpion, her hands glowing with corrosive energy. With a swift strike, she plunged her hand into the scorpions exoskeleton, ending the life of the Golden Desert Scorpion. She stood there for a few moments, catching her breath and feeling the power of the Nether Bracelets coursing through her spiritual veins. Its ability is to increase the density of her qi, It wasnt limited to her corrosive qi as it seems to increase the density of any qi that she releases, however it takes up a lot of qi. Meng Lin knew that she had to be careful with its usage, but she was grateful for the power it gave her. She looked at the disappearing body of the Golden Desert Scorpion and wondered how powerful an ancient half-step rank 3 spirit beast would be. She looked around the desert and finally found the door to the next floor. She approached the door, her heart racing with anticipation and excitement. She knew that the next floor of the Pagoda was more dangerous than the current one, and she wondered what the challenge would lay ahead. 102. Shifting Thunder Tiger With a deep breath Meng Lin stepped through the door and found herself in a vast open plain. The sky was a deep shade of blue, with fluffy white clouds drifting lazily overhead, she took a few steps forward and suddenly the sky began to change. The clouds turned dark and menacing, swirling around in a vortex that seemed to be forming directly above her. The wind picked up, blowing fiercely in all directions and threatening to knock her off her feet. Meng Lin looked up, her heart racing with fear and anticipation, She knew that an ancient beast was making its appearance and she braced herself for whatever was coming. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, striking right directly at her. Boom!! Meng Lin jumped back, narrowly avoiding the blast as the ground shook beneath her feet. She looked around, wondering where it had come from and she saw a figure in the distance on land, standing in the center of a swirling vortex. It was a man, dressed in a white robe with white hair swaying down his back. He looked at her with cold, dark eyes, and Meng Lin instantly knew that he was the cause of the storm. The man raised his hand, and another bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, this time twice as fast as before. Meng Lin gritted her teeth and tried to dodge, but the bolt hit her square in the chest, sending her flying backward. She landed hard on the ground, her body tingling with shock and she looked up to see the man walking towards her, a cruel smile on his face. Meng Lin didnt like being on the defense and so she focused her energy, activating her Nether Bracelets and releasing all her aura. She charged towards the man, with a low grade sword appearing in her hand. Waterfall slash Meng Lin swung her sword, unleashing a powerful wave of corrosive qi towards the man, who dodged it with ease. He retaliated by summoning a powerful bolt of lightning, which knocked Meng Lin off her feet and sent her tumbling across the ground. Meng Lin quickly got back up, her eyes glowing with determination as she charged towards the man once again. This time, she covered herself with the thunderbolt Flash technique and lunged at him with incredible speed, her sword flashed in the air for another waterfall slash. The man, however, was quick to react, summoning a powerful wall of lighting which blocked the sword slash from hitting its target. He looked at her and opened his mouth to laugh, his voice echoing through the storm, "You think you can defeat me with such weak attacks?" Meng Lin eyes widened in shock as she didnt expect him to be able to talk, she looked at him with seriousness before charging towards him once more. She swung her sword with all her might, unleashing a powerful wave of corrosive energy that sliced through the air towards the man. Peng! To her surprise, the man simply raised his hand and caught the wave of corrosive energy with ease, dissipating it with a flick of his wrist. Meng Lin felt her heart sink as she realized just how powerful her opponent was. The man then raised his hand once again, summoning multiple powerful bolt of lightning that rained down on Meng Lin. She tried to dodge, but the bolts were too fast, and they hit her one after another, sending her crashing to the ground. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. As she lay there, battered and bruised, the man walked towards her, his eyes glinting with malevolent pleasure. Meng Lin knew that she hadnt even seen his true power but she refused to give up. She got back up, her body shaking with pain, she opened her eyes which flashed with a hint of purple. Waterfall Slash Meng Lin shouted, this time activating her brute Qi as she held nothing back. Her brute qi combined with her corrosive qi which was then intensified by her Nether bracelets showed her tremendous increase in power. As her sword slashed through the air, a massive chaotic slash charged towards the man, this time howling with corrosive fury. The man, caught off guard by the sudden increase in power, was unable to dodge and was slashed across the chest and sent flying backwards. Boom! He crashed into the ground with a loud thud, raising smoke and debris in the air. Crack Meng Lin didn''t more after that, she let go of the sword in her hand, letting it fall into the floor as a portion of the floor turned into mud to absorb it. She didnt want to continue using it, as cracks have already began to appear on the sword. She was about to move forward but stopped as the mans body began to glow before exploding outward with a white light. ROAR!! A deafening roar echoed throughout the plain, and Meng Lin shielded her eyes from the blinding light. As the light dissipated, she saw that the man had transformed into an enormous beast, a white tiger with streaks of lightning bursting from around him. I knew it Meng Lin inwardly uttered as she carefully examined the creature. It was an ancient spirit beast called the Shifting Thunder Tiger, being at the half-step Gold Core realm, she wondered if it had unlocked some of its inherent memories, allowing it to shift and talk. Roar! The white tiger roared with its fur crackled with electricity, and its eyes glowed with a fierce hunger. A faint red glow emerged from within its fur as it went on to cover its whole body. Meng Lins eyes widened as she recognized it to be a bloodline ability, and she knew that she had to be extra careful. Her eyes widened even further as she saw the tiger suddenly turn into pure lightning before streaking towards her. She focused her brute qi and summoned a powerful shield around her body as the claws of the beast appeared before her face. Peng! Crack!! The shield shattered under the impact, and Meng Lin was sent flying backwards, however regaining her balance in midair she landed on her feet, with little damage. The Lightning Tiger appeared before her once again, its eyes filled with bloodlust. Meng Lin gritted her teeth and gathered a large chunk of brute qi into her bracelets that covered her entire forearm. Ha She shouted, her bracelets glowed with a dark chaotic aura as she released a powerful beam towards the beast. Boom! Roar! The blast hit the tiger, causing it to roar in pain as it flew backward to land far away. However it quickly recovered and charged towards Meng Lin once again, it appeared before her and lashed out with its ferocious claws, intending to rip into her. Meng Lin quickly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the tiger was fast and relentless, striking out with lightning-fast swipes and pouncing towards her with its massive jaws. Meng Lin continued to dodge and weave, summoning powerful blasts of brute qi to keep the beast at bay, but it was clear that she was quickly loosing in the battle. As she dodged another swipe of the tigers claws, she felt a sudden surge of energy before her as the tiger stopped and opened its mouth to gather qi. She quickly jumped back and changed her elemental qi before punching towards the ground with all her might. The ground beneath her shook violently, and a wave of mud erupted around to form a dome around her. Rumble! As the mud appeared, a large wave of thunder erupted form the tigers mouth, surrounding the environment with blinding light. Boom! Suddenly the earth shook. With the destroyed dome at the center, a massive shockwave rippled outward with the ground gradually turning into mud. The Lightning Tiger struggled to maintain its footing, its claws digging deep into the mud as it tried to leave the perimeter of the mud. But Meng Lin was prepared, her aura spiked and slowly the mud began to spread and in a few seconds the whole floor in a 50 meter radius turned to mud. Roar! The Lightning Tiger let out a furious roar as its body turned into lightning that flew towards the sky, escaping the thick mud beneath. However Meng Lin knew that she couldn''t let it escape, she focused her energy and released her spiritual consciousness into the ground. With a determined face, she closed her eyes and willed the surrounding mud to move. All the mud in the 50 meter radius began to churn and swirl, slowly rising up in a towering whirlpool that engulfed the Lightning Tiger. The beast struggled against the powerful currents, but it was no match for Meng Lins control over the elemental qi. Rumble!!! Finally, the mud submerged the beast, and slammed it back into the ground, causing a massive rumble to shake the area. The tiger, while inside the mud was only able to struggle a bit as every movement seemed difficult to make. Meng Lin didnt waste time and opened up the mud underneath her, allowing herself to go underneath to confront the beast. As Meng Lin willed the mud around her to propel her forward towards the tiger. She held out her hand to grasp the sword she had placed underneath before plunging it into the beasts body. (Roar) Ooo! The Lightning Tiger let out a muffled roar before dissipating into mist, causing a relieved Meng Lin to lose all strength in her body. She let herself fall while the mud embraced her with not the slightest mud on her robe. Meng Lin smiled, she didnt think itd be this hard but she has won, she was exhausted but victorious. 103. Gold Core Realm Meng Lin walked out of the Ancient Beast Pagoda with an exhausted body and a gleam in her eyes. As she came out she heard the faint murmurs of sect disciples outside the pagoda, she was about to walk away when she was startled by a voice behind her. "Congratulations, Meng Lin!" Meng Lin turned around to see Feng Yue who had crept behind her without notice, she was surprised with her sudden appearance. "Feng Yue, what brings you here?" Meng Lin asked. "I came to see you, of course," Feng Yue smiled. "You''ve caused quite a stir, Meng Lin, look, most of the top 5 have come to look at your ranking." Yes, it seems youve really been hiding well a voice sounded form the side and Meng Lin turned to look. It was a tall man with scar on his forehead, his eyes were stern and he had a fierce aura around him, even now Meng Lin felt intimidated be him. It was Luo Su, the second ranked diciple and around him were 4 similarly strong diciples that were in the top 10. Luo Su Meng Lin said subconsciously as she turned to gaze at the diciples around Luo Su. Meng Lin looked at them with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Luo Su looked at her with a hint of admiration and said with seriousness in his voice. "Ill introduce everyone to you since its your first time meeting them, this is Liam Mu, a self righteous man with a sharp tongue Liam Mu smirked at the introduction. And this is Xie Ru, a young woman with the disposition of a child, shes ok Luo Su continued. Xie Ru looked at Luo Su with a pout, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "And finally, we have Xu Ruan, a man of few words but great strength," Luo Su said, gesturing towards a tall man with a calm demeanor. Meng Lin took in their introductions and the atmosphere around them. She could feel the tension and competitiveness in the air. "Nice to meet all of you," she said politely, bringing her arms to a greeting gesture. "Of course, we''re all part of the same division after all," Luo Su said with a smile. "But don''t get too comfortable, Meng Lin. Just because you''ve ranked high in the Ancient Beast Pagoda doesn''t mean you''re invincible." Meng Lin nodded, understanding the underlying warning in Luo Su''s words. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Xie Ru spoke up with a playful grin. "We''ve heard a lot about you, Meng Lin. It seems you''re quite the hidden gem in the sect," she said, causing the others to chuckle. Meng Lin felt a bit embarrassed but also pleased at the same time. "I just try my best," she said with a small smile. Liam Mu spoke up next. "Well, we''re all here to improve ourselves and climb the ranks. It''s good to have some competition," he said with a friendly tone. Meng Lin nodded in agreement and she couldnt help but look in the direction of Xu Ruan, the one with the title of first ranked. Xu Ruan had remained quiet throughout the conversation, but Meng Lin could sense a calm and confident air around him. She didnt feel intimidated by him, rather, she was curious to see how she could stack up against him in the future. Feng Yue, looking at Meng Lin from the side couldnt help but hit Meng Lin in the back of her head as she could guess what she was thinking about. Meng Lin turned to Feng Yue, rubbing the back of her head, she was a bit embarrassed seeing as there were four other diciples around her. "You''re thinking too much about Xu Ruan," Feng Yue said with a chuckle. "Hes already reached the end, tomorrow is when hell go through it. Meng Lin''s eyes widened in surprise. "Go through what?" Feng Yue grinned. "His tribulation, of course. He''s going to become a Gold Core cultivator." Luo Su nodded in agreement. "Xu Ruan has been preparing for this for a long time, It''s why he stopped participating in any other events. Meng Lin began to think back to the tribulation she saw once, she realized how much danger comes with it but the benefits were far greater. It was said that only the strongest and most determined could overcome tribulations. Xie Ru noticed Meng Lin''s excitement and said with extra excitement. "It''s a rare opportunity to witness a tribulation right, i still havent seen it before. "Why is it that only at the Golf Cote realm and onward does a cultivator experience tribulation?" Meng Lin asked, slightly curious. Luo Su chuckled. "A Gold Core cultivator has transcended the Foundation Establishment Realm and achieved the One Source Essence, where their power comes from a single source. Their power and abilities are draw out qi far surpasses anything we can achieve "I didn''t realize it was such a big deal," Meng Lin said, feeling overwhelmed. "It is," Feng Yue said firmly. "You have to know that to only from the Gold Core Realm and onward can your lifespan increase. Luo Su nodded. "Yes, the higher your cultivation level, the longer your lifespan can become. It''s a great incentive for cultivators to push themselves to their limits, moreover the younger you are, the more opportunities you can have in your lifespan. Luo Su spoke up again, this time turning towards Xu Ruan. youll be the first to reach it but dont become complacent because Ill be right behind Xu Ruan gave a small smile but didn''t respond, he seemed to be thinking about something else. Xu Ruan turned to Meng Lin to speak Meng Lin, you have great potential. However dont show all your cards, almost everyone here hasnt shown their true rankings on the board "I''ll keep that in mind," Meng Lin nodded, understanding the importance of not showing everything. His words didnt seem to bother the other five diciples around as Luo Su chuckled while shaking his head. Liam Mu smirked and Xie Ru giggled, their responses giving away their answers. The only one with the same blank expression was Yue Feng as she could see the hidden warning in Xu Ruan''s words. The group continued to chat for a while longer before eventually dispersing. Meng Lin left with a sense of excitement and determination, eager to continue improving and climbing the ranks within her cultivation. As she walked away, she couldn''t help but wonder about Xu Ruan''s upcoming tribulation. She knew it would be a dangerous and difficult task, but also one that would lead to great rewards. Meng Lin made a mental note to try and witness it if possible, hoping to learn from the experience see if the system would react again. 104. Inspiration and Progress The next day was pretty eventful as early morning on the first light of the day, thunder clouds gathered above the mountain of the Martial Arts Dividion and lightning fell from the sky under the watchful gaze of the inner sect diciples. Meng Lin stood next to Feng Yue and watched as thunder fell but held a disappointed gaze as she realized that the system didnt react to it. At the Tribulation Platform, the figure of Xu Ruan elevated a few feets of the floor as he released his aura of the Gold Core Realm. Across his body were bits of burnt mark but he didnt appear bothered by it as he went through the tribulation with little difficulty. Meng Lin watched in admiration as Xu Ruan successfully overcame the tribulation, his power and aura increasing to new heights. After the tribulation ended, the disciples cheered and congratulated Xu Ruan on his achievement. Meng Lin returned to her courtyard, feeling a sense of urgency and inspiration from witnessing the tribulation. She might not have gained anything through the system, but her perception was improved and she gained a few more percentage to her cultivation. As she walked through the serene courtyard and past the tranquil pond she held a sense of determination and gratitude. Meng Lin began to meditate, focusing her mind on the path ahead and the inner strength and wisdom she would need to succeed. Over the next five days, Meng Lin continued her trainings, with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration. On the first day, Meng Lin spent the morning working on her blacksmithing skills, creating two other low grade weapons and improving her techniques. Later on she went to the sect market and was able to buy a few book on blacksmiths and their different weapons grade. She bought a few book on elixers as well as pills since she had been thinking about releasing the three girls in her inventory. In the afternoon, she went to the Pagoda of five elements and practiced her Black Tortoise Essence Art. And after cafully pushing herself to her absolute limit she broke through the second cycle, reaching the strenuous goal of cultivating her spiritual vains. With that she didnt have to fear her veins bursting from over exertion of qi or pressure. After that Meng Lin spent the next day working on her blacksmithing skills, this time she focused on the items section. She created five new items and improved her percentage in the intermediate blacksmith panel. Meng Lin was pleased with her progress, but she knew she couldn''t become complacent. She continued with her training as well, spending hours each day practicing her swordsmanship, refining her Qi and practicing all the techniques at her disposal. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. On the third day, she focused entirely on blacksmith and after creating over dozens of low grade weapons and items she managed to reach the peak of her percentage in her intermediate blacksmith panel. The fourth day, Meng Lin ran into a problem, she had run out of ingredients and she had also run out of spirit stones. She had used all of it to buy dozens of ingredients for her blacksmith to increase her percentage. Meng Lin spent that entire day inside the sect market, and after going through dozens of different vendors and other shops she managed to sell the weapons and items that she had created. She made sure that all the vendors and shop were far apart as to not appear suspicious with so many low grade weapons. After completing the task Meng Lin was dissatisfied to see that she only procured 2360 spirit stones from the dozens of weapons and items that she had sold. None the less Meng Lin wasnt discouraged as she used the spirit stones to buy ingredients for a middle grade sword. She had to go through the process of crafting a middle stage weapon before her blacksmiths panel can upgrade. So after buying multiple ingredients of similar descriptions she made her way to her courtyard before going to bed. On the fifth day, Meng Lin decided to finally put her skills in blacksmiths to the test. [Blacksmith (intermediate) 100%] Weapon slot: Middle Grade Sword Ingredients: Fire Stone, Ocean pearlx4, Diamond dustx9, Ruby Pearlx6, Jade Essencex5. Chance of success: 20% Meng Lin took a deep breath and began to focus her spiritual consciousness, channeling it into the blacksmithing furnace. She carefully placed the ingredients into the furnace, making sure to follow the instructions she had learned from the blacksmithing books. After pressing the start button she watched as a timer appeared before her. 14:59 seconds With her spiritual consciousness she watched as the ingredients began to melt and fuse together. The fire burned brighter and hotter, and Meng Lin could feel the pressure building up inside it as she watched. As the timer ticked down, the sword began to take shape, the blade grew longer and sharper, and the hilt became more defined. Meng Lin could feel the energy pulsing through the sword, and after careful observation she knew that she it had failed. She waited for the timer to reach zero and the cauldron buzzed before spewing out a sword charred in fine burns. [You cannot gain more experience anymore] Meng Lin didnt feel a sense of disappointment as she had experienced in refining with the couldron these past few days. She examined the charred sword, trying to figure out what went wrong and after some careful inspection. Meng Lin took out a book and carefully read and reread the parts that mentioned the temperature of the flames. She spent an entire hour reading about the temperature control and how much is needed for each different weapon refinement. After she was done she focused her spiritual consciousness, channeled it into the blacksmithing furnace once again. After carefully placing the ingredients into the furnace she pressed the start button and waited. She watched as the sword began to take shape again, and she could feel the energy pulsing through it once again, the pulse caused her heartrate to increase. As the timer ticked down, Meng Lin could feel anticipation building up within her. Finally, when the timer reached zero the couldron began to cool down and the sword was complete. Meng Lin carefully watched the sword that appeared above the couldron as panels began to appear before her. [Congratulations! You have successfully created a middle grade spirit weapon: Jade Dust Sword] [For successfully creatingd a middle grade weapon for the first time you have received the items: Fire Stone3, Ocean pearlx8, Diamond dustx22, Ruby Pearlx15, Jade Essencex10] Meng Lin didnt turn her attention as she seemed mesmerized by the sword. It was stunning, with a gleaming, polished surface and a sharp, deadly blade. She could feel the power emanating from the sword, and she felt that it was a weapon worthy of her. Meng Lin smiled to herself, feeling proud of her accomplishment. She had been able to create a middle grade weapon after just a little over a week of starting on her blacksmith path. She was especially happy because the weapon seemed to not have any flaws, looking at it Meng Lin began to realize that her luck wasnt half bad. She was one step closer to achieving her plan and she felt it was worth it now only one more breakthrough left With a renewed confidence, Meng Lin smiled as she felt that she would become even stronger before the nether cloud domain opens. 105. Xi Lin and De Sijie System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(Late)] [Experience points: 76%] System coin: 570 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 2nd Layer] Techniques: [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin smiled at her progress, she felt stronger and more confident than ever before. She had been working hard to improve her cultivation and it was paying off, she looked around her room, taking in the familiar sights of the blacksmiths room. It might as well be her sanctuary now, it has become a place where she could focus on her progress without any distractions. As she stepped out of her room, she saw a girl sitting by the side of the pond, the girls body had scars all over however it seems to have long dried. Currently the girl was looking into the pond water which housed a massive shadow slithering from side to side. Noticing Meng Lin the girl looked up to gaze at Meng Lin, her eyes a shade of comfort and bewildered. It was Xi Lin, one of the three girls that Meng Lin had in her system inventory space. Youre still not used to the courtyard Meng Lin asked, a small smile on her face. Xi Lin shook her head, No, Im not. The creature in the pond still scares me. Meng Lin walked over to the girl, Dont worry, he wont harm you as long as you dont disturb him. Xi Lin looked towards the pond and wasnt sure of what to say, she couldnt help but think back a few days ago, when they arrived at the courtyard. Other than confusion and baffling expressions, she remembered how scared she felt when the snake gazed at her, even De Sijie, the loud one of the three quieted down after seeing the snake. Meng Lin sat down next to the Xi Lin and spoke, Its only been 4 days and youre already in the 8th of the Qi gathering realm Xi Lin nodded, Yes, I feel like Im progressing faster than ever before, however jumping from the 6th realm to the 8th has made my qi a bit shaky Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Meng Lin nodded, Thats normal, just focus on stabilizing it and youll be fine. Remember to use the realm solidifying pills that youre making. Xi Lin nooded and smiled gratefully, Thank you Miss Lin. I dont know what I would do without you. Meng Lin smiled warily at the name as continued, You would have figured it out eventually, Your Elixer Construe Art is also progressing nicely. Xi Lin nodded, Yes, thanks to the books youve bought for us. The two girls sat in silence for a while, just enjoying the peacefulness of the courtyard. Meng Lin had already found solace in this place, and it seemed like Xi Lin was slowly starting to as well. Zheng Hmm Meng Lin looked to the courtyard house, towards one of the rooms and she held a small smile on her face. Xi Lin who had noticed Meng Lins reaction couldnt help but ask as she held a curious expression on her face. What is it De Sijie has broken through Meng Lin replied, slight excitement evident in her voice. Xi Lins eyes widened in surprise, what? Already? Meng Lin nooded, from the 8th to the 9th stage of the Qi gathering realm, after seeing your progress she had been cooped up in her room and it seems to have finally paid off Xi Lin smiled in understanding, Shes always been competitive, but Im happy for her. Meng Lin stood up, Lets go The two girls walked towards the house, both carrying different thoughts in their head. Xi Lin was thinking about how fast everything seems to be happening, even going as far as thinking of this as a dream, Meng Lin on the other hand was actually feeling a sense of pride at the moment. As they entered the room, they saw De Sijie sitting cross-legged on the floor, her eyes were closed in deep meditation. Meng Lin and Xi Lin didnt interrupt her as they waited until De Sijie was finish with her final circulation. De Sijie slowly opened her eyes, a small boastful smile on her face. Congratulations, De Sijie, Meng Lin said, a genuine smile on her face. De Sijie stood up, a triumphant look in her eyes, Thanks, I couldnt just let myself be in a standstill with these non geniuses Xi Lin spoke with a strong stare, since when were you a genius, Its all thanks to Miss who guided us on our cultivation, otherwise, we wouldnt have progress so fast De Sijie laughed, Miss this and miss that, you realize that youre older than all of us right Meng Lin smiled, Age doesnt determine ones ability to be a mentor or a guide, De Sijie. Its about the knowledge and experience that one has acquired. De Sijie rolled her eyes, Whatever you say, I guess I owe you that one. Meng Lin waved her hand, No need to owe me anything, weve made a vow so its part of my job Now then, I want you two to solify your cultivations before moving onto the next realm, your revenge wont begin without that. Xi Lin and De Sijie nodded in agreement. They knew that they needed to focus on their cultivation if they wanted to achieve their goal. Before, they couldnt even imagine it but now there was a chance of success and they wouldnt let it go. Meng Lin continued, And remember, youre a team. You support and help each other and youll get through things together But that twerp is still at the 6th stage, she still hasnt gotten over her fears De Sijie sighed, referring to the Xi Lan who was still stuck in her room. Meng Lin nooded, Give her time, everyone has their own pace Xi Lin added, Ill help her when shes ready. De Sijie grumbled, I just hope she doesnt hold us back. Meng Lin gave her a stern look, youre not leaving anyone behind. You help each other grow and overcome your fears. De Sijie grumbled, chastised. She still remembered the past so she couldnt help be nod Youre right. Meng Lin smiled, Lets focus on our cultivation and work towards our goal. The two girls nodded in agreement, their determination renewed. With Meng Lins guidance and their teamwork, they felt that they could achieve their goals. My mission will begin in three days, so you three will be in your own for a while, you remember what I told you, dont go out at that time, and Ill prepare the necessary materials for you before I go Meng Lin said, a hint of worry in her voice. She wasnt particularly worried about the mission but more so about the disciple that threaten her. The two girls nodded in understanding, knowing that Meng Lins mission was important and that they needed to cautious without her. For now just continue to work on your alchemy, I want to see your progress The two girls nooded as they began to start their alchemy right away, Meng Lin stood by the side and watched with a light smile on her face. She was making it a habit of watching them work and by doing so, she would gain experience. By the time she opens her Alchemy Panel, she should be able to easily create pills, she hoped. 106. Alchemy Panel A day went by in a flash as Meng Lin was now sorely focused on reading alchemy books and watching the process of the two girls. De Sijie and Xi Lin had managed to create a decent amount of low grade Realm Solidifying Pills, which they had already started using to solidify their cultivations. Xi Lan, however, was still cooped up in her room, not making any progress in her cultivation. Meng Lin had visited her once and after seeing what the girl had been doing, encouraged her and told her to focus solely onto it. It confused Xi Lin and De Sijie but Meng Lin didnt bother to explain as Xi Lan said to not speak of it. Meng Lin had also gathered enough materials to sustain all three girl for three months, including cultivation pills, food and smaller necessities. Originally she didnt have the money, but after careful consideration Meng Lin decided to sell one of the two demon corpse within her system inventory. She had not sold them before because of how valuable they were, they could be used for a variety of unique weapons, pills or formations, but now she didnt have much choice. She headed to the sect market and sold one of them for a huge price of 13,000 spirit stones. After browsing through the sect market she was able to buy all the necessary materials for only 6,000 spirit stones, cutting her money by almost half. She also bought some life saving tools for herself for the Nether Cloud Domain but she couldnt find anything close to a teleportation talisman, something very valuable when escaping. Finally she ended with buying materials for a pill as she was going to create a pill for the first time today. *** At the moment Meng Lin was seated in her blacksmith room and before her was the Alchemy Panel. A small alchemy furnace was standing before her with the same voidless feeling as the blacksmith couldron. She had also noticed the similarities between the Alchemy and the Blacksmith panel. [Alchemy(beginning) 64%] Pill slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: none Meng Lin sighed, feeling a little pity at her lack of progress. It seems that activly using the panel is what leads to the crazy amount of experience gained from the system. "Now what should I pick," she muttered to herself, scrolling through the list of available pills on the panel. She wasnt going to be spending much time on alchemy, as her main purpose in using the system panel was for a different purpose. Scrolling through the list she decided to start with the Realm Solidifying Pill, since De Sijie and Xi Lin had already had success with it. It was this pill that was the most familiar to her so she decided to try it out. She gathered the necessary ingredients and looked at her chance of success. [Alchemy(beginning) 64%] Pill slot: Realm Solidifying Pill Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Ingredients: beasts blood resinx1, starlight grassx1, golden sunflowerx1, ghost mushroomsx2 Chance of success: 80% Meng Lin felt a surge of excitement as she saw the high chance of success. She hadnt wasted a single day, the success rate was so high, it seems that she really should watch the whole process of creating the pill. Containing her excitement Meng Lin carefully followed the steps outlined in the alchemy books and the ones she saw as she carefully put the ingredients into the alchemy furnace. After pressing start she concentrated on her spiritual consciousness to carefully monitor the inside of the furnace as a small timer appeared before her. 1:49 seconds left. Meng Lin watched as the ingredients began to heat up and mix together, her heart calming with ease. As the timer reached its end, the furnace glowed brighter and a small pill appeared floating above the furnace. Meng Lin quickly grabbed the pill with her hand as she didnt care for the heat, she examined it carefully. It was a small, white pill with a faint glow, just like the ones that De Sijie and Xi Lin had made. [Congratulations for successfully creating your first pill] [You have received a reward for creating your first pill] [you have received taoist gacha wheel ticket] [you have received the items:, beasts blood resinx3, starlight grassx3, golden sunflowerx3, ghost mushroomsx5 [You have gained experience for creating a spiritual pill] [Do you wish to accept the rewards] Meng Lin smiled slightly as she saw the taoist gacha wheel ticket, the reason she even tried to create a pill was to see if she could get a gacha ticket. Now with the ticket in hand she didnt waste time as she went straight towards the Gacha Wheel. Dragon tiger sword Soul wondering pills x5 Lv.1 Alchemist furnace Cultivation suppression talisman lv.5 >Intermediate Grade Rootless Fire x5 [system meridian] Intermediate system pack Superior Booze gift bag Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique Immortal jades x9 Hmm Meng Lin pondered her choices, her eyes lingering on the Intermediate Grade Rootless Fire x5. She had heard about the Rootless Fire before, it was a rare and highly sought-after flame among alchemists. It is said to have the power to refine most materials, no matter how impure, into a pure and perfect state. If the grade of the flame is higher then it can even refine spiritual objects and artifacts, making them stronger and more valuable. If she had it then she would be making fortune, especially because its of the intermediate grade, a step above the low tier grades that alchemists would want. She never thought she would have the chance to obtain it from the Taoist Gacha Wheel. However she hoped to not obtain it on this spin as her focus was rather on the intermediate system pack, since she couldnt get it on the last spin she hoped that this one would be enough. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to spin the wheel. The wheel spun around rapidly, and Meng Lin watched with ease as it slowed down. It finally came to a stop on the expectant system pack as the item appeared before her face. [Intermediate system pack] [Do you wish to open the package] Meng Lin let out a small smile of excitement as she saw the Intermediate system pack. Yes as Meng Lin said this the package glowed bright before shattering to show the contents in it. [You have recived 980 system coins, 460 spirit stones, Realm Breaking Crystal, Intermediate Grade Storage Ringx2, 15 beast forage] Meng Lin couldnt help but let out a small gasp of surprise as she saw the contents of the system pack. She had nothing to say about the 980 system coins and 460 spirit stones. It was the Intermediate Grade Storage Rings that she was suprised about, right now she only has storage bags and she was already content with that, she hadnt even seen a low grade storage ring. But now, to have not just one but two Intermediate Grade Storage Rings was a huge surprise. Meng Lin carefully examined the rings, marveling at their size and durability, their insides were three times larger than her storage bag and she already knows that her storage bag was not a common one. She could already imagine storing all of her equipment and treasures in them, she knew they would be helpful. The Realm Breaking Crystal was what she didnt know anything about, she had knowledge but she didnt recognize it. Holding the crystal globe in her hand she began to see its description. [Realm Braking Crystal] A Realm defying construct that can break through the barriers between different realms and allow transportation between them. Highly sought after by powerful cultivators and organizations, it is rare and extremely valuable. Meng Lins eyes widened in astonishment. She had memory of something similar, but she never thought she would come across one this soon. This was a game changer for her cultivation journey. With these two Intermediate Grade Storage Rings and the Realm Breaking Crystal, Meng Lins confidence in her future prospects soared. Excitement coursed through her veins as she planned out her next moves. She immediately stored the Realm Breaking Crystal in her inventory. She was determined to become one with the stars, strongest in the cultivation worlds, and with these newfound resources, she has taken another step. The 15 beast forage was also a welcome addition, as she had already ran out of the food, Purple was becoming increasingly aggressive because of that. Feeling grateful and inspired, she decided to continue with her original intentions, buying that sword technique from the system. 107. Celestial Moonlit Blade Meng Lin headed towards the system Market, excitement bubbling within her as she browsed through the system market. [Sword Technique: Heavenly Ray Art] [Fist Technique: Thunderous Iron Fist] [Spear Technique: Whirling Windstrike] [Sword Technique: Crimson Blossom Slash] [Sword Technique: Celestial Moonlit Blade] [Palm Technique: Crushing Mountain Palm] Looking at the 10 or so techniques, Meng Lin selected the Celestial Moonlit Blade technique. [Sword Technique: Celestial Moonlit Blade] [Price: 970 system coins] [Do you wish to purchase?] Meng Lin didn''t hesitate as she clicked the purchase button, the 970 system coins leaving her account. She felt a rush of excitement as the Celestial Moonlit Blade technique appeared before her. [Discovered A Mid-grade High Tier Sword Technique: Celestial Moonlit Blade] [Do you wish to Learn] Meng Lin''s eyebrows raised as she read the message, a mid-grade high tier sword technique, it was even better than her body refining manual. She knew that learning it would greatly enhance her skills as a swordsman, without hesitation, she clicked the "yes" button and watched as the information began to flow into her head. Celestial Moonlit Blade - This technique integrates the grace of the Dancing Sword technique, the precision of the Waterfall Slash technique, and the agility of the Clear Moon Sword technique to create a powerful and fluid sword style. The user moves with grace and speed, striking their opponents with precise and deadly slashes. The Dancing Sword technique was a graceful and fluid move that focused on footwork and agility. It allowed the user to move around their opponents with ease, dodging their attacks while simultaneously striking with quick and precise movements. The Waterfall Slash technique was a powerful and deadly strike that focused on strength and precision. It consisted of one fast and powerful slash that could cut through even the strongest of defenses. This move was especially effective against heavily armored opponents. The Clear Moon Sword technique was a fast and agile strike that focused on speed and accuracy. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. It consisted of a series of quick strikes that allowed the user to weave in and out of their opponents'' defenses, striking with lightning-fast movements that were difficult to block or dodge. As the information continued to flow into Meng Lins head the two unfamiliar techniques that she hadnt learned began to appear before her one after the other. The Clear Moon Sword technique and the Dancing sword Technique were both mid-grade peak tier sword techniques that could not be brought higher without the Waterfall sword technique. With all three techniques combined, the complementary of the Celestial Moonlit Blade was perfected. Meng Lin couldn''t wait to try out her new skills, she headed towards the training ground and took out her high grade Lunder Sword and began to practice the Celestial Moonlit Blade technique. Because every little information about the technique was engraved into her memory, Meng Lin was able to perform the movements with ease. She began to incorporate the footwork and agility of the Dancing Sword technique, and the speed and accuracy of the Clear Moon Sword technique. After two hours of practice Meng Lin wes able to perform fluid control of her body and graceful precision on her attacks. Her movements were like water, flowing smoothly and effortlessly, and her strikes were deadly accurate. She was thrilled with her progress, she knew that with more practice she would become an even stronger swordsman. She continued to practice for the rest of the day, perfecting her new technique until she was exhausted. ***** Two days went by in a flash as Meng Lin spent most of her time practicing the Celestial Moonlit Blade technique. She had become so proficient in it that she could perform it with her eyes closed. The last day was different as right after waking up, Meng Lin began to prepare for the Nether Cloud Domain that she would be going to. She packed her bags, making sure to bring all the necessary supplies for the journey. She also made sure to bring along some materials for a modification on the Lunder Sword. Meng Lin left her courtyard under the watchful gaze of three girls and she made her way towards the Mountain gate, the meeting place. As Meng Lin arrived at the gate of the mountain she saw her senior sister, Yue Feng, waiting alongside 6 other disciples. At the front was Xu Ruan who held even more mystery after his breakthrough, behind him was Luo Su, Xie Ru and Liam Mu who seemed to still be the same as before. Meng Lin looked to the one side to see Liang Chen who upon seeing Meng Lin just scuffed as he kept quiet. Meng Lin didnt elect to speak as she looked at the other side to the individual coming with them on this mission. Lu Xuan Meng Lin unconsciously blurted out, the young woman in front of her had long black hair and a delicate face. Yes, thats me, Lu Xuan replied with a smile, i believe this is our first time meeting each other Meng Lin nodded, feeling a bit surprised at her attitude, it seems that Lu Xuan wasnt as clich as she had imagined. She couldnt help but look towards Yue Feng who didnt show any emotion in her hollow eyes, rather it was Xu Ruan who came forward to speak. Have you progressed your shortcomings Meng Lin Meng Lin nodded, feeling a sense of calm from him. "Yes, I''ve been working on it Xu Ruan nodded in approval, as he didnt even ask for an elaboration. Good. We need to be at our best for this mission." Meng Lin looked around and began to wonder, as she began to think of something she suddenly felt something before looking up at the sky. A few meters in the sky was the figure of an old man who upon seeing Meng Lin arrive finally spoke. Alright, now that youre here lets get going, he said, breaking the silence as he flipped his hand to take out a small item, a mat. Step on this, well be traveling to the Forgotten Forest and using the teleportation platform there. Everyone stepped onto the mat, feeling a sudden jolt as their surroundings began to blur from the high speed movement of the mat. Their surroundings seemed to be warped as they could only see blurs, however in the in midst of all that the mat remained quiet and calm as if some force protecting it. Everyone sat crossed legged on the mat, their eyes closed and their minds focused as they allowed the mat to take them to their destination. 108. Teleportation Formation Within the quiet skies of the Sky Dragon region, a big mat was flying through the sky, over the hills of the Forgotten Forest. On that mat were 9 individuals from the Soul Shattering Sect, including Meng Lin. Everyone was seated and Meng Lin finally had time to assess everyone around her. Liang Chen was sitting with his arms crossed, his eyes closed as he seemed to be unbothered. Xie Ru and Liam Mu were chatting quietly with each other, while Luo Su was staring off into the distance lost in thought. Lu Xuan was sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed, seemingly meditating. Yue Feng was also sitting with her eyes blank, her expression unreadable. Next to her was Xu Ruan who held a thoughtful expression as he looked ahead. Meng Lin couldnt help but turn to the old man who began to walk towards her, his eyes piercing as he spoke. Meng Lin, right, this is our first time seeing each other, my name is Zheng Rue, the Division Head of the Martial Arts Mountain. Meng Lin nodded politely, feeling a bit intimidated by the old mans gaze, she couldnt sense any qi from him as if he was just a regular human. Nice to meet you, Division Head Zheng. Division Head Zheng chuckled, No need to be so formal, although I dont tend to pay attention to the inner sect diciples of my mountain, I had to, when there was two individuals with Luans soul Meng Lins eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Two individuals with Luans soul? Division Head Zheng nodded, Yes, you and Liang Chen. Its quite a rare occurrence, but it can lead to some interesting developments. Meng Lin raised an eyebrow, she looked towards the arrogant Linag Chen and thought that it was no wonder that he was so confident in himself. She couldnt help but think back to the times she met him, she remembered the sense of dread whenever she interacted with him and attributed it to their souls. It seems there was more to it than it seems. However she was feeling a bit more at ease now that she had some understanding of the situation. Thinking a little she couldnt help but ask about the current situation what is the Forgotten Forest? Division Head Zhengs expression turned serious as he replied, The Forgotten Forest is a place where even I, as the Division Head, would not venture deep into. Its a dangerous place full of the unknowns as well as ancient and powerful beasts. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Meng Lins eyes widened in surprise. She didnt know of that but thinking about it she realized that there were countless other places similar to the forest, places yet to be explored by cultivators. She then asked if its so dangerous then why are we going there Division Head Zheng smiled There is an ancient teleportation platform on the outskirts of the forest that will lead us to the Thousand Mountains Region of the Luo Kingdom, its where one of the entrance to the Nether Cloud Domain is at Division Head Zheng continued, We are not the only ones after the treasures of the Nether Cloud Domain. There are other sects and individuals who will stop at nothing to obtain them. We must be cautious and work together to ensure our success. What other sects should we pay attention to Meng Lin asked, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. Division Head Zheng sighed, The most prominent sects, the Rank 5 sects, although all of them should be approached with caution, stay especially clear of the Scarlet Demon Sect members The rank 5 sects Meng Lin didnt know of how far back her memories of the Ancestral symbol goes but she remembered the mention of the rank 5 sects. The Palace, Configuration Sect, the Breeze Sect and the Divine Soul Sect are the four rank 5 sects that she knew of and all of them were powerful and influential in the cultivation world. She doesnt know the Scarlet Demon Sect but just by the name she can guess why she was warned of them. Dont forget that youll meet other cultivators with Luans Soul Division Head Zheng added, There may be some who will try to take advantage of you for their own gain. Be wary of them, and always remember to prioritize the safety of yourself and your fellow disciples. Just finish the mission and come out Meng Lin nodded, feeling a sense of responsibility and duty from his words, it seems that he held this mission in high regards. Understood, Division Head Zheng. I will do my best to ensure the success of this mission, Meng Lin replied not mentioning the matter of other diciples, as always she wouldnt leave her fate in the hands of others. The old man nodded in approval before turning back to the group, his expression serious. Remember, you must work together and be vigilant. Our mission is important and failure is not an option. Everyone acknowledge in someway, their faces varying. They knew the dangers ahead and were prepared to face them. The old man nodded before turning his focus to the mat. The mat suddenly slowed down and they could see the surroundings becoming clearer. Below them were towering trees and a thick canopy of leaves, with the occasional glimpse of a stream or a clearing. Below the mat was a patch of area without trees, In the center of the clearing was a circular platform with strange markings on it. Thats the teleportation platform Division Head Zheng explained. Well be using it to go to the Thousand Mountain Region Meng Lin looked at the platform with interest, wondering what kind of spatial power it possessed to transport them to a different location. The mat landed gently on the platform and Division Head Zheng motioned for everyone to gather around him. "Now, we''ll activate the teleportation platform. Everyone, focus your Qi on the platform." Meng Lin did as she was told, feeling the energy within her flow towards the platform. She closed her eyes and concentrated, feeling the platform begin to glow with a bright light. Suddenly, Meng Lin felt a strange sensation as if her body was being pulled in all directions. She was about to panic when she felt a hugh force envelop her and then she heard the sound of wind rushing past her ears and the feeling of weightlessness. The next moment the sensation stopped and she opened her eyes to find herself in a completely new environment. She looked around in awe, taking in the sights and sounds of the Thousand Mountains Region. Division Head Zheng sighed a little at the group, Well everyone. We didnt have any trouble, Weve made it to the Thousand Mountains Region. 109. Nether Cloud Domain Opens Meng Lin took a deep breath, feeling excitement and anticipation build up within her. She had memories of the Thousand Mountains Region and its beauty, but seeing it in person was a completely different experience. The region was filled with towering mountains and lush forests, with streams and waterfalls cascading down the slopes. The air was fresh and crisp, and the sky was a bright shade of blue. Division Head Zheng led the way, and the group followed closely behind. They were on a mission, and there was no time to waste. As they walked, Division Head Zheng briefed them on the mountain and the dangers they may encounter. The Thousand Mountain Region is a relatively safe place, its only short comings is that its too big, its under the jurisdiction of the Soul Shattering Sect but even they couldnt cover all the areas of the region. Meng Lin listened intently, taking in every detail. She began to think about the mission, she had trained for the last two days in her Celestial Moonlit Sword technique and this mission was the perfect opportunity to put her skills to the test. After several hours of walking, the group finally reached their destination. They arrived at a giant cliff filled with cultivators. Meng Lin was surprised as she saw the number of cultivators gathered at the cliff of the mountain, they numbered in the hundreds. Most of them were young men in the foundation establishment realm but there were a shocking few within the Gold Core Realm. And it seemed that even more cultivators were coming to test their chances. Division Head Zheng stepped forward and a hush fell over the crowd, he didnt say anything as he directed his group towards a spot to wait. There were murmurs of recognition from the crowd and Meng Lin could sense the slight tension in the air. They were all here for the same reason, and not everyone would be willing to share. Their small group took their spots with Meng Lin seated next to Yue Feng. is the Nether Cloud Domain not open yet Meng Lin asked. Not yet, were gonna have to wait for a few hours Yue Feng replied. Meng Lin nodded, understanding the process. The Nether Cloud Domain was one of the most dangerous and mysterious places in the cultivation world so its gotta have a clich method of opening. Division Head Zheng said you guys will all be transported to random places so the first thing that you have to do is regroup Here, these talismans will help you locate each other, make sure to keep them safe. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Meng Lin took the talisman and carefully stored it away. She was ready for this challenge and was determined to come out on top. As they waited, more people arrived, even some from other sects, but Meng Lin noticed that none of the other prominent sects had come. It seemed that there were other ways of entering the Nether Cloud Domain, she had heard from the murmuring of the crowd that this specific entrance was under the boundaries of the soul shattering sect. So she wouldnt be surprised if there were other locations for other sects as well. Finally, after a few hours there was a sudden shift in the air, and a rumble sounded as a crack appeared in the sky. Crack!! The crack grew wider to become a tear, and a gateway to the Nether Cloud Domain was formed. The hundreds of cultivators stationed at the cliff didnt move forward as they wanted to wait for Division Head Zhengs group to go in first. The old man stood up and gestured for the diciples around him to move forward. You guys can go ahead, Ill be waiting for your success, he said, and the leader of the group, Ru Xuan nooded his head. As they approached the tear in space Meng Lin could feel dark and dangerous aura emanating from within. Ru Xuan led the way, and the group followed closely behind. They stepped through the gateway and were immediately transported to a different environment. **** A few hundred miles away from the Thousand Mountain Region was the Spiritual Sea Region. It was a vast expanse of ocean, with islands scattered throughout. On one of the islands, a group of cultivators were also preparing for the Nether Cloud Domain challenge. They were from one of the rank 5 sects, The Divine Soul Sect, one of the top sects in the Luan Continent. Their group consisted of 10 cultivators, four of which were at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, within which was Li Wei. A young man with exceptional talent in the art of soul manipulation. He is one of the three in the Divine Soul Sect that has Luans Soul so he was looked upon favorably by the higher ups. The leader of the group was Xue Lian, a powerful female cultivator who had reached the early stage of the Gold Core Realm at the age of 27, she is considered a genius but she is known for her ice-cold demeanor and her deadly sword techniques as well as her white silvery hair. The island they were on was a tropical paradise, with crystal-clear waters and white sand beaches. The air was warm, and the sound of the waves was soothing. The Divine Soul Sect cultivators had been training for months on this island, honing their skills and preparing for the Nether Cloud Domain challenge. Finally the day came and a crack appeared in the sky, with it. A gateway to the Nether Cloud Domain was formed. **** Meanwhile, in the Northern Region, was the Origin Cave Mountain, a place of rugged beauty and harsh conditions. The mountain was a towering peak that seemed to reach the heavens, with jagged rocks and steep cliffs that jutted out at odd angles. The air was thin and dry, and the wind was relentless, whipping through the valleys and making it difficult to move. A group of cultivators were currently waiting there, they were surrounded by a desolate landscape of barren rock and scraggly trees but they were unfettered. The group of cultivators were from The Configuration sect, the Breeze Sect and the mysterious Scarlet Demon Sect, all fifth tier sects. And around them were rank four sects with a few rank three sects disciples coming to try their lucks. The group were carefully waiting for the Nether Cloud domain to open and within their different respective sides. From the Rank 5 sects were 9 different individuals who each radiated aura of the Gold Core Realm, with two of them shockingly been at the middle stages. Within the configuration sect diciples was a young man at the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, he held no noticeable traits other than his red eyes that shone like ruby. Whoosh Above the whistling currents a few miles in the air was a few powerful beings keeping a close eye on the groups. They were the elders of each sect and within the breeze sect elders were some of the remnant figures of the leviathan sect elders. 110. The Dead Zone After stepping through the portal, Meng Lin found herself in a lush green forest, with tall trees that seemed to reach the sky. The air was fresh and cool, and she could hear the sound of a nearby stream. She looked around, feeling a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of the place. The leaves of the trees were a vibrant green, and the flowers that bloomed on the forest floor were a rainbow of colors. As she walked, she saw small animals scurrying about, and she could hear the chirping of birds in the distance. Meng Lin felt a sense of peace and tranquility wash over her. She had been sent on a mission to retrieve an artifact, but for a moment, she forgot all about it, lost in the beauty of the forest. But then, she noticed something strange happening, her forehead was burning, and she didnt know why. She felt her spiritual consciousness react on its own, and spread out to cover a 50 meter radius. It was only then that she started to see the colors around her beginning to blur, and the sounds beginning to fade away. She felt dizzy and disoriented, like the world around her was shifting and twisting. Meng Lin closed her eyes, taking deep breaths and focusing her spiritual consciousness. She visualized a shield around her, a protective barrier that would protect her from mental attacks. After a few minutes of staying like that she felt that she got it right. She opened her eyes and found that she was no longer in the lush forest. Instead, she was in a dark and ominous forest, with gnarled and twisted trees that seemed to reach out and bend weirdly. The sky was a dark shade of grey, and the clouds swirled and twisted in the wind. She could feel the dangerous aura emanating from the air, and she knew that this was no ordinary place. Meng Lin quickly recollected the information shared to the group about the mapping of the Nether Cloud Domain. She seems to been in The dead zone, at the very edge of the dimension, it was the most dangerous place in the dimension because of its low survival rate, it has weird and unexplainable things happening in and out of nowhere. However thats not the reason it was named such, it was the most dangerous because it was an enclosed space inside a barrier that stops everything from leaving, most individuals that had found themselves within it would have to spend the rest of their life in there. Only a select few with access to resources from their sects higher up can leave the barrier and even then its not a guarantee that they will survive. Sigh Meng Lin sighed at the thought of such a situation, it was no wonder she became trapped within an illusion. The air inside the dead zone was said to cause any cultivators or spiritual beings to experience illusions before leading them to ancient beasts to be killed. She was glad that she was able to get out in time, otherwise it wouldve been dangerous. Meng Lin began to think as she puts a hand under her chin, their goal should be near the center of the dimension, the closer they were, the more they could finish their mission, so her priority should be leaving this dead zone. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Releasing her spiritual consciousness outward, she was able to scan the area and found a single building a few dozen meters away. It was an ancient structure that seemed to be thousands of years old. However, she realized a limitation to herself, she could only look as far as 50 meters with her consciousness. Back in the sect, after her multiple breakthroughs, she was able to increase her spiritual consciousness to 110 meters, but it was almost halved in here. However It didnt matter to her that much as long as she could still use it. Right now, she was feeling a sense of wonder and reverence as she looked upon the ancient building, knowing that it held the secrets of the past. All across the ancient building were silver white formations that covered the whole body of the building as if restricting it, it made her curious about the insides. She took a deep breath and stepped towards the ancient building. The air was thick with an ominous energy, and the air was musty with the scent of dried trees. As she got closer, she could see the intricate details of the building''s design. The stone walls were covered in intricate carvings, and the pillars were adorned with symbols she didn''t recognize. She cautiously stepped inside, her figure ready. The inside of the building was dimly lit, and it was not difficult to see around. She walked through a huge hallway that looked to be intricately designed for some major figure as everything looked expensive. She could hear the sound of her footsteps echoing throughout the hallways, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up as she felt the presence of something watching her. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she continued forward, she brought out one of her low-grade swords and held it tightly in her hand. Suddenly, she heard a soft whisper, and she froze in her tracks. The whisper grew louder, and she could hear the sound of multiple voices speaking in unison. The words were unfamiliar to her, and the language was weird. Meng Lins heart sank as she realized that the more she waited, the closer the voices became. It was as if the voices were right next to her, whispering in her ears. She looked around at the dimly lit hallway and couldnt see anything, so she released her spiritual consciousness outward. Meng Lins heart tensed as what she saw within her spiritual consciousness was unimaginable to her, it caused her heart to skip a bear. Around her, just a few inches from her were dozens of floating shadows. Their figures fixed on her with hungry and maddening auras, Meng Lin felt her body chill as she stopped moving. She had never encountered anything like this before. She looked around, and she couldnt see anything but within her spiritual consciousness were dozens of beings surrounding her. She closed her eyes and focused on her spiritual consciousness to look around, but the moment she did so, large eyes began opening up on their bodies as their whispers turned to wails. A dark and twisted voice echoed within the building as it rang out across the hallway. You can see Me. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she tried to comprehend what was happening. The beings around her began to move closer, their whispers turning into screams. She raised her sword, ready to defend herself, but as she swung it, it passed right through the beings as if they were were not there. The voice spoke again, sending shivers down her spine. "You have entered my stomach, mortal. You will never leave." Meng Lin felt a cold sweat on her forehead as she realized the gravity of the situation. She tried to run, but her feet wouldn''t move, slowly she began to sink, It was as if the floor had become mud. The beings closed in on her, their screams growing louder and more intense. She could feel their cold breath on her face. It was only then that Meng Lin, in her panicked state released over half of the brute qi within her, causing a burst of chaotic energy to be released from within her. Boom! Ahh the floating beings were shockingly forced back as the whole hallway began to lit up in chaotic qi. Meng Lin took a deep breath and jumped towards the exit, her heart pounding in her chest. As she stepped out of the building, she looked behind her and the sight made her stomach drop. Roar!!! The once majestic structure was now towering over the landscape, its walls pulsating and shifting as if they were made of living flesh. The windows twisted and contorted, forming grotesque, gaping mouths that oozed with an otherworldly slime and the top of the building sprouted jagged 10 meters long spikes that towered over the sky, casting an eerie shadow over the surrounding area. 111. Individuals Encounter The air was thick with the stench of decay and the sound of the monster''s roars echoed through the air. It was a terrifying sight to behold. The multiple eyes that dotted the monster''s body glowed with an ominous red light, each one fixated on Meng Lin as it sensed her presence. The mouths, lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, opened and closed in a grotesque symphony, emitting guttural growls and hisses that sent chills down her spine. As the monster let out its deafening roar, the ground beneath Meng Lin trembled, cracks forming in the earth as if it couldn''t bear the weight of the creature''s presence. The air became heavy with an oppressive aura, making it difficult for Meng Lin to even breath. The monster''s aura was overwhelming, radiating an intense malevolence that seemed to seep into every pore of the surrounding environment. The once tranquil atmosphere now felt suffocating and tainted, the very essence of darkness and despair. Meng Lin while watching this ran as fast as she could, her heart racing with fear. She could feel the aura of monster and she was sure that it was way above the Gold Core Realm, it made her skin crawl. The ground beneath her shook as the monster tried to move, but it was stuck in place. Its massive figure shook, shaking the hundred meter radius. The silver white formations that had once been the walls of the building now coiled and constricted around the monster''s body, holding it in a vice-like grip. The formations, pulsating with a majestic energy, seemed to possess a will of their own as they tightened their hold, they twisted and writhed, constricting the monster''s movements, preventing it from escaping its prison. The monster''s eyes, once filled with malicious intent, now glimmered with a mixture of rage and frustration. It let out another furious roar, its voice echoing through the air. Out of the monsters sight, Meng Lin moved through the dark shaded landscape while releasing spiritual consciousness. A few minutes in her sprint she saw a clearing that seemed to be free of any dangers before finally stopping. She sat down to catch her breath, her heart still pounding with fear. She had never experienced anything like what had just happened. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(Late)] [Experience points: 87%] System coin: 570 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 2nd Layer] Techniques: [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Celestial Moonlit Blade] Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin took a breather as she realized that there was no weird affects on her system panel. She had been worried that the monster might have done something to her but with the system she was sure that she was alright. As Meng Lin sat in the clearing, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. The monster, although terrifying and powerful, seemed to be immobilized and unable to pursue her. The silver white formations that had entrapped it seemed to be some kind of mystical force, she remembered them on the ancient building as well. Although Meng Lin didnt know what was at play, she couldnt help but feel a sense of urgency, she had to leave this Dead Zone as soon as she can. As she was running low on her qi she decided to put up her soul confusing array before circulating her cultivation method. Although the air within this dead zone was filled with impurities, it didnt interfere with the normal qi that flowed within the dimension. And so after cultivating for an hour and a half Meng Lin was able to open her eyes, her strength mostly returned. She thought for a moment before calling out a name. Purple From out of nowhere emerged a slim, gray snake with a sleek, shimmering body. It was over 20 meters tall with its eyes, large and piercing, it had reached the peak of its power and its bloodline. Purple, as Meng Lin affectionately named her spirit beast companion, slithered gracefully towards her, its movements fluid and silent. Meng Lin reached out her hand, and Purple gently nudged her palm, its scales cool against her skin. With Purple by her side, Meng Lin felt a lot less pressure around her. She knew that they couldn''t stay in the Dead Zone for much longer. The monster, though temporarily trapped, could break free at any moment. Lets go Meng Lin said as she began to walk towards the opposite direction of where she first appeared. Although she doesnt know where she appeared on the map, she knew that she just had to move from the opposite direction from where she appeared to reach the end of the Dead Zone. She relied on her spiritual consciousness to detect any potential threats, while Purple''s acute senses and agility provided an added layer of protection. As they traveled further outward, Meng Lin couldn''t help but notice the signs of destruction and decay surrounding them. The whole environment had been reduced to a desolate wasteland and she couldnt help but wonder if it had something to do with that monster. But amidst the devastation, Meng Lin also noticed small pockets of life, resilient spiritual plants that had managed to survive in this harsh environment. She recognize a few ancient spiritual plants like the Tundra Grass, Volcanic Lichen and Barren Willow, their vibrant colors standing out amongst the desolation. They could only grow in such environments and thats what lead to their disappearance in the cultivation world. Meng Lin carefully gathered the few of these plants, knowing that they are great potential resources. As she continued to navigate through the Dead Zone, Meng Lin''s heart skipped a beat as she suddenly saw an individual within her spiritual consciousness. To her surprise, there was someone similarly walking alive and well inside this dead zone. As she noticed them, the other party also noticed her and Purple. A tall and imposing man stared at Meng Lin and Purple with a sinister gleam in his eyes. His face twisted into a cruel smile as he took a step closer, his intentions clear. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "A little lost lamb and her pet snake. How delightful. Meng Lin''s eyebrows raised as she sensed a dark aura from the man, just from the fact that he was still alive meant that he has some level of strength. Youre not at Taiya Ancient City so that means youre a newcomer the man said as he took another step closer. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice steady with no ripple in her eyes, she didnt fail to notice the words of the man. The man chuckled, his laughter echoing through the desolate wasteland. "What do I want? Oh, my dear, I want it all. Your life, your body, your possessions, everything." Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed, a hue of purple flickering to light. "You think youre capable she said calmly, her voice tinged with a hint of coldness. The man''s smile widened, revealing a row of white teeth. "Oh, I''m more than capable," he sneered. "I''ve survived in this Dead Zone for 10 whole years, and I''ve taken down countless fools who thought they could challenge me." Meng Lin''s eyes fluctuated at the words of the man, countless thoughts emerged in her mind as she continued on to say. "You may have survived, but it seems youre not cautious, you cant judge someone stronger than you," she retorted. The man''s eyes narrowed, his expression turning venomous. "You think youre strong, youll regret those words," he spat, releasing a monstrous force in the surroundings, his realm revealing itself to be the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. 112. Purples Strength As the man released his monstrous force, the very air around them seemed to tremble in response. Meng Lin could feel the oppressive weight of his power, pressing down on her like a thick blanket. But she didn''t seem bothered. Instead, she stood her ground, her eyes filled with confidence. Purple, you deal with him, Meng Lin said as a small smile formed on her lips, eager to witness Purple''s prowess in combat. Hiss Purple, her sleek and shimmering spirit beast companion, coiled itself up, its scales glinting with a faint spiritual hue. With a sudden burst of agility, it lunged towards the man, its fangs bared and ready to strike. You The man''s eyes widened in surprise as Purple moved with lightning speed, appearing near him before he could even bring out the word he was about to say Peng Suddenly a burst of wind blew through the area and Purples body was thrown back and only after a few seconds did it manage to stop itself from moving backwards. Hmm Meng Lin uttered as she narrowed her eyes. That was no ordinary move, it seemed to have contained a significant portion of a rich concentration wind, i wonder Hump, telling a lowly spirit beast to deal with me, you have some nerve! The man''s voice boomed through the ruins as his arm was extended, conjuring around him a swirling shield of wind. Tempest Art: Wind Cyclone the man roared, his voice echoing through the ruins, the moment he uttered those words, the air crackled with energy, and a powerful gust of wind erupted from his outstretched arm. The cyclone grew larger and more powerful, its swirling winds threatening to tear everything in its path apart. Meng Lin''s gaze shifted as she watched the cyclone expand, its force becoming increasingly overwhelming. Dust and debris swirled in a chaotic dance, obscuring her vision, the howling winds whipped through her hair, tugging at her clothes with a relentless intensity. It felt as though the very space was being attacked, twisted and contorted by the sheer power of the cyclone. But amidst the chaos, she could still see clearly, her sight on Purple. The massive serpent that stood tall and defiant. Its sleek 20 meter body coiled up within the cyclone, shimmering with spiritual light. With a flick of its tail, Purple unleashed a burst of energy, creating a powerful shockwave that rippled through the cyclone. The winds momentarily faltered, giving Purple an opportunity to strike. With lightning speed, Purple lunged forward, disappearing before appearing next to the man with its mouth opening high enough to engulf the man''s entire upper body. Its fangs gleamed in spiritual light as it snapped shut, causing a massive sound to circulate in the air. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Snap!! Yet when its mouth shut close it felt no sensation of flesh. The man''s body was gone, leaving behind only a gust of wind and a faint trace of his presence. Meng Lin''s eyes widened for the first time as she couldnt detect the man, even within her spiritual consciousness. Before she could react, the cyclone intensified once again, its winds roaring with even greater ferocity. Meng Lin began to feel herself being lifted off her feet, but with a slight adjustment she stood rooted to the floor, unaffected by the wind. However the same couldnt be said for her spiritual beast, purple. Purple, despite its immense size and power, was being tossed around by a cyclone that kept going towards the sky. Purples coiled body struggled to maintain its balance and its scales shined with a dimmer light as the winds battered against it. Meng Lin''s heart began to race with concern as she witnessed Purple''s struggle, however she continued to watch as she believed that Purple hadnt revealed everything. She focused her energy to her mouth and called out. "Purple, show me your true strength! Within the cyclones Purples eyes gleamed with a purple hue as if understanding her words. Its scales shimmered with a brilliant blue light, intensifying in color and radiance. With a surge of energy, Purple coiled itself tighter, bracing against the relentless winds of the cyclone. It seemed to grow larger, almost expanding beyond its physical form. The air crackled with electricity as Purple''s power surged. And then, in a burst of light Purples aura intensified, his power at the very peak of the rank 2 stages. Hissss Purple''s body shrunk, its scales became more compact and its aura more intense. Its 20 meter long body shrunk down to 19 meters before reaching 18 meters and not stopping. As its body shrunk, a dense cloud of toxic mist erupted from its scales, engulfing the entire cyclone. The mist spread rapidly, permeating every inch of the swirling winds. As the mist spread, the cyclone began to weaken, its winds losing their ferocity. The mist appeared toxic and acted as a corrosive force, dissolving the very force of the cyclone. Thud Within moments, the cyclone dissipated completely, leaving behind only a calm atmosphere as Purple finally landed on the floor, its body 13 meters long. Meng Lin stood in amazement, her eyes happy with light. Purple''s power was truly exceptional. She was about to speak when she saw the man reappear from within the dissipating mist. His expressionwas a mix of shock and disbelief. "How...how is this possible?" he stammered, his voice filled with disbelief and hoarse. "You underestimated him," she said calmly. "Purple is not just an ordinary spirit beast. Although he doesnt have any special qualities that make him unique, his power are focused on speed and poison The man''s face turned pale, realization dawning upon him. He had underestimated this girl. Suddenly, the man''s body began to tremble, his movements becoming sluggish. His eyes widened in horror as he realized what was happening. "You...you poisoned me!" he gasped, his voice filled with both fear and anger. Meng Lin nooded with a blank face. "Yes, Purple''s toxic mist is not just for show. It seeps into the very core of your being, poisoning you from within, unless you have the strength of a Gold Core Realm, your fate is sealed The man fell to his knees, clutching his chest in pain. His breaths became labored, and his skin turned a sickly shade of purple. "You...get away with this," he wheezed, his voice barely a whisper. But it was too late. The poison had already taken hold of him, its venom spreading through his veins like a deadly serpent. Meng Lin watched as the man''s body convulsed, his eyes rolling back into his head and a few minutes later, he lay motionless on the ground, his life extinguished. Meng Lin approached the lifeless body, her gaze complex yet cold. "You brought this upon yourself," she said, her voice filled with a mix of pity and determination. She turned to Purple, who had returned to its original size and coiled up beside her. "Well done, Purple," she praised. "Your power and venom have proven to be your greatest weapon." Purple hissed in response, its eyes gleaming with pride, Meng Lin then said Go rest Hiss! Purple reluctantly agreed as a burst of light emerge from Meng Lins hand to obscure the body of the disappearing purple. After that Meng Lin stored the lifeless body of the man before turning towards two certain directions, her gaze piercing. How long are you two going to be hiding 113. Zhang Wei Hump A figure emerged from the shadows of a rock, a smirk playing on their lips. It was a man, with long black hair cascading down his back, and his eyes filled with a ruthless glint. "I must say, youre impressive, not only did you notice me but you also noticed the guy on the opposite side," the man said, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "I was hoping to catch you off guard, but it seems you''re already one step ahead." Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she didnt recognize the man, she could feel a threatening aura coming from him and it made her cautious. Thinking for a bit she looked on the other side of the ruins to call out. Liang Chen, do you know who that is Suddenly, on the side a rock shook before lighting up with qi to revealing a man standing atop it. A young man in white sect robes and a symbol on his forehead, he held curious look on his face as he looked towards Meng Lin. He jumped down from the rock and landed gracefully on the ground before crossing his arms to look at the man with a long hair. "Oh, I know him," Liang Chen said, his voice filled with overconfidence and sarcasm. "Zhang Wei, of the Scarlet Demon Sect, he is cunning and deceitful, always up to no good." Zhang Wei chuckled, his smirk widening. "I see my reputation precedes me," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "But then again the same could be said about you, the Unruly Liang Chen of the Soul Shattering Sect, or should I say, Luan Huang of the Pa Before Zhang Wei could finish his sentence, a powerful multicolored claw appeared where he stood and swiped at him with lightning speed. Boom!! Liang Chen stood afar with his hand raised and his eyes burning with distain. "You dare speak that name, You know nothing." Zhang Wei emerged from the shadow of another rock with his calm and confident composure being broken, however a wicked smile still formed on his lips. "Ah, Luan Huang, still haunted by your past, I see," he taunted. "But it doesn''t matter, we will meet again on the other side. Zhang Weis body began to turn into shadows before he disappeared into his own shadow, leaving behind a chuckle of a laughter. Meng Lin glanced at Liang Chen with a puzzled expression and thought for a moment before speaking. "He escaped..." Liang Chen sighed, his expression turning from anger to frustration, he calmed down with a long breath before turning to Meng Lin. "Zhang Wei is a master of shadow manipulation," he explained. "He can merge with his own shadow and travel through the shadows around, making it nearly impossible to catch him." Shadows Meng Lin commented with a hand under her chin as she began to think. In any case, this is the Dead Zone so its pointless to fight others, it will only attract more attention Liang Chen said. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Meng Lin nodded in agreement. "You''re right," she said noticing how he didnt seem to be acting normal. "We should focus on getting out of here as quickly as possible." We Liang Chen suddenly snorted, there is no we, its every man for himself in the Dead Zone. You should be worried about your own survival." Meng Lin frowned, not expecting such a response from him, however thinking about it she understood, he was going back in character. Is there no way of getting out of this zone Meng Lin asked. Liang Chen''s eyes flickered as he shook his head. "The Dead Zone is surrounded by a barrier that prevents anyone from leaving. "only those who possess a specific artifacts can break through the barrier, but such artifacts are rare and difficult to obtain." Artifacts Meng Lin said remembering the mission they came here for, she naturally knows what artifacts are, but in the context of breaking through the barrier, it piqued her curiosity. Liang Chen noticed her interest and scuffed. "Barrier Breaking Artifacts are powerful objects imbued with ancient magic or special abilities," he said. "They are as rare as Top Grade items, its a bit different from a sect artifact, the likes of you cant even obtain it Meng Lin felt more annoyance at his words , but she kept her composure. She knew that getting angry wouldn''t do anything in their situation. "And what if I have the artifact that youre talking about" she said, her voice steady. Liang Chen''s eyes widened in surprise at Meng Lin''s words. He studied her for a moment, trying to gauge if she was serious or just bluffing. "Prove it," he said skeptically. "If you truly possess such an artifact, show it to me." Meng Lin reached into her robe and pulled out a crystal globe that surged with spiritual power, It had ancient symbols etched onto its surface. She held it up for Liang Chen to see. "This is a similar item to the artifact you spoke of, isn''t it?" she asked. Liang Chen stared at the Globe, his eyes narrowing in recognition. A Realm Breaking Crystal he stepped forward and carefully looked all over the item. "Yes, this is it," he said, his voice filled with a slight happiness, however its not gonna work against a barrier, it can only break through realms not barriers He suddenly reached into his robe to pull out a small black pendant. "This is the Shadowbreaker Pendant, an artifact thats purpose is to break through the barriers of the Dead Zone." Meng Lin suddenly froze You had a way out all this time her voice held a mixture of disbelief and caution. Liang Chen shrugged nonchalantly. "It can only be used once, you think Id share with you moreover there are consequences for using it on two peoples he admitted. However now that we have this, Ive changed my mind Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she processed Liang Chen''s words. She felt a bit uneasy at his blatant disregard for her earlier and she couldnt help but blurt out. We, there is no we, remember Liang Chen smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Well, I''ve changed my mind now," he said, his voice filled with amusement. "Having a partner with a Realm Breaking Crystal might come in handy, if you allow me to use it once I can take you with me out the dead zone Meng Lin raised an eyebrow, still skeptical of Liang Chen''s sudden change of heart. "And why should I trust you?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion. Liang Chen chuckled, his expression softening slightly. "Because, as much as I hate to admit, it seems that we both have something the other needs." Why do you need the Realm Breaking Crystal ?" Meng Lin questioned, her voice steady but filled with curiosity. Liang Chen sighed, his eyes wandering off into the distance for a moment. "I have my own reasons for wanting it," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "But I assure you, it''s not for nefarious purposes." Meng Lin studied his face, searching for any signs of deception. She considered his words, weighing the risks and benefits and in the end, she realized that she does not have any other way of getting out of the dead zone. "Fine," she said, her voice firm. "But this doesn''t mean I trust you completely. We''ll work together for now, but once we''re out of this Dead Zone, we go our separate ways." Liang Chen nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Agreed," he said. "But let''s focus on finding a way to the barrier first. We''ll worry about the Realm Breaking Crystal afterwards. Meng Lin held the Realm Breaking Crystal tightly in her hand, her thoughts racing with the possibilities and uncertainties ahead. She knew that teaming up with Liang Chen was a risk, but it seemed like their goals aligned, at least for the time being. 114. Celestial Spirit Fruits Two figures moved through the Ruins of a deserted landscape, one a young girl with long hair flowing in the wind, cascading down her back in waves. Her eyes were a mesmerizing shade of black with purple hue at the edges. She wore a long, flowing white sect robe identifying her as a diciple of the Soul Shattering Sect. The other figure was a young man in his 20s, his features sharp and angular with a clear mark on his forehead, his expression was unreadable and he led the way through the ruins with a confident stride, his movements fluid and precise. They were Meng Lin and Liang Chen. The duo that partnered up because of their current situation. Meng Lins eyes scanned their surroundings with caution as she moved through the ruins and Liang Chens eyes were filled with confident, occasionally glancing back at Meng Lin, his expression unreadable. They moved through the Dead Zone and saw more desolation in the a desolate place, it was filled with crumbling structures and a heavy silence that seemed to hang in the air. As they continued their exploration, their footsteps led them to a grove of a giant withered tree with hundreds of rotten fruits. Hmm Meng Lin''s eyes were suddenly drawn to the faint glimmer of three spiritual fruit hanging from the branches, their vibrant colors providing a stark contrast to the rest of the fruits. With a careful touch, Meng Lin plucked one of the fruits from the tree. Its surface was smooth and glowing, emitting a sweet aroma that tickled her senses. She recognized it and knew that consuming these three spiritual fruits would boost her qi and enhance her cultivation, it might just be what she needed to breakthrough. "These are Celestial Spirit Fruits, i didnt think Id see one here Meng Lin said as she opened her mouth, about to chew through the fruit. You decide to steal a child from the mother and want to eat it before the mothers eyes, youre cruel Liang Chen spoke from the side as he swiftly reached for his waist, unsheathing a gleaming silver sword. Mother Hearing his words Meng Lin suddenly realized something as she jumped backwards, away from the tree while storing the fruit away. Rumble!! The motionless giant Tree suddenly shook before a massive amount of aura burst from within its body. Meng Lins eyes raised as she witnessed the sudden surge of energy emanating from the giant tree. However, before she could do anything She saw the figure of Liang Chen brandishing his sword ready for battle. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the tree''s branches creaked and cracked, revealing a pair of glowing red eyes amidst the darkness. Roar!!! With a thunderous roar, the tree transformed into a towering, 10 meters long grotesque creature. Its bark-like skin was infused with an ominous aura, and its twisted branches reached out like gnarled claws while its hundreds of rotten fruits became its hairs all around. The air grew heavy with its malevolent presence as it released aura of a Rank 2 Half Step beast. As it released its aura, Meng Lin and Liang Chen could feel the oppressive pressure weighing down on them, a bit small but pressure nonetheless. Heh Liang Chen''s grip tightened on his sword as he chuckled at the sight before him. He suddenly released his aura and power of the peak realm of the Foundation Establishment Realm erupted and in it was a powerful surge of sharp qi that enveloped his body. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. The air around him seemed to vibrate with his presence as the aura of a sword emanated from him. Meng Lin''s eyes widened in surprise as she felt the sharp overwhelming power radiating from Liang Chen. Sword Intent She had never seen it before but if she was correct then that was Sword Intent. Sword intent is a stage in power when a sword cultivators experience in swords emerges to become power, a force that can cut and pierce through anything. It is a manifestation of the sword cultivator''s mastery and understanding in his art of sword techniques. Meng Lin was surprised, she didnt know that Liang Chen was a sword cultivator and one at such a level, no wonder he acted confident. Step Liang Chen took a step forward, his eyes locked onto the grotesque creature before him. His sword glowed with a brilliant silver light, as if it had come alive with its own consciousness. With a swift movement, Liang Chen swung his sword, releasing a wave of sword energy that sliced through the air. The energy surged towards the creature, cutting through its twisted branches and causing it to let out a deafening roar of pain. Liang Chen jumped towards the tree, his movements swift and precise as he clashed with the monstrous tree creature. The creature retaliated with its branch-like limbs, but Liang Chen dodged and parried each attack with ease, his every move calculated and efficient. Meng Lin watched as Liang Chen''s swordsmanship skillfully countered the attacks of the monstrous tree creature. She could see the fierce sword aura around him intensifying as he dodged a branch to strike out with a sword technique. Heavenly Ray Art and Sword Essence Meng Lin murmured to herself as she recognized the technique Liang Chen was using. The Heavenly Ray Art was a High tier mid grade sword technique that combined power and precision of two different high Tier low grade arts. While the Sword Essence was a secret technique that enhanced the cutting power of the sword. Although she doesnt know much about The Sword Essence Secret Art, she recognized the Heavenly Ray Art because she had come across it in the system market. As Liang Chen continued his fierce battle, Meng Lin came to her senses as she realized that she couldn''t just stand by and watch. She concentrated her qi, circulating her power and took out her middle grade sword, the Jade Dust Sword. Step! With a burst of speed, Meng Lin dashed towards the creature, her movements graceful and agile. With her Celestial Moonlit Sword technique Ming Lin unleashed a flurry of swift and precise sword strikes, each one aimed at a branch on the creature''s body. Roar! The creature seemed to feel threatened and released an even more terrifying roar as its aura surged forward to push both Meng Lin and Liang Chen. The oppressive force of the creature''s aura pressed against Meng Lin and Liang Chen, threatening to push them back. But they stood their ground, their auras unwavering. Meng Lin''s sword glowed with a radiant blue light as she continued her assault on the creature''s branches. With each strike, she aimed for weak points, trying to sever its connection to the tree and weaken its defenses. The Celestial Moonlit Sword technique flowed through her, guiding her movements with grace and precision. She could feel the power of her sword technique resonating with her own energy, creating a harmonious balance between her and the blade. Liang Chen, on the other hand, continued his relentless assault on the creature''s main body. His sword sliced through the air with incredible speed and accuracy, leaving behind trails of silver light. The Heavenly Ray Art and Sword Essence combined to enhance his cutting power, allowing him to inflict deep wounds on the creature''s bark-like skin. The battle raged on, the clash of swords and the creature''s roars echoing through the desolate ruins. Meng Lin and Liang Chen moved with no synchronization at all as they both preferred their own style, their attacks were not complementing each other. However, teamwork didnt matter in the face of pure might as with each strike, the creature''s resistance weakened. Its branches withered and crumbled under the relentless assault, while its red eyes flickered with a mixture of anger and fear. Slash Slash Thrush!! Finally, Meng Lin and Liang Chen delivered their final blows with Meng Lin''s sword slashing through the creature''s last limbs and Liang Chen''s sword thrusting through its head, the sword intent destroying its insides. It collapsed onto the ground, its body disintegrating into ashes, leaving behind two pieces of shimmering fruits that seemed unaffected by the battle. We did it Meng Lin thought, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She and Liang Chen stood there, panting heavily, their bodies covered in sweat and dirt. Both of them could have taken care of the tree monster better if they went all out but both held certain apprehensions about the other, thus limiting the amount of power they could use. However both were satisfied and they glanced at each other, their eyes reflecting a mixture of exhaustion and achievement. Liang Chen looked down at the corpse before turning to Meng Lin, a sense of satisfaction evident on his face. "You, can have the fruits, I can see that youre about to breakthrough, these three should do the job." 115. Grotesque Gate In the environment of the Dead Zone, where time had eroded away the walls and nature had claimed its territory, Meng Lin and Liang Chen were seated. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying vegetation, adding to the aura of mystery that surrounded them. Finding solace within the scraps of wood from the monster, they sat down, a few meters away from each other. On Meng Lins side was a small white fog that covered where she sat, obscuring the view from outside while on the other side Liang Chen sat with a small fire crackling beside him, the warm glow casting shadows around over his face. In the midst of this quietude, Meng Lin reached into her robe and retrieved three Celestial Spirit Fruits. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(Late)] [Experience points: 89%] System coin: 570 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 2nd Layer] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] She took a moment to assess her current status, glancing at the information displayed by the system before her. The last time she had checked her progress of experience points was before learning the Celestial Moonlit Sword Art and at that time it was at 76%. After Meng Lin spent two days training with the new Sword Art she was able to raise it to at 86% and it was this battle that increased it by a whole 3 percent. Now, theres only 11% left Meng Lin thought as she brought the first fruit towards her lips. The sweet taste of the Celestial Spirit Fruit filled her mouth, and a refreshingly cool sensation of the liquid caused Meng Lin to relax her body. Within the fruit a burst of qi erupted into her spiritual vains, replenishing her energy and strengthening her cultivation. As she chewed and swallowed the fruit, Meng Lin could feel the qi of the fruit and she began to circulate the Black Tortoise Essence Art, quickly turning the qi into her cultivation. With renewed vigor, Meng Lin picked up the second fruit and took a bite, the same delightful sensation occurring again as she didnt stop there and went for the final fruit. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. As she bit into it, a wave of energy surged through her body, causing Meng Lin to stiffen. The power of the two Celestial Spirit Fruit was immense, and she could feel it circulate within her spiritual vains at an incredible pace. Closing her eyes, Meng Lin focused her mind and began to channel the energy from the fruits into her cultivation method. The Black Tortoise Essence Art absorbed the energy, allowing her to suddenly release a surge of qi, evidence of her breakthrough. Her cultivation soared, reaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage. The power within her surged, and Meng Lin could feel the Brute Qi also increasing with her cultivation. Opening her eyes, Meng Lin took a look at herself and wondered if she should practice the third cycle of the Black Tortoise Essence Art to increase her strength and durability. However after thinking for a few seconds Meng Lin decided to not practice, her goal now was to leave the dead zone as soon as possible. She knew that practicing the third cycle would take time and energy, and she didn''t want to delay her departure any further. Meng Lin believed that her current cultivation level was already sufficient to handle any challenges she might face in the Nether Cloud Domain. She stood up stored the soul confusing array, walking towards Liang Chen, Meng Lin spoke up "Let''s go, I have consumed all three fruits and have brokenthrough Liang Chen looked up from the fire, his eyes not the least surprise. "Alright lets go As they began to set off once again, every now and then they would come across remnants of battles that had taken place in the Dead Zone. Broken weapons lay scattered on the ground, their once mighty owners reduced to nothing but dust. The air was heavy with the lingering energy of past conflicts, a constant reminder of the dangers that lay ahead. As they moved through the ruins, hours passed as the landscape seemed to stretch endlessly before them, with no signs of life or hope. Finally, they reached the outskirts of the Dead Zone, where the barrier loomed before them like an insurmountable wall. It crackled with energy, pulsating with a power that seemed almost tangible. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she looked at the barrier. Was it really possible they could pass through?, she began to think as she felt a threatening aura from the barrier. Follow my instructions Liang Chen said, his voice steady as he motioned for Meng Lin to do the same. Restrict your aura as much as possible and grab a hold of me Meng Lin nodded, remembering what he said about only a single person can use it. She took a deep breath, focusing her qi into the energy suppressing talisman in her robes, she suppressed her aura to that of the first layer of the qi gathering realm as she couldnt go any lower. She then reached out and tightly grasped Liang Chen''s arm, grounding herself in his presence. Liang Chen stepped forward and took out the Shadowbreaker Pendant, activating its power. The pendant emitted a faint, ethereal glow, and Liang Chen pressed it against the barrier. As soon as the pendant made contact with the barrier, a surge of energy rippled through the air, causing Meng Lin to flinch. But to her surprise, the barrier began to crack and warp under the pressure. With a final burst of power, a small part of the barrier shattered into countless fragments, dissipating into thin air. Lets hurry Liang Chen urged, his voice filled with urgency. Meng Lin nodded, keeping up with him as they hurried through the shattered barrier. Boom! As they moved through Meng Lin and Liang Chen felt an enormous pressure weighing down on them, the remnants of the shattered barrier still lingering in the air. Right as they arrived underneath the barrier at the shattered hole, a huge sense of danger washed over Meng Lin as the barrier suddenly began to glow. The remaining fragments converged and started to reformed, with the heavy oppressive feeling weighting upon them even more. Meng Lin and Liang Chen exchanged a quick glance, their expressions familiar. They knew that their time was limited, and they had to act quickly to escape the reformed barrier. Without wasting another moment, Meng Lin unleashed her Brute Qi, channeling it into her limbs. She propelled herself forward with incredible speed, pushing her body to its limits. Liang Chen followed suit, His body turning into Pure Energy as his figure disappearing. With a burst of speed, Meng Lin had managed to reach the other side of the reformed barrier just as it completed its transformation. She looked around to see the same environment, however the desolate feeling of the dead zone was gone and she realized that they were in a clearing with mountains in the distance. Suddenly she felt a presence near her as bursts of pure energy gathered to form the figure of Liang Chen. Liang Chen appeared beside Meng Lin, his expression grim. "Hurry, grab a hold of me Yet as soon as the words left him mouth the barrier before them glowed as a large section turned into a grotesque gate. 116. Platforms The air crackled with an unsettling energy as the grotesque gate emerged from the barrier. It loomed before Meng Lin and Liang Chen, emanating a menacing aura that sent shivers down their spines. Meng Lin''s heart raced with a mix of fear and caution. She knew that whatever lay beyond that gate was dangerous. Liang Chen''s eyes narrowed, his body tense with readiness. He knew that this was probably the case of two peoples using the Shadowbreaker pendant. As they stood before the grotesque gate, a deafening silence enveloped them, and then, with a bone-chilling creak, the gate slowly glowed as from within the gate, monstrous figures emerged. Their forms were twisted and distorted, radiating an overwhelming power that Meng Lin had only encountered once before. These were no ordinary monsters, but beings of the Rank 3 stage with some shocking few being at the middle and late stages of Rank 3. Roar!!!!! Hundreds of roars echoed through the air as the grotesque creatures charged towards Meng Lin and Liang Chen. The ground shook beneath their heavy footsteps, further intensifying the atmosphere of danger. Meng Lin at the side turned pale as she looked ahead as the hundreds of Monsters charged while all releasing aura of maddening proportions. She was confident in her ability to go one on one but hundreds, she knew that she wouldnt last a second against that many, especially those that are already at the middle and late stage. ROAR! A burst of aura began to approach them as the grotesque monsters sent out their wills in the form of a raging tide towards the duo. Liang Chen''s face grimaced as he quickly took out a talisman from within his robes. Before Meng Lin could react, she felt her waist being grasped by a hand as she was pulled closer to Liang Chen. "Hold on tight," Liang Chen''s voice sounded in her ear, his tone urgent. Burst!! Meng Lin felt a surge of energy enveloping her as a talisman activated, and in an instant, the world around her blurred and shifted. The next thing she knew, they were standing on a huge clearing, their location unknown. Feeling the warm around her waist Meng Lin was about to speak before she suddenly noticed something. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Rumble! Beneath them, the ground shook and a large platform emerged under their feets, slowly lifting them up in the air. The platform glowed with a mysterious energy and seemed to have activated because of them stepping on it. Meng Lin wanted to move, however the more the platform went up, the more the speed would increase and by extension the more pressure was put on Meng Lin and Liang Chen. She realized that she couldnt move an inch, the pressure weighed heavily upon her and she knew that if her qi gathering self was standing in this place, then even with the brute qi she would have burst into a pool of blood. Woosh!!! The platform moved at an alarming accelerated speed as in an instant they found themselves in a completely different environment, deep within the sky. This is Meng Lin couldnt finish her sentence as her eyes scanned the area. She realized that they were next to a huge gate with thousands of floating platforms. Figures stood on each of them and wore robes of vibrant colors, each symbolizing a different power, Meng Lin could sense that they were all powerful cultivators. And as she observed the figures more closely, she didnt fail to notice how all of them turned towards them, their gaze filled with intrigue. A woman with long silver white hair stood on a platform, her eyes glowing with a cold chilling aura, Meng Lin couldnt see her realm but she could assume. Beside her stood a young man that was at the peak of the foundation establishment realm and looking at him Meng Lin felt the same feeling as when she first met Liang Chen. He must be another one Meng Lin thought, her gaze drew closer to the other platforms as she tried to gouge out from among them who were giving the same feeling. A dozen platforms from her, a young man clad in gold armor stood with a curious smile as he looked towards Meng Lin and Liang Chen, his gaze focusing on Lian Chen more so than Meng Lin. And a few more platforms away was another man that had a dark and ruthless look in his eyes as he didnt gaze towards them when they appeared, he appeared to have disregarded their appearance. Next to the man was a man with long black hair going down his back, and his eyes filled with a ruthless glint, it was Zhang Wei of the Scarlet Demon Sect, his face held a wicked smile as he amused at the sight of the duo. Meng Lin was slightly surprised to see that he too was able to leave the dead zone but after thinking through what he said before, she realized he probably had a way of leaving the zone. Further down the platforms Meng Lin''s gaze failed to notice a young man of a relative average aura standing on one of the platforms, his eyes shone red like ruby as soon as he saw Meng Lin appear. **** At a platform far away from the location where Meng Lin and Liang Chen stood was a girl with a surprised expression Is that Meng Lin and Liang Chen Xie Ru whispered, her eyes widening in surprise. Yeah I think its them, but are they hugging each other Liam Mu whispered with a puzzled expression. Luo Su chuckled, understanding the situation. "From the lingering qi surrounding them, they must have used a teleportation talisman, they probably dont even know where they are." Lu Xuan remained silent, her face unreadable, but her eyes flickered with concern. Yue Feng laughed a bit at the sight before she looked towards Xi Ruan as it was only him at the Gold Core Realm. Xu Ruan nooded, it was only at the Gold Core Realm that a cultivator could transmit his voice without the fear of others hearing it. He smiled as he raised his aura, drawing the attention of nearby cultivators from other platforms, he didnt care as he opened his mouth to speak, his voice silently transmitting towards the duo. You two sure have incredible luck Meng Lin and Liang Chen snapped their heads as they heard the voice of Liang Chen reverberate in ther head, they looked towards the direction of voice, their eyes widening in surprise. "Xu Ruan?" Meng Lin exclaimed, her voice filled with suprise. Liang Chen''s gaze hardened as he could barely make out Xu Ruan. "Where are we Xu Ruan, from far away smiled, his eyes glinting with even more amusement. "Since when were you two a couple 117. SkyFire Venerable Huh Meng Lin uttered before her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized the close proximity that she and Liang Chen were in. She quickly stepped away from Liang Chen, her face tinged with embarrassment. "We''re not a couple," Meng Lin clarified, her voice tinged with annoyance, Liang Chen hadnt let go all that time. Liang Chen, too, seemed aware of the awkwardness between them as he shook his head. "We don''t have time for this. Xu Ruan, do you have any information about where we are?" Xu Ruan''s smile widened. "Ah, my mistake then. But you two certainly looked quite cozy back there." "Xu Ruan, this is not the time for jokes," Liang Chen said firmly, his tone indicating his impatience. Xu Ruan''s smile faded and he turned serious. "Even we dont know much. The moments we got close to the middle of the Nether Cloud Domain these special platforms suddenly emerged from underneath our feets and we couldnt leave them. "Special Platforms." Meng Lin repeated, her mind processing the information. "So, this is some sort of test?" Xu Ruan nodded. "That seems to be the case. These platforms appeared one after another, and cultivators from various areas were brought here. It''s still unclear why or how, but we suspect it has something to do with the Nether Cloud Domain itself." Meng Lin glanced around at the other cultivators on the platforms. "Do you think we will all be trapped here Xu Ruan shrugged. "It''s hard to say, but I dont think so, I''ve already sent a message to the other Gold Core cultivators here, and weve come to the conclusion that when the amount of participants reach three thousand then the gate in the middle will open If you look down at the platform under you then you should see a number there, yours should have 2877 written there Meng Lin and Liang Chen followed Xu Ruan''s instructions and looked down at the platform beneath their feet. Sure enough, the number 2877 was displayed prominently at the center. "So, once it reaches three thousand, the gate will open?" Meng Lin asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. Xu Ruan shrugged. "That''s what we suspect. We thought it would open when it reached one thousand or two thousand but nothing happened so it could be three thousand or five thousand or even ten thousand. We''re not entirely sure." So who should we take note of around here Liang Chen asked, his eyes scanning the platforms, recognizing a few peoples. Xu Ruan looked towards a platform in the distance. "That woman over there, with the white robes. Her name is Xue Lian, and she is one of the strongest cultivators here. She''s from the Divine Soul Sect and is known for her ice-based cultivation techniques. Keep an eye on her." If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "Besides her is Li Wei," Xu Ruan continued, looking towards another platform. I dont know much about him but he should be some important figure from the Divine Soul Sect, even Xue Lian, the cold beauty is showing respects to him, even though he is only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Meng Lin and Liang Chen turned their attention to the platform where Li Wei stood. The man had a calm and composed expression, his eyes filled with wisdom and authority. "He must have some extraordinary talent or background to earn the respect of Xue Lian," Liang Chen commented, his voice hiding his thoughts. Xu Ruan nodded. "Yes, it''s quite unusual for someone at the Foundation Establishment realm to command such respect. Keep an eye on him, he might prove to be a valuable ally or a formidable opponent." Meng Lin''s gaze wandered further, and she noticed the young man in gold armor that she had seen earlier. "What about him?" Xu Ruan''s smile turned even more serious. "Ah, that''s Xiaoyun, someone from the Palace, the son of Emperor Golden Sun. He''s known for his exceptional talent and his ruthless nature. He''s considered one of the most dangerous participants in this trial." Meng Lins face hardened as she took a deep breath. "He is a formidable opponent indeed She remembered the mention of those in the upper echelon of Luans Continent, the Five Emperors, Eight Ancestors and the Three Venerables, the figures behind the rank 5 powerhouses. The son of one of the emperors, and yet he is participating in such an event? Meng Lin asked, confusion apparent in her voice. Xu Ruan nodded. "Yes, it is quite unusual for someone of his status to participate in a trial like this. But Xiaoyun is known for his ambition and desire for power. He sees this trial as an opportunity to further his own strength and gain recognition." Liang Chen''s eyes narrowed as he observed Xiaoyun from afar. "He is dangerous. Be cautious around him." Meng Lin furrowed her eyebrows, this was the first time she had heard cautiousness in Liang Chens voice. She nodded her head in agreement all the while keeping her eyes on Xiaoyun. Xu Ruan continued, "And over there is Ren Yuan, a disciple of the Scarlet Demon Sect. He''s known for his brutal and merciless methods. Be cautious around him, as he won''t hesitate to eliminate any competition." Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she observed Zhang Wei next to the ruthless man. She remembered their encounter in the dead zone and the threats he had made. She knew she had to be on guard. "Lastly," Xu Ruan said, his voice lowering slightly, "there''s someone that I couldn''t get much information on. He''s on one of the platforms further down, but his presence is quite unsettling. His name is Qin Yu, and he''s said to possess an ancient bloodline that grants him incredible power. Be cautious around him." As they continued to observe the platforms and the powerful cultivators standing upon them, Xu Ruan shared more information about each individual, their sects, and their reputation. Meng Lin listened attentively, committing the details to memory. She knew that in this unknown realm, knowledge and information were their best weapons. Just as she was engrossed in her knowledge, a booming voice echoed throughout the sky, silencing the cultivators and drawing their attention towards the central gate. A figure had appeared, surrounded by a fiery light. It was a man with a dignified and imposing aura, his eyes filled with authority and power. "Welcome, new cultivators of the Nether Cloud Domain," the man''s voice boomed, resonating through the air. "I am the Spiritual Imprint of Zhean, SkyFire Venerable, however i doubt that you have heard of my name. "But that doesn''t matter now. You are here because you have been chosen to participate in the Trials of my inheritance. This is a test of your strength, your skills, and your determination. Only the strongest will reap the greatest of rewards." 118. Castles Inheritance Meng Lin said, rummaging through her memory of what that means, she remembered the word through her ancestal symbol. Inheritance trials were often held by powerful cultivators or sects to pass down their techniques, treasures, or knowledge to the worthy successors. It was a highly coveted opportunity, as it could greatly enhance one''s cultivation and status. The SkyFire Venerable continued, his voice filled with a mixture of apathy and authority. "The Trials will consist of various benefits and challenges, designed to help you achieve something abd then test you in what you achieved. Only those who prove themselves worthy will advance and gain access to the ultimate treasures hidden within My Ensoulment Domains." Meng Lin''s heart raced with anticipation. This was a chance for her to prove herself, to rise above her current limitations and become stronger. She knew that even if she didnt get the inheritance, she would surly gain something. The SkyFire Venerable''s gaze swept across the platforms, his eyes seemingly penetrating through the cultivator''s souls. "Remember, the challenges you will face are not only physical but also mental and spiritual. It is not just about strength, but also about wisdom, adaptability, and resilience. Meng Lin''s gaze shifted, she had never encountered anything like a mental battle against her inner demons so she wasn''t quite sure what to expect. The SkyFire Venerable''s voice boomed once again, this time with a warning tone. "But be warned, the trials will not be easy. You will face each other, and deadly challenges." Meng Lin glanced around her, her eyes filled with determination. She knew that all of these three thousand cultivators were also going to be aiming for the inheritance. She couldn''t afford to let her guard down. The SkyFire Venerable''s voice softened, now filled with a sense of encouragement. "But fear not, for within my many Ensoulment Domains, you will also find opportunities, and the chance to grow stronger. Embrace the challenges, learn from your failures, and never lose sight of your goals. Only then will you be able to grasp the true power that lies within." As the SkyFire Venerable''s words faded, the cultivators on the platforms exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a mixture of excitement, determination, and a hint of fear. They knew that they were about to embark on a journey that would test their limits and shape their destinies. "Now then, lets begin SkyFire Venerable declared, his voice echoing with finality. With those words, the platforms beneath the cultivators began to move, slowly converging towards the central gate where the Gate stood. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The air crackled with anticipation as the central gate opened, they moved closer to the gate and Meng Lins eyes shone with determination. She was ready to face the trials of the an actual inheritance. ****** Meng Lin opened her eyes to the sight of stars, or at least it was what she thought, she felt herself afloat in an environment with a shade of blue lights in the background, it was as if she was standing within the stars. She looked around to find that she was not the only person around as a few hundred meters from her were hundreds of cultivators whose gaze were directed towards below. Meng Lin followed their gaze and she couldnt help but gasp a little. There were castles beneath her, hundreds of castles as far as the eyes can see. Each castle seemed to be floating in the vast expanse of space, surrounded by the twinkling stars. They were all different in size and design, some grand and majestic, while others were more modest and humble. Meng Lin''s heart raced with excitement and curiosity. It was a breathtaking sight, and she couldn''t help but wonder what lay inside those castles, what treasures and knowledge awaited the worthy inheritors. The castles were magnificent, each one unique in design and structure. They were made of a material that seemed to shimmer and glow in the blue light, giving them an ethereal and otherworldly appearance. Meng Lin felt a sense of awe and wonder. She had never seen anything like this before. It was like stepping into a fairy tale or a dream. As she observed the castles, she noticed that they were not just ordinary structures. Each castle had a distinct energy surrounding it, a powerful aura that seemed to pulsate with life. It was clear that these castles held great secrets and treasures within their walls. However she also noticed something, above the castles was one big timer, a countdown so to speak, it was displaying 14:59. Looking at it Meng Lin assumed that it had to do with the amount of time they had before they would be transported to a different place, to face another trial. She looked around at the other cultivators floating in the starry environment, and didnt recognize anyone from the hundreds but she could see that most of them had expressions of anticipation and curiosity on their faces, and some confident ones even began to rush down towards the castles, trying to get something before the timer runs out. Without hesitation, Meng Lin took a step forward, her body floating effortlessly towards the nearest castle. As she got closer, she could feel the energy intensifying, drawing her in like a magnet. As she entered the castle, she was greeted by a grand hall, in was 50 meters tall and was adorned with intricate carvings and beautiful artwork. The air was filled with a sense of ancient wisdom and power. Meng Lin took a deep breath, grounding herself in the moment. She didnt know what were in the castles but she assumed that they held both dangers and opportunities. Meng Lin looked around and didnt see any passage and so she began to release her spiritual consciousness towards the surrounding walls of the hall, more specifically towards the intricate carvings and beautiful artworks. She realized that there were 30 paintings of different ancient beasts and each painting had a distinct aura, she felt as if they were not paintings at all but real ancient beasts that were plastered on the walls. Below each beast was a sentence, sentences that were all the same but give explanation about this particular hall. 119. Lizard Man *Place your hand onto the beast and you shall receive the mark of the beast, be warned if you are not able to control the mark, you will be consumed by the beast* Meng Lin hesitated for a moment, considering the warning. She knew that accepting a mark could come with great power, but also great risk, However. Her eyes gleamed as she was determined to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities that lay within the castle. While hesitant Meng Lin didnt fail to notice that a few cultivator arrived before her and more will be coming as she took her time. So with steady resolve, Meng Lin approached the closest painting of an ancient beast. It depicted a majestic Qilin, A mythical creature known for its benevolence and wisdom, it was similar to a phoenix yet not. She looked at the painting, studying the details of the Qilin''s majestic form. Its body was covered in scales, and it had a single horn on its head. The Qilin''s eyes seemed to gaze right into her soul, as if it could see her true intentions. It made Meng Lin feel deterred, as she was lost contemplating, she suddenly felt a sharp aura, and a moment later she heard a scream. AHHHH She turned to the sight of a girl that had placed her hand onto one of the beasts, the Phoenix. The girl was writhing in pain as flames engulfed her body. The mark of the Phoenix burned brightly on her hand, spreading rapidly across her skin. The other cultivators watched in horror, unsure of what to do. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she realized the gravity of the situation. The warning had been clear - those who couldn''t control the mark would be consumed by the beast. She couldn''t afford to make a mistake. Taking a deep breath, Meng Lin made up her mind, she looked around at the seven other cultivators that had entered this hall and saw that some were too scared to move. She took a step forword, her gaze searching through the halls wall, looking for a specific beast. A few moments later Meng Lin moved further down the hall before arriving at a Turtle shaped beast, the Black Tortoise. She extended her hand cautiously, hovering just above the image of the Black Tortoise. She could feel the energy pulsating from it, beckoning her to place her hand on it. With determination in her eyes, Meng Lin pressed her hand onto the painting. A surge of energy rushed through her body, causing her to gasp. Suddenly, a searing pain shot through her hand as the mark of the Black Tortoise appeared on her palm. She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain as the mark spread across her hand and forearm. The mark glowed with a fiery intensity, as if it was alive. Meng Lin felt a surge of power coursing through her veins, her senses heightened and her body filled with an indescribable energy. She could feel the essence of the Black Tortoise flowing within her, connecting her to the ancient beast''s wisdom and strength. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. But along with the power came a sense of danger. The mark throbbed with an insatiable hunger, as if it craved to be fed. Meng Lin knew that she had to learn to control the mark, or risk being consumed by the beast. Taking a deep breath, she focused her mind and circulated her qi, using the High Tier Cultivation Method, Black Tortoise Essence Art to tame the mark within her. It was a struggle, as the Black Tortoises mark fought against her, seemingly not taking note of the Cultivation Method. But Meng Lin refused to be overwhelmed. Slowly, she began to feel a sense of harmony with the mark and she could sense a presence within the mark, but she maintained control over its power, It has practically became a symbiotic mark, where when she drew strength from the mark, the mark drew aura from her to grew stronger. Ahhhh Meng Lin turned to the sight of another cultivator who had placed their hand onto a painting of a dragon like creature, it was the ancient Beast called Gong Fu or Golden Lizard, it was a mixture of a dragon and a sea shrimp. Meng Lin watched as the cultivator screamed in agony as the mark of the ancient beast spread across their body, his skin suddenly began to turn into scales as his head elongated to the form of a lizard. His aura of the middle stage of foundation establishment suddenly spiked as his whole aura changed, from within his lizard like mouth, he uttered. IFinally.. free Meng Lin felt her heart drop as she realized that being consumed by the beast wasnt as plain and simple as dying by the beasts hand. It seemed that being consumed by the beast meant losing oneself entirely, becoming a vessel for the ancient creatures. The cultivator before her was no longer human, but a twisted amalgamation of man and beast. Roar!!! The now ten or so cultivators within the hall gazed t the man turned lizard as he suddenly rushed towards one of them. The cultivator that he rushed towards, an old man at Peak Foundation Establishment Realm didnt dare to act reckless as he took out a middle grade spiritual sword from within his storage bag, calling out his technique he slashed to form a wave of fire that engulfed the lizard man. The flames danced and crackled, engulfing the lizard man as he let out a guttural roar. But to everyone''s surprise, the flames seemed to have little effect on him. He charged through the inferno, unaffected by the heat, and swung his clawed hand at the old man. The old man''s eyes widened in fear as he barely managed to dodge the lizard man''s attack. He stumbled backward, panting heavily. It was clear that the lizard man''s strength far surpassed his own. Meng Lin watched the scene play out, her heart fluctuating in her chest. She stepped forward and raised her aura, drawing the attention of everyone, including the lizard man. Meng Lin summoned her own middle grade, the Jade Dust sword and took a defensive stance, gazing at the lizard man, waiting for what it would do. The lizard man didnt disappoint as it roared and lunched towards her, its speed faster than before. Hump With intrigue in her eyes Meng Lin called upon her mark, which began to glow with a red glow before releasing a threatening amount of aura, shocking both the lizard man and the other cultivators. The lizards body seemed to freeze in midair as if it sensed the danger Meng Lins aura posed but it was too late, the moment the Black Tortoise mark glowed red , there was a a gleam of savage ruthlessness within Meng Lins eyes as she called out. Die Meng Lin raised her Jade Dust sword and thrusted her sword forward with little strength, the black tortoise mark traveled through her skin into her sword and was released towards the lizard man, aiming directly at his chest. Boom!! Meng Lin delivered a devastating blow that tore through the lizard man''s chest and he let out a scream of agony before collapsing to the ground, lifeless. The hall fell into silence as the other cultivators stared at Meng Lin in awe. She had defeated the powerful lizard man with just a single move. The strength of these marks were truly extraordinary. Meng Lin took a moment to catch her breath, the tortoise mark returned to her forearm and her eyes gleamed with a savage light, her heart was pounding intensely and she closed her eyes to regain her bearing. 120. Only 10 Can Live Burst!!! Suddenly from within the dead body of the lizard man emerged a mark that became suspended in the air, the mark glowed with unwillingness before floating before Meng Lin. Meng Lin gazed at the make which was a golden lizard with a four legs like a tiger, she didnt feel a sense of danger from it and in fact she felt it beckoning towards her, as if it wanted her to hold it. She cautiously reached out her hand and grasped the golden lizard mark. As soon as her hand made contact with it, a surge of power coursed through her body, similar to what she had experienced with the Black Tortoise mark. And as the mark settled onto her palm, a sense of clarity washed over Meng Lin. She could feel a vast instinctual knowledge of the ancient Gong Fu Lizard flowing into her, she also felt more power within her body, enhancing her combat skills and granting her a heightened sense of agility. Meng Lin smiled, she was more confident than before, but she also knew that she needed to be cautious. The power of the marks was immense, and if she couldn''t control it, she risked losing herself to the beast''s instincts. Meng Lin took a deep breath, grounding herself in the present moment. As she opened her eyes she suddenly felt a shift in her environment as the timer was up. ***** Meng Lin found herself transported once again, this time to a vast arena surrounded by towering walls. She looked around and realized that she had transported togather with the 100 cultivators from the hundreds of castles. Although she said one hundred, her spiritual consciousness only counted up to 78, it seems like 22 cultivators were either killed or eliminated from the trial. She wondered if the three thousand from before were divided into 30 groups of 100 peoples, if so why. From the 78 that appeared, Meng Lin began to take note of the few that seemed to pose a threat to her. As she observed her fellow cultivators, Meng Lin noticed five individuals who stood out as potentially dangerous. The first was a tall man with a muscular build. His eyes were sharp and his aura exuded a sense of power. Meng Lin could sense that he had just undergone some kind of transformation, no doubt from the previous trial. The second was a woman with a graceful demeanor. She moved with precision and grace, her every movement calculated and deliberate. Meng Lin could feel the aura of a cunning person from her. The third was a young man with a mischievous smile. He seemed carefree and lighthearted, and his robe signified a sect diciple, from the Vast Metal Sect, another rank 4 sect like the soul shattering sect. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Meng Lin sensed that he was not to be underestimated, as his relaxed demeanor masked a sharp intellect. The fourth was a middle-aged man with a stern expression. He radiated a sense of discipline and authority and Meng Lin couldnt see his realm and she instinctively knew why. What was more bizarre was the fact that the man appeared middle aged but from Meng Lins understanding, you cant enter the Nether cloud domain without having a bone frame lower than 30, which means The fifth and lastly was a woman with a mysterious air about her. She had an aura of darkness and secrecy, and her eyes held a depth that seemed to conceal her thoughts. Just like the middle aged man from before, Meng Lin couldnt see her realm. She knew that she would have to be cautious and vigilant in their presence, as they could prove to be formidable opponents in the trials ahead. However it seems her thoughts were short lived as she noticed how everyone was gazing towards the sky, following 10 bright trails of light. Below that was a sentence, announcing the official beginning of this trial: *Only 10 may live* As the announcement echoed through the arena, a sense of tension filled the air. The cultivators exchanged wary glances, realizing the true gravity of the situation. Only ten out of the remaining seventy-eight would survive. The stakes were higher than ever. Meng Lin felt a mix of pity and dread coursing through her veins. The thought of having to weed out so many life just to pass the trial was simply tragic. She knew she had to give it her all if she wanted to make it to the end so she stilled her heart, realizing that no matter how she felt about it, it would happen, besides. They were all here of their own choosing. Rumble!!! Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet began to shake, the first to make a move was shockingly the graceful woman as beneath her the floor began to crack as hundreds of spikes flew into the air, raining down on the whole arena. Ahh Ahhh Aghh!! In a single instant, almost half of the participants were weeded out as the spikes held the aura of a peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it pierced through their bodies and ended their lives in an instant. Meng Lin''s eyes widened in shock as she watched the carnage unfold. She had expected the trials to be challenging, but she hadn''t anticipated such a brutal and merciless start. She quickly unleashed a powerful wave of energy, sending a shockwave through the air. The force of her attack caused the spikes aimed at her to disintegrate in mid-air, neutralizing the threat. The tall man with the muscular build reacted swiftly as well, his body glowing with a golden aura as he effortlessly dodged the spikes. It was clear that he possessed exceptional combat skills and was not to be taken lightly. The mischievous young man also displayed his prowess, raising his hand to stop the spikes coming towards him and taking a soear from out of nowhere. As the rain of spikes finally came to an end, Meng Lin focused her attention on her surroundings, looking at the gruesome details of the battlefield. The ground was littered with the bodies of the fallen cultivators, their life force extinguished in an instant. Blood stained the arena, creating a chilling atmosphere that sent shivers down Meng Lin''s spine. She could sense the tension in the air, as the remaining participants realized the true danger they were facing. It was a fight for survival, and only the strongest would prevail. Meng Lin took a moment to steady her breathing, reminding herself to stay focused and vigilant. She couldn''t afford to let her guard down, not even for a second. Boom! Peng!!! Like a volcanic eruption, fights began to unfold amid the remaining the cultivators, cultivators all at the Late and Peak stages of the Foundation Establishment Realm. 121. Burly Man Crack Aghh!! A cultivator fell as the low grade spiritual sword within his hand was cut in half by another cultivator with a strange ancient Fox beast mark on his palm. The man did not stop as his eyes gleamed with savagery and he continued onto the next one. Peng!!! Ahhh!! Ahhh Three cultivators fell to a young man with a mischievous smile as he drew his aura back which took the form of a long spear. Peng!!! A young girl in a white robe was sent flying as the middle grade sword in her hand vibrated from the impact of a charging burly man. The young girl. Meng Lin, looked at the burly man and gritted her teeth, she didnt know if it was overconfidence that caused this man to attack her but she wasnt gonna let it sit. The two marks at her left hand glowed red as Meng Lin waved her hand. Lizard Burst!!! From the golden lizard mark appeared a burst of flames that turned black as corrosive qi began to mix within it, turning it into a deadly black flame. Meng Lin flickered her fingers and the black flames erupted from her palm, engulfing the burly man in flames. The man grunted in pain as he let out a shout, his aura building up as they forced the black flames to recessed. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she sensed the surge of power from the burly man. She knew she couldn''t underestimate him, especially now that he was tapping into his full strength. Haa The man roared as his slightly burnt up body began to heal and he began to grow in size and his aura began to swell. Across his entire body appeared ancient tattoos that glowed an eerie green. Hehe, who would have thought I would meet someone like you, it seems the famous Soul Shattering Sect really deserves their reputation, however The man''s voice dropped as he held out a finger towards Meng Lin. You are not my match From his finger emerged a beam of intense green light, aimed directly at Meng Lin. She instinctively reacted, dodging to the side and narrowly avoiding the attack. She didnt have any time to think as the man began to release an even stronger aura, and from his body came out a barrier of green energy that surrounded both of them. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Now theres no place for you to dodge Ohh Meng Lin didnt appear faze as a slight smile formed on her face, the golden lizard and black tortoise marks glowed brightly on her palms as she channeled their energy. With a swift motion of her sword she uttered out. Waterfall Slash The man''s eyes widened as a powerful surge of intense sharp qi appeared out of thin air and rushed towards him with incredible force. He tried to dodge, but the qi crashed into him, slashing through him and sending him flying backward. Crack!! He hit the green barrier behind him and cracks began to appear, the man grunted in pain as across his chest was a large slash that stretched from his shoulder to his waist. Blood oozed out of the wound, staining his clothes and the ground beneath him. Meng Lin stood, her sword still held in her hand as she watched the man struggle to get back up. She could sense the weakening of his aura, know that he had reached his limits. "You dont seem to have fully comprehend those tatooes," she said calmly, her voice filled with remembrance "those tattoos are the marks of ancient beast cultivators, a powerful and feared lineage of cultivators. They grant immense strength and abilities to those who bear them. But it seems you have not mastered their true potential." The man gritted his teeth, his body trembling with pain and determination. "I won''t let a mere disciple of the Soul Shattering Sect defeat me," he growled, mustering whatever strength he had left. Meng Lin chuckled softly, her eyes filled with confidence. "It''s not about the sect you belong to or the power you possess. It''s about your understanding of your own abilities and how you utilize them." She stepped forward, her aura radiating with a calm yet overwhelming presence. This is how I use mine she said coldly as savagery began to creep into her eyes. The golden lizard and black tortoise marks on her palms glowed brighter, infusing her with their energy. Ruthless aura radiated from her as she raised her hand, I wont let you die easy With a flick of her wrist, Meng Lin unleashed another attack. This time, it was different, the golden lizard beast mark moved through her skin to appear at the tip of her fingers. Burst!! A powerful torrent of fire was unleashed as the golden lizard come to life and was released from her skin to shot forth towards the man. The man, seeing the golden lizard, quickly reached into his robes and pulled out a small, intricately crafted treasure mirror. He held it up in front of him, using it as a shield to protect himself from the incoming fire. Peng!! The golden lizard collided with the treasure, causing a brilliant explosion of flames and sparks. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, breaking the barrier surrounding them and forcing anyone in the the surrounding areas to retreat. As the smoke cleared, the man stood there, his mirror treasure still intact. He smirked, knowing he was safe. But Meng Lin wasn''t discouraged. She raised her hand upon which the golden lizard appeared once again as she channeled her energy into it. The golden lizard glowed even brighter as it transformed into a fiery dragon-lizard and its scales shimmered with intense heat. Roar!! With a mighty roar, the fiery dragon-lizard shot towards the man, its flames engulfing everything in its path. The man''s smirk quickly turned into worry as he desperately tried to defend himself. PENG!! The fiery dragon-lizard crashed into the man''s shield, causing a tremendous explosion of flames and energy. The force of the impact sent shockwaves radiating outwards, shaking the ground of the arena. The clash quietly drew the attention of the rest on the battlefield as they paused their own battles to witness the intense showdown between Meng Lin and the burly man. The air crackled with anticipation as they watched the fiery spectacle unfold. Meng Lin''s eyes burned with coldness as she poured more strength into the attack. She could feel the power of the golden lizard coursing through her, fueling her every move. But the burly man was not so easily defeated. Despite the fierce flames engulfing him, he stood his ground, his shield holding strong against the onslaught. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he strained to maintain his defense. Swish! Suddenly from her left, Meng Lun saw a spear appear, slashing towards the fiery dragon-lizard. She glanced over and realized it was one of the spears of the the graceful woman, the first to launch an attack in the arena. 122. Leara Boom! The spear collided with the fiery dragon, causing a powerful burst of energy to erupt into the air. Meng Lin''s gaze harden even more as she turned towards the culprit, the graceful woman with the snake aura. The battlefield, which was filled with the clanks of combat was quiet yet Meng Lin didnt take note of it as her gaze which was intensely focused didnt budge. Whats the meaning of this she asked, her voice filled with bloodlust as the black tortoise mark on her forearm glowed with an otherworldly light. The graceful woman smiled, her eyes filled with a mix of arrogance and amusement. "Oh, little girl, you cant look around you Meng Lins gaze flickered and the cloudiness within them receded as she regained light to look around her. The battlefield which she had imagined to still be in heated combat was currently quiet, she gazed around to see only 7 other individuals in the arena. Only then did she regain complete clearity as her gaze shifted toward the burly man that was standing with exhaustion. She realized that she cant do anything to the man at this point, she didnt want to test the limits of the Trials, the trial said only 10 can remain. Sigh She flicked her fingers and the golden lizard appeared on her hand again, its aura even more powerful than before. What now Meng Lin said as she realized that they werent transported right away into the next trial. The graceful woman chuckled, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Now, my dear, we recuperate. The next Trial will probably be a team event Meng Lin''s eyebrows raised in confusion and furrowed in frustration, she looked towards the man before walking to the side to take a seat. She didnt like the feeling but she would deal with the dead bodies around her for the moment. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(peak)] [Experience points: 27%] System coin: 570 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 2nd Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin took a moment to assess her current situation. The battle had taken little toll on her so she didnt have to recover for the next trial. She looked at her system panel and noticed the difference, her percentage has increased by a lot since she last checked. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. However thinking about the castle with the beast paintings and the two beast marks on her, Meng Lin came to the conclusion that almost half of her percentage came from her getting the marks. At the thought of the marks, Meng Lin couldnt help but notice the added addition to the system panel, the Ancient Spirit Seals. It seemed that the marks she had acquired were something well known, or at least she assumed. She wondered what other abilities and powers she would gain as she continued to complete more trials. The potential for growth seemed limitless in this place and she like that. She stood up and stretched her body, feeling energized and ready for whatever challenges awaited her. She glanced at the whole arena and her joy was quickly snuffed out. The arena was filled with the bloodied corpses or cultivators and the marks of the intense combat that had just taken place. The air was heavy with the smell of dead bodies and the 9 other individuals were in various states, with most of them being free of damage. The burly man, who had been standing with exhaustion, was panting heavily, sweat dripping down his face. His muscles were tense, showing signs of fatigue from the battle. However his eyes were filled with gratitude and determination filled with a hint of relief. The graceful woman with the snake aura stood tall, her posture exuding confidence. She wore a sly smile on her face, as if she''d enjoyed the chaos that just happened. Among the other individuals, there is a man with a scarred face, he seemed to have taken the most damage but he didnt appear fatigued but was rather meditating. There was also the mischievous young man on the side, he seems to have taken a little to no damage and was just sitting down with a light smile on his face. There is also a group of three individuals huddled together, whispering among themselves. The first is a tall and lean man with a shaved head, his eyes sharp and focused. Next to him is a woman with flowing, brown hair, her expression serious and calculating. The third member of their group is a young man, no older than Meng Lin and his eyes held fear and uncertainty. Two of them were at the peak stage and the last one was at the late stage, overall. They were the group to survive because of teamwork and combined cultivation methods. In another corner of the arena, there is the middle aged man with the stern and disciplined face, he suffered no injuries and his stance was relaxed. Lastly was the woman with the mysterious air about her, dark aura surrounded her and she held no injuries, just like the middle aged man. Overall, the individuals in the arena are a mix of weary and interesting characters with their own unique appearance and attributes. Meng Lin walked forward, her steps headed towards the graceful woman with the snake aura. As she approached, the woman''s smile widened, as if expecting her. "I must say, you are a strange one," the woman said, her voice dripping with amusement. "Earlier, you looked at me as if you were about to attack and now youre here to talk to me? Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she stopped a few feet away from the woman. "I have no interest in pointless battles," she replied, her voice tinged with annoyance. "But I want answers. Who are you? And how did you know about the trials ahead The woman laughed, a sound that sent shivers down Meng Lin''s spine. "Oh, little girl, you ask too many questions," she said, her eyes glinting with mischief. "But I suppose I can indulge you. My first name is Liara, and I know of the trial ahead because I lived it Meng Lin''s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You lived it? What do you mean?" Liara''s smile turned into a smirk as she leaned closer to Meng Lin. "The inheritance trials we are going through is not new. They have been repeated countless times in the past, with different participants each time." Meng Lin''s eyes widened in surprise. "So you''ve been through all of this before? How is that possible?" Liara chuckled softly and pointed to her head. "I wouldnt say I was there personally but my memories were Meng Lin''s curiosity was piqued. "Your memories were there? What do you mean Liara leaned back, her smirk never leaving her face. "You have it too, although it seems yours just goes back to a few centuries. Meng Lin''s heart turned as she came to a realization, The Ancestral Symbol, you have yours too Liara nodded. "Yes, the Ancestral Symbol. It holds the memories of our ancestors, passed down through generations. It allows us to tap into the experiences and knowledge of those who came before us." Meng Lin''s mind raced with thoughts and questions. "Then what was this trial about she didnt like the trial as it was basically pointless killings. Liara chuckled, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You see, this trial was merely a warm-up. A test to weed out the weak and unworthy. The next trials will push you to your limits, both physically and mentally." Meng Lin''s thoughts couldnt help but go back to what the spiritual imprint of Zhean, SkyFire Venerable said and her heart felt heavy. "Tell me, snake woman," Meng Lin said, her voice filled with slight frustration. "What are these next steps you speak of? How do we proceed?" Leara didnt seem to mind being called snake woman as her smile turned into a smirk and her eyes gleamed with excitement. "That''s the fun part, well have to figure it out on our own. I only know that it is a team based trial but who knows, each trial is unique, and only those who can adapt and overcome will succeed. Although the other 8 individuals on the arena were not near the two, they were still able to hear what was said in the last part as the woman didnt lower her voice but rather raised it, making sure it reached all their ears. Her voice made the atmosphere tense and most of the participants became weary as they were reminded that the next trial will test their ability to work as a team. 123. 4th Layer Rumble Two hours after the battles in the arena were over, the ground began to shake as cracks appeared all around. The ten survivors, including Meng Lin were woken from their meditation as the arena became brightened by an assortment of colors. The ten lights suspended in the sky began to decend, each one landing in front of one of the survivors. Meng Lin''s mind became focused as she watched the light in front of her, suddenly she felt the light cover her and submerge her in a large pool of energy. Thump! As the light enveloped Meng Lin, she felt a tingling sensation coursing through her body. It was as if a current of pure energy was pulsating within her, awakening every fiber of her being. She closed her eyes, surrendering herself to the radiant glow that surrounded her. Once the light calmed around her, Meng Lin blinked her eyes open and found herself in a completely different place. Gone was the arena with its towering walls and blood-stained sand. Instead, she stood in the midst of a lush forest, bathed in the soft hues of twilight. The air was thick with the scent of moss, pine, and wildflowers, infusing her senses with a serene tranquility. The ground beneath her feet felt alive, a living entity that responded to her every step. Vibrant emerald grass tickled her ankles, and as she walked, tiny petals danced in the gentle breeze, swirling around her like ethereal snowflakes. Meng Lin''s gaze shifted upwards, drawn to the sky above. It was a breathtaking sight that made her remember. Stars twinkled like diamonds, illuminating the night with a celestial brilliance. The moon was full and radiant, casting a mystical glow and a long shadow upon the forest floor, it felt completely real. She suddenly had a feeling, like she had been in an environment like this before, It felt as if she had stepped into a realm where dreams and reality intermingled, where the boundaries of the ordinary were shattered. As she took in her surroundings, Meng Lin noticed the other survivors standing beside their own lights, each immersed in their own thoughts. Their faces were a mixture of awe and wonder, mirroring her own emotions. Just as Meng Lin began to relax into this newfound haven, the ground trembled once more, this time more violently than before. The forest quivered, as if awakening from a deep slumber. A distant rumble grew louder, echoing through the trees, stirring a sense of urgency within her. As she turned her attention back to her light, she noticed it pulsating with an intense energy. It flickered and danced, as if eager to reveal its purpose. Without hesitation, Meng Lin reached out, her eyes gleaming with excitement. The moment her fingertips made contact with the light, a surge of power surged through her veins. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Her body filled with an electrifying energy, her senses sharpening to a heightened state. She could feel pure energy coursing through her, like a river unleashed, ready to be molded into something. Meng Lin didnt waste time and began to sit cross legged while circulating her cultivation realm, she had to absorb all the qi held within this light, drawing it into her body and merging it with her own essence. She closed her eyes, focusing on the flow of energy and allowing it to guide her movements. As she delved deeper into her cultivation, Meng Lin could feel her stomach strengthened and her innards compact, her power was expanding and growing stronger with each breath, and the energy wasnt even diminished by half. Moreover, It seemed to merge seamlessly with her own, making it tremendously easy to manage it, like it was her own. Time seemed to lose its meaning as Meng Lin immersed herself in this process. Minutes passed, maybe even hours, but she remained undeterred, determined to fully absorb the energy from the light upon her. With each moment that passed, Meng Lin could feel herself surpassing her previous limitations. Her body felt lighter, as if she could move with the grace of a dancer. Her spiritual consciousness became sharper, effortlessly connecting with the world around her. Her fingers became pale with an intense aura and her nails grew to the point of reaching a fingers length, their glossed surface reflecting the moonlight above. With every surge of power, her nails grew stronger, sharper, and more resilient. It was as if they were imbued with the very essence of the light she had absorbed. As Meng Lin felt the changes in her body a small smile crept onto her face. She didnt think that she would make this much progress but she liked it. She continued to absorb the energy of the light, taking in the last bit of it left, and as she does that Meng Lin''s senses heightened even further. She could hear the faint rustle of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, and the soft whispers of the wind. She could feel the pulse of life within the forest, the interconnectedness of all living beings. Her body glowed with a radiant aura, illuminating the surrounding area with a gentle light. The forest seemed to respond to her presence, as if acknowledging the energy coursing through her. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Meng Lin opened her eyes. She stood up, feeling a surge of confidence and determination coursing through her veins. She knew what she had to do, she knew the purpose of this trial now, and she was sure that the others were the same. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(peak)] [Experience points: 59%] System coin: 570 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 4th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin took a moment to absorb the changes in her cultivation level, what she absorbed was pure energy so she wasnt surprised at the jump in her cultivation realm. Her experience points had increased to 59%, showing that it was a very great opportunity. However the main reason her cultivation jumped so much has to do with her main cultivation method, the Black Tortoise Essence Art, it has leapt past the 2nd and 3rd Layer, reaching the 4th Layer in one go. As Meng Lin continued to marvel at her sudden increase in strength she felt a heavenly presence descend upon the whole area and her eyes widened at the sight of clouds forming next to the gleaming Moon. She looked further away from her, at the other 9 individuals and instantly knew of the reason behind the presence. Rumble!!!! A cultivator was going through their Gold Core Tribulation, not just that. Multiple cultivators were going through it. 124. Triple Tribulations Within the group of 9 individuals that absorbed the pure energy the same way as Meng Lin, three individuals body began to release intense light as a thunderstorm began to form above them. From the body of a young mischievous man, a golden light rose from his chest as thunder rumbled above his head. The scarred-faced man''s body emitted a fierce gold glow, accompanied by crackling sparks of electricity. And lastly was the burly man, his body also emitting a radiant golden light, but with a calming and steady energy. As the thunderstorm intensified, the atmosphere crackled with electric energy. Dark clouds gathered above the three individuals, swirling and churning with an otherworldly power. The air became charged, causing the hair on their arms to stand on end. The mischievous man raised his hands, and a sphere of shimmering golden light formed around him. It pulsated with an ethereal energy, creating a protective barrier that shielded him from the impending storm. Rumble Boom! A bolt struck down against the barrier and yet it didnt budge, the golden light danced and flickered in his chest and it intensified as the second bolt arrived. Boom!! The scarred-faced man stood tall, his scarred visage illuminated by the golden glow emanating from his body. He extended his arms, summoning a swirling vortex of wind that encircled him. The wind howled and roared, creating a barrier that deflected the lightning strikes with precision and finesse. His second tribulation lightning danced and twisted as it was redirected away from him and the golden light within his chest became more clear. Meanwhile, the burly man''s body seemed to not be bothered with putting up any barriers, he allowed the first and second bolt to hit him and course through his spiritual vains as he tried to strengthen his body with the tribulation lighting. Boom!! The third bolt decended and his body became charred as the ground trembled and shook with the raw power coursing through it. Boom!! Boom!! Boom!! The heavenly tribulation raged on, each lightning bolt more powerful than the last. The burly man stood resolute, his body radiating with an intense glow as tattoos began to cover his body causing it to expand twice its size, his body became harder yet it couldnt protect against all heavenly lightning as his body showed dozens of areas burned. Boom! The mischievous man began to feel strained as his sphere of golden light began to crack under the weight of the sixth lightning bolt, he realized that if he doesnt do anything about it then the next one will be his last. The scarred-faced man was even more unfortunate, his body seemed to be reaching its limits as the seventh lightning bolt struck him. The swirling vortex of wind around him faltered, unable to fully deflect the immense power. His golden glow flickered, revealing the strain on his face as the lightning seared through his defenses, leaving scorch marks on his already scarred skin. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Boom! As the seventh lightning bolt descended, the mischievous man''s protective barrier shattered into countless fragments, unable to withstand the overwhelming force. He stumbled backward, his body shaking with pain as the golden light within him dimmed, threatening to extinguish completely. The burly man, despite his immense strength and endurance, could no longer bear the onslaught of the heavenly tribulation. Rumble! Once the eight lightning bolt appeared he already knew he wouldnt be able to stop it, without any delay in his actions he took out a small intricate mirror that he placed above his head. Meng Lin instantly recognized it to be the same one he used to block her golden Lizard. Meng Lin and the rest looked on with focus as an unparalleled force emerged from the lighting and the sky rumbled even more. Boom!!! A powerful explosion erupted where the burly man stood as his mirror came into contact with the lightning bolt. The force of the explosion caused a shockwave that shook the ground, but the burly man stood firm, his body easily absorbing the shock of the blast. On the other side, the mischievous man, also took out something from his robe, which revealed itself to be a pole, resembling a lightning rod. With a swift motion, he threw the rod a few meters into the air and stepped back. Boom! Rumble!! The lightning bolt struck the lightning rod, causing a blinding flash and a deafening rumble. The mischievous man''s body shook as the electricity surged through him, but he stood his ground, absorbing the light power without faltering. Meanwhile, the scarred-faced man, in a desperate attempt to protect himself from the impending eight lightning bolt, drew upon his deepest reserves of energy. He opened his mouth to chant incantations that drew the attention of the 7 other individuals watching. His voice echoed through the air, resonating with a power that seemed to affect the very heavens themselves. As his incantations grew louder and more fervent, the more powerful the thunderstorm seemed and with a final note, it decended onto him. Rumble!! And yet right as the heavenly bolt was about to lash on him, it began to slow down before completely stopping and dissipating into qi. What Meng Lin gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. The scarred-faced man''s incantations had somehow nullified the lightning bolt, turning it into pure qi that dissipated into the air. All the others held the same expression as Meng Lin. Both the middle aged man and the mysterious woman in black held a sharp curiosity and confusion in their eyes. Even Liara, the one most likely to know out of all of them was stumped, his face showing a confused look. However that seems to have taken all the energy out of the scarred face man as he held a dreaded look while the thunderclouds rumbled once again for the final strike. Haa haa He panted heavily, his body visibly drained from the immense effort. But despite his exhaustion, he refused to fall as determination gleamed in his eyes. Rumble!!! A heavy pressure decended as the final bolts flashed in an instant to appear near their targets. Boom! The burly man felt a large force coming through his hands as the mirror within his hand trembled from the impact of the last lightning. Ugh a pained gasp couldnt help but escape his lips as his arms began to shake uncontrollably with small cracks being heard within his hand. The mischievous man, with his lightning rod still in the air, braced himself for the final strike. His body trembled as the lightning bolt connected with the rod, sending a surge of electricity coursing through the area, with him included. And the scarred-faced man, already drained from his previous incantations, could only stand his ground, his body battered and bruised. He gritted his teeth as he knew he couldnt survive this one. Rumble!! Meng Lin looked towards the two Gold core cultivators, the middle aged man and the mysterious woman, and she held a hand under her chin as she began to think. She inferred that they didnt want to save the scarred face man as it was better to weed out any potential threats when it comes to an inheritance such as this. She held the same opinion so she decided to watch and see what will happen, although she has her worries, she also didnt want to help and risk herself getting hurt. It was a Heavenly Law that If you help someone with their tribulation lighting then you will receive a tribulation lighting of your own, and its specifically designed for you so the lighting will match your strength and could potentially harm you and there is no benefit from it. Rumble Yet the actions of the scarred face man caused Meng Lins eyebrows to raise as he seemed to have taken out a large tortoise carapace that was brimming with vitality. And Meng Lin eyes widened as she realized that It was not just any tortoise carapace, It was the carapace of a mythical creature, one of the four divine creatures. The Black Tortoise. 125. Beast Attack The scarred-faced man held the Black Tortoise carapace above his head, his body shook with exhaustion. He knew that this was his last chance at survival, and he knew the rewards afterwards. Rumble!! The lighting danced in the thunderstorm and decended, however as the scarred-faced man held the carapace above his head, a hand grasp his shoulder and another hand grasp the tortoise carapace in his hand and he felt himself thrown back as the lightning struck. Yet what it met was long slender nails that glossed with blue light as they shockingly ripped through the lightning bolt. Boom!!! A huge shockwave travled through the air as currents of lightning spread across the area. The scarred faced man landed a few meters away and gazed at the scene in front of him. Meng Lin stood there, her left hand still extended as the lightning dissipated around her. She flicked her fingers, causing a few lightning sparks to scatter around her. Her eyes, filled with annoyance and glare, met the scarred-faced man''s gaze. "Stay back," she warned, her voice laced with power. "Concentrate on the core forming, youve past the 9th tribulation. The rest of the group watched in shock and surprise, unsure of what Meng Lin was doing. The middle-aged man and the mysterious woman in black exchanged glances, while Liara''s eyes widened with suprise. "Meng Lin, what are you doing?!" Liara shouted, her voice subtle under the rumbling lightning storm. Meng Lin turned her head slightly to glance at Liara. "You stand back too The scarred-faced man struggled to sit crossed legged, his body still trembling from the impact. "Why did you save me?" he asked, a mix of gratitude and confusion in his voice. Meng Lin didnt bother to answer as she stored the tortoise capeace and raised her head to look at the thunderstorm that seems to be agitated as its rumbling increased, her left hand hurt. It should only be one Meng Lin muttered under her breath, she remembered that the more you interrupt heavenly tribulations, the more tribulations you receive yourself, since she interrupted once then only one more lightning will decend, she hoped. She took a deep breath, her body radiating with a powerful aura. She raised her hand and a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, directly towards her. As the lightning approached, Meng Lin stood tall, her eyes focused and determined. She extended both her hands and her claws extended with a glossy look detached from her hands and met the lighting bolt full on. Booom!! The clash of lightning and claws created a deafening explosion, causing the ground to shake violently. The surrounding area was engulfed in blinding light, making it difficult for anyone to see and a big cretar formed on the ground. When the light finally subsided, the rest of the group could hardly believe their eyes. Meng Lin stood unscathed, her body emitting a faint blue aura. The thunderstorm gradually calmed down, and Leara approached Meng Lin with a curious look in her eyes. Why did you do that, and how are you unscathed from that heavenly Lighting Leara looked back, to the figure of the scarred face man, who was meditating, solidifying his Gold Core. She asked, as she noticed the energy fluctuation of a core formation. Do you just want us to have more powerful members Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Knowing what Leara meant, Meng Lin was about to say something when suddenly Boom!!! From the distance emerged a large fog, Meng Lin looked afar and realize that it was a mob of spirit beasts charging towards them. The others quickly snapped out of their shock and prepared themselves for battle. The scarred-faced man opened his eyes, his Gold Core now fully formed, and stood up, alongside the Burly man and the mischievous man, they all released gold core aura. Meng Lin glanced at the scarred-faced man and nodded. "We need all the strength we can get," she said to Leara. "There seems to be three rank 3 spirit beasts in that group and at least seven half step rank 3 beasts as well as over 500 other spirit beasts. Leara raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Well, it looks like we''re in for a fun fight then," she said, summoning a short sword in her hand. Meng Lin smiled slightly and looked at the others, The mysterious woman and the middle aged man both held the same expression as they gazed at the coming fog. The trio of two man and one woman held a worried expression as even through their cultivations have increased, they were still the weakest members of the group. The scarred faced man and the mischievous man had a calm expression, they took out their weapons, with the scarred faced man taking out a small orb and the mischievous man holding onto his lightning rod which pulsated with heavenly lightning. She looked over at the burly man and found out that he was looking at her with a small smirk on his face, his fear of her turning into a condescending smile, however he appeared to know the situation as he focused on the fog of monsters soon after. Meng Lin took a deep breath, her body radiating with confidence and determination. She knew that she had to focus on reducing the large number of spirit beast or they might be besieged. As the fog of spirit beasts drew closer, Meng Lin raised her hand and summoned her Jade dust sword. With a flick of her wrist, she used the beast marks on her hand to sent forth a a ball of water and fire, both containing the figures of the golden lizard and the black tortoise. Burst After traveling one hundred meter the fireball and water ball exploded upon contact with the approaching spirit beasts, engulfing a large number of them in flames and intense water pressure. A large number of low and middle stage spirit beast were instantly shredded and a few late stage beasts were critically injured, the attack had done its part but Meng Lin wasnt pleased with it as it was not even able to cause harm to any beast at the peak stage of rank 2. Heh a small laughter left the mouth of the mischievous young man as he raised the lighting rod in his hand. Rumble!!! Crackle! Lightning danced around his rod before shooting out, striking several spirit beasts at the peak stage at once with deadly precision. The smell of burnt fur filled the air as several beast corpses fell to the ground, all at the peak stage. The scarred-faced man, not to be outdone, activated the small orb in his hand. Light enveloped the orb and a massive beastly shadow emerged. Roar!! It released a large roar and thundered towards the spirit beasts a few dozen meters from them. The middle-aged man and the mysterious woman in black moved soon after as the middle aged man summoned a large bow and arrow and began shooting towards the group of beasts, targeting the peak and half stage rank 3 beasts. The mysterious woman raised her hand and out of nowhere, a few half stage rank 3 beasts began to have slashs across their bodies. And a few seconds later, the sound of clanks fillled the air as from the original 500 spirit beast, one hundred peak rank 2 beasts reached the group with three rank 3 sprit beasts who were intercepted by the three newly acquired gold core cultivators. Growl!! All around them, Meng Lin and her group were attacked by peak rank 2 spirit beasts, the sounds of their growls and snarls mixed with the screams and shouts of the group as they fought back in their own ways. Slash Meng Lin swung her sword with precision, slicing through the beasts that came too close. Each swing emitted a sharp slicing sound as it cut through the air and flesh. She didnt neglect her beast marks as even while she continued to dance with her sword, they moved in the background, attacking any beasts that targeted her, or block any attack that she wasnt able to block. Slowly but surly the group of 100 spirit beasts were dwindled down to a few dozen as Meng Lin and her group fought with all their might. The scarred-faced man continued to summon his beastly shadow, roaring and crushing any spirit beast that came too close. The mischievous man, with his lightning rod, unleashed powerful heavenly bolts of lightning that electrocuted and paralyzed the remaining beasts. The middle-aged man and the mysterious woman in black didnt have any problems disposing the sprit beasts near them. As the number of spirit beasts decreased, the intensity of the battle decreased as the ones that were done with their opponents went out to help the ones that were having trouble. Meng Lin went to help the trio of man and woman who were having trouble, as they were wounded with bits of slashes across their bodies. The middle aged man and the mysterious woman both disposed of the half stage beast and went on to help the three new gold core cultivators. And with overwhelming power, they struck down the final rank three beast, ending the battle with an anticlimactic finish. 126. Aftermath Phew Meng Lin breathed out as she felt her reserve of qi, she had very little left. She looked around at the aftermath of the battle, seeing the bodies of the defeated spirit beasts scattered around. The ground was stained with blood and the air was heavy with the scent of death. The scarred-faced man approached Meng Lin, his expression filled with gratitude. "Thank you for saving me earlier," he said, bowing his head slightly. I am indebted to you Meng Lin smiled and shook her head. "I saved you because i was interested in that technique of yours," she said. "It might prove useful in the future, would you exchange that with your dept Ah, that. I I can''t just give it away," the scarred-faced man replied hesitantly. "It''s a secret technique that has been passed down in my family for generations. I can''t simply give it to someone else." Meng Lin raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Is it really that valuable?" she asked. "Perhaps we can come to a compromise. I have some rare cultivation resources that might be of interest to you." The scarred-faced man looked down and just shook his head, clearly torn between his gratitude and his familys technique. Meng Lin smiled, expecting such an answer, she asked him whats your name Huh, its Yao Jian," the scarred-faced man replied, still looking hesitant. "Nice to meet you, Yao Jian," Meng Lin said warmly. "I understand how important this technique is to you and your family so I wont ask for it, how about the tortoise shell that you used earlier That? I can give you the tortoise shell," Yao Jian said, a flicker of relief crossing his face. "It''s not as valuable as the technique itself, but it holds some defensive properties that might be useful to you." Meng Lin nodded, satisfied with the compromise. "That sounds fair," she said. "The tortoise shell will definitely come in handy. Thank you, Yao Jian." Yao Jian nooded, a small smile appearing on his scarred face. "I''m glad we could come to an agreement," he said. "I hope it serves you well." Meng Lin nooded and took a sit down to access the situation and plan her next moves. She obtained the black tortoise shell without much difficulty, she was pleased with that after all she had sacrificed 10 of her nails to hold off that lightning bolt. She looked down at her finger tips and saw that it was growing slightly but she assumed that it will take a few days before it could heal to its original state. She sighed at the idea, but was ok with it nonetheless, she didnt want to receive a heavenly lighting bolt, as the risks were great and there was no reward. But she made a puffed face at the thought of not utilizing her nails for a while, she liked them, she wondered if she could use them with the brute qi, would they get destroyed? They are a part of her body after all. System [Meng Lin] Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(peak)] [Experience points: 70%] System coin: 570 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 4th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin looked at her experience points and was slightly disappointed at its slow increase, after such an intense battle, she only improved by 11%. She didnt know of the reason but she felt that something was off with these trials, its whats preventing her from fully immersing herself in cultivation. She has to fully study that black tortoise shell as she felt a connection to it the moment it was brought out, it was the main reason she saved the scarred faced mans life, otherwise she wouldnt let someone like him get more powerful. This was an inheritance where there can only be one person at the top, but this spicific trial was about teamwork, she didnt want to test out what happens when a teammate dies, would something even happen?. Meng Lin shook her head, pushing those thoughts aside for now. She needed to focus on the present and make the most of the resources she had obtained. She looked around to see what the others were doing?. The scarred-faced man, Yao Jian was meditating to further consolidate his Gold Core. The mischievous man was intricately observing the heavenly lightning channeling through his rod, electrifying nearby things. Liara and the middle-aged man were meditating, probably digesting the experience they just went through. The mysterious woman in black was gazing into the distance with a blank face, remaining silent and observant. The burly man was like Yao Jian, sitting down and meditating to solidify his gold core even more. Lastly the trio of man and woman were tending to their wounds, with the older man taking out a pill to eat while the woman used a secret art to hasten the effects. All in all, Meng Lin felt that everyone still hadnt used their most valuable secrets, everyone other than Yao Jian, and who knows, now that he is stronger he might have a few more tricks up his sleeve. Yao Meng Lin cant think of any powerful clan named Yao but it might just be one of the secret clans in hiding, for them to have a technique that stops heavenly tribulations. Sigh Meng Lin focused back to herself and began to circulate her cultivation Method, although she wasnt going to be immersive. She still did so to regain the large amounts of qi that she had used. ***** Elsewhere in the trial space, on the same leveled trial as Meng Lins group was a brutal massacre taking place, a massacre of spiritual beasts. Slash!!!! A man in the dark robes of the scarlet demon sect was surrounded by the stench of blood and filth as the bodies of hundreds of spirit beasts lay dead at his feet. His chest shone with a gold light and the whole environment seemed to be occupied by 5 massive demonic hands that glowed red, each releasing aura of the Gold Core Realm. ***** At another trial was a young man within a group of 6 individuals, the young man wore the robes of the Divine Soul Sect, his body was completely transparent and any spirit beast that attacked him, passed right through him. Yet when he initiated the attack, he would become completely solid, it was as if he was a ghost. Within the same group was the figure of a tall man in golden armor, around him was a wave of blazing fire that set ablaze the bodies of half step rank 3 sprit beast, any rank 2 beast caught in it was turned to dust. ***** Across the whole dimensional trial, other cultivators were also progressing, inside an arena, a white-silver haired woman was freezing any cultivator that got close to her. And inside another arena, the figure of a man moved through the shadows of cultivators, easily coming up and slitting their throats. At another arena was the figure of a bald monk in a gray robe, his body shone bright with a golden hue and outlined around his body was the aura of an ancient bloodline, he opened his mouth and said. Samsra!! His voice although small, boomed across the arena and all the fighting stopped, the arena full of roughly 93 cultivators, with a few being at the Gold Core Realm, all fell to the floor, their eyes blank. Amid the silence of the arena the monk clasped his hand and said. Amitabha 127. God Blood Sea Two hours of meditation and only half was returned Meng Lin thought, she had been sitting crossed legged within the group of beast carcass and she still hadnt recovered fully. It was only now that she realized that the more powerful you are the longer it takes to recover your full strength. She was only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm and she was already taking so long to recover, she couldnt even imagine how long those at the Nascent Soul Realm would take. It wss precisely this that energy restoration pills were very popular among cultivators. Meng Lin sighed and reached into her storage ring, pulling out a small bottle of energy restoration pills. She popped one into her mouth and immediately felt a surge of energy coursing through her body. As she sat there, waiting for her strength to fully return, she didnt fail to notice the new addition to the trial space, a timer. Just like the one in the first trial of castles. She doesnt know if its a coincidence but she noticed that the trials go by rewards and difficultys one after another, the first one was more of a reward, the second a battle, the third one a reward, and a battle, or more so a test of what was achieved from the reward of the third trial. So the 4th trial should be a battle, however this was all speculation from Meng Lin, she couldnt be completely sure about it. She looked up at the timer which only has 15 minutes left and began to focus on her qi gathering, she only needed to take 3 more energy restoration pill and she would be back to full strength. Meng Lin quickly consumed the remaining energy restoration pills, feeling the surge of energy replenishing her qi. She closed her eyes and continued to cultivate, pushing herself to regain her full strength before the timer ran out. As she meditated, she couldn''t help but think about the upcoming battles. She knew that she had to be prepared and utilize all of her techniques and resources to come out on top. Meng Lin also pondered the abilities and techniques of the other cultivators she had encountered in the trial. Each of them seemed to possess unique and powerful skills. She wondered how she would fare against them in battle and what kind of tactics she would need to employ. With only a few minutes left on the timer, Meng Lin opened her eyes and felt her full energy return. She stood up and stretched her muscles, feeling a renewed sense of energy and determination. She glanced around at the other cultivators in her group, all of which seemed already prepared and waiting for the timer to reach zero. And within a few minutes the timer reached its final seconds where a loud gong rang out, signaling the end of the rest period. Meng Lin felt a shift in her vision and her surroundings were changing at a fast pace, before she knew it she was standing on a completely new environment. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. She was standing on a small piece of rock that stood afloat inside a raging wave, around her was hundreds of different pieces of rocks with some of them being occupied by cultivators. Two particuler cultivators appeared strong but that was not where Meng Lins attention was attracted to, it was attracted more so at the sea, it made her heart drop. Waaave!!! Thrashing waves of blood red water crashed in her new surroundings, crashing against unseen barriers surrounding the small piecies of rock on the surface of the water. The sea seemed alive with a pulsating energy, its waves rising and falling with an almost hypnotic rhythm. Boom!! The sea crashed down on the location where Meng Lin stood and she found that there was a small barrier surrounding the small piece of rock that she stood on, protecting her from the tide. God Blood Sea Is this the God Blood Sea between the Luan Continent and the rest of the world, no it should not be, or we would have already been dead by now Meng Lin thought as she remembered about the God Blood Sea. It was said that the God Blood Sea was a treacherous and deadly body of water that separated the Luan Continent from the rest of the world. Its red waters were said to be infused with the blood of ancient powerful beings above the Narscent Soul Ream and even Ensoulment Realm. But this sea before Meng Lin was different. While it shared the same blood-red color, there was something distinct about it that made her doubt if it was the infamous God Blood Sea. The God Blood Sea was said to incinerate any that is close to it, Perhaps this was a similar phenomenon or a different manifestation altogether. As she pondered over the nature of the sea, Meng Lin noticed movement in the distance. As more cultivators appeared on the trial space, a few cultivators began to get impatient and began to leave their barrier to head towards the distance, where a large landmass stood. However. Ahhh A young man with the aura of a peak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator screamed as the moment he left his barrier to tread on the blood red water, his qi fluctuated as it instantly became unstable, allowing the sea to touch his legs. The moment the blood-red water made contact with him, the young man''s body convulsed in excruciating pain. His skin sizzled and burned, emitting a putrid smell as it disintegrated before everyone''s eyes. Within seconds, all that remained of him was a pile of ashes. The sight was horrifying, and it served as a stark reminder to the other cultivators of the deadly consequences of touching the sea. Fear and caution filled the air as everyone collectively retreated back to the safety of their barriers, realizing the true danger that lay before them. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she witnessed the gruesome demise of the young cultivator. She knew that she had to be even more careful now, as even the slightest misstep could cost her life. She focused her attention on the landmass in the distance, her thoughts on how to reach it. As the waves continued to crash around her, Meng Lin observed the behavior of the other cultivators. Some were strategizing and came up with the idea of just floating above the sea, and after a few tried it without no problems, it became clear that it was the only way to traverse this sea. Cultivator after cultivator began to take out their flying swords and other flying treasures, using them to hover above the blood-red water. They carefully maneuvered themselves towards the landmass, keeping a safe distance from the treacherous waves below. Meng Lin was left wondering for a moment, she still doesnt know how to use a flying sword, she could try but she didnt want to be incinerated by the blood red water. After thinking about it for a while she thought to just buy a flying treasure form her system market, although it was wasteful, she didnt want to try her luck. [Swaying Leaf Robe] A robe crafted from the leaves of a mystical tree, imbued with the power of wind. Allows the wearer to float and glide through the air effortlessly. Perfect for traversing treacherous terrains. : 200 system coins 128: Theft Meng Lin''s eyes lit up as she read the description of the Swaying Leaf Robe in the system market. It seemed like the perfect solution to her predicament. Without hesitation, she purchased the robe and wore it under the vail of a pure energy curtain. Instantly, she felt a lightness in her body as the robe''s enchantment took effect. She lifted her feet off the ground and floated above the blood-red water, just like the other cultivators who were using flying treasures. With a sense of relief, Meng Lin began to maneuver herself towards the distant landmass slowly. She tested the items uses until she got used to them before finally utilizing her qi into the robes, blasting herself into the distance, quickly overtaking others in their path. As Meng Lin soared across the air, her heart filled with exhilaration. The wind rushed past her, tousling her hair and carrying the scent of the surrounding sea, blood. Boom!! A deafening explosion echoed through the air, causing Meng Lin to wince in pain. She turned her gaze towards the source of the blast and her eyes widened in horror. A few hundred meters from her, from the rock that she was standing on a few minutes ago, a ball of energy appeared and it held the vistage of a man in ancient attire. Facing off against him was a similar ball of energy from another rock next to it, that one held the vistage of an old man with a demonic aura around him. Meng Lin knew of what she was witnessing the moment she laid eyes upon them, her eyes hurt and she quickly diverted her gaze from the figures. Ahh!! A few dozen meters from her, some cultivators were not fortunate and had their eyes rupture and a few unlucky ones were even clamied by the blood Red Sea underneath. Was that a mirage Meng Lin said as she thought back to what she just saw, it was a spiritual Mirage. Cultivators strong enough to create a spiritual imprint have a chance of leaving behind remnant mirages of their battles, mirages that hold little power to beings at their level but could be considered deadly to those of lower level. Slowly, one after another, the rocks that the cultivators were standing on began to glow and turn into mirages that faces off against each other. Boom!! Anyone still standing on the rocks were killed instantly, even the Gold Core cultivators werent safe. Meng Lin sighed out of relief that she didnt spend too much time on her rock, otherwise she might have suffered the same fate as those unfortunate cultivators. It was indeed a close call for her the more she thinks it. Boom!! As more and more rocks turned, chaos unfolded before her as she realized the seriousness of the situation. The mirages created by the powerful cultivators were wreaking havoc on anyone in their vicinity. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! In this dangerous environment, it was crucial for Meng Lin to think quickly and come up with a plan to ensure her safety. She carefully assessed her surroundings and carefully flew towards the landmass a few miles away, all while avoiding as much as possible. As Meng Lin approached the landmass, at three hundred meters, she could see a group of people gathered near a towering rock formation. Curiosity piqued her interest, and she decided to fly closer to see what was happening. As she got close to two hundred meters, she noticed that there were six individuals, two of whom were at the Gold Core realm. One of them seemed to be attempting to refine something as he was seated crossed legged on the ground, The cultivators around seemed to be keeping a close eye to defend the treasure, and Meng Lin could sense an immense power emanating from it. It reminded her of the words of Yao Jian, the scarred faced man, the words that could stop heavenly tribulations, it was a treasure that could affect the heaven. A treasure she had never come into contact with, a heavenly treasure. Her heart raced with excitement as an idea formed in her mind. She realized that this was an opportunity she couldn''t pass up. Judging by the fact that they are refining it here, it means that they just received it. She looked around, and other than a few holes on the ground she couldnt see any building or place that they might have gotten it from, only then did she came to a realization. Boom!! With her speed already as fast as possible, she utilized her brute qi for the first time as her figure appear to teleport to instantly appear 50 meters away from the group, and a moment later, she was upon them with only a meter away. She had been fast but she was still noticed by the Gold Core Cultivator that was keeping watch, however he realized too late as he knew that he could only form two small layer of protection over the Gold Core cultivator crossed legged. However that was enough to stop anyone at the foundation establishment realm, he thought. Rip!! A small hold was ripped through the barrier instantly and Meng Lin reached out to snatch the earring. As her fingers interlocked to take the earring a surge of powerful fist headed her way, the crossed legged cultivator, had attacked, and judging by the force behind the punch, Meng Lin could see that he was a body cultivator. BOOM! Ah a small wince escaped Meng Lin''s lips as the force of the punch collided with her, sending her flying backward. The impact was powerful, causing pain to shoot through her body. She had used her brute qi which had become over double its former strength, with it she felt confident enough to take the full power attack of a half rank 3 beast, and yet it was broken through with one punch. Thud! She hit the ground hard, skidding across the earth before coming to a stop. Breathing heavily, Meng Lin struggled to push herself up, her left arm throbbing with pain. The crossed legged Gold Core Cultivator stood up, his focus on the small earring still within the grasp of Meng Lin, he had expected it to fall off. A smug smile formed on his face. "You thought you could steal our treasure? Foolish girl," he sneered. Despite the pain, Meng Lin was able to get up quickly as she didnt really suffer a critical injury. "You call me a fool, but so then why has this fool escaped with your treasure" Plop! The ground beneath Meng Lin began to turn to mud and her figure slowly started to be submerged, a smile formed on her face as she looked at the changing expression of the cultivators. Only one of the Gold Core cultivators was able to react in time, taking out a spear, that seemed ordinary at first glance. However, as he held it in his hands, the spear began to emit a faint glow, pulsating with power. Meng Lin''s eyes raised with recognition. It was a top grade weapon, she didnt think that they would have it. Hump With a flick of his wrist, the Gold Core cultivator unleashed the spear''s true potential. In an instant, the weapon extended. its length stretching far beyond what seemed possible. It reached towards Meng Lin, whos whole body was submerged, with only her head out in the open, its tip aimed directly at her head. Meng Lin reacted quickly, her instincts kicking in. Right before the spear could reach her, the ground in front of her burst open and the spear struck a black tortoise shell, causing the area to shake and quake. 129. Refining the Earring Crack! As Meng Lins head become submerged she didnt fail to feel the clear after-effects of the collision, she quickly understood the situation and tilted her head to feel a massive force passing through her right ear. Rumble!! Up above the ground, the Gold Core cultivator that attacked, stood with a small smile as even through his spear was blocked, it managed to break through the tortoise shell and he clearly felt his spear hit its target. However his smile turned into a frown as he realized something, bringing his spear back to its normal size, he saw blood but other than that there was nothing. He quickly looked at the others to say. Shes still alive, Ze Delgie, help me dig the ground up, hurry Ze Delgie, the gold core body cultivator quickly rushed forward, his hands glowing with a faint golden light. He placed his palms on the ground, channeling his energy to create a powerful surge of force that began to excavate the mud and dirt. The ground trembled under his touch as he dug deeper and deeper, searching for Meng Lin. Meanwhile, the other foundation establishment realm cultivators stood by, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. They had witnessed Meng Lin''s incredible speed and resilience, and they knew better than to underestimate her. What shocked them was how fast she was able to do all that under the presence of two Gold Core cultivators. Clang! After digging for 30 meters underground, Ze Delgie''s hands reached a solid point, it caused him to curse as he realized that she might have escaped. He looked up towards the other gold core cultivator and said. Its no good, I have reached the third layer, It will take hours for me to just dig through the third layer, unlike the first and the second layer. Damn it uttered the Gold Core Cultivator with the spear, she couldnt have gone past the third layer, keep searching around the second layer, if were fast we will find her The other cultivators nodded in agreement and quickly spread out, searching the area around the second layer of the underground. They moved with a sense of urgency, knowing that time was of the essence. However the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were having trouble going through the second layer, which made their progress much slower than expected, it caused the Gold Core cultivators to feel frustrated with no where to vent their anger. **** Meanwhile, deep underground, Meng Lin was traveling with half her face covered in blood, her vision blurred and her head hurt as she tried to stay conscious. Around her the rocks turned to mud the moment she got near them, and layed out a safe passage for her to go through. Thud! Meng Lin felt her body fall onto a soft surface and she couldnt even open her eyes as her head hurt beyond what she could imagine, with her eyes closed she went unconscious, her face splashed with blood. **** When Meng Lin regained consciousness, she found herself lying on a soft bed made of leaves and moss. The cave she was in radiated a faint, mystical glow, illuminating the surroundings. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As she sat up, she felt a throbbing pain in her head and reached up to touch the wound on the right side of her face. The blood had dried, but the injury still stung. Her right ear had a small chunk missing and there was a trail of dried blood from her right eye to her right ear, it gave her a gruesome feeling, and she wondered what it looked like. Looking around, Meng Lin realized that she was inside a small cave with a glowing orb at the center, she released her spiritual consciousness to check and saw that it was a small humanoid creature, a puppet to be exact. It exuded the aura of a low grade item so Meng Lin wasnt all that interested but she still got up to see what its functions were. Meng Lin cautiously approached the puppet, her curiosity raised. She examined it closely, noticing intricate details in its design. It had jointed limbs and a small orb embedded in its chest, which seemed to be the source of its glowing light. She carefully touched the puppet, expecting it to be cold and lifeless. However, the moment her finger made contact, she utilized her qi to start refining the puppet. A few seconds later the puppet sprang to life. Its eyes opened, revealing a pair of glowing blue orbs, and it turned its head to face Meng Lin. "Kkrrr," the puppet uttered in an incoherent voice. It stood up to be only about 2 feets and got on its knees, recognizing Meng Lin as its master. The instant Meng Lin finished refining the puppet she understood its use, its was only a low grade puppet thats only purpose was doing small logistic tasks like watching over a garden or cleaning and organizing a room. Losing all interest in such a puppet, Meng Lin stored it away to focus on the reason she was there to begin with, but before that she uttered the words. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(peak)] [Experience points: 75%] System coin: 570 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 4th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin smiled slightly seeing the increase in her cultivation base, although it was of only 5 percent, it still made her happy. She hoped that she would be able to breakthrough to the Gold Core Realm before returning to the sect. Her eyes trailed over the panel and she didnt see any changes except the last part, the Ancient Spirit Seals, the black Tortoise was grayed out, as if not usable anymore. She raised her arm to look at the symbol of the black tortoise and she was not surprised to find the same grayed out symbol on her skin, she felt no power to it, and it was as if it was not there to begin with. Sigh! She let out a slight sigh, realizing that she wouldnt be able to use the black tortoise mark for the moment. Her gazed travel to the thing in her hand and her mind began to think about what it was that was in her hand. It was the earring she stole, it was still interlocked within her fingers, even now it gave off the same energy as before. Meng Lin brought it up to examine it, noticing the intricate engravings on its surface. The earring seemed ancient, with symbols that she couldn''t quite decipher. So without any delay Meng Lin decided to refine it, she would naturally understand what it is after refining it, she raised her hand, upon which a string of qi was released into the earring. It was only after her qi came into contact with it did she realize that it was not exactly what she was thinking it as, because she recognized it to be a top grade item, it was just a more powerful top grade item, a half step heavenly item. However even after realizing that, Meng Lin didnt feel disappointed as she still recognized it as one of the most powerful items that she has come into contact with as of yet. She closed her eyes and focused all her attention on refining the item as she knew it would take way more time than it did with the puppet. The intricate patterns etched onto its surface seemed to come alive under Meng Lin''s touch, pulsating with a faint, mysterious energy. As Meng Lin continued to refine the earring, she could feel her qi connecting with the item, resonating with its power. The process was slow and meticulous, requiring her complete concentration. Hours passed as Meng Lin poured her energy into the earring, her determination unwavering. With each passing moment, she could feel the earring becoming more attuned to her qi, as if it was absorbing and harmonizing with her strength. Finally after a full day, Meng Lin felt a shift in the earring. It emitted a brilliant light, illuminating the cave and casting a soft glow on her face. A surge of energy coursed through her body, causing her to gasp in surprise. And her eyes glowed with an otherworldly purple hue as she realized what the earring was capable of. 130. Bottleneck Meng Lin gazed upon the earring as it began to transform. Its intricate engravings now shimmered with a vibrant golden hue, and the symbols on its surface seemed to dance with newfound vitality. Meng Lin could sense the immense power emanating from the earring. It was as if a door had been opened, granting her access to a higher realm of power. She didnt waste time to utilize the earrings ability as an abundance of qi and ancient aura powered out of the earring to fill the cave with light. Burst! There was so much qi that Meng Lins eyes widened as she realized that she wouldnt be able to control it, and she noticed that the commotion would to be too big, big enough to attract others. Quake!!! Above the surface, where a few dozen cultivators were working differently to dig into the ground, they suddenly felt a powerful surge of energy. The ground beneath them trembled, and the air crackled with electricity. Startled, they looked at each other in confusion, unsure of what was happening. A few hundred meters away from where Meng Lin was located was a woman with a silver white hair in a white robe, exuding a frosty aura around, her gaze shifted to look in the direction of Meng Lin and she began to think. It was Xue Lian of the divine Soul Sect, next to her stood Li Wei, the young man with Luans soul. Li Wei looked towards Xue Lian with an air of familiarity as he asked, "Xue Lian, what did you sense Xue Lian''s eyes narrowed as she continued to analyze the situation, she opened her mouth to speak. I dont know, just now I felt an abrupt surge of ancient qi but it was suddenly gone the next moment, I wonder what caused that Li Wei furrowed his brows in deep thought, trying to make sense of Xue Lian''s words. This whole landmass is entirely strange, three layers of rock formations joint togather, the deeper you go the harder it becomes to dig yet the more opportunities you have of gaining a high tier item, maybe someone discovered another top grade treasure Lu Wei said , his eyes sparkling with excitement. Xue Lian nodded in agreement, her mind racing with possibilities. In any case, there are likely to be other Gold Core cultivators that will go to that location and likely more than 5, things could get ugly Xue Lian said, understanding the potential danger Li Wei could face if they ventured into that location. **** At exactly the same time back in the cave, Meng Lin quickly realized that she needed to contain the energy before it got out of control. She concentrated her qi and began practicing the third layer of her Black tortoise Essence Art, she opened her mouth and like a glutton began to suck the surrounding qi into her stomach, absorbing the excess energy that was threatening to overflow. As she absorbed the energy, Meng Lin could feel that it was not going to be enough so she began to cultivate the first layer of the Black Tortoise Essence Art, her body glowed and qi began to move into her pores. However she began to realize another problem, there was too much qi and she was absorbing too much into her body. She could feel her body becoming overloaded, her skin tingling and her muscles tense. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Her body started to tremble under the immense pressure, and she felt a surge of energy building up inside her, threatening to burst forth uncontrollably. Cracks began to appear on her skin and blood began to quickly flow out from her pores. The intense pressure was causing her body to reach its limits, and she knew she had to find a way to release the excess energy before it consumed her. With a burst of unwillingness, Meng Lin focused her thoughts and directed her qi towards her hands. She extended her palms and released all the energy within her dantian to create a powerful wave of energy in the form of a force field around the cave to contain the overflowing qi. The force field shimmered with a golden glow, matching the brilliance of the earring. It acted as a barrier, preventing the energy from escaping and causing further chaos. As the energy flowed inside the force field, Meng Lin felt a sense of relief. The pressure on her body eased, and she regained control of her trembling muscles. But she knew that this was only a temporary solution. She couldn''t keep the force field up indefinitely, and she needed to find a more sustainable way to manage the excess energy. Drawing upon her knowledge and experience, Meng Lin began to think about a way into this situation, considering the various possibilities that could provide a long-term solution. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(peak)] [Experience points: 78%] System coin: 570 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 4th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Looking at her system menu, Meng Lins eyes were drawn to the spirit seals, wondering if she could just give all the qi to the seal It was because they just needed an ample supply of qi to be active and the more that is given, the stronger they get however Meng Lin shook her head soon after, she didnt want to entertain the idea. She realized that the here was nothing that she could really do except cultivate in this field of ancient aura and qi, she believed that it was more than enough to breakthrough to the Gold Core Realm. However Meng Lin knew that she couldnt stay submerged inside this raw energy, otherwise it might start affecting her body in different ways. She sat crossed legged and began absorbing qi into her pores again, this time she was careful to circulate it around her body and then store it inside her dantian. As Meng Lin continued to absorb the qi and store it in her dantian, she focused on maintaining a balance within her body. She knew that she needed to find a way to regulate the flow of energy and prevent herself from becoming overwhelmed again and she needed to find other places to put the energy when her dantian becomes full. It was then that Meng Lin began to visualize the excess energy flowing through her body, but instead of absorbing it all into the dantian, she channeled it into specific meridians and pathways. By doing so, she could distribute the energy evenly throughout her body, preventing any one area from becoming overloaded. As she continued to absorb and circulate the qi, Meng Lin noticed that her body started to adapt and accommodate the influx of energy. She could feel her muscles strengthening, her skin becoming more resilient, and her senses becoming sharper. With each breath, Meng Lin could sense the energy becoming more harmonious within her. She could feel a connection between her body, mind, and spirit, as if they were working in perfect synchronization. As the excess energy slowly dissipated and merged with her own cultivation, Meng Lin felt a surge of power coursing through her veins. She knew that she had successfully integrated the energy into her own cultivation, enhancing her strength and abilities, it was then that Meng Lin felt something, something akin to a wall blocking her qi from rising. She had reached the bottleneck of the foundation Establishment Realm. It caused Meng Lin to smile as there was only this one wall blocking her from the Gold Core Realm. As she was about to continue she felt a chill running through her body and several massive auras reached inside her spiritual consciousness. Crack! Burst!!! The shimmering golden forcefield was broken and a burst of qi found their way outside the cave through the crack in the forcefield. Meng Lin opened her eyes to see a shocking scene in front of her, she could see sunlight, she was surprised about that since she was so far into the ground and she wondered how it was possible. However it all became clear after she saw the figures that were standing around her cave, they were curiously gazing with longing at the qi that was coming out of the forcefield. It was eight beings that released aura vastly more powerful than her own, and there was a shocking one that released even more aura than the others. 131. Mysterious Man Meng Lin''s heart raced as she observed the powerful figures surrounding her cave. Their auras were overwhelming, and she could sense the immense strength they possessed. She knew that the aura from the earring had caught the attention of these formidable cultivators because even now, their attention seemed to be focused onto the golden aura. As she carefully observed the group, she noticed that one figure stood out from the rest. Closer to the front of the group was a man with flaming trails at his feet, he stood with a calm smile. junior, how about you hand me the item and leave this place, i will turn a blind eye since you just happen to have a fated encounter with it the man said. And who are you Meng Lin asked, seemingly ignoring the words of the man. The man with the flaming trails at his feet chuckled softly, his smile never faltering. Ah, manners! I like that. My name is Zephyr, a rough cultivator that is famous around the Sunlit Hill Region Meng Lins eyes narrowed as she listened to the word of the cultivator, her gaze shifted towards the rest of the cultivators near the cave and a small thought rose in her head. As she opened her mouth to speak, she suddenly felt a massive aura head towards her. One of the cultivators had made a move, a female cultivator within a gray robe released a thick layer of qi that rushed towards Meng Lin, threatening to cut her in half. However before it could reach Meng Lin, it shattered and the man named Zephyr chuckled and turned towards the woman. Gou Yaqin, I would rather not kill a fellow rough cultivator Zephyr looked towards the others and raised his voice to make himself heard. The same is for you all, leave this place or you will die The atmosphere grew tense as Zephyr''s words hung in the air. The other cultivators exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of hesitation and defiance. Gou Yaqin, the female cultivator in the gray robe, clenched her fists and glared at Zephyr. She had a reputation for being ruthless and was not one to back down easily. With gritted teeth Gou Yaqin opened her mouth to speak Zephyr, you may be powerful, but don''t underestimate my strength. I won''t let you have your way so easily Zephyr smirked Oh, I wouldn''t dare underestimate you, Gou Yaqin. But remember, although i only brokethrough a few hours ago, my strength is still greater than yours Meng Lin watched the exchange, her mind racing to find a solution. She realized that the 8 cultivators before her were rough cultivators and they wouldnt be working together as one group She knew that at her current level she has a very high chance of going against a Gold Core Realm Cultivator, it just depends on how experienced they were. As Zephyr and Gou Yaqin were having their tense standoff, a mysterious figure dressed in black appeared in the middle of the group, seemingly from nowhere. Zephyrs eyes turned towards him instantly but before the others could react a massive demonic head appeared behind the mysterious man and released an aura that sent chills down everyone''s spine. The man didnt even acknowledge the group of Gold Core Cultivators but rather turned towards Meng Lin and stretched out his hand. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Meng Lin felt a surge of fear and uncertainty coursing through her as she eyed the mysterious figure''s outstretched hand, unsure of what to do. However she felt that if she tried to do anything against his will then she would surely be dead. Trapped between the looming threat of the massive demonic head and the sinister aura emanating from the man. Meng Lin gritted her teeth and pulled out the earring that caused the attention of the others, now that it had been fully refined, its intricate pattens pulsated with ancient aura, releasing golden qi into the surroundings. Tossing the earring towards the mysterious man in black Meng Lin didnt bother to stay to see the result as her figure began to sink into the ground. Crackle! The flaming trails around the feets of Zephyr flickered and he disappeared from his location to appear infront of the earring thrown in the air. The others only then reacted and began to take out their own weapons, ready to take their chances in acquiring the half step heavenly item. Growl However before they were able to move, the mysterious man in black already struck with the demonic head behind him. A low growl emanated from the demonic head, freezing the others in their tracks, their weapons held tightly in their hand. The head behind the mysterious man grew twice as big and from its hollow sockets appeared green flames that flashed the whole place with an eerie and malevolent glow. The air around them seemed to grow heavier and colder, as if a sinister presence had descended upon the place. Zephyr didnt even have time to reach out for the earring as he felt a massive force pull him towards the demonic head, his body slid across the air as if he were being drawn by an invisible current. He felt as if a cold bucket had been dumped on him as his whole body shivered uncontrollably, the chilling sensation seeping into his bones. However before he could be dragged into the mouth of the demonic head he raised his head to utter the words. Core Manifestation: Sunlight Sea A blinding glow erupted from Zephyr''s body, illuminating the eerie darkness that had engulfed the area. From himself as the center, a massive surge of yellow water gushed into the surroundings to instantly enclose the 30 meter range in a bubble of water. Singe!! Several cultivators, caught within the core manifestation were slowly melted by the scorching water, their cries of pain turning into bubbles as all around them was hot scorching water. Gou Yaqin and three other cultivators were quick to react and manifested their own cores to hold at bay the scorching yellow waters. From within the cave where Meng Lin was standing Scorching water flooded the place, destroying any semblance of shelter or safety that it once held. However Meng Lin was long gone to have been submerged within the scolding waters. AHhh!! Gou Yaqin gazed onto her right and saw a Gold Core Cultivator not able to keep the scolding waters at bay, and their entire body was slowly consumed by blistering heat and their figure became fogged up by the bloody steam produced in the water. She gritted her teeth as she worried for herself, she didnt think the core manifestation between an early stage and the middle stage would be so different. Damn it, hurry up and put it away she cursed under her breath, her focus not the least shifting from defending herself from the Core Manifestation. Zephyr, after releasing his Core Manifestation had a rush of relief wash over him as he felt perfectly safe under this bubble of water. However his rush of relief soon turned into a rush of panic as he felt his scolding water being sucked towards a single direction. A few meters away from him was the mysterious man in a black robe, he stood in the exact same position as he arrived in and even his outstretched hand didnt lower. The only thing that seemed to have changed was the demonic head behind his back, which now appeared to be growing larger and more menacing by the second. Its open mouth seemed to behave as if alive and gulped loudly, emitting a guttural roar that echoed through the water bubble and sucked in the water slowly into its mouth. Impossible Zephyr whispered, his voice barely audible over the deafening roar. He felt hopeless and reached into his storage bag however before he could do anything, he felt the suction force increase. Ahh Caught unprepared he was violently thrown ahead into jaws of the demonic head, his fate unknown. Roar!! After Zephyr had been sucked into the Demonic mouth, it roared as if content and began to madly suck in the remaining scolding water from the 30 meter bubble. Gou Yaqin and one other survivor felt the scolding water leave their barriers as the bubble rapidly diminished in size to completely vanish within the mouth of the demonic head. This Gou Yaqin stood with an exhausted expression as she gazed at the aftermath of this small exchange, only two of the original 8 gold core cultivators were left. She turned to look at the main cause od all this and her eyes widened as she gazed at the mysterious man in black with the same posture with his hand outstretched. Within his outstretched hand was the glowing earring that still released brilliant golden aura as if the center of attention. 132. Tranquil Pond Within a dozen meter wide hole stood the figures of three beings that radiated different levels of lights. Standing next to each other were a man and a woman that looked exhausted with sweat dripping down their brows and dirt smudged across their faces. On the other side of the hole was the figure of a mysterious man in black that held within his outstretched hand a golden earring. Gou Yaqin, the female cultivator in the gray robe stood with a face full of sweat, her gaze was fixated on the man as her fate was entirely in his hand. The demonic head behind the mysterious man had just closed its mouth and the man finally moved, he lowered his hand with the item still within and looked towards the surviving two of the original eight Gold Core cultivators. His eyes were filled with a mix of amusement and apathy, as if he found their predicament to be rather entertaining yet utterly insignificant to him. Gou Yaqin didnt fail to notice the look in his eyes and her heart sank. She realized that their chances of survival were slim, and that they were at the mercy of this enigmatic and powerful stranger. However the man didnt seem interested in dealing with them as he soon moved from where he stood, disappearing just like he had appeared, leaving Gou Yaqin and the other cultivator bewildered and apprehensive. Sigh! Gou Yaqin let out a weary sigh, feeling a mix of relief and frustration, it was only now that she realized that the power that she holds is nothing in the face of true might. She couldnt help but wonder who that person was in the first place, he appeared to be too powerful for this trial. I hope I dont meet him again Gou Yaqin whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the deafening silence of the hole. **** Moving through the ground at a fast pace, Meng Lin had become aware of the hardness of her surroundings as it became more and more difficult for her to move through the mud around her. Half her qi had already been used to turn the hard rock around her into mud but even then she would take longer to move around with just her fleshy body. She could feel her muscles straining with each movement, but she knew she had to be far away from that place as she still felt the fear that crept up on her when she gazed at the mysterious man with the demonic head behind him. She still couldnt understand how powerful the man was but she realized that he was more powerful than that Zephyr, who appeared more powerful than the others. Clang!! Meng Lins hand came into contact with a clear solid surface and she was forced to stop as she realized that her qi couldnt turn the rock ahead into mud anymore, it seemed to be beyond the strength of her qi. Feeling a rush of frustration, Meng Lin furrowed her brow and studied the rock before giving up. She realized that she would need to harness a higher level of qi in order to manipulate such a formidable object. Her brute qi was not that versatile and she could not use anything else at a higher level other than her elemental qi but that was not working. She turned towards her left and began to think, since she didnt truly have a place to go then she thought to try her luck at the surrounding areas underground. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She had long realized that the secrets of this landmass had something to do with the underground. She remembered that when she first arrived at the small island she saw the ground full of holes, thats what led her to escape through the ground. And it seems that her suspicions were correct because she was able to acquire a low grade item, the humanoid puppet. She knew that around her were probably caves with different levels of low and middle grade items with some high and top grade items located at the very bottom. However she also realized that, it would be at those levels that the really strong Gold Core Cultivators would be trying their lucks. But she was undeterred by the presence of stronger cultivators because she was confident in her ability to escape if the situation calls for it. However thinking further, Meng Lin decided not to venture out in search of treasures as she still held an injury. She raised her hand to touch the right side of her face, the blood splatter had long dried and disappeared, now only a small scar was there, it looked like a line that went from her eye to her ear. She was more surprised that the small hole in the ear had healed to the point where you would not notice the hole, just more scars on her body. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Foundation Establishment Stage(peak)] [Experience points: 100%(Breakthrough)] System coin: 570 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 4th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin looked over her system Menu and began to think, her experience points show that she had reached 100 percent. But next to it was also showing a breakthrough sign. she wondered if it was showing breakthrough because, to go to the next stage then she would have to go through the Lighting Tribulation. She herself felt that if she wanted to breakthrough now then she could do it, its just that she would have to go through the Tribulations first. She was slightly worried that she would undergo a Lighting Tribulation out of nowhere but the bottleneck sign indicated that she had control over when she wanted to take it. She did not want to breakthrough right now because she had not recovered her nails, and she was not sure that others wouldnt try to attack her when she is breaking through. However, she knew that if she wanted to reach the next realm in her cultivation and unlock even greater power, she would eventually have to do it. For now, what I need to do is go back up and find a place to recover quickly, I feel that there is something big that is going to happen and I need to be prepared before it happens Meng Lin took a deep breath, her mind focused on finding a safe place to recover. She turned around, facing the direction she came from, and began to make her way back up through the mud tunnel. As she ascended, she couldn''t help but notice the change in the surroundings. The mud grew cooler and more smoother, indicating that she was moving closer to the surface. After what felt like a considerable amount of time, Meng Lin reached the top of the underground where she came upon water that gushed into her mud tunnel, trying to submerge her. Ooo! Bubbles came from a small pond as a figure burst out of the water to land on grass a few meters away. Meng Lin took a deep breath before opening her eyes to look around, trying to make sense of her surroundings. The first thing that struck her was the brightness of the sunlight. After spending so much time underground, her eyes needed a moment to adjust to the sudden change in lighting. She found herself standing on a vast, rocky terrain with a single large tree near the pond with the surrounding areas resembling the other areas of the landmass. Meng Lin held a thoughtful expression as she released her spiritual consciousness. She scanned the area, searching for any signs of danger or other cultivators. As her spiritual consciousness expanded, she could sense the presence of a few weaker cultivators in the vicinity, but they were far enough away that they wouldn''t pose a threat to her. Satisfied with her assessment, Meng Lin cautiously looked towards the pond that she emerged from. It was a crystal clear pond with its surface shimmering with reflected light. Surrounding the pond were soft, moss-covered rocks, providing a perfect spot for rest and meditation. Meng Lin approached the pond, feeling drawn to its serene beauty. She knelt down at the water''s edge and cupped her hands, taking a sip of the cool, refreshing water. The taste was pure and invigorating, revitalizing her senses. As she sat on one of the mossy rocks, Meng Lin closed her eyes and let her body relax. She focused on her breathing, allowing herself to sink into a deep state of meditation. The sounds of nature enveloped her, the gentle rustling of leaves near her, the distant silence of the wind, and the soothing flow of the water in the pond. As Meng Lin lost all touch of reality, a looming storm cloud began to form above her and the flashing of thunder illuminated the area. 133. Gold Core Tribulation As the storm clouds gathered above her, Meng Lin remained deep in her meditative state, unaware of the impending thunderstorm. The atmosphere around her began to change, the air growing heavy with electricity and the sound of thunder drawing closer. Unbeknownst to her, Meng Lin''s breakthrough was imminent, and the storm seemed to be a symbol of the power that was about to surge through her. The combination of the natural energy from the surroundings and her own cultivation had created the perfect conditions for her to advance to the next level. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked across the darkened sky, illuminating the entire area. Meng Lin''s eyes snapped open, her sense of danger heightened and she raised her palm to the sky. Boom! Her palm met the bolt of lightning head-on and a clash of forces broke out, sending shockwaves rippling through the surrounding areas. Huh Meng Lins eyes held suprise as she finally became aware of her situation and her surroundings as she realized that there was the outline of a hollow gold core within her dantian. Rumble! Thunder rumbled overhead, echoing through the air as if the very heavens were warning Meng Lin of the imminent danger she would be facing, she only then realized that she was going through her Lighting Tribulation. Sizzle! Meng Lin felt slight discomfort and looked at the palm that she raised up, only to find that it was charred and blackened from the collision with the lightning bolt. She clenched her fist, determination flashing in her eyes, and whispered, "it seems this will be really troublesome Rumble!! From overhead came another bolt of lightning even more powerful than before, tearing through the darkened sky with a resounding sound. The lighting traveled fast and within moments it appeared before Meng Lin who held a cold glint in her eyes. Slash! Suddenly from out of nowhere, a sword light stretched across the sky and tore through the incoming lighting as if it were mere paper. Burst The slashing from the sword light cut through the lightning and created a blinding explosion, scattering sparks in all directions. Within the sparks was Meng Lin who stood with a raised sword that illuminated the area as if the gleam of the moon. It was the high grade spirit weapon that she had not used ever since she purchased it from the sect market. With the Mystic Lunar Sword in her hand, Meng Lin felt a surge of power flowing through her body. The sword resonated with her, amplifying her own cultivation and allowing her to wield more energy within her dantian. Rumble As another bolt of lightning descended, Meng Lin swung the sword with precision, slicing through the electrified air and effortlessly dispersing the powerful bolt once more. The lightning tribulation continued, each bolt met with the sharp edge of the Mystic Lunar Sword, Meng Lin moved with grace and agility, her movements being a dance of sheer mastery. Rumble!! The 5th bolt of Lightning decended and Meng Lin raised her eyebrows to a small detail about it, noticing that this particular bolt seemed different from the rest. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Its color was the same but more vibrant, radiating a fierce energy that seemed to be just like the pure energy of her brute qi physique. Waterfall slash Noticing the difference from before Meng Lin didnt hesitate to call out one of her techniques as she raised her sword which channeled more qi within. Rumble!! As she executed the Waterfall Slash technique, Meng Lin''s sword glowed with a brilliant blue light, resembling the cascading waters of a majestic waterfall. With a swift and precise movement, she sliced through the incoming bolt of lightning, causing it to shatter into countless fragments. The explosion of fragmented lightning illuminated the area, creating a mesmerizing display of sparks and energy. Meng Lin stood at the center, her figure bathed in the vibrant glow of her own power. But the lightning tribulation was far from over. The storm grew fiercer, and the bolts of lightning intensified, becoming more vibrant and powerful with each lightning that descended. Phew After the 7th Lightning struck, Meng Lin felt drained as the consumption of spiritual qi from her dantian with the Mystic Luner Sword was becoming apparent. Meng Lin raised her head and looked up at the swirling mass of dark clouds above her, the storm seemed endless as it rumbled with even more powerful force. Rumble Suddenly a blue bolt decended from the cloud and reached Meng Lin whose face became visibly darker as she realized the power behind the bolt, as she raised her hand to utilize a technique she suddenly felt a big tug to her soul and her complexion turned ugly. Boom!!! A giant impact shook the ground as Meng Lin didnt block the lighting bolt in time. A giant crater appeared beneath her feet and Meng Lin could feel her body being jolted with an unimaginable force, causing her bones to ache and her muscles to scream in protest. Caugh caugh within the smoke and dust, Meng Lin struggled to catch her breath. Her body felt heavy and battered, but her spirit remained unyielding. With great effort, she pushed herself up from the ground and looked up at the stormy sky. Confusion burned in her eyes as she suddenly thought about something. Damn it she cursed under her breath, realizing that it had something to do with the earring that she had refined before. She felt her spiritual consciousness that was still on it and it was as if someone was trying to attack her through it. It was what caused her to feel absent minded for a moment which got her hurt. Rumble!!! Meng Lin turned her attention back to the present as the thunderstorm above raged with intensity as it prepared its last attack. A vibrant white lighting bolt emerged from the thunderstorm and headed down towards Meng Lin with a swift motion. Surge Peng! As soon as Meng Lin''s blade connected with the vibrant bolt of lightning, a surge of raw power exploded from the impact, creating a shockwave that sent Meng Lin flying back with the ground beneath her cracking from the force, sending debris flying in all directions. Splash! Meng Lin felt lightheaded and her surroundings looked blurred for a moment before her vision cleared and she realized that she had been tossed into the pond. The cool water provided a jolt of refreshment as Meng Lin slowly began to make her way to the surface. She resurfaced and took a deep breath and, wiping the water from her eyes as she surveyed her surroundings. As Meng Lin emerged from the pond, she could feel a renewed sense of energy coursing through her veins. A brilliant flash of light engulfed Meng Lin, illuminating the area and casting her in an ethereal glow. The lightning tribulation had come to an end. As the storm clouds dispersed, the pond returned to its serene state, and Meng Lin sat crossed legged next to it, with her body covered with scorched marks. Her eyes were closed and a small smile formed on her lips, within her body was transformations that were taking place and her aura was rising. Within her Dantian was no longer a raging sea of qi but rather a hollow golden core that slowly seemed to glow as if awaking from a mighty sleep. Around her, qi began to gather and swirl, forming a cyclone of energy. The raw power was palpable and crackling in the air as it encircled her. Meng Lin''s body absorbed the swirling cyclone of energy, and within her, the golden core began to grow and expand, radiating a brilliant light. The rise in her realm was evident as her cultivation soared to new heights. With each breath she took, Meng Lin could feel the power coursing through her, fueling her every movement and thought. Her senses sharpened, her mind became clearer, and her body felt lighter and more agile. As the golden core continued to grow, Meng Lin''s aura expanded, encompassing the entire area. The energy around her seemed to vibrate in harmony with her newfound power, creating a sense of awe and reverence. With her cultivation breakthrough complete, Meng Lin opened her eyes, revealing a newfound confidence and serenity. She stood up, her body radiating with a golden glow around her. All the scorched marks and other injuries began to slowly fade away and her body regenerated at an astonishing rate. The residual pain from her previous battles melted away, as her revitalized body embraced the healing power of her elevated cultivation. She smiled at the fact as she trailed her finger over her eye to her ear to realize that the wound there had healed, she was about to continue to marvel when she suddenly felt a strange gaze upon her. As soon as she felt the gaze upon her she felt a presence behind her and she instantly jumped to turn around. As she turned she saw that standing there was a figure cloaked in a black robe with a demonic head behind him. You 134. Simple Spirit Seal You Meng Lin''s voice trembled with a mix of surprise and caution as she locked eyes with the mysterious figure. The air grew heavy with tension as she prepared herself for what could potentially be a dangerous encounter. The figure remained silent, his eyes concealed by the darkness of his hood. The only visible feature was the small white patch of a demonic head on his cloak, giving off an eerie and ominous aura. Meng Lin tightened her grip on the Mystic Lunar Sword, her fingers tracing the intricate engravings on its hilt. Why have you been observing me Meng Lin asked, her voice barely audible amidst the silence that enveloped them. However without a word, the figure slowly raised his hand, revealing a glimmering silver blade that seemed to radiate an otherworldly energy. The blade crackled with power, matching the intensity of Meng Lin''s own sword. Clang! Meng Lin swiftly brought up her sword, blocking the figure''s sudden attack. The clash of the two blades echoed through the surrounding darkness, sending sparks flying in all directions. As their weapons collided, Meng Lins eyes widened and the ground beneath her began to cave in. Oh the mysterious man finally spoke, his voice deep and resonant. "You possess great strength for someone who has just broken through to the Gold Core Realm. It seems I may have underestimated you." Meng Lin''s heart pounded in her chest as she felt the power emanating from her opponent. She looked on with astonishment as an eerie demonic head appeared behind the man and his aura skyrocketed to the sky. Now that Meng Lin had reached the Gold Core Realm she was able to clearly see the difference in their stages and it was just as she had expected. He was a late stage Gold Core cultivator, and an experienced one at that, the dangerous aura caused her to jump backwards as the demonic head behind the man opened its mouth. Peng!! A loud explosion echoed through the air as a beam of light burst out from within the mouth of the demonic head. It headed towards Meng Lin with unimaginable speed, and in that split second, she instinctively knew that she would be unable to block it with her newfound power. While in midair she watched as the beam of light approached and a bright light enveloped her body as a large collision sent shockwaves throughout the area. Meng Lin felt the force of the impact push her back, but her brute qi had blocked it and she easily recovered and regained her footing, landing on a large piece of debrie. With her body radiating aura even more powerful than before she held a condescending smile as she took a step forward. "You certainly know how to make an entrance! Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. The figure paused for a moment, his gaze widening at the casual way that his attack had been blocked. He didnt seem to like it as it only caused him to clench his fist tight. A sinister smirk formed on his face as he answered, his voice dripping with malice. You appear to have a special physique, but dont think that you can talk on the same level just because of that He raised his sword in the air and Meng Lin felt a drop in temperature as a chilling breeze swept through the area. Ice crystals began to form around the figure, showcasing his mastery over the element of ice. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed, her determination unshaken. She knew she had to stay focused and not let his words or abilities intimidate her. She watched in amazement as the man swang his sword releasing a familiar aura of intent. Burst!! A burst of ice formed and covered the 10 meter radius of the man and Meng Lin jumped back as ice formed where she stood. Is that intent she wondered as she landed a few meters back, regardless I better make this quick, my gold core is becoming unstable. Thump A heartbeat reverberated across the area as Meng Lin stopped using her Brute Qi, causing the Mark on her arm to shine with a ruthless aura. Boom From where she stood fire erupted as a golden lizard sprung out from her hand to surround her, gradually gaining features of a dragon. Hmm the man let out a small chuckle as he observed the features of a dragon appear on the lizard. You think you can stop my second stage intent with a simple spirit seal he sneered, his voice dripping with a slight pity. Meng Lin''s eyebrows raised and her eyes narrowed as she noticed the aura around the man increasing, causing an ice pillar to rise before her. Crackle! The fire around Meng Lin dwindled and she felt a chill run down her spine as ice began to form on her body, causing a rise in her emotions as she instantly jumped to the left. As she jumped she saw a tsunami of ice headed where she last stood, submerging the golden lizard which didnt even have the time to react. Crack!! Cracks began to form on the lizards body and in a few moments it shattered to pieces, leaving golden fragments on the floor. Ice continued to cover the place where Meng Lin had stood, the golden shards of her shattered spirit seal scattering across it, glinting ominously in the cold light. The man grew slightly weary and his eyes narrowed with a flicker of surprise as he noticed that Meng Lin had managed to escape the devastating ice wave. Her figure was standing a few meters away, her eyes giving an eerie purple light that seemed cautious and calculating. The aura around her pulsed with unrestrained energy, clearly showing signs of instability from her Gold Core. "Your intent is impressive..." Meng Lin admitted, her voice steady yet filled with an overwhelming sense of will. "However, you underestimate the power of my simple spirit seal." The air around her seemed to vibrate as she spoke, the ground beneath her feet starting to tremble. Her expression hardened, and she pointed her sword towards the man, her eyes reflecting the glimmers of her shattered spirit seal. A strange energy began to surround her, a golden glow radiating from her body, illuminating the darkness. The shattered fragments of her spirit seal started to float in the air, slowly circling around her, resonating with her energy. She raised her arm, the mark on it shining brightly. A sharp, high-pitched cry echoed through the area, as the shattered fragments of the spirit seal started to reform, merging together, and taking the shape of a mighty golden dragon. Roar The dragon, now fully formed, roared into the night, its voice shaking the very air around them. The ice around the man started to melt, unable to withstand the heat radiating from the golden dragon. The man''s gaze faltered, his eyes widening in disbelief as he watched the scene unfold. He quickly composed himself, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for her next move. Meng Lin''s voice echoed through the air, "You called it a simple spirit seal but let me correct you on that, this is an ancient spirit seal, even I dont know much about it. Now let''s see whose power will prevail." With a swift motion, she pointed her sword towards the man, the golden dragon following her command. It launched itself towards him, a trail of blazing fire tailing behind it. The man quickly raised his sword, the air around him growing colder, the ice around him rising to form a barrier. Boom! Instantly, the golden dragon easily broke through the barrier, its fiery body melting the ice upon contact and reaching the man in the next moment. 135. System Update .2 Rumble The impact of the golden dragon colliding with the man sent shockwaves through the area, causing the ground to tremble. The force of the collision created a massive explosion, engulfing the surroundings in a blinding light. As the dust settled, Meng Lin cautiously approached the spot where the man had been standing. To her surprise, there was no sign of him. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. Confusion filled Meng Lin''s mind as she scanned the area, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Had she incinerated him? Or had he escaped? Just as she was about to give up her search, she noticed a faint glow coming from a nearby tree. Curiosity piqued, she walked towards it and discovered a small, silver pendant lying on the ground. Picking it up, she examined the intricate engravings on its surface. It seemed to be a symbol of some sort, but its meaning was unknown to her. She wondered if it was a teleportation item and after using her spiritual sense, she noticed that there was a small formation inside which had now been broken. She deduced that the pendant was indeed a teleportation item, but it appeared to only be a one time use. Meng Lin decided to keep the pendant as a memento of her encounter with the mysterious figure. Perhaps it would provide clues to his identity, or maybe it held some hidden power that she had yet to discover. Thump!! A heartbeat echoed through the area and Meng Lin grimaced as she noticed the unstable air around her, her Gold Core was showing signs of weakness. She quickly pulled out her Soul Confusing Array and placed it around her before sitting crossed legged and circulating her qi across her body. As Meng Lin focused on stabilizing her Gold Core, the Soul Confusing Array emitted a soft, pulsating light, gradually forming a fog that would protect her from external disturbances. Closing her eyes, Meng Lin delved deep into her Dantian, connecting with the flow of energy within her body. She visualized her qi circulating through her widened spiritual vains, strengthening her core. Time seemed to slow down as Meng Lin entered a state of deep concentration. She could feel the energy within her Gold Core gradually stabilizing, the signs of weakness fading away. With each breath, she absorbed large amounts of the surrounding spiritual energy, replenishing her own reserves. The Soul Confusing Array acted as a conduit, enhancing the efficiency of her silent cultivation. Minutes turned into hours as Meng Lin continued her cultivation. She remained focused and composed, knowing that this couldnt be rushed. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Finally, as the first rays of dawn peeked over the horizon, Meng Lin felt a surge of energy coursing through her body. Her Gold Core had fully stabilized, and she could sense its newfound strength. With a sense of satisfaction, Meng Lin opened her eyes that glistened with a renewed sense of confidence. She knew that with her Gold Core Realm, she didnt have to be wary as she had been before. System Meng Lin uttered but to her surprise, there was no response, only the stillness of the early morning air. Confusion filled her mind as she tried again, "System, are you there? As she was about to speak once more, panel upon panel of system notifications began to appear before her face. [Congratulations for reaching a new realm, you have recived rewards for your achievement] [You have received Gold Core pill x2, High Grade System Pack, Gacha Wheel Ticket] [Congratulations for going through your first Lighting Tribulation, you have received rewards for your achievement] [You have received the High-Grade Low Tier Technique: Wrath of Thunder] [The system has updated, the Market function and the System Gacha function has upgraded to include higher level items] Meng Lin''s eyes widened in surprise as she read the notifications. The rewards she had received were beyond her expectations, and the system upgrades were a welcome bonus. She quickly checked the rewards one by one, starting with the Gold Core pills. She was slightly surprised to see two as she had assumed that it would only be one, but maybe it was just luck. Moving on to the Lightning Tribulation reward, Meng Lin was intrigued. She had successfully passed through her first tribulation, a significant milestone in her cultivation journey. The reward was the High-Grade Low Tier Technique: Wrath of Thunder. Excitement filled Meng Lin''s heart as she read the description of the technique. It was a powerful lightning-based cultivation technique that could be a good buff to her lightning based attack, it fit her perfectly. Finally, she examined the High Grade System Pack which floated alongside the two pills as well as the technique book. Opening it she was greeted by a blinding flash of light that caused her to close her eyes, and soon after a system panel appeared before her. [You have recived 5460 system coins, 250 middle grade spirit stones, Unique Grade Item: Fortune Ring, 100 beast forage, Gacha Wheel Ticket] Meng Lin raised her eyebrows at the contents of the High Grade System Pack. The first two rewards were within her expectations, but she couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement as she looked at the transparent ring that had appeared before her. The Unique Grade Item: Fortune Ring. She had heard legends of such rings that could bring good luck and fortune to their wearers. Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel a sense of anticipation as she wondered what kind of luck this ring could bring her. She looked at the other items and smiled, the 5460 system coins would allow her to purchase various items and resources from the system market, giving her a significant advantage in her cultivation journey. The 250 middle-grade spirit stones were an even bigger valuable resource for enhancing her cultivation and refining spiritual artifacts. With these stones, she could further buy things for her blacksmith and alchemy. And the 100 beast forage came just in time, Purple had been complaining about the lack of it, now she wouldnt have to listen to his hissing complains. Lastly was the Gacha ticket, this would be her second one, she wondered if she collected 10, would it allow her to draw 10 in a raw, Meng Lin smiled at the thought and said with slight glee. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Gold Core Stage(early)] [Experience points: 1%] System coin: 6030 Taoist Gacha wheel: available x2 Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 4th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] 136. Final Trial part 1 Looking at the words Gold Core on her system menu Meng Lin smiled and looked towards the Taoist gacha wheel. As she entered the Taoist Gacha Wheel she wasnt surprised to see rows of items that she hadnt seen before, the original 10 had increased to 15 and almost all of them were replaced by new items. 1. >Celestial Thunder Blade 2. Soul wondering pills x5 3. >Void Spirit Mirror 4. >Shapeshifter''s Mask 5. >High Grade Rootless Fire x1 6. >[system mission] 7. >High grade system pack 8. Superior Booze gift bag 9. Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique 10. Immortal jades x9 11. Spiritual Healing Pillx3 12. Soulbound Amulet of Resurrection 13. Everlasting Lotus Seed 14. Chaos Mountain 15. Essence Absorbing lnsectx30 She recognized a few new items but the majority were items that she had not heard of before. She withheld the temptation of spinning the wheel and left the Gacha wheel to go look at the system market, afterall they both had an upgrade. Meng Lin clicked on the system market icon and was immediately greeted with a plethora of options. The interface had undergone a significant improvement, with vibrant colors and detailed descriptions for each item. It was like stepping into a virtual marketplace filled with endless possibilities. The number of slots had increased from 30 to 50 and she saw a huge amount of spiritual herbs for alchemy and weapon and item ingredients for blacksmith. She wondered if the system noticed how she was leaning towards those two areas and had done this because of that. She scrolled through the various categories, ranging from cultivation techniques to rare artifacts and mystical potions. The system market seemed to have everything a cultivator like her could ever desire. However she could not get all she wanted as she noticed the price of some of the items, she had even stumbled upon middle grade rootless fires only to almost split blood looking at the prices of them. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. While she pondered on what to do with her newfound money the rising sun suddenly turned gray and the whole sky lost color. Meng Lin snapped out of her thoughts and stood up while looking at the sky, is this trial ending she thought. A few meters away from her, a distorted space came into view and a blinding light burst out to form two swirling different colored gates that glowed with heavenly light. Below each gate were letters that began to appear one after another until they formed complete words. Below the green gate was the word, *Exit* and below the gate with the red swirl was the words *Final Trial *. Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation, the appearance of these gates meant that they had reached the final level of trial. She knew that behind the green gate was the exit, where she could leave the trial and return to the Nether Cloud Domain. On the other hand, behind the red gate was the final trial, a challenge that would test her to her limits. She paused for a moment, contemplating her next move. Should she take the safe route and exit the trial? Or should she embrace the unknown and step into the final trial? Was there even a need to contemplate Meng Lin thought, at the current moment she felt the need to challenge herself and see how she would fare against the others, again. She wanted to test her limits. She had come so far, overcoming various trials and acquiring new skills and items along the way. She had grown stronger and more confident in her abilities. She couldn''t let fear hold her back now. Maybe if she hadnt broken through she wouldnt be thinking all this but that would not be known now. Taking a deep breath she flicked her hand to store away the Soul Confusing Array as well as all her reward items, without the fog between them Meng Lin was able to see the gates in full view. Stepping towards the gate with the red swirl, Meng Lin could feel a surge of energy coursing through her veins. It was as if the gate itself was inviting her to step into the unknown, to face whatever awaited her on the other side. As she crossed the threshold, the surroundings changed once again. She found herself in a vast, otherworldly castle with a giant gate as well as towering pillars of fire surrounding the whole place. There was no ceiling above and she could see stars just like when she had been in the trial with the different castles. But she doubted if this was the same place because every star above was red, unlike the other trial space which had countless stars of different colors. As she began to marvel at her new surroundings she felt sonething within her storage ring react. Taking out a small talisman Meng Lins eyes raised as she recognized what it was, back before they had all entered the nether Could Domain they had been given this talisman. It was supposed to locate the Sect Artifact when it gets close to it, but she had completely forgotten about it in the midst of the things that happened. Hmm Looking at the small pusltating talisman pointing towards the giant gate in front of her Meng Lin held a hand under her chin as she began to think. What could be waiting for her beyond the giant gate? Should she follow the talisman''s guidance and venture further into the castle? Or should she explore her surroundings first to gather more information? Meng Lin weighed her options carefully. On one hand, the talisman seemed to be leading her towards the gate, indicating that the sect artifact is on the other side. On the other hand, she was curious about the castle itself. The pillars of fire and the ancient power emanating from the surroundings hinted at hidden secrets and valuable treasures. Exploring the area might provide her with additional resources and insights to aid her in the final trial. After a moment of contemplation, Meng Lin decided to follow the talisman''s guidance. She believed that anywhere that housed the sect artifact was a place that also held other side artifacts, she wondered what she would find there. With determination in her eyes, she took a step towards the giant gate. As she approached, the gate began to shimmer with a vibrant red glow, as if responding to her presence. The energy coursing through her veins intensified, filling her with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. With a deep breath, Meng Lin pushed open the gate and stepped into the unknown, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her in the final trial. 137. Final Trial part 2 As Meng Lin stepped through the giant gate, a rush of energy engulfed her and she felt her body locked in space. She raised her eyebrows at the energy surrounding her and her gaze focused as she looked around. She had been shifted to a grand colosseum of desolate aura, with the lifeless bodies of fallen cultivators strewn about. Thump! Meng Lin''s heart sank as she surveyed the grim scene, there was thousands of dead bodies scattered across the floor, it was a sight that she hadnt seen before. It made her shook with fear. The sheer magnitude of the carnage before her was overwhelming. How could so many cultivators have met such a tragic end? Hmm Looking at all the dead bodies she found a few that looked similar, a few dozen bodies impaled by black spikes. She looked around to scrutinize the other bodies and realized that they were probably all the cultivators killed throughout the trials. Almost two thousand cultivators, just how many survived to the end? It was only now that Meng Lin realized the sheer scale of these trials, almost all participants in the Nether Cloud Domain were killed in a single day. As she continued to move through the colosseum, Meng Lin noticed something peculiar. The bodies seemed to be arranged in a specific pattern, forming intricate symbols and patterns on the ground. It was as if instead of being thrown here by a spell, they were all individually placed around the colosseum. What is going on here Meng Lin muttered to herself, a shiver running down her spine. As Meng Lin was lost in her thoughts, her eyes darted as a shadow moved from one of the dead bodies and dashed towards her with incredible speed. Peng! A sword appeared before the shadow and blocked the dagger that was aimed at Meng Lin. Slash! Meng Lin swang her arm and the sword in her hand released a blinding light as it slashed with fierce precision. The shadow stumbled back, stunned by the power behind the attack. Its you Meng Lin said recognizing the person that had attacked her. It was none other than Zhang Wei of the Scarlet Demon Sect, the one that hides in the shadows. She didnt think she would encounter him after he was scared away by Luang Chen and he released aura of the Gold Core Realm, it appeared that just like others, he had found encounters that made him breakthrough. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. The man, Zhang Wei held his dagger to his lips and smiled as he complemented Meng Lin. Youve broken through as well, it appears you Soul Shattering Sect members are becoming quite formidable but this next attack Enough A voice interrupted the tense exchange, resonating through the air with a commanding authority. Meng Lin turned to the voice to see a man that had a dark and ruthless look in his eyes, he was wearing the same robe of the Scarlet Demon Sect as Zhang Wei. It was Ren Yuan, and he radiated aura of an even higher stage than Zhang Wei as he walked towards them with a ruthless look in his eyes. Meng Lin looked at him with caution as he approached from behind Zhang Wei, the man looked at her and turned to look towards his left where someone else appeared from a slight distorted space. It was a man in a golden armor and as he appeared he seemenly didnt pay attention to the trio as he gazed at the carnage surrounding him. He seemed to have just gotten there, as if he had teleported or was shifted through space. The man in the golden armor glanced at Ren Yuan with a slight smirk, clearly not impressed by his presence. As he opened his mouth to speak, multiple distortions in space appeared and other figures arrived at the colosseum with different expressions. A woman with long silver white hair and a young man with a sharp aura appeared, they held a startled expressions as they surveyed the place. Meng Lin shifted her gaze as she looked at the cultivators that appeared from the distortions. Five figures had appeared from the distortions and Meng Lins frown turned upside down as she turned to look at the other three. Meng Lin a man with a small mark on his forehead called out as his figure appeared from one of the distortions. It was Luang Chen, he seemed to have broken through and his aura appeared to be on the cusp of the next stage, it somewhat startled Meng Lin. However, Meng Lin quickly composed herself and walked towards Luang Chen with a smile as she looked at two others that appeared form the distortions. From the distortions was a young man with startling azure eyes and a set of intricate tattoos adorning his arms, as well as a woman with flowing crimson hair and a fiery staff in her hand. Luang Chen looked around him and his face appeared indistinguishable as he turned to Meng Lin and asked. Did you run into any of our other sect members, by any chance?". Meng Lin shook her head gently, her smile faltering slightly. What about you, did you see any other Luang Chen paused for a moment, his gaze shifting back to the young man and woman who had emerged with him the distortions. Yes I Suddenly another distortion in space appeared and everyone turned to look at the emerging figure. A mysterious figure in all black stepped out of the distortion, shrouded in a cloak that billowed in an unseen breeze. Meng Lins gaze hardened as she gazed at the figure, her aura intensified as everyone on the stage turned to look at him. Do you know him Luang Chen asked his gaze turning dark as he too recognized the figure that appeared. Not just him, everyone except the man in golden armor seemed to have had bad encounters with the man as they similarly took a stance. Oh a voice sounded form the cloak of darkness as the figure seemed to not be threatened by the collective animosity directed at him. Rumble!!! Suddenly, a thunderous noise echoed through the air, shaking the ground beneath everyones feet. A huge amount of aura gathered above the colosseum to form the huge figure of a flaming man, the spiritual imprint of SkyFire Venerable had appeared. Boom!! A huge pressure decended onto everyone in the colosseum and swept through their bodies, causing their knees to tremble and their hearts to race with fear. Some received it relatively better than others as they didnt seem to budge from the pressure placed upon their bodies. The SkyFire Venerable looked at the nine remaining participants and held his apathetic gaze as he spoke with authority. Nine of you have made it this far, but only one will claim my inheritance, fight and kill. The one remaining shall get my inheritance. 138. Final Trial part 3 As the words of the SkyFire Venerable echoed through the colosseum, the vistage of a demonic head appeared behind the mysterious man in black. And it released a maddening aura into the crowd before bursting into nine crimson skulls that each glowed with a sinister light. The skulls floated in the air, their eyes filled with malice as they surveyed the participants. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she felt an intense aura radiate from the man in black, his aura was even higher than before and she felt that he would attack at any moment. Zing!! A loud noise suddenly reverberated through the colosseum and the nine skulls that appeared suddenly dissipated, like flames being smothered by a gust of wind. Meng Lin turned to where the sound had come from and realized that while she had been focused on the man in black, the man and woman that had appeared from the distortion last had not wasted any time. They were standing side by side, their bodies glowing with the aura of the early stage of the gold core realm but in their hand were weapons that gave Meng Lin a cold sweat, as she felt her life threatened just by looking at them. The man held a gleaming sword, its blade reflecting the intricate dragons designed on the sword in a mesmerizing way. The woman, on the other hand, held a biwa instrument, its strings vibrated with an otherworldly energy that caused ripples in the air surrounding her. Meng Lin felt a familiar sensation once again as her storage ring reacted and she didnt need to think to know what was the cause. its the sword in that guys hand Meng Lin thought before turning towards Luang Chen who stood beside her, his expression grave, eyes trained intensely on the woman with the biwa instrument. She didnt have the chance to ask as the woman with the biwa trailed her finger to one of the strings and plucked it delicately. Zing. A ripple of energy spread outwards, distorting the space around the woman and creating an ethereal melody that hung in the air. The man in blacks eyes widened as he felt his body locked in place and his heart seized with a sudden surge of fear. Slash Suddenly, the man with the gleaming sword slashed towards him at lightning speed, his blade glowing as if receiving a command. The man in black barely had time to react as the blade cut through the air like a comet, leaving a brilliant trail of light in its wake. The man tried moving but found that he couldnt, he couldnt even use his techniques as the space around him seemed to have gripped him in place. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Even though he attempted to deflect the attack with a wave of his hand, he found his movements sluggish, as if wading through a river of molasses. The crowd gasped collectively as the sword light made contact, the force of the impact creating a shockwave that rippled through the colosseum. For a moment, everything seemed to stop, with the only sound being the eerie melody from the woman''s biwa still hanging in the air. Then, with a loud, echoing boom, the man in black was sent flying backward, crashing into the colosseum walls. The crowd was silent, stunned by the sudden turn of events. The nine crimson skulls that had been floating in the air earlier were nowhere to be seen, their sinister light extinguished by the man''s gleaming sword. Meng Lin and Luang Chen exchanged a glance, noticing the worried expression on both their faces. More so for Meng Lin, she had not expected the man and woman to be so powerful, able to take down the menacing man in black without much effort. The man with the gleaming sword turned towards the two, his eyes filled with a calm yet ruthless light. The Soul Shattering Sect," he said, looking towards the woman with the biwa. "Yu Yuna, I remember you said you had a history with them Meng Lins heart skipped a beat as the man''s words hung in the air while Luang Chen held a weary smile remembering the fight he had with the woman. Meng Lin''s gaze hardened as she met the mans, her grip on her sword tightening, "We didn''t come this far to give up now." Luang Chen nodded, his aura flaring up as he stood beside Meng Lin, "We''re not backing down." The woman, Yu Yuna plucked another string on her biwa, but this time, instead of the ethereal melody, a harsh discordant note rang out, causing the duo to flinch. The ground beneath them shook violently, and the air around them seemed to quiver. Meng Lin and Luang Chen stood their ground, their auras clashing with the disruptive wave sent by Yu Yuna''s biwa, allowing them to not be restricted. The man brandished his sword, the gleaming blade reflecting the dragons designed onto his blade and pointed towards the duo. "Let''s see how long you can hold out then." Roar!!! Three dragonic roars emerged from his sword and filled the air, echoing with an otherworldly power that reverberated through the surroundings. *** The SkyFire Venerable slowly floated in the sky in a blaze of flames and observed the duo of Meng Lin and Luang Chen fend off the man and the woman with the sacred treasures. He turned to the other participants to see the two men from the Scarlet Demon Sect going against the Woman with silver-white hair and the young man next to her. His hollow eyes which held apathy had a flash of ruby red light as it landed on the young man before calming down. Soon he thought as he turned to the last participant, the young man in golden armor. Xiaoyun. An interesting gimmick you have there his young voice transmitted through the air into the ears of the Skyfire Venerable. his golden armor gleamed under the colosseum''s fights and he spoke once more, his voice carried confidence and calmness as he addressed the SkyFire Venerable, "I didnt realize it before when I last saw you but now I can clearly see it, who or what are you" The SkyFire Venerable''s gaze shifted towards Xiaoyun, what do you mean young one Xiaoyun shook his head smirking and slowly raised a finger to his eye What I meant is that I can see through the 36-layer illusion surrounding your real body The SkyFire Venerable''s expression remained silent, but his gaze flickered as he remained floating in the sky. Xiaoyun took another step forward and his eyes started to change colors, from their original black to gold and his aura changed as he continued speaking A spiritual Imprint, no matter how powerful does not have the ability to cause drastic changes to the environment, even if you were connected to some heavenly power source The SkyFire Venerable''s eyes narrowed at Xiaoyun''s words, his curiosity piqued. He had not anticipated anyone being able to see through the illusion he had created. Eyes that reflect the sun. The SkyFire Venerable, muttered, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and annoyance. 139. Final Trial Part 4 **** Cleng!! A man with a gleaming sword lunged at Meng Lin, his blade slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. Peng!! As Meng Lin parried the mans slash with her sword, a dragonic roar echoed through her sword and the impact sent a shockwave that reverberated through her arm. She gritted her teeth, pushing back with all her might. HAA! Her aura intensified as lightning broke from her body in a blinding surge of power. The air crackled with electric energy, as if the very heavens were responding to Meng Lin''s fierce cry. Crackle She had used the high-grade technique Wrath of Thunder. The lightning swirling around Meng Lin danced in a brilliant display of raw power. It crackled and sizzled, sparking off her body and grounding itself on the man''s gleaming sword. For a moment, the man was forced to take a step back, the sudden surge of electricity catching him off guard. Luang Chen took advantage of this moment, crying out as he unleashed his technique, "Path of the Wind!" His body moved with the grace of a dancer and the speed of a gust of wind, creating a vortex of powerful air currents around him. The air pulsed with energy as he launched himself towards the woman with the biwa. The woman plucked another string on her biwa, sending a wave of sonic energy towards Luang Chen. But he was prepared. He spun his body around, his movement creating a miniature tornado that deflected the sonic wave toward the sky. The man with the gleaming sword quickly regained his footing, his gaze fixed on Meng Lin with a newfound respect. "Impressive," he said, his voice barely audible over the crackle of lightning. "But this is far from over." With a roar, he lunged at Meng Lin again, his sword glowing with an intense light as he swung it towards her. But Meng Lin was ready. With a swift movement, she cloaked her sword in lighting and thrusted it in a straight line. Thunderbolt Flash The lightning-wrapped blade cut through the air with a blinding flash, striking towards the man with terrifying speed. It was a deadly attack that combined the power of the Wrath of Thunder technique and Meng Lin''s speed, focusing all her strength into one decisive strike. The man barely had time to react. His eyes widened as he saw the lightning-wrapped blade closing in. He tried to raise his sword to block, but he was too slow. The blade struck, the electrified metal meeting flesh with a sizzling sound. The man was thrown back by the force of the impact, his sword slipping from his hand as he crashed onto the ground. Stolen story; please report. The lightning had left a severe burn on his chest, and his breathing was ragged, a clear sign that the attack had taken a heavy toll on him. Meng Lin stood her ground, her face impassive as she watched the man. Her sword, still crackling with residual lightning, was pointing downwards, ready for another attack. She didn''t move to finish him off, instead dodging a wave of energy that accompanied the sound of a string being plucked. The woman with the biwa had just thrown Luang Chen off balance and used that chance to attack Meng Lin and she plucked another string on her instrument, releasing a wave of sonic energy towards Meng Lin. but Meng Lin was quick to react. She pivoted on her feet, her lightning-enhanced reflexes allowing her to evade the woman''s strike with ease. As the woman''s attack missed its mark, Meng Lin retaliated with a lightning-quick slash of her sword. The blade sliced through the air, leaving behind a trail of crackling lightning energy. Just like the man, the woman didnt have the strength to stop it however with a quick thought she held the biwa in front of her as a shield, using it to absorb the brunt of Meng Lins attack. Boom! The sound of the impact reverberated through the battlefield, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The woman stumbled back, her expression a shocked one with her eyes trailed on Meng Lins lighting cloaked figure with an angry look. Realizing the tables had turned, she attempted to conjure another attack, but before she could, Luang Chen, who had regained his balance, swiftly moved to her side. With a fluid motion, he struck with a technique of his own. Double-Cloaking Slash A shadow seemed to envelop Luang Chen as he moved, his sword slashing through the air with incredible speed and precision. The shadowy aura around him enhanced his attack, making it even more powerful. The woman with the biwa tried to defend herself, but she was no match for Luang Chen''s swift and skilled movements. His double-cloaking slash cut through her defenses, leaving a deep gash on her arm. She cried out in pain, dropping her biwa as she stumbled backward. The battle had taken a toll on her, and she looked visibly weakened. Meng Lin, seeing an opportunity was about to charge at the woman when all of a sudden everyone in the collesume came to a stop. Rumble!!!! The ground beneath them trembled violently, as if responding to a great will that was about to emerge. The dead bodies all around the colosseum began to glow with a faint red light and the engravings of a formation appeared above the colosseum, and at the center of it was SkyFire Venerable. SkyFire Venerables gaze didnt leave Xiaoyun and his lips tucked into a small smile as bloody rays of light erupted from his body. Meng Lin looked up at the sky with a sense of dread and uncertainty. She could feel a wave of intense energy radiating from SkyFire Venerable, threatening to engulf the entire colosseum. The red light from his body illuminated the area, casting an eerie glow on everything. "Although not enough, it will do!" SkyFire Venerable declared, his voice echoing through the colosseum. The red light from his body intensified, pulsating like a beating heart. Boom! A shockwave of energy rippled through the air, causing the ground to tremble beneath Meng Lin''s feet. Cracks began to appear all over the colosseum and the bodies of fallen cultivators started disintegrating into ashes, as if consumed by the intense energy. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she saw a massive rift open up in the sky and a giant demonic arm slowly stretched across from it to cover the sky of the entire colosseum. Meng Lin''s eyes widened in both awe and horror as she witnessed the emergence of the giant demonic arm. The sheer scale of the arm was overwhelming, and its presence sent shivers down her spine. Its aura was something that she had only felt once before, it was only when the levitation sect had been attacked had she felt an aura like this. The colossal demonic arm went up into the sky and came into contact with something that caused a tremendous explosion of energy, as it was shockingly stopped by an unknown force. Crack! However after only that one initial pause, it appeared to have broken through as a large crack opened up in the sky and the demonic hand slowly dissipated into fine blood that rained down on all the participants. Boom!! As if responding to the dissipation of the hand, the colosseum burst into pieces, flinging everyone into the air in a sudden and violent explosion. 140: Spatial Cracks Boom!! The sudden explosion of the colosseum sent Meng Lin spiraling through the air. She could feel the floor beneath her disappearing, replaced by a terrifying emptiness. Her heart pounded in her chest as she twisted her body in mid-air, barely managing to control her descent. As she plummeted, she looked around to realize that the colosseum had been floating in the sky but now that it had blown to pieces and all the participants were thrown about to fend for themselves in the air. She could see the debris of the colosseum raining down around her, and the other cultivators who were also flung into the air by the explosion. She turned her attention back towards the colosseum, she saw the SkyFire Venerable floating in the air, his body emitting a blinding red light. The blood raining down started to pool together, forming a swirling vortex of blood-red energy around SkyFire Venerable. Another crack appeared in the sky, larger than the first one, and a demonic figure slowly emerged from it. It was a towering figure, its body covered in scales and eyes glowing with a deadly red light. As it emerged the space around its body twisted and it stretched out a hand towards the SkyFire Venerable, who welcomed it with a sinister grin. The demonic figure''s hand enveloped SkyFire Venerable, and in the next moment, a blinding light erupted from within. When the light faded, the demonic figure and SkyFire Venerable were gone, leaving only the falling figure of a young man who seemed to only be at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. The vortex gradually dissipated and Meng Lin came to her senses, she was falling fast and she had to do something. ~~! The wind was howling in her ears and her heart was pounding in her chest. As she plunged downwards, the swirling vortex of blood-red energy where SkyFire Venerable and the demonic figure had disappeared seemed to loom even larger. Meng Lin knew she needed to act fast. She quickly gathered her brute qi, focusing it into a protective shell around her. The energy swirled around her, forming a tangible barrier that encased her in a cocoon of qi. The cocoon shimmered in the air, its surface crackling with raw energy. It was a testament to Meng Lin''s intense focus and control over her brute qi. As she fell, the cocoon spun around her, buffering her against the rushing wind and the debris hurtling past her. She could see the ground coming closer and closer, but she felt a strange sense of calm. She trusted her qi to protect her, and she knew she had done all she could to prepare for the impact. With a thunderous crash, she hit the ground, the cocoon of qi absorbing the brunt of the impact. A cloud of dust and debris rose around her, obscuring her from view. When the dust finally settled, Meng Lin slowly got to her feet. Despite the rough landing, she was relatively unscathed. Her qi cocoon had done its job, protecting her from the worst of the impact. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. And her body was durable enough to withstand the shock of the impact, she looked around, her eyes adjusting to her new surroundings. She was back in the Nether cloud domain, surrounded by darkened fog on all sides. But something wasn''t right. Her surroundings seemed distorted as if she was looking at everything through a warped mirror. The trees were bent at odd angles, the fog seemed to be shifting colors, and the ground beneath her feet was unnaturally cold. Meng Lin was quickly answered as to why as a crack in space appeared a few meters away from her, with it a suction force pulling at her. Jumping back Meng Lin escaped the pulling force but before she could get her bearings straight another crack appeared in the space above her, its edges jagged and unstable. She barely had time to react before she felt a powerful force pulling her towards it once more. She quickly activated her brute qi and used it to propel herself away from the second crack, soaring through the air with remarkable speed. However it seemed to be meaningless as a few seconds in the air Meng Lin felt a force pulling at her at an even faster rate than the others, without a moment to react she was sucked into the crack, her face in shock. *** Meng Lin opened her eyes to see that she was now standing on the edge of a mountain cliff. The sudden change in scenery once more was disorienting, and Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel a sense of confusion. As she looked around, she realized that she had returned back to the Thousand Mountain Region. She wasn''t alone. Roughly a hundred cultivators, just like her, stood on the cliff, their expressions equally bewildered. Among them, she saw Luang Chen, Senior Sister Yue Feng as well as Lu Xuan and Xu Ruan from the Soul Shattering Sect however she couldnt see the other four. Meng Lin''s mind raced as she tried to make sense of the situation. How did they all end up here? And where were the others, were they dead? Before she could gather her thoughts, a sudden pressure came from the sky and an elderly man with white hair came floating from the sky, it was Division Head Zheng who had been waiting for them. He quickly descended to the cliff with a thud, his eyes filled with seriousness. He quickly approached Xu Ruan, the leader of the group to ask what had happened. "Xu Ruan, what just happened? Can you explain?" Division Head Zheng asked his voice firm and commanding. Xu Ruan took a deep breath, still trying to process everything that had transpired, he didnt know what had truly happened so he didnt know what to say. It was Luang Chen who chimed in to quickly recounted the events, describing the final trial, the explosion in the colosseum, the appearance of the demonic figure, and their subsequent teleportation to the mountain cliff. Division Head Zheng listened intently, his expression growing graver with each detail. He nodded, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. "This is a grave threat," he said, his voice filled with concern. "The cracks in space and the appearance of the demonic figure are signs of a powerful being interfering with the Nether Cloud Domain, normally that shouldnt be possible but Crack!!! A crack appeared in the space where the portal to the Nether Cloud Domain was and a deafening boom echoed through the air as the crack shattered into countless pieces, raining down spatial shards of cracks onto the disorganized cultivators on the cliff. Division Head Zheng''s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the shards falling. He quickly formed a barrier of energy around the Soul Shattering Sect disciples, not bothering to protect the others on the cliff. As for the remaining cultivators, some in the Gold Core Realm were able to react fast and avoid the falling spatial shards, their cultivation allowing them to sense danger and move swiftly. Puchi!! However, most werent lucky. The spatial shards descended with incredible speed, piercing through flesh and bone, leaving a trail of blood and agonized cries in their wake. We have to return to the sect at once. Division Head Zheng said with a dark expression, not paying attention to the surrounding cultivators who had received the onslaught of shards. 141. Sect Return Division Head Zheng didn''t waste any time. With a swift wave of his hand, a golden light enveloped the remaining disciples of the Soul Shattering Sect, pulling them with force as it transformed into a streak of light that headed toward the distance. Meng Lin felt a rush of adrenaline as the wind whipped past her, her eyes fixed on the rest of the disciples who seemed to be having trouble with the pressure placed upon them before turning to look at Division Head Zheng who held a serious expression. They flew over the mountains and valleys, the landscape blurring beneath them as the streak of light traveled at an incredible speed. Meng Lin marveled at the speed as she could already see their destination, it would have taken her at least an hour just to arrive at the teleportation platform even with her new realm. As they touched down, Division Head Zheng turned to address the group. His voice was filled with urgency and concern. "Immediately release your qi into the teleportation formation he said, his eyes scanning the faces of the disciples. The disciples quickly followed Division Head Zheng''s instructions, releasing their qi into the teleportation formation. The air crackled with energy as the disciples channeled their power, their movements synchronized and focused. Meng Lin could feel the surge of qi around her, the tingling sensation running through her veins. She could sense the power radiating from her fellow cultivators, their strength palpable in the air. Once the teleportation formation was filled with their combined qi, a brilliant light enveloped them, blinding Meng Lin momentarily. She closed her eyes and held on tightly, feeling the familiar sensation of being transported. When the light faded, Meng Lin slowly opened her eyes to find herself standing in a dense forest. The air was thick with the scent of earth and foliage, and the sound of rustling leaves filled her ears. The forgotten forest. She looked around to see the rest of the disciples regaining their footing, their expressions a mix of confusion and determination. Division Head Zheng stood at the forefront, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. "We are now in the forgotten forest," he said, his voice steady and commanding. "We must make our way back to the Soul Shattering Sect as quickly as possible and be on high alert." The group nodded in agreement, their eyes scanning the forest for any potential threats. Meng Lin could feel the tension in the air, but she also felt a sense of safety as she saw the urgency within the eyes of Division Head Zheng diminish. Taking out a mat, he quickly made everyone get on before flying towards the sect. The disciples were finally given time to take a breather and took their respective seats. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "Are you all okay?" Xu Ruan asked, concern evident in his voice. Luang Chen as well as Lu Xuan didnt seem interested in conversing as they shut their eyes, meditating or reflecting on their experiences. It was Senior Sister Yue Feng who answered Xu Ruan with a nod. "Yes, just a bit overwhelmed. But we''ll manage." Lu Xuan nodded and turned to division head Zheng Division Head Zheng, whats going on Division Head Zheng''s voice cut through the wind, his tone filled with serenity. "The breach in the Nether Cloud Domain is a grave threat, if I am not mistaken then the person you mentioned is someone that has reached the threshold of the emperors Furthermore, I sensed that it won''t be long before whatever strong creatures within the dimension begin to emerge from the cracks to wreak havoc on our world." Meng Lins eyes narrowed as a bad premonition grew in her thoughts, I hope that monster chained up within the dead zone would remain suppressed and unable to escape, otherwise Division Head Zheng''s gaze shifted to her and paused for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "You five have been able to reach the Gold Core Realm within only a week, you have done well, and the sect will reward you for that, its only a shame that you couldnt get the sect artifact back, but from your explanation, I have a grasp on where it might be now And where do you think it is Meng Lin asked. Division Head Zheng looked at Meng Lin with a thoughtful expression. "Based on what you''ve described, the sect artifact may be with the Seven Weapons Domain, a powerful force equivalent to a rank 4 sect, they have been known for their powerful weapons and have collected powerful artifacts from other sects before Division Head Zheng''s voice was filled with determination. "The Seven Weapons Domain... if they have indeed acquired our sect artifact, we must retrieve it at all costs. They are a formidable force, but we cannot allow them to wield more power than they already do Anyways, we will deal with that later, for now lets return fast to the sect Meng Lin nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. The flying mat traveled for a few more minutes before reaching a veil of fog. Meng Lin squinted her eyes to look through and slowly the fog began to lift and mountainous terrain began to appear until a single big mountain became visible to all. It was the Martial Arts Division, Meng Lin didnt know how but it seems that the sect had a strong vail of entry around it. The Divisions grand buildings and towering walls stood proudly, a testament to its strength and power. As they landed near the entrance. Meng Lin could see disciples bustling about, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Division Head Zheng approached a group of sect elders who were gathered near the entrance. "Division Head Zheng," one of the sect elders greeted him with a respectful bow. "We received your message and have been waiting for your return. What are we to do?" Division Head Zheng''s voice was calm but firm as he addressed the elders. " notify the other Division Heads and tell them I will be asking the sect Master to hold a meeting Yes!! Echoing throughout the cultivation grounds, the sect elders quickly turned to carry out Division Head Zheng''s orders. Division Head Zheng turned to the group with him and said "You five go to your disciples'' courters and rest for now. We have a long few days ahead of us. I''ll gather you all when it''s time for the meeting." The five disciples nodded in understanding and without another word, a flash of light enveloped Division Head Zheng and he flew away towards the inner parts of the sec. The disciples turned and began heading towards their disciples'' hall, each of them lost in their thoughts about what had transpired and what was yet to come. As for Meng Lin, she took one last look at the streak of light that carried the division head and took a deep breath. Her mind was filled with thoughts about the events that she had encountered and she couldnt help but feel a looming threat over her. With a deep breath, she turned and followed the others toward the disciples'' courters. 142. Xi Lan’s Technique Meng Lin walked through the sect grounds with serenity and countless thoughts in her head. Before she had left for the Nether Cloud Domain she had planned for a lot of things but it seemed that all that was unnecessary. She had planned to upgrade her blacksmith panel along the way but she barely had time for any of that once she was thrown into the real fray. Meng Lin looked back as she noticed a disciple quickening his pace as he walked past her. She had not realized it before but every disciple that passed by her would show the same reaction and it didnt take her long to figure out why. The aura that was unconsciously ozzing out of her body was too powerful for a foundation establishment cultivator and it didnt help that she broke through not long ago. Curiosity piqued Meng Lin slowed her pace and intentionally pushed all her aura down, she released her consciousness outwards, covering a few hundred meters in all directions. As she released it she was given a big suprise when she noticed how it easily passed through a diciples courtyard to show her the view inside. Within was a disciple practicing their moves in the courtyard, the sharp sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through her spiritual consciousness as she observed with intrigue. Over to the other side of the spiritual consciousness a group of disciples gathered around a master, listening intently as the elder demonstrated a complex technique, his hands moving in a series of intricate gestures, creating an invisible ripple of qi. It was from a building called Lecture Hall and Meng Lin was surprised that the Sect Elder didnt take note of her spiritual consciousness. Gathering qi into her eyes she was able to see far away, a few hundred meters away, she noticed verdant gardens filled with a variety of spiritual herbs and medicinal plants. She also saw a group of disciples meditating under an old, spreading tree, their faces calm and serene. Their quiet presence added a sense of peace and tranquility to the otherwise bustling sect. Turning her gaze towards the sect''s grand buildings, Meng Lin couldn''t help but admire the architecture. Every minute detail of the building was visible indee her gaze, the buildings were of various shapes and sizes, each unique in its design. The buildings were made of a white stone that shone brilliantly under the sunlight, giving them a majestic appearance. Meng Lun smiled as she only now appreciated the beauty of having a higher realm, there was so much more that she could do, she wondered how the next realm perceives things. As she continued her walk, it didnt take long for her to arrive at her courtyard which looked no different from when she had left it. Spreading her spiritual consciousness inside she was slightly relieved to see that no problem had occurred. Walking through the barrier of her courtyard, she was greeted by the familiar sight of her home. The courtyard was tranquil and well-kept, with thr small pond in the center reflecting the clear sky above. A few lotus flowers floated on the surface of the pond, their petals opened wide in full bloom. The scent of the flowers filled the air, creating a peaceful and calming atmosphere. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Meng Lin smiled at the sight before turning to look at two girls coming out from the house. It was De Sijie and Xi Lin, upon seeing Meng Lin, De Sijie and Xi Lins faces lit up with excitement and bewilderment. They stood still for a moment before Xi Lin hurriedly walked towards Meng Lin, her eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. "Miss Meng Lin! You''re back!" Xi Lin exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. " How was your journey, did everything go smoothly Meng Lin smiled warmly at the girl. "It was quite eventful, to say the least," she replied. "It was quiet dangerous. But overall, it was a valuable experience that helped me grow." Xi Lin nodded eagerly. "We''ve been eagerly waiting for your return," she said. "We wanted to tell you about some exciting news that happened while you were away." Meng Lin''s curiosity was piqued. "Oh? What happened?" she asked, her interest evident in her voice. While she was outside the courtyard she had checked and was sure that none of the three had any breakthrough so she was curious what other stuff had them so excited. De Sijie was the one to speak as she couldnt contain her excitement any longer. "Xi Lan finally came from her room and it seems that she had created a technique all on her own Meng Lin''s eyes soften as she smiled, she had known about it before and had encouraged it, she was glad that she had done that. She turned to Xi Lin with a proud smile. "Your sister did very well, if I am not mistaken then she should be tending to a plant with the technique right now? Xi Lins eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, miss! How did you know?" she asked, her excitement growing. Meng Lin chuckled softly. "I had a breakthrough in my cultivation thats why" she replied mysteriously. "Shall we go and see what your sister has been up to?" De Sijie and Xi Lin nodded eagerly, their curiosity piqued. Together, the three girls made their way to the small garden behind the courtyard, where Xi Lan now l spends most of her time. As they approached the garden, the sound of gentle rustling leaves and the sweet scent of blooming flowers filled the air. They could see Xi Lan kneeling on the ground, her hands carefully tending to a vibrant, blossoming plant. Xi Lan looked up as Meng Lin came into view and she instantly stood up with a scrutinizing gaze."Welcome back miss!" she greeted her. "Youre just in time, the spiritual seed in the Cherubic Fertile Soil is ready to bud. As the words left her mouth Meng Lin was given a suprise as a flash of blue light illuminated the garden, emanating from the Cherubic Fertile Soil. From Xi Lan came another blue light that danced and twirled in harmony with the light from the soil. Slowly a budding flower emerged from the soil, its petals exuding a mesmerizing glow. It didnt stop at just the blossom, but continued to grow at an astonishing rate. The flower stretched and extended, its stem growing taller and stronger. Its leaves unfurled, revealing intricate patterns and vibrant colors. It was a sight to behold. Meng Lin and the others watched in awe as the flower transformed before their eyes. Its aura was powerful, radiating a sense of tranquility and spiritual energy that filled the entire garden. Xi Lan couldn''t contain her excitement as she exclaimed, "Miss Meng Lin, this is the result of the technique I developed! I call it the Cherubic Construe Art. It''s the combination of my previous cultivation art called Elixer Construe Art and the Cherubic Fertil Soil that you gave me before you left. Its the soil that is doing most of the work, I just manipulate the budding time, the spiritual vains in the plant and the overall growth speed. Meng Lin smiled warmly at Xi Lan''s achievement. "That''s incredible, Xi Lan! Your dedication and hard work have paid off. This technique has the potential to do more. You''ve merged your skills with the power of the Cherubic Fertile Soil beautifully." Xi Lan beamed with pride, her eyes shining with joy. "Thank you, Miss Xi Lin smiled at the side and nodded approvingly. "You have a natural talent for cultivation, your creativity is truly commendable." De Sijie chimed in. "And that''s not all, I''ve been refining my swordsmanship technique while you were away. I''ve made significant progress, and I can confidently say that my sword skills have become sharper and more precise." Meng Lin listened attentively as the girls began recounting their progress, she would occasionally say something but would mostly listen, trying to absorb all the information. She hadnt realized it before but she found joy in watching the growth of these three girls, it helped her with the solitude lifestyle of cultivators. 143. Formless Cultivation Method’s Second Method **Thousand Mountain Region** At the cliff of one of the mountain peaks within the thousand mountain region was a cracked space that suspended in the air, as if the gaping mouth of a long-forgotten being. Thump!! From within the crack came a pulsating energy that drew in the surrounding air slowly before releasing outward the aura of the Nether Cloud Domain. The mountain underneath the cracked rumbled as the aura caused the surrounding flora and fauna to wither and die. The once vibrant and lush landscape now turned into a desolate wasteland. Three similar events were taking place all across the continent as any area that was once the gateway to the Nether Cloud Domain became an unrecognizable place that only held the crack in space surrounded by the aura of the Nether Cloud Domain. **** Within one of the courtyards of the Soul Shattering Sect, Meng Lin sat in her room slowly circulating large amounts of qi through her spiritual veins. Within Her Dantian her Gold Core shone bright and radiant, pulsating with power as she circulated power through it. Meng Lin opened her eyes as she breathed her last circulation, her aura even more compact and stable but she held a concerned expression as she focused deep within her dantian. Within the dantian was not just the Gold Core as away from it was the Brute Qi that held the same chaotic energy as before. The reason for Meng Lins concern was that the Brute Qi had started to show signs of instability. It was as if a wild beast had been awakened within her, constantly thrashing and trying to break free from its confinement. Meng Lin could feel the energy fluctuating unpredictably, sometimes weak, and other times so powerful that it threatened to overwhelm her Gold Core. She had been trying to tame this energy, to integrate it with her Gold Core, to harness its power for good. But the more she tried, the more resistant it became. The Brute Qi, the stronger it becomes, the more chaotic it becomes as well. Of course, because of her physique, it would not harm her body but it might cause a problem with her gold core. With a deep sigh, she rose from her meditation, her face etched with worry. She couldn''t ignore the way the Brute Qi was but she knew she could do nothing about it at the moment. Walking outside her room Meng Lin looked towards the pond which was purple whose large body left a shadow over the surface of the pond. Meng Lin contemplated for a bit and decided to go to her blacksmith room, she had to see if the system had any solution for her brute qi. Entering the room that had become her sanctuary, Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel a sense of ease as she took a seat in the same spot as always. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Gold Core Stage(early)] [Experience points: 3%] System coin: 6030 Taoist Gacha wheel: available x2 Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 4th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Wrath of Thunder] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Gazing at her system menu Meng Lin suddenly had a beaming smile as she recognized that she was finally able to learn the next technique of the Formless Cultivation Technique. [Formless Cultivation Method] Form 1: form concealing Form 2: unlocked
Form 3: locked From what she could remember when she first learned the cultivation method, cultivating the first method gives her the ability to conceal her self into anything that has form. That has proven to be extremely useful and inefficient, her style doesnt revolve around that and the only time she used it was when she tried to lower her aura. Its a very useful ability for stealth, and could be used for hiding from enemies but she was more interested in the second ability which she had a glimpse of before. Meng Lin began to mentally prepare herself as she started circulating the cultivation method of the Formless Cultivation Method, this time aiming to learn the second Method. Meng Lin took a deep breath, her eyes closed tightly as she began to concentrate on the flow of her qi, directing it to the center of her dantian. She could feel the chaotic energy of the Brute Qi as it thrashed and roared within her, but she was not deterred. Instead, she focused on the power of the Gold Core, allowing its radiance to guide her through the turmoil. As she gradually aligned her internal energy with the rhythm of the Gold Core, she felt a change. The Formless Cultivation Method began to envelop her, its energy intertwining with her own. The room around her seemed to blur, her senses became heightened, and the air seemingly vibrated with her energy. Her body began to sway, moving in tandem with the energy flow within her. It was as if she was partaking in a dance with the universe, her every move in sync with the energy of the cosmos. She could feel the second form of the Formless Cultivation Method starting to take shape within her. With every breath she took, she could feel it growing stronger, more substantial. It was as if she was erasing her very form, becoming one with the universe around her. With a sudden burst of energy, she felt it. The second form, ''form eraser'', had been perceived. She could feel her energy flow changing, becoming more fluid and adaptable. It was as if she had been set free, released from the constraints of her physical form. As she slowly opened her eyes, Meng Lin found herself immersed in a sea of energy. The room around her was no longer solid, but a canvas of fluctuating energy. She could see the flow of qi, the pulsating waves of qi that coursed through everything - the walls, the furniture, even the air itself. As she slowly opened her eyes, she could feel the transformation that had taken place. The once familiar surroundings of her blacksmith room were now a vibrant display of fluctuating energy. The air itself seemed to shimmer, as if touched by a gentle breeze. The Formless Cultivation Method had enabled her to perceive the world in a new light, to see the very essence of life and energy that was infused in all things. She could see the flow of qi, the pulsating rhythm of life that connected all things. The second form, ''form eraser'', seemed to have amplified this perception. She could feel her form blending with the surrounding energy, becoming a part of the air around her. Her physical form seemed to fade, replaced by a formless entity that moved with the ebb and flow of energy around her. Yet, she remained in control, her consciousness guiding her through this new state of existence. She could feel the energy of the room, the aura of the objects, and the life force of the plants outside. Experimenting with her newfound power, Meng Lin tried to manipulate her form, her body shape-shifting and blending with the surrounding energy. She felt a sense of liberation, as if she had transcended the physical constraints of her existence. Excited by this discovery, Meng Lin spent the next few hours experimenting with her new ability. She found that she could control her form at will, becoming formless and blending with the surroundings or maintaining her physical form as needed. However she noticed some potential drawbacks. For one, the higher her energy output, the quicker she seemed to tire. The more she manipulated her form, the more energy she used. It was clear that the form eraser technique was resource-heavy, and might not be feasible for prolonged use without adequate preparation or rest. Currently, the longest she can stay in the form is 5 minutes and her energy would tire afterward. Secondly, she discovered that while in her formless state, her sense of interaction was greatly diminished. It was as if she was a ghost, unable to physically interact with her surroundings, which could potentially be a disadvantage in some situations. Lastly, the control over her form was not perfect. There were moments when she struggled to maintain her formless state or revert to her physical form. It was clear that mastering this technique would take time and a lot of practice. Despite these drawbacks, Meng Lin felt that the benefits of the form eraser technique far outweighed its downsides. It offered a new level of flexibility and adaptability that she had never experienced before. It was a powerful tool, one that she was eager to master. 144. Heaven-Grain Sand After successfully learning the second form of the Formless Cultivation Method, Meng Lin felt a surge of confidence and decided to tackle another challenge. Sending her spiritual consciousness into her storage bag she retrieved a small, intricately carved jade box which floated before her. This jade box had been in her possession for quite some time, but she had never been able to open it. When she had first discovered it she couldnt even get near it because of the aura radiating from it, even now she realized its aura was clearly more powerful than she had previously thought. The little boss of one of the branchs of the Golden Fang Bandits, just why was someone like that in possession of something like this, it doesnt make sense The box seemed to be sealed shut with a mysterious energy and Meng Lin was determined to unlock its secrets. Meng Lin focused her qi and gently placed her hands on the surface of the box. She closed her eyes and visualized the energy flowing through her fingers, trying to connect with the energy of the box. She channeled her qi into the box, hoping to break through the seal. However, no matter how hard she tried, the box remained stubbornly closed. It seemed to resist her efforts, as if guarding its contents from prying eyes. Frustrated but undeterred, Meng Lin decided to try a different approach. She remembered a technique that involved using sound vibrations to unlock sealed objects. The technique was fairly straightforward and didnt require much effort, Meng Lin took a deep breath and focused her qi into her vocal cords before letting out a low, resonating hum. The sound waves reverberated through the room, causing the air to shudder and the objects to vibrate. Meng Lin could feel the energy of the box responding to the vibrations, as if it was being stirred from within. Encouraged by this small success, Meng Lin continued to experiment with different frequencies and pitches, trying to find the perfect combination that would unlock the box. She hummed, sang, and even tried different musical notes, hoping to strike the right chord. After what felt like an eternity with no results Meng Lin decided to give up before placing the box into her inventory. She knew that forcing the box open could potentially damage its contents, and she didn''t want to risk losing whatever valuable treasures it held. She decided to seek out the advice of a wise elder or a knowledgeable expert who might have the insight she needed to unlock the box. Setting the box aside for now, Meng Lin turned her attention to the Gacha wheel tickets she had obtained. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Gold Core Stage(early)] [Experience points: 3%] System coin: 6030 Taoist Gacha wheel: available x2 Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 4th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Wrath of Thunder] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Within the Gacha Wheel was the 15 items that were renewed after the system update. 1. Celestial Thunder Blade 2. Soul wondering pills x5 3. Void Spirit Mirror 4. Shapeshifter''s Mask 5. High Grade Rootless Fire x1 6. [system mission] 7. High grade system pack 8. Superior Booze gift bag 9. Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique 10. Immortal jades x9 11. Spiritual Healing Pillx3 12. Soulbound Amulet of Resurrection 13. Everlasting Lotus Seed 14. Chaos Mountain 15. Essence Absorbing lnsectx30 As Meng Lin''s gaze swept over the Gacha wheel, she felt a sense of anticipation. Each item on the wheel was a potential game-changer, a tool that could significantly affect her journey on the path of cultivation. The Celestial Thunder Blade could prove useful if paired with her lightning element technique. The Soul Wandering Pills need not be mentioned but the Brute Qi technique and the Chaos Mountain could prove to be useful when paired with her brute qi so she was eager to see if she could get one of them. Meng Lin''s heart pounded in her chest as she focused her attention on the Gacha wheel. She mused at the fact that she was feeling so much pressure and nervousness but after thinking about it she realized that it made sense as the comparison was a peasant spinning the wheel on their life. It could mean the difference between victory and defeat in her upcoming battles. With a deep breath, she activated the wheel. The wheel spun with a hum, the items blurring together as the wheel picked up speed. Meng Lin''s gaze was unblinking as she watched the wheel spin, the anticipation building within her. She wanted to wait for 10 tickets just to see if she could get 10 items differently but she didnt want to wait till then. The wheel began to slow, the items coming into focus before stopping at one item. Meng Lin sighed as the system stopped on its usual reward, the system pack, although she was slightly happy about it as well since this would be her second high grade system pack. [High Grade system pack] [Do you wish to open the package] As Meng Lin uttered the words yes she felt a surge of energy from the High-Grade System Pack before it burst open to reveal the items within. [You have recived 4228 system coins, 229 middle grade spirit stones, One Heaven-Grain Sand, 100 beast forage] Meng Lins eyes flickered in slight disappointment as In comparison to her previous rewards, which included a Unique Grade Item and a Gacha Wheel Ticket, the items she received this time were not as exciting. However, she has yet to see what this new item could do as not every reward would be a game-changer, and she still appreciated the system coins, spirit stones, Heaven-Grain Sand, and beast forage she obtained. She knew that every resource had its value and could be useful in her cultivation journey. Heaven-Grain Sand A single grain of sand from the Deserts of Nility Star Realm, imbued with the essence of a bodhi tree. It possesses a mysterious power, bringing calm and tranquility when touched. Memg Lin carefully examined the Heaven-Grain Sand in her hand, intrigued by its description and the potential benefits it could provide. She pondered how best to utilize this mysterious item in her cultivation journey. She recalled hearing stories of the the Bodhi tree of the Buddha sects which alleviates stress, promotes inner peace, and enhances meditation and spiritual practices, making it cherished for balance and inner peace. Meng Lin considered using the Heaven-Grain Sand to enhance her meditation practice further. She believed that its calming and tranquil properties could deepen her connection with her inner self and aid in achieving a state of peace and balance. With this in mind, she decided to test the Heaven-Grain Sand into her daily meditation routine. She closed her eyes and held the sand in her hand and focus on its energy, allowing it to infuse her being with its calming essence. As she sat in her quiet spot, Meng Lin took a deep breath and began her meditation, visualizing the sand''s energy flowing through her, bringing tranquility to her mind and body. Meng Lin noticed a subtle shift in her meditation practice as she used the Heaven-Grain Sand. The sand seemed to amplify the effects of her meditation, helping her achieve a deeper state of calmness and clarity. With each session, Meng Lin felt more attuned to her surroundings and more connected to her inner self. While Meng Lin felt that she didnt need the item as most cultivators would, she decided to use it as an ingredient to one of the items she would be creating in her blacksmith panel. 145. The Jade Box With the dim light of the evening sun shining through her room Meng Lin traced her gaze along the length of her newly regrown and revitalized nails. The power of the Black Tortoise Essence Art is indeed working wonders, infusing them with strength and resilience many times over. She noticed how much more powerful they were compared to before, definitely a result of her breakthrough. With her physical strength she felt that she could go toe to toe with another cultivator of the same realm. And that was just the physical aspect, if she used any of her techniques then she could easily deal with anyone in the early stage and even go toe to toe with some other in the middle stages. Adding on the Brute Qi physique, Meng Lin felt that she possessed the power to fight the late stage on a stalemate at best and at worst she didnt feel that she could be killed by them. The Gold Core Stage was a tipping point in the cultivation journey as its the first realm where heaven starts to impose tribulations onto you. And with it comes the ability to create a unique ability for oneself based on the experience of the individual. A Core Manifestation, or Core Ability, is a special power that cultivators develop once they solidify their cultivation realm at the Gold Core Realm. It is a manifestation of their unique cultivation path, experiences, and their understanding of the spiritual arts. Although Meng Lin still hasnt developed hers yet, she felt that it only required time as she had brokenthrough not long ago. Meng Lin sat on her meditation cushion, deep in thought. She knew that developing her Core Manifestation was crucial for her cultivation journey. It would not only enhance her strength but also serve as a representation of her individuality and potential. She closed her eyes and decided to meditate, no qi gathering, no inner self reflection, just meditating. **** **Huanxia province** **Origin Cave Mountain ** In the remote areas of Huanxia, nestled amidst towering mountains and mist-covered valleys, lies a giant mountain known for its high bandit activity and dangerous terrain for travel. Also know as Origin Cave Mountain, it was notorious for harboring fugitives, outlaws, and those seeking to isolate themselves from society. Within a luxurious cave system that was hidden deep within the heart of Origin Cave Mountain, a man sat on a throne of bones as below him stood three figures that all had scars over their face. Jin Xue, the ruthless leader of the Golden Fang Bandits raised his eyebrows and surveyed the three scarred figures before him. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Rui the Shadowblade, Li the Iron Fist and Mei the Serpent Tongue, you still cant find Xue Jin Xue''s voice echoed through the cave, a mixture of frustration and disappointment. His aura seemed to match his voice as an air of dark power emanated from his very being. The three scarred figures bowed their heads in respect, understanding the gravity of their failure. Rui the Shadowblade, a master of stealth and reconnaissance, spoke up with a low voice. "We have scoured the region, searched every nook and cranny, but Xue the Silent Blade remains elusive. It''s as if he has vanished into thin air," Rui explained, his eyes filled with determination to make amends. Li the Iron Fist, a hulking figure with a deep voice added, "We have interrogated informants, tracked down his known sectors but he seemed to have disappeared along with any Gold Core member in his sector Mei the Serpent Tongue, known for her persuasive skills and information gathering, interjected, "Boss, i believe that the second boss might have planned this from the beginning, he has with him two of the 5 Jade Boxes of Aspects. Its possible that he found the content within them Jin Xue''s frustration turned into a snot as he leaned forward on his throne. "Very well. Continue your efforts. Double the patrols, tighten the security net, and leave no stone unturned, focus on the sects within his sector and then move on to the ones to the center, this traitor will not go unpunished for betraying our code and threatening our operations." "Listen well, my loyal comrades," Jin Xue begins, his eyes gleaming with a mix of ambition and greed. "Our next target is the opulent city of Qilin, known for its vast wealth and ancient ruins. It shall serve well for our newly formed alliance with that demoness. **Soul Shattering Sect ** **Sect Hall** Within the serene Sect Hall of the Soul Shattering Sect, the Sect Master sat at the head of a grand table, surrounded by an air of tranquility. His eyes glowed with an intense, piercing azure light as he gazed upon the tool with his hand, a small jade box. Suddenly he raised his head as an ancient voice reached his ears and caused him to pause. It was a voice he had not heard in decades, a voice that was all too familiar. "We have become aware of the breach in the Nether Cloud Domain. It is evident that a demonic cultivator is responsible for this disturbance." The Sect Master smiled as if in reminiscence, radiating an aura of serenity he nodded in acknowledgment. "I trust that you have assessed the situation thoroughly. What are your recommendations, esteemed Grand Elder?" "We have carefully observed the breach and have determined that a seal must be placed over the crack in space to prevent any further intrusion of Nether energy into our realm." The Sect Master''s gaze remained steady as they contemplated the gravity of the situation. "I understand the urgency of this matter, we will proceed with the necessary preparations to create a suitable sealing formation. The voice paused a few seconds before speaking, this time with a sense of authority, " We sensed a strange presence just now With a calm and composed demeanor, the Sect Master responded, "Esteemed Grand Elder, please provide me with more details regarding this peculiar presence. Is it a cultivation technique, a spiritual entity, or something else entirely?" The Grand Elder''s voice resonated with wisdom and certainty as they replied, "The presence we sense bears similarities to the ancient cultivation technique of the Formless Sect The Sect Master''s azure eyes shimmered with a mixture of excitement and caution. "I see. This discovery presents a unique opportunity for our sect, the fact you sensed it means it eminated from within, which Division did you sense this aura from." The Grand Elder''s voice carried a note of caution as they continued, "The presence appeared from the Disciples Courters, however its exact origins remain unclear. It seemed to have emerged clandestinely, without any trace left behind Hmm The Sect Master pondered silently for a moment, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the ornate armrest of his chair. 146. Chain-Bodhi Tassel [Blacksmith (Advanced ) 50%] Item slot: Tassel (headwear) Ingredients: Moonlight Dew x3, Stardust Feather x7, Sapphire Droplet x8, Heaven-Grain Sand. Chance of success: 50% Meng Lin looked at the Blacksmith panel and a few thoughts ran through her mind. Firstly the percentage of the chance of success and the experience bar was 50%, no doubt because of the breakthrough that she had. After her initial success in creating her first middle grade item she had not created anymore afterwards so the persentage should have been at 1 or 2%. Shaking her head at the thought Meng Lin focused on the matter at hand, the Heaven-Grain Sand, she was attempting to create a headwear with the sand as the main material. And it seemed to be feasible too. She carefully examined the ingredients and opened her system market to search of them. With the new update that the system market had, Meng Lin wasnt surprised to see all the items were within the market. Although it would only be a headwear, it would be a middle grade headwear that primarily focused on using the properties of the Heaven-Grain Sand to the fullest. Purchasing all the required ingredients for 190 system coins Meng Lin was ready to begin crafting her headwear. She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as she prepared to create the headwear. She carefully placed the Moonlight Dew, Stardust Feather, Sapphire Droplet, and the Heaven-Grain Sand into the refining cauldron. As she glanced at the Blacksmith panel, she noticed the success rate still stood at 50%. Without wasting any more time, she focused her attention on the start button of the second panel. The refining cauldron began to heat up at once, and a countdown timer appeared. 14:57 seconds. Meng Lin could feel the intensity of the spiritual energy within the cauldron as it interacted with the ingredients, slowly transforming them into the desired headwear. Releasing her spiritual consciousness Into the couldron, she watched as the ingredients began to melt and fuse together. The Moonlight Dew transformed into a shimmering liquid, emanating a soft, ethereal glow. Its gentle radiance enveloped the Heaven-Grain Sand, causing it to emit a faint luminescence. The Stardust Feathers followed suit, their delicate feathers disintegrating into a fine powder upon contact with the cauldron''s heat. The powder swirled and danced, merging with the Moonlight Dew to create a silvery cord that extended to form a thin string that went around in circles to form a ring. Next, the Sapphire Droplets joined the alchemical dance. As they heated in the cauldron, they dissolved into tiny droplets of pure azure liquid. These droplets glided through the silver cord to create a loose hanging tread that housed the Heaven-Grain Sand. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Meanwhile, the Heaven-Grain Sand, the heart of the creation, began to react to the surrounding elements. Its grains shimmered and pulsed, absorbing the essence of the Moonlight Dew, Stardust Feather, and Sapphire Droplet. The grain of sand transformed, releasing its own essence toward other ingredients, slowly a tassel was formed and its texture started becoming smoother and more refined. As the countdown timer ticked away, the cauldron''s heat intensified, further melding the ingredients together. The misty silver mist swirled and twirled around the Heaven-Grain Sand, forming intricate patterns, like wisps of stardust. Finally, as the timer reached zero, the cauldron''s flames subsided, and the misty silver dissipated, revealing the completed headwear. The Celestial Tassel floated gracefully above the cauldron, its appearance resembling a chained pendant than a tassel. Meng Lin stared in awe at the Chain-Bodhi Tassel floating gracefully above the cauldron. Carefully, she reached out and gently held the tassel in her hands, feeling the extreme hot and smooth surface against her fingertips. As she made contact with the Chain-Bodhi Tassel, a surge of energy coursed through her body. It was as if the tassel itself was alive, resonating with her inner spiritual energy. Meng Lin closed her eyes, allowing the calming sensation to wash over her. In that moment, she felt a deep sense of peace and clarity. Her mind that had been filled with worries and doubts, became quiet and still. It was as if the tassel had the power to shield her from the chaos of the outside world, allowing her to find solace within herself. Slowly, Meng Lin opened her eyes which held a profound purple hue as newfound determination filled her gaze. [Congratulations! You have successfully created a middle grade item: Chain-Bodhi Tassel] [you have gained Experience] Looking down at the item, Meng Lin looked at its description and read aloud, "The Chain-Bodhi Tassel Chain-Bodhi Tassel A remarkable item that possesses the unique ability to passively calm the user while also acting as a shield against mental manipulation. With contact, it aids in comprehension and facilitates the experience of enlightenment. With the tassel in her possession, Meng Lin could sense a heightened awareness and a sharpened focus. It was as if the tassel had unlocked a hidden potential within her, allowing her to see the world with an even clearer vision. The Chain-Bodhi Tassel would not only provide her with protection against mental manipulation, but it would also enhance her ability to comprehend complex concepts and facilitate her journey towards enlightenment. Meng Lin knew that this middle-grade item was a rare treasure, and she couldn''t wait to put it to use. As she carefully placed the Chain-Bodhi Tassel on her head, she hid the majority of it, leaving only the Heaven Sand Grain trailing down to settle comfortably on her forehead. Feeling calm and tranquil Meng Lin decided to use her last Gacha draw. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Gold Core Stage(early)] [Experience points: 3%] System coin: 6030 Taoist Gacha wheel: available x1 Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 4th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Wrath of Thunder] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] With a deep breath she entered the Gacha wheel and activated it. The wheel spun with a hum, the items blurring together as it gained momentum. As the wheel began to slow down, the items on it came into focus before finally stopping on one item. Meng Lin''s eyes smiled in anticipation as she read the name of the item: [High Grade Rootless Fire x1] A smile tugged at the corners of Meng Lin''s lips. A High Grade Rootless Fire, only a few Alchemist have something like this, if used correctly Meng Lin could gain a tremendous advantage even in battles. Excitement surged through her as a red flame appeared floating above her palm, flickering and dancing with an intense heat. Meng Lin Instantly stored it into her inventory as the heat it was releasing was too intense to keep it in her hand, plus it was starting to melt the surroundings. Having finished with her plans Meng Lin finally decided to leave the blacksmith room and go check on Purple. 147. Sect Reward After leaving the blacksmith room Meng Lin walked towards the pond in the middle of the courtyard. Splash! A large amount of water raised in the air as Purple flicked his tail in the pond, Meng Lin smiled at the sight as the water splashed towards her only to stop before it came into contact with her. As Meng Lin stood there, a-bit mesmerized by the sight of the water frozen in mid-air, she couldn''t help but feel an uncontrollable sense of awe and wonder. The sun''s rays danced upon the suspended droplets, creating a dazzling display of sparkling colors. It was as if time had momentarily paused, allowing her to fully appreciate the beauty and tranquility of the moment. Purple, sensing Meng Lin''s delight, slithered out of the pond and gracefully made his way towards her. His scales glistened with an iridescent hue, reflecting the vibrant shades of the surrounding flowers. The gentle breeze carried the scent of blooming petals, intertwining with the earthy fragrance of the courtyard. With each slithering movement, Purple approached Meng Lin, his eyes filled with a mischievous glint. As he drew nearer, the water droplets that had been suspended in the air began to slowly descend, as Meng Lin was taken out of her daze. Meng Lin extended her hand, her fingers delicately caressing the smooth scales of her loyal companion. Purple, ever playful, coiled himself around her body, his presence comforting and familiar. Just as Meng Lin was about to lose herself in the enchantment of the moment, her eyes raised as she felt the presence of someone outside the courtyard. Meng Lin walked out to see who it was and she was suprised to see someone familiar. Standing at the entrance of the courtyard was Wen Bonshan, the one who had tended to her when she first arrived at the Soul Shattering Sect. His eyes met hers, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Meng Lin, it is good to see you," Wen Bonshan greeted, his voice filled with genuine fondness. Meng Lin returned the smile, feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity in his presence even now. "Wen Bonshan, it''s nice to see you too. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? He replied. "I see that youve already reached the Gold Core Realm, your dedication and determination are truly commendable." Meng Lin''s cheeks flushed with a hint of pride. "Thank you for your kind words," she responded humbly. "I was fortunate enough to participate in an inheritance trial in the Nether Cloud Domain Wen Bonshan nodded, his gaze turning serious. "Your progress is truly remarkable. I come here today because of the events of the trial. My master sent me to you specifically Meng Lin''s curiosity was piqued. "Your master?" Ohh, I hadnt explained in our first meeting, but my master is the Sect Leader of the Soul Shattering Sect. He is one of the most revered cultivators in our sect, possessing vast knowledge and wisdom. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Meng Lin''s eyes widened in surprise. "I... I had no idea. What does the sect master want with me?" Wen Bonshan''s expression softened. "Its because of your breakthrough, now that you have reached the Gold Core realm, you will be directly transferred to the core disciples courters and because you have Luans soul you will be assigned to the Pavilion Mountain that raises the sects prized potentials Wen Bonshan continued, "As a Pavilion disciple, you will receive exclusive resources, training, and guidance to help you reach even greater heights in your cultivation journey." Meng Lin''s eyes raised with curiosity. "I am not familiar with this Pavilion Mountain, what is it Wen Bonshan smiled warmly as he began to explain further, "The Pavilion Mountain is a revered and exclusive part of the Soul Shattering Sect, It is a place only for to those with Luans Soul The resources available in the Pavilion Mountain are unparalleled, with access to rare cultivation techniques, profound insights, and valuable treasures that can greatly accelerate one''s progress in martial cultivation." Wen Bonshan continued. "I was tasked with delivering your rewards as well as telling you and disciple Luang Chen about this information Luang Chen Meng Lin said, pondering over the information. She looked up and asked how many people are roughy on that mountain. Wen Bonshan shook his head and said I honestly dont know but you should take note of the other six with Luans Soul, some of them are eccentric in the way they handle things Eccentric? Meng Lin asked with a confused expression however Wen Bonshan only chuckled as he said you will know when you see them He continued It was one of them that rescued you before Oh Meng Lin said with surprise as she had originally assumed that a group of Soul Shattering Sect elders had saved her, whats their name she at least wanted to know the name of the person that saved her. He is called Wu Dao, currently the one of the strongest sect disciple Meng Lin nodded, absorbing the information about the mysterious figure who had rescued her. "Wu Dao," she repeated, committing the name to memory. A mix of curiosity and gratitude filled her expression. Wen Bonshan continued, "Wu Dao is known for his exceptional strength and unique cultivation techniques. You''ll find his approach to cultivation quite distinctive. It will be an interesting experience for you on Pavilion Mountain." Meng Lin nooded with a determined glint in her eyes, she looked at Wen Bonshan and said, "I appreciate the opportunity. When do I leave for Pavilion Mountain?" Wen Bonshan replied, "You have some time to prepare. I recommend a week because of the unease going on in the sect. Until then, take the time to bid farewell to your current surroundings and make any necessary arrangements." Meng Lin nodded, a sense of anticipation building within her. Wen Bonshan smiled seeing that and said I have no doubt that you will excel. Here is your reward for the information about the sect artifact as well as reaching the Gold Cord Realm He handed Meng Lin a small storage bag as well as an intricately carved jade box. The box was cold to the touch, and she could feel a strong surge of spiritual energy emanating from it. Curiosity piqued, Meng Lin carefully opened the box Inside, there was a small, exquisite pill with stripes on it, glowing with a soft inviting light. "This is a Top-grade Realm Solidifying Pill," Wen Bonshan explained. "It is a very potent pill that can help you consolidate your cultivation base and breakthrough to the next realm easily Meng Lin held the pill delicately, feeling the overwhelming energy contained within it. So this is a top-grade pill Meng Lin thought as she felt the pulsation of the pill. Just like spirit weapons, alchemy pills are graded from low, middle, high, peak and top grade, all alchemist are graded in the same order as well. Which means that a top grade alchemist created this pill, however seeing as stripes started to form in the pill then Meng Lin could only assume that the alchemist that created this pill was likely above that as well, this was indeed a precious gift, one that she knew she had to use wisely. "Thank you, Wen Bonshan," she said sincerely, carefully placing the pill back into the jade box. "I appreciate your guidance and the Sects generosity." Wen Bonshan smiled, pleased with her response. "The path of cultivation is a long and arduous one, Meng Lin. Remember to stay diligent and never lose your determination With a final nod, he turned around and left the courtyard, leaving Meng Lin alone with her thoughts. She looked down at the jade box in her hands as well as the storage bag, peering into the storage bag with her spiritual consciousness Meng Lin saw an assortment of lesser valued pills, a new sect uniform and a gold pendent signifying her new status. 148. Depature to Pavilion Mountain In the days that followed, Meng Lin immersed herself in cultivation and training as she made sure to acclimate to her newfound strength in the Gold Core Realm. She had told the trio of girls to prepare everything else as her focus became solely on cultivating. And while cultivating she became even more aware of how easily she processed everything, no doubt because of the Chain-Bodhi Tassel on her forehead. Meng Lin become obsessed with cultivating however the time finally came for her to leave and she, along with the three girls packed her belongings, making sure to bring the valuable things from the courtyard. As Meng Lin bid farewell to the courtyard and the familiar surroundings she had grown accustomed to, Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel a small pang of nostalgia. She had only spent a few weeks here and she was already moving, chuckling at the thought she made her way to the designated meeting point where she was supposed to meet Luang Chen. During the past few days Meng Lin had contacted Luang Chen and both came to the agreement to depart for the Pavilion Mountain at the same time. Although they dont completely trust each other, they had formed a camaraderie during their time together and she felt that it was right that they enter together. As she approached the meeting point, Meng Lin spotted Luang Chen standing there, his expression a shade of annoyance. "Youre late," Luang Chen said, his gaze locking onto the three scarred girls following behind Meng Lin "well it doesnt matter. Lets go Meng Lins eyes raised, feeling the aura that Luang Chen was unconsciously suppressing. "You broke through Luang Chen nodded, his gaze turning towards the road ahead. "Of course, I was already close to a breakthrough so its not surprising, lets go he said once more as he started walking towards the teleportation formations. Meng Lin nodded as she soon followed after, she noticed how the three girls behind her were unusually quiet but she understood that they probably didnt feel comfortable talking with Luang Chen here. She shook her head and began to review what she had gathered about the Pavilion Mountain, their reputation, and how they are viewed by the sect. The pavilion Mountain is a mountain that is situated at the center of the sect, around it are other mountains for the sect elders. Because of its location in the sect, it is abundant with spiritual energy and is considered a sacred place for cultivation. The Pavilion Mountain is mostly known for its mystery as there is no other info about it. As Meng Lin and Luang Chen approached the teleportation formations, they were greeted by a sect elder who oversaw the process. The elder nodded, verifying their identities and warned the three girls following Meng Lin but allowed them to enter the formation. Inside the formation, Meng Lin could feel the energy swirling around her, a tingling sensation running through her body. The air crackled with anticipation as the teleportation took hold, transporting them to their destination. In an instant, Meng Lin found herself standing in a teleportation formation and around her was a clearing with clouds all across. The first thing she noticed was a rush of spiritual qi that pervaded all around The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.them. Cough Cough Behind Meng Lin the trio started coughting uncontrollably as the spiritual qi felt suffocating to them. With a flick of her wrist, Meng Lin summoned a protective barrier of spiritual energy around the three girls. The barrier acted as a filter, allowing them to breathe in the surrounding spiritual qi without being overwhelmed by its intensity. Luang Chen, who had already adapted to the high levels of spiritual qi, watched as Meng Lin took charge of the situation. His annoyance from earlier seemed to dissipate, replaced by a sense of respect for her abilities. "Impressive," he muttered under his breath, his gaze lingering on Meng Lin''s barrier. "You know how to use the Qi Filter Technique, youve certainly come a long way in such a short time." Meng Lin smiled modestly, not acknowledging the compliment. She was only able to use it because of the inherent memories from the Ancestral Symbol so she didnt really feel it was her own technique. Luang Chen was about to continue speaking when suddenly a hand reached out towards him. He quickly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the hand that had appeared out of nowhere. Startled, he turned to see a figure standing behind him. It was an elderly woman with a long white long hair and a warm smile on her face. "Welcome to Pavilion Mountain, young cultivators," the elderly woman greeted them. "I apologize if the density of the spiritual qi caught you off guard. It can be overwhelming for those of lower realms who are not accustomed to it." Meng Lin and Luang Chen exchanged glances, realizing that this must be one of the elders of Pavilion Mountain. They bowed respectfully in greeting. "We appreciate your guidance, Elder," Meng Lin said, her voice filled with gratitude. The woman seemed surprised and suddenly covered her mouth Pfft hahahah, do I really seem that old to you, well I guess I am considered your senior sister. The unexpected laughter from the woman caught Meng Lin and Luang Chen off guard. They exchanged confused glances, unsure of how to respond. The woman composed herself, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Apologies for the confusion. I am the disciple of the first villa, you can just call me Senior Sister Liu. I like to keep things informal around here." Meng Lin and Luang Chen relaxed, realizing that this Senior Sister Liu had a playful personality. They returned her smile, feeling more at ease in her presence. Senior Sister Liu gestured towards the trio of girls who were still recovering from their coughing fit. "I see you have brought your servants, it seems you have comradely. Thats good, Pavilion Mountain values unity and camaraderie above all else." Meng Lin nodded, unsure of what to say so she took it as words of encouragement. Senior Sister Liu nodded approvingly. "Good, good. Now, let me guide you to your accommodations, i was getting lonely being the only one here As they walked through the mountain, Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel gazes upon her. This is Meng Lin said as she was tempted to release her spiritual consciousness outward. Oh, youve noticed, it seems youre more talented than him Senior Sister Liu blatantly stated while pointing towards Luang Chen. Luang Chen What is this Meng Lin asked, clearly sensing a feeling of fondness from the gazes. Those would be the spiritual remnants Senior Sister Liu explained, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "The spiritual remnants are the remnant wills of past ancestors that recognize and acknowledge promising cultivators like yourself. It''s a sign of favor and potential." Meng Lin''s eyes widened in surprise. "So, these spiritual remnants are a form of recognition from the ancestors?" Senior Sister Liu nodded. "That''s correct. Once you have the chance, you can visit the pagodas and see which one is suitable for you, within each pagoda is a spiritual imprint" Luang Chen''s expression showed a mix of curiosity and envy. "How many pagoda are there Senior Sister Liu chuckled. "Ah, there are nine pagoda in total, each with its own unique characteristics and cultivation methods. Senior Sister Liu continued guiding them through the mountain, introducing them to various places of interest and explaining the rules or lack there off. As they reached a large pavilion, Senior Sister Liu smiled, here is where youll be staying, its just a temporary spot until you choose your own villa but it should suffice for now. Inside, you''ll find everything you need for your daily cultivation and living needs." She continued visit the Jade Library once you have settled, inside are cultivation techniques that work well with special physiques Meng Lin and Luang Chen thanked Senior Sister Liu for her guidance and entered the pavilion. The interior was simple yet comfortable, with a spacious training area, sleeping quarters, and a small study corner. Meng Lin took a moment to appreciate her new surroundings. She felt a sense of excitement and determination bubbling within her. This was a fresh start, a new chapter in her cultivation journey. She turned to the girls who were marveling at the place and then towards Luang Chen, who was inspecting the training area with a thoughtful expression. "We can make the most of our time here 149. Core Awakening Meng Lin spent the next few days settling into her temporary accommodation in the pavilion, familiarizing herself with the training area and exploring the surrounding areas of Pavilion Mountain. During this time, Meng Lin noticed that the trio of girls seemed to be adapting well to their new environment. They were no longer as reserved as before and showed a newfound enthusiasm for cultivation. More notable was that they were no longer coughing and were relatively safe within the large spiritual environment. Currently, they like Meng Lin were cooped up in their room, seemingly immersed in their cultivation, and judging from the rate things were going, Meng Lin expects one of them to breakthrough anytime soon. Both De Sijie and Xi Lin were at the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm and only Xi Lan was left behind at the 8 stage, however Meng Lin expects her to catch up to the other two in a relatively short time. The difficult part for the Foundation Establishment Realm was to gather large amounts of qi and turn it into liquid qi. However with the spiritual qi in the Pavilion Mountain, Meng Lin expects that to not be much of a problem for them. If they still couldnt breakthrough, she would give them the two foundation establishment pills within her inventory. At the moment within her spiritual consciousness spread out was the three girls seated together with a small gale swirling around them. Looking at their scarred faces Meng Lin frowned a bit, she had to help them recover the scars on their bodies, otherwise, it could become an inner demon for them in the future. Meng Lin sighed and shook her head, such is the cultivation world. Meng Lin carefully examined the Top-Grade Realm Solidifying Pill in her hand. With its help she knew she could learn her Core Manifestation. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, centering herself. Placing the pill on her tongue, she allowed it to dissolve, releasing its potent energy into her body. As the pill''s essence merged with her own spiritual energy, Meng Lin could feel a surge of power coursing through her veins. The room around her seemed to shimmer with a golden light as she entered a deep state of cultivation. The Chain Bodhi Tassle on her forehead glowed and easily allowed her to enter a trance state in her cultivation. Her consciousness expanded, allowing her to sense the intricate flow of energy within her body. She focused on guiding this energy towards her dantian, the center of her cultivation. As she was immersed in her cultivation, Meng Lin''s efforts began to bear fruit. The golden core within her dantian grew brighter and more vibrant, radiating a powerful aura. She could feel the immense energy contained within it, waiting to be unleashed. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Then all of a sudden, Meng Lin felt the energy within her dantian surge and visions of her past battles and training flashed through her mind. Visions of the Brute Qi, the System and all the cultivation techniques she learned flew by her mind like a movie. Within her dantian, everything that flew by her mind was processed by the Gold Core and a new aura began to emerge with her core. Meng Lin''s eyes snapped open as she felt everything subside within her dantian. She could sense a newfound power resonating within her core. It was as if a door had been opened, revealing a whole new level of cultivation. As Meng Lin marveled at her Core Manifestation, she could feel the immense power it held. It radiated a commanding aura, filling her with confidence and determination. But amidst the excitement, Meng Lin remained grounded. She knew that this awakening was just the beginning of a new chapter in her cultivation. There were still many challenges and trials ahead, but she was now better equipped to face them. Calling upon the system menu she saw that her cultivation percentage increased by 30 percent and she smiled at the results. It seems the top-grade pill wasnt just for show, now I can finally use this Meng Lin said as she swiped her hand over her storage ring to retrieve a qi gathering pill, the last qi gathering pill. The first one helped her breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm and the second one helped her breakthrough the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm and now this. She hoped this one would help her breakthrough to the middle stage of the Gold Core Realm. The system market doesnt have it and as far as she knows, even this cultivation world doesnt have a pill named Qi Gathering Pill, the closest to it was a pill named Qi Circulating Pill. Meng Lin''s eyes gleamed with anticipation as she held the qi gathering pill in her hand. With the previous pills proving to be effective in her cultivation, she couldn''t help but feel hopeful that this one would lead her to the next stage of her cultivation. Moreover, with the large amount of qi that was on the Pavilion Mountain, Meng Lin knew she wouldnt be disappointed. Carefully placing the pill on her tongue, Meng Lin closed her eyes, allowing the pill''s energy to spread throughout her body. She focused on her dantian, where her Gold Core resided, and visualized the pill''s essence merging with her core. As the pill''s effects began to take hold, Meng Lin could feel a surge of energy coursing through her veins. It was a sensation she had become familiar with during her previous breakthroughs, but this time it felt even more intense and profound. The energy flowed into her core, strengthening it and expanding its power. Meng Lin could sense her aura growing more potent, radiating with a newfound brilliance. Just a few more seconds she thought. A few more seconds and the effects of the pill would wear off. A few seconds later and Meng Lin opened her eyes to the effects of the qi gathering pill gradually fading. Sigh, the pill had done its intended purpose and she had gathered a large amount of qi, but it seems it still wasnt enough. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Gold Core Stage(early)] [Experience points: 83%] System coin: 10,068 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 4th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Wrath of Thunder] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin took a moment to assess her experience points, her percentage had increased from 30 to 83%, she had gotten 48% out of the qi gathering pill and wasnt disappointed in the slightest. Now, if she naturally absorbs the spiritual energy in the surroundings, she can continue to accumulate experience points and progress towards her next level. The Pavilion Mountain''s abundant spiritual energy will undoubtedly aid her in this process. Additionally, she could also consider utilizing her system coins to acquire resources that could further enhance her cultivation. Glancing at her system coin, she smiled and decided to explore the system''s market. 150. Hundred Unity Techniques Meng Lin spent the next five days diligently cultivating in her room, practicing her martial arts forms and deepening her understanding of the energy that flowed within her. The abundant spiritual energy in the surroundings had greatly facilitated her progress, allowing her to accumulate experience points and advance in her cultivation. During this time, Meng Lin had also made use of her system coins to acquire various resources from the system''s market. She also bought five cultivation techniques as well as one big technique that incorporates multiple techniques to boost itself, called the "Hundred Unity Technique." This technique is a complex Top-grade High Tier technique that surpassed all the others within the system market. Meng Lin had to shave off half her system coins just to get this technique. The Hundred Unity Technique utilizes a system of interconnected movements, breath control, and energy manipulation, drawing upon a repertoire of all the cultivation techniques the user has learned. It seemed to be a technique that fits Meng Lin, as the practitioner must master each individual technique and understand their underlying principles. Mastering a single technique for most is a lifelong endeavor. It requires years of dedicated practice and refinement to fully integrate and harness the power of a technique. Only the most talented and dedicated cultivators can achieve mastery of a complex and potent cultivation technique, but with her system, Meng Lin is able to learn all techniques with a thought. After learning it, Meng Lin realized the key to the Hundred Unity Technique lies in the practitioner''s ability to harmonize and synchronize the movements, breath control, and energy manipulation of each technique. This requires immense concentration, body control, and a deep understanding of the underlying principles of cultivation, which she naturally understood along with the context of the book. As the days passed, she continued to immerse herself in her training. She could feel the power within her Gold Core growing stronger and more refined. And she could sense that she was on the verge of a breakthrough. On one particular day, as Meng Lin was immersed in cultivation, she was woken up by a sudden explosion that rocked the area. Startled by the explosion, Meng Lin quickly snapped out of her cultivation state and rushed towards the source of the sound. With her heightened senses, she could feel the disturbance in the spiritual energy around her. As she got outside, she saw a man standing in the air with a confident and imposing aura. His robes indicated that he was from the same sect and that he was from the Pavilion Mountain. She released her spiritual consciousness towards the area and saw Luang Chen standing within the smoke, looking up at the man. The man, as if sensing her spiritual consciousness, turned to face her with a smile on his face. "Greetings, fellow disciple," he said, his voice carrying a hint of friendly competition. "I couldn''t help but notice that you guys are new here. I am Lou Hao. I just returned, and so I had to test you guys out. Care for a spar? Meng Lin, calmed by the mans words, realized that he seemed to be just a hot-blooded guy. However, intrigued by the opportunity to test her newly acquired Hundred Unity Technique, she nodded in agreement. She had heard of Luo Hao from senior sister Liu. He was from the 6th villa, a gold core cultivator at the late stage. He was described as a fierce and confident cultivator with unconventional techniques. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Meng Lin took a deep breath, centering herself and channeling her energy. She activated her Hundred Unity Technique, ready to showcase her newfound abilities. "Sure, Lou Hao. I accept your challenge," Meng Lin replied, her eyes focused and determined. She extended her hand, and suddenly, a surge of spiritual energy enveloped her form, creating a whirlwind of colors around her. Lou Hao grinned, lowering his aura to the early stage. He acknowledged her acceptance and made a series of hand seals, summoning a gust of wind that swirled around him. "Prepare yourself, Meng Lin. I hope your new techniques are as impressive as they sound." As the two cultivators faced each other, the air crackled with anticipation. Meng Lin unleashed the first technique from the Hundred Unity Technique C "Cyclone Palm." With a swift motion, Meng Lin''s palm released a cyclone of compressed spiritual energy, hurtling towards Lou Hao. The cyclone created a whirling barrier, distorting the air around it. Lou Hao responded by leaping into the air, and performing a series of acrobatic maneuvers. He gathered energy into his fingertips, forming a glowing sphere. "Wind Cutter Sphere!" he declared, launching the sphere towards Meng Lin. Meng Lin, with a fluid movement, utilized the second technique C "Mirror Reflection." A translucent shield materialized around her, reflecting the incoming Wind Cutter Sphere back towards Lou Hao. The sphere collided with him, causing a dazzling display of light and energy. Lou Hao appeared from the light undeterred and grinned wider. "Not bad, Meng Lin. Let''s see how you handle this!" He infused his next attack with elemental energy, creating blades of wind that flew through the air towards Meng Lin. Meng Lin, unfazed, activated the third technique C "Elemental Absorption." The shield absorbed the elemental blades, converting their energy into a surge of power that surrounded her. Lou Hao''s eyes widened in surprise, "Impressive! You''ve got more tricks than I expected." He then unleashed a rapid series of palm strikes, each strike producing a shockwave of force. "Tempest Palm Assault!" Meng Lin responded with the fourth technique C "Harmony Resonance Fist." Her fists moved in perfect synchronization, countering each of Lou Hao''s strikes with resonating pulses of spiritual energy. The clash of techniques created a dynamic display in the sky, creating patterns of light that danced like ethereal flames. As the spar intensified, Meng Lin and Lou Hao continued to exchange powerful techniques, each trying to outmaneuver the other. The area around the pavilion became a battlefield of spiritual energies, showcasing the prowess of both cultivators. Amid the intense exchange, Meng Lin felt a surge of enlightenment. The Hundred Unity Technique revealed its depth, allowing her to seamlessly integrate and counter Lou Hao''s attacks. The spar continued, a dance of energy and skill, as Meng Lin explored the limits of her newly acquired techniques, each move demonstrating the potential of the Hundred Unity Technique. Eventually, as the energy in the air crackled and clashed, Meng Lin and Lou Hao simultaneously withdrew, creating a brief moment of stillness in the courtyard. Lou Hao chuckled, his imposing demeanor softening, "Well fought, Meng Lin. Your technique is truly something to be reckoned with. It''s been a while since I''ve faced such an interesting opponent." Meng Lin, slightly out of breath but with a satisfied smile, bowed respectfully, "Your techniques are formidable as well, and this spar was a valuable experience for me." As the two cultivators exchanged pleasantries, Luang Chen approached, his gaze nonchalantly turning back and forth. The area is devastated now Meng Lin said as she looked around. Lou Hao, with a grin, added, "Indeed It seems we got carried away with our battle. We''ll have to make sure not to let it get out of hand next time. The Pavilion Mountain disciple extended his hand, "Let''s consider this spar a welcoming gift. If you ever want to exchange techniques or just spar for fun, you know where to find me." Meng Lin shook his hand, appreciating the camaraderie, "I look forward to it, Lou Hao. Until then As Lou Hao departed with a final wave, Luang Chen turned to Memg Lin, "Youre close to a breakthrough Meng Lin nodded at Luang Chen''s observation. "Yes, I can feel it too. This spar pushed me closer to the edge of a breakthrough When you breakthrough and solidify your Golden Core then contact me, its about the Realm Breaking Crystal Luang Chen said as he turned to walk towards the pavilion, his thoughts a mystery. Meng Lin turned to look at him with a smile, she had been waiting to see if Luang Chen had forgotten about the matter, but it seems not. Spotting the trio of girls by the entrance Meng Lin reassured them before going to her room. Her mind was buzzing with insights. The Hundred Unity Techniques had proven its versatility. The spar had been a test, not just of her techniques but of her adaptability and understanding of the profound art of cultivation. As she resumed her cultivation, Meng Lin carried the lessons from the spar with her. The Hundred Unity Techniques, now imprinted with the energy of the exchange, resonated within her. 151. 5th Layer of Black Tortoise Essence Art **One week later** Within the luxurious dimly lit room Meng Lin sat with her eyes closed, qi converged around her and her body emitted a faint golden glow. She had been cultivating diligently, channeling her energy to break through to the Middle Stage of the Gold Core Realm. Suddenly, a surge of energy rippled through the room, causing Meng Lin to open her eyes in surprise. Someone had brokethrough, and from the direction the fluctuations were coming from. Meng Lin knew that it was Xi Lin. I didnt think she would breakthrough this fast, however thats also good, De Sijie will surely work even harder to breakthrough after feeling this fluctuation. Meng Lin smiled to herself, impressed by Xi Lin''s progress. She had anticipated that Xi Lin and De Sijie would eventually break through to the foundation establishment realm, but she hadn''t expected it to happen so quickly. She plans to takes the girls out with her once all three reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, she still remembered her heavenly vow. With a renewed sense of determination, Meng Lin closed her eyes and continued to cultivate. She knew it would only take a few days before her breakthrough. She could feel the energy within her growing stronger and more refined. The time would come for her to break through to the middle stage of the Gold Core Realm. Two days went by in a flash as Meng Lin focused her qi and channeled it towards her core one last time. As she did so, a surge of power coursed through her body, causing her to open her eyes in awe. The room filled with a brilliant golden light as Meng Lin''s qi pulsated through the surroundings. Elation filled Meng Lin''s heart as she realized that she had broken through, suddenly information began to pour into her mind and her eyes brightened. Her aura which had been controlled suddenly rose, water qi began to cover her body and a stinging pain shot through her back. Clang The wall behind her suddenly cracked as a shadow of a massive tail burst forth, extending behind her. The tail was unlike anything she had ever seen before, with scales as black as the deepest abyss and a snake head at the end, complete with sharp fangs and glinting eyes. Meng Lin could feel the power emanating from her newly acquired appendage. It was as if the tail itself was a living creature, ready to strike with deadly precision. The sensation of her spine connecting to this powerful tail sent shivers down her spine, both exhilarating and intimidating at the same time. As she examined her transformed body Meng Lin marveled at the intricate details of her new tail. The scales were impenetrable, providing her with an added layer of protection. The snake head at the end possessed a venomous aura, a constant reminder of the danger she now wielded. Meng Lin stood up with an unbalanced posture and began to slowly get used to the new appendage, at first, the movements were awkward and clumsy, but with each minute, she grew more adept. The tail became an extension of herself, moving with grace and precision. The power of her tail was undeniable. It could strike with lightning speed, crushing anything in its path. Its venomous bite could probably incapacitate even the strongest opponents. Satisfied Meng Lin dispersed her qi and the tail behind her shook before turning into dust that blew in the wind. Siting down Meng Lin decided to make the most of this breakthrough. Looking through her storage ring she retrieved 10 small pills that glowed in the dimly lit room. Realm solidifying pills, she decided to consume a substantial amount of realm-solidifying pills to further solidify and stabilize her Gold Core. For the next few days, Meng Lin diligently consumed the realm solidifying pills, feeling the power of each pill merging with her core. She could sense her Gold Core becoming more resilient and stable with every pill she took. It was an annoying process, but Meng Lin was willing to put in the effort to ensure that her foundation was strong. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. As Meng Lin continued her cultivation, she could feel her connection with her core deepening. She knew that her Gold Core was now fortified, and she did a final circulation before stopping. Sigh Cultivation is time consuming Meng Lin leaned back and stretched, feeling the fatigue and satisfaction from her intense cultivation process. With her breakthrough and the solidification of her Gold Core, Meng Lin''s ambition grew even stronger. However, with her breakthrough she noticed how her brute qi had gotten stronger and even more unstable. she didnt know when the limit was but she thought to take care of this uneasy feeling before it gets out of control. **One day later** Meng Lin found herself standing before the grand entrance of the Jade Library at Pavilion Mountain. The building looked imposing, it was known for housing a collection of cultivation techniques, particularly those related to special physiques. Meng Lin hoped that she could find a solution to her problem here, as she presented her sect token, Meng Lin watched as the array at the door lit up before fading away, granting her access to the library. Upon entering the library, Meng Lin noticed that the library was divided into several sections, each dedicated to a specific aspect of cultivation. *Elemental Cultivation* *Body Refining* *Qi Cultivation* *Special Physiques* Meng Lin found herself gravitating towards the Qi Cultivation section, enticed by the vast array of books that looked enriched with information. She spent hours scouring the shelves, absorbing the information like a sponge. Some techniques were familiar to her, while others were entirely new concepts that expanded her understanding of cultivation. One such technique she discovered was the ''Harmonious Qi Method''. It was a technique that focused on harmonizing one''s qi, creating a balance between the yin and yang energies within one''s body. According to the book, the Harmonious Qi Method was especially useful for cultivators with volatile qi. By achieving harmony between one''s yin and yang energies, one could achieve a stable and powerful flow of qi throughout their body. However, Meng Lin knew that it was not feasible with her brute qi as it required for the qi to be refined and delicately balanced. Her brute qi could never be refined or delicately balanced. However she was Intrigued by it and made a mental note of the technique, intending to study it. Two high tier techniques that she found interesting were the Physique Cleansing Sutra and the Vital Essence Exchange One technique was known for purifying and strengthening one''s physical body by cleansing it with one''s qi. It was a particular method that was recommended for cultivators who owned a unique or special physique, such as Meng Lin''s brute qi physique. The ''Physique Cleansing Sutra'' was a method that cleansed the cultivator''s body, removing impurities and refining the body to hold more qi. It was a way to adapt and strengthen the body to withstand the power of their special physique, making it stable and more controlled. The sutra explained that the cultivator had to chant various mantras and perform specific movements, in sync with the rhythm of their breathing, to fully activate the purifying effects of the technique, gradually cleansing and purifying their body, removing any residual impurities and making it stronger. Meng Lin could see the potential benefits of this technique. With a stronger and more resilient body, she would be able to channel her brute qi more effectively and with less risk of losing control. As for the Vital Essence Exchange, it was rather simple, exchanging your blood essence for explosive realm breakthroughs, Meng Lin was intrigued by the Vital Essence Exchange technique. It offered a way to achieve explosive breakthroughs in realms by exchanging one''s blood essence. However, she knew that this technique came with risks and should be used sparingly. Blood essence is very important to a cultivator, it equates to lifespan, so the more blood essence that is used the more strain it puts on the body and the shorter the cultivator''s potential lifespan becomes. She still learned both techniques as they both seem to hold the key to stabilizing her brute qi and maximizing her cultivation prowess. Leaving the array of books, Meng Lin walked around towards the *Special Physique* sections, it only had one book on the shelf, but Meng Lin knew that it must contain rare and powerful information about the world of special Physiques. *Divine Sword Physique * *Star Body Physique * *Eternal Ice Physique * *Absolute Light Physique* *Celestial Thunder Physique* . Looking through these Physiques Meng Lin was like a sponge, reading all relevant information provided by each physique, there were 22 known physiques and each of them seemed to hold a significant amount of weight in the section they cover. One that particularly caught her eye was the "Infinite Darkness Physique". This physique was said to be a terrifying one, capable of engulfing the user in absolute darkness, making them invisible and invulnerable. The book explained that those with the Infinite Darkness Physique could absorb all forms of energy and light, making them almost invincible. However, the same book narrates that it''s a double-edged sword. The darkness could consume the users themselves if not controlled properly, turning them into a void of endless darkness. The thought of being swallowed by darkness terrified Meng Lin. She could not imagine how one could live with such a special physique. It was indeed a physique that brought great power, but at a great cost. She shook her head and closed the book after reading all that was available, she was slightly disappointed that she didnt see the brute qi physique but she soon shook her head and decided to focus on the other techniques that interest her. She intended to increase the number of techniques that would be integrated into her Hundred Unity Technique. As she perused the shelves, she learned a few techniques that she found intriguing, however none were like the two high level techniques that she saw earlier. With nothing left after that, she left the building with a satisfied expression, she had gained a lot of information as well as techniques from here and she intends to digest them before contacting Luang Chen. 152. Another Realm Meng Lin sat crossed legged within her room, waves of red Qi would occasionally burst form her and into the surroundings. Her aura was vibrant and intense, radiating with power, with each breath, she could feel the blood essence flowing through her vains, merging with her own life force. The red Qi that emanated from her body began to pulsate with a newfound intensity, as if it was ready to burst forth and conquer the world. As time passed, the waves of red Qi bursting out became more controlled and purposeful. They danced around her like fiery serpents, intertwining and merging with the energy of her surroundings. Meng Lin opened her eyes which glowed with an otherworldly purple intensity, pulsating with the same intensity of the qi that surrounded her. In a single cultivation session, Meng Lin had mastered the Vital Essence Exchange Technique. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Gold Core Stage(Middle)] [Experience points:1%] System coin: 3034 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] [Water] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra][ Vital Essence Eachange] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Looking at her system menu Meng Lin felt elated, especially when her eyes dart towards the Variant Elemental Qi, she now has a third one, one that matched her well, the water variant. She attained it when her Black Tortoise Essence Art was completely mastered, it seems that when one cultivates an elemental cultivation method to the max then one can unlock a variant elemental qi, a higher concentration of the qi than normal. With this she knew that she could unleash more powerful attacks, especially those related to the water element. Now then Meng Lin closed her eyes and slowly began to circulate her inner qi, her lips parted to chant the Physique Cleansing Sutra. As the ancient words flowed from her lips, they seemed to resonate with the innermost part of her being as within her dantian, brute qi quickly burst forth. With each word, a deep and profound aura emerged from the brute qi as it emerged and surrounded her body. Dark and viscous impurities within her body began to stir, responding to the call of the sutra. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Slowly, wisps of black smoke began to rise from her body, each wisp carrying away a portion of accumulated impurities. The black smoke swirled around her, forming an eerie spectacle, before dissipating into the surrounding Qi. A sense of lightness began to fill Meng Lin. She could feel the impurities being purged from her body, and with each passing moment, she felt more in tune with her brute qi. The chant continued, resonating through the room, reaching out to the very essence of her body and soul. Each word seemed to carry a power of its own, cleansing her physique and refining her essence. Meng Lin opened her eyes and began to think, the Physique Cleansing Sutra worked well to harmonize the brute qi with her body, however it seems that it still wouldnt solve the problem that she was dealing with. However it seemed to halt the progress, at least she felt that the brute qi would not go out of control with the state that it was in now, but the same couldnt be said about the future when it gets even stronger. However Meng Lin wasnt dissatisfied, because at least she found a temporary solution, it was better than nothing, and it seems to also allow her physique to be cleansed of impurities. Sigh! Having just learned both the Physique Cleansing Sutra and the Vital Essence Eachange Meng Lin put down her worries and anxiety. As she sat in the stillness of her room, she reached into her robe and pulled out a small, intricately carved talisman - a communication talisman. With a deep breath, she activated the talisman, pouring her energy into it. The talisman glowed brightly, emitting a soft, ethereal light that filled the room. "Luang Chen," she said. "Can you hear me?" There was a brief moment of silence, and then a faint voice echoed within the room. "Meng Lin," Luang Chen''s voice carried a hint of surprise. "Are you finish? "Yes, I have just solidified my Gold Core, what was it you wanted to talk about? Meng Lin asked with curiosity, she had been wanting to know what uses he had for the Realm Breaking Crystal. There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then Luang Chen''s voice came through. " "I''ve discovered the location of another realm." Luang Chen began. "However that realm is blocked off by multiple spatial boundaries Meng Lins eyes raised, she naturally knew of spatial boundaries, they are barriers that separate different realms or dimensions. They can be created naturally after the spatial structure of different realms intersect. It is completely impossible for those below the Narscent Soul Realm to interact with space and even those at the Narscent Soul Realm would not be able to break through spatial boundaries. The fact that Luang Chen had discovered the location of another realm was terrifying, and even more terrifying was that it was blocked by multiple spatial boundaries. Meng Lin had never heard of multiple spatial boundaries in one place, she had heard that it usually takes those old monsters above the Narscent Soul Realm to break through spatial boundaries, and that was a single one. It was only now that Meng Lin realized how powerful of a tool the Realm Breaking Crystal was, curiosity filled Meng Lin''s voice as she responded, "Luang Chen, breaking through spatial boundaries causes quite the commotion, how are you planning on hiding that There was a moment of silence before Luang Chen replied the location is North, The Scattered Islands Region, its an undiscovered island Undiscovered? Meng Lin repeated, her interest piqued. "An undiscovered island? How is that possible? In this era, it''s rare for any landmass to remain undiscovered." Luang Chen''s voice carried a hint of excitement as he explained, " There is a a powerful formation around the island. This formation conceals the existence of the island from the outside world. It distorts spatial energies and creates a camouflage that prevents anyone from stumbling upon it." Meng Lin''s eyes widened in awe. The ability to hide an entire island from detection was a remarkable feat. She couldn''t help but admire whoever it was that made the formations, since the the Scattered Islands Region is only known to house 2nd and 3rd tier sects, Meng Lin knew that the island wouldnt be discovered easily. There was a moment of silence as Meng Lin weighed her options. This was a golden opportunity, but it also came with risks. However, she had always been one to embrace challenges. "Very well," she said finally, determination flickering in her eyes. "I''m in." Good. We''ll set out in a week. Prepare yourself." Luang Chen spoke up as the glow from the talisman ceased. Putting down the communication talisman, Meng Lin took a deep breath, her eyes filled with determination. One week! She had one week to prepare herself. Opening her system menu she instantly went to the blacksmiths panel, she had to upgrade it in one week, and she had to create that. Blacksmith (Advanced ) 57%] Item slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: none 153. Lark Jade Restaurant **Two weeks later** The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft golden hue over the Fushi Island of the Scattered Islands Region. Within the bustling market of the Luner Stone City, various Qi Gathering Realm cultivators moved to and from the stalls, their robes billowing in the gentle breeze. Very few cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm could be seen within the market as only the major forces within the Scattered Islands Regions bothered to send their disciples to this remote island. Amongst the buildings was a large restaurant by the name of Lark Jade Restaurant that served as a hub for cultivators in the area. Its grand entrance stood tall and proud, adorned with intricate carvings depicting fish and aquatic spirit beasts. Inside the Lark Jade Restaurant, the atmosphere was vibrant and lively. The main hall was filled with long wooden tables, where cultivators gathered to enjoy their meals and discuss the latest news. Everyone within had an easygoing attitude as this was Lark Jade Restaurant. One of the major forces in the city, under the jurisdiction of the Benevolent Jade Sect, a third-tier sect that has multiple branches in the Scattered Islands Region. In a private room tucked away from the main hall, the Mid Stage Foundation Establishment manager of the restaurant, Yao Ming, was sweating profusely under the gaze of the two individuals before him. Before him was the figure of a young woman in a green robe who exuded a calm and composed demeanor with an air of calmness and confidence. Standing next to her was a young man that has indifference towards his surroundings and his gaze reflected an unknown suppression in the air. The two of them had just used a small teleportation formation to travel from another island a few hundred miles away from Fushi Island. Yao Ming, the manager of the Lark Jade Restaurant, felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead as he tried to maintain his composure under the intense scrutiny of these two prestigious cultivators. The Benevolent Jade Sect, to which the restaurant belonged, was a third-tier sect that held considerable influence in the Scattered Islands Region. However, compared to the Soul Scattering Sect they were considered minor players. Yao Ming knew that it was an honor for the Lark Jade Restaurant to host cultivators of such high status. The reputation and power wielded by the Soul Scattering Sect is in no way inferior to some of the revered 5th-tier sects. The Benevolent Jade Sect had made it clear that they did not want to offend fourth-tier sects, and Yao Ming was well aware of the consequences if he mishandled this situation. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Gathering his courage, Yao Ming straightened his back and spoke in a respectful tone, "Esteemed cultivators, we are deeply honored to have you grace our humble establishment. Please allow me to introduce our finest dishes and provide you with the utmost service. Is there anything specific you would like to order or any special requests you may have?" Meng Lin and Luang Chen exchanged a brief glance before Luang Chen spoke, his voice carrying a hint of authority, "No need, were just passing by, Do you have a detailed map of the surroundings. Yao Ming nodded and quickly retrieved a rolled-up map from a maid. He carefully unrolled it on the table, revealing a detailed map of the surroundings of Fushi Island. Pointing to various locations, Yao Ming explained, "Esteemed cultivators, this is a detailed map of the Scattered Islands Region, with Fushi Island right over there, he continued while pointing with his finger Here, you can see the Lunar Stone City where we are currently located. To the north, you''ll find the Azure Blossom Sect, known for its mastery of wind-based cultivation techniques. And to the south, you''ll find the Scarlet Water Sect, renowned for their expertise in water-based cultivation techniques." Meng Lin and Luang Chen studied the map for a few minutes as the map stretched over a large area, thousands of miles across with dozens of different areas occupied by others. Luang Chen tapped his finger on a specific location at the edge of the map and asked, "Manager Yao, what can you tell us about this place?" Yao Ming had a confused expression as he looked at the spot on the map indicated by Luang Chen. It was an area in the open sea, far from any known landmarks or sects. The manager furrowed his brow, trying to recall any information about that particular location. "I apologize, esteemed cultivators," Yao Ming said, his voice filled with uncertainty. "That spot on the map appears to be an area in the open sea. I only know of a yang group of fish called the Whitetip Weever in that area, I don''t have any other specific information about it." Meng Lin glanced at Luang Chen who revealed a smile. Thank you for your assistance, lets go he said turning to face Meng Lin. Meng Lin nodded and the two of them quickly made their way out of the restaurant before flying towards a specific direction. Meng Lin wore the low-grade Swaying Leaf Robe to fly, even though she could fly now that she was in the gold core realm, she couldnt fly fast enough for Luang Chen who cultivated some sort of technique that specialized in speed. As they flew towards the distance Meng Lin couldn''t help but ask, "Luang Chen, this is already the second week, are you sure you didnt forget Luang Chen chuckled lightly, a carefree expression on his face. "Don''t worry. I have a good memory, and I''m sure this is the right place. Trust me, we''re on the right track." Isnt that what you said the last 7 times I asked you Meng Lin snorted, how come he just repeats the same thing over and over again, its already been a week sincerely their venture into the scattered seas. Luang Chen turned to Meng Lin with a smile on his face. "I''m sure," he replied confidently. "The group of fishes that was mentioned is the same one I encountered before, so I''m certain it is this one." Why did you reveal the location so brazenly back there, arent you worried that we would be followed?" she asked. Luang Chen''s gaze towards her flickered with sadness as he turned towards the horizon. "It doesn''t really matter if they know or not, I would be happy if someone was greedy enough to follow Meng Lin''s gaze deepened as countless thoughts ran through her mind and in the end, she shook her head and followed, it was not like she could do anything about it. 154. Spatial Boundaries **One day later** Two streaks of light tore through the sky before stopping at an empty spot in the sea. After traveling for a few hundred miles Luang Chen and Meng Lin arrived at a seemingly desolate spot in the open sea. The vast expanse of blue stretched out in all directions, with no land in sight, only the flickering glow of red could be seen in the distance, indicating that they were very close to the God Blood Sea. "Is this the place?" asked Meng Lin, her gaze sweeping across the vast and empty sea. Luang Chen nodded, his eyes reflecting a confident glint. "Yes. This is the spot. Remember, this is an undiscovered island that is not visible to the naked eye. It is hidden by intricate spatial formations that confuse one''s perception." Formations? Meng Lin asked, hearing about it for the first time. Luang Chen nodded before he pulled out a round disk. It was A Formation Disk, an intricate device filled with complex glyphs. As he infused his spiritual energy into the disk, the glyphs on it started to glow, emitting a soft, pulsating light. "I will use this formation disk to find the loophole in the spatial formation. Once I find it, we will be able to enter the island," Luang Chen explained, his voice steady and calm. Meng Lin nodded, her gaze sharp as she kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. The tranquil sea could hide lurking dangers, and she was ready to react at a moment''s notice. As Luang Chen worked on the formation disk, the surrounding space started to distort. The calm sea below them seemed to ripple and warp, as if being viewed through a warped mirror. Suddenly, Luang Chen''s eyes lit up. "Found it!" he exclaimed. His hand moved in a swift motion, and a beam of light shot out from the formation disk, piercing the distorted space before them. The beam of light seemed to tear through reality itself, creating a temporary rift in the spatial formation. Through the rift, they could see a beautiful, verdant island, previously hidden from their view. "Quick, Meng Lin, we must enter through this rift before it closes," Luang Chen said, grabbing Meng Lin''s hand. Without wasting any time, they flew through the rift. As soon as they entered, the rift closed behind them, and the previously visible island disappeared, hidden once again by the complex spatial formation. **** This is.quite peculiar, Meng Lin said, feeling a thin amount of qi in the surroundings, there was barely any spiritual energy to be found. Luang Chen nodded in agreement, his gaze surveying their surroundings. "Indeed. Normally, islands, especially of this size, should be teeming with spiritual energy. Its what gives life to the plants and creatures that inhabit them. But here, it''s as if the energy has been drained." Meng Lin furrowed her brows, her mind racing with thoughts. "Could this have something to do with the spatial formation that was hiding the island?" "It''s a possibility," Luang Chen replied, his gaze thoughtful. "Spatial formations can sometimes have side effects. They may affect the flow of spiritual energy in their vicinity. However, it''s also possible that there is something on this island that is absorbing the spiritual energy." Meng Lin''s eyes were raised at this thought. "Something that absorbs spiritual energy? Like a creature or a treasure?" Luang Chen shrugged. "Could be. Or it could be a natural phenomenon. I didnt check back then Are these the spatial boundaries? Meng Lin asked, feeling a cold shiver in the back of her spine. Just a few hundred meters ahead her spiritual consciousness met a mass of golden vortex in space that sucked in the surrounding space. Meng Lin had a grimace as there were countless vortexes all over the island, each single vortex released an oppressive aura that when combined made the surrounding space distort and be slowly pulled towards the vortex. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Meng Lin quickly tucked away her spiritual consciousness, if it wasnt because her spiritual consciousness was abnormal, she wouldnt be surprised if it was sucked away just now. Luang Chen''s expression turned solemn as he nodded in response to Meng Lin''s question. "Yes, these are the spatial boundaries. They are not to be underestimated. They are interconnected spatial vortexes that possess immense power. They can devour anything and everything that enters, regardless of their cultivation level. Even those in the Nascent Soul Realm would be unable to escape their grasp." Meng Lin nodded before she reached into her storage ring and retrieved a small, shimmering orb. the Realm Breaking Crystal. "Are you ready?" Meng Lin asked, her voice steady and resolute, having refined the orb she understood its use more than anyone. "Once we activate the crystal, there''s no turning back. We''ll be transported to a different realm, be prepared for anything." Luang Chen nodded, taking out a sword from his storage bag, holding onto it, he felt more secure than before. Seeing this Meng Lin nodded, her grip on the crystal tightening. "Here we go." With a surge of energy, Meng Lin activated the Realm Breaking Crystal. Instantly, a brilliant light enveloped them, obscuring their vision. The spatial boundaries surrounding them seemed to tremble and waver as if struggling against the crystal''s power. Crack Then, in an instant, everything changed. Space shattered as if a glass breaking a beam of golden light shot through the sky and into heaven as if trying to shoot it down. The golden aura of the Realm Breaking Crystal enveloped Meng Lin and Luang Chen, creating a protective sphere around them as it shot right through an opening in space into a different realm. **** A few hundred miles away from the undisclosed island, right before the confines of the God Blood Sea, a carriage pulled by four black horses made its way before the turbulent red waters. Princess Wei, we have arrived Within the carriage, an old man man spoke to a young woman who was currently engrossed in reading a scroll. The young woman, Princess Wei Luan, looked up from her scroll and glanced out of the carriage window. Before her stretched the vast expanse of the God Blood Sea, its waters a turbulent shade of red that seemed to glow under the twilight sky. The sight was strangely captivating, a stark contrast to the serene water that was right next to it. She closed the scroll and turned to the old man, a hint of excitement lighting up her eyes. "Good. Let''s prepare the device The old man nodded and began to take out a small globe containing golden droplets of blood. After taking it out, the sea beneath them started to churn violently. The red waters surged upwards, whirling into a vortex. From the center of this vortex, a red figure began to ascend, its scales glistening with the crimson hue of the sea. Roar!! It was a large Red Flood Dragon whose eyes glowed with greed as it roared towards the carriage, causing the four black horses pulling the carriage to whimper in fear and start to lose control. It was at this time when a sudden beam of light shot up into the sky, originating from a point a few hundred miles away. The light was so bright that it momentarily lit up the entire sky, making it impossible to ignore. The old man''s eyes widened in surprise, and even Wei Luan paused, her eyes drawn to the spectacle. "Is that?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the distant beam of light. The old man squinted, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make out the origin of the light. "I''m not sure what that is, Princess. But it seems to be coming from the direction of an undisclosed island." Wei Luan''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "An island? But there''s nothing in that direction on the map." The old man nodded. "Indeed. But it seems like we have stumbled upon something unexpected. Perhaps after we are done here we can investigate further and see what secrets that island holds." Wei Luan''s mind wandered towards something she read about, spatial boundaries, and her interest became piqued, she nodded in agreement. "Yes, let''s keep it in mind for now. But for now, we have a task at hand. Roar!! With a powerful roar, the Red Flood Dragon which was also momentarily stunned by the flash of light opened its mouth wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth as it pounced towards the carriage. Wei Luan''s eyes gleamed with determination as she stood up from her seat. "You stand by!" she commanded, drawing her sword and stepping out of the carriage. The old man nodded, summoning his spiritual energy and preparing to assist Princess Wei Luan in the upcoming fight. Despite the terrifying Red Flood Dragon charging towards her, Wei Luans thoughts were elsewhere. a spatial boundary, that was a spatial boundary. She knew of the potential opportunities that exist within them, opportunities to turn a mortal into a Narscent Soul Cultivator, opportunities to transform oneself into a heaven-defying chosen one. Her gaze turned back towards the place where the beam of light emerged, her eyes narrowing as countless thoughts ran through her mind. As the weakest amongst her royal brothers and sisters, she always hated the feeling of being oppressed, She was constantly compared, belittled, and dismissed, simply because she was born weaker. Even her father doesnt hold her in any regard, but she refuses to accept her fate. She yearned for power, for respect, for a chance to prove herself to her family. And now, this unexpected discovery, this beam of light shooting up from an undisclosed island, had sparked her determination. She had a feeling, a gut instinct, that this island held something valuable, something that could change her fate. As for the Rank 4 Red Flood Dragon before her, she would naturally extract its blood essence and advance her Crimson Phoenix Technique. 155. Turning Point ***** Meng Lin''s eyes fluttered open and she found herself immersed in a stunning, cosmic tableau that was both fascinating and terrifying at the same time. Below her was a platform of golden light that acted as a shield against the wild variety of auras that surrounded the area. This is Meng Lin asked quiet confused, she had never seen or heard of this, it was as if they were in a sea of boundless energies. The Primeval Sea, its the passage to other realms, its filled with primal energy and chaotic power," Luang Chen finished Meng Lin''s sentence, his voice filled with emotion and nostalgia. "It is said to be the birthplace of realms, where the forces of creation and destruction constantly collide." Meng Lin took a moment to look at Luang Chen, noticing a different emotion in his voice. The Primeval Sea stretched out endlessly, its didnt look like a sea but more like an ethereal tapestry woven with a myriad of energies, each unique and pulsating with its terrifying rhythm. BOOM!!! A terrifying storm of white splendor passed by the golden platform, illuminating the aura of countless energies within the storm. Luang Chen''s voice barely carried over the deafening roar of the storm. "A spatial storm, these are acclamations of spatial fractures that lead to different realms As the storm passed by Meng Lin tightened her grip on the Realm Breaking Crystal and continued to look in awe. It was a sight that not many had the privilege to witness, yet the beauty of the spectacle was equally matched by its inherent danger. If they were not within the confines of the golden light then they would have undoubtedly been dead. Meng Lin could see hundreds, maybe even thousands, of different energy strands, scattered across the vast expanse like a galaxy of radiant stars. She felt a variety of qi within the sea. Fire, water, wind, lighting, earth and even unconventional energies like sand and dust. They twinkled and shimmered, casting an otherworldly glow that illuminated the void around them. Each strand was an entity unto itself, a pulsating beacon of raw, untempered power that was both awe-inspiring and intimidating. Looking into the far distance, Meng Lin could see a spatial storm enveloped by a golden light, the same golden light that surrounded them, the platform was moving towards that storm, leading them to their destination. Even as she stood faraway from the stands, she could feel the raw, untempered power in each strand of raw energy it sure is mesmerizing Luang Chen looked at her with a hint of pity before turning to gaze at the chaotic scene, his memories recalling a certain moment. There was once a man at the Ascension Realm who braved the Primeval Sea. Ascension Realm? Meng Lin asked, her curiosity piqued. "What is the Ascension Realm?" Luang Chen paused for a moment, his eyes distant as he delved into the depths of his memories. "The Ascension Realm?he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and frustration, "i dont know Meng Lin blinked in surprise. She had never seen Luang Chen at a loss for words before. "You don''t know?" she repeated, her voice filled with curiosity and concern. "But you mentioned the Ascension Realm earlier. How can you not know?" Luang Chen sighed, his gaze fixed on the swirling energies of the Primeval Sea. "The Ascension Realm is a cultivation realm shrouded in mystery," he explained, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "It is a realm that exists beyond our current understanding, a realm where mortals become something more, transcending the limitations of their mortal forms." Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Meng Lin became quiet as she once again felt the emotion in Luang Chens voice, her mind was racing with questions. "The man who braved the Primeval Sea," Luang Chen resumed, his eyes dazed, "had reached the pinnacle of the Ascension Realm. He was a legendary figure, revered and feared by many for his unparalleled strength and ruthlessness." Meng Lin''s gaze turn serious as she fixed on Luang Chen. "Legend has it that this man possessed an unparalleled understanding of the energy strands within the Primeval Sea," Luang Chen continued. "He was able to navigate through the treacherous spatial storms and channel the raw power within each energy strand, using it to transcend his limits and unlock the shackles of the Immortal Realms. As Luang Chen spoke, Meng Lin couldnt help but hold a confuse expression, she couldnt understand why Luang Chen was telling her this. Luang Chen''s voice grew somber, "such power came at a great cost. The chaotic energies of the Primeval Sea took a toll on his physical body, slowly eroding his vitality and sanity." Meng Lin felt a pang of sympathy for the man. To sacrifice so much in pursuit of power was a fate both tragic and cautionary. "Eventually," Luang Chen concluded, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and sadness, "the man disappeared, consumed by the very energies he sought to master. His legacy, however, lives on as a reminder of the dangers that lie within the Primeval Sea." , "Luang Chen," she began, her voice filled with curiosity and determination, "why are you telling me this Luang Chen''s eyes met hers, and for a moment, there was a flicker of vulnerability before he composed himself. "Meng Lin," he said softly, his voice tinged with a mix of sadness and determination. Do you know the Physique I possesMeng Lin looked at Luang Chen, her thoughts in shambles, suddenly her eyes widened, you mean Luang Chen nodded, thats right, I possess the Primordial Sea Physique," "Luang Chen, what are you going to do?" Meng Lin asked, confused and concerned at the same time. Without answering, Luang Chen abruptly pulled out a crystal orb identical to the realm breaking crystal, his eyes reflected a strange light and he crushed the orb within his hand. Before Meng Lin could react, her eyes widened as the protective golden glow around them began to crack like glass. "Luang Chen, you!" Meng Lin cried out, but her words were drowned out by the deafening sound of the spatial storms around them. RUMBLE!!!! Immediately entering her Brute Qi stage Meng Lin was assaulted by a loud explosion that shook the very fabric of the Primeval Sea. At the center of the explosion was Luang Chen, who stood with his body radiating an overwhelming aura that went beyond comprehension. His physique, already strong and imposing, seemed to be transforming under the influence of the chaotic energies of the Primeval Sea. Luang Chen''s body began to glow, the radiant light enveloping his entire form. The energies of the Primeval Sea seemed to be drawn towards him, swirling around him in a vortex of raw power. The sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, a testament to the terrifying power of the Primordial Sea Physique. But that was the last thing in Meng Lins mind, the moment the Realm Breaking Crystal was broken Meng Lin didnt even have a chance to process anything as she was swept away in the swirling chaos of the Primeval Sea. The raw energies enveloped her, and she felt her Brute qi draining at an unimaginable level, she tried to struggle against the currents, however she was suddenly swept away into a large spatial storm. In that moment, fear and confusion filled Meng Lins heart. She reached out with her left hand and tighten her grip onto the Realm Breaking Crystal in her right hand. She was desperately searching for something, however her timer ran out and she was forced out of her brute qi stage. Rumble Meng Lin''s scream were drowned by the chaotic energies ripping through her defenses. Her body felt weightless, lost and consumed by the vast emptiness around her. She fought to maintain her grip on the Realm Breaking Crystal, her lifeline in this treacherous sea. But her strength was rapidly fading, her consciousness slipping into oblivion. "Luang Chen..." she managed to whisper, her voice barely a ripple in the storm. Her mind was filled with echoes of their conversations, of his warning about the dangers of the Primeval Sea. She felt a pang of regret - had she understood him better, could this have been avoided? The chaotic energies roared around her, the spatial storm swallowing her whole. The last thing she saw was the distant glow of Luang Chen in the heart of the Primeval Sea, his figure shrinking into a speck of light before the darkness consumed her vision. Then, there was silence. The golden aura of the Realm Breaking Crystal flickered and faded, reduced to a dim glow in the heart of the storm. Meng Lin''s body was nowhere to be seen, her existence seemingly erased by the terrifying power of the Primeval Sea. All that remained was the spatial storm that continued to sweep through the Primeval Sea. "Goodbye, Meng Lin," a voice echoed in the emptiness. It was Luang Chen, his voice heavy with sad and callous ruthlessness. He stood alone in the Primeval Sea, his figure glowing with an ethereal light. "Now, the Immortal Planes With those final words, Luang Chen turned and plunged into another spatial storm, disappearing from sight, and the Primeval Sea returned to its chaotic dance of energies. 156. Old Liu The Qiankun World Yi Providence Within one of the many providences of the Qiankun World, an old man, was in a desperate run from a group of nine pursuers. His attire was ragged, his face lined with the wrinkles of old age, and his eyes filled with the desperation of a trapped beast. This man was Xuan Liu, the family Patriarch of the Xuan family, a family that once held power and respect within the province of Yi. Old Liu''s quick, labored breaths echoed in the silent landscape, his body weary from the relentless chase. His pursuers were not far behind, their eyes brimming with a greedy anticipation of the bounty on his head. Suddenly, a voice rang out, filled with arrogance and contempt, "Stop running, Old Liu! You''ve nowhere to run now!" It was the young master of the Yun clan, a powerful and influential family within the 13 provinces. Old Liu gritted his teeth, his heart pounding in his chest. But he did not stop. He could not afford to. His only hope was to escape, to somehow find a way out. His pursuers, a mix of mercenaries and the Yun clan''s members, were very close. Their eyes glinted menacingly in the sun light, like predators closing in on their prey. "Damn it! This is getting annoying!" one of the mercenaries cursed. "Nine Art Thunder Spears!" Nine bolts of lightning shot forth from a talisman in his hand, forming into sharp spears that bore down on Old Liu. Old Liu, not missing a beat, flung out a piece of parchment. "Earth Heavenly Shield, arise!" he commanded. A shimmering, block of the ground sprung forth into a shield causing the lightning spears to clash against it with sparks flying everywhere as Old Liu continued running. "Persistent old man, none of this would have happened if you were a good dogthe young master of the Yun clan growled, his hand reaching into his robe. He pulled out a small, intricately drawn paper talisman. "Unleash, Skyfire Meteor!" The talisman burst into flames and a fiery meteor erupted, streaking across the sky towards Old Liu. Old Liu''s eyes widened. A Skyfire Meteor was an Earth Grade Talisman. It was a devastating attack not easily blocked. But he had no choice. He reached into his robe, pulling out a small jade figurine. "Emerald Serpent!" A giant, spectral serpent sprung forth from the figurine, rushing up to meet the meteor. The impact created a massive explosion, the shockwave sending Old Liu flying. He landed hard, his body battered and weary. His pursuers quickly surrounded him, their faces lit by the glow of the smoldering crater nearby. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "Old Liu, you''ve reached your end," the young master sneered, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. Old Liu stood up and still couldn''t accept his fate, his breathing was heavy as he was clearly out of breath. He looked towards the young man and sneered. The Xuan Family has not fallen to the point of sending off our only genius to die Admit it he said as he took in another deep breath, you want to kill Waner because you see yourself inferior to him "Oh? Jealous, are i?" The young master chuckled, his eyes narrowing at Old Liu''s words. "Your precious genius is just a thorn in my side. Nothing more." "Thorn or not, Waner is worth a hundred of you," Old Liu retorted, his voice filled with pride. "And as long as I breathe, I won''t let you harm him." The young master''s laughter echoed through the still air. "You won''t be breathing for much longer, old man." A mercenary stepped forward, his hand glowing with energy. "Shall I end this, Young Master Yun?" he asked, his gaze locked on Old Liu. "No," the young master said, his eyes never leaving Old Liu. "I want him to see it. I want him to see when we raze his clan to the ground. Old Liu''s heart pounded in his chest. He was out of options, out of time. But he wasn''t out of defiance. "If you think capturing me will be as easy, you''re gravely mistaken," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "Celestial Mirage, manifest!" He called out as a talisman within his robe responded, and a series of illusions sprung forth, making it appear as if there were multiple Old Lius, they ran towards the nine people that surrounded him and while a few of them were interspersed, the real Old Liu got away. His pursuers hesitant and momentarily confused didnt stay rooted as they quickly ran after him, their faces full of fury. As the chase continued Old Liu flung a small jade amulet behind him. "Sky Shroud Amulet, activate!" he barked. A thick cloud of mist erupted from the amulet, obscuring the view of his pursuers. The mist was a thick, impenetrable shroud, obscuring the pursuers'' view and slowing them down. Old Liu seized the opportunity to put more distance between him and the pack closing in on him. His breaths came in ragged gasps; he was nearing his limits. Within the cloud of mist Young Master Yun growled in frustration. "That old man is more cunning than I gave him credit for," he admitted grudgingly. He pulled out a talisman, its surface etched with a complex set of symbols. "Sky Eyes!" he commanded. The talisman glowed, and a pair of spectral eyes emerged, cutting through the mist to reveal Old Liu''s retreating figure. "There he is!" one of the mercenaries shouted, pointing in the direction revealed by the Sky Eyes. With renewed vigor, they sped after Old Liu, their collective desire for the bounty on his head fueling their relentless chase. Old Liu, seeing his trick had failed, stumbled, his body giving way to exhaustion. He fell near a large crater, his breath ragged and uneven. "Old Liu, you''ve reached your end," young master Yun sneered, his hand taking out another talisman. Old Liu''s eyes flashed with despair and defiance. Just as the young master was about to activate the talisman, the winds changed. The sky above them spun, a small swirl formed and slowly increased before bursting into a vortex. From within the vortex, a figure emerged. A young woman with a charred body fell onto the ground next to the old man. Thud Old Liu looked down at the woman who had fallen from the sky, a sense of disbelief creeping into his weary eyes. "By the heavens... What just happened?" He murmured to himself. The figure of the woman was a tragic sight, her body charred and battered, clothes torn and burnt, revealing countless wounds on her body. 157. Shock and Awe Old Liu, despite his physical exhaustion, crawled over to her, a sense of urgency and curiosity pushing him forward. One of the mercenary pursuers, noticing his action took out a small talisman before activating it. Thunder Chain he shouted as chains of lightning burst from the talisman. The bright, crackling chain of lightning shot from the talisman, arcing towards Old Liu next to the fallen woman. But just as it was about to reach them, a burst of aura erupted from the woman''s body, stopping the lightning chain dead in its tracks. The air around her seemed to distort, as if the air itself was warping under the pressure of her aura. The aura was chaotic, with a sense of oppression that made the blood of every person present run cold. Old Liu who was the closest was finally able to examine the body with his eyes, and his eyes widened to witness her skin corroded by hundreds of different energy signatures. The energies were swirling on her skin creating a marbled effect that was both stunning and grotesque. Her injuries were severe but her closed eyes had a serene sense to it. Old Liu was transfixed by the sight. He had seen many things in his long life, but this was beyond his comprehension. The woman was an enigma, a mixture of contradictions that both fascinated and frightened him. He could see the confusion mirrored in the eyes of his pursuers. They too were unsure of what to make of the woman. The young master of the Yun clan was the first to break the silence, his voice filled with a mix of awe and fear. What...What is she? he stammered, his gaze never leaving the woman. His bravado had evaporated, replaced by a sense of trepidation that was palpable. Old Liu didn''t respond, his focus solely on the woman. He reached into his robe, pulling out a small jade pendant. "Celestial Healer, awaken!" he commanded, placing the pendant on the woman''s chest. The jade pendant responded to Old Liu''s command, glowing with a soft, soothing light that enveloped the woman''s body. The energy that had been swirling around her seemed to calm, becoming more rhythmic and less chaotic. Old Liu let out a sigh of relief, a glint of hope flickering in his eyes. "Just hold on," he murmured to the unconscious woman, a sense of urgency in his voice. As he focused on the woman, a thought crossed his mind, What is she? He thought, a sense of dread creeping into his mind. Is she a monster? An immortal? A deity?. Old Lou had to admit that if this was any other scenario then he wouldnt have tried to heal this person, who knows what they will do once they are fully healed? Before Old Liu could dwell further on his thoughts, he noticed that the healing pendant was not taking any effects, her wounds were not healing at all. The pursuers, who had been momentarily frozen by the woman''s aura, seemed to notice this as well. "Enough games!" the young master of the Yun clan shouted, his voice laced with frustration and confusion. "Bind Old Liu!" The pursuers exchanged worried glances, before two of the Yun clan members moved forward, although they didnt want to approach that woman, they knew their lives were over if they defied the young man. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Use iron chains, dont use any talisman or pendants near the body Young master Yun said, remembering the fear that had crept up in his heart before. The Yun clan members, regaining their confidence didnt waste any time and swiftly approached Old Liu, their iron chains at the ready. They quickly bound his hands and legs, ensuring that he wouldn''t be able to escape again. "Good," the young master said, a smug smile playing on his lips. "Now, let''s deal with this mysterious woman." The Yun Clan members nodded and slowly approached the woman with beads of sweat on their faces. Click!! Only after the last iron chain locked onto her leg did the worried faces of the Yun Clan members finally subsided. Young Master, it is done one of the Yun Clan members asked, his voice filled with uncertainty. Young Master Yun''s cautious expression slowly faded, replaced by a smug expression, he walked up to the woman and slowly examined her face. But as he bent to examine her face, he felt a sudden chill run down his spine. He froze in place, his gaze fixated on the woman. A piercing gaze met the young man and he felt shivers down his spine. Her eyes were a striking shade of icy purple, filled with a mix of intelligence and a hint of danger. There was something otherworldly about her, something that made Young Master Yun question his own power and authority. The Yun Clan members took a step back, their confidence waning in the face of the woman''s intense stare. The air around them seemed to grow heavy with an unspoken power, as if the woman''s mere presence commanded respect and caution. Young Master Yun slowly withdrew his steps, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. "You... Who are you?" Young Master Yun managed to stammer, his voice betraying the fear within. The woman remained lying on the ground, her gaze dazed, her expression unreadable. After a moment of silence, she looked around, surveying the area before turning towards Old Man Liu, the only other person in the same condition as her. * Meng Lin furrowed her brows as system panel after system panel began to appear within her vision. Meng Lin blinked her dazed eyes, still not fully recovering from her shock, she had been fully trusting of Luang Chen to the extent of being sure that he would do her no harm. And yet here she was, stranded in an unknown place with a body that couldnt move a finger. Honestly, she doesnt know how she survived that spatial storm, and she was not in the mood to think about it. What mattered was that she didnt die. Luang Chen, no cultivators. She had forgotten how much betrayal happens within the cultivation world. Why did she trust him so much? Maybe it was because both of them have a special physique, or maybe because they had gone through life and death together, maybe thats why, or maybe she had seen their relationship as more than it really was. Was she blinded by him or by herself? Meng Lins gaze was dazed as countless thoughts ran through her mind, slowly a strand of tear trailed from her left eye, glistening in the sunlight. The tear was a mix of frustration, anger, and sadness. She had trusted, and she had been betrayed. But amidst the pain and confusion, there was also a glimmer of determination in Meng Lin''s eyes. She refused to let this setback define her. She refused to let herself be consumed by bitterness and regret. With a deep breath, Meng Lin focused her thoughts on the situation at hand. She needed to understand her current circumstances and find a way to heal herself. Finally registering her surroundings, Meng Lin was taken aback by the sudden influx of system panels appearing in her vision. She frowned, her gaze flickering over each one. [Congratulations for having witnessed a moment of enlightenment] [Congratulations for surviving an impossible ordeal] [Congratulations for entering another world for the first time] [you have received a reward for witnessing a Dao Physique awakening for the first time] [received the Physique Awakening Metal and the Physique Ranking Scrool] [you have received a reward for surviving a spatial storm for 0.22 seconds] [received the Weapon Enhancement Token and Spatial Storm Talisman] [you have received a reward for entering the Qiankun World] [received the Realm Travelers Map and the Qiankun Treasure Map] [received Taoist Gacha wheel ticket x6] [Do you wish to accept the rewards] Meng Lin had no idea what some of them meant but they certainly sounded impressive. As she was looking through them, she suddenly felt her conscience waver, as if really sleepy. She turned her attention back to Young Master Yun and the Yun Clan members around her before her gaze turned cold. Purple she muttered with difficulty as her vision faded into the darkness. 158. Healing ***** Drip! Drip!! Meng Lin opened her eyes to find herself in a dimly lit cave. The air was heavy with a musty scent, and the sound of dripping water echoed throughout the cavern. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy and unresponsive. Hiss Thats when she noticed the large serpent lying right next to her. Purple seeing her awake hissed in joy as it slowly nudged her with its head. Meng Lin smiled weakly as she felt the familiar presence of Purple, her loyal companion. Despite her confusion and physical weakness, the sight of Purple brought her a sense of comfort and reassurance. She reached out her hand and gently stroked Purple''s smooth scales, feeling a surge of connection between them. As the serpent nudged her with its head, Meng Lin couldn''t help but wonder how she had ended up in this cave and what had happened. Her memories were hazy, but she remembered what happened, she just doesnt know the events that transpired after she called out to Purple. "Purple," Meng Lin whispered, her voice barely audible in the cavern. "What happened to us? How did we end up here?" The serpent raised its head, its mesmerizing purple eyes fixated on Meng Lin. It seemed to understand her words, its gaze filled with a mix of concern and determination. Purple began to coil itself around Meng Lin, providing a sense of security and protection. In a soft, soothing sigh, Meng Lin turned her attention elsewhere, having finally become fully aware, she noticed that she was unable to release her spiritual consciousness. Circulating her cultivation method she realized something new, her skin was beginning to itch, as she focused on her body she became surprised to see swirls of energy signatures going across her body, she hadnt noticed that before. She could feel that the itching was a healing process and it was somehow unique. In every area that heals, she would feel the energy strands be absorbed into her muscles and bones, nourishing and revitalizing them. It made her quite surprised, as she was merely circulating her qi according to the Black Tortoise Essence Art. Meng Lin smiled slightly as she realized what was happening, it was the 2nd Layer of the Black Tortoise Essence Art, and her body was absorbing the energy signatures corroding her body. The warmth that pulsed through her body intensified, comforting and invigorating her. With each passing moment, she felt her gold core, the essence of her spiritual power, grew stronger. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. However, Meng Lin noticed that something was amiss. She tried to send her energy outside her body, as she had done countless times before, but to her surprise, it was as if a barrier had been erected, preventing her from doing so. It was as if the absorbed energies were contained within her, fueling her inner strength but unable to be released. A mixture of curiosity and concern filled Meng Lin''s heart. She wondered what had caused this change within her. Was it a temporary effect of the primeval sea energies? Or was it a permanent alteration to her spiritual abilities? Questions swirled in her mind, but she remained determined to find answers. Despite the frustration of being unable to unleash her energy, Meng Lin recognized the potential in this situation. She resolved to continue the healing process and use it to her advantage. She focused all her attention on circulating her cultivation method, channeling the absorbed energies to enhance her healing capabilities. Suddenly a wave of dizziness began to pour within Meng Lins mind, and she couldnt help but curse as her vision turned black. **** A few thousand meters away from the dim cave, an old man was walking through the dense forest. The old man, Old Liu followed a trail that led him deeper into the forest, he walked through countless twists and turns to finally arrive at the entrance of a cave. As Old Liu stood at the entrance he couldnt help but sweat as he gulped the saliva down his throat. The air coming from the cave was heavy with an eerie aura, causing a shiver to run down his spine. He cautiously stepped inside, his senses on high alert. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, Old Liu saw the silhouette of a figure lying on the ground. It was a young woman, her body adorned with intricate patterns and glowing with a golden light. Next to her, he noticed the large serpent, its purple scales shimmering in the darkness. Liu approached the woman and the serpent, his footsteps silent against the cave floor. He could sense powerful energy emanating from both of them, as soon as he was within 10 meters of the two, the snake turned its head towards him, as if warning him to not approach. Sigh, are you not gonna trust me, even though I lead you here, right now the whole Yi provinces is in a mess thanks to you, Liu said with a grumpy voice. The serpent hissed in response, its purple eyes fixed on Old Liu. It seemed to be able to understand his words. Right now, only I know about you but because of what you did the Yun Clan is searching everywhere for me, they think I killed him The serpent''s eyes narrowed, and it let out a low, rumbling hiss. Yes yes, I will wait for her to wake up. Said Old Liu as he regarded the serpent with both respect and fear. He remembered the confusion and fear he felt when the snake came out of nowhere to swallow the young master of the Yun clan whole. Old Liu sat down on a nearby rock, his eyes never leaving the woman and the serpent. As he waited for the woman to wake up, memories of their encounter flashed through his mind. He recalled the moment when the woman''s aura had stopped the lightning chain in its tracks, the chaos and power that emanated from her. He couldn''t help but feel a mix of fascination and fear. But despite the fear, Old Liu couldn''t ignore the sense of responsibility that weighed on his shoulders. He had brought the woman here, seeking a way to heal her and for his own selfish reasons. He believed that this woman was something extraordinary, something that would change the fate of the entire Qiankun world. Drip Drip! And so time slowly passed, Old Liu sat in one corner, occasionally changing his position and the serpent kept a keen gaze, occasionally moving its body. 159. Talisman Masters Meng Lins eyes fluttered open to find herself in the dimly lit cave once again, purple lay beside her and the drip of water still echoed in the cave. Oh awake you finally an old voice chimed within her ears which made her turn her head to find an old man sitting further away from her. It was the old man that she had seen before, he seems to be speaking an ancient language that she knows of, however it seems more primitive than the one she understood. Who are you she asked, with the same language. She wasnt asking the actual question as it was more of an experiment to see if he understood her. The old man, slightly taken aback paused for a moment before responding to her question, with a more relaxed tone. Ah, it''s rare to find someone who can speak such ancient tongue," he said. "I am Xuan Liu, you can call me Old Liu for short "I led that serpent here as a token of my gratitude for saving my life unintentionally, he said as he gestured towards the large, majestic serpent coiled around Meng Lin. Hiss Purple hissed with his serpentine tongue, almost as if confirming what the old man was saying. Meng Lin nodded, her thoughts hidden. She couldn''t help but wonder about the world she was in now, she had noticed that she couldnt see the qi within the air as she does when she was cultivating. Instead there is a different aura in the air, and aura with the same potency as qi. "What world is this?" she asked, her eyes scanning the cave and its surroundings. Old Liu was confused by the question and he answered. "I don''t know much about this world, I only know of 13 provinces And what is your profession Old Lius eyes raised at Meng Lin, his eyes twinkling with curiosity I am a talisman master He continued, assuming that Meng Lin doesnt know about talisman masters, "There are four grades of talisman masters: yellow grade, earth grade, sky grade, and divine grade. The strongest force in our Yi province is the Thousand Earth Sect, led by a Sky grade talisman master." Meng Lin listened attentively, her mind absorbing the information. She couldn''t help but feel a sense of distance and curiosity about this world, it seemed to only be about talisman masters. "What grade are you?" she asked, her eyes curious. Old Liu smiled proudly. "I am a yellow grade high tier talisman master. It''s not that strong, but it''s enough to survive in this world." Meng Lin nodded, impressed by his demeanor, he was at the lowest rank but he still held his head high. She then remembered the reason for her current predicament and felt a pang of depression. Taking her mind off it she asked what happened after I became unconscious Old Liu suddenly became quiet as he turned towards Purple, he began the moment that the serpent appeared eveything became chaotic, the pursuers began attacking it and in response it killed all of them, except me, I assume because i was chained up and in the same predicament as you "What trouble will that bring, I noticed that there was a young man there that seemed to hold some position she admitted, her voice not filled with slightest of concern. "Did anything else happen after that. Old Liu''s eyes widened in surprise at her sharp insights and leaned in, lowering his voice. you are exactly correct, that young man was the young master of the Yun clan. They are a powerful force with dozens of sky grade talisman masters and they operate in almost all provinces The old man sighed as he expressed his grievance, they are searching everywhere for me, believing me to be the perpetrator. I am the only one that knows what really happened that day. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Oh! Meng Lin said, her mind elsewhere, she was wondering whether to kill the old man since he was the only one that knows of her existence in this world. But she quickly dismissed the thought and focused on Old Liu''s next words, hoping for more clues about the mysterious within this world. I grew up within the confines of the Threefold City and didnt have any family members Old Liu began to rant about his life while Meng Lin stayed silent and listened. While listening she couldnt help but notice the calculating glint in Old Liu''s eyes as he spoke, as though he was carefully choosing which details to disclose. Turning her attention towards her body she realized that while asleep, it seems that most of Energy strands were fully absorbed within her body, leaving only a couple more that lingered on her body. She continued to listen while at the same time circulating her qi to cultivate the last strands, she hoped that something would happen when she absorbs all of them. She also wanted to open her system panel and accept the system rewards but she thought to wait until she was alone before doing that. And so she just stayed motionless on the floor, absorbing as much knowledge about the world as she could. About 3 hours into it, Meng Lin learned about the powerful clans around the area and their recent activity in the provinces, she also learned or the identities of several key figures. As Meng Lin was getting engrossed, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and the only thing that she was able to think were what keeps causing this as she went unconscious once again. Hiss Old Liu seeing this became worried and wanted to get closer but hearing the hissing sound he abruptly stepped back, his concern taking the back seat in his mind. Pulling out a talisman from his sleeve, he layed it on the ground and gestured towards the serpent that was eyeing him like a threat. With that he didnt wait any longer and turned to leave the cave. **** Qi Providence In the highest mountain of the Qi Province, a grand palace stands tall, its towering spires piercing the cloud-laden sky. The palace nestled amidst lush greenery, seemed to not have been created by hand but rather spiritual energies as its aura alone dominated the whole mountain. At the highest point of the palace, on a platform with a panoramic view of the entire mountain, an old woman sat crossed legged. The old woman, despite her frail appearance, exudes an aura of extraordinary authority and wisdom. Her eyes, though aged, hold a unique charm and a glint of sharp intelligence. She sat on the platform that overlooked the mountain and her eyes, which had been closed in meditation, suddenly open. Thump Thump! Her heart pounded in her chest, and she found herself smiling, a genuine, heartfelt smile that had not graced her face in years appeared on this day. Finally, I was beginning to lose hope in my own lineage technique the old woman said, feeling a sense of relief and satisfaction wash over her. Now, where are you she said as she waved her left hand through the air to summon a golden hue that surrounded her. She focused her energy, and the golden hue shimmered before her, forming into a clear surface that projected a cave with a large serpent coiling next to a sleeping young woman. Oh, shes quite weak, no protection against common devination techniques, and this chaotic brute qi! The old woman carefully studied the projection, her eyes narrowing with concern. Her excitement suddenly plummeted and she began to go into deep thought. If I expose myself now, there''s a risk of attracting unwanted attention, especially from the alliance. Yet, if I don''t act then what would have been the point of waiting all these years Her eyes flickered with a sharp light as she weighed her options. "I''ll need to be discreet." she decided. "I can''t afford any mistakes at this stage." With a wave of her hand, the golden hue dissipated, taking with it the projection of the cave. She rose from her seat and walked to the edge of the platform. Based on the brilliance of her soul, she should be a low ranked Soul Wondering Cultivator, I cant use Divine Transmission, then Ill use the lesser technique of Divine Transmission the old woman said as the air around her shifted. Her aura, which seemed restrained surged and from within her body came a massive spiritual consciousness that seemingly encompassing hundreds of miles before stopping at a specific location. The spiritual consciousness settled over an enormous ancient tree, its leaves glowing faintly in the moonlight. She closed her eyes, focusing her energy on the tree. A faint light started to shimmer around her and the tree, establishing a connection between them. The tree, known as the Spiritual Communion Tree, was a rare species that could act as a conduit for spiritual consciousness, allowing her to manipulate and use a technique called Consciousness Endowment. She opened her eyes, the light in them reflecting the glow from the tree. "Now, let''s see what I can do," she muttered, her hands moving in intricate patterns. As she moved her hands, the space around her started to fluctuate, creating ripples in the air. The space seemed to be drawn in by her, coalescing around her before being released towards the tree. The leaves of the tree started to glow brighter and a wave of invisible energy burst from the tree, spreading out over the landscape. The wave of energy swept over the mountains, forests, and rivers, reaching as far as the cave where Meng Lin lay unconscious. In the cave, Meng Lin''s body shook slightly as the wave of energy washed over her. Unconscious as she was, her body instinctively absorbed the energy, the strands of Energy around her body stirring in response. Back in the palace, the old woman watched as the wave of energy spread out. "It''s done," she said, her voice filled with satisfaction. "Now, all i can do is wait." 160. The Blood Realm Meng Lin slowly blinked her eyes, taking in the sight of a vast field encircled by towering purple pillars that stretched up towards the sky. The sun bathed everything in a warm glow, and the air was tinged with the bitter scent of medicine that took her back to the hospital of her previous life. She glanced down at herself, noticing that she was draped in a long robe of deep blue silk. The robe was adorned with patterns of chaotic water ripples that seemed to be in a constant state of motion. "This is..." She started, only for her words to trail off as she noticed bubbles escaping from her mouth. Her eyes glazed over as a flood of memories began to assault her mind. Memories of a young girl in a pink robe. Yu Yun, Meng Lin echoed the name, her voice seeming distant. She finally recalled the dream she had experienced, the teachings that Yu Yun had imparted to her, and the reasons the girl had sought her out in the first place. So it was indeed you, Mother, Meng Lin mumbled, remembering the knowledge taught to her by Yu Yun. She was overcome with emotions as a deep-seated memory resurfaced, accompanied by the soft voice of her mother. Her mother''s stunning face, which she had previously been unable to recall, was now clear in her mind. She brushed her hand over the heart area of the silk robe, savoring the cold, smooth texture against her fingertips. The water ripple pattern on the robe seemed to react to her emotional turmoil, becoming more chaotic. She took a deep breath, allowing the bitter scent of medicine to fill her lungs. It served as a strange comfort, connecting her to her past life and reminding her of her journey. Suddenly, confusion descended upon her. Why am I here again? she wondered aloud as she carefully surveyed her surroundings. Have you finished receiving that mediocre inheritance? A woman''s voice broke the silence, causing Meng Lin to turn in surprise. Floating next to her was an elderly woman, white hair flowing freely and eyes holding a gaze that seemed to have witnessed the world''s evolution. Meng Lin blinked, "Who are you?" she inquired, her voice echoing around the vast field as water bubbles fluttered around her. "You can refer to me as Master," the elderly woman said with a gentle smile, her voice carrying a tone of respect despite its softness. "Let me introduce myself, I am Li Ya, the one known as the physique of the brute Vortex Meng Lin''s curiosity was piqued as she listened to Li Ya''s introduction. The words "brute Vortex and Li Ya were somewhat familiar but foggy in the memories she received from Yu Yun. "Physique of the brute Vortex?" Meng Lin repeated, her voice filled with curiosity and wonder. "What does that mean?" "And what do you mean by ''mediocre inheritance''?" Meng Lin asked, her voice tinged with a slight anger at the womans words. Thats irrelevant. Whats important is that you are going to help me destroy Xiao Luan the old woman said with a laugh as though she found the idea amusing. Meng Lin''s confusion deepened. The mention of this Xiao Luan, although familiar meant nothing to her. She felt a sense of unease, unsure of what was going on. "I''m sorry, but I don''t understand," Meng Lin replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I don''t have any knowledge or experience with this Xiao Luan, and why would I help you for no reason If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Li Ya''s smile faded, replaced by a stern expression. "It seems the ancestral symbol didnt reveal much, well thats to be expected Nevertheless. You said you have no knowledge of Xiao Luan, so let me explain to you Li Ya began, her voice filled with a mix of bittersweet emotions. Right now we are within the Qiankun world of the Blood Realm, there are 6 different worlds within this Realm and each one of them is under the jurisdiction of the Luan and the Li Family, the representatives of the Blood Realm The Luan and Li Family? Meng Lin asked, remembering the Luan Continent as well as the palace. Her thoughts went to a certain conversation within the Nether Cloud Domain and her eyes hardened at the thought of Luang Chen. What do you mean by the representative of the Blood Realm she asked, turning her focus towards information. Ah, I keep forgetting that you know nothing. Well outside our realm, there is a powerful organization called the Void Star Alliance. It was formed by 8 families from eight different Realms, and these 8 families call themselves the representatives of their respective Realms Li Ya explained. "The Luan and Li Family is the representative of the Blood Realm, and they hold significant power and influence within this Realm Meng Lin''s brows furrowed as she tried to process the information. "So, the Void Star Alliance is made up of these powerful families from different Realms, including the two families in the Blood Realm?" she clarified. Li Ya nodded. "That''s correct. The Void Star Alliance was formed to maintain order and balance among the Realms, but over time, they have become corrupted and oppressive. They exploit the resources of the weaker worlds for their own gain and impose their control over the Realms." I was once a rising star of the Li family in the Blood World, and after reaching the Ensoulment Realm, I was given an ultimatum Li Ya continued, her gaze distant with fury as she seemed to recall her past. "It was a choice between joining the Luan family as a concubine or facing the wrath of two families. I chose to resist, and as a result, my mother, father and entire branch were targeted and almost erased from the history of the Blood World." Her words were filled with deep bitterness and a strong sense of injustice and anger. Meng Lin could see the pain and resentment in her eyes, and she felt a pang of sympathy for the elderly woman. "But are you not part of the Li family Meng Lin asked, her confusion deepening. "How can your own family let that happen? Li Ya let out a sigh, the weight of her past seeming to press heavily on her. "You must understand, Meng Lin, that the Blood Realm is not as simple as you think. The Li Family might have my bloodline, but their loyalty lies with the Void Star Alliance, not with their own kin. They are willing to sacrifice their own for the sake of power and influence." "The Luan and Li families, as representatives of the Blood Realm, have absolute control over our worlds. However two kings cannot rule one region so the Void Star Alliance decided to mix the Li Family into the Luan Family, facing that ultimatum, the Li family could only comply or face destruction The Void Star Alliance decides the rules, they distribute resources, and they decide the fate of every living being in the Eight Realms. If they decide to wipe out a family, then that family will be wiped out, no questions asked." As Li Ya finished explaining, Meng Lin grew silent her heart filled with a mix of emotions. She felt a strange sense of dread creeping into her heart, something she had never experienced before. "You said I am going to help you destroy this Xiao Luan," Meng Lin finally said, her voice soft yet firm. "How exactly am I supposed to do that?" Li Ya gave her a long, hard look before finally breaking into a smile. "I knew you were the one when I first saw you. Although you have the High-Grade Brute physique, its not enough. if you cultivate the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method then you have the potential to change your physique into a Brute Vortex physique. "The Brute Vortex Cultivation Method," Meng Lin murmured, her eyes with curiosity and enthusiasm. "How long would it take for that to happen "Two to three hundred years, if your talent is good then it would only take a hundred, Li Ya said, her gaze heavy. Meng Lin who was slightly excited felt a sense of deflation at the mention of the time it would take, she was about to open her mouth to retort when a thought suddenly came to mind and she calmed down. Alright then, Meng Lin said, her voice determined. "I''ll do it. I''ll cultivate the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method, but in return, I want you to help me find my mother." Li Yas eyes flashed with countless lights as if calculating something before she nodded, her gaze softening. "Good. Then its settled," she said before her figure started to dissolve into a misty fog, her voice echoing in the vast field. As the fog dissipated, Meng Lin was left alone in the vast field. She took a deep breath, her gaze becoming resolute. "The Void Star Alliance and the Luan Family," she murmured before her body started to dissipate, leaving with it her determination. 161. Brute Vortex Cultivation Method Meng Lin opened her eyes to a strange feeling all over her body, from the soles of her feet to the scalp of her hair, an intangible force covered her skin before forcing out hundreds of tiny particles from her pores. After their release, Meng Lin felt a surge of power coursing through her veins. Thump Thump She could hear her heartbeat accelerate as if every cell in her body was awakening, resonating with newfound energy. After a few seconds, the feeling went away and she felt that she was finally able to move her body. Sitting up with slight difficulty she examined her body to notice a few things that she had missed. Firstly she noticed that her robe, the Low-grade item was damaged beyond repair, her skin was paler than before and she noticed that all the strands of energy were absorbed within her body. Most importantly her skin was clear of any marks. she released her spiritual energy outside her body and wasnt met with any resistance as it flowed out seamlessly. Hiss Purple, the serpent feeling her aura moved its head around her and flickered its tongue, a gesture that Meng Lin was all too familiar with. She smiled while opening her inventory, taking out a few dozen beast forage, she fed Purple while thinking about the events that happened a moment ago. That feeling, the cultivation method for the Brute Vortex physique Meng Lin replayed in her head the scene that just transpired and couldnt help blurting out. system [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Gold Core Stage(Middle)] [Experience points:17%] System coin: 3034 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion] [Water] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method] >[Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra][ Vital Essence Exchange] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] So I was right, Meng Lin said in a hoarse voice as she noticed the new addition to her cultivation methods. It was the only explanation as to how she was able to move once again, however, that only made her feel dreadful. To be able to make someone else learn something without making them experience the process is something she couldnt understand. Li Ya, that old woman was able to make her instantly know about a technique without her notice, Meng Lin couldnt help but wonder about the realm she had reached to be able to do that. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Ensoulment Realm Meng Lin repeated, thinking back to the conversation she had had with Li Ya, the old woman had mentioned having reached that realm before so she couldnt help but wonder about the realm she was in now. I should have asked her Meng Lin mused as she thought further into the conversation. This Qiankun world that she is on is a part of a realm called the blood realm, and there are 4 other planets in this realm, she naturally assumed that the world she came from, the blood world, as Li Ya called it was one of them. She sighed as her mind went to her mother, she was finally able to remember what happened between her and Yu Yun, the girl in pink. Meng Lin had already linked the girl to her mother before but she wasnt sure of it until now. Now that she understood the situation that her mother was in she couldnt help but feel depressed, because if what she thinks is right then her mother should have been taken away by one of those families within the Void Star Alliance. The girl in pink didnt reveal much but she had hinted about a powerful force beyond the realm of the Blood Realm, Meng Lin hoped it would be some lesser force that was not under the jurisdiction of the Void Star Alliance. Whoosh! A gush of wind was blown through the air as Meng Lin raised her palm, and a paper talisman was thrown in the air before floating above her hand. Is this something from that old man Liu she wondered as she injected some spiritual qi into it. The talisman glowed for a moment before dimming down, with no further response from it afterward. Meng Lin was slightly confused at the talisman not working but she didnt think much about it, it mattered little to her anyway. Rather she was marveling at her control over the spiritual qi within the air to do simple things. Woosh!! She watched as her energy surged forward, dissipating into the air with a faint glow. She could feel the power coursing through her veins, much more potent than before. It was as if she had been reborn, her body stronger and more resilient. With a smile Meng Lin turned her focus on her belongings within the storage ring on her fingers, swiping across one, she took out a white robe with a few black stripes running along the edges. This robe was the High-Grade item Shifting Essence Robe, she created it after upgrading her blacksmith panel within the week after her breakthrough, it was made with the branch of the Rainbow Tree as the main ingredient, with durable and self-repairing materials within the system store as the other ingredients. The reason she chose to make this was because of its ability to repair itself as long as its not completely destroyed, which added to its ability to change itself into 23 different kinds of robe. Meng Lin carefully took off the low-grade flying robe and put on the high-grade Shifting Essence Robe and felt the smooth fabric against her skin. As she sat there she looked through her storage rings before noticing that one of her items was missing, the fortune ring. It was the only unique-grade item and it had no description, after receiving it she had always kept it stored within her storage ring so it couldnt have been lost. Was it the reason I didnt die within the Primeval sea she wondered as she knew it was not just luck that she was able to survive that day. Sigh! Meng Lin sighed at the thought as she shook her head, trying not to think further into the matter. Now accept system rewards, Meng Lin said as a brilliant light came into view with 6 items emerging from within. Floating above her were a wooden scroll, a token, a silver talisman, two maps, and a black crystal. Meng Lin tentatively reached out to the black crystal, the Physique Awakening Metal. It was a small black piece of metal that looked like a crystal with intricate designs etched into its surface. Looking at its description she was both shocked and disappointed. [Physique Awakening Metal] A unique metal that has the extraordinary ability to transform individuals with ordinary physiques into individuals with a special and remarkable physique. It was an item that doesnt have any use for her, as it would only work on individuals with no physique. However, thinking about its extraordinary properties she smiled as she stored it anywhere. it might come in handy later on, she reached out to the wooden scroll, the Physique Ranking Scroll. It was made of a strange material that felt both firm and flexible. She unrolled it and saw hundreds of symbols of intricate sizes, "an array scroll," she mused, carefully putting a strand of qi within the wooden scroll. This is Meng Lin couldnt help but exclaim as she saw rows upon rows of writing that was far more detailed than anything she had ever seen. 100. Earth Qi physique. 99. Iron Body physique. 98. Thunder Qi physique. 97. Divine Wind physique. 96. Infinite Darkness Physique. 95. Fiery Qi physique. 94. Thunder physique. 93. Holy Qi physique. Meng Lin''s eyes widened as she read through the list. She wondered if these were the top 100 physiques ranked in the entire 8 Realms. She couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement as she read each physique one by one. Below each physique was a section that described them perfectly clearly, some descriptions were too long to read within a short period, and that only made her more interested. As Meng Lin became lost in the detailed description of a certain physique she was suddenly interrupted by a sound and her mind instantly went full alert. Rumble! The entire cave shook violently before crumbling into the ground, burying Meng Lin and Purple underneath the rubble that caved in. 162. “Core Manifestation” Within the cave rubble came out a burst of qi as Meng Lin emerged from the rubble unscathed. She instantly began spreading her spiritual consciousness but as she did. She felt a wave of oppressive force pushing her down, making it a bit difficult to move, it was an unfamiliar energy that matched the same intensity as qi. As she raised her head to look, she saw that a few meters away from her were five old men and dozens of other people who held in their hands a talisman. Behind them was the head of an old man on a pole and it was none other than old man Liu, whom Meng Lin recognized. Four of the old men wore gray robes and the only one with a red robe walked forward and spoke in an angry tone which Meng Lin couldnt understand So you for responsible.. my deaths He slapped a paper talisman on his body and released an aura that bore down on Meng Lin. This feeling Meng Lin uttered as she felt an even more oppressive aura that made her unable to move, gazing up at the old man she saw that he was releasing aura like a cultivator however he was doing it like a conductor from the paper talisman that he had on his body. Thats quite the way to utilize the talismans Meng Lin thought as she released her own qi that began to interfere and disrupt the force surrounding her. What the old man in red said in shock, not just him, the other old men began to take out talismans with a serious look as they began to worry. The red-robed old man spoke some more before he took out a multicolored talisman and threw it out towards Meng Lin. Crackle!! Rumble!!! As the multicolored talisman flew through the air, it crackled with an ominous energy. The air around it seemed to vibrate, and the ground beneath Meng Lin''s feet trembled. Meng Lin only had a split second to react as a lightning spear emerged before her eyes and struck out towards her head, threatening to kill her in one shot. Peng! The talisman collided with something hard causing a powerful explosion of energy that sent shockwaves rippling through the cave. Debris flew in all directions, and the force of the impact knocked some of the followers behind the old men who were unprepared. Within the dust and smoke, Meng Lin had a calculating look on her face. She raised her arm to see that there was a white mark on her forearm, from where she had blocked the attack. She didnt think it would be so powerful, and since she wasnt expecting it to be so fast she was only able to raise her arm in the nick of time. As the dust settled, Meng Lin locked eyes with the old man in red. His face contorted with surprise and disbelief. "Impossible," he muttered something that Meng Lin was finally able to understand. The other old men also realized the situation and began throwing out talismans towards Meng Lin. One of them threw out a multicolored talisman that emitted a fiery glow. Another old man chanted an incantation while throwing out a talisman as a gust of wind blew and threatened to knock Meng Lin off balance. The remaining old men unleashed a barrage of attacks, each talisman carrying a multicolor glow to them. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Meng Lin''s mind raced as she assessed the situation. She wanted to see where her powers lay and thats why she didnt attack yet, however from what she could see, they were not enough for her to test her limits. With a quick flick of her wrist, she summoned a protective shield of qi, forming a barrier around her. The talismans collided with the barrier, causing sparks to fly and energy to ripple through the air. Meng Lin could feel a little strain on her qi as she maintained the shield, but she felt that she could keep it maintained all day. Looking at the crowd that continued to release one talisman after another toward her she smiled as her thoughts went to their talisman attacks. It seems that the multicolored talismans are of a higher grade, most likely at the Earth grade as there is only one sky-grade talisman master in this whole province. She doesnt know of the difference between earth grade and sky grade however she felt that she could still take a sky grade talisman master. After her evaluation, Meng Lin decided that it was time for her to go on the offensive. She slowly started to gather her qi around her, causing the air around her to ripple and distort. The attacks finally stop and Meng Lin said in a low voice, "Its my turn." Suddenly, her body began to turn into a formless mist as she took on the second form of the Formless Cultivation Method, Form Eraser. Two of the old men, alarmed by this change, quickly threw more talismans towards her, hoping to land a hit. But, to their disbelief, their attacks merely passed through the mist, unable to harm her. With a swift motion, Meng Lin flew towards one of the old men and her misty hand materialized and the nails on her hand grew into claws. Slice! Across the body of the old man was a line that grew before ripping him in two. The other old men began to take out talismans to escape but it was too late, Meng Lin moved fast, arriving before the old man in red. His face contorted in horror as he took out a talisman to use in himself but Meng Lins claws already tore through him before he could act. The three remaining old men and the dozens of people began to flee, each taking out various talismans to use, one of the old men was already over 40 meters away, fleeing in a multicolored ray of light. Meng Lin stopped and reverted to her original form before reaching out with her left hand. You wont be getting away, she said with a cold gaze as she uttered Core Manifestation Booom!!! A large noise was heard, accompanied by a colossal water bubble materializing around Meng Lin, stretching outwards in a radius of 60 meters. Within the clear, aquatic sphere, everything instantly started to collapse and lose their form, a testament to the raw, chaotic energy contained within. The three fleeing old men, previously at the edge of escape, suddenly found themselves within this terrifying domain. Their bodies started to disintegrate, turning into bloody mist within the water bubble. The dozens of people who were trying to flee, too, met the same fate, with some of them not even being able to let out a scream before they perished in a mist of blood. The chaotic energy within the water bubble was so violent that it didnt just turn their bodies into bloody mist but also their clothes, talismans, and even their very souls were affected. The bubble lasted only for a few seconds, but within those seconds, the entire area was turned into a bloody mist, leaving nothing behind but Meng Lin standing in the middle of the rubble, unscathed. The intensity of the scene was horrifying, the once lively active environment was now eerily silent, the only sound that could be heard was Meng Lin''s calm breathing. Slowly, the water bubble started to shrink, getting absorbed back into Meng Lin. The blood mist also started to dissipate, revealing the true extent of the devastation. Nothing was left of the surroundings, and if Meng Lin had not limited it to the surroundings then even the ground beneath her would have been destroyed. Meng Lin stood alone in the rubble, her face showing no emotion. She was thinking about old man Liu, it was no wonder she couldnt get a response from the talisman that he left behind. At least she had avenged the old man, however she had killed dozens of people instantly, and she didnt even have a shed of feeling towards it, only that it was what they deserved for trying to kill her. Meng Lin sighed It seems like I have changed, she said while lost in thought. Boom!!! Hisss!! From underneath the rubble came a burst of light with an angry hiss as Purple finally pulled itself out of the wreckage. It looked around in anticipation of a fight but only saw Meng Lin standing there with her head low. Slithering forward it rubbed its head on her hand, awakening Meng Lin from her thought process. She patted his head before, pricking at his skin with her nail, with a grin she said You came out too late, the battle is already over. 163. Treasure Hunting Part 1 Weapon Enhancement Token A token made from the essence of a Sacred body, it has the ability to transform any top-grade weapon within the Spiritual Rank into a weapon of the Sacred Rank. Spatial Storm Talisman A small piece of talisman forged within the Primeval Sea, it has the ability to create spiritual storms that give you access to the Primeval Sea. Uses 0/5 Realm Travelers Map A map detailing the directions of different realms within the primeval sea. Qiankun Treasure Map A map that details the location and difficulty of treasures around the user within the Qiankun world. Meng Lin is leisurely seated cross-legged within a sea of clouds, with the support of her elemental qi, she had managed to fill the formless clouds with the properties of soft sand that helped create an ideal bed. within her gaze were the descriptions of the last four items that she had not looked through before. Quite interesting she thought especially the Weapon Enhancement Token and the Spatial Storm Talisman. Meng Lin thought to herself, her eyes filled with calm dullness. "Although it might take a while for me to create a top-grade spiritual weapon but when I do create it, this Weapon Enhancement Token could come in handy then She turned her attention to the Spatial Storm Talisman. "I was wondering about how to leave this world but with this, I dont have to worry With the Realm Travelers Map I wont get lost but I dont think I am strong enough to travel through the primeval sea, I dont have the Realm Crystal anymore, I should be careful and only use it when I truly feel confident, as it could be very dangerous." Finally, her gaze fell on the last map. "This map is quite interesting as well, lets look through it first Opening the map Meng Lin saw a vast beautiful landscape filled with smaller details, there was a green spot at the center of the landscape, and a few miles away from the green spot were different spots glowing blue, and at the edge of the map, a hundred miles away was a red spot that indicated danger. Meng Lin held a finger under her chin in thought, analyzing the map in detail. The blue spots, she deduced, were likely to represent low-risk areas where treasures were located. The green spot in the center naturally had to be her spot, as for the red spot on the edge of the map, Meng Lin could tell that it was an area of high risk, possibly a place where dangerous beasts resided or perhaps, the location of a powerful treasure guarded by formidable obstacles. Meng Lin decided to plan her route carefully. She would first explore the blue spots closest to her. The treasures there might not be as powerful but they were likely to be safer to retrieve, and she wanted to know of what grade they would be. There are 14 spots within the radius and she intends to explore them all. As for the red spot, she would tackle it last when she had prepared adequately. With her plan in place, Meng Lin rose from her cloud bed, her eyes gleaming with slight excitement. Her first destination was at a forest not far from the cloud she was staying at, it didnt take long for her to arrive above the forest in a beam of light, spreading her spiritual consciousness outward she scanned the area. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Within her spiritual consciousness were different beasts of various sizes that all released aura comparable to a Rank 2 Spirit beast, deeper within the woods Meng Lin scanned all areas before spotting a creature of a different grade, a five-meter tall sparrow comparable to a low-grade rank 3 beast, it was nesting next to an ancient tree releasing a unique aura. Circulating the Formless Cultivation Method Meng Lin flew next to the creature and landed gracefully on the forest floor, her feet barely making a sound. Her eyes scanned the sleeping bird before unfolding the Qiankun Treasure Map, and as she had thought, the blue spot was right next to her, the ancient tree releasing a unique aura. Looking carefully she saw that from one of its branches was a fruit that glowed with a soft, ethereal light. It was the treasure C a Spiritual Fruit, she wondered about its properties as it was of another world. As for the five-meter-tall bird, a thought couldnt help but surface in her mind as a smile formed on her lips. Summoning a charred sword Meng Lin said Waterfall slash and a ray of light rose. Within the blink of an eye, before the sparrow could perceive any danger. Its head detached from its body and Meng Lin stood, her scarred sword reflecting the soft luminescence from the Spiritual Fruit above. Unbothered by her action Meng Lin turned her attention towards the Spiritual Fruit, consuming this fruit could potentially enhance my spiritual powers she thought. She could feel some wave radiating from the fruit and her eyes sparkled with intrigue as she reached out to pluck it. However, the moment her fingers touched the fruit, she felt a sudden surge of energy that blocked her attempt. Meng Lin became stunned, having not encountered this before. But, instead of feeling fear, a smile spread across her face. "Interesting," she murmured, steadying herself. "This fruit is protected by a spiritual barrier." A barrier like this was not uncommon among high-grade spiritual treasures. These barriers were put in place to prevent weaker cultivators from obtaining the treasures. However, Meng Lin knew that this fruit was not a high-grade spiritual fruit, comparable to a foundation establishment treasure at most. She didnt know why such a low-grade fruit was protected by such a high-grade barrier but she was undeterred, raising the scarred sword in her hand she released a waterfall slash once more. Boom!! The barrier shattered, and the Spiritual Fruit fell into her hands. It was heavier than it looked, and the energy it radiated was like a warm, pulsating heartbeat. "This..." Meng Lin murmured, studying the Spiritual Fruit closely, "This will only slightly increase my cultivation, but if I consume hundreds of these then With the Spiritual Fruit in her possession, Meng Lin turned her attention back to the five-meter dead sparrow. She had initially planned to leave the creature alone after obtaining the Spiritual Fruit, but a thought that she had long forsaken started to surface and it intrigued her. This was another world, maybe the meat of such a beast could be edible or even delicious. With a thoughtful look on her face, Meng Lin stored her sword. "There is no harm in testing it," she said, her voice echoing in the silent forest. She began the process of dismantling the sparrow, careful not to waste any part of it. It was a bit tedious as it was a rank 3 beast, but after a few minutes, Meng Lin had completely dismantled the sparrow. She sat down after making a fireplace and began cooking the raw flesh of the bird, as the meat came in contact with the heat, it sizzled and oil began to seep through its surface. As the meat cooked over the open fire, an aroma began to waft through the forest, causing Meng Lin''s senses to perk, She watched as the meat turned from a raw pink color to a tantalizing golden brown. Once the meat was thoroughly cooked, Meng Lin used a long needle to skewer a piece and lifted it from the flames. It was still sizzling slightly, the heat radiating off it and warming the long needle in her palm. But she couldn''t feel much heat as it was far from damaging her skin, Meng Lin bit into the meat and her eyes flared in happiness. The taste was quite good, the meat was tender and juicy with a hint of sweetness within. Meng Lin closed her eyes, her thoughts on the taste, it was better than some of the delicacies she had eaten in her previous life, but still not the best. However, she had a satisfied smile on her face. She looked up at the sky, her thoughts wandering. The path she was on was filled with danger and challenges, but at least now there is something that can accompany her in her journey. Feeling energized, Meng Lin got back to her feet. She packed up the rest of the dismantled parts and stored them away. She then took one last glance at the ancient tree before flying off towards her next destination. 164.Treasure Hunting Part 2; Demonic Tome Meng Lin is leisurely walking through a vast maze-like cave system. Unlike the serene lush forest of her previous locations, this place was dimly lit, with only the occasional streaks of sunlight filtering down from holes in the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the cave walls. The Qiankun Treasure Map in her hand indicated a blue spot within the cave, hinting at the presence of another treasure. She walked with confidence, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Unlike the forest, the cave system was eerily silent, devoid of any life forms, even within her spiritual consciousness. However, despite the silence and the gloom, Meng Lin wasn''t intimidated. In fact, she found the quiet solitude of the caves to be quite calming. As she ventured deeper into the cave, she came across an underground stream. Its waters were clear and flowed slowly through the cave. She took a leap, crossing the stream effortlessly, landing softly on the other side. As she did, her spiritual consciousness detected a faint trace of a unique aura, the same kind she had felt back in the forest. Following the aura, she finally came across a large, open cavern. At the center of the cavern was a large cauldron, its body was iron, and a strong smell drifted from within. Walking further along, Meng Lin detected nothing within her spiritual consciousness except for a pill that gave of a similar feeling as the fruit she found in the forest, except this pill''s glow was much more intense. Meng Lin approached the cauldron slowly, her gaze fixed on the pill. She could sense a powerful energy emanating from it. It was far stronger than the Spiritual Fruit she had found earlier. Arriving at the open cauldron she reached out and tried to pick the pill. But unexpectedly, a powerful energy barrier blocked her attempt. "Another barrier," Meng Lin remarked, a faint frown on her face. She raised her scarred sword, readying a waterfall slash. Boom! With a booming sound, the barrier shattered, the cauldron broke in two and the pill fell into her hands. The energy it released was incredibly intense, making the Spiritual Fruit she had found in the forest seem almost insignificant in comparison. Meng Lin observed the fruit closely, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. This pill, just like the fruit was protected by a barrier, meaning that it was done intentionally. Before she had a vague idea of what kind of aura was being emanated by the spiritual fruit but now she was completely sure, it was an aura just like the spider demon that went through a metamorphosis. These are no ordinary treasures Meng Lin thought, her thoughts running along as she hoped that it was all just her overthinking. Nevertheless, she didnt stop and decided to head towards the next treasure, she had no intention of exploring the cave any further, as she still had many more blue spots to visit. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.*** A few hundred miles away, a fortress, massive and imposing, sprawled across a barren landscape. The monolithic structure emanated a palpable aura of power, its stone walls adorned with sky-grade talismans that flickered with a soft, magical glow. Within this fortress resided a group of enigmatic figures clad in ebony robes, their identities shrouded by the heavy fabric that concealed their features. They congregated within a grand hall, with ceilings high and dome-like, it was adorned with intricate designs that seemed to narrate an ancient tale. At the heart of this majestic hall, a massive tome lay open on an ornate pedestal of obsidian. The men moved in a synchronized pattern, their bodies bending and rising in a rhythmic dance as they chanted in a language that resonated with an otherworldly feeling. The tome, aged and worn, radiated a warm, golden light with each chant, the ancient words echoing through the grand hall like a haunting melody, causing the air to vibrate with a strange energy. Upon the ancient tome, like a queen upon her throne, sat a small, demonic figure. Her body was petite, yet emanated an aura of immense power. Her skin was a deep, midnight black, contrasting starkly against her clear white robes. She bore two pairs of jet-black wings, their edges razor-sharp, that folded neatly behind her. Her eyes, a fiery red, watched the men with an air of indifference, her gaze apathetic. Suddenly, within the indifferent gaze was a shift and her head turned towards the side, seemingly looking through the massive fortress that surrounded her. Her lips curled into a sneer as she opened her mouth to speak, "l feel it, thats the second one, The tainted bloods are being plucked, taken without my consent." Her words, though spoken softly, carried an unmistakable tone of anger and power, echoing ominously within the grand hall. A collective shiver ran through the robed men, their synchronized movements faltering momentarily at their leader''s displeasure. One among them, a tall figure with a staff adorned with a glimmering crystal, stepped forward. "We will take care of it, my lady," he said, his voice firm yet respectful. The demonic figure looked at him, her fiery red eyes boring into his. "See to it that you do," she replied coldly, her gaze returning to the distant point she was observing earlier. As some men left the room and some men resumed their chanting, the petite figure leaned back against her throne-like perch on the ancient tome, her sharp wings rustling softly against the worn pages. that spider wrench is already ahead in the race to summon the gateways. She had been the first to gain an advantage in this competition, I cant let that continue. Her lips curled into a snarl at the thought. "If I become the last one to summon a gateway because of this..." she mused, her voice trailing off. Her eyes hardened, a fierce arrogance burning in their fiery depths. "I would be behind both the spider wrench and the snake wrench, No, I won''t let that happen, if only I can leave this tome **** Meng Lin arrived atop a small hill, the Qiankun Treasure Map in her hand glowing brighter as she neared the location of the next treasure. The landscape around her was barren, a stark contrast to the lush forest and the eerie caves she had previously explored. She approached the location, this time, however, she didn''t sense the same unique aura that she''d felt from the previous treasures. It was different, something naturally created, not tainted by the aura of demons. At the heart of the hill, lodged in the ground, was a small, crystalline droplet. The droplet was a deep, rich red, as if it were a drop of blood, yet it was solid, like a precious gem. Its surface was smooth and cool to the touch, and it shimmered in the sunlight, casting a soft, red glow around it. Meng Lin kneeled, reaching out to touch the crystalline droplet. As her fingers made contact, a surge of energy rushed through her, powerful yet not overwhelming. It was a pure, natural energy, unlike the intense, demonic aura she had felt from the fruit and the pill. She carefully plucked the crystalline droplet from the ground, the energy within it pulsating gently in her hand. She could feel its power, a power just like vital essence, pure and untainted. "The third treasure," Meng Lin murmured, a smile of satisfaction gracing her lips. She tucked the crystalline droplet safely into her storage ring, alongside the pill and the fruit. With the third treasure secured, Meng Lin looked at the map, her gaze falling on the eleven remaining blue spots that still awaited her. She took one last look at the barren landscape, then turned around and began her journey toward the next treasure. 165. Treasure Hunting Part 3; Ancient Beasts Leaving the cave system behind, Meng Lin soared through the sky, her robes billowing against the wind. She glanced at the map in her hands and flew towards the distant mountains, all her surroundings were unfamiliar but she didn''t falter. The next blue spot was just a few miles away, located at the edge of a waterfall. The waterfall was colossal, falling from a cliff with a rumbling sound. The large pool below was eerily quiet, similar to the cave system that she had just left behind. Meng Lin descended onto a large rock that overlooked the waterfall, her eyes scanned the surroundings and she could sense something within her spiritual consciousness. She closed her eyes and expanded her spiritual consciousness, pushing it outwards in a wave. It was then that she felt it, a crowd of beastly auras hidden within the nearby rocks. There was not one, not two, but thirty-one of these auras, each of them carrying the strength comparable to a rank 2 beast. Meng Lin didn''t waste time, with a swift movement she released an attack from the Hundred Unity Techniques, "Cyclone Palm." Her palm pushed forward, and a cyclone of compressed spiritual energy exploded from it. The cyclone whirled and expanded, creating a barrier that distorted the air, trapping the hidden beasts within the vortex. Boom! In an instant, the cyclone burst outward, tearing apart the crowd of beasts hidden within the rock formation. The cyclone dissipated, leaving behind the torn remains of rock-like beasts that resemble a leopard. Meng Lin stood on the rock, her eyes cold and focused. She did not pity the beasts. Rather, she turned her attention back to the waterfall. She could already see the treasure within the waterfall, it was just like the previous treasure, a blue crystallized bead that was embedded within the bedrock of the large pool. Meng Lin dived into the water, her body surrounded by a shield of spiritual energy. As she swam deeper towards the glowing blue bead, the water around her became colder and the light dimmer. She could feel a powerful current trying to push her away, but she was unmoved. Her eyes were fixed on the crystallized bead, its blue glow illuminating the dark water around it. Meng Lin reached out, her hand brushing against the smooth surface of the bead. It was cold, just like the water around her, but it was also pulsating with a powerful energy. She could feel the energy surge outward as she carefully plucked the bead from its rocky resting place. The bead was heavier than it looked, but Meng Lin held it securely in her hand. With a quick movement, she stored the bead into her storage ring, alongside the other treasures. That was four out of fourteen treasures found. She still had ten more to go. Meng Lin looked at the Qiankun Treasure Map once again, her gaze falling on the next blue spot, she propelled herself upwards, breaking the surface of the water and taking in the fresh air. Once again, she soared into the sky, leaving the waterfall and the pool behind. Traveling for 10 minutes Meng Lin arrived at her next destination, a barren landscape, a stark contrast to the lush forests and waterfalls she had previously explored. The barren landscape stretched out in all directions, the horizon was a stark line of desolation and emptiness. It was as if something had contaminated this place, filling it with quietness. There was nothing that was living here, nothing except for a single colossal tree that towered over the barren landscape. The tree was massive, its bark was as hard as steel, and it had no branches and stretched out in one direction, reaching the sky like an enormous pillar. The tree was so tall that its top was hidden amongst the clouds, making it impossible to see the peak. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. However, it was not the tree that caught Meng Lins attention. It was the five individuals perched at the very top of the tree. They had wings folded neatly at their backs, sharp talons replaced typical hands and feet, and their faces, while mostly human, were adorned with beaks and intense, raptor-like eyes like a crocodile. They all released the aura of a rank 3 beast with two of them at the peak stage. Ancient beasts Meng Lin uttered, thinking back to her encounter with a half-rank 3 ancient beast that had a human form, the Lighting Tiger from the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda. Her eyes narrowed as she wondered what to do, she wasnt sure of the strength of these beasts but they should not be able to harm her if she entered the brute qi state. Kree!! A shrill woke her up from her thoughts as one of the hybrids, the smallest of the five, at the late stage unfolded its wings. Woop! It swooped down from the sky, faster than a falling meteor and its claws outstretched with its eyes filled with arrogance and contempt. It was hundreds of meters away but it was closing in fast. Meng Lin, however, did not panic, rather she looked toward the other four beasts, one of them was looking at her and the others were completely ignoring her presence, instead gazing at something within the tall tree, as if waiting for something. Meng Lin felt a little annoyance at the thought of lowly beasts ignoring her presence, but she knew she had to focus on the immediate task. Mirror reflection She unleashed all her spiritual energy, which exploded outwards in a tidal wave, forming a translucent shield within the 20-meter radius surrounding her. The human hybrid flying beast did not stop as even though they were dozens of meters high it did not fear the shield and continued its dive with a piercing screech. A few seconds and It arrived before the 20-meter mark, colliding with the spiritual energy in a single rush. Peng!! A shockwave formed as the beast found its momentum completely broken. It bounced back from the recoil and Meng Lin also wobbled back a step, wow she couldnt help but exclaim, not in her defense but in the strength of this creature. One had to know that she had gotten way stronger than when she first broke through to the middle stage of the Gold Core Realm, she was confident in winning against those of a higher stage just with her normal qi alone. Yet even after using a technique, she was still forced to use up 10% of her gold Qi reserve just to stabilize the impact and was not able to even reflect it, and this beast was probably the weakest of the five. Kree-Aaar!!! From the human hybrid, a chilling shrill was let out as its body glowed before bursting into a splendor of orange light. When the light subsided, in the place of the humanoid hybrid stood a majestic griffin, its body 5 meters tall, Its feathered wings flapped powerfully in the wind, its sharp talons and beak glowed with a powerful heatwave and it let out another shilling"Kree-Aaar," its powerful voice echoing through the barren landscape, with an almost tangible intensity to it - a blend of an eagle''s shriek and a lion''s roar, it drew the attention of one other griffin while the other three stayed the same. Heh Despite the impressive transformation, Meng Lin remained calm, letting out a chuckle at the display before her. The griffin, noticing Meng Lins laugh, began to spread its massive wings. Its talons, once ordinary and bird-like, ignited with an intense, searing flame. The fire enveloped its claw entirely, casting an ominous glow over the area. With a powerful beat of its wings, the griffin launched itself at Meng Lin, its flaming claw outstretched. Its speed seemed to have been doubled as the moment it beat its wings, it was already upon Meng Lin, who felt the air itself ripple with the heat of its attack. However, Meng Lin was long prepared as she raised her hand and pointed a finger at the griffin, invoking the last and most devastating technique from the Hundred Unity Techniques, "Heavens Punishment." From her fingertips, a threatening aura spread across the sky as a bolt of energy, crackling with immense power, emerged from her fingertip, targeting the transformed griffin. The dark barren landscape around them illuminated with an even bigger blinding light as the bolt of energy spurt out and made contact with the flaming claw. Rumbling!!! The two forces clashed in mid-air, creating an explosion of energy that ripped through the immediate surroundings. Kree! A painful shrill came out of the griffin''s beak as its claws ripped apart, Meng Lin''s bolt of energy tore through the griffin''s flaming claw before heading straight towards its head. Reacting quickly, the griffin disappeared and appeared a few hundred meters away with its talon a mangle of blood and flesh. Meng Lins eyes narrowed as she didnt even notice how the griffin disappeared and reappeared, it was instantaneous, which leds her to assume that it was a teleportation ability. The griffin''s once majestic form was now marred by the bloody ruin of its talon, but its eyes still glowed with an intense, fiery determination. It let out a low growl, its wings flaring open as it prepared to launch another attack. In contrast, Meng Lin was the picture of serenity, her gaze steady and cold. She watched as the griffin began to glow once again, this time the fiery light enveloping its entire body. Spurt!! All of a sudden, from the glowing body of the griffin, blood splashed out as its once mighty chest was hollowed with a gaping hole. Meng Lin was unsurprised at the sight as she spoke in a cold voice My attack hadnt finished yet 166. Treasure Hunting Part 4; Exhaust Attack Heavens Punishment is a high-grade technique that channels a bolt of raw energy by combining all five elements of nature. It allows the user to unleash a devastating beam of light at a target. But If it were only that then the technique would only be considered mid-grade. However, after unleashing Heavens Punishment, it locks onto the target, making it impossible to dodge or escape. Thus where its name came from. Kerr!! The griffin let out a final, agonized screech before falling from the sky, Its wings flapped weakly, trying to keep it airborne, but it was a futile effort. The griffin fell from the sky like a stone, its massive body hitting the barren ground with a loud thud that echoed through the empty landscape. When the dust finally settled, the griffin lay motionless on the ground, its life force extinguished. Meng Lin watched the spectacle unfold, her expression unchanging. She then turned her attention back to the other griffin hybrids. Kree-Aaar The single one which had been observing their fight, let out a guttural shrill, its body glowing orange and transforming into another 5-meter-tall griffin. It unfolded its wings and released its aura of the late stage and with a powerful beat of its wings, it launched itself into the air, its beady eyes fixed on Meng Lin. A deafening roar erupted from its beak as it charged towards Meng Lin, its claws glowing with a deadly light, imitating the actions of the last griffin. The other three griffins had stopped whatever they were doing and were now observing her with wary eyes. Meng Lin watched as the 5-meter-tall griffin approached with every beat of its wings and the moment the griffin reached a 30-meter mark, Meng Lin raised her left hand with her finger once again raised. Again, a threatening aura began to spread across the sky as a bolt of crackling energy emerged from her fingertip. As Meng Lin was about to unleash the attack she suddenly felt a seething heatwave from her back as a massive flaming claw more ferocious than the last one appeared behind her. The intense heat from the flaming claw was already scorching her back and she had only a split second to respond, but that split second was all she needed. With a swift turn, her robes swirled with her movement as she clenched her right fist tightly, "Harmony Resonance Fist!" The technique, fuelled by 30 percent of her Qi, burst forth, creating a perfect synchronization with her fist as it met the flaming claw midway. Peng!! A sparkling shockwave rippled through the air as the 10-meter-tall griffin from behind, caught off guard by the sudden counter, was pushed back slightly, its flaming claw dimming slightly. Kree-Aaar! Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It let out an enraged screech, its eyes ablaze with fury with its aura intensifying. However, as it was preparing to launch another attack, Meng Lin had already shifted her focus. Swiftly, she shifted her body, facing the griffin that was darting towards her from the front. With a quick gesture, she extended her left hand with her finger pointed towards it, the bolt of energy she had been charging still sizzling at her fingertip. "Heavens Punishment!" She declared, and the bolt of energy surged forth, transforming into a radiant beam of light that cut through the desolate landscape, heading straight for the oncoming griffin. Caught by surprise, with only two meters between them the griffin couldn''t even evade in time. Spurt!! The bolt of energy slammed into its head, sending it sprawling backward as it plummeted from the sky, crashing into the barren ground with a deafening thud. Not wasting any time, Meng Lin quickly turned her attention back to the peak stage griffin that had attacked her from behind. Her sharp eyes scanned the vicinity swiftly, spotting it a few meters away, and next to it stood another 5-meter-tall griffin. They both opened their beaks, and a threatening ball of fire quickly emerged before their beaks. Feeling a looming sense of danger Meng Lin became even more cautious as she swiftly entered her brute qi state, ready for their attack. Peng!!! Suddenly from behind, Meng Lin felt a massive flaming claw struck her, spiraling get forward as the second peak stage griffin finally appeared on the battlefield. The intense strike from the claw knocked Meng Lin out of her brute qi state, and she was sent flying toward the two griffins with their fireballs ready. Meng Lin with great difficulty quickly flipped her body around to face the incoming attacks, and suddenly the sky quaked with lightning as an explosive aura erupted from Meng Lins body. As the flaming balls hurtled towards her, she raised her hands, her eyes gleaming with determination. Thunderous energy crackled around her, its light illuminating the battlefield. With a swift downward motion of her arms the sky above her split open, a torrent of electrifying energy pouring down like a storm. The thunderous energy collided with the flaming balls, causing an explosive reaction that illuminated the battlefield. A shockwave of energy rippled through the air, the ground beneath them shaking from the sheer force of the impact. Kree!! The two griffins, caught in the middle of this clash of energies, let out agonized screeches as electricity ran through their body, stunning them for a moment. Meng Lin quickly turned her attention back towards the other peak stage griffin. she felt her energy running dry at the usage of the Wrath of Thunder. I have to take out this one before i drain she thought as her eyes glowed with a purple hue. She raised her arm to ready another technique, intending on intensifying the Wrath of Thunder. Kree-Aaar! The griffin who had been watching her wasnt idle as its whole body became a flaming silhouette, its wings flapped an intense heatwave with every beat and it opened its mouth to charge up a massive fireball that crackled with an infernal energy, ready to unleash devastation upon Meng Lin. Humph! Meng Lin snorted as her raised hand started cracking with even more lighting as an immense power gathered within her palm Thunderbolt Flash she called out as a ball of thunder materialized before her. In a swift motion, she released the ball of thunder intensified by the wrath of thunder. It shot forward, transforming into a concentrated beam of devastating energy that met with the massive fireball of the griffin. Boom! With a deafening boom, the beam instantly burst apart the fireball and did not stop as it landed on the head of the griffin, destroying half his head. Kree! The griffin, even with its head brutally damaged was still alive, it wobbled around in the air for a few seconds before its massive body fell and hit the barren ground, causing a cloud of dust to rise. The energy around Meng Lin dissipated as she slowly lowered her hands, the destructive Wrath of Thunder technique coming to an end. "Hhhhh..." Her chest heaved with exertion, and each breath she took labored. The toll of using such a high-grade technique with such a low amount of qi was apparent in her, but she refused to show any signs of weakness. Fuuuu she released a breath in a long, slow exhale as she focused on her surroundings. Her hair, untied in the heat of battle, was a wild halo around her white robe, but she paid it no mind. Her attention was on the battlefield, her gaze sweeping over the last two griffins left. 167. Treasure Hunting Part 5; Manhunt "Haa..." Meng Lin''s cold gaze fell upon the last two griffins, causing their muscular wings to flutter about, their sharp beaks opened and closed in a clear display of fear and the hard scales on their bodies glistened under the harsh sunlight, creating an eerie glow that only added to the tense atmosphere. She flew a step forward, her robes swaying with her movement. The two griffins flinched, their eyes widening as they cowered back before flying off towards the massive tree behind them. Meng Lin saw this and sighed a little, she had very little spiritual energy and she didn''t want to enter the brute qi stage just to chase after them. Swiping her hand over her storage ring she took out a bottle of pills before opening her mouth to pop a few within, feeling a little return in her spiritual energy she continued eating pills before finishing the bottle with her spiritual energy back 30%. She looked towards the griffins who had already reached the massive tree and was just about to follow them when a peculiar sensation crept into her spiritual consciousness. It felt as if a cold wind had blown through her soul, sending shivers down her spine. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned her surroundings, her senses on high alert. Then, she felt it - the surge of multiple powerful auras hurtling toward her from a few hundred meters away. A group of men, thirteen to be exact, clad in black robes were flying towards her. Their robes billowed in the wind, and their faces were hidden under the shadows of their hoods. But their eyes, glowing with a sinister light, were visible. Each of them exuded an overwhelming aura that was ominous. The sight of them stirred a sense of caution within her. She had a bad feeling about this, and she didn''t want to stay longer to find out. As they flew towards her Meng Lin also took flight, flying in the opposite direction at a fast pace, however from the group of men came a few talismans that flew directly into the ground a few hundred feet below. Boom Bursting into the ground, the talismans turned into golden lights and Meng Lin suddenly felt stuck in place. Cluck!!! Golden chains emerged all around her body as she suddenly felt her weight increase before she fell towards the ground. Thud!! The chains drilled into the ground and restricted her even more. Meng Lin gritted her teeth, trying to circulate her energy, but to her surprise, she found that she couldn''t. Panic started to well up within her as she realized the gravity of her situation. The group of hooded men flew fast and landed a few meters around her, their faces still concealed, their presence ominously silent. They formed a perfect circle around her, the golden chains glinting in the sunlight, reflecting off their black robes. The man who appeared to be the leader stepped forward, pulling back his hood to reveal a face that was as cold and emotionless as a statue. His eyes were as black as the night, devoid of any emotion. In his hand, he held a black, rusted dagger that was giving off a demonic aura. Its jagged edges were covered in what looked like ancient runes, and it seemed to pulse with demonic power. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of the dagger. She could feel an intense pressure radiating from it, even from this distance. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. "Who are you?" Meng Lin asked, her voice steady despite the fear creeping into her heart. The man didn''t respond, only stepping closer, the rusted dagger gleaming ominously in his hand. "What do you want?" she tried again, but still, there was no response. "Stop, don''t approach!" she commanded, but her words seemed to not affect the man. He continued to advance, the dagger in his hand seeming to grow more menacing with each step he took. Meng Lin''s body started to shake as even more panic emerged from her eyes as the man raised the knife, ready to swing it down. Meng Lin''s eyes which were full of panic flickered a cold glint as a massive force erupted from the ground, sending the man flying back. The rusted dagger slipped from his grasp, spinning through the air before disappearing into the dust-filled surroundings. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The other hooded men were taken aback, their hands quickly reaching into their robes to pull out golden talismans. But as they were doing so, a violent blur struck, emerging from the dust cloud and targeting three of them. Peng! Peng!! Peng!!! The three men''s bodies whirled through the air like leaves in a storm, landing heavily on the ground as translucent barriers flickered around their bodies before fading out. BOOM!! From the cloud of dust and debris, a chaotic aura erupted outward and the nine hooded figures remaining all took a step back at the aura they felt. The air was bellowing yet the cloud of dust didn''t fade away and from the cloud suddenly emerged 9 different spikes that hurtled towards the men with lightning speed. The sharp points of the spikes gleamed ominously under the harsh sunlight. Each spike is identical, carrying the same pattern, almost looking like a claw. The hooded men''s faces, normally concealed by their robes, were now visible due to the shock that was reflected in their eyes. In the blink of an eye, a spike appeared before each one of their heads with chaotic intensity. Peng!!! Then, as if on cue, a barrier automatically appeared over each of their body as if a safety measure. The barriers shimmered in the air, creating a halo of different auras that formed around them. But the spikes arrived fast. They struck the barriers with an almost deafening force. The air around them seemed to tremble, and the ground beneath their feet shook violently. It was a sight that could have been taken straight out of a nightmare. The spikes, only a few inches long and endowed with brute qi had made contact with the barriers, and blood was drawn. Boom!!!! Puchu! Puchu!! Three of the hooded men were not protected enough. Their barriers shattered like glass, and the spikes tore through their heads with a sickening sound. Their bodies fell to the ground, lifeless. The spikes, having lost their targets, dissipated, leaving only the lingering sense of dread in the air. The remaining six men were struck with their barriers cracking all over, they were thrown back with various minor injuries on their bodies, they looked at the cloud of dust which began to slowly fade to reveal a monstrous figure. The monstrous figure that emerged from the cloud was none other than Meng Lin. She looked nothing like the delicate girl that had been captured by the golden chains. Her body had transformed into a creature that was half-human, half-beast. Her face was still the same, but her body was covered in black scales, her tail, now more vivid and deadly than before, swayed behind her, the snake head at the end hissing menacingly. The scales gleamed under the sunlight, reflecting a cold and deadly light. Her eyes were now a radiant purple with slits akin to a snake''s, and they shone with a dangerous light. The leader of the hooded men, who had been thrown back by Meng Lin''s sudden surge of power, slowly got up. His previously cold and indifferent face was now filled with uncertainty. He looked at the rusted dagger lying on the ground not far away from him and then at Meng Lin. He was in shock at the transformation that had just taken place and even more shocked at the terrifying chaotic aura that she exuded, it was an aura that he saw once before. "You". The man was only able to utter these words as Meng Lin''s eyes locked onto him, prompting him to stop speaking. Her gaze was cold and detached. She took a step forward, with the ground beneath her feet sinking at her step. She turned towards the remaining men, her gaze piercing through their hoods and into their souls. "Who sent you?" she asked, her voice echoing through the area, cold and curious. The men remained silent, but their bodies were shaking visibly. Meng Lin let out a cold laugh, her voice filling the air with tension. "Very well," she said, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "Then you will die." The chaotic aura surrounding Meng Lin intensified as she finished speaking and with a swift movement, she raised her left hand which had four of its nails missing. The last nail, resembling a spiky claw was raised as a threatening aura appeared within the air. Rumble! An intense bolt of chaotic energy emerged from her fingertip as Meng Lin called out twice "Heaven''s Punishment"! Purchi! Purchi!! And with each call of ''Heaven''s Punishment'', a bright bolt of chaotic energy shot forth from Meng Lin''s raised claw, striking two of the remaining men with unerring precision. The chaotic energy bolts, each one more powerful than before tore through their barriers like they were made of paper, and two men were struck down where they stood. And just like that, in less than a blink of an eye, two more men fell to the ground, their bodies limp and lifeless. Their faces were stuck in an expression of shock and terror, a silent testament to their gruesome end. Four of the remaining men, now down to five, scattered in fear, taking out golden talismans that glowed mystical before teleporting them a few dozen meters away. But Meng Lin was not about to let them escape. She pointed her claw towards each one of them that reappeared and with each point she said the words "Heaven''s Punishment" Four bolts of chaotic energy flashed through the air and four different bodies fell to the ground, hundreds of meters apart. Finally, the only one left standing was the leader, the man who had initially held the rusted dagger. He stood there, his body trembling, his face a mask of fear and shock. Meng Lin turned her gaze towards him, her eyes shining with an eerie light. She took a step forward, her tail swaying ominously behind her. The man took a step back, his eyes darting around in a desperate search for an escape. "You... beast one of chaos!" he finally blurted out, his words almost inconsequential between their language barrier. Meng Lin didn''t respond. Instead, she took another step forward, her gaze never leaving his. The man''s fear intensified, his body shaking uncontrollably. "Please... I... I... Coming here..." he spoke with Meng Lin barely able to understand his sentence. But Meng Lin didn''t stop. She continued to advance, her tail raising, the snake head hissing menacingly. The man''s pleas or threats were cut short as Meng Lin''s tail struck. The mans body went rigid before collapsing onto the ground, headless. 168. Treasure Hunting Part 6; Realization Meng Lin stood in the center of the carnage, her body still transformed into the half-human, half-beast creature. She looked around, her eyes scanning the bodies of the men she had just killed. Her face was emotionless, her gaze cold. She slowly retracted her tail, the snake head hissing softly before disappearing. The black scales covering her body started to retract as well, revealing her human skin underneath. In less than a minute, Meng Lin had returned to her human form. She looked at her hands, now back to their delicate and fair state. Her purple eyes returned to a softer shade, reflecting a hint of sadness. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath as if to calm herself. Opening her eyes, she looked at the leader''s lifeless body. She walked over to him, her steps slow and measured. She bent down, picking up the rusted dagger the man had dropped. The dagger was still giving off a demonic aura, but it seemed weaker now. She examined the dagger, her eyes narrowing at the ancient runes etched on it. She couldn''t understand them, but she could feel the powerful energy contained within. Wrapping the dagger in a piece of cloth, she carefully put it into her storage ring. She then looked around, her gaze falling upon the lifeless bodies of the men. She didn''t feel any remorse for killing them. They had attacked her, and she had only defended herself. But she couldn''t help but wonder who they were and why they had targeted her. Their robes suggested that they were from a powerful hidden organization and their talismans suggested sky grade talisman masters, but there are no sects around that have such a large number of them. She sighed before closely searching the bodies, a few minutes later she found roughly 30 different golden talisman that shimmer with a mystical glow. She decided to leave the bodies as they were. There was no point in burying them, and if her guess was correct then there should be more of them out there. And so with one last look at the battlefield Meng Lin turned to fly towards the large tree that reached for the sky. As she flew, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of unease. She had defeated the men, but at what cost? Her transformation had drained her of almost all brute qi, and she was now more vulnerable than ever. She decided to tread carefully as she doesn''t know when an attack such as this one would occur. Flying a couple of minutes Meng Lin reached the massive tree and felt a gaze upon her, one of the griffins who had fled from her. Kree-Aaar! The blood-curdling screech echoed in her ears, Meng Lin turned her head sharply, her gaze meeting the fiery eyes of the griffin preached inside a wood cavern on the massive tree. It was one of the two that had fled during the battle, its body was still glowing orange, the aura of the late stage griffin was still visible a bit dim. Its wings were stretched out wide, its claws dug deep into the bark of the tree as it roared at her, a clear challenge in its eyes which were filled with unwillingness. Meng Lin watched the griffin, her eyes narrowing slightly. She was exhausted, her energy was running low, but she still wasn''t worried, spreading her spiritual consciousness towards the whole tree she was surprised to feel a threatening aura behind the griffin. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Within her spiritual consciousness was not the peak stage beast, however in its place was a cocoon that was giving off powerful aura, and the more time that passes by the more threatening the aura felt. "It knows it can''t defeat me but it still wants to fight me, so it''s buying time... I''d better finish this fast" Meng Lin concluded as she raised her left hand along with the only finger with a nail. With a deep breath, she gathered her remaining energy, her hand faintly gaining features of a claw as her nail grew a few inches longer. Then as if on command the spiky nail launched at a fast rate with Meng Lin uttering the words "Heaven''s Punishment". The griffins body blinked and disappeared from its position, however it didn''t matter to Meng Lin as a second later, blood spurted and the griffin fell to the floor of the wooden caven. Puchi!! A large hole opened up on the cocoon as the spiky nail tore through it and emerged from the other side, disintegrating into dust before it hit the walls of the wooden cavern. The cocoon bust apart with the lifeless body of the peak stage griffin falling from to the wooden floor. Meng Lin knelt down to examine the beast. Its body was still warm and blood was seeping out from the hole in its chest. She reached out with her hand, touching the creature''s soft feathers. She could still feel a faint pulse of demonic aura emanating from the griffin, but it was quickly fading. It was obvious that the creature was planning something, most likely an attempt to breakthrough to the next stage, but it had died before it had the chance. But what caused the attempt, Meng Lin wondered when suddenly, Meng Lin''s hand brushed against something hard. She looked down and saw a small orb nestled among the griffin''s feathers. It was about the size of a fist and was giving off a faint demonic aura. She picked it up and examined it carefully. It was a demonic core, a condensed form of a demon beast''s energy, just like a beast core. Only a few beast are able to naturally develop it within their bodies. But something was off. The demonic core was giving off a faint trace of the same aura that she had sensed from the dagger she had taken from the men she killed, not just that. Both the fruits and pill from the couldron were both the same. It made her realize that perhaps the reason they were coming after her was because of the treasures she had been seeking. Taking out the Qiankun Treasure Map Meng Lin was proven correctly as she noticed that the map indicated that the treasure was within her hand. "Which means the next locations for the treasures are most likely going to have these guys waiting for me there" Meng Lin''s mind raced as she contemplated her next move. She knows that she will likely have to deal with stronger foes if she continues to search for these blue spot treasures. They do have use for her but she doesn''t value them enough to risk her life for them, if they are coming after me based on the treasures near me then I should go for the red spot on the map, the furthest away and the only one which might significantly benefit me. Hmm Feeling the weight of exhaustion settle upon her, Meng Lin knew that she needed to find a safe place to replenish her energy before continuing her journey. She couldn''t afford to face any more dangers in her weakened state. Leaving the griffin''s lifeless body behind, Meng Lin took off into the sky with the wind rushing through her hair as she flew out of the barren landscape. Flying into a mountain range she searched for a secluded spot, away from prying eyes. After some time, she stumbled upon a hidden cave nestled between two towering cliffs. The entrance was partially covered by vines and moss, making it almost invisible to the naked eye. With caution, Meng Lin made her way into the cave. Inside, she found a spacious chamber with a high ceiling and walls that seemed to glow with a gentle, natural light. The air was cool and refreshing, rejuvenating her weary body. She sat down on a soft patch of moss, her back against the cave wall. Closing her eyes, she focused her mind on replenishing her qi as she ate more pills. She allowed her breathing to steady and her body to relax, circulating her cultivation method to restore her energy. As time passed, Meng Lin felt the familiar flow of qi returning to her Gold Core. Her exhaustion began to fade, replaced by a renewed sense of strength and clarity. While she replenished her energy, Meng Lin took the opportunity to reflect on her recent encounters. The mysterious men who had attacked her and the connection between the treasures and the demonic aura intrigued her. It was as if a puzzle waiting to be solved, and she found slight joy in the mystery of the secret. 169. Influx of energy Hmm With her eyes opening, the jet-black demonic girl shifted in her seated position on the ancient tome as anger surfaced on her face. I really can''t count on any of you. Her voice dripped with contempt as she addressed the robed figures who stood before her. They flinched under the weight of her gaze, their eyes avoiding direct contact with her fiery red eyes. "I entrusted you with a simple task, yet you failed me," she continued, her tone laced with disappointment. "Thirteen blood seals, they extinguished just now, if you only send that little then how am I supposed to trust you to carry out my ultimate plan?" The robed figures exchanged nervous glances, their hushed whispers filling the grand hall. the only one who dared to speak was again the tall man with the glimmering staff. "My Lady, sending more than 15 would cause the Ancient Tome to become unstable, thus interfering with your arrival," he pleaded, his voice trembling. "It was my mistake, I believed 13 to be enough but I was wrong, I shall personally go there. The demonic girl''s eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. No, I can''t allow my only heaven-grade talisman master to come to harm, I need him here just in case the Ancient tome is attacked. You know your purpose she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. "I will personally take action, whoever it is will not escape my wrath." The blacked-robed figures bowed their heads, their bodies trembling with fear. The demonic girl composed herself, her anger simmering beneath a mask of icy calmness. She knew she had to take matters into her own hands if she wanted the outcome she desired. With a flick of her wrist, she turned her attention to the tome underneath her, I can''t do anything big so I''ll have to strike right when the next tainted blood is plucked, until then I have to create a strong phantom The demonic girl gritted her teeth as a dark miasma began to emerge from her body. **** Haa Meng Lin exhaled one last time as she finished her final circulation of the Black Tortoise Essence Art, her qi had returned to how it was before and she even felt that it had increased even more. System [Meng Lin] [special physique: Brute Qi physique] [Gold Core Stage (Middle)] [Experience points: 32%] System coin: 3034 Taoist Gacha wheel: available 6x Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin''s heart swelled with excitement as she saw a 15% increase in her experience, it seems that intense battles really do exponentially increase her experience. I''ve gotten strong but it''s still not enough Meng Lin muttered to herself, her eyes narrowing with determination as she set her sights on getting stronger now more than ever. Meng Lins eyes flickered as she took out a fruit, it was the Spiritual Fruit, it contains a trace of demonic qi within it but it should be alright Meng Lin thought as she opened her mouth to take a bite, utilizing the second cycle of the Black Tortoise Essence Art to the utmost use. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Meng Lin focused as all the auras of the fruit, both demonic and natural converged within her stomach as she refined them before turning them into pure energy that coursed through her spiritual gains. A few minutes later she opened her eyes, feeling the last bit of energy turning into pure qi. Opening her system panel once more she saw that her percentage increased by 4%, going from 32 to 36. It was not a big jump but Meng Lin found the next items more important to her growth, swiping across her storage ring she retrieved a small black pill. The pills surging aura makes the fruit feel almost insignificant, Meng Lin knows that this one will be a challenge, but it only makes her excited at the results afterward. Preparing herself, Meng Lin closed her eyes and her mind was focused. She placed the pill on her tongue, feeling its icy coolness against her skin. She swallowed it down, and it dissolved Instantly. Boom! Meng Lin felt a surge of energy explodes within her. It was like a volcano erupting, the energy rushing through her stomach like molten lava. She could feel every inch of her body vibrating with power, the energy so intense that it was almost painful. But she was prepared. She activated the Black Tortoise Essence Art, and the energy within her started to circulate in a specific pattern. The violent energy was gradually tamed, becoming a powerful wave that flowed through her body, strengthening her from the inside. It was a grueling process, the battle between her and the pill''s energy raging on for what seemed like an eternity. When she finally opened her eyes, Meng Lin felt a sense of exhaustion wash over her. But along with it came a sense of exhilaration. She could feel the power coursing through her veins, her body feeling lighter and stronger than ever. "System" [Meng Lin] [Gold Core Stage (Middle)] [Experience points: 56%] System coin: 3034 Taoist Gacha wheel: available 6x Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin''s eyes sparkled as she saw the 20% increase in her experience. It was way more than the intense fights. It was a risk worth taking. Meng Lin couldn''t help but smile at her success but she wasn''t done yet. Taking out a crystallized bead Meng Lin opened her mouth and swallowed it in one swift motion. The bead didn''t dissolve like the pill, rather it released an ethereal energy that filled her senses. It was pure and cleansing like a clear water had covered her entire body. It flowed through her body, washing away the remnants of the pill''s violent energy, soothing her aching muscles, and rejuvenating her tired mind. Meng Lin felt a blissful serenity envelop her, a feeling of peace that she hadn''t felt in a long time. The bead''s energy was gentle, unlike the pill''s fierce power, but it was not as potent. Minutes passed in a blink and when Meng Lin finally opened her eyes, they were shining with a renewed vigor. She felt calmer, colder, and more connected to her water elemental qi than ever before. She quickly accessed her system panel to check her progress and saw an increase of 14%, more than she was expecting. And just like that she reached 70% in her realm, but that wasn''t the end. Finally taking out the demonic core Meng Lin took a deep breath before activating a partial transformation as a snake tail emerged from her back, it opened it''s mouth before swallowing the fist-sized demonic orb. Boom!! Her body started shaking violently as the demonic core''s energy rushed into her stomach. Unlike the pill, this energy was more wild and untamed, like a raging river trying to break its banks. It was raw power, the likes of which Meng Lin had never experienced before. She gritted her teeth, her body soaked in sweat as she struggled to control the influx of energy. She activated the Black Tortoise Essence Art once again, trying to circulate the violent energy. It was a grueling process, her body swelled to three times its size as the influx of power threatened to explode her body. She felt as if she was walking on a tightrope, one mistake and she could lose control over the energy. But Meng Lin was not one to back down. She had faced countless trials and tribulations in her journey, each one making her stronger and more resilient. This was just another hurdle for her to overcome. With a determined look on her face, she focused her mind, her willpower shaky but not broken. She tamed the violent energy bit by bit, gradually molding it to her will. The process was slow and painful, but she didn''t falter, her resolve unwavering. Finally, after a whole hour, the violent energy wave started to calm more and the energy started to flow in a distinct pattern, integrating with her qi. Boom! Meng Lin felt an explosion in her head as her Gold Core doubled in size and with it, drew even more qi towards it, however, the qi from the demonic core seemed unending as Meng Lin felt her core becoming full with even more energy to spare. Opening her eyes Meng Lin exhaled as she once again uttered the words system. [Meng Lin] [Gold Core Stage (Late)] [Experience points: 7%] System coin: 3034 Taoist Gacha wheel: available 6x Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] 170. Gacha Wheel tickets [Meng Lin] [Gold Core Stage (Late)] [Experience points: 7%] System coin: 3034 Taoist Gacha wheel: available 6x Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin felt the strength coursing through her veins and she couldn''t help but smile at the breakthrough. She had originally thought it would take quite a while before she made another breakthrough but it seemed she just lacked the energy needed. Looking through her system menu she focused on the Gacha wheel, she currently has 6 tickets that she hadnt used after receiving them as rewards. Meng Lin had wanted to wait and use them when she got four more but the close encounter earlier erased all thoughts of that. Defeating the talisman masters wasnt as easy as she made it seem, she had to utilize the 5th layer of the Black Tortoise Essence Art just to break free from the chains. Creating a cloud of dust and debris was deliberate on her part since she didnt want them to cower and use their strongest talismans right after seeing her form. She had little qi left at the time so she launched a lightning quick strike with her snake tail towards the closest three talisman masters, but they didnt die. What shocked her even more was that even after sacrificing 9 of her nails imbued with brute qi, most of them were still alive. It was shocking because her water qi was way stronger than before, reaching the variant high concentration so when she transformed, all of her body was filled with such energy, that added with the brute qi made for a deadly combo, and yet most of them only suffered minor injuries. If it wasnt because of their uncoordination then Meng Lin felt that the combined might of 7 remaining talisman masters were enough to pose a threat. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Nevertheless, she learned something in that battle, the power of fear, they were afraid of her which made things easier. Just like how a thousand Qi Gathering Realm Cultivators would pose a significant threat to a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator but no Qi gathering realm cultivator would want to participate in such a battle because of fear of dying first. Meng Lin shook her head and stopped contemplating as she summoned the Gacha wheel. 1. Celestial Thunder Blade 2. Soul wondering pills x5 3. Void Spirit Mirror 4. Shapeshifter''s Mask 5. > Imperial Water Art 6. [system mission] 7. High-grade system pack 8. Superior Booze gift bag 9. Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique 10. Immortal jades x9 11. Spiritual Healing Pillx3 12. Soulbound Amulet of Resurrection 13. Everlasting Lotus Seed 14. Chaos Mountain 15. Essence Absorbing lnsectx30 So the High-Grade Rootless Fire was replaced with something else. Meng Lin mused reading the new addition to the collection. Imperial Water Art.Meng Lin wondered if it would be of help seeing as her main cultivation method is of the water element. As Meng Lin pondered over the potential usefulness of the Imperial Water Art, she decided to take a chance and use one of her tickets on the Gacha wheel. With a flick of her wrist, the wheel began to spin once again, the items blurring together in a mesmerizing display. The wheel gradually slowed down, and Meng Lin''s gaze landed on the item on the panel. High-Grade System Pack She smiled as the item appeared in her hand, she turned her attention towards the wheel and spun it again, she intended on using all of her tickets. To her delight, this time the Gacha wheel hadnt stopped on the system rather one of the other items, Superior Booze Gift Bag Booze? Not exactly what Meng Lin was hoping for, but as the item materialized before her she couldnt help but raise an eyebrow at the dense amount of qi contained in the bag. Curiously opening the bag Meng Lin was greeted with two system panels. [You have received the High-Grade Soul Calming Booze] [You have received the High-Grade Intoxication Booze] Meng Lin didn''t know what to think of this unexpected windfall, but she decided to check it out later and turned her attention back to the wheel. She was slightly surprised that no other items replaced the superior Booze Gift bag, after thinking about it she realized that it had to be because it was a bag holding other rewards just like the system package. She decided to spin once more as she hoped to obtain more items on the gacha wheel, but her luck seemed to have run out as she only received the High-Grade System Packs after spinning them two more times. She now has 3 system packs as well as the high-grade booze, she still has two more tickets and she didnt stop as she intended on using them, flicking her fingers once more she spun the wheel, hoping for one of the other items. And as the wheel came to a stop Meng Lin couldnt help but laugh at her chances. Superior Booze Gift Bag She shook her head before uncovering the bag''s contents, revealing a few more surprising items. [You have received the High-Grade Body Purifying Booze] [You have received the High-Grade Intoxication Booze] [You have received the High-Grade Fey Blood] Storing them away without even looking at their names Meng Lin spun the last ticket, lowering her expectations. But to her surprise, the wheel stopped on an unexpected item, drawing her attention to the shimmering, rare jades that she had not paid much attention to before. Immortal Jades x9 She opened her mouth in amazement, hardly able to believe her small luck, and immediately reached out to claim her newly acquired artifact. However, rather than materializing before her, a panel appeared. [You have received 9 immortal Jades] [You have unlocked a new section of the Market] Meng Lin was surprised at a whole new area unlocking within the market and so decided to check it out, opening the market panel she saw another panel next to it called the immortal jades market. As Meng Lin accessed the newly unlocked area of the system market, she was taken aback by the vast number of items available. However, the prices listed below most of them were jaw-dropping. Even the lowest-priced item had a price tag of hundreds of Immortal Jades. Meng Lin silently thanked her luck for the nine Immortal Jades she had just won from the Gacha wheel. Without them, she wouldn''t even have been able to access this part of the market. She took a deep breath before shaking her head, most items within this market were way out of her league and she couldn''t make sense of them. She scrolled through the items, her eyes scanning over various spiritual herbs, cultivation manuals, ancient talismans, and even rare treasures like dragon scales and phoenix feathers. Her eyes landed on a particular item - a cultivation manual named "Heavenly Water Scripture". [Heavenly Water Scripture] Immortal jade 3000 A guide to mastering the Dao of Water. It starts with "Waves of Serenity", progresses to the "Vortex of Vitality", and culminates in the "Ocean of Eternity". Each stage deepens the practitioner''s connection with water''s nature. The scripture''s power is exemplified by the final attack, "Ocean Of Eternity", known to have engulfed three realm clusters, marking the profound might of the Dao of Water. Reading the summary of the scripture made Meng Lin feel like a frog at the bottom of a well, suddenly the confidence and smugness she felt from her victories dwindled and she silently went back to the normal system market. She can''t use the immortal jades within the immortal jades market but she can use them within the normal system market, even when she first received the system there were items that she couldn''t buy because of not having any immortal jades. She has been ignoring those items but now she can finally check out what items she can buy within the system market. 171. Three High-Grade System Packs Accessing the normal system market, Meng Lin scrolled through the myriad of items available. Her eyes skimmed over cultivation resources, pills, artifacts, and manuals, each tagged with their respective prices in system coins and Immortal Jades. She filtered the items by price, setting the limit to 9 Immortal Jades, her current wealth. A few items came into view, most of them being low-grade talismans and cultivation resources. However, one item caught her attention -Soul Water Drop, It was an ancient-looking artifact shaped like a droplet of water, glowing with a soft blue light. [Soul Water Drop] Immortal jade: 5 This artifact is known to deepen the connection between the user and the water element. It amplifies the user''s water qi and enhances their water-related abilities. Meng Lin was intrigued. This was exactly what she needed, an item that could amplify her water qi. If she uses it as an ingredient in one of her blacksmiths then she could create a powerful weapon for herself. She clicked on the purchase button without hesitation, and the system deducted 5 Immortal Jades from her. The artifact materialized in her hand, its soft glow illuminating her surroundings. It was small enough to fit in her palm, and it felt cool to the touch. She could feel a gentle pulsation of energy from the artifact, like a heartbeat. It was a comforting sensation, one that resonated with her water qi. She knew then that she had made the right choice. She stored the Soul Water Drop in her inventory, intending to experiment with it later. She then turned her attention back to her remaining rewards, mainly the High-Grade System Packs. [3 High-Grade system pack] [Do you wish to open the packages] Meng Lin raised an eyebrow at the realization that she could open multiple packs at once, it made things easy for her as she wanted to see what kind of rewards would appear from multiple packs at the same time, and as soon as she said yes, multiple system panels popped up before her eyes, almost filling her whole vision. [You have received 15200 system coins, 750 middle-grade spirit stones, High-Grade Bloodline Pill, High-Grade Qi Tonic, High-Grade Blood Essence Earrings, 3 immortal jade, Starlight Elixir, 300 beast forage] Meng Lin''s eyes raised at the contents, especially at the sight of the High-Grade items and the 3 immortal jades. She didn''t think she would receive more immortal jades this soon. She has knowledge of Bloodline Pills but she wasn''t all that familiar with them, they were mostly used to refine one''s bloodline, enabling one to unlock or strengthen latent abilities hidden within their genetic code. It was especially beneficial for cultivators who possessed a special bloodline. The Starlight Elixir, on the other hand, was something she recognized, it was a precious concoction known for its healing and rejuvenation properties. It was said to only be brewed under the light of the stars, absorbing heavenly energy and transferring it to the user. Meng Lin was happy with these items, they would not only bolster her strength significantly but also provide her with more resources for her cultivation. Looking at the 750 middle-grade spirit stones, she couldn''t help but feel a rush of excitement. Spirit stones were the currency of the cultivation world, and middle-grade ones were especially valuable, with this many spirit stones she doesn''t expect to run out any time soon. The High-Grade Qi Tonic was something she hadn''t seen nor heard of before, but looking at its description she realized that it could greatly enhance her Qi, the vital energy within her body, and help her reach new heights in her cultivation. The 3 Immortal Jades were a new addition, she wonders if it was because of the new section opening up, nevertheless with this she now has 3 more immortal jades added with the 4 immortal jades left within her system menu. Stolen story; please report. She doesn''t have anything to mention about the beast forge but the High-Grade Blood Essence Earrings also seemed to be valuable items, Meng Lin couldn''t help but think back to the top-grade earring that she was forced to give away within the Nether Cloud Domain, if she still has that earring then she could pair it up with this earring and complete it. As she looked at the description of the earrings she was slightly surprised to find that they were mainly just to store massive amounts of blood essence, it would then release the blood essence towards the user whenever the user required it. Storing the items, Meng Lin began to think about which items she could use right now to make herself even stronger, the starlight elixir and the high-grade qi tonic were the items she wanted to use right away. Meng Lin took out the High-Grade Qi Tonic. It was in a small bottle the size of a finger but it released a unique aura, she had never seen such a high-grade tonic before, and she was eager to see its effects. She uncorked the bottle and drank the Qi Tonic in one gulp. Immediately, she could feel a surge of pure, refined qi flooding her spiritual veins. It felt as though a dam had been released, and a torrent of water was rushing through her body. The qi flowed through her meridians, washing away any impurities and blockages, making her closed meridians wider and more resilient. It also nourished her Dantian, making her qi sea more abundant and lively, causing her brute Qi to flair up once in a while. Finally, she took out the Starlight Elixir. The elixir was a beautiful, iridescent liquid that seemed to glow with a soft light. She drank the elixir, and immediately felt a cool, soothing sensation spreading through her body. It was as though she was drinking very cold water, she felt every cell in her body being rejuvenated and healed. She could feel her body becoming stronger, her vitality increasing, and her cultivation base becoming more stable. It was a wonderful feeling, one that made her feel more confident and powerful. After using these two items, Meng Lin felt a significant increase in her strength. Opening the system menu she was shocked to see a huge leap in her experience. [Meng Lin] [Gold Core Stage ( late)] [Experience points: 28%] System coin: 18,234 Immortal Jade: 7 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Seeing the 21 percent increase in her experience points Meng Lin couldn''t help but be surprised by the significant increase in power, not every realm is the same. The amount of energy needed for the late stage compared to the middle stage was way more than half and she was still able to get this much. Her excitement over her newfound strength was quickly replaced by curiosity as she remembered the different types of High-Grade booze she had received from the Superior Booze Gift Bags. She had been skeptical about them at first, but now she was eager to discover what effects they would have on her. She decided to start with the High-Grade Soul Calming Booze. As the name suggested, she hoped it could help her to calm her soul and achieve a state of tranquility, which would be beneficial for her cultivation. As she uncorked the bottle, a rich aroma filled the air, causing her to feel a sense of peace and relaxation. She took a small sip with her eyes closed and immediately felt a cool sensation spreading through her body, soothing her nerves and clearing her mind. It felt as though she was floating in a peaceful lake, her soul gently being caressed by the cool water. Her consciousness seemed to expand, her awareness of her surroundings becoming more acute. Next, she decided to try the High-Grade Body Purifying Booze. This one promised to cleanse her body of any toxins and impurities, she heavily doubts that her body needed purifying considering all the things she did to make sure she was cleaned of impurities however the largest breakthrough might have caused some impurities to be built up so this would undoubtedly boost her overall health and vitality. The moment the liquid touched her lips, she felt a powerful energy surge through her body. It was as though a cleansing wave was sweeping through her tongue towards her throat, washing away any impurities and toxins. Her body felt lighter and more energetic, her senses were sharpened, and her qi circulation became more smooth and efficient. However, she felt slightly lightheaded as she shook her head before she turned her attention to the High-Grade Intoxication Booze. This one intrigued her as she wasn''t sure what to expect from it. When she took a sip, she felt a warm sensation spread through her body. Her eyes became hazy and she felt a sense of euphoria. It was like she was on top of the world, invincible and unafraid. Taking advantage of this state, she began to cultivate, integrating all the loose energy flowing within her body. However while at it Meng Lin seemingly lost sense of the world around her as everything became blurry before she succumbed to slumber. 172. Higher Rank beasts Meng Lin opened her eyes, feeling a rush of energy coursing through her veins. A glance at the system menu confirmed her suspicion. Her cultivation had increased again, this time by a significant 11%. The three High-Grade Booze had indeed lived up to their names. Feeling invigorated, Meng Lin began to assess her surroundings. The cave was still as quiet as before, the only sound being the occasional drip of condensation from the cave ceiling. Her senses, however, were heightened. She could feel the faint vibrations of the earth beneath her, hear the distant rustle of leaves outside, and smell the fresh scent of the earth. She felt that she could have another breakthrough if she continued drinking the multiple booze, however, she also knows that it would not be good to jump stages in realms without understanding the stages one at a time. She decided to go out as she was, she felt that she prepared enough, she opened the system menu again, noting her new stats: [Meng Lin] [Gold Core Stage (late)] [Experience points: 39%] System coin: 18,234 Immortal Jade: 7 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] She smiled before raising her hands, her nails, which she hadn''t paid attention to had grown back, most likely the result of her breakthrough. She felt a sense of satisfaction but she knew that there was no time to rest on her laurels, she still had the red spot on the map to explore. Taking out the Qiankun Treasure Map Meng Lin carefully looked towards the red spot, which indicated danger. She had not been paying attention to it before but she noticed now that It was a glacial environment with ice spikes every few dozen meters from each other. she wondered what kind of treasure was there, or what kind of danger she might encounter. The thought made her heart race, but she was also filled with anticipation. She then stood up and stretched her body, feeling the strength in her muscles and the eagerness to use them. She looked around the cave one last time, then stepped out into the crisp morning air. Soaring into the sky in a blur Meng Lin left a streak of light as she flew across the forest trees underneath, the wind whipping through her hair and the morning sun warming her skin. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. She could see the vast expanse of the world beneath her, a mix of towering mountains, dense forests, and meandering rivers, seeing that sight made her feel joy as it was proof of her progress, proof that she was gaining a footing, she just has to continue now. Within her eyes, the world seemed to stretch on forever, and a small dot appeared in her peripheral vision, with her enhanced vision, Meng Lin could tell that it was a city, a civilization, she had been moving throughout this whole province and this was her first time seeing a city. She made sure to note down where the city was, maybe she would visit it. She still has the 30 or so talismans from those talisman masters, she has to find a way to identify them somehow. She returned her head forward, for now, the treasure ahead was what she wanted, she could feel the subtle changes in the temperature as she moved closer to the glacial environment. The air became colder and the wind stronger. Flying a few minutes within a streak, she neared the destination and slowed down before landing gently on icy ground. With no shoes on, the cold tried to seep through her skin but she barely noticed, her focus solely on the imposing ice formations in front of her. Every few meters were crystals of ice spikes that filled the whole area and upon closer inspection, she realized that these were not just any ice spikes. They were infused with a type of energy that she had never felt before. It was raw and powerful, yet strangely comforting. She gently touched one of the spikes. A jolt of energy surged through her fingers as frost began to form on her hand. Sensing no immediate danger, Meng Lin closed her eyes and released her spiritual consciousness outwards. "Hmm" Meng Lin noticed a series of cold auras emanating from the ice spikes. As her consciousness spread further, she encountered a variety of different beasts, all with cold auras. Most of them were rank 2, but there were a few rank 3 beasts among them. However, as her consciousness expanded, she suddenly felt a strong aura that made her feel threatened. It was coming from a crystal ice cave nearby. Instinctively, she stopped spreading her consciousness, realizing that it might awaken whatever beast lurked within the cave. Curiosity piqued, Meng Lin took out the map and studied it carefully. The red spot indicated the treasure was not at the crystal ice cave, it was a few thousand meters away. Meng Lin thought for a little before deciding to focus on the treasure, whatever that strong aura was from the crystal ice cave could come later. Gently lifting off the ice floor she flew towards the red spot on the map, all while making sure to keep a lookout for anything along the way. As Meng Lin flew closer to the red spot on the map, the landscape transformed into a frozen wonderland. Snow-covered trees and icy cliffs surrounded her, glistening in the sunlight. She could sense the aura around her growing stronger with each passing moment, indicating that she was getting closer to something. After flying for a minute, Meng Lin landed near a small frozen lake. The red spot on the map seemed to be located at the center of the lake. She carefully stepped onto the icy surface, feeling the cold through her bare feet. She swept her gaze over the lake before releasing her spiritual consciousness towards the icy ground. Thump!!! As soon as she did so Meng Lin''s heartbeat accelerated as she felt a threatening aura that was giving off the same aura as the demonic core from the last griffin. Crack!! She didn''t have a chance to think about what she was feeling as massive cracks stretched across the floor before the whole lake burst apart with the appearance of a massive claw. Boom!!! The claw stretched from the ice and slammed to the ground, creating a shockwave that sent Meng Lin flying backward. She quickly regained her composure and landed on her feet, her eyes fixed on the colossal creature that emerged from the shattered ice. Roar!! It was a crystal behemoth that resembled a lizard, its crocodile mouth opened up before letting out a massive roar that shook the area. Dark blue piercing eyes met with Meng Lin''s and fear crept up from the bottom of her heart, the whole area became suffocating as a boundless aura held everything in place and Meng Lin felt that she couldn''t move her body as heavy pressure was placed on her body. Boom!! The ground where she stood sank and broke apart as debris and ice fog filled the air, the pressure placed on the ground had been too much, Meng Lin using this opportunity quickly tapped into the Formless Cultivation Method and her body turned into formless mist, evading the crushing force. Meng Lin floated a few dozen meters away from the crystal behemoth, observing the creature with cautious eyes, her mist form waving about as if alarmed. ''This is definitely rank 4'' Meng Lin thought as the crystal lizard towered above her, its massive form radiated an overwhelming aura that seemed to freeze the very air around it, it was way beyond the realm she was in. 173. Freezing Dilemma Meng Lin materialized from her formless state and landed on the glacial floor once again, this time with all her focus on the being before her. The intimidating figure of the crystal lizard loomed before her, its massive 20-meter form radiating an overwhelming aura that seemed to freeze the very air around it. She could feel the icy chill seeping into her skin, but she didn''t allow it to distract her. With a determined expression etched onto her face, Meng Lin slowly raised her arms, her fingers curled into tight fists. Her body started to glow subtly and black scales began to appear on her skin. Her nails extended into sharp claws, giving her an intimidating aura as the beast before her. A serpent head formed from her back, its fangs bared threateningly. Hiss The wind howled with the hissing sound of a snake along with the thunderous roar of the crystal lizard, the atmosphere was thick with tension and the anticipation within Meng Lin for the impending battle was palpable. She took a deep breath, steadying her shaking nerves. She couldn''t afford to lose her composure now. She quickly activated the Wrath of Thunder technique, and her body was instantly cloaked in a veil of rumbling lightning. The bright blue arcs of electricity danced around her, illuminating the icy glacial floor with their radiant glow. Within her hand, a sword appeared with intricate designs etched into the blade, its blade itself was gleaming with a brilliant blue light that matched her aura, it was the High-Grade Weapon, Mystic Luner Sword, she felt now was an appropriate time to use it. Roar!!! The Crystal Lizard was observing Meng Lin and the moment she took out her weapon, it let out a menacing growl, its icy breath crystallizing in the frosty air. The Lizard''s eyes, as blue as the surrounding glaciers, were fixed on Meng Lin, and suddenly its crystal body disappeared. Thump! Meng Lin''s heart jolted as she raised her sword and slashed with the technique of Thunderbolt Flash using all her might toward the open jaws of crystal teeth before her. Boom!!! The collision of Meng Lin''s sword against the crystal teeth resulted in a deafening explosion of noise and energy. Meng Lin smashed onto the ground and was thrown back, creating a small ravine on the ground. She staggered back from the crevice of the icy floor and her hands were numb from the impact, but surprisingly the mystic Luner Sword was not damaged, in fact she could see that the sword had managed to leave a scar on one of the Lizard''s crystal teeth. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. '' the difference in strength is way more than I thought, I need...'' Roar!! Meng Lin was wakened up from her thought as she saw a large 5-meter spike coming her way from the distance, She barely had any time to react as she quickly propelled herself into the air using a burst of energy from her feet. The spike missed her by a hair''s breadth, smashing into the ice below and sending shards flying in all directions. While in mid-air, Meng Lin performed a lightning-quick somersault, re-orienting herself towards the Crystal Lizard, with a swift downward motion, she slashed towards the Crystal Lizard with lighting speed. Thunderbolt Flash Crackle!! A giant crescent arc of lightning slashed through the air, emanating from Meng Lin''s sword. The electrifying energy crackled and sizzled, cutting through the air with incredible speed, aiming directly at the Crystal Lizard. Roar!! The Crystal Lizard let out a deafening roar as the giant crescent arc of lightning struck its crystal body. The intense energy coursed through the creature, causing its form to flicker and tremble. But to Meng Lin''s surprise, the Crystal Lizard seemed unfazed. With a swift swipe of its tail, the Crystal Lizard shattered the lightning arc, sending bolts of electricity scattering in all directions. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she landed on the ground, she braced herself for the incoming assault. But instead of launching a physical attack, the Crystal Lizard opened its gaping mouth and began to gather intense amounts of energy, the air became stiff as bright rays of light lit the whole area. Poonn!!! A blinding explosion erupted from the Crystal Lizard''s mouth, releasing a powerful beam of pure energy. The beam streaked across the icy landscape in an instant and Meng Lin became enveloped as she didn''t have any time to react. As the blinding explosion subsided, Meng Lin felt a sudden chill engulf her body. She tried to look down but realized that she couldn''t move her head, inwardly she gasped in horror as she realized that she couldn''t move an inch of her body. Her body had become completely frozen, encased in a thick layer of ice. Not just her but the whole 100-meter area was the same. Panic surged through Meng Lin as she tried to break free from her icy prison. She tried to struggle and thrash around but the ice held her captive, rendering her immobile and helpless. GRRR! The Crystal Lizard loomed over her, its gleaming crystal eyes filled with malice and triumph. It let out a deep, resonating growl, a chilling sound that reverberated through the frozen landscape. Its victory was complete, having trapped its formidable opponent in a state of immobility. Meng Lin''s mind raced and she was ready to enter the brute qi stage when she saw something within her vision that made her feel cold to her bones. From behind the Crystal Lizard, the ground opened up and an imposing head with slit pupils emerged, the sight of which made the blood freeze in her veins. It was a snake, a colossal beast, pure white in color, its scales glistening like diamonds under the dim moonlight, it was a Rank 4 Beast, A White Crystal Serpent. As soon as the White Crystal Serpent emerged, the frigid air grew colder and the Crystal Lizard seemed to realize as it raised its head to look around, however it was too late. Chomp!! The White Crystal Serpent''s massive jaws clamped down on the Crystal Lizard, its razor-sharp teeth piercing through the icy exterior. The Crystal Lizard let out a deafening cry of pain as its body shattered into countless pieces, scattering across the frozen landscape. As the Crystal Lizard''s shattered pieces fell to the ground, something unexpected happened. The shards began to glow with a brilliant light, and before Meng Lin''s eyes, they started to gather before flashing with a white light. Thud!! ROAR!!! To her amazement, the Crystal Lizard was not defeated. It emerged from the white light with a wrathful gaze towards the serpent, it was enraged. Crystal Armor began to cover its body inch by inch, and its aura intensified casting a mesmerizing glow across the frozen landscape. The Crystal Lizard''s eyes blazed with fury as it faced off against the White Crystal Serpent. Its massive tail thrashed about, sending shards of ice flying in all directions. The ground trembled beneath its feet as it readied itself for another attack. With a thunderous roar, the Crystal Lizard lunged forward, its crystalline claws slicing through the air toward its enemy. The White Crystal Serpent, however, seemed to have expected this as It coiled its massive body with its scales shimmering with a protective barrier, it bared its fangs and struck with its tail at lightning speed. Peng!! The clash of the titans sent shockwaves through the glacial floor, causing cracks to form and ice to splinter. Each strike from the Crystal Lizard was met with a swift and agile counterattack from the tail of the White Crystal Serpent. Rumble!! Meng Lin, still encased in the ice felt the ground shake as the behemoths fight. She didn''t know what to do now, if she set herself free then she could draw the attention of both creatures but if she didn''t then she risks being caught in one of their clashes, which would undoubtedly spell trouble for her, she was in a dilemma. 174. Armored Crystal Serpent Roar!!! Peng! The White Crystal Serpent blocked another strike with its tail and swept away the armored claw before striking back with lightning speed. Its scales shimmered with an ethereal glow as it unleashed a powerful blast of icy breath, freezing the Crystal Lizard''s movements temporarily. With a swift coil of its massive body, the White Crystal Serpent lunged forward, sinking its razor-sharp fangs into the Crystal Lizard''s crystalline armor. The sound of shattering crystals filled the air as the serpent''s venom entered through the Lizard''s body, weakening it even more. Roaring in agony, the Crystal Lizard retaliated with a barrage of razor-sharp crystal shards, aiming to pierce the serpent''s vulnerable spots. But the White Crystal Serpent, with its immense agility, effortlessly dodged the projectiles, its body moving fluidly like a river. Peng!! The Serpent flickered and launched its tails, striking the Lizard and separating them both, they landed a few meters apart, their eyes not leaving each other. Hiss The White Crystal Serpent hissed in satisfaction as it had successfully separated itself from the Crystal Lizard without any damage. It knew that this was its only chance to defeat the Lizard once and for all, if it wasn''t for the lizard''s cursed bloodline it would have gotten rid of it long ago. With a swift coil of its body, the White Crystal Serpent launched itself forward, its fangs gleaming with a deadly frost, It aimed directly for the Crystal Lizard''s neck, an area where the armor began to fall apart. Roar!!! The Crystal Lizard roared in defiance as it flicked its tail, smacking the White Crystal Serpent''s head away. The serpent recoiled from the impact, but it quickly regained its composure. It knew that it couldn''t afford to let its guard down. The Crystal Lizard opened its mouth, preparing to unleash an attack, but the White Crystal Serpent, with its lightning-fast reflexes, swiftly retaliated with a blast of its icy breath, aiming to freeze the Crystal Lizard in its tracks. The freezing mist engulfed the Lizard, causing its movements to slow down. Ice began to form on its body, encasing it in a frosty prison. Roar!! However, the Crystal Lizard was not defeated yet. With a surge of energy, it broke free from the ice, shattering it into pieces. The Lizard''s eyes burned with fury as it prepared for its next move. The serpent knew it had to act quickly. It coiled its body tightly, gathering all of its strength. With a powerful thrust, it propelled itself towards the Crystal Lizard, aiming to strike at its exposed weak spot. With a thunderous clash, the White Crystal Serpent''s fangs pierced the Lizard''s neck, causing it to roar in pain. The serpent''s frosty venom coursed through the Lizard''s body, further weakening its already fragile state. But the Crystal Lizard wouldn''t go down without a fight. It thrashed and twisted, trying to shake off the serpent''s grip. In a desperate move, it summoned a surge of energy, causing its body to glow with a brilliant light. The serpent knew that it had to act swiftly. It mustered all of its strength and released a powerful surge of icy energy, countering the Lizard''s attack. The two forces collide, creating a dazzling display of light and power as the environment becomes devastated even more. Roar!! The Crystal Lizard let out a piercing shriek, its body convulsing in pain. The serpent had finally gotten a grip, and it could feel its grip on it slipping away, but it knew that it had to press on. It injected more venom into the Lizard''s body, ensuring that the Lizard would be closer to death. As the Crystal Lizard weakened, the serpent coiled its body tightly around it, constricting its movements and preventing any chance of escape. The Lizard''s struggles grew weaker and weaker, its crystal armor cracking under the immense pressure. With a final surge of strength, the White Crystal Serpent tightened its grip, completely breaking the armor surrounding the Crystal Lizard. The sound of shattering crystals echoed through the air as the serpent''s fangs sank deeper into the Lizard''s vulnerable flesh and they could do nothing but let out small feeble roars. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The White Crystal Serpent, sensing the imminent victory, slowly uncoiled its body from the defeated Crystal Lizard. Its icy blue eyes gleamed with triumph as it raised its head high, claiming its hard-earned victory. The White Crystal Serpent unhinged its jaws, opening them to twice the size of its body as it prepared to devour its defeated opponent before it revived again, suddenly. Boom!! A sudden surge of power erupted behind the white Crystal Serpent, and it didn''t even have to move as it felt an immense threat to its life. "Heaven''s Punishment." A pure chaotic aura spread about as the serpent was blown away by three beams within a split second, its coily body unwinded as it crashed a few dozen meters away, creating a massive crater. The impact was so powerful that shards of ice and crystal flew high through the air. The Crystal Lizard, set free was thrown to the side during the clash, remaining motionless. Hiss Meng Lin''s monstrous figure walked forward as the snake tail behind her hissed, her body was covered with a dense chaotic aura, more powerful and unstable than before. She raised her finger to the three missing claws on her left hand before she turned her attention back to the battlefield, she believed that the snake wouldn''t die from that single attack. And she was proved correct as once the fog and debris cleared away, the Crystal Serpent was nowhere to be seen and Meng Lin became instantly alerted. Her heart suddenly raced as she heard the sound of a rumble with the floor beneath her feet trembling slightly, she didn''t know what was happening but all her instincts were screaming for her to dodge an attack. Boom!! The floor beneath suddenly crumbled but Meng Lin was already long at a distance, having jumped the moment she felt danger. HISS! Emerging from the hole opened up from the icy ground was the White Crystal Serpent, its massive body was encased in a dark-blue, menacing armor. The serpent''s icy blue eyes glowed with an intense and malicious energy and it gazed at Meng Lin with a look of hatred. Meng Lin tightened her grip around her Mystic Luner Sword, her body tensing with fear, shock, and apprehension. She didn''t think that this beast could also encase itself within Armor, but if so why did it not use this form when it was fighting the Lizard? Meng Lin realized that this battle might just become her toughest yet, but she was ready to face the challenge head-on. Without uttering a word, the armored Crystal Serpent lunged forward, its dark-blue Armor seemingly coming alive as it twisted and contorted with malicious intent. The serpent''s movements were no longer fluid and graceful but instead rigid and menacing as if it had transformed into a weapon itself. As the Crystal Serpent closed in, its fangs gleaming with an otherworldly glow, Meng Lin''s instincts kicked into overdrive. She swiftly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the serpent''s deadly bite. The force of the serpent''s bite sent shockwaves through the air, causing Meng Lin''s hair to whip around her face. Undeterred, the Crystal Serpent twisted its body, launching a barrage of razor-sharp dark-blue crystal shards toward Meng Lin. The shards flew through the air with blinding speed, and Meng Lin didn''t have time to dodge, she raised her brute qi to the highest possible and collided with the multiple spikes. Peng!!! Ugh! Meng Lin almost spewed out her intestines as she felt the recoil from the impact, her high-grade robe was torn apart in multiple places as several spikes impaled her in the stomach. Reacting with lightning-fast reflexes, Meng Lin spun her body, gracefully evading the last remaining shard as she landed on the ground to recognize herself. However the Crystal Serpent didn''t give her any chance as it lunged forward once again but Meng Lin was ready, she channeled her brute qi into the Mystic Lunar Sword and sliced through the air, uttering the words "Waterfall Slash". A beam of concentrated brute qi left the sword, leaving a shine on the sword as it met with the incoming serpent, the Crystal Serpent didn''t bother to dodge or counterattack as it rammed into the attack, causing a giant shockwave of debris to fly everywhere. Meng Lin gritted her teeth as she saw cracks start expanding on her sword, that attack had put a great deal of stress on the Mystic Luner Sword. ''This should slow it down right'' Meng Lin thought as she saw the debris clearing, however before the smoke could clear away a dark-blue behemoth flew out, its target Meng Lin. Meng Lin''s eyes winded with surprise as she saw that the serpent didn''t appear damaged in any way, its armor seemed to repel her attack effortlessly. It was as if the armor had become an impenetrable barrier, shielding the serpent from harm. Meng Lin gritted her teeth in frustration as the giant mouth of the snake appeared before her once more, however, she reacted in time and a surge of chaotic energy erupted from her body, swirling around her like a tempest. The air crackled with raw chaotic power as she finally circulated the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method, a devastating wave of chaotic energy was released everywhere as Meng Lin finally felt unrestrained by the chaotic qi, she raised her palm and it became the center of all the brute qi around her, she stuck out with a technique from the Hundred Unity Technique, "Cyclone Palm". Boom! The chaotic energy seemed to finally follow command as it burst out of her hand with a rotating twister and collided with the serpent''s armor, causing it to reverberate with a deafening roar. Meng Lin''s face finally held a smile as she saw that her attack seemed to have an effect, cracks began to form across the serpent''s armor. But the serpent remained unfazed, its icy blue eyes burning with fury. Realizing that the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method was just what she needed, Meng Lin prepared to unleash an even greater technique when suddenly both she and the Crystal Serpent stopped and looked to the side. "Fuck" And what Meng Lin saw made her curse out loud, the Crystal Serpent seemed to have shared her feelings, hissing madly with both annoyance and worry in its voice. GRRR!! A giant claw slammed into the icy ground and a Crystal Lizard''s roar shook the land as crystal armor began to materialize all over its body, its eyes seemed to have lost all intelligence as an immense destructive aura erupted from its body. ROAR!!! 175. Weighted Under The wind howled through the frozen land as three mighty forces stood off against each other, the Crystal Lizard, newly revived, was radiating an intense, destructive aura. Its crystal armor glowed ominously under the icy moonlight, and its eyes shone with an uncontrolled frenzy. Meng Lin''s heart pounded against her chest as she surveyed her opponents. The Crystal Serpent, its icy blue eyes flaring with fury, was coiled and ready to strike. Its dark blue armor, though cracked from the earlier clash, still gave off an intimidating aura. "I guess it''s a free-for-all now," Meng Lin muttered under her breath. She tightened her grip on the Mystic Lunar Sword, feeling the cool, reassuring metal against her skin. She knew she had to be strategic in this battle. She doesn''t want to use up all her brute qi in one go, she needs to exploit their animosity towards each other. Without wasting any more time, Meng Lin jumped into the air, using her brute qi to enhance her sprint, she knew she couldn''t afford to be on the ground when both her opponents were on the ground. As expected, the Crystal Lizard, in its frenzied state, lunged at the Crystal Serpent. The ground trembled as the two colossal beasts collided, the impact sending shockwaves across the icy landscape. Shards of dark blue ice and crystal flew in all directions, creating a spectacle of chaos and destruction. Meng Lin, from her aerial vantage point, saw her opportunity. She channeled her chaotic energy into the Mystic Lunar Sword, its blade glowing with an intense light. With a swift downward slash, she unleashed a wave of Brute Qi that suddenly crackled like Lightning, flying toward the two battling beasts. "Thunderbolt Flash!" The energy wave, resembling a streak of lightning, descended upon the Crystal Lizard and the Crystal Serpent. The two beasts, caught off guard by the sudden attack, were sent sprawling across the icy ground. However, they were far from defeated. The Crystal Serpent, recovering from the impact, lunged towards Meng Lin with an incredible speed. Its fangs bared, ready to sink into her flesh. Meng Lin swiftly dodged the attack, her body twisting and turning in the air with grace and agility. She knew she couldn''t afford to get hit. Not when the Crystal Lizard was back on its feet as well. The Crystal Lizard, with a swing of its tail, launched a barrage of crystal shards toward both Meng Lin and the Crystal Serpent. Meng Lin reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, her body twisted and turned in mid-air, dodging the barrage of shards. The Mystic Lunar Sword in her hand moved in a dance of its own, deflecting the shards that came too close. The nearby Crystal Serpent, however, opted for a different approach. Its scales shimmered, and in a blink, its dark blue armor hardened, the shards ricocheting off it harmlessly. Not to be outdone, the Crystal Lizard roared, its aura flaring up as it stomped the ground with its massive claws. A surge of energy spread out in waves, the icy ground cracking under the sheer intensity. The Lizard''s scales began to glow with a blinding light as it prepared to unleash a devastating attack. BOOM!!!" The ground beneath the Lizard exploded, sending a shower of crystal shards flying in all directions. A blinding light erupted from its body, illuminating the battlefield with its intensity. The shards, under the influence of the Lizard''s aura, began to spin in the air, forming a whirlwind of crystal destruction. Meng Lin''s heart pounded as she watched the attack unfold. She knew she had to act fast. She channeled her brute qi into her left hand and used one of the defensive techniques in her arsenal. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Elemental Absorption." A chaotic blue sphere materialized around her and began to absorb the shards of crystal within the whirlwind surrounding her, suddenly her aura erupted and increased even more as the sphere around her converted the energy from within the whirlwind into a surge of power that surrounded her. Meng Lin pointed a finger towards the Crystal Lizard that held an expression of puzzlement as it saw its attack suddenly vanish, she utilized the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method to turn all the chaotic energy surrounding her into a single attack. " Heavens Punishment" Rumble! From her fingertips, a threatening aura spread across the sky as a bolt of chaotic energy appeared for one moment and disappeared the next. Puchi!! A massive hole opened up on the body of the Crystal Lizard and it howled in pain and fell to the ground, writhing in agony. Its once shimmering armor lost its luster, turning dull in the face of Meng Lin''s powerful attack. But Meng Lin had no time to celebrate her victory, no time to react even. The Crystal Serpent, seizing the opportunity, launched its attack. Its tongue flickered before instantly arriving before Meng Lin, imbued with a dark, venomous aura that made Meng Lin''s heart jump. She didn''t have time to defend herself but she tried nonetheless as she hardened the black scales around her body. Peng!! With a powerful impact, the venomous tongue struck her squarely in the chest, sending her flying back with a pained grunt. She crashed into a crystal stalagmite, pain shooting through her body as she slumped down onto the icy ground. The world spun around her as she tried to gather her wits. She could feel blood trickling down as the venomous energy of the serpent''s attack coursed through her veins, sapping her strength. Through her hazy vision, she saw the Crystal Serpent slithering towards her, its eyes glowing with malicious glee. She gritted her teeth, pushing against the pain. She couldn''t afford to lose. Not now. Not when she''s so close. She stood up with difficulty causing the Crystal Serpent''s eyes to glint with surprise, Meng Lin saw the surprise in the serpent''s eyes as she raised her Mystic Lunar Sword with cracks all across its blade. "It''s gonna take more than that to kill me," Meng Lin growled, her voice filled with determination, her body suddenly glowed with a red aura that burst out from her body and into the surroundings. Her brute qi which seemed finished began to radiate with this red aura and with each breath, she could feel her blood essence flowing through her veins, merging with her brute qi, restoring its previous strength. The Crystal Serpent, seeing the change in Meng Lin lunged at her, it wanted to finish her off before anything else happened. But it was too late as Meng Lin slashed horizontally with her sword, infusing it with the restored brute qi. The Mystic Lunar Sword shattered instantly after successfully releasing the brute qi in a crescent slash. "Waterfall Slash!" A powerful wave of chaotic qi crashed into the Crystal Serpent with incredible force and the serpent recoiled, its body was thrown off balance and its armor broke apart by the unexpected attack, it was sent flying backward with a deafening hiss, crashing to the ground, before it could recover, a claw appeared before its eyes and everything went dark. Boom! The Crystal Lizard smashed the Crystal Serpent''s head into the ground, crushing it with the last remaining strength left within its body. Drip!! From within the hole opened up on its body was massive amounts of blood pouring out and chaotic energy twisted and turned within its stomach, making it impossible to recover from its injury. Roar!! The icy plains echoed with the roar of the injured Crystal Lizard as it struggled to rise to its feet. Its body trembled, weakened by the battle and the loss of its rival. But even in its weakened state, the Crystal Lizard refused to fall. It raised its head high in defiance. Meng Lin sighed, feeling the strain on her battered and bloodied body, she stood a few meters away, her eyes locking with the Crystal Lizards. She steeled herself, summoning the last reserves of her strength. She knew she had to end this now before she loses more essence. With a deep breath, she channeled her remaining brute qi, the red aura surrounding her growing brighter and more intense. The Crystal Lizard, sensing Meng Lin''s determination, let out a guttural growl. Its crystal armor crackled with residual energy, ready to unleash one final attack. With a burst of speed, Meng Lin charged forward, her steps light but purposeful. The ground beneath her quaked with each stride, the icy terrain unable to contain the power surging through her body. The Crystal Lizard responded in kind, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision, its attack seemed to hold all of its aura as frost covered its claw. Meng Lin moved with caution, dodging underneath the claw as frost appeared on her skin and robe from the intense cold, her movements were fluid and precise as she appeared before the weekend lizard face. "Harmony Resonance Fist" Meng Lin''s fist connected with the Crystal Lizard''s head, the impact sending a shockwave through the air. The force of the blow shattered the lizard''s crystal armor and traveled throughout its body as it rammed into the ground, leaving a giant crater on the icy floor. The battlefield fell silent and the wind howled through the frozen landscape as Meng Lin stood over the dead body of the Crystal Lizard. Exhausted but triumphant, Meng Lin took a moment to catch her breath, her chest heaving with exertion. She surveyed the aftermath of the battle, the icy landscape littered with the remnants of the fierce clash. The Crystal Serpent lay motionless, its head crushed under the weight of the Crystal Lizard''s claw. The Crystal Lizard also lay dead, its head crushed under the weight of Meng Lin''s fist. Meng Lin knew that the battle had taken its toll. Her body ached, her muscles fatigued, and her wounds throbbed with pain, the aura surrounding her body began to decrease before fading away. Hiss! The serpent head behind her hissed before dissolving into dust and the black scales all over her body retracted, leaving her body exposed with only a few pieces of her robes hanging around her and icy spikes still drilled within her stomach. 176. Impending Doom Meng Lin winced as she pulled the icy spikes from her flesh, her body trembling from the pain and the cold. Blood welled up from the wounds, staining the snow beneath her. She took a deep, shaky breath, steadying herself as she began to tend to her injuries. She closed her eyes, focusing on circulating the Black Tortoise Essence Art, directing her remaining qi towards her wounds. Blood began to stop flowing as Meng Lin''s wounds began to heal, shooting pain throughout her body, slowly the pain subsided, replaced by a soothing warmth that was her qi. Opening her eyes, Meng Lin looked at the fallen Crystal Lizard and the Crystal Serpent. Despite the victory, there was no joy in her heart. She knew that these beasts were only victims of the greater forces at play. With the battle now over, Meng Lin''s thoughts turned to the red treasure that was supposedly on the body of the Crystal Lizard. She reached into her storage ring and retrieved the Qiankun Treasure Map, studying it once again. The red spot marked the location where the treasure was hidden, and her assumption was true as she turned her gaze to the dead Crystal Lizard lying beside her. She wanted to know just what kind of treasure it was but she felt that she would pass out any moment now so she raised her hand, a small black vortex gathering in her palms, in a few seconds both the Crystal Lizard and the Crystal Serpent were stored within her inventory. "Purple" Meng Lin called out to purple, which appeared within an instant, as if always there, it looked at Meng Lin, its eyes reflecting sadness, it didn''t appear happy to see the condition Meng Lin was in and it was even more sad at it''s powerlessness. While within the Beast Garden, although it couldn''t completely make out what was happening outside, it could still tell the situation Meng Lin had been put through, instinctively because of their contract. Purple slithered towards her, its massive body coiling around her, providing a warm and comforting presence. Meng Lin climbed onto Purple''s head, sitting cross-legged with closed eyes. "Let''s go, Purple," she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and determination. Purple understood where to go, its vibrant purple eyes gleamed as it began to move toward the cave Meng Lin had passed by before. With her eyes closed Meng Lin could feel the weariness seeping into her bones, but she didn''t pay attention to it as her thoughts became occupied by her companion. It was not like she had not noticed the sadness within Purple''s gaze but she knew that trying to comfort it would do the opposite, she knew her importance to the beast as she was there from the moment it was born to now. It made her think that perhaps she had not been utilizing Purple correctly, if she could make it even stronger then it would work out since there was no chance that it would betray her. ''However'' Meng Lin began thinking of the problem, it could only grow to the peak of the 2nd rank and it has already reached that, so it won''t get any stronger than it is now, or so the system says. But she wondered whether the system was talking about the snake without any alterations of its bloodline, there were a lot of bloodline elixirs within the Jade Crystal section of the system Market, and she wondered if she could alter Purple''s bloodline, it''s worth a try she thought. As Purple slithered through the frozen landscape it didn''t take long before it arrived at the environment with crystal ice spikes every few meters. ''The cave is close'' Meng Lin thought without opening her eyes, she''s currently using her spiritual consciousness, and everything within a 60-meter radius was caught within her consciousness. For Purple it was different, because of their contract it would instinctively know what Meng Lin wanted, even if she didn''t voice it out loud. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. As for why Meng Lin chose this cave, it was because it was no longer dangerous, the moment she saw the Crystal Serpent she knew that it had to be the other rank 4 beast within the ice crystal cave that she avoided before. '' It must have gone out to check out what the disturbance within the area was before it saw me and the Crystal Lizard fighting....'' As Meng Lin was thinking this Purple was suddenly startled by an aura that shook it to the core, a peak stage rank 2 beast that resembled a cat, no smaller than a foot appeared from behind a crystal spike. The cat was pure white and Its eyes were a striking shade of emerald green, its gaze bore into Purple with an intensity that was impossible to ignore. The aura that the cat released was overpowering, even to a beast of the same rank like Purple, it caused ripples of fear to course through its massive body. The cat held a gaze of playful ruthlessness as it thought ''Another food for the almighty me, this next one should allow me to breakthrough...'' Its attention was drawn to the figure atop its intended prey, a woman in tattered white robes. Her presence was unassuming and so the cat took a step forward. Meng Lin opened her eyes and the cat stopped moving, its body overtaken by fear, all the hair on its body screamed danger. This was a creature unlike anything the cat had ever encountered before. It was a predator, just like him, but there was something distinctly different, something far more terrifying about her. It was a monster. And in that moment, the cat was consumed by a fear it had never known. This was the fear of a prey, cornered by a predator far more powerful than itself. A fear that was amplified when the small beast locked eyes with her, her gaze piercing into the cat''s very soul. The cat knew that it was a special beast from the moment it was born and growing up it commanded respect and fear from all other creatures it had never felt this kind of fear, the only thing coming close to this feeling was when it was gazing at the two overlords of this Artic Crystal Region, ''just what is she'' the cat thought. "Oh, an ancient beast" Meng Lin surveyed the cat curiously, her eyes narrowing as she took in the aura it was releasing. It was an aura all too familiar to her. Meng Lin looked at the cat with an empty gaze and a thought surfaced within her mind all of a sudden, as if noticing the change within Meng Lin, the White Cat bent its legs wanting to escape but it was too late. Puchi! The cat didn''t even have time to jump as its head was suddenly torn through by a beam of light, Meng Lin lowered her finger with the nail missing and opened her palm, storing the beast within her inventory. She closed her eyes and said. "Purple", her voice barely a whisper, "Continue." And so Purple did. It began moving again, its body slithering over the icy terrain with ease. The travel wasn''t far and they arrived at the cave with Meng Lin dismounting from Purple, her body still sore but her spirit undeterred. Storing Purple within the beast garden. Meng Lin walked into the cave. The inside was eerily silent, the sound of her bare foot against the icy ground echoed around her. Meng Lin''s spiritual consciousness spread out in the cave, scanning her surroundings. The cave was filled with crystal ice spikes, reflecting moonlight from small holes above and casting a pale glow around her. As she delved deeper into the cave, Meng Lin noticed something unusual. There, at the far end of the cave, was a giant crystal ice spike, larger and more brilliant than any other in the cave. It pulsed with an energy that Meng Lin could feel, even from this distance. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her body, she walked towards it, as she got closer, the crystal spike''s shine became more intense until it was practically blinding. Once she reached the crystal spike, Meng Lin reached out and touched it. A surge of energy rushed through her, causing her to gasp. It was an overwhelming feeling like a surge of icy water rushing into her veins. In the blink of an eye, the crystal spike shattered, sending shards of ice flying in all directions but Meng Lin remained where she was, her hand still extended toward where the crystal spike had been. In the place of the crystal spike was a small, glowing orb. It pulsed with soft light, casting a glow on Meng Lin''s face. She reached out and picked it up, feeling the aura of the Crystal Serpent within it, she wondered what its purpose was. After sensing no other stuff within the cave Meng Lin allowed herself a small smile, feeling fatigued, she thought for a moment before taking out a small scroll, she walked to the center of the cave and began to set up the soul-confusing array. Within seconds a small fog began to surround Meng Lin before expanding to cover the whole cave, Meng Lin took a deep breath and finally decided to see what this red treasure was all about. Taking out the corpse of the Crystal Lizard Meng Lin placed her hand on the carcass and released her spiritual qi through its body to search for the item. After a few moments, Meng Lin''s hand trembled slightly as she sensed a strong surge of dark energy from the lizard''s stomach. With a quick motion, her hand morphed into a claw, and a chaotic aura surrounded it. She easily tore open the creature''s stomach, revealing an orb that seemed to absorb all light around it, radiating a powerful dark energy. It was the source of the Lizard''s strength, although she suspected this was not the cause of its revivals. She carefully picked up the orb, feeling the chilling cold of the orb through her gloves. The moment her fingers made contact, she felt a sudden surge of danger. It felt as if the orb was alive, and all her instincts screamed of an imminent catastrophe. Feeling the ominous aura, she attempted to store it within the system inventory but was greeted by a panel that she hadn''t seen in a long time. Error The next instant, the orb exploded in a burst of energy, throwing her across the cave. The cave shook violently, as if on the verge of collapse, but it remained stable. When the dust cleared, a small portal appeared where the orb had exploded. A phantom figure of a demonic woman emerged from the portal, her eyes filled with malicious glee. The woman glanced at Meng Lin before looking towards the ceiling of the cave. Above the Crystal Cave, a giant thunderstorm was forming, and the presence of something was approaching rapidly. Meng Lin got up with a look of shock. She couldn''t comprehend what was happening as she felt the imminent threat of death encompassing her. She quickly raised her hand intending to retrieve the Spatial Storm Talisman. However, her actions seemed slow to the woman who raised her hand casually, causing space to bend towards Meng Lin. Who only felt an immense force coming towards her. Boom!!! Meng Lin didn''t have a chance to struggle or scream. In an instant, her body was crushed, reduced to a bloody pulp on the icy cave floor. The demonic woman looked towards the ceiling once more and quickly retreated through the portal from which she had emerged. She was not ready to reveal herself just yet. Outside, the thunderstorm which was growing fiercer, suddenly stopped and abruptly dissipated, returning the tranquil back to the Arctic Crystal Region. 177. Immortal Flesh Meng Lin felt her consciousness awaken where she found herself engulfed by an all-consuming obscurity. Her mind, clouded and disoriented, struggled to make sense of her state. She could not feel her physical existence, her vital energy or qi, and even her spiritual consciousness seemed to no longer be there. Then a sudden realization descended upon her, a horrific understanding of her predicament. "No no...," she repeated in her mind, as if in denial, she was taken over by a surge of terror, grief, and loathing, she grappled with her newfound reality. Her fear was borne out of her current state C the absence of perception, sensation, and existence was wholly alien and daunting. She was a nonexistent entity in the darkness, a thought that sent shivers down her non-existent form. Her ambitions of scaling to the peak of her potential, of witnessing the summit''s offerings were gone, she had always considered herself exceptional C the one with the system, distinguished by her physique, and remarkable because of her wits. But now it''s all for nothing, hatred consumed her. She was filled with loathing for the demonic woman who had attacked her without warning. Had she been in a clearer state of mind, she might have connected the dots. However, the woman''s image was seared into her consciousness, the perpetrator of her demise. Her thoughts then drifted to her companions C the three girls. She pondered their fate and the heavenly oath she had sworn to them, an oath she was now incapable of fulfilling. She thought of her parents, and her life before even coming to the cultivation world. Meng Lin remained in this state of shock, her time perception distorted, however, she felt that 6 entire days had passed, which confused her. This temporal confusion momentarily calmed her down before she started to think straight. She questioned why she couldn''t feel anything and she wondered why she was in this strange state. Logically, she should have encountered one of three post-mortem scenarios. Either she would have been claimed by the heavenly oath due to her inability to fulfill it, or she would have been transported to a form of underworld, such as hell or the land of the dead. Neither of these had occurred. The third scenario was the cessation of existence. However, she retained her consciousness and felt alive, albeit in a weird sense. As she felt another day slip by, she grew increasingly bewildered. She failed to understand her current predicament and sensed that she lost something with the passage of each day. If only she had her spiritual consciousness or her spiritual energy, believing it would provide some solace. However, she was suddenly struck by the realization that she suddenly forgot what her physique was called, she knew that it was linked to chaotic energy, but she couldn''t comprehend why she was forgetting its name. 7 days slipped by, and Meng Lin came to experience another horrifying realization. With the passage of time in this state, she was losing her memories. She tried to devise a plan, but without access to any form of power, her efforts were futile. After the 18th day, she started questioning her own thoughts and memories. She forgot her identity momentarily and a day later, she realized she could no longer feel anything C no emotions, no desires, just an empty entity devoid of purpose. Fear became a distant memory, and she began to question the very nature of her existence. On the 23rd Day, she began to forget her own name. She knew Meng was her family name, but her first name eluded her. She ceased to dwell on it, as she could not find any purpose in thinking anymore. On the 24th day, Meng Lin didn''t think. On the 25th day, Meng Lin didn''t think. On the 26th day, Meng Lin suddenly asked herself out of the blue why she was able to know when a day passed, it became the only thing that she knew of, but with no sense of feelings, she quickly returned to thinking about nothing. Four more days passed and on the 30th day, Meng Lin suddenly saw a bright ray of light that started small before spreading and engulfing her vision. However, instead of showing a reaction to the fact that she was finally able to see light, Meng Lin didn''t react or rather didn''t think about the light as even within this light she could only see darkness. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. **** Crack!! Meng Lin''s pasted body, which had already crystallized on the frozen pavement, began to crack before bursting apart and disintegrating to reform into the figure of a naked Meng Lin standing on the icy floor with her feet touching the icy ground. She felt cold permit her feet and she opened her eyes, vacant and unseeing, and remained motionless for a few minutes, her gaze was dazed and lifeless. Drop!!! Suddenly, she noticed a drop of water splattering on the floor and her gaze followed the droplet, which had now formed a small wet patch on the icy floor, her gaze moved to the tiny crystal fragments on the floor before she expanded her line of sight, noticing white fog surrounding the cave walls. She observed the fog for a few seconds and realized that it was the soul-confusing array that she had set up. she began to think and remembered that the array was effective only on those below the soul-wandering realm, so it wouldn''t affect the Crystal Lizard and the Crystal..," Hmm" Suddenly Meng Lin''s memories returned with a jolt and she covered her face in fright, she couldn''t believe what had just happened. The memories flooded back, overwhelming her senses. She remembered her death and the demonic woman, she also remembered how she was in total darkness. But how was she here now? How had she returned to her physical body? Meng Lin slowly lowered her hands, her mind racing with questions. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself and make sense of the situation. Looking around, she realized that she was still in the cave and the corpse of the crystal lizard was still lying on the floor as if nothing had happened. As she took a step forward, her body felt weak and her muscles protested. It was as if she hadn''t moved in ages, she stopped and suddenly realized that she didn''t have her high-grade robe, not only that, she saw that all the types of equipment that she wore were gone including the storage rings and storage bags. It appeared that not even those survived the attack of the demonic woman, Meng Lin became depressed thinking about all the items that were inside her storage rings, as well as the self-repairing robe that she was so fond of. In the end, she only shook her head and quickly took out a new robe from her inventory, after wearing it she sat down crossed-legged to circulate her qi. Slowly, she felt her spiritual energy awakening, like a dormant flame reigniting within her, as her qi circulated, Meng Lin could feel the familiar surge of qi flowing through her body. She could sense the world around her, the subtle energies that permeated the cave and she no longer felt lost in the darkness. "System," Meng Lin said as she felt that the system might hold the answers to her questions, and just as she had thought panel after panel began to appear before her, some of them dating back to when she defeated the two overlords of this region. [Congratulations for defeating a foe from a realm higher than you] [You have received 3 Taoist gacha wheel tickets] [You have received 1 immortal jade] [You have received a unique skill: Immortal Flesh] Meng Lin was stunned after reading the first panel, she had completely forgotten that she had indeed defeated beasts of a higher realm, meaning that she would be rewarded for that. The last time she defeated a foe at a higher realm she had speculated that if she were to do it again then she would receive rewards and it seems that she was correct in thinking that. ''It''s a skill, not a technique: Meng Lin thought as she realized that she was automatically granted the skill and she didn''t even have to learn it through a book. Thinking about all the information that this skill has Meng Lin was surprised to see a panel clearly explaining the skill in detail. [Immortal Flesh] This skill enables the user to regenerate their body completely as long as they have sufficient time and energy. Regardless of the extent of physical damage, the user''s body can recover to its pre-attack state. Currently, based on the user''s realm the recovery period is 30 days. Limitations If the user''s soul suffers any injuries, this technique is unable to mend them. Secondly, The user cannot regenerate repeatedly within a short timeframe and the length of regeneration increases the stronger the user becomes. Cooldown 7 days. Skill limit Nascent Soul Realm. ''So that''s why I didn''t die'' Meng Lin thought to herself, as a sense of understanding dawned on her. She had been given a second chance at life due to the Immortal Flesh skill that she had obtained. Her body had regenerated over the course of 30 days, leading to her current state. Just as she was pondering over her newfound knowledge, another panel appeared, revealing other achievements and rewards that she received. [Congratulations for understanding 0.02% of the Dao of Death] [Congratulations for understanding the Elemental Qi of Darkness] [Congratulations for having experienced a moment of enlightenment] [you have received a reward for understanding a Dao for the first time] [You have received Taoist 12 gacha wheel tickets] [You have received 4 immortal jades] [received the Low-Grade Sacred Weapon Void-State Tablet] [Do you wish to accept the rewards] For a moment Meng Lin was stunned, she looked at the panels before her in disbelief. The concept of Dao was something that she knows of but also something that she doesn''t understand. In the 500 years of knowledge from the ancestral symbol, she didn''t hear or read about the heavenly Daos, meaning it was something that was way out of her league. The fact that she had comprehended even a small percentage of it was probably the result of the Talent Nurturing Fruit, otherwise, she knew she would not be able to understand even a fraction of it The gacha wheel tickets and the immortal jades were valuable in their own rights however and she was even pleased with the Elemental Qi of Darkness however it was the Void-State Tablet that truly caught her attention. The Void-State Tablet seemed to have gone over the stage of spiritual weapons and into a Sacred Weapon, something even Narscent Soul Cultivators wouldn''t have the chance to see, let alone use. Meng Lin had only heard of one other Sacred Weapon and that was the sect artifact, and even then she didn''t know anything else about it, everything about the artifact was a mystery to her. "Yes" With a mix of excitement and caution, Meng Lin made up her mind. She accepted the rewards, knowing that they came with great responsibility. As she confirmed her decision, a blinding light engulfed the room. When the light faded, a majestic weapon materialized before her. The Void-State Tablet was unlike anything she had ever seen. It was a sleek, black tablet with intricate patterns etched onto its surface. As she knew it would take a long time to refine it, Meng Lin stored it within the system inventory before thinking about the artifact. As she reached out to touch it, she felt a dark aura repelling her hand, as if the weapon not finding her worthy, it made her realize that there seemed to be a presence within the tablet. It was faint and barely there, like a weak flame flickering in the wind. She knew instinctively that it was the spirit of the weapon. It was feeble and only seemed to have instincts rather than thoughts. Meng Lin was slightly taken aback. She didn''t know that there were weapon spirits within sacred weapons, but seeing how feeble it was she concluded that it was not a fully awakened spirit. Nevertheless, Meng Lin didn''t think too much about it, she would have to nurture the spirit until it reached the level of consciousness. She stored the weapon within her inventory and called out once more. "System" 178. 15 Gacha Wheel Tickets [Meng Lin] [Gold Core Stage (late)] [Experience points: 52%] System coin: 18,234 Immortal Jade: 12 Taoist Gacha wheel: available 15x Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] >[Darkness] >[ Heavenly Dao ] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Skills: >[Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin smiled at the updated status panel, noticing the significant changes. The addition of the [Darkness] Elemental Qi and the comprehension of a sliver of the [Heavenly Dao of Death] was expected and she also saw an increase in her percentage from 39 to 52 which surprised her, she expected it to be higher. After all those two beasts were at a higher realm, and Meng Lin felt that if she wasn''t careful back then, she would have been killed easily by any attack that directly connected with her. She clicked her tongue noticing the new skill section, she thought for a moment before focusing on the Gacha Wheel Tickets which caused her heart to beat faster, it was the first time that she saw that many tickets and it made her wonder what would happen if she used all of them at once, if so would the system not bring in new items to replace the refreshed items. She didn''t waste time as a giant wheel appeared before her, each segment representing different rewards. 1. Celestial Thunder Blade 2. Soul wondering pills x5 3. Void Spirit Mirror 4. Shapeshifter''s Mask 5. > Imperial Water Art 6. [system mission] 7. High-grade system pack 8. Superior Booze gift bag 9. Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique 10. Immortal jades x9 11. Spiritual Healing Pill x3 12. Soulbound Amulet of Resurrection 13. Everlasting Lotus Seed 14. Chaos Mountain 15. Essence Absorbing insects x30 Meng Lin''s heart raced as she contemplated the potential impact of using all 15 gacha wheel tickets at once. The idea was both thrilling and daunting, considering the variety of rewards that could significantly boost her wealth and strength. She flicked her wrist, sending the wheel into a whirl of colors and symbols, the wheel spun faster, then gradually slowed, coming to a stop on the High-Grade System Pack, which didn''t surprise you. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. However, the wheel didn''t stop as it spun once more, stopping at something which caused Meng Lin''s eyes to light up in excitement. The Imperial Water Art She had been hoping to get it last time because of its name and now she finally got it, if she pairs that up with her Elemental Water Qi then her fighting power would surely increase. However Meng Lin quickly focused as there was no time to dwell on this success; the wheel was spinning again, fueled by her remaining tickets, and one by one, the wheel selected for her. Soul wondering pills x5 High-grade system pack High-grade system pack Holy Brute Qi cultivation technique Superior Booze Gift Bag Superior Booze Gift Bag Superior Booze Gift Bag High-grade system pack Superior Booze Gift Bag Dark-Gold Spirit Ore x2 Everlasting Lotus Seed Superior Booze Gift Bag Celestial-Thunder Blade After the final spin, Meng Lin took a moment to reflect on her incredible luck and the array of resources now at her disposal, her eyes started burning with greed as she said "Finally". Her gaze was on the Holy Brute Qi Cultivation Technique, wondering if this could be the key to unlocking a new level of strength. With a flick of her finger, she summoned the technique''s manual to her hand, the pages glowing with a faint, golden light. As she held it in her hand Meng Lin wasn''t supposed to see a panel appear. [Discovered Sacred Mid-Grade Technique: Holy Brute Qi Cultivation Technique] [Do you wish to Learn] With a whisper of "Yes," Meng Lin instantly absorbed the knowledge of the Holy Brute Qi Cultivation Technique, a stream of information integrating into her mind with breathtaking speed. She marveled at the technique''s potential for incredible physical strength and holy and brute qi enhancement. However, her excitement soon turned to disappointment when she discovered a crucial detail, unlike the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method, this technique required the Holy Brute Physique, a physique that she does not possess. Despite the wealth of knowledge now in her mind, Meng Lin realized she couldn''t utilize the technique herself. However her mind quickly turned to the Physique Awakening Metal and the Physique Ranking Scroll, she wondered if there was an upgraded version of the Physique Awakening Metal that could change her Physique and upgrade it. She thought that it was certainly possible since she saw a variety of Brute Qi Physiques within the Physique Ranking Scroll. With this thought, Meng Lin shifted her focus, her attention momentarily drawn to the Celestial-Thunder Blade. Celestial-Thunder Blade A top-grade spiritual weapon blade forged from a rare material that captures the essence of the storm. It can summon powerful thunder and lightning at the wielder''s command, making it a fearsome tool in battle. Meng Lin thought that it was not bad, considering that it was a top-grade weapon, if the weapon proved useful then she would use the weapon enhancement token on it, upgrading it into a sacred weapon. Next, her gaze went to the Dark-Gold Spirit Ore and the Everlasting Lotus Seed. She knows about the Dark-Gold Spirit Ore, it''s a rare material coveted by blacksmiths just like the rootless fire because it presents an opportunity to forge or enhance powerful top-grade weapons, or quasi-sacred weapons. The Everlasting Lotus Seed on the other hand was a mystery to her, she hadn''t heard of it before, so she quickly summoned it and read its description. Everlasting Lotus Seed A seed of the Everlasting Lotus, one of the thirteen primal lotus. Once planted within a pond it can grow and bloom with five leaves which wither and regrow after a certain amount of time, each leaf can be plucked and used for various refinements, exponentially increasing the success rate. Meng Lin felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of what the Everlasting Lotus Seed could mean for her. Not only would it provide an endless resource for her alchemy practices, but the boost in refinement success rates could significantly advance her capabilities in her Blacksmith as well. Meng Lin decided to prioritize finding a suitable environment to plant it however she also realized that it had to be a place not accessible to most people. For it to grow fast It would need a place rich in spiritual energy and possibly other specific conditions to thrive. Considering her current resources and environment, she pondered the feasibility of creating such a place within her sect''s domain or finding an existing one that could be adapted to suit the lotus''s needs. With a plan beginning to form, Meng Lin also recognized the need to enhance her strength and capabilities to protect herself, she considered herself lucky to be able to survive the last encounter with that demonic woman, and she intended to not make the same mistake. Meng Lin turned her attention to the last two rewards, the superior booze gift bag as well as the high-grade system pack, counting all of them in total she saw that she had five superior booze gift bags and four high-grade system packs. superior booze gift bag x5 Understanding the value of the two, Meng Lin chose to open the superior booze gift bag first and see what she would receive. As soon as she said yes to opening the gift bags Meng Lin saw 12 small panels appear, showing her all the items from the gift bag. [You have received the Mid-Grade Body Purifying Booze] [You have received the High-Grade Blood Essence Booze] [You have received the High-Grade Intoxication Booze] [You have received the Mid-Grade Spirit Enhancement Wine] [You have received the Low-Grade Soul Wine] [You have received the Mid-Grade Vitality Boosting Brew] [You have received the High-Grade Mind Clarity Brew] [You have received the Mid-Grade Body Purifying Booze] [You have received the Low-Grade Wine of Fireheart] [You have received the Mid-Grade Wind walker''s Ale] [You have received the Low-Grade Starlight Mead] [You have received the Mid-Grade Thunder Pulse Liquor] Meng Lin was astounded by the variety and quality of the booze she received from the gift bags. Each bottle contained potent liquors that could significantly enhance her cultivation or provide unique benefits, as she knew the value of such items, she carefully stored them away, intending to keep them for special occasions.p She realized that if she used the rewards from this booze gift bag well then she might be able to create a force of cultivators that could help her with various smaller things, at the rate that she was growing she knew that the three girls wouldn''t be able to be of much help directly. high-grade system packs x4 Next, Meng Lin focused on the high-grade system packs, her curiosity piqued about what treasures they might hold. With a feeling of anticipation, she said yes to opening them, and one large panel appeared before her eyes, revealing the contents. [You have received 18600 system coins, 940 middle-grade spirit stones, High-Grade Fire Ore x5, Crystal of Pure Yin, High-Grade Sword Formation: Heavenly 7 Sword Style, 4 immortal jade, Realm Condensing Pills x16, Soul Nurturing Fruit, 400 beast forage] As Meng Lin looked at the astonishing amount of resources now laid out before her, a surge of ambition and excitement coursed through her veins. "With these," she thought, a purple gleam in her eyes. The High-Grade Fire Ore and the Crystal of Pure Yin particularly caught her attention. Holding the fire ore in her hand, she mused, "The heat and energy emanating from this ore... It''s potent enough to forge a top-grade weapon of the fire attribute." She then shifted her gaze to the Crystal of Pure Yin, its cool, serene light contrasting sharply with the fire ore''s intensity, she wondered how much her cultivation would improve if she cultivated with the crystal. The High-Grade Sword Formation: Heavenly 7 Sword Style intrigued her since she had never truly witnessed a sword formation with her own eyes, however, she knew that most ordinary cultivators find themselves overwhelmed when dealing with sword formations, it''s mostly useful for dealing with a group of cultivators. The Realm Condensing Pills are similar to the realm solidifying pills and the Soul Nurturing Fruit should be able to heal and mend soul injuries however for how much it can do, Meng Lin didn''t know. With a deep breath, Meng Lin centered herself, her resolve hardening, she realized that with the amount of resources available to her, she could reach the Soul Wondering Realm in one go. However she didn''t think to verify her theory, she knew that these treasures, while immensely valuable, also painted a target on her back, ''I must proceed with caution'', she thought, recognizing the need for strategic thinking beyond the immediate boon of cultivation breakthroughs. "It''s not just about my power," Meng Lin reflected, her thoughts brewing. Determination etched into her face, Meng Lin began to plan. "First, visit that city and identify these talismans. Then for my cultivation, leveraging the Realm Condensing Pills and the Soul Nurturing Fruit as well as the boozes, I should be able to reach the very peak before leaving this world through the Spatial Storm Talisman" Her heart raced at the thought of what lay ahead. "The path of the Spatial Storm Talisman should be pretty dangerous too however, if I use the Realm Traveler''s Map well then I should be able to go back to the Blood World with little difficulty." With the thought of the danger ahead, Meng Lin suddenly realized that these resources before her were merely tools in her quest for immortality. With them, she can carve out her destiny, forge her path, and perhaps, one day, stand at the pinnacle of the vast, unfathomable cosmos. However, if she were to lose her life before she could even use them then she could only blame herself for her incompetence. Sigh, Meng Lin sighed before closing her eyes to meditate and clear her mind of these thoughts, she had to keep calm and plan ahead. 179. Li Family Talisman Masters After Meng Lin sorted out all her belongings, she couldn''t help but be sad again after realizing how much of a loss she suffered. all the spirit stones that she had within her storage rings were gone not to mention other items that she didn''t feel the need to put within her inventory. Her mind-calming tassel was destroyed and even the High-Grade Shifting Essence Robe which has self-repairing properties was destroyed, It''s a good thing that she had spare clothes within her inventory otherwise she wouldn''t have anything to wear after she came back alive. Even though the system could replace all those items, Meng Lin still felt that she suffered a loss, for that reason she decided that from now on she would only put disposable things within her storage rings. Step! Arriving outside the cave Meng Lin soared into the air, heading towards the city that she passed by a month ago, as she flew through the sky, the wind caressed her face and she couldn''t help but reflect on the events up to now. The recent encounter with a powerful enemy had left her with a bitter taste of defeat, something she doesn''t know how to respond to, she knew that there would be setbacks within her journey however she didn''t think it would be this distasteful. As she approached the city, Meng Lin decided to land nearby and walk the rest of the way there, with no shoes on Meng Lin wasn''t bothered much as she surrounded herself with a thin veil of qi, not allowing any direct contact with the ground. After walking for a few minutes Meng Lin entered the city gates, under the weird gazes of the guards. Taking in the bustling streets filled with normal humans, Meng Lin was slightly surprised as she could only see a few talisman masters based on the small aura they were emanating. The air was thick with the scent of incense and the sound of chanting filled her ears, she made her way through the city, her steps light and graceful. Unlike the usual cultivation cliche, Meng Lin wasn''t approached by anyone, only gazed upon weirdly from time to time as she walked through the city, she eventually arrived at a restaurant and entered after much contemplation. In the restaurant, the atmosphere was different noticeably. The interior was dimly lit, with hanging lanterns casting a soft glow over the wooden tables and chairs. The chatter of patrons and the clinking of dishes created a lively backdrop. Meng Lin found a quiet corner to sit in, where she could observe and wait without drawing too much attention to herself. As she settled in, a waitress promptly approached, offering her a menu filled with an array of dishes that Meng Lin found both familiar and exotic. Despite the loss of her items and the reflection that weighed on her mind, the prospect of a warm meal in this cozy setting brought a small comfort. Meng Lin ordered a simple meal, opting for dishes that seemed comforting and nourishing. As she waited, her thoughts wandered to the talisman masters within this city. Within her spiritual consciousness were 4 slightly powerful talisman masters based on their auras, of course slightly powerful within Meng Lin''s eyes were earth-grade Talisman Masters. All four auras were from the four different corners of the city, probably four different families that hold similar powers and are competing for the ownership of this city. Based on the feel of their auras Meng Lin concluded that they should be old men that are about to reach the end of their lifespans. Of course, Meng Lin didn''t know if her assumption was truly accurate so she could only wait and see if her guess was somewhat correct. "Everyone out" A sudden command cut through the ambient noise of the restaurant like a sharp knife, silencing conversations mid-sentence and causing a ripple of a shock to travel through the place. Heads turned to the door, seeing a middle-aged man standing by the door of the restaurant, "the head of the Li Family" Murmurs and whispers filled the air as the crowd hastily took their things and exited the restaurant, it was the Li Family that owned this restaurant after all and all of them knew the consequences of going against the four great families within the city. It wasn''t just inside the restaurant as outside, the streets quickly buzzed with speculation. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "Why would the Li Family clear out their restaurant like that?" "Something big must be happening, i think I saw two Earth Grade Talisman Masters just enter along with the Head of the Li Family, but who was the old man" "You idiot, you don''t know, that man is the patriarch of the Li Family, a legend among Talisman Masters. They say he''s reached the pinnacle of Earth Grade and is on the verge of breaking through to the Sky Grade. If he''s here, this is no small matter." The crowd''s whispers grew louder, their theories more audacious as they dispersed, leaving the street outside the restaurant eerily quiet compared to the usual hustle and bustle. Inside the now-empty restaurant, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation as the old man approached Meng Lin with a steady gait, his aged voice carrying caution with it, "I am here." He spoke with an ancient language, a language Meng Lin recognized. Meng Lin, her expression unreadable, gestured to the seat across from her, "Take a seat." She said with much difficulty. As the old man settled down, the two Talisman Masters positioned themselves discreetly nearby, their eyes sharp and alert. The head of the Li Family remained standing, his gaze fixed on Meng Lin with a mixture of curiosity and respect. ''It seems my theory was correct after all'', Meng Lin thought after using her spiritual consciousness to scan the old man more. "Why have you called me here" the old man asked, his aged voice betraying worry and doubt mingled with intrigue. Meng Lin paused, her eyes locking with those of the old man, She understood what he said as she had learned the language of this world somewhat from old man Liu, however not being a native her speech sounded alien somewhat. However she needed information and she needed to identify the golden talismans, so she could only go to someone knowledgeable about that, this old man appeared the oldest so she chose to transmit her voice to him, threatening him to come or be killed, under threat no one would be thinking about language barriers. Meng Lin leaned forward slightly, her eyes meeting the old man''s gaze. "Relax, I just want your help with identifying some things," she replied coldly. The old man raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued as he noticed the way Meng Lin was speaking however he was more concerned about other things. "Are you a sky-grade Talisman Master or perhaps even a Heaven-grade talisman master?" he asked, his voice filled with worry because that had to be the only explanation for what happened to him. Meng Lin neither confirmed nor denied it, maintaining her composed demeanor. Instead, she continued speaking while taking out a single Golden Talisman. "Do you know what this is?" she inquired, holding it up for the old man to see. The old man''s eyes widened as he examined the talisman closely. "This... This is a Celestial Harmony Talisman," he said in awe, his voice filled with reverence. "It is an extremely rare and powerful talisman known for its ability to harmonize the spiritual energies of the surroundings onto one''s self." Meng Lin nodded, satisfied with his answer. "Thank you for confirming," she said with a hint of gratitude in her voice. "Now I''ll take out twenty-nine more talismans and if you can identify all of them then I will let you live but if not then I will kill you" The old man''s face stiffened and the middle-aged man and the two Earth Grade Talisman Masters also showed expressions of shock and disbelief, they understood the threat expressed, furthermore for someone to have such a collection was unheard of, even among the most storied talisman masters. The old man, now fully aware of the gravity of the situation and the extraordinary individual before him, nodded solemnly. "I will do my best," he promised, recognizing the seriousness in Meng Lin''s tone. As Meng Lin began to take out the talismans one by one, laying them on the table, the old man leaned forward, his eyes scanning each talisman with a mixture of fascination and intense focus. The room was silent, save for the occasional shuffle of talismans and the old man''s murmured identifications. Each talisman was a marvel in its own right, bearing inscriptions and energies that were beyond the comprehension of the three Earth-grade talisman masters. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the old man identified the last talisman. He sat back, his energy spent but his eyes gleaming with a renewed vigor, he seemed to be having an epitome "All of these talismans are Sky Grade, and rare even amongst them" he said, his voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and excitement. Meng Lin nodded, taking in the old man''s words. "Thank you for your assistance," she said, her voice conveying a sense of gratitude. "As promised, your life is spared." The old man nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. He knew that he had just skirted the edge of death, but the opportunity to witness such a collection made it worth the risk. Meng Lin then turned to the others in the room. "Let this meeting be a secret among us. If I hear a whisper of this outside, I will know who to find," she warned, her tone leaving no room for argument. The middle-aged man and the Earth Grade Talisman Masters nodded in agreement, fully understanding the consequences of crossing someone who is most likely a Sky Grade talisman master. "And, I need a place temporarily and I want access to your library." Meng Lin asked the old man with a smile. "Of course," the old man replied, his voice reflecting a mix of eagerness and caution, although he didn''t know why she was asking for such things, he recognized the potential benefits of allying with such an individual "You may use the private library of the Li Family. It contains books and scrolls that have been collected over generations, including rare texts on the world and the mysteries of talisman crafting. I will ensure you have complete access and the privacy you require." The middle-aged man, head of the Li Family, stepped forward. "I will prepare the best courtyard for your stay and make sure that you are not disturbed," he said, bowing slightly to show his respect. Meng Lin didn''t expect things to go this smoothly but after thinking about it she knew that after witnessing the display of Sky Grade talismans, it was only natural for the Li Family to accommodate her requests. The strategic value of forging a relationship with someone of her capabilities far outweighed any potential inconvenience or risk. 180. Investment Huff! Meng Lin exhaled while feeling the first ray of sunlight barely peeking over the courtyard walls, casting a serene glow over her tranquil surroundings. The courtyard, chosen for her by the Li Family, was a small, secluded space, surrounded by high walls covered in flowering vines and moss. A single plum tree stood at its center, its blossoms drifting slowly to the ground, painting the stone path with shades of soft pink and white. Meng Lin, seated on a simple mat beneath the tree, had been meditating since yesterday night, she had just finished consuming the third realm Condensing Pills and she felt her realm was even more stable than ever. She was disappointed with the matter yesterday so she decided to focus on her cultivation. Yesterday after she was granted access to the secret library of the Li Family she went to see what she would learn about the world. However she forgot about the difference in language between her and this world, although there were some books within the library that she could read, they didn''t provide any substantial information that she needed. With the realization of the language barrier impeding her progress in understanding the deeper mysteries of this world, Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel a twinge of frustration. "System" [Meng Lin] [Gold Core Stage (late)] [Experience points: 57%] System coin: 36,832 Immortal Jade: 16 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [ Heavenly Dao ] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: ~Black Tortoises~, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] Meng Lin turned her attention inward, examining her system interface for any potential solutions or aids that could help bridge the gap between her and the wealth of information within the library. she checked the system market however she didn''t find anything helpful to her in that regard, on the other hand, the Immortal Jade market seemed to have something that could solve it however its price was three immortal jade. Although she had the means to buy it Meng Lin wasn''t going to buy it, after all it is difficult to get even a single immortal jade, and she didn''t want to waste it on something like this world''s knowledge, she would be leaving very soon anyway. Given her current resources, Meng Lin considered several actions, actions that would benefit her more, she has over 36 thousand system coins and 16 immortal jades. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The system Market and the immortal Jade market were the areas she intended to focus on and so Meng Lin explored the System Market and found 14 items of various prices that interested her. 1. Ancient Spirit Seal Union: 5,000 system coins 2. Heavenly Qi Pill: 2,500 system coins 3. Low-Grade Bloodline Exchange Token: 1,000 system coins 4. Spirit Enhancement Stone: 800 system coins 5. Middle-Grade Realm Advancement Elixir: 7,000 system coins & 4 Immortal Jades. 6. Mystic Frost Heart: 3,500 system coins 7. Thunder God Vine: 4,000 system coins 8. Nine Heavens Soul Dew: 6,000 system coins 9. Sacred Grade Low-Tier Elemental Qi Convergence Method: 10,000 system coins & 5 Immortal Jades. 10. Aptitude Advancement Stone: 9,000 system coins & 6 Immortal Jades. 11. Primeval Sea Barrier Crystal: 18,500 system coins & 8 Immortal Jades. 12. Ethereal Lotus Seed: 12,000 system coins 13. Primordial Meteorite: 7,000 system coins 14. Immortal lotus Robe: 4,500 system coins Meng Lin pondered her options, weighing the benefits of each item against its cost. Her primary focus is further stabilizing her realm and preparing for the breakthrough to the next stage. It was that focus that made her choose items that offer the greatest return on investment in terms of cultivation advancement and overall strength enhancement. First was the Middle-Grade Realm Advancement Elixir, it is perhaps the most crucial item for Meng Lin. From its description, she understood that as long as she was at the peak of her realm then this item would help her through into the next realm at once, she realized that now was the best chance to take it since its limit was below the Soul Wondering Realm, so it wouldn''t work if she tries it within the Soul Wondering Realm. Second was the Sacred Grade Low-Tier Elemental Qi Convergence Method, This cultivation method could significantly enhance Meng Lin''s abilities since she has plenty of elemental qi however because her main cultivation Method was the Black Tortoise Essence Art, she focused on the water elemental qi even though she has 2 others, now that she has 4 elemental qi, if she were to condense them into one attack, the results would be devastating. Furthermore, the Cultivation Method is vastly more powerful than the Low-Grade High Tier Black Tortoise Essence Art that she was currently using, she doubts that there are any others like it. The next one was the Ancient Spirit Seal Union, just like the Elemental Qi, the two Ancient Spirit Seals etched on her skin were not used by Meng Lin more than she would have liked to, the problem was the Black Tortoise Spirit Seal which still hadn''t recovered. However Meng Lin still holds the Black Tortoise Shell within her inventory, the shell she received from Yao Jian, the scarred-faced man she saved from the lighting tribulation. Since she received it she has not truly understood the energy signature within it, however, she felt that once her aptitude advances, then her comprehension would also advance, allowing her to understand the energy within the shell and use it to fuel the Ancient Spirit Seal. That''s where the Aptitude Advancement Stone comes in, the description of the stone states that it has the capability of increasing one''s aptitude, and what comes with aptitude is comprehension speed, cultivation speed, technique proficiency, and energy control. After all that she would be left with 5,832 system coins and 1 immortal jade, Meng Lin decided that she would then use the remaining system coins on the Low-Grade Bloodline Exchange Token and the Immortal Lotus Robe. Although the limit for the Bloodline Exchange Token was the Soul-Wondering Realm, Meng Lin still decided to buy it and see if she could exchange the bloodline of the Crystal Serpent with Purple''s Rattle Serpent Bloodline. As for the Immortal Lotus Robe, it was made from the fibers of one of the primal lotuses, as its name suggests the Immortal Lotus Robe has a unique ability to regenerate both itself and the user, of course, there is a limit but Meng Lin was more interested in its ability to absorb a portion of natural spiritual energy, providing a constant source of power when one is running dry. She wanted to buy the Primeval Sea Barrier Crystal but she knew that she first had to go through to the next stage and solidify her realm before once again breaking through to the Soul Wondering Realm, she hoped that the rewards from the breakthrough would be enough for the purchase of the Primeval Sea Barrier Crystal, thus ensuring her protection. Done with her thoughts, Meng Lin wasted no time and immediately began buying item after item, quickly bringing her system coin down to 332. Within a flash of light, the items emerged and Meng Lin began to scrutinize them with both her spiritual consciousness and her gaze. There was a small red token(Bloodline Exchange Token, a purple stone(Aptitude Advancement Stone), a small white tube(Realm Advancement Elixir), a cultivation manual(Elemental Qi Convergence Method), a slate with a beast mark(Ancient Spirit Seal Union), and a small white Robe( Immortal Lotus Robe). The first item Meng Lin decided to use was the Aptitude Advancement Stone. Holding the purple stone in her hand, she could feel a faint, pulsating energy emanating from it, it reminded her of the Talent Nurturing Fruit that she had eaten before. Closing her eyes, she channeled her Qi towards the stone, activating its power. A warm sensation spread through her body, starting from her palms and infiltrating every part of her being. The stone''s energy worked to refine her spiritual roots, enhancing her natural aptitude for cultivation. When the process was complete Meng Lin opened her eyes and felt a noticeable improvement in her perception. And when she tried to use her Qi she felt the efficiency with which she could absorb and manipulate Qi, even the weird energy within the air was being absorbed by her and slowly turned to qi. "Wow," Meng Lin cupped her fist, feeling a refreshing calm aura traveling through her body. She turned her attention to the Elemental Qi Convergence Method manual with a smile, she intended to see how much her comprehension had improved. Flipping through its pages, Meng Lin was immediately struck by the depth of knowledge and the complexity of techniques described within. This method would allow her to harmonize her diverse elemental Qi types, merging them into a more potent and versatile force, she felt that it would take approximately 5 days to completely study the manual. It surprised her as based on her experience, it would take more than 40 days if she tried to learn it before she took the Aptitude Advancement Stone. [Discovered A Sacred Grade Low-Tier Manuel, Elemental Qi Convergence Method] [Do you wish to Learn] "Yes" As Meng Lin made her decision to learn the Elemental Qi Convergence Method, a surge of information flowed into her mind. The cultivation method''s intricacies, techniques, and the essence of harmonizing elemental Qi unfolded before her inner eye. It was as if the knowledge had been a part of her all along, now merely unlocked and ready to be utilized. The process was intense but enlightening. With her enhanced aptitude, Meng Lin grasped the concepts and techniques at an unprecedented pace. She could feel the elemental Qi within her responding to her newfound understanding, becoming more vibrant and eager to merge under her command. As she circulated the cultivation method, the different elemental Qi within her, be it water from the Black Tortoise Essence Art, or the variant elemental Qi, all began to intertwine and resonate, forming a powerful ball of pure white energy that traveled throughout her dantian. With each circulation, Meng Lin''s control over her elemental Qi grew stronger and she felt that she could now effortlessly converge the four types of elemental Qi she possessed, creating attacks of devastating power. The impact of the Aptitude Advancement Stone was undeniable. Not only had it accelerated her comprehension of the Elemental Qi Convergence Method, but it had also refined her control over her Qi, making every action more efficient and potent. The weird energy of this world that she once barely noticed was now a part of her arsenal, subtly enhancing her abilities. With the Elemental Qi Convergence Method now a part of her, Meng Lin turned her attention to the remaining itemsthe Bloodline Exchange Token, the Ancient Spirit Seal Union slate, and the Immortal Lotus Robe. Each held the potential to further elevate her capabilities, and she was eager to see what they could achieve. 181. Complete Mayhem While Meng Lin was busy with rapid advancements within the Qiankun World, a storm was brewing within the Luan Continent. **Luo Kingdom** **Thousand Mountains Range** At the entrance of the Nether Cloud Domain was the large crack that was emanating the aura of the Nether Cloud domain, the aura had already spread and turned the surrounding areas of the cliff into the familiar environment of the Nether Cloud Domain. Thump!! Suddenly from within the seemingly tranquil crack emerged a pulse that reverberated all over the cliff, the crack enlarged and suddenly transformed into a grotesque gate. A deafening silence enveloped the area, and with a bone-chilling creak, the gate slowly glowed, and from within, monstrous figures emerged. Their forms were twisted and distorted, radiating an overwhelming power that seemed to penetrate deep into the earth, turning the environment into a complete dead zone. As if endless, thousands of grotesque monsters poured out of the gate, with over a hundred monsters at the Rank 3 stage and some at the peak and half-step stages of Rank 4. Roar!!!!! Hundreds of roars echoed through the thousand mountains range as the grotesque creatures began to roam about, affecting the environment at an alarming rate, dozens of lone cultivators that were unfortunate enough to be within the perimeter were killed, and even some Gold Core Cultivators weren''t spared. ROAR! From the depths of the grotesque gate, a monstrous figure that dwarfed the others in both size and aura stepped forth. Its many eyes, glowing with a sinister light, scanned the horizon, and its presence alone seemed to cause the very air to tremble. This monster''s body was covered in glowing red eyes and gaping mouths that oozed with an otherworldly slime, the back of the monster was 10 meters jagged spikes that towered over the sky, and silver-white formations coiled around its body as if a guardian of the secrets that the monster held. "FINALLY, I am free!" The creature''s voice boomed, resonating with an otherworldly power that caused the lesser monsters to bow in instinctive reverence. Its form shimmered with the dark energies of the Nether Cloud Domain and its voice shook the entire Thousand Mountains Range. As the creatures spread out, the Thousand Mountains Range, once teeming with life and verdure, quickly succumbed to devastation. Trees withered, streams dried up, and the very soil seemed to decay under the corrupting influence of the invaders. Shrill!! This shocking invasion of monsters was not just happening within the Luo Kingdom, it was happening all across the continent. The four other entrances toward the Nether Cloud Domain had transformed into a grotesque gate and thousands of monsters began to pour out. From the monstrous gates, several dozen monsters had rank 4 aura and a shocking few had reached the early and middle stages of the 5th rank, however, no monster emerged that held the same aura as the behemoth from before. **** In a secluded realm, in another dimension nestled within the heart of the Luan Continent, the Central Region, there lay the opulent halls of The Palace, and amongst these many halls, there was one that stood out for its grandeur. This grand hall was dominated by a single, magnificent throne, upon which sat an old man with white hair, his eyes were closed and his head rested on his fisted hand, he spoke. " What do you three think" The question, directed into the void of the grand hall, seemed to reach beings not visible within the confines of the hall. "Should I interfere" Suddenly a woman''s voice sounded in the empty hall, her voice calm with not the least bit urgent. The old man, Venerable Luan, kept his eyes closed and spoke up, not answering the woman but rather questioning one of the others "Ling Tian, your foresight has always guided us well. What do threads tell you?" Ling Tian, Emperor Eternal Fate, spoke up while allowing his spiritual senses to reach out into the domains of fate. "Just as before, someone is actively interfering with the threads, I cannot see the outcome of this invasion" The woman spoke up once more. "Divine Soul Ancestor and Divine Sage Ancestor, do you think it would be those two" "It is highly likely," the last man to speak, Emperor Golden Sun said with a voice carrying a hint of contempt. "Their thirst for power knows no bounds, and their actions have always been shrouded in mystery." Emperor Eternal Fate spoke up once more. "No, it is not them, because they are experiencing the same thing, those at our level can only ask the threads for help, it''s impossible to do anything more, thus it should be one of them, a higher realm cultivator" Venerable Luan''s eyebrows furrowed deeply at this revelation. "A Nihility Realm Cultivator intervening directly? The Void Star alliance wouldn''t allow it." The woman, known as Empress Night Sky spoke up with urgency now in her voice. "Then we must report it, Father Emperor should be told immediately." Eternal Fate Emperor spoke up once more, his spiritual consciousness shaking slightly "There is more to this than meets the eye. The threads are entangled, twisted in a manner I''ve not seen before. There are bigger hands at play than just a Nihility Realm Cultivator." The room fell into a heavy silence, each contemplating the implications of his words. Amid this contemplative silence, a ripple of silent energy, subtle yet unmistakable, coursed through the grand hall. "That Nether Monster is regaining his cultivation base," Emperor Golden Sun said, his voice carrying a hint of battle might. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Venerable Luan finally opened his eyes, and his gaze seemed to be piercing into space itself as he declared. "Then it is decided," his voice resonating with the authority of age. "We must not only inform Father Emperor but also take proactive measures, but for now it is better not to act rashly. Let''s observe, the other ancestors and emperors should be aware of this too" As the council of the highest echelons within the secluded realm concluded their meeting, the air in the grand hall shimmered, returning to its previous state of silent grandeur. Outside, the realm seemed oblivious to the brewing storm, its beauty and tranquility undisturbed. **** Meanwhile, all over the continent, various forces were banding together to fight the monsters that began to invade the surroundings, various third and fourth-rank sects joined forces and formed temporary alliances, understanding that the threat they faced was unlike anything they had encountered before. In the southern region of the Luan Continent, within the Jin Kingdom, the rank 4 Azure Dragon Sect, known for its formidable water-based techniques and control over the vast lakes and rivers, became a sanctuary for refugees fleeing the monstrous tide. Under the leadership of Sect Master Liang Peng, the sect''s disciples worked day and night, reinforcing barriers and setting up defensive arrays around their territory. They also sent out elite teams to rescue as many people as they could from the surrounding areas, earning them the gratitude and respect of countless souls. To the west, within the Huang Kingdom where mountains reached up to touch the sky, was the Golden Summit Sect, renowned for their Sect Master Zhou Ming, a cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. The sect had gathered dozens of Narscent Soul Realm Cultivators to lead an attack against the Rank 5 monsters that appeared near their territory. In the thick of the battle, Sect Master Zhou Ming stood atop the highest turret of the Golden Summit Sect, his robes billowing in the wind stirred up by the clash below. He raised his hand, and the Elemental Qi of the earth around the monsters rose in spikes, impaling several of them. "Today, we defend not just our sect, but our very way of life!" Sect Master Zhou Ming said, his voice carrying over the din of battle. The sect disciples around responded with a roar of approval, their morale boosted by his commanding presence. Beside him, Elder Yun, another Narscent Soul Realm Cultivator of the sect, arrived before the sect master, with clear worry in his voice. "Sect Master, that weird monster has decimated the eastern flank!" Zhou Ming''s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the battlefield. Without hesitation, he replied, "Awaken the Sect beast, I don''t believe that he can survive against a Half-Step Ensoulment Realm Beast. This battle is not lost yet!" Elder Yun''s eyes widened at the command, understanding the gravity of the situation. To awaken the Sect Beast was a measure reserved for the direst of circumstances, for its power was immense and not without cost. Yet, the determination in Sect Master Zhou Ming''s voice brooked no argument. "Yes, Sect Master!" Elder Yun bowed deeply and hurried off to carry out the command. **** Meanwhile, back in the east, within the Luo kingdom the Celestial Maiden Sect, another rank 4 sect was under heavy siege, they were the closest to the Thousand Mountains Range thus the most in need of help. Sect Master Qiu Lin, a vision of grace even amidst chaos, directed her disciples in the defense of the sect. Her voice was calm but carried an undercurrent of fierceness. "Focus on reinforcing our illusion barriers. We must buy time for the reinforcements to arrive." Turning to address her inner circle, she commanded, "Gather all disciples and prepare the Heavenly Mirage Array. If we have to use our blood essence then so be it" **** While similar things were happening all across the continent, the powerful forces within the background also began to enact their plans. On the northern side of the continent, the Yuan Kingdom was also experiencing the same thing, although not as much as the other kingdoms because of its location furthest away from the Nether Cloud Domain. At this time, within the Origin Cave Mountain of the Huanxia province, a few miles south of the Raging Flames Sect were the bandits. The Golden Fang Bandits, under the leadership of Jin Xue, were quick to exploit the chaos wrought by the monstrous invasion across the Luan Continent. Their plan was ambitious and ruthless, aiming to plunder the resources and treasures of various sects while these forces were preoccupied with the larger threat. Gathering within his throne room, the bandits inner circle listened intently as Jin Xue outlined the strategy. "First and second-rate sects will be our primary targets. They possess substantial resources, yet their defenses are spread thin due to the crisis." "Once we''ve secured enough loot from these sects, we''ll turn our sights on the third-rate sects. They''ll likely be even more chaotic, and by then, we''ll have increased our strength significantly." "And then, the capital," he declared, his voice steady, betraying no hint of doubt, "if everything works out then we''ll also be able to find that traitor, Xue the Silent Blade." Jin Xue''s plan was met with eager nods and murmurs of approval from his inner circle of 3 subordinates. Each member understood the gravity of the situation and the potential benefits of this ambitious plan. As the meeting adjourned, the bandits began to mobilize, sending out scouts and raiding parties with precise instructions. The three subordinates of Rui the Shadowblade, Li the Iron Fist, and Mei the Serpent Tongue began to enact the plan, using swift strikes and merciless tactics, becoming an even greater threat to the already beleaguered sects of the Luan Continents. Amidst the turmoil of the bandits was the figure of a woman and a young man in ancient robes, demonic horns adorn their heads and they traveled through battlefields gathering the dead bodies of cultivators and monsters alike. **Luan Kingdom** **Configuration Sect** While many sects within the Central Region of the Luan Continent were in turmoil, the configuration sect like The Palace remained undisturbed, the sect only called back its disciples and elders outside of the sect, closing all contact to the outside world. Within one of the many sect mountains of the configuration sect was a man in a pure white robe, his eyes shone red with a gleam like ruby and he was holding a delicate teacup, sipping slowly, seemingly unaffected by the chaos that enveloped the Luan Continent. This man, known as Emperor Thousand Face, was the Sect Master of the Configuration Sect. As he placed the teacup down, his gaze shifted towards the east horizon, where dark clouds swirled ominously, a clear indicator of the turmoil that the continent was facing. Yet, his expression remained serene, almost contemplative. By his sides were the two disciples Ren Luo and Shang Juan, both of whom watched their master with a mix of admiration, curiosity, and fear. Lord Yuan, or rather Emperor Thousand Face finally spoke, his voice calm and even, "This invasion, while catastrophic, is but a prelude to the greater upheaval that is to come." Ren Luo, always the more inquisitive of the two disciples, couldn''t help but ask, "Master, what is the mission, shall we go and retrieve that girl once more within this chaos." Shang Juan continued, his voice steady, "We will get her to come over once she sees the hostage within my pagoda" he pointed to his waist where a small pagoda hung. Emperor Thousand Face smiled faintly, his gaze seemingly seeing the outcome of such moments. "No, I have found a better use for her, she was not the reason I caused this chaos" He stood up, his white robe flowing as if imbued with the essence of the wind itself. "Ren Luo, Shang Juan, you shall go to these coordinates at these times, and drop a blood essence of all of those whose faces are on these scrolls" With a gesture of his hand, a scroll appeared before flying Towards Shang Juan, who quickly took it and unfurled it, after they both memorized the faces within the scroll, it was set ablaze and the two bowed deeply, a sense of purpose igniting within them. "We understand, Master. We will not let you down." As the two turned to leave, Emperor Thousand Face gazed towards the horizon with his ruby eyes, his gaze was of someone contemplating and his thoughts held a mystery. 182. Soul Wondering Realm Meng Lin, adorned with a clear white robe sat amidst a dozen bottles of booze with her eyes shut tight. Inside her, a storm brewed, each breath she took seemed to resonate with the surroundings as she quickly digested the last of the potent qi within her. Then, a sudden calm washed over her, like a warm blanket over her body. She opened her eyes, feeling clear-headed and accomplished, she had finally broken through to the peak of the Gold Core Realm. With a satisfied grin, she glanced around at the lingering energy in the air as well as the dozen bottles on the floor, she had been surprised at how fast that she was able to break down the energies within the bottles, knowing full well, what just 2 of these bottles did to her before. It was no doubt due to both the sacred grade cultivation method and aptitude advancement stone, In that moment Meng Lin theorized that she could breakthrough into the Soul Wondering Realm without even relying on the realm advancement elixir, at most, it would only take a couple extra days rather than hours, it was only a pity that the elixer would become useless if she doesn''t use it now otherwise she wouldn''t mind proving her theory. "Now," she declared, her expression turning serious. Meng Lin laid out eight realm-condensing pills before her, contemplating the uncertain foundation that awaited her post-elixir consumption. It was better to be safe and fortify her realm first before anything happens. Without a moment''s hesitation, she swallowed the pills one after the other. Each pill dissolved into a surge of power that flowed through her veins, converging on her dantian. The pills'' sole purpose was to solidify her realm further, enhancing the luminosity of her golden core as it absorbed the pills'' energies. As the last pill dissolved, her body''s energy field underwent a significant transformation. The surrounding air pulsed with vibrancy as the essence of her qi danced around her. Meng Lin, now in a deep meditative state, became absorbed in concentration, unaffected by the passage of time and the movement of the sun across the sky. When she opened her eyes, the world appeared anew, with a purple hue to her gaze Meng Lin reasoned that the core within her had consolidated enough. Meng Lin then retrieved the Realm Advancement Elixir. This small white elixir, shimmering with potent energy, was her gateway to new power, it was a treasure that would move even Narscent Soul Cultivators. Holding the elixir before her, she familiarized herself with its energy, which responded by emitting a shimmering light. With clear determination, Meng Lin opened the lid and poured it into her mouth in an instant. Gulp! An explosion of energy engulfed her, initiating the process of a breakthrough at once, feeling the sudden action by the elixer, Meng Lin was glad that she had consumed those realm-condensing pills, otherwise, she would definitely have a shaky realm once she entered the Soul Wondering Realm. ''This elixer immediately begins the process without making sure that you have the right amount of energy within your body'' Meng Lin thought, she also didn''t overlook the fact that the elixer might not have gathered more energy since she already had the necessary amount of qi within her dantian. Nevertheless, Meng Lin felt her body transforming, gathering all her Qi towards her dantian. This transformation was both exhilarating and daunting. Her consciousness was drawn into her dantian, where she witnessed her golden core''s evolution. The core absorbed all her energy as well as the elixir''s energy before shattering and reforming into the figure of a small white ball of light, within this ball of light appears to be an infant, marking the emergence of her soul and her entry into the Soul Wandering Realm. Meng Lin''s soul, which she couldn''t perceive before had transformed into an infant within a small white membrane, allowing Meng Lin to finally be able to interact with her soul. She felt the soul as if her hand and feet and she immediately explored her newly formed realm, as if instinctual the infant within the white membrane opened its eyes and suddenly Meng Lin''s vision changed. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Within her vision was the small white membrane and she stretched out her hand to touch the membrane only to feel resistance, she suddenly understood something before she felt dizzy and closed her eyes. Suddenly, her vision was pulled back into her body, and her eyes fluttered open to a world that seemed more vivid and alive. Standing, she felt an indomitable strength coursing through her veins, a testament to her successful breakthrough. As the elixir''s energy dissipated, leaving behind only a sense of peacefulness. A profound form of qi now coursed through her, purer and more potent than anything she had ever experienced before. With each breath, she could feel the robust strength flowing through her body, and the strength gave her confidence. "Haa" Exhaling deeply, Meng Lin suddenly sensed something and rose to her feet, her eyes traveled to the sky as thunderstorms began to form over the city. "Should''ve known" Meng Lin said as she observed the gathering storm clouds with a hint of playfulness, however, the atmosphere grew heavy and she felt an impending sense of danger causing her expression to turn serious. Boom! From the thunderstorm came a streak of thunder that struck with a deafening sound that reverberated through the air. Meng Lin stood her ground, her body rooted firmly to the ground. With a calm demeanor, she channeled her qi, allowing it to flow smoothly through her spiritual veins. As the lightning bolt neared, she raised her hand, palm outstretched, and with a concentrated effort, grasped the bolt with a surge of her own energy. Exerting force within her palm, Meng Lin tore through the thunderbolt which left streaks of lightning shimmering in the air. Boom! Another thunderbolt descended, its brightness stronger than the previous one, however, Meng Lin remained unfazed as she once again caught the bolt of lightning, before crushing it within her palm. Boom! Boom! Boom. Three thunderbolts, almost simultaneous, unleashed their fury upon Meng Lin as if heaven were not pleased with her nonchalant attitude. Meng Lin this time didn''t use the same approach as before, instead she released her spiritual qi outward to overlap anything within her surroundings while leaving her body bare for the heavenly tribulations. Boom!! Her body tensed as she felt the thunderbolt''s stinging effects, closing her eyes she began to immerse herself in the bath of lighting, she was perceiving a subtle bit of Elemental Qi within the bolts of thunder. As she didn''t intercept this attack midway, the surroundings also suffered the same wave of intense thunderbolts, however with her qi overlapping everything within a hundred meters from her, the buildings remained unaffected by the surge of thunderbolts that headed their way. Rumble!!! The sky darkened further as if accepting Meng Lin''s challenge, the air around her crackled with raw, unbridled power. The citizens of the city, having noticed the unusual weather and the relentless assault of thunderbolts on the Li Family home, gathered in small groups, whispering and speculating about the cause of such phenomena. "Have the heavens turned against the Li Family?" one of the onlookers murmured, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and excitement. At a different part of the city, another exclaimed, "Wow look!" pointing toward the Li family, "What''s going on". The voices in the city grew louder, however the howling noise of the thunderstorm drowned out much of their speculation. The city''s attention had shifted to the Li Family home, where a new, mysterious phenomenon was unfolding. Meanwhile, inside the Li Family residence, elders and disciples alike were in a state of shock. "This...is this is a sign from the heavens," one of the elders gasped, his eyes fixed on the sky above. "It''s coming from the isolated courtyard, what''s going on" Amidst the family members only the Family Head and the patriarch of the family held a solemn expression, "is this the doing of that woman" the old man thought as he gazed at the thunderbolts. Back in the center of it all, Meng Lin continued to let the thunderbolts strike her body, the seventeen bolt struck and Meng Lin''s body began to suffer injuries, her arms and legs began to show signs of serious burns, and her breathing became labored. Despite the pain and the physical toll it was taking, Meng Lin''s spirit remained unbroken. With every bolt that struck her, her determination only seemed to grow stronger, her resolve hardening like steel. As the 18th thunderbolt gathered, Meng Lin finally opened her eyes, "this is the last one" she said with disappointment as a massive thunderbolt, more formidable than any before, streaked across the sky, illuminating the surroundings in a blinding light. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed, and her mind sharpened. She raised her hand and bolts of thunderbolts began to crackle around her arms and she gathered a large amount of Qi before shooting out with her own bolt of qi. If you look carefully you would notice how similar the bolt of qi appeared like a heavenly tribulation. Boom!!! The resulting explosion shimmered through the air, dissipating the lightning''s force and reducing it to harmless sparks. Meng Lin retrieved her spiritual qi, in slight disappointment, she had intended to see if she could learn the Elemental Qi of lighting through this endeavor however it proved unfruitful. "Well at least I learned something from getting all these burns" Meng Lin raised her arms and immediately saw the Immortal Lotus Robe begin healing her body, "but I wonder what is this feeling I have right now," she said as she noticed the feelings of danger still within the air. Releasing her spiritual consciousness outwards Meng Lin was instantly alerted as she looked back up into the sky only to notice an eyeball looking back at her. She was frozen and under the scrutinizing gaze of the eyeball, she felt completely naked. However, before Meng Lin could react further or analyze this mysterious presence, the eyeball vanished as abruptly as it had appeared, leaving no trace behind in the sky. The sudden disappearance of such an ominous entity did little to ease Meng Lin''s unsettled feelings. If anything, it intensified her wariness. She stood there for a moment, the remnants of the thunderstorm swirling around her. "Who or what was that?" she murmured to herself, however, she couldn''t come to any conclusions. Shaking off the eerie feeling, Meng Lin decided not to dwell on the incident for too long. Given the lack of immediate threat, she knew it was more important to focus on her current tasks ahead. "Now I..." Meng Lin was about to say something when all of a sudden system panels began to appear before her. [Congratulations for reaching a new realm, you have received rewards for your achievement] [You have received Soul Wondering pill x1, Top Grade System Pack] [The system has been updated, and the daily mission function has been unlocked] 183. Traversing Back "Oh, I nearly forgot about this," Meng said, a hint of amusement in her voice as she looked through the panels floating in front of her. She already has 5 Soul Wondering pills from the Gacha Wheel so she didn''t really care about getting one more to her collection. And as for the daily missions, she would have to see what rewards come with the missions otherwise she might not pay attention to them. What really got her eyes sparkling with anticipation was the Top Grade System Pack, she was able to get the unique grade fortune ring when she opened her first High-Grade System Pack, so she began to wonder if it was just by chance or if the first time opening any system pack is special. But then again, when she first opened the beginner system pack she didn''t receive anything special, the same could be said for the intermediate system pack, however, the rewards for that one were plenty, and that''s how she got the egg of Purple after all. Top Grade System Pack Looking at the small package floating before her Meng Lin tried not to dwell on the past as she said "yes", waiting to see the results herself. As the pack opened, a dazzling array of light spilled out, revealing its contents: [You have received 10,260 system coins, 590 middle-grade spirit stones, Unique Grade item: Soulbound Amulet of Resurrection, Immortal Jade x2, 300 beast forage, Gacha Wheel Ticket]. "Oh, I never even considered the possibility of this" Meng Lin said as she saw the rewards of the top-grade system pack, her system coin and spirit stones had doubled, which didn''t surprise her much, it was the unique grade item that surprised her. The soulbound amulet of resurrection was an item within the system Gacha wheel, she didn''t think she would receive it within one of the rewards of the top grade system pack, and she was even more shocked that it was a unique grade item. Opening the system menu Meng Lin immediately went to the Gacha wheel and found that the item was not there, she wondered if it was because of its unique grade that there was not another one of it or something else. She also saw the new items that replaced the old ones but she didn''t pay them much mind as she intended to leave this place first, she still wasn''t feeling safe after witnessing the eyeball in the sky, she could see the Li family members coming towards the courtyard as well and she wasn''t in the mood of interacting with them. ''It''s a bit of a letdown that I wouldn''t be able to get the Primeval Sea Barrier Crystal which costs over 18,000 system coins & 8 Immortal Jades, but that''s to be expected''. Meng Lin thought, however she was already happy to receive the unique grade item, it might come in handy within the Primeval Sea. "Now!", Taking out a talisman which glowed with an intense energy, Meng Lin looked at the surroundings before flying high up into the sky. injecting qi into the Spatial Storm Talisman, Meng Lin was startled when the space before her distorted and a small black sphere materialized, the sphere didn''t take even a fraction of a second before it rotated with so much force that Meng Lin didn''t have time to react as she was swallowed instantly. **** Meng Lin opened her eyes to a familiar sight, the tumultuous, swirling colors of a Spatial Storm were swirling around her, she found herself in the eye of a Spatial Storm. The Spatial Storm Talisman had worked, and within the eye of this Spatial Storm Meng Lin suddenly felt that she could somewhat control the direction of the spatial storm through the Spatial Storm Talisman within her hand. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Haa!! Meng Lin sighed in relief as she realized that she was safe for the time being, if it were not for the big eye that appeared after her tribulation she would not have been in such a haste to leave the Qiankun World. Now that she was within a Spatial Storm Meng Lin could clearly feel large amounts of elemental qi swirling around her, the Qi of space seemed to be the directing force of this Spatial Storm. She marveled at the thought of learning such a unique elemental qi however she quickly threw the idea at the back of her mind, the Primeval Sea wasn''t exactly a safe place so she had to leave here as soon as possible, she thought. Recalling the layout of the Primeval Sea from the realm traveler''s map etched into her memory, Meng Lin began to release her spiritual consciousness, which entered the Spatial Storm Talisman, quickly allowing her to see the outside of the spatial storm. As Meng Lin released her spiritual consciousness, she observed the chaotic and mesmerizing scene outside the spatial storm. The swirling colors of the sea created a captivating dance of elemental strands of energies. The vibrant hues of blue, purple, and silver intertwined and clashed, forming intricate patterns that seemed to stretch into infinity. Within the storm, Meng Lin could see glimpses of an otherworldly landscape, she caught sight of towering mountains made of crystal. It appears that she had stumbled upon a hidden realm, Meng Lin quickly used a feature of the Realm Traveler''s Map, marking the mountain so that she could find it anytime later on. The reason she did that was mainly because of the primordial sea itself, everything is constantly moving within this sea, so if she were to return here in 10 or 100 years, she might not see this mountain here. As for why she didn''t try to enter this mountain, it was because it was way out of her league, from some of the notes within the realm travelers map, Meng Lin knew that you have to be at least within the Ascension Realm to enter the sea to explore, and that was just the minimum requirement. Thinking about such a realm, Meng Lin couldn''t help but think of Luang Chen, slight pain and hatred emerged within her eyes before she shook her head, she had to focus. With the realm traveler''s map guiding her, she used her spiritual consciousness to navigate through the sea, she could feel the Spatial Storm moving at a fast pace, ripping through any obstacles along the way and heading towards a certain place. As the storm carried her towards her destination, Meng Lin began to make preparations, taking out the Soulbound Amulet of Resurrection, Meng Lin couldn''t see its description but she guessed that it only needed a drop of blood at the center of the amulet to activate. Meng Lin focused her thoughts and injected a drop of her blood into the amulet. The moment her blood touched the amulet, a surge of energy rippled through her body, connecting her essence with the amulet. The amulet suddenly burned and turned into dirt within her hand, however she felt its presence on her soul and it added another layer of security for her. Hmm!! Meng Lin suddenly sensed something within her spiritual consciousness as she saw a giant weird looking beast in front of her, the only word she had to describe it would be that it was very large, she felt like a speck floating right next to it, even within the large Spatial Storm. The beast appeared to be sleeping, it was curled up together and every breath that it takes seems to reverberate the whole area around it, space distorted and the Primeval Sea chunked. Meng Lin quickly took control of the spatial storm talisman, directing it around the beast. The swirling storm might not have touched the massive creature, but it still stirred in its slumber and its eyes slowly opened to reveal a piercing gaze that sent a shiver down Meng Lin''s spine. She realized the beast was looking at her, and the spatial storm covering her seemed to not exist within the beast''s gaze, Meng Lin''s heart raced as she waited for what the beast would do, however after looking at her for a moment it went back to sleep, as if not bothered by her presence. Relieved but still wary, Meng Lin did not waste any more time lingering around the colossal beast. She directed the Spatial Storm Talisman to increase its speed, propelling her further into the Primeval Sea. The encounter with the beast had been a stark reminder of how insignificant she was in the vastness of this primordial world. It also made her wonder about the countless mysteries and dangers hidden within its depths. As she moved, the chaotic beauty of the Primeval Sea continued to unfold around her. Strands of different qi clashed and merged, creating spectacular displays of natural power. The sea seemed alive, and she began to wonder how it came about. After traveling for a few days or so, the Spatial Storm Talisman began to slow, as Meng Lin began to recognize the area, although every area of the sea seemed to resemble the same, Meng Lin saw that the golden trail left by the Realm Breaking Crystal was still present, it''s beginning only a few minutes away. As her destination was near. Meng Lin began to feel emotional, she had not realized it before but she felt incredibly lonely, especially after the betrayal of Luang Chen. She couldn''t help but think about her future, was leading a life like this what she truly wanted, a life of loneliness? What would she do when she reaches the top, why does she desire to reach the top so much, would the sight above really be that pleasing? These thoughts plagued Meng Lin as she navigated the swirling currents of the Primeval Sea. It seems like the betrayal by Luang Chen had left a deep wound, one that wasn''t easily healed by time or distance. He was truly the only person she had a sense of companionship with, and it caused a bitter smile to form on her lips, when she first began her journey she realized that the more companions one has the more tragedy one would go through but now she realizes that the more one isolates themselves then the more lonely they feel. Meng Lin suddenly realized that her quest for power was not just about reaching the top or seeking revenge, she should not desire the top for the view it offered but for the journey it represented. The golden trail led Meng Lin to a secluded area of the Primeval Sea, where a small crack floated within the sea and the energy of the Realm Breaking Crystal filled the area, this was the place where she originally entered. 184. Grave News On an island where the air is thick with spiritual qi, a wave of red qi pulsated from the center, turning into a wave that traveled through the island. Amid this dense atmosphere, an old man sat cross-legged on the ground. His eyes were firmly shut, not in meditation but in a deep state of alertness, his spiritual consciousness had extended far beyond the island, and he was looking at the monsters beyond. Roar!! Surrounding the island, a multitude of rank two and three monstrous creatures hurled themselves against an invisible barrier, they all had grotesque forms and released threatening aura, yet they could not breach the shield that protected this secluded island. At the heart of the island, a wave of red Elemental Qi was unfolding, enclosed within shimmering feathers of a deep, resplendent red, a figure stirred from her crossed-legged cultivation. The feathers, belonging to a phoenix, trembled and parted, revealing the girl enshrouded within. Wei Luan, with her wings majestically spread, opened her eyes, a smile gracing her face. She had finally reached the 6th layer of her Crimson Phoenix Technique. Descending gracefully to where the old man sat, Wei Luan''s expression was one of pure joy, yet it quickly shifted to confusion upon noticing the chaos at the island''s edge. "Old man, what happened outside?" Wei Luan''s voice was laced with concern and curiosity as she gestured towards the barrier, beyond which the monstrous horde raged futilely. The old man opened his eyes, his gaze meeting hers first with joy and then a weight of solemnity. "Congratulations my princess, you have taken another step in cultivation, your mother would surely be proud" He quickly answered her question "It''s been a month since your seclusion and a lot has happened" he continued. "The venerable has summoned you. It appears that creatures from an ancient dimension have invaded the continent. Many sects have fallen, and this Scattered Island Region is already evacuated." "I feel the aura of the Nether Cloud Domain, was it due to the breach back then" Wei Luan said as she remembered back to her experience within the nether dimension. "Yes it is as you have said princess, I do not know the specifics however it is likely due to the cracks that formed from the dimension" the old man answered. Wei Luan nodded. "If father was the one to issue the order then the situation must be grave. We should not delay." Whoosh! As Wei Luan finished speaking a sudden gust of wind swept over them, drawing their attention toward the sky where a sudden black orb emerged. The orb suddenly spun and exploded with a blinding light, a figure was violently tossed out of the orb and crashed onto the island, just a few dozen meters from the two. Wei Luan and the old man held a mix of surprise and caution as they noticed a person slowly getting up from a cloud of dust. Before them, the dust settled to reveal the figure of a young beautiful girl enrobed in a clear white robe. Her face was serene yet marked with a hint of exhaustion. Her eyes, filled with an intense purple hue, scanned her surroundings before finally locking onto Wei Luan and the old man. Setting aside the girl''s beauty which she considered just a bit inferior to her own, Wei Luan, with her crimson-colored eyes noticed the girl''s aura. It was unlike anything she had encountered before. A potent mix of ancient power and untamed energy radiated from the newcomer, intertwining with her body that seemed to devour spiritual qi within the air. "You, you have a physique?" Wei Luan said as she noticed something within her storage bag reacting to the person before her, within her storage bag was a talisman that her father had given to her, Its sole purpose was to identify someone with Luan''s soul. The girl, Meng Lin straightened her posture, her expression calm and composed. "I do, how did you know," she said, her voice carrying a hint of weariness "Huh" Meng Lin suddenly sensed something and turned her focus towards the edge of the island. "Those are..." Releasing her spiritual consciousness she saw the monsters beyond the island and she was surprised as she had an encounter with them, they were monsters from the nether cloud domain. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "I was given a talisman," Wei Luan said as she noticed a surprised expression on Meng Lin''s face, she continued "A talisman by my father, designed to resonate with those who have a Luan''s Soul" She didn''t mind saying so as it was common knowledge to anyone who truly knows vulnerable Luan. Suddenly Wei Luan''s gaze hardened, "your surprised expression leads me to believe that you just emerged from some sort of secret realm" Meng Lin''s gaze sharpened, a flicker of recognition passing through her eyes. "Indeed, I did," she said, her voice steadying as she gathered her thoughts, choosing to not say anything else. "Princess, I believe you should introduce yourselves" the old man at the side, interjected. Although he seemed to have said it in passing, he was curious about the background of the person before them, this person just like the princess had reached the early stage of the Soul Wondering Realm. "Oh, where are my manners? I am Wei Luan, a princess of the Palace and daughter of Venerable Luan. And this," she gestured to the old man beside her, "is Elder Ming, my mentor and protector. May I inquire who you are and from whence you come?" Her tone was polite yet carried an undercurrent of authority, befitting her status. Meng Lin''s eyes raised at the introduction, the Palace. It seems like there are a lot of rising stars from that place. "I am Meng Lin, a direct disciple of the Soul Shattering Sect, nice to meet you." Her voice was smooth and her posture was relaxed even after realizing who stood before her, she chose to say the truth since there was a bit of friendship between the two sects. Wei Luan''s interest was piqued as she turned to the old man who suddenly blurted out in surprise "The Soul Shattering Sect?" Elder Ming''s surprise quickly morphed into a look of concern as he said. "The Soul Shattering Sect... I have heard recent news that your sect is currently facing off against the Scarlet Demon Sect. Their disciples were ordered to immediately return to aid in the conflict. Have you received such orders?" Meng Lin''s serene face tightened slightly, the news came as a surprise to her. "No, my sect token was destroyed within the secret realm" A sect war? she wondered as she began to think about what this implied. Wei Luan suddenly asked the Elder Ming in confusion, "Old man, didn''t you say that the whole continent was facing an invasion, why the heck are those two sects squabbling" "It was because Divine Sage Ancestor of the Soul Shattering Sect was badly injured after receiving a very strong attack from a weird rank 6 monster of the Nether Cloud Domain." "Rank 6 monster?" Elder Ming nodded solemnly. "Yes, a rank 6 monster from the Nether Cloud Domain. It was an unprecedented threat that caught the Soul Shattering Sect off guard. The Scarlet Demon Sect took advantage of their vulnerability and launched an attack, seeking to exploit the situation for their gain." Wei Luan''s eyes widened with understanding. "So, the conflict between the two sects is a result of the chaos caused by the invasion. The Scarlet Demon Sect saw an opportunity to weaken their rival while they were already dealing with the aftermath of the monster''s attack." Meng Lin listened intently, her expression growing more serious. "The Soul Shattering Sect''s Divine Sage Ancestor... Is their condition critical?" Elder Ming nodded gravely. "Yes, the Divine Sage Ancestor suffered severe injuries, leaving the sect in a vulnerable state. If it wasn''t for the Divine Soul Ancestor stepping in then the sect might have been destroyed" Meng Lin''s gaze hardened with determination. "Then I must hurry and return to my sect, you said the whole continent was facing an invasion, does it have to do with those monsters outside the island" Wei Luan nodded in agreement. "Indeed, we have to return as well. Luckily for you, there is an ancient teleportation formation that the Palace has found on an island a few miles from here, you can use that to return to your sect" Wei Luan''s words seemed to echo with urgency. "But before we proceed to the teleportation formation, we must address the immediate threat at our doorstepthe horde of monsters laying siege on this island." The old man, Elder Ming, stood up, his robes fluttering as if caught in an unseen wind. From within his sleeve, he slowly drew out a talisman, its edges frayed yet pulsating with a potent energy. With a grave expression, Elder Ming turned to Wei Luan and Meng Lin. "Once I break this talisman, the barrier will be gone, we will pave a path through these beasts and head for the teleportation formation." Wei Luan and Meng Lin shared a look of understanding, their eyes mirrored each other''s. They took their positions beside Elder Ming, ready to face the impending onslaught. With a solemn nod, Elder Ming crushed the talisman in his palm. A brilliant light erupted from his hand, spiraling upwards and expanding rapidly. The invisible barrier that had protected the island began to shimmer violently before dissipating entirely, leaving the island exposed. The moment the barrier fell, a cacophony of roars filled the air as the horde of Rank 3 beasts, emboldened by their newfound access, charged with a frenzied vigor. Though each beast individually posed little threat to Soul Wondering Realm cultivators, their sheer numbers made them a formidable swarm, turning the battle into a war of attrition. Wei Luan, her phoenix wings unfurled to their majestic span, leaped into the air. "Swish!" Her movements were swift, leaving trails of blazing fire in her wake. "HAA!!" With a cry that melded into scorching air, she incinerated the nearest beasts with her scream, flapping her wings, she flew out of the hoard, heading towards the distance. Following behind her was Elder Ming and Meng Lin who was slightly impressed by the display of the princess, although she could also scream and turn any rank 3 beast into dust, it would require a large amount of qi to do so. roar!!! Monsters continued to attack from all sides, however, with the fire formed by Wei Luan, most monsters that came too close were incinerated. Occasionally a few peak stage or half-step Rank 3 monsters would emerge through the flame trail however Meng Lin only needed to raise her hand to use an Elemental Qi, slashing and disposing of them. By the side, Elder Ming was surprised at the pure elemental qi within Meng Lin''s attacks, the feat that she was showing was beyond anything a normal cultivator at the early stage of the Soul Wondering Realm was capable of. As the trio made their way through the horde of monsters, their synergy became apparent. Wei Luan''s fiery onslaught from the air created a path, while Meng Lin''s precise strikes dealt with any that managed to breach the fiery barrier. Elder Ming, with his late-stage Soul Wondering Realm Cultivation just occasionally released powerful talismans that exploded amongst the beasts, causing chaos and destruction. As they traveled for a few miles, an island came into view and the intensity of the attacks lessened. The monsters, sensing a potent ancient energy emanating from the island, hesitated, their instinctual fear of ancient powers holding them at bay. Reaching the island, they flew through some trees before arriving at the teleportation formation, Elder Ming took the lead, his hands moving in intricate patterns as he activated the ancient mechanism, quickly setting the coordinates for Meng Lin. The formation hummed to life, its runes glowing with a vibrant light that pierced the dim surroundings, Wei Luan turned to Meng Lin with a smile. "Good luck, and I hope we meet again" Meng Lin nodded, her eyes reflecting the fire and determination she''d seen in Wei Luan. " thank you" Elder Ming''s voice broke their brief exchange, "The formation is ready. Miss, step forward." With a deep breath, Meng Lin stepped into the formation. The runes under her feet pulsed, and a beam of light enveloped her, then, with a flash, she was gone. Wei Luan and Elder Ming also didn''t stay for long, after setting up the coordinates for the Palace, the two quickly stepped through the formation, disappearing from the island altogether. 185: Core Manifestation: Solar Majesty In the outskirts of the forgotten forest, lay an ancient platform that seemed to not be damaged by time, Upon the teleportation formation, intricate designs suddenly began to glow as if awakened by an unseen force, the floor of the platform shimmered with a dazzling light and from the shimmering light, a figure emerged. Meng Lin, not feeling disoriented by the teleportation formation, looked around, realizing the familiar environment, it was the forgotten forest. "Hmm!!" Suddenly a voice sounded from behind Meng Lin who turned to see an old man floating in the air, with a piercing gaze, the old man said "Disciple Meng Lin!" Meng Lin quickly recognized who it was, "Division Head Zheng" she wondered what the division head of the Martial Arts Mountain was doing here but she realized that it was probably on the orders of the sect to guard this teleportation formation. Division Head Zheng was momentarily stunned by the aura of the girl before him. "You, what happened to you, your cultivation" Meng Lin took a moment to assess herself. "I had an encounter within a secret realm," she said, her voice steady. Division Head Zheng floated closer, his eyes narrowing as he took in the changes in Meng Lin. "This is no small feat. Your aura... And you''ve leapt across realms, that is good," he observed and said with a mixture of astonishment and happiness. Meng Lin nodded "I was informed about the sect''s condition and the Divine Sage Ancestor''s injuries, can you tell me what the situation is now, my sect token had broken within the Secret Realm" The Division Head nodded, his piercing eyes turning to the distance, "it''s as you''ve heard, our sect has taken heavy blows, however after our last confrontation, the Scarlet Demon Sect also suffered a heavy blow, we''ve both retreated to recuperate and strengthen our defenses. The situation is at a stalemate, neither side making a significant move." He sighed, "The Divine Sage Ancestor is still recovering. His injuries were severe, and it will take time for him to regain his full strength. In his absence, the sect has been cautious." Meng Lin''s eyes raised as she spoke. "I understand, but what are you doing here" Division Head Zheng looked at Meng Lin his eyes glowing before he spoke, glancing around the ancient platform. "This teleportation formation is crucial for our communication and movement between strategic points. We suspect the Scarlet Demon Sect has been trying to locate and interfere with them" "I see, then I''ll return to the sect immediately" Meng Lin said after gathering her thoughts. Division Head Zheng nodded." You will surely be paid attention to by the higher ups after your return," he then continued, taking out a talisman "there is a giant killing formation covering this area, this talisman will make sure you''re not affected by it" Meng Lin took the talisman, examining the complex runes etched into its surface. "Thank you, Division Head Zheng." Division Head Zheng waved his hand and said "another thing, thr Scarlet Demon Sect has been bold since the beginning of this conflict, some of them have hidden within the vicinity of the sect, you might encounter some, on your way back, so be careful" Meng Lin nodded before bringing up her qi, quickly taking off and flying towards the distance. As Meng Lin soared through the sky, the landscape below her transformed rapidly. The dense foliage of the Forgotten Forest gave way to the more familiar terrain near her sect''s domain. Her mind was preoccupied with the news about the Divine Sage Ancestors condition and the ongoing conflict with the Scarlet Demon Sect. She wondered what the sect would do if anything were to happen to the Divine Sage Ancestor. As she had a vow towards the sect, if she were to get called to action then she would surely have to go even if the sect was facing a losing battle. Oh! Lost in her thoughts Meng Lin suddenly noticed how quiet the place was, not the silence of nothingness but rather the emptiness of monsters, she had assumed that all parts of the continent would house some form of monsters but she didn''t even feel the Qi of the nether cloud domain here. Had the sect set up a barrier around it''s domain or were they fighting and holding the monsters off from entering the region?. She adjusted her qi to speed up her journey, eager to return and truly find out how the sect was doing, suddenly, a flicker of movement caught her eye. Meng Lin came to a halt, her eyes gazing far towards her left. From a distance of 30 miles Meng Lin squinted her eyes to faintly see three men fighting, two wore the white robe of the sect while the other wore black robes, the attacks that they released told her that they are within the Gold Core Realm. She raised her eyebrows as she noticed that one of the white robed men seems to be attacking alongside the black robed man against the other white robed man. She contemplated whether a sect disciple had betrayed the sect and if she should go help as she could see that the fight had reached a stalemate where neither gained the upper hand. After thinking for a bit she flew towards the fight at a fast pace, utilizing the Formless Cultivation Method to lower her presence to that of an ants. She flew fast, covering a couple miles every ten breaths and after a few moments Meng Lin finally got a good look at the three individuals fighting. ''This is surprising'' Meng Lin thought lightly as she recognized all three individuals fighting, the black robed man was Zhang Wei, the Scarlet Demon disciple that she encountered when she first entered the dead zone of the Nether Cloud Domain, he was within the Middle Stage of the Gold Core Realm now. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. He is a master of shadow manipulation, likely unlocking the elemental Qi of shadow, his abilities are annoying to deal with as he merges with his shadow to escape whenever he desires. What made Meng Lin really surprised was the other individuals, one was the Gold Core Cultivator who had threatened her when she helped out an outer sect disciple, the young blacksmith with sect points, Ruan Lee. The other individual was precisely that young man Ruan Lee, he had gone from a nobody in the Qi gathering Realm to being a Gold Core cultivator in less than two months. Meng Lin was truly surprised, she couldn''t help but go back to her amused thoughts of the young man being a protagonist character. As Meng Lin approached the three fighters, she observed their movements closely. Zhang Wei''s shadow manipulation skills were formidable, allowing him to evade and counter with precision. The guy who had threatened her also seemed to be in the Middle Stage of the Gold Core Realm, his abilities are fire related and he seems to primarily use qi to attack. Ruan Lee, on the other hand, exhibited a purple lotus which increased his strength and control over his qi, his attacks were displaying a level of skill beyond his Cultivation Realm of the early stage, it made Meng Lin surprised as he was able to content with two cultivators one realm higher than him and he wasn''t on the losing end. With a mix of curiosity and wonder, Meng Lin finally arrived, her form materializing in the battlefield as she descended gracefully, her presence catching the attention of the three. "You!!!" All three voices sounded, both in surprise and apprehension, her sudden arrival had been truly unexpected. "Seems like I''ve stumbled upon something interesting," Meng Lin remarked, her voice cool and collected. The air around them seemed to still and flow with her voice. Zhang Wei, with his mastery of shadow manipulation, was the first to recover from the surprise. A sneer formed on his lips as he said, " It''s you, one of the soul shattering sect''s rising stars" Ruan Lee, still in shock from Meng Lin''s sudden appearance, quickly regained his composure. His expression was one of worry and confusion, his eyes flickered when they landed on her and he said "you should leave this place, return to the sect and inform the sect elders", he naturally can''t see the cultivation level of Meng Lin so he gathered the best method for both of them. He reasoned that since she was in the foundation establishment realm the last time they met then she would at most be within the early stages of the Gold Core Realm, if she were to participate in this battle, she would at most slow him down. Meng Lin turned her attention to Ruan Lee, noting the significant change in character. "Junior Brother Lee, it seems you''ve had quite the change since we last met, your aura is... intriguing." Before Ruan Lee could respond, Meng Lin shifted her focus to the other white-robed man, whose allegiance seemed questionable at best. "And you," she said, her tone slightly colder, "seem to have forgotten your allegiance to the sect." The man, Wei Han hesitated, before suddenly chuckling and snorted, "hump, what allegiance to the sect, the sect is not what i hoped and my talents are being wasted under their command." "Rather than that, shouldn''t you be worrying about yourself, you refused to apologize before and now you''re playing judge, it seems you truly don''t value your life" His proposition was cut short by Meng Lin''s sharp laugh which filled the air with sudden tension. "What''s so funny" Wei Han demanded, his voice laced with irritation and a growing sense of unease. Meng Lin''s gaze was piercing, her laugh subsiding into a smirk. "What''s funny is how you think you have talent to move the sect, do you think your talent will shine within the Scarlet Demon Sect. That''s laughable since you clearly don''t have any talent" Wei Han''s face reddened, his anger boiling at Meng Lin''s words. "Bitch! I''ll kill you" His aura surged and he said "Core Manifestation: Solar Majesty." Thump!! Suddenly the whole area brightened and a giant sun appeared overhead, casting intense heat and light across the battlefield. Within 50 meters of the Sun, the earth scorched and intense heat permitted the air, Ruan Lee squinted his eyes and felt an insane burn on his body, he raised his aura and delveged deep within himself, as if looking for something. "Come on, awaken" he said as he tried to unlock his Core Manifestation, it was the only way that he could both survive and save Meng Lin who he felt gratitude for. His aura was beginning to shift when he suddenly heard a phrase which made him stop in his track, "is that all" Meng Lin''s voice, clear and unfazed, cut through the oppressive heat like a cold breeze. Ruan Lee, his concentration broken, turned towards her, the urge to unlock his Core Manifestation momentarily forgotten. He saw Meng Lin standing calmly, no protective barrier around her, yet it appears as though she was untouched by the intense heat. Wei Han, on the other hand, was pouring all his energy into maintaining the giant sun, his face twisted in a grimace of effort and anger. The sight was surreal, the immense heat causing waves of distortion in the air around them, yet Meng Lin stood serene. Realization suddenly hit Ruan Lee as he realized the thought of needing to save her now seemed naive. Here she was, not just surviving the onslaught but appearing to be unaffected. Meng Lin''s next actions were swift and precise. With a slight movement of her hand, a pulse of corrosive qi radiated from her hand, headed towards Wei Han. Wei Han, already strained from maintaining the giant sun, barely had time to react. His eyes widened in horror as the corrosive qi, a dark, sinister energy that seemed to corrode the light around it, approached him. He attempted to muster his defenses, but the intensity of Meng Lin''s attack was beyond anything he had anticipated. The corrosive qi hit Wei Han with the force of a tempest, tearing through his defenses as if they were made of paper. His screams filled the air, a chilling sound that echoed across the battlefield, before being abruptly silenced. The giant sun overhead flickered and vanished as Wei Han''s energy dissipated, leaving no trace of him behind except a charred mark on the ground where he once stood. Ruan Lee and Zhang Wei, who had been preparing for a strategic retreat, froze in shock. The battlefield, moments ago a stage for their conflict, had turned into a stark silence of Meng Lin''s overwhelming power. Meng Lin turned her gaze towards Zhang Wei, her expression was calm but her eyes reflected decisiveness. Zhang Wei, sensing the imminent danger and realizing the shift in power dynamics, made a split-second decision. His body flickered, merging with his shadow in an attempt to escape the battlefield and avoid Meng Lin. However it was futile, Meng Lin extended her hand and a surge of her corrosive qi covered the ground, quickly turning the area of a hundred meters into a dead zone. "Ahh!!" From underneath Ruan Lee, a scream was heard as the corrosive qi acted like a predator, tracking Zhang Wei within the shadow of Ruan Lee, the corrosive qi enveloped his shadow form, causing more screams to echo through the shadow of Ruan Lee. Aughh!! The shadow writhed and twisted, trying to escape the shadow, but it was like trying to move in a muddy water. Within moments, the shadow stilled, and Zhang Wei''s presence was extinguished from the battlefield, leaving behind a quiet that was both eerie and telling. Ruan Lee watched in awe and disbelief, his understanding of the higher realm being solidified by the power display, Meng Lin was definitely at the Soul Wondering Realm. Meng Lin turned to Ruan Lee, her expression softening slightly "Junior Brother Lee. Are you alright?" Her voice brought Ruan Lee back to reality, grounding him after the shock of witnessing such power. "I... Yes, I''m fine. Thanks to you," Ruan Lee replied, still trying to process the events. He looked at Meng Lin with a newfound respect and a bit of awe. "What will you do now?" he asked, curious about her plans. "I need to return to the sect. It''s been a while since i left," Meng Lin replied, her gaze turning towards the direction of their sect. "Would you like me to accompany you back?" Ruan Lee offered, feeling a sense of gratitude and wonder towards Meng Lin. Meng Lin considered his offer for a moment before nodding, she also has questions to ask him "Alright, Junior Brother Lee. Let''s return together." Together, Meng Lin and Ruan Lee took to the skies, their figures swiftly moving towards the horizon, leaving the region. 186. Sect Return 2nd As Meng Lin and Ruan Lee made their way across the sky, the landscape below them blurred with greens and browns, the silence between them was comfortable and contemplative. Meng Lin was deep in thought, her mind replaying the events that had just unfolded. The ease at which she had dispatched two of her opponents didn''t donn on her, she had forgotten about them so it was a good thing that she had cut loose ends before they got out of hand. Her thoughts were rather focused on the actions that she should take, Purple''s bloodline transition, upgrading her blacksmith and alchemy panel and utilizing the tortoise shell to awaken the ancient spirit seal on her skin. She also had to consume a few more items to increase her strength, using the sect''s resources to a maximum was also a must, with the two sects in a stalemate, now was the time for her to upgrade her strength more than ever. By her side Ruan Lee was grappling with their encounters and he blurted out out of curiosity, "Um, Senior Sister..." He said unsure of how to address Meng Lin, he still didn''t know her name. Meng Lin turned towards him, her gaze understanding as she noticed his hesitance. "My name is Meng Lin" "Senior Sister Meng, I was wondering, what realm are you in?" he asked after much contemplation. "I have just recently broken through to the Soul Wondering Realm," Meng Lin replied, her voice steady. "I have just emerged from a secret realm and my sect token was destroyed, can you tell me the events that have happened after the continent was invaded" Ruan Lee paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts before he spoke. "After the monsters invaded, everything changed," he began, his voice tinged with a mixture of awe and fear. "Sects that have stood for centuries fell in days. The landscape of the continent has been altered, not just physically, but in power dynamics as well." He continued, "Some sects have been completely wiped out, while others have merged to form alliances, pooling their resources and cultivators in a bid to withstand the monsters'' onslaught. The most shocking development, however, involves the monsters, a monster that has caused an uproar across the continent." "Is it that rank 6 monster", Meng Lin asked, remembering the words that Division Head Zheng said to her. Ruan Lee''s eyes turned to her with surprise, however they soon turned to fear as he delved into this peculiar monster. "This monster was unlike any other, it was originally just an early stage rank 5 monster, however it was definitely more powerful than its rank." "Just after it appeared, 2 fourth rank sects were already destroyed as it went on a killing spree, devouring all the Narscent Soul Cultivators in its path, it increased it''s strength every time it devoured them. However it was when it attacked the Golden Summit Sect that the major powerhouses finally took notice of it, however it was too late at that point" "Shockingly it was able to fight the Golden Summit Sect''s Guardian beast which was half- step Rank 6 and it ended up devouring the colossal beast and quickly reached the 6th rank in terms of strength" Meng Lin raised an eyebrow as she asked "in terms of strength, you mean its not actually in the 6th rank yet" Ruan Lee nodded, his expression filled with a mix of trepidation and disbelief. "That''s correct, Senior Sister Lin. The monster''s strength is on par with a rank 6 cultivator, but it hasn''t officially reached that rank. To cross such a giant realm is insane" He took a deep breath before continuing, "The sects were in disarray, and alliances were constantly shifting. Our sect, under the protection of Divine Sage Ancestor, managed to repel the monster, but not without significant losses. The Grand Elder was critically injured during the encounter. As a result, the Scarlet Demon Sect saw an opportunity to attack our borders. Thanks to our Sect Master, who is also in the Ensoulment Realm, we''ve managed to hold them off, but the situation is precarious." Meng Lin nodded, her understanding deepening. "Thank you, Ruan Lee, for the update. It seems the situation is graver than I anticipated. That beast in particular, but I wonder why those within the Ensoulment realm aren''t banning together and getting rid of it" "That''s the question of the whole continent" Ruan Lee said with a bitter smile. "Can you tell me what happened between you three back then" Meng Lin asked, wondering about the two that died by her hand. He paused, collecting his thoughts. "Wei Han had become afraid of my rapid advancements and he feared that I would take revenge against him after he blacklisted me, I think that was his main reason for deserting the sect" "There were plenty of sect disciples that turned against the sect under the influence of the Scarlet Demon Sect. It''s not just for power or resources; the sect''s internal conflicts and promises of greater freedom and strength by the Scarlet Demon Sect have swayed many. Wei Han was among those who believed that aligning with the Scarlet Demon Sect would grant him a higher status and more power than he could ever achieve within our own sect." This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Ruan Lee''s expression hardened. "Zhang Wei, on the other hand, was sent by the Scarlet Demon Sect to infiltrate our borders and form alliances with those disenchanted with the sect. His role was to destabilize our sect from within, making it easier for the Scarlet Demon Sect to attack when we were most vulnerable, because of his cunning abilities, the sect has not been able to do anything to him" Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed. "The sect didn''t send Soul Wondering or Narscent Soul Cultivators?" "They did," Ruan Lee confirmed. "They sent Soul Wondering cultivators but he would always escape through the shadows before they even showed up, as for Narscent Soul Cultivators, almost all of them are at the frontline fighting monsters and the Scarlet Demon Sect and those guarding the sect couldn''t leave the sect vulnerable as it might be part of the Scarlet Demon Sect''s plan" Meng Lin tapped her chin thoughtfully. "There must have been a way to counteract his shadowy escape technique. Has there been any effort to trap him or predict his movements?" "We''ve tried," Ruan Lee admitted. "But he''s always one step ahead. Our best guess is that he has informants within the sect or some sort of ability that alerts him, if you hadn''t showed up like you did, I think he would have escaped once more" "How did you end up fighting them both" Ruan Lee hesitated but ended up speaking "I had intentionally gone out of the sect to lure Wei Han, I originally wanted to capture him and interrogate him however I didn''t expect Zhang Wei to be in his shadows, I was ambushed while fighting Wei Han, fortunately I had protective measures in place" "So that''s what happened, i understand" Meng Lin said while her thoughts ran over the conversation. Neither spoke as they spent the next few minutes in silence, the landscapes continued to blur beneath as they neared the sect. The first sight that greeted them was the cluster of mountains within an even bigger deep forest, they didn''t take long before arriving at the sect''s door, where two sect elders seemed to be standing guard. Upon landing, they were immediately approached by the two sect elders, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern. The elder on the left, Elder Qiu, spoke first, his voice filled with surprise. " You, I''ve seen you before. Are you disciple Meng Lin by chance" The other elder, Elder Luo interjected, "it is, where were you, and your realm, what happened" they were both surprised as Meng Lin''s aura was almost matching their own cultivation of the Mid Stage Soul Wondering Realm. Meng Lin nodded, acknowledging the recognition. "Yes, I am Meng Lin," she replied, her voice calm and composed. "I have just returned from a secret realm where I underwent a breakthrough. My realm has recently advanced to the Soul Wondering Realm and my sect token is broken" Elder Qiu''s surprise turned into a mixture of relief and admiration. "So you have successfully broken through to a higher realm. That is commendable" Elder Luo, still concerned, added, "Indeed, come, you should get your sect token along with your rewards for your breakthrough, we''ll quickly inform the Pavilion Mountain of your return so they can open the array surrounding it" Meng Lin nodded, turning she said, "this is where we part ways Junior brother Lee", Ruan Lee looked at Meng Lin, a mixture of pride and concern etched across his face. "Senior sister Meng, I''ll report the matter to the sect, you take care within the Pavilion Mountain" Meng Lin offered a final nod before she followed one of the elders into the sect, she briskly made her way through the sect, her steps quick and purposeful. The sect, buzzing with activity and tension due to the precarious situation, seemed to pause momentarily as she passed. Disciples and masters alike cast curious glances her way, some whisper among themselves. The walk to one of the sect''s administrative center was swift. Elder Luo led Meng Lin through corridors lined with intericate designs before finally arriving to the counters. After going through a thorough identification process Meng Lin was presented with a new golden sect token, intricately designed and pulsating with a soft light, signifying her status within the sect. Alongside the token, she received a collection of resources: rare herbs, spirit stones, soul wandering pills of various uses and sect points within her now new sect token, these were all rewards for her breakthrough. With no time to dawdle, Meng Lin was escorted towards the teleportation formations. The path leading there was familiar, yet it felt different this time. Her steps were more confident, her resolve firmer. As they walked, Elder Luo briefed Meng Lin. "The Pavilion Mountain is now protected by an ancient array, designed to block off any access and interaction between the outside world, a droplet of your blood on your golden sect token is the key to enter" Meng Lin listened intently as they approached the teleportation formations, they were greeted by the same sect elder who oversaw the process last time. The elder nodded towards her and took out a small intricate talisman before presenting it to her, Meng Lin nodded her head back and clawed herself to make a drop of blood emerge. The talisman was given to her and she stepped into the teleportation formation, feeling the energy swirling around her, a pricking sensation ran through her body. The air crackled and the teleportation platform shone, transporting her to her destination. Meng Lin found herself standing in a familiar teleportation formation, around her was a clearing with clouds all across the area, as if the mountain was within the sky. Meng Lin smiled as she felt a surge of energy coursing through her veins. The energy swirling around the mountain had increased by at least twofold, she wondered why. Walking through the cloud filled area, Meng Lin''s perception quickly picked up on gazes landing on her body, she smiled slightly as he wondered what must be going through these ancestors mind when they look at her, do spiritual remnants even thoughts she wondered. She remembered the number of gazes on her last time, they matched the same number of gazes this time as well, it seems a change in cultivation doesn''t make any difference, likely not potential otherwise even more gazes would be on her since her aptitude had increased but maybe these gazes were all there were. Meng Lin quickly reached a large pavilion and entered after thinking for a bit, inside, she was immediately greeted by two of the girls, De sijie and Xi Lin. The moment they saw her, their eyes lit up with joy and surprise. "Miss Meng Lin!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with excitement and relief, they had been cultivating and increasing their strength but recently they have been feeling extremely hurt. Meng Lin was touched by their warm welcome. She noticed right away the changes in their demeanor and aura. Their faces were brighter, their spirits were higher, and their cultivation base had clearly improved. It was evident that they had been diligently practicing the techniques she had advised them on before her departure. Xi Lin, the older sister ran to give Meng Lin a respectful bow before looking up at her with tears in her eyes. "Miss Meng Lin, we''ve missed you so much! We''ve been practicing every day, waiting for you to come back!" De sijie also spoke sincerely, "We''ve all made breakthroughs in our cultivation, see." She raised her hand to show her cultivation level of the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Xi Lin was a step behind in showing her aura however she had clearly been the one who progressed the most, recently reaching the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, it was evident that the Qi within the Pavilion Mountain and the Pills Meng Lin left behind had done wonders. Meng Lin smiled warmly, genuinely proud of their progress and the bond they had formed during her absence. "I''m glad to see how much you''ve all progressed. Your hard work is truly commendable, and your injuries are all but gone, you two are quite beautiful" she said with laughter, not reserving herself between the two girls. Meng Lin''s comment brought blushes to the faces of De sijie and Xi Lin. The compliment, though made in jest, highlighted the close and comfortable relationship they had developed over all the times they have spent with each other. "Where is Xi Lan" Meng Lin asked, causing the joyful faces of the two to suddenly plummet. 187. Encouragement "What''s the matter" Meng Lin said, her eyes moving between the two girls, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere. De Sijie and Xi Lin exchanged a glance, their expressions turning somber. It was Xi Lin who found her voice first, though it was laced with worry. "Xi Lan... she''s not been well, miss," Xi Lin said, her voice barely above a whisper. "After you left, she had an accident with her new technique, she had been desperate with it. But..." De Sijie took over, her eyes downcast, "She encountered a backlash. It''s... it''s affected her, both physically and mentally. She''s been isolating herself, refusing to see anyone, even us." Meng Lin''s heart sank at the news, Xi Lan''s new technique, the Cherubic Construe Art. "Take me to her," she said as she first wanted to assess the situation. Without another word, De Sijie and Xi Lin led Meng Lin through the winding paths of the pavilion complex, their steps quick. They arrived at a secluded part of the courtyard, where the air seemed heavier, reaching the door to Xi Lan''s room, the two leading stopped and Xi Lin explained "It''s better if we don''t enter miss, Xi Lan said she would only talk to you alone" Meng Lin nodded and approached the door on her own, she raised her hand and knocked gently, her voice calling out, "Xi Lan, it''s me. May I come in?" There was a moment of silence, the kind that seemed to stretch far longer than it actually did. Then, a weak voice from inside replied, "Miss... please." Meng Lin opened the door slowly, stepping into a room that was dimly lit by a single flickering candle, at the side of the room was the blooming form of a plant that radiated two different qi, its scent was that of a thick and intoxicating fragrance. The air was thick with this smell and in the middle of the room, Xi Lan sat on her bed, surrounded by scrolls and cultivation texts scattered all around her. Her appearance was completely different from before, her hair was white and disheveled, her skin was wrinkled and she looked no different than an old woman. The sight took Meng Lin''s breath away. The young, energetic Xi Lan she remembered was now a shadow of her former self, Meng Lin couldn''t help but walk towards her with a surprised expression. However, she quickly snapped out of it, her gaze hardened and her spiritual consciousness began to scan the girl before her. She moved closer, sitting beside Xi Lan on the bed, as she asked the question "Xi Lan, can you explain what happened" Xi Lan looked up, her eyes weary and filled with shame, she quickly explained what had happened. "I... I didn''t... I pushed too hard, and now... look at me. I''ve aged decades in a mere moment. My life force... it''s nearly gone," she said, her voice frail and trembling as she continued to explain. Eclipse Orchid! That was the name of the plant at the side of the room, the plant grows fully when it absorbs lunar and solar light for a hundred consecutive years. Once it fully matures it can be used to forge a Core Breaking Pill, a pill used by Gold Core Cultivators to break through into a higher stage. "I wanted to surprise you with it once you return so you can use it to... " "Xi Lan, it''s alright," Meng Lin interrupted gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You don''t have to blame yourself. We will find a solution together." She took a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing, "From what you explained, because of the absence of the Solar and Luner light needed, your technique, the Cherubic Construe Art converted your life force into the Solar and Luner light needed for the Eclipse Orchid to grow, so you lost 100 years, causing your rapid aging. It''s irreversible but you can still increase your lifespan through cultivation" You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Xi Lan''s eyes filled with tears. "But miss, I''ve been unable to cultivate since then. I''m scared I''ve damaged my foundation," she confessed, her voice trembling. Meng Lin listened attentively to Xi Lan''s concerns, her expression filled with a variety of emotions "Xi Lan, the reason you couldn''t cultivate was because of inner demons, you''re fearful but you must remain hopeful. I am here" She continued, "Even though your foundation may have been affected, it doesn''t mean it''s permanently damaged. Remember, you have shown great dedication and talent in your cultivation journey. This setback does not define you ok" "Miss" Xi Lan''s voice quivered as she spoke, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you. I''ll do even better from now on" Xi Lin and De Sijie watched a little further away and their expressions were filled with relief and hope. They had been deeply worried about Xi Lan''s condition, but seeing Meng Lin''s presence and encouragement reassured them. Meng Lin turned to Xi Lin and De Sijie. "Pack everything up, we''re choosing a villa, we''re leaving this pavilion" XiLin and De Sijie exchanged surprised glances, but they quickly nodded in agreement. They knew that a change of environment could be beneficial for Xi Lan''s recovery and cultivation. They gathered their belongings and prepared to leave the pavilion. Meng Lin, with her powerful spiritual consciousness, was able to cover almost half of the mountain, she saw dozens of pagodas on one side of the mountain and large villas on the other side of the mountain. The villas that were occupied were protected by barriers and those not occupied were not, she quickly saw a villa that was quite isolated and majestic in its appearance. It was within a lush garden filled with vibrant flowers and towering trees. Most importantly there were several ponds within the villa, making it the perfect place for Purple. Meng Lin led the way towards the isolated villa, her steps slow with grace, she looked back to Xi Lan who was surprisingly able to walk normally and began to think about her condition from her scan and the information Xi Lan had shared. She pondered on the best course of action to help Xi Lan recover. She reasoned that Increasing her cultivation was the best method with no loose ends as pills might just do the opposite. After walking for a few minutes they finally arrived at the isolated villa, laying her eyes on it Meng Lin nodded, It was the perfect place for her. Once inside the villa, Meng Lin quickly set up the villa''s barrier through her talisman and she and the three girls began sorting everything within the place. Within one of the rooms she instructed Xi Lan to meditate without circulating her qi, just clear her mind of any distractions, she would be instructing her to do that for two hours every day from now on. Thud Within her own new cultivation room, Meng Lin took out a large white egg that held intricate designs of a crystal serpent on its shells. It was the egg that held Purple after the Bloodline Exchange token was activated, Meng Lin didn''t know how long it would take for Purple to wake up however she could only wait patiently. She sat next to the giant egg and closed her eyes and began to meditate while clearing her mind, she didn''t circulate her qi, she didn''t think, she only closed her mind and entered a deep deep state. 10 hours later, Meng Lin opened her eyes, feeling a sense of rejuvenation, she exhaled slightly as she noticed the passage of time, it seemed the higher her realm, the less the passage of time affected her. She just closed her eyes to meditate a little and 10 hours passed, she shook her head with a slight smile and took out an item from within her inventory. Before her appeared a large tortoiseshell that was emanating ancient qi and a sense of profound power, it was the turtle shell she acquired after saving the scarred face man. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, entering a state of deep concentration. As she delved into her dantian, she began to release her Qi and let it merge with the energy signatures resonating from the shell while circulating the Black Tortoise Essence Art. Time seemed to blur as Meng Lin immersed herself in an ancient energy. She could feel the Elemental Qi of water within the Shell and interact with it, Meng Lin felt her qi pulsating. Unknowingly an hour passed, and Meng Lin finally felt a jolt in her Qi as it began to increase at an alarming rate, its pulsation increased as suddenly she felt her forearm burn with Qi, the Qi pulsated as if a heartbeat. The hot pulsation became a worm sensation and Meng Lin opened her eyes, lowering her eyes she saw the ancient spirit seal of the Black Tortoise shimmering with a deep blue qi. It had finally revived. A smile of satisfaction crossed Meng Lin''s face as she felt the familiar connection to the mark. Gong Fu, the Golden Lizard which had been quiet had also awakened and its Qi felt blazing hot, it appears to be vastly more powerful than before. It had clearly been gaining power as Meng Lin was increasing her strength. 188. Senior Sister Lius Villa "System" Meng Lin spoke, wondering what changed within the system after the awakening of the ancient spirit seal. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points: 17%] System coin: 10,260 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: available Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [ Heavenly Dao ] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: >Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] >[Daily Mission] Looking at the system menu Meng Lin raised an eyebrow at two things that caught her eye, the increase in her percentage and the new daily mission. For the percentage Meng Lin thought it made sense considering the sudden gain in power she felt when she regained the black tortoise seal, as for the daily missions she had forgotten about it. Out of curiosity Meng Lin dove into the daily mission section and a panel quickly appeared in front of her, it was her daily mission. Meng Lin glanced at her daily mission and discovered four straightforward tasks awaiting her. 1. Perform Alchemy [0/10] 2. Perform Blacksmithing [0/10] 3. Perform Physique Cleansing Sutra [0/10] 4. Perform Elemental Qi Convergence Method [0/100] Rewards: 1000 experience points, 100 system coins Time Remaining: 2 hours 14 minutes 3 seconds Meng Lin chuckled, appreciating the simplicity of the tasks. Performing the alchemy and blacksmith was not going to be hard as the system didn''t specify the item that would be created, and circulating qi through her body wasn''t difficult, although the time left was 2 hours and 13 minutes, she could complete both qi circulations in under an hour. It was the reward that interested her, 1000 Experience points, she doesn''t know how much that will be converted into a percentage however she was interested to find out. Meng Lin quickly set her plan into motion. She decided to tackle the tasks in order of complexity, starting with the Elemental Qi Convergence Method. It was a practice she was the least familiar with, but in her current state, she felt that it would serve as a warm-up for the more physically cleansing task. She found a quiet corner in her cultivation room, sat down in a lotus position, and began to focus on her breathing. As she inhaled and exhaled, Meng Lin visualized the Elemental Qi within her converging in her body, circulating through her Spiritual Veins. The process was smooth, and Meng Lin managed to complete the 100 circulations in just under fifty minutesa little more than she had thought. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. With the first task completed, Meng Lin turned her attention to the Alchemy and Blacksmithing tasks. She moved to the villa''s specially designated crafting area, where all her materials and tools were neatly organized. For Alchemy, she decided to concoct a batch of bone-strengthening pillsa simple pill with some spiritual plants from the market along with those from the sect rewards. The process was second nature to her, and she quickly set up the cauldron, brought out the High-Grade Rootless Flame, and began the alchemical process. She watched how efficient it truly was as she saw ingredients being purged of any impurities and in less than a minute a batch of middle-grade pills were laid out in the cauldron. Repeating that process with another pill recipe, within the next ten minutes Meng Lin had successfully crafted ten batches of different pills, each batch containing more than ten pills, far exceeding the system''s requirement. Blacksmithing was next. Meng Lin quickly bought an ore in the system market, Silver-Rock Ore was the main ingredient, because of its large size she only needed to add one or two other items to the cauldron to forge a set of medium-grade spiritual daggers, a task that would usually take a considerable amount of time. However, with the High-grade Rootless flame, Meng Lin significantly reduced the time from 15 minutes to just 2 minutes, after that four daggers were made, each gleaming with a sharp edge and a faint spiritual glow. Meng Lin repeated the actions she took, this time she didn''t change the weapon recipe, and within 20 minutes 30 middle-grade daggers were laid out in front of her, fortunately, there was still half of the Silver-Rock Ore remaining. Finally, Meng Lin performed the Physique Cleansing Sutra. This technique was designed to purify and strengthen the body by expelling impurities and enhancing the practitioner''s physical capabilities. Meng Lin found a peaceful spot in the garden and executed the sutra''s circulation with grace, each motion flowing seamlessly into the next. The process not only cleansed her physical body but also aligned her spiritual essence, leaving her feeling refreshed and invigorated. In less than 10 minutes the last task was completed and Meng Lin checked the system menu. The tasks were marked as completed, and she eagerly awaited the conversion of the 1000 experience points into her percentage, wondering how much she would get. [You have completed the daily tasks: Rewards: 1000 experience points, 100 system coins] Meng Lin quickly opened her system menu by uttering the words once again. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points: 17.5%] System coin: 9,920 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: available Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [ Heavenly Dao ] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: >Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] >[Daily Mission] Seeing the increase in her experience points to 17.5%, Meng Lin felt a sense of disappointment, she had hoped for a slightly higher increase like 2 or 3% however she only got .5%. That means if she were to do nothing but the daily quest every day then she would reach 100% in half a year, not ideal for herself who progressed to the Soul Wondering Realm in just a few months. She shook her head and decided to walk out of the villa, she had noticed something before when she was setting up her villa but she only now decided to check it. Walking out of the villa''s barrier Meng Lin quickly made her way to one of the other villas far away, after walking for a few minutes she arrived and saw a villa in an open field. As she approached the villa, she noticed it was an older, less maintained structure compared to the others. The aura surrounding the villa was deep and Meng Lin could sense a faint but distinct ancient spiritual energy emanating from the place. As she arrived at the entrance of the villa, the barrier that was surrounding the villa was suddenly lifted and the Meng Lin saw a door with an intricate design. "Enter," a familiar voice echoed from within. It was Senior Sister Liu. Meng Lin pushed the door, noticing that it was quite heavy even for her, and stepped into the villa. Because it was nighttime, the interior was dimly lit with soft glows emanating from orbs of light scattered throughout the villa. Senior Sister Liu was seated cross-legged on the ground next to the house of the villa, her aged face let out a smile and she gestured for Meng Lin to take a seat next to her. Not bothering to ask why senior sister Liu was seated on the ground, Meng Lin took a seat across from her, her mind filled with apprehension and curiosity. She had reached the Soul Wondering Realm and with it, her spiritual consciousness had grown to an astonishing degree, she could probe most beings in her realm without even being found out, however, she still couldn''t probe this old lady, her spiritual consciousness was passing right through her as if she wasn''t there. Senior Sister Liu broke the silence with a gentle voice. "I sensed your arrival so I called, I assume you know why I called you here" Meng Lin hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Is it Luang Chen?" "No, the sect was long informed about him, forget about him. Rather I''ve called you here to tell you about the opportunities ahead" Meng Lin''s curiosity was piqued as she listened to Senior Sister Liu''s words. The sect already knew about the matter with Luang Chen, how she wondered. More importantly, she wondered what these opportunities were. Senior Sister Liu continued, her voice filled with a hint of seriousness. "Because of the fight with the Scarlet Demon Sect, the sect has decided to invest a lot in us seven with Luan''s Soul, I was instructed to open a lot of the restricted areas within this Mountain, and in a few weeks," she continued. " A secret realm will open up within the sect, the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm, we will enter it with the exceptional core disciples" Meng Lin took in the information with slight excitement within her eyes, an Ancient Spirit Pool Realm, she has some knowledge of such a place. "Senior Sister Liu," Meng Lin asked, her thoughts hidden, "what exactly can we expect to find within this Ancient Spirit Pool Realm?" She wanted to be sure that it was the same one she was thinking about. Senior Sister Liu''s eyes sparkled with wisdom as she responded, "You''ve reached the Soul Wondering Realm so I''m sure you have come into contact with Elemental Qi, spirit pools are said to contain ancient Elemental Qi, once used they can greatly enhance one''s fighting prowess." She continued. "The ancient spirit pools are vast and vary in size, some hold ancient artifacts and even rare herbs, one of our 3 sect artifacts was found in such a place" Meng Lin''s eyes widened as she absorbed Senior Sister Liu''s words. The mention of ancient Elemental Qi was within her expectations, however, the mention of Sacred grade items was a shock to her, on top of that it was ancient items, and she couldn''t help but change her thoughts of the secret realm. "This Ancient Spirit Pool Realm," Meng Lin murmured, almost to herself. "It is even more wondrous than I imagined." Senior Sister Liu nodded, her gaze unwavering. "Indeed, Meng Lin. The spirit pools are not only a treasure trove of power but also a crucible of growth. However, the secret realm is filled with ancient beasts that have developed an affinity with elemental qi, they are quite dangerous." Meng Lin''s eyes sparkled with excitement and determination. "I understand, Senior Sister Liu. This is a rare opportunity, and I will prepare myself accordingly." Senior Sister Liu gave a small nod of approval. "Good. Just remember to be cautious while, these ancient beasts are not to be underestimated" Meng Lin nodded before swiftly leaving the place, she had much on her mind. The Ancient Spirit Pool Realm held the opportunity of further increasing the amount of Elemental Qi within her dantian, her main cultivation technique would be even more devastating afterward, Meng Lin couldn''t help but think of the possibilities. 189. Soul Nurturing Back in her villa, Meng Lin headed towards one of the many pools of water within her villa. the villa was vast, taking up the space of several courtyards combined, she walked past a unique garden filled with exotic plants and a few spirit plants. Looking at it she realized that because of the concentrated amount of qi in the air, certain types of plants were able to grow, namely the spirit fern plant and qi-flowers plants, they grow only in environments with excessive amounts of qi. Walking for a few minutes Meng Lin finally reached an area not too far from her cultivation chamber, there she saw a pool that was surrounded by two stone statues of lions. Approaching the pool Meng Lin dipped her fingers into the water, feeling it gently caress against her skin. She closed her eyes, remembering her time back in the Westmount valley of the levitation sect. Back then she had used a pool with the even less Qi than the one before her to cultivate her way up towards the Foundation Establishment Realm. Opening her eyes she gently took out the everlasting lotus seed, placing it within the pool Meng Lin directed it towards the center of the pool, and as the seed traveled to the center she saw it began to absorb the qi from the pool. With a contented smile, Meng Lin observed the seed and saw that it was already budding. Three small red lotus petals were unfurled, revealing a single bead within. Meng Lin smiled and got up, leaving the lotus seed to mature and thrive in its new home, Meng Lin made her way to her cultivation chamber. Sitting crossed-legged right next to the egg of Purple, Meng Lin took out the last three booze within her inventory, back when she had been cultivating to reach the Soul Wondering Realm she had consumed all the low and mid-grade boozes, now only the three high-grade booze were left. Other than that she still has the Soul Water Drop, the Crystal from the Crystal Serpent''s cave, the Soul Nurturing Fruit, and the Crystal of Pure Yin from the High-Grade System pack. Lastly, she has the Imperial Water Art manual which she still has not learned. She intended to use the Soul Water Drop and the two other crystals to create a new item while using the Soul Nurturing Fruit to strengthen her soul. Without hesitation Meng Lin began her plan, she uncorked the first booze bottle and drank it all in full while closing her eyes and circulating her qi. Time seemed to blur as Meng Lin lost herself in her multiple cultivation process, within 5 hours she had consumed both the three booze and the Soul Nurturing Fruit. With each booze that she drank her cultivation percentage jumped a little, and after eating the soul Nurturing Fruit she felt her soul which couldn''t even budge the white membrane surrounding it, grow in size, almost doubling in that single moment. With a deep breath, Meng Lin opened her system menu. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points: 17.5>39.5%] This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. System coin: 9,920 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: available Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [ Heavenly Dao ] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: >Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] As Meng Lin opened her system menu, she assessed her cultivation progress. She noted the increase from 17.5% to 39.5% after consuming the three high-grade booze and Soul Nurturing Fruit. If her calculations were correct then the high-grade booze each only amounted to 5%, it was the Soul Nurturing Fruit that had increased her experience by such a margin. She wondered if that route was the way to go, her soul. Looking through her system menu she quickly brought up the Taoist Gacha wheel, she has one spin available. 1. >Celestial Silk Armor 2. >Sacred Spirit Stone x3 3. >Divine Beast Blood Essence 4. Shapeshifter''s Mask 5. >Heavenly Spirit Soil 6. >Profound Ice Crystal 7. High-grade system pack 8. Superior Booze gift bag 9. >Golden Sunflower Seed 10. Immortal jades x9 11. Spiritual Healing Pill x3 12. >Elixir of Eternal Youth 13. >Thunderstorm Pearl 14. Chaos Mountain 15. Essence Absorbing insects x30 Meng Lin looked through the wheel, noticing the large amounts of new items that appeared on the Gacha wheel. The first item that caught her eye was the Celestial Silk Armor, a piece of protective gear, she had not seen any cultivator with armor, before she had attributed that to defensive techniques but now she realized that cultivators above a certain realm are invulnerable in some aspects. Looking at the next item, the Sacred Spirit Stone x3, Meng Lin assumed it to be above a top-grade spirit stone, it could be crucial for enhancing her spiritual energy. The Divine Beast Blood Essence could also be useful to purple while the Heavenly Spirit Soil and Profound Ice Crystal seemed like valuable resources for planting and blacksmith. The Golden Sunflower should be a rare spiritual plant, while the Elixir of Eternal Youth would be perfect for her, as she has been initially worried about turning into an old lady, it should maintain her outward appearance pretty well. Lastly was the Thunderstorm Pearl, it could also be a valuable blacksmith ingredient. Feeling a mix of anticipation and curiosity, Meng Lin activated the Taoist Gacha wheel. She watched as it spun, her heart calm as it finally landed on an item. Superior Booze gift bag Meng Lin couldn''t help but chuckle at her fortune as the wheel stopped on the Superior Booze gift bag. It seemed fate had a penchant for keeping her well-stocked with booze. With a bit of nostalgia, she decided to dive right in and see what awaited her this time. [You have received the High-Grade Soul Strengthening Booze] [You have received the High-Grade Soul Strengthening Booze] [You have received the Low-Grade Essence Replenishment Mead] Meng Lin smiled a little at the sight of the familiar items. she had received duplicates of the High-Grade Soul Strengthening Booze, which was not a bad thing at all. Given her recent realization about the importance of nurturing her soul, these boozes could provide a significant boost to her cultivation progress. Meng Lin carefully stored the new booze in her inventory, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Taking a deep breath, she closed her system menu and focused on her next steps. Taking out a manual from her inventory Meng Lin was shown a panel. [Discovered A High-Grade High-Tier Manuel, Imperial Water Art] [Do you wish to Learn] Meng Lin''s eyes raised at the evaluation given by the system, it was even better than the Black Tortoise Essence, which could potentially offer immense benefits to her water Qi. Without hesitation, she mentally confirmed her decision. [Yes] A surge of profound knowledge and intricate techniques flowed into her mind. She felt a wave of energy as the essence of the Imperial Water Art integrated with her consciousness. The manual detailed advanced water manipulation techniques, methods for enhancing her water Qi, and even tips on water Elemental Qi. If there was any downside to this technique, it would be that it can only be cultivated within water, however considering the large amount of water within her villa, Meng Lin wasn''t worried. She decided to make the most of her current environment. The secluded pool, now home to the budding Everlasting Lotus, seemed like the perfect place to cultivate her Imperial Water Art. Stepping towards the pool, Meng Lin dipped her feet into the cool water, feeling the energy flow around her. She didn''t take off her Immortal Lotus Robe, as she didn''t fully enter the pool, she just sat down cross-legged at the edge of the pool with her leg dipped within the water. She closed her eyes and began to circulate her qi according to the new techniques she had just learned. The water around her started to ripple and move in response to her control. As she meditated, she felt the water''s qi travel from her leg and intertwine with her own, creating a kind of symbiotic relationship. The Imperial Water Art demanded a deep connection with the water, and she was starting to understand why it required such an environment for cultivation. The pool''s qi-infused water enhanced her sense of touch and immersed her in a trance state where she felt as though she was the pool water itself. Hours passed as Meng Lin focused on circulating her qi with the understanding depth of the Imperial Water Art. Slowly but surely, she felt her qi begin to flow more elastically, it was more fluid and precise. Finally, she opened her eyes, feeling a sense of accomplishment. The pool around her was calm once again, reflecting the calm expression on her face. She got up, feeling invigorated, entering back within her cultivation chamber she glanced at the beast egg, still emanating a faint purple glow, and smiled. There was much to do. 190. 12 Pagodas Meng Lin couldn''t sit still. She once again left the villa and headed to the other side of Pavilion Mountain. The path was unfamiliar, but with her spiritual consciousness, she wouldn''t get lost, walking through the lush landscape she quickly reached an area with a dozen or so pagodas. Meng Lin''s eyes widened in surprise, as she saw an array of pagodas, surrounding a platform that shone with splendor, these were ancient structures, each exuding their own unique aura, nine of the 12 pagodas were 20 meters tall and the three in the middle were even bigger, reaching 25 meters. Seeing 12 pagodas she recalled what her senior sister Liu had mentioned about releasing some restricted areas, it seems those three large pagodas were part of the restricted areas. Walking towards the pagodas she felt scrutinizing gazes on her, realizing it was the gazes of spiritual imprints, the gazes which were becoming more prominent the more she walked towards the pagodas. As she reached the platform that the pagodas surrounded, she noticed intricate symbols and ancient runes etched into the ground, glowing faintly with residual spiritual energy. Each pagoda appeared to be guarded by its own unique spiritual imprint, some more welcoming than others, now that she was close enough she felt an oppressive force everywhere she moved, she quickly began to read the sign inscribed on each of the pagodas. ** Spiritual Essence Pagoda** **Zenith Pagoda** **Illusion Pagoda** **Elemental Pagoda** **Martial Arts Pagoda** **Body Strengthening Pagoda** **Spiritual Mind Pagoda** **Enlightenment Pagoda** **Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda** **All Human Pagoda** **All Earth Pagoda** **All Heaven Pagoda** Looking at the names, Meng Lin saw familiar names, mainly the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda, it seems even the Pavilion Mountain had it as well, however, it was obvious that this one was completely different from the last one. Looking at the other pagodas Meng Lin began to think about their purpose, however, she could only guess the purpose of 7 of these, the rest she couldn''t make heads or tails on. After thinking for a bit she went to the pagoda closest to her, the Spiritual Essence Pagoda, reaching the huge door of the pagoda, she waited as she felt her sect token glow faintly before the door opened abruptly and she felt a great force of teleportation on her. Inside the Spiritual Essence Pagoda, Meng Lin found herself in a vast, ethereal room that seemed too wide for the pagoda. The space felt weird, If she had to give it a word, it would be fragile, she even felt that she could form a crack in space if she unleashed an attack. "Why would they create such a place, is this not a fighting pagoda" Meng Lin wondered as she looked around. "Of course not, I created this subspace just for the Essence Circulation Pedestal," a deep yet authoritative voice echoed through the pagoda. Meng Lin turned sharply, her eyes scanning the surroundings for the source of the voice. Emerging from the midair was the figure of an elderly man, his presence exuding wisdom and calmness. His form floated gracefully above the ground, robes flowing as if caught in a breeze. "Who are you?" Meng Lin asked, her voice steady but filled with curiosity. "I am the spiritual imprint of StarLord King," the figure replied, a kind smile forming on his lips. "Disciple Meng Lin, your blood essence is weak, it seems you used the Vital Essence Exchange Technique" Meng Lin felt a mix of awe and apprehension. "King?" The StarLord King''s spiritual imprint nodded, understanding her confusion. "Yes, the title of ''King'' is given to Nascent Soul cultivators whose powers are on the verge of breaking through to the Ensoulment Realm. It signifies a level of mastery and strength that few attain." Meng Lin''s eyes raised in realization. "I see. So you were one of the most powerful cultivators below the Ensolument Realm." The StarLord King smiled with bitterness, his gaze turning cold. "Heh, within this small continent yes but outside this continent are countless who can skip levels, I''ve nothing to be proud of." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Meng Lin''s curiosity grew deeper as she listened to the StarLord King''s words. "I see. Your humility speaks volumes about your true wisdom and strength, StarLord King." The StarLord King''s expression softened slightly. "Humility is a lesson learned through many trials and tribulations. But let''s not dwell on the past. You are here to cultivate and grow stronger. The Essence Circulation Pedestal will help you restore and refine your blood essence, making it purer and more potent." Meng Lin nodded, her determination rekindled. "Thank you, Starlord King. I will make the most of this opportunity." The StarLord King gestured towards the glowing pedestal at the center of the room. "Sit upon it and focus your mind. Let the energies of the pagoda flow through you and merge with your essence." Meng Lin approached the pedestal, her steps steady yet filled with anticipation. She seated herself on the pedestal, closing her eyes and calming her mind. As she began to focus, she felt the blood within her steering, quickly moving through her body while a certain energy entered her pores, mingling with her blood essence, creating a harmonious circulation. The sensation was both invigorating and soothing, akin to a river of warmth coursing through her veins. Time seemed to lose its meaning as Meng Lin immersed herself in the cultivation process. The spiritual energy entering her body was unlike anything she had ever experienced C it was pure, potent, and filled with a timeless aura that resonated deeply within her. She could feel her blood essence being restored, each circulation making it even stronger, purer, and more vibrant. As the hours passed, Meng Lin''s aura grew more luminous, her spiritual energy harmonizing perfectly with the blood essence within her. She felt a newfound clarity and strength, a sense of balance that was both empowering and rejuvenating. Finally, as she opened her eyes, the glowing symbols around her dimmed, and the ethereal room seemed to settle. Meng Lin rose from the Essence Circulation Pedestal, her spirit invigorated and her mind clear. She bowed deeply to the StarLord King, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you, StarLord King. I feel... transformed," she said, her voice filled with awe and respect. The StarLord King nodded, his expression proud and approving. "You have done well, Meng Lin. This is only the beginning. Continue to seek balance and understanding, and you will achieve greatness." With those words, the spiritual imprint of the StarLord King began to fade, his presence lingering like a gentle breeze. Meng Lin watched as he vanished, leaving her alone in the vast, calm space of the Spiritual Essence Pagoda. Determined to make the most of her time, Meng Lin stepped towards the door of the pagoda and as she exited, she felt the scrutinizing gazes of the spiritual imprints once more. She found herself standing at the platform once more and she immediately called upon the system. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points:40>45%] System coin: 9,920 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [ Heavenly Dao ] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin noticed her percentage which was at 40 after cultivating the Imperial Water Art had now jumped to 45 after her cultivation session within the Spiritual Essence Pagoda. A sense of accomplishment filled her as she realized the profound impact the session had on her progress. She felt more connected to the elements and her spiritual roots, even the Elemental Qi were more vibrant to her. As she stood on the platform, Meng Lin took a moment to absorb her surroundings once more. The other pagodas stood tall and imposing, their spiritual imprints still watching her with varying degrees of interest and scrutiny. Her gaze wandered to the remaining pagodas, and she contemplated which one to explore next. The names were intriguing, each hinting at unique challenges and rewards. The **Zenith Pagoda**, **Illusion Pagoda**, and **Elemental Pagoda** all seemed interesting to her, not to mention the big three in the middle, but she was particularly drawn to the **Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda** due to its familiar yet mysterious aura. Before making a decision, Meng Lin decided to see if she could still enter the Spiritual Essence Pagoda, and after reaching the door of the pagoda she felt a strong force blocking her way, she didn''t know if it was the spiritual imprints or just a restriction set on the pagoda. Shaking her head, Meng Lin made her way towards the **Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda**. The towering structure exuded a savage aura that she was a bit familiar with. As she approached, she felt the spiritual imprints intensify, their gazes more probing and curious. Upon reaching the entrance, she took a deep breath and activated her sect token. The massive doors of the pagoda creaked open, and she felt the familiar pull of teleportation. Within moments, she found herself in an expansive, forest space, this one filled with a very stable space, it seemed to be more like the floors of the last **Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda**. Meng Lin''s eyes adjusted to the dim light of the space, and she found herself surrounded by lush, ancient forests. The air was thick with the scent of foliage, and she could feel the presence of countless spirit beasts lurking in the shadows, their auras ancient. Releasing her spiritual consciousness she saw that there were plenty of rank 3 beasts within the forest, looking in her direction, two of them radiated the power of the fourth rank, however, they were only within the early stages. Suddenly a rustling sound to her left caught her attention, and she turned just in time to see a flash of golden fur darting through the underbrush. Her eyes raised as she recognized the aura of a Peak Rank 3 Ancient Golden Mane Lion, an ancient beast known for its speed and strength. She raised her arm and formed a qi barrier as the Lion arrived, bitting at her with ferocity! Crack!! "Oh!" Meng Lin''s mind raced as she saw its teeth forming cracks in the barrier. Granted the barrier was only the most ordinary, but it was still a barrier that she formed, and her spiritual Qi was even more powerful than your average early-stage Soul Wondering cultivator. With a swift motion, she summoned a surge of Elemental Qi, creating a wave that crashed against the Golden Mane Lion''s face, blasting it to the ground and raising dust in the air. Grr! From the smoke cloud, the Lion got up with a large gash on its face, the combined elemental qi seemed to have done a lot of damage to it. Roar!! The lion''s eyes glinted with a predatory gleam, and it roared in defiance, shaking the leaves and branches around them. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she decided to stop holding back. With a flick of her wrist, she gathered an immense amount of Elemental Qi, channeling it into a concentrated point in her palm. The air around her crackled with energy as she prepared to unleash her full Elemental qi. With a swift motion, she conjured a massive fireball, its flames swirling with an intensity that illuminated the entire forest. She hurled the fireball at the Golden Mane Lion, and it exploded upon impact, engulfing the beast in a roaring inferno. When the flames subsided, all that remained was a charred figure lying lifeless on the ground. The Golden Mane Lion was now nothing more than a scorched remnant of its former self. Meng Lin stood over the defeated beast, her breathing steady and her expression calm, the battle had been swift and decisive however Meng Lin just wanted to see how strong the beast was. It seems that while powerful within the same realm, these Golden Mane Lions were not powerful enough to cross realms. Roar!!! Suddenly she was startled awake as she noticed the group of beasts began to appear before her, all of them were Golden Mane Lions and the two with fourth-rank auras were at the forefront. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she realized that defeating the first lion had drawn the attention of the entire pride. 191. Underwater Current The two fourth-rank Golden Mane Lions, despite being in the early stages of their rank, exuded an intimidating presence. Their golden eyes locked onto Meng Lin, and she could see the intelligence within them. Ancient spiritual beasts that are within the third rank can speak and transform into humans, although depending on the purity of their blood, some aren''t able to do so. These two 4th rank beasts don''t seem to have the ability to communicate, or maybe they don''t want to communicate with her because Meng Lin could still see the intellect within their eyes. The other lions, all peak rank 3, formed a semicircle around her, effectively blocking off any escape routes. Meng Lin smiled slightly and took out a small golden talisman out of nowhere, injecting her elemental qi into it, a massive 5 meter long sword began to take shape, its multi-colored form being composed entirely of her Elemental qi. The massive elemental sword hovered above Meng Lin, its blade shimmering with power. The lions growled in unison, their eyes narrowing at this new threat. The two fourth-rank Golden Mane Lions exchanged a glance, and suddenly a massive aura began to emanate from them as their bodies became surrounded by a golden light. Clank!! Within an instant, two golden armored lions emerged from the light, their roars echoing through the air like thunderclaps, their 15-meter-long bodies gaining an additional layer of gold. "ROAR!" The ground trembled under the weight of their transformation, sending shockwaves that rustled the leaves of nearby trees. Their golden armor gleamed, making them appear even more majestic and fearsome. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on the talisman. She could feel the raw power radiating from the two armored lions, and it sent a thrill of excitement through her veins. Her smile widened, and with a swift motion, she pointed with her finger. "Let''s see how strong you are," she murmured. "BOOM!" The elemental sword shot forward with a deafening explosion, slicing through the air toward the nearest fourth-rank lion. The lion roared in defiance and leaped to meet the attack head-on, its golden armor glowing as it raised its claw to swipe. Peng!! Sparks flew all around as the Lion stumbled back while the sword stayed in place, the impact had sent shockwaves through the ground, causing the other lions to momentarily falter. But Meng Lin didn''t let up. With a fluid motion, she redirected the sword to swipe at the second fourth-rank lion, causing it to jump back to dodge the attack. Slash!! The sword didn''t stop in its momentum, slashing across in a circle all around Meng Lin, cutting apart half of the peak rank 3 lions while the other half retreated with startled growls. The elemental sword glowed brighter, its multicolored hues blending into a radiant arc as it completed its circle slash. The two fourth-rank Golden Mane Lions roared once more, their synchronized cries resonating like a war drum, they charged simultaneously, their golden armor glowing with each powerful stride. Meng Lin pointed her finger, her eyes never leaving her foes. The elemental sword spun around her before thrusting towards one of the lions, its speed increasing as it was met with a lion''s claws. Puchi!! The sword pierced through the lion''s golden armor with a sickening sound, drawing a spray of blood. The lion''s roar turned into a pained howl as it was pushed back, struggling to stay on its feet. Its companion, undeterred, used this moment to lunge at Meng Lin from the side. Meng Lin anticipates the attack. twisted her body gracefully, evading the lion''s claws by a few inches. With a flick of her finger, the elemental sword was upon the attacking Lion, its tip behind the lion''s head. Puchi! The elemental sword struck fast and pierced through the back of the lion''s head, emerging from its forehead with a gruesome spur of blood. The lion''s forward momentum ceased instantly as its body crumpled to the ground, lifeless. Blood pooled around its golden mane, now tarnished by defeat. The remaining fourth-rank Golden Mane Lion, witnessing the swift demise of its companion, hesitated. Its golden armor seemed to dull, and its eyes darted around in uncertainty. Meng Lin''s eyebrows raised, noticing the shift in the Lion''s gaze. Her elemental sword, still radiant and dripping with the blood of its victims, hovered in the air, awaiting her command. It was the peak rank 3 lions, witnessing the defeat of one of their leaders, retreated into the woods, their figures running away into the distance. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Meng Lin smiled as she noticed another emotion within the gaze of the remaining fourth-rank ancient beastfear. The mighty Golden Mane Lion, once filled with unyielding ferocity, now showed vulnerability after it saw its subordinates run. With a deep, guttural growl, the fourth-rank lion came at a decision as it charged on yielding, its claws extended and fangs bared. But Meng Lin only shook her head. With a swift motion, she commanded the elemental sword, its size doubling as its blade sliced through the air with blinding speed. "Slash!" The lion''s claws were cut through with the blade not slowing down as it continued its lethal path. The force of the slash cleaved through the lions formidable golden armor with ease, splitting its body in two. Meng Lin stood amidst the aftermath, the elemental sword hovering beside her, its blade now returning to its original size. She took a moment to survey the scene, her eyes reflecting a mixture of satisfaction and contemplation. She raised her hand to look at the golden talisman within her hand, noticing how it was glowing smaller than before, its power waning after the battle. The golden talisman was called the Weapon Manifesting Talisman, it stores energy and manifests it into any weapon imagined, the strongest it could be depends on the amount of qi put into it, however, its storage is only enough for 10 percent of her qi, thus it would not be that useful in a real battle. Storing the talisman away she released her spiritual consciousness, scanning the area for the white door which appeared after the completion of a trail in the pagoda, however, she didn''t see it appear. Thinking about it she realized that the beast within this tower was different from the other ancient spirit beast pagoda, these beasts seemed to be ''real'', made from flesh and blood while the other pagoda''s beasts were mist. Furthermore, the other Ancient Spirit Beast pagoda had normal spirit beasts with the second floor being an ancient spirit beast, however, the first floor of this pagoda seemed to be entirely composed of ancient spirit beasts. Arriving next to one of the dead rank 4 bodies she released her spiritual consciousness to scan the body and within the body she saw a small crystal, after retrieving the crystal Meng Lin felt her blood surge and circulate as if excited. ''Is this blood essence'' she wondered. She could feel that she would gain some benefits in her blood essence if she absorbed these beast crystals, it''s probably the reason these beasts seem so alive. She wondered how the sect was able to create something like this however thinking back to the StarLord King of the spiritual essence pagoda, Meng Lin realized this sect seemed to be more than meets the eye. Retrieving the Crystal from the other dead beasts she thought of the other rank 3 beasts that ran away, they were alive, she wondered if killing all the ancient spirit beasts within this floor would open the door to the next floor. Her thoughts were proven correct after she went around and cleared all the remaining beasts, a white light appeared near the center of the tower, her door to the second floor. Entering the white light, Meng Lin was transported once more, this time appearing within an unknown place, submerged in water. The cool embrace of water surrounded Meng Lin as she found herself submerged in a vast underwater subspace. The water here was crystal clear, allowing her to see the vibrant still water and the ethereal glow that seemed to emanate from the very depths. She oriented herself, adjusting her breathing and circulating the Imperial Water Art, feeling a connection form with the water around her, allowing her to remain underwater without concern for air. Boom!!! A powerful current suddenly surged through the water, catching Meng Lin off guard and sending her spiraling through the depths. The calm water transformed into a chaotic torrent, the force of the current pulling her every which way. Meng Lin was disoriented, not making sense of her surroundings, she gritted her teeth, focusing on stabilizing herself. Boom!! She was met with another current which sent her spiraling over hundreds of meters in seconds. Swish! Suddenly Meng Lin felt a chill run down her spine as a sharp tail emerged before her, its target her heart. Peng! A shocking force collided with her robe, bouncing off, as a small mark formed on the Immortal Lotus Robe. Boom!! Another huge wave of current clashed against Meng Lin sending her hurtling through the water once more. Her mind raced as she tried to regain control, her body moving reflexively as she summoned her elemental qi, weaving it into her Imperial Water Art to control an area of the water around her. however it was all pointless, it was like a giant hand was trying to drag her deeper into the abyss. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she fought to regain control. She extended her spiritual consciousness, trying to do something, however, even the current seemed to clash against it, causing her to sharply withdraw it. Peng!! Another shocking force collided with her robe, this time from a different angle, sending her tumbling through the water once more. Meng Lin gritted her teeth, refusing to be overwhelmed. Circulating her Black Tortoise Essence Art, she quickly morphed into a monster, her claws extending with black scales forming all over her body. Bubbles formed from behind her as a snake head hissed the snake head''s gaze surveyed the area, her aura intensifying as she transformed into her monstrous form. The snakehead looked menacingly, its eyes glowing with a sinister light, providing Meng Lin with an enhanced perception of her surroundings. Boom!! The currents clashed violently against her, but this time, her reinforced form held firm. She could feel the faint power surging through her veins, her blood essence chunking as it coursed through her body. Her claws sliced through the water while she propelled herself forward with ease. Swish! Another sharp tail darted towards her, but Meng Lin was ready. She twisted her body with agility, her claws intercepting the attack in a flash of sparks. The force of the collision sent vibrations through her arm, but she remained unfazed. "Enough!" Meng Lin''s voice echoed through the water, a command that seemed to reverberate with the very water, causing it to come to a still for a moment. Boom! She summoned her qi into a concentrated burst, a pulse of elemental power that rippled outward, disrupting the currents around her. The water seemed to tremble in response, the oppressive force momentarily shifting. Meng Lin took advantage of the brief respite, her eyes scanning the dark waters for her unseen assailant. The snakehead behind her hissed again, its gaze locking onto a shadowy figure lurking in the depths. With a swift, decisive motion, Meng Lin launched herself toward the figure, her claws poised to strike. The water parted before her, and for a moment, her target became clearera 25-meter-long Flood Dragon, with a protruding horn on its tail. Peng! Her strike was explosive, the force sending shockwaves through the water. Meng Lin''s claws tore into the creature''s hide, and she saw a surge of current clash against her as the beast recoiled in pain. "A Sharptail Flood Dragon" Meng Lin instantly recognized it, her eyes widening with recognition. The Sharptail Flood Dragon was a very rare and powerful beast, she only knew that small description from the ancestral symbol. The dragon''s eyes gleamed with a mixture of anger and surprise, its massive body coiling and uncoiling as it prepared to counterattack. Its horned tail flicked through the water with lethal intent, a blur of motion aimed directly at Meng Lin. But Meng Lin was not one to be easily intimidated. Her Black Tortoise Essence Art surged within her, reinforcing her monstrous form. The snakehead behind her hissed fiercely, its eyes fixed on the dragon, ready to strike at a moment''s notice. Peng!! The dragon''s tail struck with a thunderous impact, but Meng Lin met it head-on, her claws clashing against the horned appendage. The force of the collision sent ripples through the water, sending Meng Lin flying back. Stopping a few meters away, she raised a finger and a thunderous aura reverberated throughout the area. "Heaven Punishment" A dense qi materialized around her pointed finger, crackling with raw power. "Puchi!" The concentrated energy shot forth, and a blinding beam of light pierced through the water, striking the Flood Dragon with unerring precision. The dragon let out a pained roar as the energy touched its scales, forming a gaping hole in its side. But Meng Lin wasn''t done. Her eyes narrowed as she called upon the technique again. "Heavens Punishment". "Puchi!" Another powerful beam of energy struck the Flood Dragon, this time targeting its chest. The beast writhed in agony, its powerful body convulsing as the destructive force tore through it. "Heavens Punishment!" Meng Lin called out once more, her voice echoing through the depths. "Puchi!" The third strike hit the dragon''s head, the impact shattering its horn and leaving a deep, smoking crater. The beast''s roars grew weaker, its ferocity dimming as it finally stopped moving. Blood clouded the water as the dragon''s body sank slowly into the abyss, its life force extinguished. Meng Lin a moment to arrive before the huge flood dragon''s body, holding it up, she released her spiritual consciousness into its body. Her spiritual consciousness probed through the Flood Dragon''s lifeless body, searching for the crystal, she sensed a faint, pulsating energy emanating from within the beast''s chest. Her eyes glinted with anticipation as she focused her qi, drawing out a small crystal, its core. 192. Reward Floor Looking at the crystal Meng Lin was slightly surprised, it was twice as big as the others, indicating a difference in strength, her gaze traveled to the beast carcass, she realized that it was a middle-stage rank 4 beast. She realized that If it had utilized its Armor, then she wouldn''t have disposed of it so easily. She began to look around, wondering if there were other beasts within this place when suddenly a white light appeared not far from where she was. It appears that the flood dragon was the only one on this floor, Meng Lin wondered what the next floor would hold as she stopped circulating the Black Tortoise Essence Art, returning back to her normal form. She flew towards the light, quickly arriving next to it, she allowed it to envelope her, and she felt her vision shift while her body became weighted again as gravity took control. Thud!! Meng Lin found herself sprawled on the ground, her limbs tangled awkwardly. She winced, feeling the sting of embarrassment more than the physical pain. Before she could regain her composure, a laugh echoed through the space. "Hehehe! You should have seen your face!" A voice boomed, filled with amusement. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she scrambled to her feet. There, floating with a smirk plastered across his ethereal face, was another spiritual imprint. This one looked younger, way younger, he looked no more than 13 years old, and there was a mischievous glint in his eyes that contrasted sharply with the solemn aura of the previous StarLord King. "You are?" Meng Lin groaned, brushing the dust off her wet robe while surveying the area, It appears to be in the middle of a clearing that was only 30 meters in diameter. The spiritual imprint chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "You really fell with such... grace hehe. I am the Starbeast King." Meng Lin raised an eyebrow, as she looked at the little boy, floating in midair, ''another name with the star in it, I wonder what that means for the title'' she asked. "What is this place?" The Starbeast King floated closer, his mischievous grin never wavering. "This is my Reward Floor," he said grandly, spreading his arms wide. "You''ve proven yourself somewhat, and now you get to choose a prize." Meng Lin''s curiosity piqued, and she couldn''t help but feel a flutter of excitement despite the boy''s playful demeanor. "A prize? What kind of prize?" The Starbeast King snapped his fingers, and three pedestals appeared before them, each holding a different item. The first pedestal held a shimmering sword that seemed to hum with power. The second pedestal displayed a delicate, azure amulet. The third pedestal showcased a crystalized drop that flickered like dancing flames. "You may choose one," the Starbeast King said, his voice suddenly serious. "But choose wisely. Each item holds a drawback" Meng Lin''s eyes flickered between the three items, her mind racing. Each one seemed to radiate something weird, but the Starbeast King''s warning echoed in her ears. "Drawbacks?" she asked, trying to gauge the seriousness of his words. "Indeed," the Starbeast King nodded, his mischievous smile returning. "And they take too much of your spiritual energy to use". He pointed towards each one, explaining their drawbacks. "The sword holds an Ancient Lighting Tiger spirit beast''s will, try using it and the will could try to control you, the amulet contains the essence of the Mystic Serpent, and it can summon a spirit beast seal that doesn''t discern friend from foe." "The crystalized drop is the blood of a Crystal Flame Lion, Its blood can grant you momentary strength and recovery, but using it could burn you from the inside out if you''re not careful." Meng Lin then understood what the Starbeast King meant when he said drawbacks, although from their aura she could tell they were at least high-grade items, the risks were equally formidable. However, after thinking about each of the items, the one that stood out was the Azure Amulet, she wondered what the reaction between the amulet and her ancient spirit seals would be. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Meng Lin took a deep breath and stepped closer to the pedestal holding the azure amulet. The gem''s pulsating glow seemed to synchronize with her, and she felt a peculiar connection to it. Her curiosity about the interaction between the amulet and her ancient spirit seals outweighed the potential risks. "I choose the amulet," she declared. The Starbeast King nodded approvingly, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "A brave choice Meng Lin. The Mystic Serpent''s essence is not to be trifled with, but if you can use it right, the rewards could be immense." As she reached out and grasped the delicate amulet, she felt a small surge of energy through her. The gem''s glow intensified for a moment before settling into a steady, gentle pulsation. She nodded, fastening the amulet to her waist. "Thank you," she said, her eyes meeting the Starbeast King''s. The Starbeast King chuckled softly. "Now do you want to continue or leave, the Fourth floor is full of middle and late-stage beasts" Meng Lin considered her options, facing middle and late-stage beasts would be a bit difficult, but she shouldn''t have a problem with it, she thought. "I choose to continue," Meng Lin replied with determination in her voice. The Starbeast King nodded, his playful demeanor fading slightly as he looked at her with a mix of admiration and caution. "Very well, then continue to the next floor, if you pass the next 3 floors we will meet once more". With those words of encouragement, the Starbeast King waved his hand, and Meng Lin felt a shift in her surroundings as she appeared on the next floor at once. Rumble!!! Heat permitted the air and Meng Lin felt the floor shake while lava lit the whole area, she was within a volcanic crater. "Ha..." Meng Lin steadied herself, taking in the heat and the sight of bubbling lava every 10 meters from her. She could feel a small amount of Elemental Qi radiating from the bubbling lava, the air was thick with the smell of sulfur, and the ground beneath her would rumble every once in a while. Pop! Suddenly from one of the bubbling lava, a black ant emerged, she instantly recognized it as an Ancient BlackFire Ant, a beast known for its poisonous attack. It was the size of a large hound, with an exoskeleton that glistened like jade in the fiery lava. Its eyes glowed with a red light, and it moved with a deliberate, menacing gaze. Shrill! The ant let out a high-pitched shriek that echoed through the crater, sending a heatwave all around, Meng Lin''s face changed as she felt the aura of a rank 4 mid-stage beast emanating from it. Swish! The ant spat a searing glob of fire towards her, the flames crackling and hissing as they tore through the air. Meng Lin swiftly dodged to the side, the fireball missing and exploding against the rocky ground behind her in a shower of fire. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she focused on the ant. She wanted to experiment with the Amulet however seeing the environment, she became serious. She quickly retrieved the top-grade Celestial-Thunder Blade from within her system, intending to use it for the first time, as it emerged, lighting crackled all around her and she used the Wrath of Thunder, cloaking herself within a ball of highly charged electricity. The air around Meng Lin buzzed with energy as she circulated her Main Cultivation Method, channeling all her Elemental Qi into her weapon, feeling even more lighting surge through the blade. Boom! With a burst of speed, Meng Lin lunged at the Ancient BlackFire Ant. The ant raised its front legs and they suddenly darkened as it slashed to meet her sword. Peng! The sound of impact reverberated through the volcanic crater as Meng Lin''s Celestial-Thunder Blade clashed against the ant''s front legs. The force of the collision sent sparks flying, illuminating the fiery surroundings. Meng Lin''s eyes widened in surprise as she felt the immense strength of the ant. Just its two legs could block an attack fully powered by a Sacred Grade Elemental Qi Technique. Crack! One of the ant''s front legs cracked under the impact, but it managed to block her strike with the other leg. Shrill! The ant, enraged spat out a ball of black gas which almost consumed Meng Lin as it released a foul odor that made her grimace. ''Poison'', thinking quickly, Meng Lin leaped back, creating distance between herself and the toxic gas. She hasn''t even inhaled any but she was already feeling lightheaded. She had to finish this soon, she thought. Pop! Pop!! Pop!!! Suddenly bubbles of lava began to burst as ants releasing the same aura began to emerge one by one. Rumble!! The ground began to quake even more as more ants emerged from the ground, swarming toward Meng Lin like a relentless army. Their fiery red bodies glowed with a malevolent aura, and their sharp mandibles clicked together menacingly. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she realized the gravity of the situation, there were over 20 of them and they all released the aura of the mid-stage. If she were to continue fighting them she would quickly become overwhelmed, the weakness of these ants is ice, but with the environment full of fiery heat, she knew any ice attack would just melt as soon as it appeared. "I guess I can finally use this" Meng Lin said with a deep breath, as she closed her eyes to stir her dark Elemental Qi. Slowly a black mist began to emanate from her body, spreading and enveloping the entire space in complete darkness. Taking a deep breath, Meng Lin felt the Elemental Qi of Darkness pulsing through her veins, it was cold and unyielding. The world around her plunged into a deep, consuming darkness, swallowing the fiery landscape and silencing the crackling of the lava. Shrill!! The ants were momentarily confused, as they found themselves engulfed in an inky black void. Their mandibles clicked frantically, trying to understand the sudden absence of light, but Meng Lin didn''t let the chance slip by. Crackle! A blinding flash of lightning cut through the darkness for a split second, as she targeted one of the ants, this time adding the Thunderbolt Flash Technique. Puchi! The bolt of lightning pierced through the ant''s exoskeleton, targeting its head, it pierced through with ease, causing the confused ant to drop lifeless on the ground. Puchi! Another ant fell victim to her Thunderbolt Flash, its body pierced as it tried to block with its legs. Meng Lin moved with urgency, as she felt the darkness within her waning, she could only keep it up for a few seconds. Boom! A concentrated explosion of intense lightning erupted from Meng Lin''s sword targeting a cluster of ants. The combined elemental attack caused a massive shockwave, sending them flying in all directions, because of the sudden attack some of the ants died. Rumble!! Meng Lin was about to finish off the rest when suddenly the ground rumbled again, this time more intense than before. Boom!!! Suddenly the darkness surrounding the whole area was lifted as a massive fire burst through the ground, illuminating the battlefield with an intense, blazing light. Meng Lin squinted against the sudden brightness, her eyes adjusting to the sight of an enormous ant emerging from the ground. This ant was far larger than the others, with a fiery red exoskeleton that shimmered like molten lava. Its mandibles were as large as scythes, and its eyes burned with a fierce, malevolent intelligence. The giant ant shrilled, its voice reverberating through the air and sending tremors through the ground. It was an Ancient Ant Queen, the source of the mid-stage ants, its aura was that of the late stage, and it radiated an overwhelming suppression. Meng Lin''s heart pounded in her chest as she realized that she was facing a true threat. The other 15 remaining ants seemed to rally around their queen, their aggressive clicking growing louder as they prepared to attack her in unison. 193. Elemental Domain Meng Lin felt her breath catch at her throat as the Ancient Ant Queen''s aura washed over her. The oppressive heat and malevolent energy made the volcanic crater stifling. The other ants, emboldened by their queen''s presence, formed a defensive perimeter, their eyes glowing sinister red. "An Ancient Ant Queen," Meng Lin muttered, her eyes narrowing. "This is going to be troublesome." The queen ant let out a shrill cry. The surrounding ants moved with purpose, their mandibles clicking in unison as they formed a protective circle. Meng Lin''s mind raced. The queen''s presence amplified the threat. The mid-stage ants alone were formidable, but with the queen, their coordinated force was dangerous. She tightened her grip on the Celestial-Thunder Blade, its crackling energy increasing, matching the presence of the ants before her. The queen ant''s eyes glowed with malevolent intelligence as it noticed the surge in energy. Shrill! It issued another command, and the ants opened their mandibles wide, spewing forth thick, acrid smoke. The smoke formed a dense, swirling cloud rushing toward her. Meng Lin''s instincts kicked in. She leaped into the air, flying to the limit of the space, narrowly avoiding the encroaching smoke. Everywhere she looked was filled with black smoke. The heat burned up the poison, filling the air with the same stench, making her stomach churn and her chest tighten. Gritting her teeth, she took a small black tablet out of her inventory. It was the Void-State Tablet, her only sacred grade item. With a swift motion, she activated the tablet. The air around her shimmered as a spatial rift opened up in space, the air moved and the small spatial rift suddenly started sucking in the acrid smoke, its speed increasing with every second. After just ten seconds the volcanic crater''s air cleared, revealing the horde of ants crowded besides their queen. Meng Lin landed a few dozen meters away, her eyes locking onto the Ancient Ant Queen. The queen''s crimson eyes were locked onto the small floating black tablet behind Meng Lin, it felt that this item was incredibly dangerous. "So you noticed," Meng Lin whispered to herself, her grip on the Celestial-Thunder Blade tightening. "Then have a taste of its power" The black tablet behind her shook the surrounding space and the ant queen suddenly felt a pull as it suddenly appeared right in front of Meng Lin. The queen''s eyes widened in shock, and in that split second of confusion, Meng Lin attacked, she lunged forward, her Celestial-Thunder Blade crackling with intense energy. With a swift and powerful motion, she slashed at the queen ant. The ant queen barely had time to react. The blade struck true, slicing open its stomach while sending a burst of electrical energy coursing through its body. Shrill! The ant queen screeched in pain, its crimson eyes flashing with fury and confusion, it could not understand what just happened. Meng Lin didn''t stop, pressing her advantage, opening another wound on the queen ant''s body as the electrical qi wreaked havoc on its internal systems. Shrill!! The surrounding Blackfire Ants heard their queen''s call and they surged forward in a desperate bid to protect their monarch, balls of lava began to target Meng Lin, who quickly jumped back, dodging some of the lava. The ants didn''t stop as a dozen more balls of lava targeted her, with their power combined, even Meng Lin felt a sense of danger towards the incoming attack. Her eyes flickered as the black tablet, still hovering ominously in the air shook the surrounding space once more. Whoosh! The ant queen which was retreating suddenly saw ten balls of lava within her vision and before it could act, it felt its carapace crack and its injury worsen as a large explosion surrounded it. Boom!! The explosion sent shockwaves through the volcanic crater, scattering debris and causing the ground to tremble. The black fire ants, momentarily stunned by the explosion, hesitated in their advance, they attacked their queen? Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Amidst the smoke and flying debris, Meng Lin saw the Ancient Ant Queen, the queen''s carapace was cracked and charred, its movements sluggish and pained. Yet, the malevolent glow in its crimson eyes remained. Shrill!! It issued a command as its aura suddenly began to change, and a large amount of energy gathered as armor began to cover its whole body. Seeing this, Meng Lin knew she had to act swiftly. She couldn''t afford to let all the other ants utilize their armor, she would be having an even more challenging fight in her hand. She raised her hand and a fiery red glow enveloped it as a golden lizard sprung up with its body expanding at an alarming rate. It appeared behind Meng Lin, with its head raised high, its aura coming together as it used all its might. ROAR!! A giant dragon head roared, its voice amplified with energy reverberating through the volcanic crater, the roar stunned all the ants that wanted to use their armor, leaving them paralyzed for a second. Meng Lin seized the opportunity, slamming her fist into the ground and circulating her Elemental Qi Convergence Method to the maximum. She realized that with the small amounts of fire elemental qi within the ground it was not possible to affect the ground deeply, however she only wanted to affect the surface of the fiery ground. As she circulated her qi to the maximum, she finally felt a large strain as she used the only technique within her Sacred Grade Cultivation Method, The Elemental Qi Convergence Method. "Elemental Qi Convergence: Elemental Domain" Rumble!! The ground beneath Meng Lin''s feet shimmered as a radiant, multi-colored aura spread outwards, enveloping the entire battlefield. The air seemed to vibrate with the sheer intensity of the elemental domain. The elemental energies of water, corrosive mud, and darkness surged together in a harmonious yet destructive way, creating a space where Meng Lin''s power was even more destructive. The ants, caught within this domain, found themselves overpowered by the overwhelming elemental forces. Streams of corrosive mud twisted and turned, covering the whole volcanic crater. hundreds of dark tendrils of water flew through the air, entrapping the ants and sapping their strength. The Ancient Ant Queen, though encased in her newly formed armor, struggled against a hundred dark tendrils as it felt its movement restricted, even though it was not bound. It''s movements were further hindered by the corrosive mud that suddenly covered the whole ground, eating away at her armor. Meng Lin, standing at the center of her Elemental Domain, felt a surge of pain and power. Her Celestial-Thunder Blade hummed with renewed vigor, and she raised her sword, preparing to attack. The elemental qi of water, mud, darkness, and Erosion converted into a balanced yet destructive qi around her blade as she slashed horizontally without uttering any technique. A crescent slash of pure elemental energy tore through the air, a blazing arc that seemed to defy the very laws of nature. Slash! The slash cut through the air, leaving a shimmering trail of multicolored light as it killed all the mid stage ants in its wake, Its target however was the ant queen. The Ancient Ant Queen, sensing the imminent danger, tried to muster a last-ditch defense. But the combined might of the elemental energies still continued to restrict her movement and it could do nothing but watch as the crescent slash made contact. Peng! The crescent slash connected with it, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the ground and the air alike. Crack! Boom! The armor, already weakened by the corrosive mud and dark water, shattered under the assault. The Ant Queen roared in pain, its voice echoing through the battlefield. It staggered back, its once-imposing form now riddled with cracks and fractures. Meng Lin did not relent. She pressed forward, her blade a blur of motion as she struck again and again, each strike infused with the raw power of her Elemental Domain. The other ants, disoriented and weakened by the domain, could do little to aid their queen. They were swept away by the torrents of corrosive mud and bound tightly by the dark tendrils of water. With her fifth swing, Meng Lin saw the strike cleave through the queen''s body, splitting her in two. The battlefield fell silent, the only sound the crackling of dissipating elemental energy. Meng Lin quickly stopped circulating the elemental qi convergence method as she felt damage within her spiritual vein. "Caugh" Her chest tightened, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood. The strain of wielding such immense power had taken its toll. It surprised her a little, after all her spiritual vein was dozens of times sturdier than a normal cultivator, and yet it was still damaged after circulating the sacred grade cultivation method to the maximum. She shook her head, getting rid of her dizziness, and looked at the battlefield, it was eerily quiet, and the remaining ants seemed to be unsure of what to do. "Go" Meng Lin gave the command and the Golden Lizard behind her quickly roared, lunging towards the remaining five ants which were still trapped. While the golden lizard was dealing with the remaining ants, Meng Lin began to think about the battle, she could have finished the battle easier if she had used the brute qi, however, she didn''t want to rely too much on that. At least now she knows where her strength lay, she should be able to contend with the late stage of the Soul Wondering Realm, and if she utilizes the brute qi method, then she shouldn''t have too much of a problem with the late stage. The Elemental Domain which she had just used was a bit similar to the brute Qi in strength, it made her realize how much of a difference the cultivation method makes to maximize her energies. If she uses the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method, then she felt that she could not be harmed by those within the Late Stage, of course, that''s just her thoughts. Taking a few pills out of the inventory to eat, she held a finger under her chin as she wondered if she should continue to the next floor or not, the next floor should be multiple late-stage Rank 4 ancient beasts. After thinking about it, she decided to stop, she had already assessed her strength and she felt that further fight will not add more to her experience, she needed some time to digest these past battles and come back afterwards. There were still those other pagodas, she wanted to enter all of them now but she already felt fatigued, furthermore she still has to take care of the injury within her spiritual veins. Nodding her head, she quickly surveyed the battle, noticing a white light descending at the center of the area, it seems that all the ants were dead. She began to look for the corpses of the ants, wondering if these ants also had a crystal like the other beasts from the previous floors. 194. Lax Judgement Meng Lin left the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda with her mind still reeling from the intense battles that she had just been through. "I need to heal and reflect," she murmured to herself, her mind drifting to the Void-State Tablet and the Elemental Qi Convergence Method. Both had proven invaluable, yet their usage had come at a cost, especially the cultivation method. The Void-State Tablet not only consumed a large amount of Qi, it also drained up her spiritual consciousness, her mind was clearly affected as she felt her emotions bluster more than ever before, and the Elemental Qi Convergence Method damaged her with each circulation through her spiritual veins. "Huh?" Meng Lin felt a sudden stillness in the air, the spiritual imprints had withdrawn, she lifted her head and noticed two figures standing on the platform of the pagoda. "So you''re the one," a charming voice trailed in the air as a woman walked forward, accompanied by a fragrant scent with each step she took. Meng Lin''s gaze narrowed as she took in the woman''s appearance. Dressed in an elegant, flowing robe with an aura that radiated power and confidence. Meng Lin''s gaze locked onto the lazy eyes of the woman as she replied. "I am the one?" The woman smiled a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Nice to meet you, newbie, my name is Wei Wei, you''re the one Wu Dao saved, right" Wei Wei''s companion, a tall man with a stern expression, remained silent but observant, his eyes never leaving Meng Lin. "Wu Dao and Wei Wei" Meng Lin repeated the names, having seemingly forgotten about the man that saved her life, and a name she tried to memorize, unsure of their intentions, she answered. "Yes that''s me, what do you want" Wei Wei smiled weirdly as she said "I wanted to know that''s all" she said before turning to the man, her gaze flickering. "Let''s go" The man nodded, giving Meng Lin one last, long look before following Wei Wei. As they walked away, Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel a mixture of confusion and caution. Who were these people, and why did the girl ask such a weird question before leaving? The fact that they were here means that they also have Luan''s Soul, or they were people brought in by someone else with Luan''s Soul. Although she couldn''t feel the sense of danger she felt from Luang Chen she knew they had to be people with Luan''s Soul. The aura they gave off can only be cultivated by someone at the Soul Wondering Realm, and she remembered seeing the name Wei Wei somewhere else, however she couldn''t clearly remember. What boggled her mind was the fact that the spiritual imprints of the ancestors within the pagodas had withdrawn as if afraid of these two people, she wondered why. She took a deep breath, her body aching from the recent battles, and decided to just leave, the encounter had left her with more questions than answers, but she knew that she needed to regain her strength before delving into any mysteries. After walking back to her villa she went to the pond next to her cultivation chamber and sat cross-legged and began to circulate her Qi. However, the moment she began circulating her Qi she felt a surge of pain and quickly stopped, she knew that healing her spiritual veins had to come first, however even the memories of the Ancestral Symbol didn''t have an answer. "System" [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points:45>48%] System coin: 9,920 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [ Heavenly Dao ] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin winced at the slow progression of her cultivation, after such intense fights she had only managed to get 3 percent. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Taking a deep breath, Meng Lin focused on her surroundings, the tranquil pond before her, and the soothing sounds of nature. She needed to clear her mind, to find a solution to her current predicament. Entering the system market she quickly surveyed pages upon pages of items that appeared before her eyes, ranging from medicinal pills to rare artifacts. She skimmed through them quickly, filtering out any not related to healing spiritual veins. After a few moments, an item caught her eye. Heavenly Vein Remolding Elixir A Sacred Grade Pill that offers a range of profound effects for those who consume it. Primarily, it meticulously repairs and fortifies damaged or blocked spiritual veins, enhancing the flow and control of inner energy. This leads to significantly improved healing capabilities, allowing injuries and ailments to mend faster than usual. 10,500 System Coins Meng Lin smiled bitterly at the cost of the elixir. She was short of the necessary coins, and the gap seemed wide at the moment. However, she knew she couldn''t afford to give up. Her spiritual veins were her lifeline, and without them functioning properly, her cultivation would be severely hindered. She decided to explore other options within the system that might help her close the gap. First, she checked the [Daily Mission] tab. Completing daily missions would be a reliable way to accumulate system coins. Perhaps the daily mission she would complete would quickly earn the remaining coins. 1. Perform Alchemy [0/10] 2. Perform Blacksmithing [0/10] 3. Perform Physique Cleansing Sutra [0/10] 4. Perform Elemental Qi Convergence Method [0/100] Rewards: 1000 experience points, 100 system coins Time Remaining: 12 hours 17 minutes 38 seconds "Damn it" Meng Lin''s heartbeat suddenly increased, she had held onto the small hope that the daily mission task would change for over 12 hours and it would refresh, however, it had refreshed to the same one as before. Frustration washed over Meng Lin as she realized that her options within the system were limited. She could not circulate her qi so she could not finish the last two tasks of the daily mission. Feeling disheartened, Meng Lin decided to explore other avenues both inside and outside the system, after a couple of minutes she saw a cultivation technique within the immortal Jade market, a technique called the "Spiritual Vein Restoration Art" However that technique required a certain bloodline, which she didn''t have and it was also 7 immortal jades. "Is there no other way?" Meng Lin''s heart was shaken as countless thoughts ran through her mind. Just then, a faint incontrollable aura erupted from her body, causing her to go into a daze. Her cultivation base suddenly began to shake, slowly it began to move backward, it had begun to plummet, the percentage dropping from 48 to 46, then to 42, 38, and finally down to 30. Crackle!!! Suddenly she felt a soul-shattering pain within her soul and quickly snapped out of her stupor, realizing the situation she quickly closed her eyes and calmed her surging qi, stabilizing her cultivation and stopping the downward spiral. She panted heavily, her body drenched in sweat, and her mind was black from the sudden shock. The pain she felt was like something was forcefully being ripped from her soul. Meng Lin clenched her fists, her gaze hardening. "I need to calm down, something''s wrong". She suddenly closed her eyes, her thoughts dissipating one by one, after a few minutes she finally entered a state of calmness. As Meng Lin''s breathing steadied and her mind cleared, she began to assess her situation more rationally. She couldn''t afford to let panic and frustration cloud her judgment. Her eyes flicked open, now filled with a renewed determination. ''what was that sensation just now'' she asked herself, it was as if something had thrown her into a dazed state where she felt her cultivation base weakening. She needed answers, but first, she needed a plan. Surveying her surroundings once more, Meng Lin decided to focus on what she could control. She went back to the system market, looking for other means to earn coins or find healing solutions. However, her eyes kept drifting back to the unattainable Heavenly Vein Remolding Elixir. "Think," she muttered to herself. "There has to be another way." She considered her resources. The pills that she has are not so potent as to restore damaged Spiritual Veins, the jade box within her inventory wouldn''t open, and her weapons and items? ''No'' she shook her head, there were no weapons or items that had healing capability within her inventory, ''I need something to heal my spiritual veins, but what? The system doesn''t have one which I can get immediately, the sect doesn''t have something like that, it''s practically heaven-defying to remold or restore damaged Spiritual Veins. She gritted her teeth, it was only now that she realized that she had been too lax about the damage done, she needed system coins, but to earn system coins she needed rewards like a system package, however, she could only get those after she has a breakthrough in her cultivation or rare moments. She didn''t want to wait for God knows how long before she could get a system package. Meng Lins gaze hardened even further, a fire of determination igniting in her eyes. She couldn''t afford to wait for a breakthrough that might never come. She needed to take decisive action. "Alright, let''s think outside the box," she whispered to herself. "If the system market can''t give me what I need immediately, maybe there''s another way to earn this pill." Suddenly, an idea struck her. There was one place she hadn''t fully explored yetthe [Alchemy] tab. It was a place where she could find a pill that fit her requirements, she just wondered what level of alchemy was required to make such pills. Meng Lin quickly navigated to the [Alchemy] panel within the system. Her gaze worsened as she realized how much she would probably have to do. Alchemy(beginning) 66>97%] Pill slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: none She saw that she was still at the beginning stage, after all, she had only tried to create one pill, all to get a Gacha Wheel ticket. She saw the original percentage of 66 had jumped up to 97, she knew it had to be her breakthrough to the Soul Wondering Realm, her perception had increased countless times and she could easily see flaws in many things. ''I hope this works'', she thought as her fingers trembled with a mix of hope and desperation as she tapped the pills slot. Meng Lin''s eyes scanned the [Alchemy] panel, searching for any sign of hope. The system presented her with a seemingly endless list of pills, categorized by their effectiveness and rarity. She needed something potent, something that could rival the Heavenly Vein Remolding Elixir. The list seemed to go on forever: [Beginning] 1. Minor Healing Pill - Heals minor injuries and restores a small amount of qi. 2. Meridian Cleansing Pill - Cleanses the meridians of impurities, enhancing qi flow. 3. Qi Recovery Pill - Restores a moderate amount of qi. 4. Blood Coagulation Pill - Stops bleeding and accelerates wound healing. 5. Vitality Boost Pill - Temporarily increases physical strength and stamina. 6. Essence Fortification Pill - Strengthens the body''s natural defenses. 7. Mind Clarity Pill - Enhances mental focus and clarity. 8. Spirit Awakening Pill - Awakens dormant spiritual energy. 9. Energy Convergence Pill - Concentrates scattered qi for more efficient use. 10. Elemental Harmony Pill - Balances the elemental energies within the body. ... Meng Lin''s eyes began to blur as she scrolled through the long page, quickly going through to another section titled [Middle], she saw another batch of pills, however, none seemed to fit her needs. She was beginning to lose hope when she finally reached the 104th entry under the [Expert] section. 104. Spirit Rejuvenation Pill - Restores a substantial amount of qi and minorly repairs spiritual veins. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the description. It wasn''t as powerful as the Heavenly Vein Remolding Elixir, but it was a step in the right direction. The ingredients required were those that she recognized however she knew they were hard to come by. "5 Spirit Blossom Petals, 2 Dragon''s Blood Herb, and 1 Moonlight Dew" Meng Lin read aloud. She didn''t have any of these ingredients, and acquiring them would be a challenge. She decided to explore another option. She opened the system''s market interface, hoping to find the ingredients needed for the Spirit Rejuvenation Pill. The market was big so it took her a while before she finally saw one of the ingredients. Spirit Blossom Petals Ethereal petals that hold an otherworldly light, are used in alchemy for their powerful spiritual energy. 530 system coins Hiss! Meng Lin unintentionally took a deep breath at the price of just one of the items, knowing she would need at least five of these petals. She purchased them without hesitation, draining her system coins to 7,270. With her newly acquired Spirit Blossom Petals, Meng Lin continued her search for the remaining ingredients. The market interface was vast, filled with countless items from all kinds of places, after searching for an hour she found the Dragon''s Blood Herb. The description read: Dragon''s Blood Herb A rare herb known for its potent life force and regenerative properties, often sought after by alchemists. 750 system coins She sighed as she brought two herbs, the cost was high but she didn''t waver. The search for Moonlight Dew proved to be even more difficult. It was listed as an extremely rare item, harvested only during specific lunar phases from the petals of the Moonlight Lily. After what felt like an eternity of scrolling and searching, she was beginning to give up when she found a listing: Moonlight Dew Collected from the petals of the Moonlight Lily under the light of a full moon, this dew is imbued with pure lunar essence. 1200 system coins Meng Lin heaved a sigh of relief as she looked at the price, it was manageable she thought, with a swift motion, she purchased the Moonlight Dew, her coin reserve dwindling to 4,570. "This is going to take a few days," Meng Lin said as she went back to the alchemy panel. Alchemy(beginning) 97%] Pill slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: none She needed to increase her alchemy from Beginning to Middle to Advance and finally Expert, she wasn''t exactly thrilled but at least she found something. The only bright side was the fact that she has the High-Grade Rootless Flame, a rare and powerful refinement flame that could significantly enhance her pill-making process, it also cuts her time by a lot. Feeling a bit more optimistic, Meng Lin decided to buy a small batch of ingredients for the beginning stage pills, lowering her system coin to 4,580. She calculated and distributed 1000 for Middle-stage pills and 2500 for Advanced-stage pills, she could only hope that she would be able to have enough system coins before finally trying for Expert-stage pills. "Now let''s begin" 195. Remarkable Physique Meng Lin went to one of the many empty rooms within her villa and sat down before bringing up the Alchemy panel once more. She had bought a lot of different ingredients so she didn''t waste time and began to make pills right away, the High-Grade Rootless Flame flickered to life in her hand, casting a fiery glow over her new Alchemy Room. She began with the simplest pill, the Minor Healing Pill. The process was not very familiar, seeing as it was her second time making pills, however, she could feel her enhanced perception guiding her moves. The small alchemy furnace appeared and she began to first burn the ingredients with the rootless fire, removing all the impurities, before putting them within the alchemy furnace. [Alchemy(beginning) 97%] Pill slot: Minor Healing Pill Ingredients: Sunflower Petals x3, Ginseng Root x1, 3. Light Lotus Seeds x1 Chance of success: 93% Pressing start, Meng Lin viewed the contents of the furnace with her spiritual consciousness while a small timer of 30 seconds appeared next to the furnace, the High-Grade Rootless Flame has cut the time by a considerable margin. Meng Lin focused intently on the alchemy process. Her spiritual consciousness was finely tuned to the reactions occurring within the furnace. As the seconds ticked down, the ingredients began to meld together. The impurities had already been removed by the Rootless Flame, ensuring a purer final product. With a final flicker of the flame and a soft chime, the timer reached zero. The furnace emitted a faint, pleasing aroma. Meng Lin opened the furnace to reveal a set of perfectly formed Minor Healing Pills. Their surface was smooth and glistening. She carefully extracted them and placed them into a small jade bottle. [Congratulations! You have successfully created nine low-grade spiritual pills: Minor Healing Pill] [You have gained Experience] Meng Lin smiled as the notification appeared. It was small, but important, it made her confidence grow as she moved on to the next pill on her list: the Meridian Cleansing Pill. She intends to make as many different pills as possible to enrich her alchemical knowledge and increase her proficiency. Each pill required different techniques and precise control of the flame, it provided her with valuable experience. [Alchemy(beginning) 98%] Pill slot: Meridian Cleansing Pill Ingredients: Spirit Grass x2, Cloudberry Essence x1, Jade Flower Petal x2 Chance of success: 89% Meng Lin quickly gathered the ingredients and repeated the process. The Rootless Flame danced, efficiently burning away impurities and preparing the ingredients for fusion. This time, the process was even more smoother. Pressing start, another timer of 30 seconds appeared, tickling down while she viewed the ingredients merging harmoniously. The furnace emitted a soft, luminous glow, with a small chime indicating the completion of the pill-making process. Meng Lin opened the furnace to reveal another set of Meridian Cleansing Pills. [Congratulations! You have successfully created six low-grade spiritual pills: Meridian Cleansing Pill] [You have gained Experience] They radiated a gentle energy. She carefully stored them in another jade bottle and moved on to the next pill. Meng Lin continued this cycle, moving from one pill to the next with increasing proficiency. Each successful creation brought her closer to advancing her alchemy skills. After five minutes, she reached the long-awaited moment. [Alchemy (beginning) 100%] Pill slot: Middle Stage Qi Advancement Pill Ingredients: Bloodroot x1, Golden Lotus Seed x1, Dragon''s Breath Herb x2, Phoenix Feather Root x1 Chance of success: 20% Meng Lin took a deep breath, the Middle Stage Advancement Pill was a pill mainly used for small breakthroughs in stages for Qi Gathering Realm cultivators at the late stages. Looking at the low success rate, even after purifying the ingredients, Meng Lin could only hope that everything goes well. With a steady hand, she ignited the Rootless Flame once more. The furnace roared to life, its heat intense and demanding. Meng Lin''s spiritual consciousness swept across, monitoring every subtle change within the furnace. This time the timer set had increased to 1:30 minutes, no doubt because of the increase in the pill being made. The ingredients began to liquefy and merge, their energies interacting in complex ways. Meng Lin''s control over the flame was precise, adjusting its intensity to ensure the perfect balance. The seconds ticked away, each one feeling long. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Meng Lin''s heart was calm as the timer counted down to zero. With a soft chime, the process was complete. She opened the furnace, her eyes raised in surprise. Inside, a single Qi Advancement Pill lay, its surface gleaming with a spiritual light. The pill exuded a unique fragrance and Meng Lin carefully extracted it and placed it in a small jade bottle, her hands trembling slightly. She might not have shown it but she was somewhat nervous about it, as the chance of success meant that there was a possibility of her trying for several more times before she could finally create such a pill. [Congratulations! You have successfully created one Middle Stage Qi Advancement Pill] For successfully creating your first Middle Stage Pill you have received the items: Bloodroot x3, Golden Lotus Seed x3, Dragon''s Breath Herb x6, Phoenix Feather Root x3 [You have gained Experience] Meng Lin felt a surge of excitement. She was making progress, but there was still a long way to go. She quickly transitioned to creating Middle-stage pills, using the ingredients she had purchased earlier. The Rootless Flame flickered more intensely as it handled the more complex ingredients, her chance of success had also increased to 60% after she adjusted the High-Grade Rootless flame. Meng Lin''s spiritual consciousness was used a lot as she carefully monitored each reaction within the furnace. The process was more challenging, but her enhanced perception continued to help her. As she completed each Middle-stage pill, the percentage on her alchemy panel steadily increased. Alchemy(Middle) 15%] Alchemy(Middle) 30%] Alchemy(Middle) 50%] It was only when her percentage reached 50% did Meng Lin begin to feel strained, she quickly stopped making pills, instead opting to meditate for a few hours before getting up from her seated position. At this point Meng Lin had created over 40 different batches of pills, all extremely potent and of the highest quality, she didn''t intend to sell them to the sect, instead deciding to make more and store them within her inventory. However, with the addition of 40 different slots being filled, Meng Lin''s inventory was beginning to be filled up with only 12 more slots available. Meng Lin left the Alchemy Room and looked up at the sky, she realized that it was already nighttime. "Ha," She took a deep breath, feeling the cool night air on her skin. She decided to take a walk through the villa''s garden to clear her mind. The moonlight cast a serene glow over the lush greenery, and the sound of water moving from pond to pond added a tranquil sound to the night. As she walked, her thoughts drifted to Xi Lan and she unhurriedly walked towards Xi Lan''s room and found Xi Lan in a meditative state, her breathing steady and calm. Meng Lin could sense the subtle shifts in her qi, indicating a slow but sure cultivation. However seeing the small beads of sweat on Xi Lan''s forehead, Meng Lin knew that just the cultivation process was taxing on her. She quietly approached Xi Lan and gently tapped her forehead, delivering cool spiritual qi into her body, quickly making her faint. She laid down the aged body on a soft mat and took out a small metal from her inventory, it was the Physique Awakening Metal. Meng Lin placed the Physique Awakening Metal in her hands, its cold surface reflecting the moonlight. She closed her eyes and began to channel her qi into the metal, activating its powers. The metal started to glow faintly, pulsating with an ancient energy, as the energy from the metal flowed into Xi Lan''s body, Meng Lin could feel a powerful resonance, it was slightly similar to the feeling she had when she stood next to people with Luan''s Soul. However, she felt that it was also completely different from that, shaking the thought out of her head, she carefully guided the energy, ensuring it merged seamlessly with Xi Lan''s qi. Minutes turned into hours as Meng Lin maintained her focus, her own energy depleting gradually. But she could feel the change happening within Xi Lan. The aged woman''s body began to emit a soft, golden light, and her breathing became more robust and steady. The small wrinkles on her face started to smooth out, and her hair regained a slight luster. Finally, as dawn began to break, Meng Lin sensed the process was complete. She withdrew her hands, heaving lightly from the exertion. Xi Lan lay there, her face seeming to have aged backward by at least 60 years, giving her the appearance of a middle-aged woman. Just as Meng Lin was about to stand up, Xi Lan''s eyes fluttered open. They were no longer the dull, tired eyes of someone on the brink of death but were now filled with a vibrant, vigorous light, it made Meng Lin wonder what kind of physique she had awakened, was it related to time? She wondered. "Miss... Ah?" Xi Lan gasped, hearing her own voice, it had changed. Meng Lin''s curiosity deepened as she saw the astonishment in Xi Lan''s eyes. The transformation was nothing short of miraculous. Xi Lan''s voice, once frail and weak, now carried a melodic resonance that seemed to echo with hidden power. Xi Lan, how do you feel? Meng Lin asked, her voice gentle but laced with curiosity. I feel... rejuvenated, Xi Lan replied, her hand coming up to touch her face, feeling the smoothness of her skin. What did you do to me? Meng Lin smiled softly. I came upon an item before that awakens a physique. I used that on you, tell me what you feel?" Xi Lan''s eyes widened in disbelief. Physique... I never imagined such a thing could be possible. Meng Lin''s curiosity remained undiminished as she watched Xi Lan grapple with the enormity of her transformation. The older woman''s eyes were wide, reflecting a mixture of shock and wonder. "Xi Lan," Meng Lin said softly, "try to sense the changes within yourself. Focus on your qi and see if you can understand what kind of power you''ve gained." "I..." Xi Lan''s astonishment lingered as she tried to understand the changes within her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing inward to sense the new power coursing through her veins. Moments later, her eyes fluttered open, and a look of comprehension crossed her face. "Miss, I... I can feel it," Xi Lan began, her voice carrying a mix of wonder and uncertainty. "It''s not a power that lashes out or controls the elements. It feels more... protective. Almost like a shield." Meng Lin''s curiosity deepened. "A protective ability? Can you describe it more?" Xi Lan nodded, her hand instinctively reaching for the smooth skin on her face. "It''s as if my body can absorb and diminish the effects of attacks, reducing the damage I take. I feel more resilient like I can reduce anything by about half." Meng Lin''s eyes raised with understanding. "A damage reduction physique... That''s bizarre, Xi Lan. It may be the reason you looked middle ag... younger than before" Meng Lin abruptly cut herself as she continued. "Your physique might really be able to reduce anything, even backlashes, that''s truly intriguing" "Um ..." Xi Lan paused, absorbing the implications of her newfound abilities. "So, this means I can withstand attacks much better than before? And even recover faster?" Meng Lin nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. This kind of physique could be invaluable in many situations. It''s not just physical attacks; it could also protect you from poisoning, curses, or even mental assaults." Xi Lan''s eyes sparkled with determination and tears. "I never imagined I could possess such strength. Thank you, miss, you saved me once again, you truly saved me!" Meng Lin shook her head as she puts a comforting hand on Xi Lan''s shoulder. "You don''t need to thank me, Xi Lan. The strength was always within you; I merely helped unveil it, besides the metal was useless for me." Xi Lan wiped away her tears, her expression a mix of gratitude and resolve as she nodded. Meng Lin smiled gently. "Let''s go tell Xi Lin and De Sijie, I am sure they are worried about you" Xi Lan took a deep breath and got up. "Yes, let''s go. My sister must especially be anxious." 196. Brewing Mystery Meng Lin left her villa with a heightened sense of caution, her thoughts still swirling from her recent encounters. The night was shifting into morning and mist clung to the air, wrapping the air with a bit of a mystery. Meng Lin took short steps as she carefully went over the conversation she had with the girl Wei Wei the day before. Having not met all the other disciples who were residing on the same mountain as her, Meng Lin decided to ask the first disciple, Senior Sister Liu. She quickly arrived at the gate of the villa and called out, Senior Sister Liu! Are you there? Silence greeted her as she stood at the entrance, waiting for a response. Just as she was about to call out again, a small bird of pure blue flew out of the villa, leaving the barrier of the villa. The bird had a vibrant glow, its feathers shimmering in the morning light. Meng Lin blinked in surprise and recognition as the bird circled her once before perching on the gate. Master isnt here, the bird chirped, its voice surprisingly clear. Meng Lin''s gaze hardened, this was the first spiritual beast that she had seen talk, however considering that it was an ancient Blue Feather Bird, she wasn''t surprised, what interested her was the fact that the bird was a peak Rank 3 Ancient beast and could talk, she was curious however she decided not to mention her thoughts. Where has she gone? The bird tilted its head, considering her question. She has gone out, but she didnt say where. Is there something important you need? Meng Lin. Do you know of the other core disciples here? Or maybe Wei Wei? The bird fluffed its feathers, looking somewhat confused. I dont know about any Wei Wei. Thats the first time Ive heard that name, however, the others I have seen and met before" Meng Lin frowned. can you tell me about the ones you met, I happen to be new here and I would like to learn a bit about the other disciples, she said, more to probe than anything. Because when she entered the mountain, Senior Sister Liu had already given a rundown of all the other disciples on the mountain, however, she had made no mention of Wei Wei. The bird ruffled its feathers again, seemingly deep in thought. "Well, there are only six of them" it began, its tone more serious. "First, my master, I believe you met her, then there''s the second Wu Dao. He''s known for his exceptional sword Physique and his kind nature. Rarely speaks unless necessary, but he''s immensely respected." Meng Lin nodded, taking mental notes. "And who else?" "Then there''s the third Villa Luo Mei," the bird continued. "She is a prodigy in alchemy and has a gentle demeanor. However, she''s eccentric and doesn''t interact with anyone else." Meng Lin absorbed this information, her curiosity piqued. "And the fourth person?" The bird hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "That would be Luo Hao from the sixth villa. He is known for his mastery of fire-based techniques. He''s quite ambitious and likes to fight a lot of people" Meng Lin pondered these descriptions, trying to piece together the description that senior Sister Liu had already given her, so far everything seemed right. "And what about the Fifth Villa?" she asked. "Fifth Villa?" The bird''s feathers ruffled slightly, a sign of discomfort. "The Fifth Villa houses Yu Shen. He is a reclusive figure, deeply immersed in the arts of formation and arrays. He rarely leaves his villa, and few have seen him in person. It''s said that his villa is protected by intricate formations, making it nearly impossible for anyone to approach without his consent." Meng Lin''s brow furrowed. The description of Yu Shen did not match what Senior Sister Liu had told her. And the absence of Wei Wei in the bird''s account was troubling. "And the 7th Villa?" she pressed, asking a question that had no answer. The bird let out a small sigh. "The Seventh Villa belongs to Li Lun, she is a master of ice techniques, her presence as cold as her abilities. She''s strict, really strict" the bird said as if remembering something." Meng Lin''s eyes widened in surprise as she nodded slowly, her mind racing. "Thank you for the information," she said finally. "But what about Wei Wei? Are you sure you haven''t seen or heard of her?" The bird shook its head. "I am certain. Wei Wei is not a name I have ever encountered among the core disciples." Meng Lin''s heart sank, the mystery of Wei Wei and the inconsistent information provided by both the bird and Senior Sister Liu was troubling, she wanted to find out more, but how? Her only lead seemed to vanish into thin air, and she didn''t want to go into contact with any other disciples out of caution of what might transpire. "Thank you," Meng Lin said to the bird, her voice tinged with seriousness. The bird nodded, spreading its wings and taking off into the villa. Meng Lin watched it disappear before turning her gaze back to another path, the spiritual imprints. While walking she went over the information the bird just provided, from what senior Sister Liu said, there should be no Yu Shen from the fifth Villa and there was also no Li Lun from the Seventh Villa. Stolen story; please report. There are just five other disciples with Luan''s Soul, Luang Chen and her made the number seven, however, the bluebird said that there were two more, which didn''t match the numbers and now there is this Wei Wei. Sigh! She couldn''t help but sigh as she wondered what she had gotten herself into. However, she walked with purpose, heading towards the area with the pagodas. The spiritual imprints are always watching the events of the Pavilion Mountain so they should know all the disciples within the mountain. Arriving before the twelve pagodas, she felt the familiar scrutinizing gazes of the spiritual imprints. This time, she didn''t hesitate and stepped inside the Spiritual Essence Pagoda at once. The ethereal room greeted her once more, and the spiritual imprint of StarLord King materialized, his presence calm and reassuring. "Disciple Meng Lin, you have returned, and you have damaged yourself even further," he said, his voice echoing softly. Meng Lin greeted him slightly. "Yes, however, I have not come for that, I have a question that I hope you can help me with." The spiritual imprint nodded. "Ask, and I shall do my best to provide guidance." Taking a deep breath, Meng Lin asked, "I seek information about someone named Wei Wei. She should be another disciple of Luan''s Soul, I cannot find any record of her. Do you know of her?" The StarLord King''s expression turned thoughtful, his gaze piercing as he answered "Wei Wei... That is not a name I am familiar with among the disciples of this place." Meng Lin''s brow furrowed. "Did you not see her with me on the platform between the twelve pagodas, I had noticed that all spiritual imprints withdrew as soon as she appeared" " What" The StarLord King had an astonished look as he asked, and he bowed his head in thought before he spoke. "The spiritual imprints withdrew, you say?" The StarLord King''s voice held a note of surprise. "That is indeed unusual. We are generally present to observe and guide, rarely do we withdraw unless there is a significant change." Meng Lin nodded, feeling a growing sense of unease. If the spiritual imprints, entities that have existed for centuries, had no record of Wei Wei, then who was she? Was she a ghost, or someone who had skillfully erased her presence? "StarLord King, could it be possible that someone has altered the memories of the spiritual imprints?" Meng Lin asked in another direction. The StarLord King looked at her sharply. "Theoretically, it is possible, but it would require those at the Ensoulment Realm, the Sect Master and Grand Elder would not do something like that as it''s a grave offense against the sects principles." Meng Lin''s heart pounded in her chest. If Wei Wei could manipulate spiritual imprints, then she was far more dangerous than Meng Lin had initially thought. "And have you heard of the disciples Yu Shen and Li Lun, they should also have Luan''s Soul" " Hmm, no I have no knowledge of them whatsoever," The StarLord King said as he raised an eyebrow. Meng Lin''s gaze flickered as she spoke "Ok I understand, thank you" She said as she turned to leave. "What are you going to do" Meng Lin turned back to face the StarLord King, her expression resolute. "For now, I will do nothing and act like nothing happened. I need to heal my injuries first and then consider my next steps. Perhaps it would be wise to leave the sect for a time being." The StarLord King nodded a hint of approval in his eyes. "A prudent decision." Meng Lin gave a slight bow before exiting the Spiritual Essence Pagoda, as she walked back to her quarters, she felt the eyes of the spiritual imprints on her, and for the first time, she couldn''t help but feel creeped out by the situation. She made a resolute decision to not leave her villa for the time being, she can only hope nothing happens while she stays quiet and leaves things as they were. Once in her quarters, she focused entirely on increasing the percentage of her alchemy panel and on that day, Meng Lin tackled a variety of mid-tier pills; the Spirit Cleansing Pill, the Focus Qi Pill, and the Gold Core pill were pills she had difficulty making. The Spirit Cleansing Pill required some ingredients to have their impurities, it was only after 3 hours of Meng Lin''s careful deduction that she was able to figure that out, it also made her realize how lack of knowledge could be problematic, even with the large amount of knowledge from the ancestral symbol. For the Focus Qi Pill, the challenge was harmonizing the essences of three rare herbs. A slight deviation in temperature or stirring disrupted this harmony, making the pill ineffective. The Gold Core Pill was the trickiest, needing a balance of Fire and Earth Qi from just a strand of her spiritual energy. This delicate fusion often led to clashes, frustrating her efforts. Despite these issues, Meng Lin''s determination paid off as she memorized each attempt, gradually improving her techniques and enhancing her alchemy skills. It was only by late night that she was able to finally reach 100% on her percentage. [Alchemy (Middle) 100%] Pill slot: High-Grade Essence Fusion Pill Ingredients: Dragon''s Blood Flower x3, Phoenix Feather Root x2, Starfire Crystal x4, Lunar Essence Leave x6 Chance of success: 20% Meng Lin''s heart was calm as she prepared the ingredients. Meng Lin knew that the High-Grade Essence Fusion Pill was a significant challenge, even for an experienced alchemist. With a chance of success of only 20%, she needed to be precise and focused. She carefully measured each ingredient, ensuring that the quantities were exact. The Dragon''s Blood Flower, known for its potent energy, was to go in after the Phoenix Feather Root, which adds a harmonizing element. The Starfire Crystal and Lunar Essence Leaves provided the necessary balance of fire and water energies to create the pill. With the ingredients prepared, Meng Lin pressed start on the furnace after placing the ingredients within, she quickly adjusted the temperature of the rootless fire and released her spiritual consciousness to see the fusion process. 14:59 seconds The timer began and she saw the ingredients slowly melting and blending together, their colors intermingling and creating a mesmerizing display. The Dragon''s Blood Flower released a vibrant red energy, while the Phoenix Feather Root emitted a soft golden glow. The Starfire Crystal shimmered with a fiery brilliance, and the Lunar Essence Leaves exuded a calming blue aura. Meng Lin carefully maintained the temperature, making slight adjustments as needed to ensure the optimal fusion of energies. She observed the subtle changes in the mixture, noting the formation of a unified essence. As the fusion process continued, Meng Lin focused her spiritual consciousness on the transformation taking place. She could see the energies harmonizing, intertwining, and coalescing into a concentrated essence. Time seemed to stretch as Meng Lin patiently waited for the fusion to reach its final stage. She could feel the intensity of the spiritual energy within the furnace, growing stronger with each passing moment. Finally, after 15 minutes and what felt like an eternity, the fusion process came to an end as a chime sounded and Meng Lin carefully looked within the furnace, where a single pill lay. [You have gained experience for creating a spiritual Pill] Meng Lin''s heart swelled before calming as she took out the incomplete product from the furnace. She knew that this accomplishment would take a few more tries and she didn''t intend to stop until she reached it. Storing the pill away she took out another set of ingredients and while slowly going over what she had seen within the furnace. [Alchemy (Middle) 100%] Pill slot: High-Grade Essence Fusion Pill Ingredients: Dragon''s Blood Flower x2, Phoenix Feather Root x2, Starfire Crystal x5, Lunar Essence Leave x5 Chance of success: 25% Adjusting some of the ingredients of the pill, she once again pressed start while releasing her spiritual consciousness. 197. High Grade Pills Puff!! A pungent smoke rose up from within the furnace, and Meng Lin waved her hand to dispel it. She took out the black-looking pill from the furnace, and a faint smile appeared on her face. "I was close," she thought. [You have gained experience for creating a spiritual Pill] This was her fifth attempt, and she had finally figured something out. Her hands moved with confidence as she prepared the ingredients for her sixth attempt. Each failure had been a lesson, and now, her understanding of the High-Grade Essence Fusion Pill had deepened. She adjusted the quantities meticulouslyone Dragon''s Blood Flower, three Phoenix Feather Roots, five Starfire Crystals, and five Lunar Essence Leaves. The adjustments were subtle; Meng Lin knew that alchemy often hinged on such minute details. She placed the ingredients into the furnace and activated the rootless fire, her spiritual consciousness enveloping the process once more as she pressed start. 14:59 seconds As the seconds passed, the ingredients began to melt. She could sense the nuanced vibrations of each element. The fire qi of the Dragon''s Blood Flower clashed momentarily with the gold qi of the Phoenix Feather Root before beginning to harmonize. The brilliance of the Starfire Crystals and the calming blue aura of the Lunar Essence Leaves started to balance each other as they met the other two ingredients to converge at the center. Meng Lin''s focus was sharp, and she maintained the temperature with expert precision, making minute adjustments to ensure the perfect fusion. Her spiritual consciousness delved deeper into the transformation, watching as a new aura began to emerge from the combined qi of the four ingredients'' energies as they intertwined and coalesced. This time, there was no room for doubt or hesitation. She could feel the energies aligning more smoothly, the harmony within the furnace growing stronger. The spiritual intensity was palpable, surging with each second that passed. After what felt like a brief, intense eternity, the chime sounded again. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she peered into the furnace. There, nestled amidst the residual energy, lay a pill that shimmered with a perfect blend of red, gold, orange, and blue. [Congratulations! You have successfully created one High-Grade Pill: Essence Fusion Pill] [For successfully creating your first High-Grade Pill, you have received the items: Dragon''s Blood Flowers x3, Phoenix Feather Roots x8, Starfire Crystals x15, Lunar Essence Leaves x15] [You have gained Experience] Meng Lin carefully retrieved the pill, her hands steady despite the excitement coursing through her veins. She examined it closely, noting its flawless surface and the potent energy it radiated. This was no ordinary pill; it was a pill that even Soul Wandering Realm cultivators would want. A low-grade Essence Fusion Pill will increase the chance of a successful breakthrough into the Soul Wandering Realm by 5%, a medium grade by 10%, and a high grade by 15%. Although the increase in chances is only 15%, it still wasn''t something that could be taken lightly. Meng Lin knew that even a slight chance could make a significant difference in the breakthrough stages of cultivators. With her understanding of the Soul Wandering Realm, she knew that it was extremely difficult to accumulate qi potent energy to increase your percentage. If it wasn''t for the system gifting her with dozens of high-grade boons and items, she would still be within the early stages of the Gold Core Realm, maybe not even. After storing the pill in a small bottle, she looked at her Alchemy panel once more. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. [Alchemy (Advanced) 1%] Pill slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: 40% Meng Lin smiled slightly as she was coming even closer to her goal. She could now create high-grade pills, which opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for her. Taking a deep breath, she decided to take a short break to replenish her energy and clear her mind. Making high-grade pills required immense concentration and precise fire control, and she knew the four failures had affected her mind. What she needed was to maintain her mind and continue her progress. After a brief meditation, Meng Lin felt rejuvenated. She stood up and stretched, her mind already planning the next steps. She had a list of high-grade pills she wanted to attempt, each more complex and potent than the last. The thrill of the challenge excited her. She gathered her materials once more, her hands moving with practiced ease. The next pill on her list was the "Soul Fortification Pill," a rare and powerful pill that could slightly strengthen one''s soul, providing some benefits in cultivation for Soul Wandering Cultivators. [Alchemy (Advanced) 1%] Pill slot: Soul Fortification Pill Ingredients: Azure Soul Grass x2, Moonlight Orchid x1, Spirit Jade Essence x3, Celestial Dewdrop x1 Chance of success: 35% Meng Lin''s eyes sparkled with determination. The ingredients for this pill were precious and hard to come by, but she knew why she didn''t hesitate to buy them. Igniting the Rootless Flame, she began the delicate process of burning away the impurities of three of the five ingredients. The Azure Soul Grass, the Moonlight Orchid, and the Spirit Jade Essence required all impurities to be washed away before starting any refinement. The Spirit Jade Essence and the Celestial Dewdrop were the main concerns. Meng Lin knew that the Spirit Jade Essence and the Celestial Dewdrop were the cornerstones of the Soul Fortification Pill. Their unique properties made them both graceful and volatile, requiring an extra level of caution when handling them. After she finished purifying the first three ingredients, she placed them within the furnace while carefully adding the Spirit Jade Essence. The crystalline substance began to melt, its clarity becoming even more pronounced as it surrounded the other ingredients which hadn''t melted yet. Finally, she added the Celestial Dewdrop, its essence merging seamlessly with the Spirit Jade Essence. 14:59 seconds Meng Lin''s spiritual consciousness enveloped the ingredients, watching their fusion with meticulous precision. She maintained the temperature, making minute adjustments to ensure the perfect harmony of the elements. The Rootless Flame flickered and danced, responding to her every command as the ingredients began to merge. The azure qi of the Soul Grass intertwined with the soft glow of the Moonlight Orchid, and the Spirit Jade Essence added a layer of crystal on the surface of the pill, while the Celestial Dewdrop brought an unparalleled sense of fusion and balance. A wave of spiritual qi was emanating from the furnace, surging with each moment that passed. Meng Lin''s focus was unwavering, her Rootless Flame flickering as she guided the process. Finally, the chime sounded, signaling the completion of the process. Meng Lin''s heart turned as she looked to see a small pill of complete crystal. She had failed. [You have gained experience for creating a spiritual Pill] Meng Lin carefully retrieved the pill, examining its flawless surface of pure crystal, and shook her head as she began to ponder over the process within the furnace. After a few minutes of thinking, Meng Lin brought up the Alchemy panel once more, not at all bothered by her failure. [Alchemy (Advanced) 2%] Pill slot: Soul Fortification Pill Ingredients: Azure Soul Grass x2, Moonlight Orchid x1, Spirit Jade Essence x3, Celestial Dewdrop x1 Chance of success: 40% **** Within a small forest a few miles away from the sect, a few dozen men gathered around a small camp. The leader, a grizzled man with a scar running down his left cheek, sat at the center of the campfire, his eyes reflecting the flickering flames. Ran Xue looked towards one of his most trusted aides. "San Di, you said you received intel that my brother is closing in on us." "Yes, boss Xue," San Di replied, his voice low and serious. "Our spy has informed us that your brother has located one of our bases. Fortunately, we had an escape route in place, so some of our men were able to leave. But judging by the way things are, it seems that he will find us in a month or two." Ran Xue''s expression hardened, his grip tightening into a fist as he thought about his brother. "Damn that Luo Su. If it wasn''t for his younger brother, then we would have already left this continent. But now we have to get the jade box back." If he had not been staying one step ahead, then his brother would have gotten him by now. But now it seemed that his luck was running out. "We must be prepared," Ran Xue said firmly, as he reached into his robe and pulled out a talisman. Injecting qi into it, he spoke, his voice impatient, "What''s taking so long? Didn''t you say that you''d get the girl out of the sect? Why is she still in there?" "Xue the Silent Blade, could it be that you don''t trust me after seeing what I was able to do to you?" A calm woman''s voice emerged from the talisman, her tone calm and sharp. "Hump, other than your physique, what else do you have?" the bandit leader asked, his voice a low growl. The woman''s voice from the talisman remained composed, unaffected by Ran Xue''s dismissive tone. "Physique prowess is not the only weapon in my arsenal. I''ll try to lure Meng Lin out within five days. If that fails, we will deal with her at the Ancient Spirit Pool. The jade box will be ours. Do not worry." "Very well," Ran Xue said, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and begrudging respect. "But remember, we are running out of time." With a final exchange of words, Ran Xue severed the connection with the talisman and tucked it back into his robe. He turned his attention back to San Di. "San Di," Ran Xue called, his tone commanding. "Gather our men. We will fortify this camp and prepare." San Di nodded, his face understanding. "Yes, boss." **** [Congratulations! You have successfully created three High-Grade Pills: Soul Fortification Pills] Meng Lin smiled as she carefully stored the three pills in separate bottles. Despite her initial failure, she had persisted and finally succeeded in creating one Soul Fortification Pill. After that, she continued and after two more tries, she was finally able to create three more pills in a single batch. The flawless pill radiated powerful spiritual energy, proof of her improved alchemy skills. Looking at her Alchemy panel once more, Meng Lin''s eyes gleamed with excitement. [Alchemy (Advanced) 8%] Pill slot: Soul Fortification Pill Ingredients: Azure Soul Grass x2, Moonlight Orchid x1, Spirit Jade Essence x3, Celestial Dewdrop x1 Chance of success: 55% The increase in her chance of success was a small but significant step forward. She wanted to continue to forge a few more Soul Fortification Pills before moving on to the next one, the Qi Harmony Pill, Vital Qi Restoration Pill, and the Soul Heart Pill. 198. Senior Disciples Gifts Two days passed by as Meng Lin immersed herself in her alchemy room, the room was now filled with the faint aroma of various herbs and a growing aura in the air. On the first day, she concentrated on refining the Soul Fortification Pills and her process became more fluid and after 5 hours, she created sixteen more high-grade Soul Fortification Pills, bringing her total to nineteen. The experience she gained from each successful creation was sometimes more than two points, quickly increasing her experience to 16%. If it wasn''t because she was able to create multiple pills in one batch she would surely have had even more experience points for creating a single pill sixteen times. After that, she decided to tackle the Qi Harmony Pill. This pill was known for its ability to balance and harmonize the qi within a cultivator''s body, making it invaluable for those with shaky foundations, although it mainly works on those within the Gold Core Realm, it still wasn''t something that was easily refined. Because the ingredients were rare and somewhat delicate, Meng Lin approached the process with even more meticulous care than the Soul Fortification Pills. However, it was only after 3 hours that she was able to increase her chance of success to more than 60 percent, causing her to be able to quickly refine a full batch of pills each time she was successful. And so, time passed like that as she went from pill to pill, successfully creating several more batches of nine different pills before she finally arrived at her current moment. [Congratulations! You have successfully created three High-Grade Pills: Mind Nurturing Pills] Meng Lin carefully stored the pills, her face a mix of calm and sharpness, the pounding heartbeat that she initially started with had quickly faded after she went through so many different pills, her gaze only contained focus, seemingly having been tempered by alchemy. She quickly brought up the Alchemy panel once more, preparing to once again start refining another batch of pills, her inventory had long been filled up so she took out the low and mid-grade pills from the inventory, only storing high-grade pills. She had calculated and she saw that she had enough ingredients to reach the expert stage, and even then she should have a few more stocks after being rewarded by the system. [Alchemy Advanced 48>49%] Pill slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: 45% Meng Lin had realized how difficult it was becoming to refine higher-grade pills as her level increased. The margin for error was slim, and the room for improvement seemed to shrink with each successful refinement. Yet, this was precisely why she found alchemy so enthralling, it pushed her to refine her skills further. She decided to take a short break to clear her mind and let her body relax. As she sat down and sipped a cup of spiritual tea, she let her thoughts wander. As she sat in the tranquil state of her alchemy room, Meng Lins thoughts drifted to the journey that had brought her here. A fleeting thought of giving up surfaced within her mind and she shook her head, her eyes hardening. "If you''re not at the top then you are on the whims of others" Meng Lin whispered to herself, her eyes watering as she thought back to her home, both in the Yuan Kingdom and on Earth, the life she lived before all this began, she felt a little homesick. "Haa" She took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with determination. She had come a long way, but there was still much to achieve. Immersed in her brief respite, Meng Lin stood up and her thoughts returned to her alchemy panel, she was about to sit down and continue her pill refinement when she suddenly felt a faint hum in the air. She was familiar with the sound, Senior Sister Liu was calling for her. Meng Lin stood up, smoothing her robe with a motion. She took one last look at her alchemy panel before leaving the room, her mind already shifting gears to the matter of Wei Wei. Stepping out of her villa, Meng Lin swiftly made her way toward Senior Sister Liu''s Villa. The path was familiar this time around and she didn''t have the time to appreciate the scenery as her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts. Quickly arriving at Senior Sister Liu''s villa, Meng Lin noticed an unusual stillness in the air. She walked towards the barrier and approached the door, which opened before she had a chance to call out. "Enter," came the familiar voice of Senior Sister Liu, though it carried a note of urgency this time. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Meng Lin stepped inside and found Senior Sister Liu seated at a low table, her aged expression still filled with a smile. "Meng Lin, take a seat," Senior Sister Liu gestured towards an empty spot at the table. Meng Lin complied, gathering her thoughts. "We have an unexpected development," Senior Sister Liu began, her voice steady but serious. "The Ancient Spirit Pool Realm''s opening has been moved forward. We are to depart in three days." Meng Lin felt her heart quicken. The timeline had been unexpectedly shortened, she wondered if she could heal herself within that timeframe. "Why the sudden change?" Meng Lin asked, her voice calm but her eyes sharp. Senior Sister Liu''s gaze met hers. "I don''t know for sure, but the sect master had me notify all the other disciples within the Pavilion Mountain, it might have something to do with the Scarlet Demon Sect." Meng Lin nodded, absorbing the information before speaking out. "Senior Sister Liu, I had a strange encounter the other day" Senior Sister Liu''s eyes narrowed with interest. "Strange encounter? Tell me more." Meng Lin recounted her meeting with Wei Wei, the mysterious absence of records or recognition, and the inconsistencies in the information provided by the bird and the spiritual imprints. She spoke of her growing unease and the decision to act cautiously. Senior Sister Liu listened intently, her expression growing more serious with each passing detail. When Meng Lin finished, there was a moment of silence. "This is indeed troubling," Senior Sister Liu said finally. "Wei Wei... it is a name I have not heard in 20 years" Meng Lin''s expression turned out excited as she finally has a lead "You know her" Senior Sister Liu nodded, her face filled with a mix of sadness and nostalgia. "Yes. Wei Wei was once a disciple of our sect, but she disappeared under mysterious circumstances." Meng Lin''s eyes widened. "Do you not know what happened" Senior Sister Liu shook her head. "No, at that time I was in closed-door cultivation, I only know that it was a name from within the Inner Sect Disciples, a disciple who had completed the Ancient Spirit beast Pagoda while at the Foundation Establishment Realm" "The ancient spirit beast pagoda!" Meng Lin repeated, her mind backtracking, she remembered seeing names written in gold, and Wei Wei was one of them. "However the fact that the spiritual imprints withdrew at her presence is concerning." senior Sister Liu said with concern. Meng Lin nodded, her heart heavy. "What about what the bluebird said" Senior Sister Liu''s gaze turned serious. "That''s the most pressing part, I don''t have any spiritual beast like the one you mentioned, which means that someone or something was able to enter and leave my villa" she went in to say "Furthermore it can only mean that someone has been keeping an eye on all the things you''ve done from the moment you stepped out of your villa, maybe even inside" Meng Lin felt a chill run down her spine. "Inside as well? But how could that be possible?" Senior Sister Liu''s eyes were sharp and calculating. "There are many methods to conceal one''s presence, especially if they possess higher cultivation or unique skills. This Wei Wei might be more dangerous than initially though." Senior Sister Liu leaned forward, her expression intense. "We need to be cautious and discreet. For now, just prepare for the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm. I will inform the Sect Master about this situation immediately. We must ensure our safety and be prepared for any unexpected events." Meng Lin nodded, absorbing the gravity of the situation. "Thank you, Senior Sister Liu, I''ll go prepare." As she left Senior Sister Liu''s villa and made her way toward the pagodas, she couldn''t shake the feeling of something not being right. The path to the pagodas felt familiar and as she approached the pagodas, the familiar scrutinizing gazes of the spiritual imprints seemed more intense. Arriving next to the familiar Spiritual Essence Pagoda Meng Lin was about to step inside when she suddenly felt a fluctuation in the air. Boom! Boom A series of loud booms echoed through the air, causing Meng Lin to stop in her tracks. Her heart tensed as she turned into a blue ray, quickly flying up into the air. In the distance, she saw two figures, a yellow-robed man and a white-robed man clashed, their figures retreating before lunging back towards each other. "Typical," Meng Lin muttered under her breath. "Luo Hao just loves to fight anyone." As she moved closer, she could hear their voices over the sound of their clashing energies, it surprised her as the aura they were releasing was of the Soul Wondering Realm, ''so Luo Hao was hiding his cultivation realm before''. "Come on, Wu Dao! Show me your sword!" Luo Hao shouted, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Wu Dao''s expression was calm but focused. "This isn''t the time for games, Luo Hao." Luo Hao laughed, dodging a strike from Wu Dao''s sword. "Games? This is preparation! We need to be at our best, and what better way than a good fight?" Boom! Meng Lin raised an eyebrow, realizing that this other young man was Wu Dao, the one who had saved her, they both had probably returned because of the Ancient Spirit Pool. Meng Lin''s eyes suddenly widened as a girl dressed in a deep green robe appeared between the two fighters, her presence instantly commanded attention. Both Luo Hao and Wu Dao halted their attacks, their expressions each shifting with different emotions. Meng Lin''s heart jolted as she noticed a strong fragrance in the air, she recognized the smell to be that of the mid-grade pill ingredient, Dragon''s breath herb. It was then that she remembered that this Luo Mei was an alchemy prodigy who was somewhat reclusive. "What do you think you''re doing brother?" Luo Mei''s sounded, her attention focused on Luo Hao who chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Ah, Mei, we were just... training." Wu Dao sheathed his sword to his back, his expression remaining calm. "He''s right. We were merely preparing for the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm." Luo Mei''s eyes narrowed, but she said nothing more to them. Instead, she turned her gaze towards Meng Lin, a flicker of light enveloping her as she appeared next to Meng Lin. "Nice to meet you Junior Sister Meng, Senior Sister Liu had just called me back so I didn''t prepare any gifts for my junior sister" "Here, how about this" Luo Mei reached into her robes and pulled out a small, intricately carved jade box. She handed it to Meng Lin with a gentle smile. "This contains a few High Grade Scale Strengthening Pills I crafted recently. They should aid you in your preparations for the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm." Meng Lin accepted the box, her mind reeling, this Senior Sister was able to create and give away high grade pills. "Thank you, Sister Luo Mei. This is very generous of you." Luo Mei''s smile widened slightly. "It''s nothing. I finally have a junior sister, come visit me often, it''s lonely here by yourself" With a final nod, Luo Mei turned back to her brother and Wu Dao who had also appeared close by, watching their interactions. "What did you two gift your junior sister" Luo Hao and Wu Dao exchanged glances and Luo Hao spoke first, his voice carrying a nervous sheepishness. "I, uh, gave her some escape talismans," Luo Hao said, his eyes darting to Meng Lin as if indicating something. "You know, just in case she needs to get out of a tight spot quickly." Luo Mei raised an eyebrow, her eyes turning to Meng Lin who nodded. Her gaze lowered before turning to Lu Hao with squinted eyes. "Escape talismans, really? Your creativity knows no bounds, brother." Luo Mei finally said with a small smile. Luo Hao grinned, taking her comment as a compliment rather than the sarcasm it was intended to be. "Well, you can never be too prepared, right?" Wu Dao suddenly stepped forward, his demeanor composed as he took out a small wooden token. "Here, this is a token that grants access to the All Heaven Pagoda. It''s only available for everyone once a year, it should be of some help to you." Luo Mei and Luo Hao''s eyes flashed with interest. As they spoke one after another. "The All Heaven Pagoda?" "That''s quite the gift, Wu Dao. I suppose that makes up for my um... practical choice." Although Meng Lin didn''t know the All Heaven Pagoda, she could see the surprise held within the voices of the two siblings. Her curiosity piqued, she glanced at Wu Dao, who met her gaze with a calm but sincere expression. "Thank you, Senior Brother Wu Dao," Meng Lin said, bowing slightly in gratitude. "And I would like to thank you for saving me back then too." Wu Dao''s expression remained calm, but there was a hint of warmth in his eyes. "There''s no need for thanks, Junior Sister. It was the right thing to do, now that we are part of the same sect, we must look out for one another." Meng Lin felt a sense of gratitude and camaraderie. "Still, I am grateful. If there is ever anything I can do to repay you, please let me know." Wu Dao gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. "First you should focus on growing stronger Junior Sister." Luo Mei, who had been listening, nodded approvingly. "He''s right. The best way to repay is to grow stronger." Luo Hao, having regained his usual confidence, chimed in. "Exactly! And don''t hesitate to ask if you need any help." Meng Lin smiled slightly, a new sense developing within her "Thank you, I will do my best." 199. Immense Steps Wu Dao nodded, his face showing a smile, while Luo Mei and Luo Hao laughed, both commenting on the next step. "Well, now that we''ve sorted out the gifts, how about we focus on our preparations? The thing I dislike is to be unprepared" Luo Mei said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Luo Hao clapped his hands together, his usual attitude returning. "Right! Let''s make sure we''re all ready. Wu Dao, you and I can spar a bit more later. Meng Lin, do you need any help with your preparations?" Meng Lin shook her head. "I have everything I need for now. The gifts you all gave me will be of great help." Luo Hao grinned and reached into his robe, taking out a small storage bag "Here! There are four communication talismans with our energy signature including senior sister Liu, feel free to use it when you want to talk to us" Meng Lin accepted the bag with an understanding look"Thank you, Senior Brother Luo Hao" Luo Mei glanced around at the group. "We''ll meet again in three days" Everyone agreed, and they began to disperse, each going to their respective places to continue their preparations. Meng Lin felt a sense of curiosity about the All Heaven Pagoda, however she felt it was wiser to go back to her villa. *** Back in her villa, Meng Lin sat down in the middle of her bed, a storage bag in her hand, it was the one Luo Hao gave to her. Inside it was not only the communication talismans, but multiple different talismans that each worked with varying levels of strength. Meng Lin then took out the jade box from Luo Mei, from inside she took out a High Grade Scale Strengthening Pill and examined it. The pill radiated a faint glow, with a swirl in aura. Swallowing the pill, Meng Lin felt a surge of energy coursing through her body. The pill''s effects manifested quickly as her qi became agitated, passively gathering around her arms, Into a dense qi that took the shape of a clear white armor. "So this is Armor, it''s incredible," Meng Lin said, looking at her armored hand that radiated with a faint dangerous aura, her armor was formed from the usage of her main cultivation Method, the Elemental Convergence Method. "With this, I don''t have to utilize the fifth layer of the Black Tortoise Essence Art" Meng Lin mused as she remembered how unsightly she looked after using the cultivation method, she even felt that this armor was slightly stronger than her monstrous form. She realized that she had underestimated high-grade pills, just one scale-strengthening pill was able to unlock her Armor, and it covered both her arms, she felt that eating the other two pills could cause her to cover most if not all her body with the armor. And she didn''t delay further. Meng Lin quickly consumed the second pill, feeling the rush of energy amplifying her Qi once more. Her entire body started to radiate, and the clear white armor extended from her arms to her chest, forming a protective shield around most of her torso. She took a deep breath and swallowed the third pill. This time, the armor appeared over her legs before quickly stopping, forming an incomplete set of Armor around her body. What she found intriguing was her robe, the Immortal Lotus Robe, it was as if stimulated by the armor, syncing with the qi flow and enhancing its protective properties. The robe shimmered, reflecting the light from her armor, and seemed to mold itself perfectly around the new protective layer. Meng Lin took a moment to appreciate the transformation. Her body felt both powerful and dangerous. The combination of the Elemental Convergence Method and the high-grade pills had significantly enhanced her abilities. She stood up and took a few steps, feeling the armor''s weight and flexibility. It was surprisingly light and didn''t restrict her movements at all. She practiced a few moves from the Celestial Moonlit Sword Art and still felt each movement fluid and precise. The armor was not restrictive at all. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Meng Lin''s eyes gleamed. Then, with renewed confidence she retracted the armor and began to meditate, focusing on clearing her mind. After five hours Meng Lin opened her eyes and felt a deep sense of clarity and purpose. Her qi flowed more smoothly than ever before, harmonizing perfectly with her aura. "I think it''s time," Meng Lin whispered to herself. She stood up, her mind prepared for the challenge ahead. With a final check of her belongings, she left her villa and made her way to the 12 Pagodas. As she approached the towering structures, she felt scrutinizing gazes of the Spiritual Imprints, each gaze slightly different from before, she walked to the All Heaven Pagoda which stood taller in contrast with the rest of the other pagodas. The pagoda''s exterior was adorned with intricate carvings and glowing runes that pulsed with mystical energy. It radiated an ancient aura and Meng Lin was unfamiliar with it. She took a deep breath and stepped inside. The moment she crossed the threshold, she felt a shift in the atmosphere. Time and space seemed to have warped, and she found herself within an ethereal realm. Before her stood a long, straight staircase that ascended endlessly into the heavens. Each step glowed faintly as if imbued with celestial energy. Meng Lin felt a strange sensation and looked down at herself, realizing her body was not presentonly her soul had entered this realm. Her form was incorporeal and see-through. She almost panicked as she felt a weakness that she had never felt before, furthermore, she couldn''t feel her cultivation, it was as if she was reduced to a mere mortal. She wondered about the mechanism of this pagoda, but she didn''t stop to think before she took her first step. Boom!! Meng Lin felt a sudden tightness in her chest as her soul flickered, she felt an immense pressure descend on her, as if the weight of a mountain was bearing down on her. "Hah..." Taking deep breaths and steadying herself, Meng Lin took another step, feeling the weight increase. "Hm" Meng Lin suddenly noticed something amidst the weight that was crushing on her soul, it had increased, her soul, the power in it had increased. ''So these steps temper the soul, it''s perfect for Soul Wondering Realm cultivators'', the benefits would be immense for those who could endure this trial. Each step would strengthen her soul, enhancing her cultivation base with each step. With this realization, Meng Lin''s determination solidified. She took another step, feeling the crushing pressure but also the subtle strengthening of her soul. Step by step, Meng Lin ascended the staircase. Each step brought a new wave of pressure, each more intense than the last. By the twentieth step, she felt as if her very essence was being compressed. The pain was excruciating, but with each step, she could also feel her soul becoming more resilient, more powerful. At the twenty-fifth step, her vision blurred, and her soul flickered dangerously, on the verge of collapse. She paused, gathering every ounce of her willpower. Her breathing was ragged and she felt disoriented, The qi around her pulsed as if responding to her struggle. She closed her eyes, focusing on the goal in her heart, ''to be free and unfettered''. Slowly, she took more steps. Step! Step!! Step!!! By the thirtieth step, Meng Lin''s soul felt like it was being torn apart. The pressure was immense, she couldn''t breathe, and it felt suffocating. But she refused to give in. She gritted her teeth, her body trembling with effort, her resolve hardened and her steps continued. Boom Boom! Boom!! Boom!!? On the thirty-fifth step, Meng Lin heard a soul-shattering noise, looking down she could barely see the steps ahead, however, she knew her soul had a small crack, and her eyes were filled with exhaustion and overwhelming pressure. She had reached her limit but Meng Lin knew she didn''t want to stop. She forced herself to take another step. Crack! Her body felt like it was being crushed by the entire world. Her soul flickered erratically as cracks spread all over her body. She didn''t know what would happen if her soul broke here but she refused to yield, now her sole goal was one more step. A final burst of willpower took over her conscious and her mind was pushed to its absolute limits, her soul flickered dangerously as she raised her leg. Boom! She took a step, shaking from the pressure, her eyes gave way to cloudiness, her breaths stuck in her throat, not even able to gasp at the weight pressing down on her, it was immense, but she only had one thought in her head. ''I.. made it...'' Meng Lin collapsed to her knees, her soul cracking more but still intact. She had reached a limit, but she had also pushed herself beyond it, a wide smile formed on her lips before she succumbed to darkness. **** Meng Lin''s consciousness gradually returned, her soul feeling oddly rejuvenated despite the immense shock she had been through. She found herself lying on a smooth, glowing surface, an endless staircase still towering above her. The cracks in her soul had mended, replaced with an almost imperceptible strength, a thick resistance that she could sense but not yet fully comprehend. She stood up slowly, taking a moment to gather her bearings, she realized that she was still on the steps, however, she didn''t feel any pressure anymore. Her surroundings had shifted subtly; the light was softer, the pressure nonexistent. A figure materialized in the aira middle-aged lady with an old robe. "Although you are weak, I admire your resilience," the lady spoke, her voice cold and apathetic. "You have passed the 36th step and so you will be rewarded accordingly" Meng Lin bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Senior. May I ask who you are?" The middle-aged lady''s gaze remained cold as she scrutinized Meng Lin. "I am but a spiritual imprint of the Star Sovereign Soul," she responded, her tone devoid of warmth. Meng Lin''s curiosity was piqued. "What did you mean by reward, what kind of reward?" The lady''s eyes gleamed cold. "That is for me to decide" the woman raised her hand, where a small manual appeared, "As you have shown remarkable tenacity, I bestow upon you a technique of my own ''Stellar Soul Shield." This manual will teach you how to harness the power of your soul to create an incorporeal shield around your soul." Meng Lin''s eyes widened. ''Soul defense'', she had completely not taken any precautions against soul attacks, she only now realized that. She couldn''t help but feel a sense of curiosity about this woman, she had been able to completely see through her weak point. "Thank you, Senior." The spiritual imprint of the Star Sovereign Soul nodded. "Hm, this technique is closely connected to the power of your will and resilient, don''t disappoint us." With those words, the figure began to fade, leaving Meng Lin alone on the 36th step. 200. Urgency and Affection Left alone, Meng Lin finally looked at the manual in her hand, information about it appearing before her eyes. [Discovered Qing Yue''s Secret High-Tier Soul Technique: Stellar Soul Shield] [Do you wish to Learn?] Qing Yue? ''Is that the name of that woman'' Meng Lin wondered as she noticed the name in the panel, it was also the first time she had seen a technique which has a name attacked, rather than an affiliated sect. That means the woman created this technique. "Yes," she affirmed mentally, her eyes focusing on the manual as a rush of information flooded her mind. Near her stomach, within the small sphere in her Dantian, her soul shook slightly as its size slowly decreased while a small layer of white light covered its form. Meng Lin felt the subtle shift within her soul and took a deep breath, feeling more protected than ever before. She looked around, realizing she was still on the 36th step. A thought crossed her mind and she lifted a leg to ascend. However, she realized that the moment she lifted her leg, she couldn''t place it down onto the next step, it was as if there was a layer of space blocking her step. ''It seems I can only go down'' Meng Lin thought with a bitter smile as she began to descend, each step feeling lighter, her soul more at ease with the pressures. As she reached the base, she was greeted by the familiar sight of the All Heaven Pagoda''s entrance. Stepping outside, Meng Lin took a moment to appreciate the change around her, her eyes adjusting instantly and her body feeling as light as a feather. The sky was dark, and she realized that a lot of time had passed since she first entered the pagoda. A sense of urgency filled her and she quickly made her way back to her villa, her mind racing with thoughts and plans. As she entered, she quickly figured out the situation through one of the girls, Xi Lin who she met along the way. Apparently two days had passed since she had entered the pagoda, it surprised her a little as she felt it all happen almost instantly, now she didn''t have the luxury to rest, "but i wasn''t that fatigued anyway" , she said to herself as she went towards the Alchemy Room. If she wanted to gain an even better benefit from the secret realm then she should be at her best. She decided to solely focus on making pills, but her goal is still the Top Grade Pill: Spirit Rejuvenation Pill. "System", seated within her alchemy room Meng Lin called out to her system, her menu appearing before her. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points:30>45%] System coin: 1080 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [ Heavenly Dao ] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin looked over her system panels and noticed how her cultivation had increased by 15%. She marveled at the boost, realizing that using the Pagoda of All Heaven just once had increased it that much. Now she understood why its usage was restricted to only once a year. Although she didn''t understand why, she felt that it was for the best, her attention quickly shifted to her alchemy panel, where a sense of calm determination settled within her. She had to make that pill. **** **The Palace** On a giant platform, surrounded by ancient runes, the air shimmered with stillness as a figure suddenly materialized on the platform. It was an old man, draped in regal robes that seemed to flow like liquid light and his presence commanded immediate attention. As he appeared, the four beings who were already present on the platform instantly fell into a respectful silent bow, their demeanors changed. "Father Emperor," they said in unison, their voices filled with reverence and happiness. The old man nodded slightly, acknowledging their greeting. "I have little time," he began, his voice carrying the weight of countless years. "I hope you all are doing well. Nightsky, you have gone and gained weight" Empress Night Sky''s cheeks flushed slightly, but she maintained her composure, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Thank you for noticing, Father Emperor," she replied gracefully in a bid to save face. "It is only proof that I am improving" " Hahaha..." The old man laughed and his eyes softened for a brief moment before returning to their usual penetrating gaze. "It''s good that you are well, now where is that abomination," he continued, his expression becoming serious. The thought of that monster still leaves him in a bad mood. "I can only come here for a short time, it won''t be until five years that I will be able to come again" " Ah, Father Emperor, what about the threads, did you not come because of that". Emperor Eternal Fate said with a worried expression. "The Void Star Alliance is aware of the situation," the old man said, his voice resonating with authority. "However, the stronger beings of Realm Clusters have not been able to do anything about it, so it''s beyond our reach at the moment." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled beings. "The realm of fate is unreliable anyway, it''s best to not even try to glimpse into them" Emperor Eternal Fate''s expression was grim. "I understand" With a final, the old man began to dissolve into a swirl of energy, his form fading from view. The platform fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. **** [Congratulations! You have successfully created one High-Grade Pill: Sense Expanding Pill] [You have gained Experience] 10 hours had passed and Meng Lin was still diligently working in her alchemy room. The room was filled with a strong fragrance of herbs and the soft glow of her spiritual flame. The freshly created Sense Expanding Pill lay before her, its shimmering surface a swirl of qi. She carefully stored it with the other ones and took a deep breath, refocusing her thoughts on the next pills. - Soul Heart Pill x8 - Golden Aura Pill x15 - Bone fortification Pill x11 - Earth Scale Pill x8 - Sense Expanding Pill x2 Meng Lin went through the pills she had created so far, although nonstop work was harsh, it has its benefits. Her mind was now a tranquil place that only held her task, she looked at the alchemy panel, and a small excitement spun in her heart. [Alchemy Advanced 89>90%] Pill slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: 70% Her chance of success had increased tremendously, considering where she first started. Now she only had to steadily continue and her percentage would increase to a hundred. She was about to continue when she suddenly felt a fluctuation in the air, it was a wild untamed fluctuation, as if coming from an ancient beast. ''Purple is awake'' Meng Lin thought, her tranquil mind shattering into happiness. She was about to get up from her crossed-legged position when she felt something behind her. A small smile formed on her face as she reached out in a flash, grabbing the head of a small Crystal Serpent. "You thought you could sneak up on me," Meng Lin said with a playful grin, her fingers gently gripping the cool, crystalline scales of the newly transformed Purple. Before her was a two-meter-long serpent that radiated an ancient aura. Purple had shrunk down considerably during its transformation, and its new form was a crystal serpent, a clear white crystal serpent. The serpent''s eyes, once shimmering with a purple hue now changed to a purple slit eye, it met Meng Lin''s gaze with a loving gaze as it began to move around her body. Hiss Meng Lin gently patted the coiling snake around her body, feeling the cool, cold texture of its scales. "Look at you, if not for your eyes I would have considered how bad of an idea it was to name you Purple," Meng Lin said softly, her voice filled with affection. "You''ve become stunning." Hiss Purple flicked its tongue, tasting the aroma filled air and taking in its surroundings. It seemed to be testing its new senses, the crystalline structure of its body seemed to catch light and Meng Lin felt the aura of a rank 3 beast in its body. It had successfully advanced, Meng Lin felt happy for her companion, as Purple settled comfortably around her shoulders, Meng Lin''s mind once again turned to her alchemy panel. "Let''s see what we can achieve now," Meng Lin murmured. She had not forgotten the urgency of the situation, she would have to get a clear understanding of Purple''s new powers later. Her hands moved with precision as she began to prepare the ingredients for her next batch of pills. The room began to be filled with the familiar, comforting scent of herbs and Purple responded with understanding, closing its eyes while coiling around her body. It made sure to loosen its body, giving Meng Lin the required ability to move. *** Within the Core Areas of the Soul Shattering Sect, a majestic giant swirl of water gathered to form a gate that floated slightly off the ground, its ancient aura faintly vibrating and glowing under the sunlight. Eighteen core disciples gathered on a platform next to the giant gate, their faces a blend of excitement and determination. Ruan Lee stood near the front, his eyes reflecting both curiosity and resolve as he looked at the giant water gate, his thoughts a mystery. "It''s finally time. It''s been seven days," a voice sounded, prompting him to turn his head. Xu Wei held a gleeful expression as he gazed at the same thing. "You sound like you''ve been waiting for years, Xu. It''s only been a few weeks since the sect mentioned it," Ruan Lee said. Xu Wei laughed and said, "Days can feel like years when you''re preparing for something as significant as this. It''s you that''s weird for not showing any reaction to something like this." He continued, turning his head towards the very front. "Look over there, even the strongest core disciples have a serious look on their faces." Ruan Lee followed Xu Wei''s gaze to the trio at the forefront: Li Feng, Zhao Yu, and Chen Wei. The three men in different robes exuded a formidable aura of the Soul Wondering Realm, their eyes held seriousness as they gazed at the gate with resolve. Xu Wei glanced at Ruan Lee with admiration. "Both Li Feng and Chen Wei are in the middle stage, and Zhao Yu has a lot of influence over the other disciples here, yet they are still so serious" "You''ve got a point," Ruan Lee admitted. "Even the strongest among us aren''t taking this lightly." Xu Wei nodded. "Exactly" he was about to continue when he suddenly noticed the attention of everybody seemed to have shifted to six newcomers arriving the platform. "Oh, they''re finally here, the core disciples with Luan''s Soul". Ruan Lee''s heart skipped a beat as he turned his gaze toward the new group, his gaze lingering on the girl in a clear white robe. 201. Ancient Spirit Pool Realm Part 1; Soul Shattering Palm Meng Lin stepped onto the platform with the other disciples from Pavilion Mountain, their presence weas immediately noticed by the eighteen Core Disciples already assembled. "It sure is crowded here," Luo Mei remarked beside her, her black robe pulsing with a subtle aura. She wore a carefree expression, seemingly unbothered by the situation. Meng Lin''s gaze swept over the crowd, settling on the trio of Soul Wondering Realm disciples at the forefront. Sensing very little danger from them, she turned her attention towards the sky, where her spiritual consciousness detected several enormous powers converged. She couldn''t see anything, but she could feel their presence. "Luo Mei," Luo Hao''s voice broke her thoughts as he stepped up beside them. His playful demeanor was slightly subdued in the presence of the other Core Disciples. "Let''s not get too relaxed. This is where the real competition begins." "Hahaha, Luo Hao, talking seriously is unbecoming of you," Senior Sister Liu said, leisurely walking closer to the gate. Standing a few paces ahead, she bowed her head. "Division Heads and Sect Master," her voice rang out with a tone of respect and authority that drew everyone''s attention. Space suddenly shifted, and from it appeared seven figures in the sky, each shifting their gaze towards Senior Sister Liu. Their expressions unreadable, but their presence was undeniable. Meng Lin felt a shiver run down her spine as she sensed a suffocating aura from each of the figures above. She could tell that these were no ordinary sect elders; their prowess was evident in the way their auras were released. Her eyes locked onto the man at the front, and she felt a jolt in her heart as his aura reminded her of a certain demonic woman. It was an aura that seemed as if the heavens were under his control. The man at the forefront, whose aura seemed to control the very heavens, spoke first. His voice was calm but carried a power that demanded attention. "Little Liu, you have gotten even better at noticing the fluctuations in space." Senior Sister Liu smiled. "Thank you, Sect Master Tian," she replied, her voice steady. Sect Master Tian nodded slightly, his gaze then sweeping over the assembled disciples. "Today is when the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm will open. I trust that you will lead the disciples well." Senior Sister Liu bowed deeply. "Of course, Sect Master. It is my purpose." Watching the interaction, Meng Lin''s thoughts were elsewhere. "Shouldn''t the Division Heads be guarding important locations within the sect boundaries? Why are they here?" Luo Mei noticed the confusion in Meng Lin''s gaze. "Can you believe it?" she asked, her voice transmitted directly to Meng Lins ears. "I had the same thought when I heard that the sect had withdrawn all its manpower back into the sect. I don''t think us going to this Secret Realm is as it seems." A foreboding feeling washed over Meng Lin, her heart pounding with a mix of curiosity and nerves. It was a good thing she had already packed everything into her inventory before leaving Pavilion Mountain. Senior Sister Liu began giving out respective instructions, dividing the 18 disciples into groups of three, with each of the Soul Wondering Realm disciples from the 18 core disciples being separated. "Luo Hao and Wu Dao will lead the first group," Senior Sister Liu announced, her voice carrying slight authority. "Luo Mei and Meng Lin will lead the second group, and the last group will be led by me." Meng Lin exchanged a glance with Luo Mei, who nodded back with slight happiness in her eyes. Senior Sister Liu continued, "Remember, the Ancient Spirits Pool Realm is not just a competition but also your teamwork. Watch out for each other and seize every opportunity to grow." With a final nod from Sect Master Tian, the gateway to the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm was opened. A brilliant water qi filled the arena, and the disciples stepped forward one by one, each being sent off to different locations. *** Emerging on the other side, Meng Lin found herself in a lush, vibrant landscape with an ashen-colored sky; the scene around her was that of boulders and rocks, and the air was thick with spiritual energy, jolting her senses and making her feel more alive than ever. "Hmm" She suddenly noticed something as her spiritual consciousness began to spread out. Lights covered the floor as seven figures appeared, one by one, each taking in the breathtaking scenery with awe. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "This place is incredible," Luo Mei said, her eyes wide with wonder. "The spiritual energy here is so dense; it''s turned into fog; it doubles the amount in the Pavilion Mountain." Luo Mei stretched Her arms, clearly relishing the sensation. Meng Lin nodded, turning towards the six other core disciples, a man with a pale face was at the forefront. "I think introductions are in order." The man with the pale face took a step forward, his expression calm but his eyes prideful. "I''m Chen Wei," he said, his voice arrogant. "Middle-stage Soul Wondering Realm. It''s a pleasure to meet you all." Meng Lin raised an eyebrow as she inclined her head in acknowledgment. Was she supposed to feel intimidated by his realm, she wondered. Her gaze didn''t stop to judge as she moved on to the others, quickly getting the names and realms of the other six core disciples. They were all in the Gold Core Realm, three peak stages and two late stages, there was only one within the middle stage, a young man with a serious expression. Luo Mei chuckled softly at the end of the introductions, a playful glint in her eyes. "Quite the diverse group we have here," she remarked, "Looks like we''ll be good allies." She continued with a smile, "Luo Mei, Mid-stage Soul Wondering Realm, most of you know me". " This one here is my junior sister, Meng Lin," she gestured to Meng Lin, who nodded slightly, "Early-stage Soul Wondering Realm." "Now..." Luo Mei was about to continue when she was suddenly interrupted; Chen Wei, the man with the pale face, spoke up. "Junior Sister Meng Lin, I''ve heard a lot about you, I''d like to ask for your advice with a technique of mine." Meng Lin''s brows furrowed slightly at Chen Wei''s request. It seemed that he was somewhat dissatisfied with the leadership positions within the group, now he wants to challenge her. She glanced at Luo Mei, who wore a puzzled expression and then turned her attention back to Chen Wei. Meng Lin replied calmly, "Sure, I''d be happy to help, but..." Not letting her finish her words, he interrupted with a smirk. "Don''t worry, I''m sure even with your limited understanding, you can provide some insights." The other disciples watching the exchange didn''t have much reactions, they clearly understood the personality of Chen Wei, within the Gold Core Courters, they had to deal with not just Chen Wei. Luo Mei on the other hand soon had a noticeably angry expression, of course she understood the principle of following only the strong, however she didn''t expect to be interrupted in her speech, her eyes narrowed as she looked at Chen Wei. Before Meng Lin could respond, Luo Mei stepped forward, her voice laced with annoyance. "Chen Wei, what is the meaning of this? Are you trying to start a fight within the secret realm?" Chen Wei glanced at Luo Mei with a dismissive look. "I''m merely testing her skills. After all, if she''s as talented as they say, she should be able to handle a simple palm technique, shouldn''t she?" Luo Mei''s anger flared, her voice sharp. "Enough with you! Meng Lin is your senior sister, and you should show her respect. If you want to test your skills, there are plenty of other ways to do so without attacking her." Meng Lin appreciated Luo Mei''s protective stance but gestured for her to calm down. "It''s alright, Senior Sister Mei. I don''t mind the challenge. Let''s see what Chen Wei has in store." Chen Wei smirked. "Very well," he said. "If you can take this technique then I won''t have any problems with you being one of the leaders" Meng Lin nodded her expression the same. "You can attack anytime". Chen Wei stepped forward, his aura surging as he gathered his qi. "Let''s see if your skills match your reputation," he said as he raised his palm, in which Armor began to appear. "Let''s see you handle my Soul Shattering Palm" Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed, recognizing the name. It was the technique that the Soul Shattering Sect was known for, known for its destructive power on the soul itself. The surrounding disciples watched intently, the atmosphere tense. Luo Mei was worried but kept quiet, she decided to just observe silently, she believed that Meng Lin, just like her. Someone with a physique should be able to cross realms. She looked over at Chen Wei, ''While the Soul Shattering Palm can damage the soul, if the opponent''s power is stronger than yours then the technique wouldn''t be able to harm them at all, now what shall you do junior sister'' Crazy amounts of aura burst out of Chen Wei''s palm as it began to glow with a dark, ominous energy. "Prepare yourself," he said, launching himself towards Meng Lin with blinding speed. Meng Lin''s mind raced as she recalled the Stellar Soul Shield. However, she didn''t intend to use the technique; she knew that at a moment like this, she had to show something more potent, enough to shut his mouth. "Haa" Chen Wei''s palm strike, infused with dark, soul-crushing energy arrived instantly, striking Meng Lin''s body as she didn''t react at all. Boom!!, the boulder behind Meng Lin was hit by a strong shockwave as the technique traveled across the scene, strangely though. It didn''t break apart from the palm attack of Chen Wei. "Ah," Luo Mei gasped, followed by the other disciples as they witnessed Chen Wei''s arm sticking out on the other side of Meng Lin''s body. "Is this it," Meng Lin''s calm voice cut through the gasps of shock from the others, her figure soon becoming blurry before completely dissolving to mist. Her silhouette appeared within the mist and Chen Wei''s attack had passed through her form without dealing any damage. Chen Wei''s eyes widened in shock as he felt no resistance. He took a step back, looking at Meng Lin, with an expression. "What... how?" he stammered, withdrawing his arm. He truly couldn''t understand, he had cultivated that technique until he reached complete mastery of it, he was even confident of using it against a late stage opponent, he thought that even Luo Mei wouldn''t be able to easily handle that attack and yet..." Meng Lin''s eyes glinted. "The Soul Shattering Palm is powerful, but it relies on the users comprehension and the opponents lack of defensive measures. If you can''t land a hit, it''s useless." The other disciples murmured among themselves, impressed by Meng Lins effortless evasion. Luo Meis lips curved into a satisfied smile, showing pride for her junior sister. Chen Wei clenched his fists. "This isn''t over," he said, his voice laced with frustration. Meng Lin took a step forward, her gaze turning serious. "It is for now. We have more important things to focus on." She then turned to look at the boulder behind her, still in her mist form. "How long are you guys going to continue to hide" 202. Ancient Spirit Pool Realm Part 2; Golden Pond "Hehehe, so you''ve figured it out," a deep, gravelly voice echoed back, resonating from the very rocks around them. Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and several large boulders began to shift and move. With a loud rumble, seven enormous toads emerged from the rocks, their skin camouflaged perfectly with the rocky terrain. Each toad was covered in earthy, rugged scales, and their eyes glowed with an eerie, intelligent light. These were not ordinary spirit beasts; they each released varying degrees of aura, with the one that just spoke releasing aura at the middle stage of Rank 4. The toad, slightly larger than the others, stepped forward, its voice deep and graveling. "Intruders in our territory," it croaked with malice, "shall all be killed" With a sudden, swift motion, it opened its massive mouth and unleashed a powerful wave of Elemental Qi, the rocky terrain around them turning into a barrage of rocky projectiles hurtling towards the group at blinding speed. Meng Lin''s eyes widened as the barrage of rocky projectiles came hurtling towards them, surprised by the Elemental Qi manipulation being displayed by the opponent. "Defensive formations!" Luo Mei shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. The other disciples, including Chen Wei, immediately responded, their auras flaring as they formed a protective barrier around themselves. Luo Mei stepped forward, her own aura surging with intensity as she prepared to intercept the attack. With a swift motion, Meng Lin raised her hands, her qi forming a shimmering gold shield over the group. The rocky projectiles smashed against the barrier, shattering into less powerful rock pieces that were intercepted by the other disciples. "We need to take down the others first," Meng Lin called out. "Without them, the leader will be easier to handle." Luo Mei, understanding the situation, nodded. "Chen Wei and I will distract the leader. Meng Lin, you and the others quickly dispatch the others before coming to help us," she said, her aura flaring as she charged toward the larger toad. Chen Wei also didn''t hesitate, his expression serious as he followed Luo Mei, his body blazing with aura. The two of them engaged the leader toad, their combined energies creating a fierce clash of energies that sent the toad stumbling backward. Meng Lin turned to the other disciples. "You heard her! Let''s move. I''ll take care of the two early-stage Rank 4 beasts; you guys can take the rest." The group split into smaller units, each disciple focusing on their assigned targets. Meng Lin, with her eyes set on the two early-stage Rank 4 toads, moved swiftly, her movements precise and deadly. The first toad let out a guttural croak, releasing a wave of Earth Elemental Qi that made the ground beneath Meng Lin''s feet tremble. Sensing an attack, Meng Lin didn''t stop her movement as large spikes emerged from the ground, all hurtling toward her. Her energy output increased, and her form became even more obscured as she turned to pure mist, going through the attack with ease. She closed the distance, her fists glowing with a multicolored Qi as she circulated the Elemental Convergence Method with slight difficulty. Boom! Crack. Meng Lin felt a recoil as her fist came into contact with the toad''s head, causing a loud sound to emerge, sending the toad flying with cracks all over its rocky body. Meng Lin, having weakened the first toad, turned her attention to the second. This one was more cautious as a layer of armor began to appear on its already armored body. Its eyes glowed with malevolent intelligence as it lunged at her, its massive mouth snapping shut just inches away from her head. Meng Lin dodged the attack, countering with a powerful kick, her Elemental Qi-infused strike sending the toad sprawling towards the first toad as a huge dent appeared on its armor. As the two toads struggled to regain their footing, Meng Lin didn''t waste time. She gathered her Elemental Qi of water, channeling it into a technique as she called out, "Surge." A powerful wave of Elemental Water Qi surged from her outstretched hand, turning into a mini tsunami, crashing into the two toads with the force of a raging river. The water''s impact was amplified by her qi, creating a powerful torrent that battered the toads, quickly eroding their already weakened defenses. With anguished cries, the two beasts died without even being able to do anything against Meng Lin. "Oh," Meng Lin looked over the rest of the battlefield, her eyebrows raising. The other disciples didn''t seem to have any difficulty with the other rank 3 beasts; four of them were already dead, and the rest were being weakened by the grouped effort of the other disciples. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Meanwhile, Luo Mei and Chen Wei faced the leader toad, their powerful attacks creating shockwaves that echoed through the rocky landscape. Luo Mei unleashed her *Blossoming Lotus Sword Art*, her sword strikes leaving trails of pink energy that sliced through the toad''s defenses. Chen Wei''s *Soul Shattering Palm* crackled with dark energy, each strike causing visible damage to the toad''s rocky exterior. "Damn it" The Toad leader, sensing the unfavorable situation, cursed out as it gathered a large amount of Elemental Qi. Armor began to appear on its body as its aura surged even more, "What" Both Luo Mei and Chen Wei were shocked as the toad donned a full armor of pure Earth Elemental Qi. Its aura surged as it prepared a devastating attack; it reared back, Its mouth opening wide as a massive sphere of earth elemental qi began to form as the air vibrated with the sheer power being concentrated at that single point. Luo Mei and Chen Wei exchanged a quick glance, their faces grim. Luo Mei said "Attack with your strongest technique, otherwise we''ll be in serious trouble" Chen Wei nodded, his eyes narrowing. "I need a few seconds of charging my technique, you hold it off for as long as possible". Luo Mei grimaced but didn''t say anything as she channeled all her remaining Qi into her sword, her blade growing brighter than ever. With a fierce cry, she unleashed her intimate technique, "Blossoming Final Lotus." The sword''s energy burst forth, creating a vortex of pink petals that spiraled towards the toad, disrupting its gathering of Earth Elemental Qi. The toad leader bellowed, its voice reverberating through the terrain as it dashed towards Luo Mei, allowing the pink petals of her Blossoming Final Lotus technique to strike its body as it rammed onto Luo Mei. Boom!! "Uge" Luo Mei, utilizing her Armor at the last second was sent flying back, her attack breaking through the toad''s armored body, each petal cutting through layers of Earth Elemental Qi. Landing with a cough. Luo Mei''s face was strained, beads of sweat trickling down her forehead as she took out pills to consume. Meng Lin, looking afar worried a little, she wondered if she should intervene when she suddenly felt a spike in the energy within the battlefield. "Done," Chen Wei, a short distance away, spoke up, his palms glowing with a sinister, dark energy and his technique fully charged. With a powerful thrust of his palm, he released the *Soul Shattering Palm*, the move completely different from when it was used against Meng Lin. A devastating black palm appeared before the toad, the palm dwarfing over the toad''s body as it crackled with dark energy. The toad''s eyes widened in shock as the attack struck, the dark energy tearing through its armor and piercing its core. With a final, anguished cry, the toad leader''s form shattered, its body, soul and essence dispersing into the wind. The air around them seemed to still as the remnants of the toad aura vanish. The disciples stood amidst the rocky terrain, some with their breaths heavy. Meng Lin and the other disciples regrouped with Luo Mei and Chen Wei, most of their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion. "Is everyone alright?" Meng Lin asked, her voice low. Luo Mei, still recovering from the toad''s last brutal attack, gave a weak smile. "I''ve had worse," she said, swallowing the last of her healing pills. "But we need to move. Something else could be attracted by the fight we had" Chen Wei nodded, his dark energy slowly dissipating as he retracted his aura with an exhausted expression. "That leader was powerful. If there are more like it, we need to be ready." Meng Lin turned to the rest of the group, her expression serious. "Then let''s move out. We need to find a safer location first" The disciples nodded, and they began to make their way through the rocky landscape, their senses were heightened and Meng Lin had her spiritual consciousness spread out at all times. After traveling for an hour with nothing noteworthy, the group eventually found a secluded area surrounded by tall, jagged rocks that provided some cover. More importantly, there was a small pond of several meters that strangely glowed with a golden aura. "Is this an Ancient Spirit Pool?" Luo Mei muttered in astonishment. Her eyes sparkled as she approached the pond, the golden aura reflecting off her face. Meng Lin nodded. "It seems so. The spiritual energy here is incredibly concentrated. This could be a perfect place to cultivate." Chen Wei, despite his usual arrogance, showed a rare hint of admiration. "Moreover, I sense a more powerful gold qi, this should be the Elemental Qi of Gold, a pond with this much is a bit rare" The disciples eagerly agreed, all of them setting up a place where they sat down and meditated over the water, the golden aura coming alive to wrap around them. Meng Lin finished circulating the Elemental Convergence Method and looked over her panel, noticing a small difference within. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points:45>46%] System coin: 1080 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] >[Gold Comprehension 0.5%] [ Heavenly Dao ] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin surveyed her panel with a slight chuckle. The increase in her experience and the new comprehension of Gold Elemental Qi were encouraging enough. She took a deep breath, feeling the dense spiritual energy of the Ancient Spirit Pond filling her lungs and invigorating her spirit. It was only now that she was glad that she was able to create the spirit rejuvenation pills before coming to this Secret Realm. Although her spiritual veins are still not completely healed, she didn''t have any major troubles circulating her qi through her spiritual veins. She looked around and noticed the other disciples who were similarly absorbed in their cultivation. The golden aura of the pond enveloped them, enhancing their cultivation and accelerating their understanding a little. Luo Mei opened her eyes and looked at Meng Lin. "We should take turns keeping watch. Even in a place like this, we can''t afford to be careless." Meng Lin nodded. "Agreed. I''ll take the first watch. Everyone else, focus on your cultivation." As the group settled into a routine, the atmosphere around the pond became increasingly harmonious, after five hours of the group taking turns every 30 minutes, the golden aura within the pond began to dwindle, slowly decreasing in aura and concentration. It was Meng Lin''s turn to lookout once more and she scanned the surroundings with her spiritual consciousness, ensuring no hidden dangers were lurking nearby. The rocky landscape remained silent, with only the occasional rustle of wind and distant animal calls breaking the stillness. "System" [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points: 46>49%] System coin: 1080 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Gold Comprehension 0.5 > 13.8%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin took a moment to reflect on the panel before her. After just two hours of cultivation within the Spirit Pool, she had gained more experience than from the battle she had fought a few hours earlier. Furthermore, her Gold Comprehension had increased to 13.8%. Although it was far from complete mastery, the progress was significant. Meng Lin continued to keep watch, her spiritual consciousness attuned to any disturbances. The night passed uneventfully, and as dawn broke, the golden aura of the pond had completely faded after 7 more hours of cultivation. The disciples gradually awakened from their meditation, each one looking refreshed and energized. Luo Mei stretched a satisfied smile on her face. "That was quite the boost. We should move on since the energy here is completely depleted." 203. Ancient Spirit Pool Realm Part 3; Ancient Spirit Pillar Meng Lin flew in the air, dense fog covering the area, her spiritual consciousness was spread out, picking up the slightest change in the surroundings. By her side, Luo Mei and Chen Wei kept pace, their eyes scanning the dense forest below. They had been traveling for almost two hours, and they finally left the rocky terrain and entered a massive forest. The fog was thick, almost tangible, making visibility nearly zero, but their spiritual consciousness could see through the mist like an open field, keeping them on a course. "Stay alert," Luo Mei whispered, her eyes narrowing. "I sense something ahead." Chen Wei''s fingers twitched, dark energy swirling around his palms as he prepared for any sudden attacks. "Is it another beast?" Meng Lin interjected, shaking her head. "No, it''s different. More like a formation." "That''s right, there is a powerful formation up ahead," Luo Mei said as they continued. The fog began to thin out, and a large, ancient structure loomed into view. It was a towering pillar, its dark, weathered stone walls covered in vines and strange runes that glowed faintly. "We need to be cautious," Luo Mei advised, her voice steady but tinged with concern. "This place feels... Ancient and powerful." The group descended, landing silently on the ground. The air around the pillar was thick with spiritual energy, but there was an underlying sense of danger, everyone in the group felt it, especially from the entrance of the pillar which was covered in runes. Meng Lin approached the entrance, her hand tracing the intricate runes. "This is definitely some kind of ancient formation," she murmured. "But there''s ruins there too, is this also an array" Chen Wei stepped closer, examining the runes with a critical eye. "Formation and Array, I''ve never heard of that before" he turned to one of the other disciples and said " Luo Wu, you practice both Formation and Array right, what have you found out" A young man with a small smile stepped forward, His expression serious as he examined the runes. "Yes, I specialize in both formations and arrays but this is quite unusual. It seems like the formation is designed to protect whatever is inside the pillar, while the array might be enhancing its power or concealing it." Meng Lin nodded thoughtfully. "Can you deactivate it, Luo Wu?" Luo Wu''s eyes narrowed as he studied the intricate patterns. "It''s complex, I don''t think I can." He looked closer and pointed towards several different runes. "There are weak points in the array. If you channel a large amount of energy at these specific runes, you should be able to disrupt it temporarily" Chen Wei nodded, his dark energy coalescing around his hands. "Let''s do it then." "Wait," Luo Wu said as he pointed to the formation, "I don''t think you should do it. After the array runes are disrupted we would only have a few seconds, so we need a powerful attack that can break through the formation at that time, that''s where you come in" "Understood," Meng Lin said, turning to Luo Mei. "We''ll focus on disrupting the runes. Chen Wei will be ready with his most powerful attack." Chen Wei nodded, his expression weird. "Just give me the signal." Luo Mei and Meng Lin moved into position around the array, their spiritual energy converging as they prepared to disrupt the runes. The air around them crackled with qi as they focused their energy on several small points, the weak points Luo Wu had identified. "Ready?" Meng Lin asked, her gaze turning to Luo Mei''s, who nodded with slight excitement in her eyes. In perfect synchrony, Meng Lin and Luo Mei channeled large amounts of their energy into the weak points of the array. The runes flickered and pulsed, their glow intensifying as the array began to destabilize. Chen Wei''s hands were covered in Armor and glowed with a sinister, dark energy, his Soul Shattering Palm technique charging to its fullest. The tension in the air grew as the array''s defenses weakened. "Three... two... one... Now!" Luo Wu counted down, giving the signal at the most opportune moment. Crack!! With perfect timing, Chen Wei unleashed his Soul Shattering Palm, the dark energy surging forward with devastating force. The attack struck the formation just as the array''s enforcement faded, the combined impact forming cracks in the protective barrier before shattering into pieces. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The entrance to the pillar was now exposed, the runes dimming and the spiritual energy around them dispersing. The group wasted no time, rushing inside before the defenses could reactivate. Inside, the atmosphere was less intense and more serene, they were inside a giant hall filled with ancient scrolls, and spiritual weapons, some worn out due to time, each one radiating a strong aura. At the center of the room, a pedestal held a glowing crystal sphere. "What is that," Meng Lin said, her eyes locked on the sphere. "Its aura is very unsettling" Luo Mei stepped closer, her brow furrowing in concentration. "I can feel it too. It''s like a vortex of energy, pulsing with raw power. We need to be cautious." Chen Weis dark energy crackled around him, ready for any threats. "We should take it. Whatever it is, it could help us," he urged, eyeing the sphere with greedy interest. Meng Lin shook her head, her instinct cautious. "We dont know what it could do. Lets assess the situation first." Luo Wu, still observing the surroundings, pointed to the scrolls, weapons, and items lining the walls. "The sphere can come last; for now, let''s see what these are." The group spread out, each member carefully inspecting the artifacts, scrolls, and items. Luo Mei picked up a delicate, ornate scroll, unrolling it gently. "This seems to be a record of cultivation techniques," she murmured, her eyes scanning the text. "But it''s written in an ancient dialect. It might take some time to decipher." Chen Wei''s attention was drawn to a sword, it''s aura dark and sharp, he reached for the dark blade, its edge gleaming with an ominous light. "This is a High-Grade weapon, incredible," he said, admiring the craftsmanship. Luo Wu and the rest of the group found a set of shelves filled with various trinkets and talismans. "These items are imbued with strong spiritual energy," Luo Wu observed. Meng Lin approached a stack of ancient texts, her fingers lightly brushing the covers. One scroll, in particular, caught her eye. It was black, with a faint, pulsating glow emanating from it. She opened it carefully, revealing an ancient language she somewhat understood. She turned and approached another scroll, her fingers dancing over the faded text. The language was a different ancient text, but she could decipher fragments. Power of the element Spatial Boundaries a choice, she muttered, piecing together the cryptic messages. Suddenly, a low rumbling echoed through the hall. The ground trembled beneath them, and the crystal sphere began to glow brighter, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Get back! Luo Mei shouted, instinctively pulling Meng Lin away from the pedestal. As they retreated, the sphere unleashed a shocking wave of energy, sending them sprawling backward. The room filled with a blinding light, and the scrolls fluttered violently as if caught in a tempest. Is it attacking? Luo Mei yelled, struggling to regain her footing. No, Luo Wu shouted over the tempest. Its gonna blow up, we have to leave now" Panic surged through Meng Lin as she scrambled to her feet, storing away all the scrolls near her. Her heart raced, and she shouted. "Hurry, let''s go" The vibrant light from the sphere intensified, casting an ominous glow that illuminated the ancient hall. Chen Wei was already at the entrance, dark energy swirling around him as he prepared to shield them from any impending blast. They reached the entrance, and Meng Lin cast one last glance at the pedestal. Her heart pounded as she saw the sphere begin to crack, lines of light spider-webbing across its surface. She turned away, following Luo Mei ahead of her. The group burst out of the ancient structure and flew upwards, trying to put as much distance as possible between them and the imminent explosion. Just as they reached 100 meters away from the pillar, a deafening roar echoed through the forest. The ground shook violently, and a brilliant light erupted from the structure piercing through the fog and illuminating the forest for miles around. Meng Lin felt death looming over them and turned around and entered her Brute Qi state, Circulating the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method. Her qi reached an overwhelming breaking point as she let it spread out, covering the group from the blinding light that was spreading. Boom!! Meng Lin heard the definite sound rip through her eardrums as she was blasted far away. Her vision blurred, and she saw the giant pillar of brilliant light fade away as her consciousness flickered and her energy drained. Thud! Meng Lin grunted from the impact, her body ached as she lay on the forest floor, the remnants of the explosion still ringing in her ears. She groaned, pushing herself up to a sitting position. She realized that her brute qi was all but gone and there was only a small amount of Qi left within her dantian. The good news is that she didn''t suffer any injuries, the immortal Lotus Robe took the rest of the blunt. "Luo Mei? Chen Wei?" she called out, her voice weak but gaining strength. She extended her spiritual consciousness, searching for their auras. Luo Mei was the first to respond, floating down from above the trees, her robes torn but otherwise unharmed. "Meng Lin! Are you alright?" she asked, rushing over. Meng Lin nodded, although she felt drained. "What about the others?" Chen Wei emerged next, a few scrapes and bruises visible, but his dark energy still crackled around him. "I''m fine. That blast was too powerful, if it wasn''t for what you did at the end, I don''t think we would have made it" Luo Wu staggered into view, slightly dazed but otherwise unhurt. "I... I''m here," he said, shaking his head to clear the fog. "That was insane. I didnt expect the sphere to react like that." The ground all came together, all with varying degrees of injuries, but not life-threatening. Luo Mei landed beside the group, her expression serious. "We need to rest and assess our situation. The others were more injured so we might have to rest for a while" Meng Lin nodded, pushing herself to her feet. "You''re right. Lets move to a safer location and check anyone''s condition. We still have all the scrolls and items we collected, and we need to figure out our next steps." " Um.. " a disciple spoke up, Huan Lee, a young woman in the Late Stage of the Gold Core Realm, "I''ve found a special place. After the explosion, I landed near a giant tree that has several different types of fruits, but it''s guarded by multiple peak stage Rank 3 beasts." Meng Lin''s eyebrows raised. "A giant tree with different types of fruits? That sounds promising. If its guarded by peak stage Rank 3 beasts, it shouldn''t be a problem" Chen Wei crossed his arms and nodded his head. "I''ll just charge in. Even if they have a 4th-rank beast it shouldn''t be a problem" "Alright, that''s what we will do. Huan Lee, lead us to the tree." Luo Mei said. The group quickly gathered their things, ensuring they were ready for any potential confrontation. Huan Lee took the lead, guiding them through the forest. After five minutes, they arrived at a clearing where the giant tree stood majestically. Its trunk was thick and knotted, with vibrant fruits hanging from its branches. However, lurking around the base of the tree were several peak-stage Rank 3 beastslarge Monkeys with fierce eyes and sharp claws, each one radiating intimidating energy. "Alright, I''ll take care of the beasts," Chen Wei said, retrieving a black blade from his storage bag. He stepped forward, his black blade gleaming ominously in the dim light of the forest. And without any suspense, one by one, the beasts fell under his blade, their roars of defiance turning into cries of pain. The ground was soon littered with their fallen carcass, and the oppressive energy around the tree began to dissipate. Putting away his sword, the dark energy around Chen Wei faded and he turned to the group, a faint smile on his lips. "The path is clear." Meng Lin, Luo Mei, and the others approached the tree, their eyes widening as they took in the sight of the vibrant fruits hanging from its branches. Each fruit was a different fruit and each radiated a potent spiritual energy. "What tree is this," Meng Lin said, reaching out to pluck a fruit from a low-hanging branch. "This is a Core Purifying Fruit." Luo Wu examined some of the fruits closely, his eyes shining with excitement. "There''s Mystic Moon Peach, Spirit Jade berry, and even Vermilion Nectar Fruit; there are over 24 different fruits, and these could greatly enhance our cultivation." Huan Lee nodded, her eyes alight with wonder. "I felt their energy when I first landed here. But because I wasn''t strong enough I thought to tell Senior Sister Liu and the rest" "We''ll divide them evenly amongst each other. However, Meng Lin has to have more; she has saved us all, after all," Luo Mei said, her eyes tracing over everyone. The group nodded in agreement, acknowledging Meng Lin''s crucial role in their survival. Even Chen Wei also nodded, agreeing with the others. Meng Lin sighed, slight appreciation appearing in the depths of her purple hue over her eyes. 204. Ancient Spirit Pool Realm Part 4; Outmatched Meng Lin circulated the Elemental Qi Convergence Method for the last time as she absorbed the third Spirit Jade Berry, other than the delectable aftertaste, she felt a significant surge in her cultivation base. A potent energy from the Spirit Jade Berry flowed through her spiritual veins and joined with her qi, enhancing it a little. She opened her eyes, her gaze trailing to the 13 fruits before her. After the group harvested the fruits, she was given 6 Spirit Jade Berries, 4 Vermilion Nectar Fruit, and 3 Giant Qi Fruit, the last one for the quick restoration of her exhausted spiritual qi. Her other concern, the Brute Qi, was also slowly getting restored, a bit less than normal, she wondered if it was having a reaction with the Ancient Realm they were in. She murmured something under her breath and looked at the others, Luo Mei was sitting 4 meters away from her, while the rest were spread out, sitting in comfortable positions on the tree while absorbing the energies from the fruits. Meng Lin closed her eyes and went back to eating and absorbing the remaining fruits, making sure to save at least one of each, for later on. After eating up almost all the fruits in her possession, she still had 2 Giant Qi fruits, and one of each remaining fruit. She called out to her system and looked at the system menu. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points: 49>62%] System coin: 1080 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Gold Comprehension 13.8%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] After noticing the obvious increase in her experience points, Meng Lin looked over all her cultivation techniques, pondering over the usefulness of each and if she needed to change anything. After looking at everything up and down, her gaze stopped at the Ancient Spirit Seals; she realized that she still hadn''t used the Ancient Spirit Seal Union. She wondered about the Seal''s usefulness once completed. However, she was also not in a hurry, so she decided to delay until she was away from prying eyes. Checking her system inventory, Meng Lin looked at the slots, mainly consisting of pill bottles with only the last few slots being her weapons and items that she valued. She thought back to the matter of Wei Wei and looked at her last three slots, slight pain within her eyes. ''i am sorry, but until I am sure there is no threat to us, you guys have to stay there for a while''. She looked up at the sky, her gaze barely piercing the fog-covered environment that covered the whole area. She wondered about the massiveness of this secret realm, as it''s been over a whole day and they still haven''t even seen a shadow of the other disciples from the sect. She turned to Luo Mei, who had stopped her cultivation to stand up and stretch. "You like to stretch a lot" she commented, after noticing her familiar movement. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Luo Mei grinned, "One of the things I do after I finish concocting a pill, they take quite a lot of time so I feel stiff even if my body doesn''t actually hurt" "I feel a noticeable improvement in my qi," she continued, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "If we keep this up, at this pace I''ll be able to breakthrough in 10 days" "10 days! that''s wonderful progress," Meng Lin replied, her eyes flickering with slight curiosity "How long have you been in the middle stage" Luo Mei''s grin widened a hint of pride in her eyes. "It''s been about four years since I broke through to the middle stage. I''ve been focusing on refining pills and eating them like candy, otherwise with my aptitude, it would have taken even longer" Meng Lin nodded thoughtfully. "That''s still impressive. For some, it takes almost a dozen years to make such significant progress," she continued. "This realm belongs to the sect, right? why do they not have a map for it" Luo Mei''s expression turned more serious. "It''s not that the sect hasn''t tried. The secret realm is vast and constantly shifting. Mapping it is nearly impossible because the terrain and structure are different every time. It''s like the realm has a life of its own." Luo Mei continued "And it''s not just the terrain. There are powerful formations and arrays, like the one we encountered at the pillar. They can block or alter spiritual consciousness, making navigation even more difficult, plus the realm changes to adjust to the strength of the people that enter so even those at the Ensoulment Realm aren''t safe" Meng Lin frowned, taking in Luo Mei''s words. "That truly complicates things. It means we have to be extremely cautious in our exploration." Luo Mei stretched again, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I say we take advantage of the time we have now, 20 days. We can rest and cultivate a bit more, but we''ve gotta be moving to make sure we maximize the chances we get" Meng Lin glanced at the horizon, where the fog seemed to swirl in unusual patterns. "I agree" Chen Wei, who has been keeping a lookout suddenly appeared before everyone, a worried expression plastered on his face, "we''ve got company" Meng Lin looked confused as she released her spiritual consciousness when suddenly she felt a shift in the air, a faint vibration that sent shivers down her spine. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she got up abruptly, the same thing happening to the others on the tree as they all felt intense danger. Something was approaching. Thud!! A massive figure emerged from the fog, its silhouette towering over the trees. A deep growl resonated through the clearing, and the ground trembled beneath its weight. "What is that?" Luo Mei gasped, eyes wide as she took in the sight of the creature before thema colossal beast with glistening fur, sharp claws, and fierce golden eyes that glowed with predatory intent. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she realized that she couldn''t get any information from the Ancestral Symbol, it was an unknown ancient spirit beast, furthermore its aura indicated that it was at least Peak Rank 4. Chen Wei stepped forward, his dark energy coalescing into his palm. Armor appeared all over his body, and he bellowed. "Soul Shattering Palm" With a swift motion, Chen Wei unleashed his attack, a piercing wave of dark energy surging toward the colossal beast. Clunk!! The air crackled with power as the attack struck the creature, momentarily getting its attention. However, the beast barely flinched, its golden eyes narrowing as it focused on Chen Wei. ''I have to get back!'' Chen Wei recognized the danger. But before anyone could react, the beast lunged forward with astonishing speed, closing the distance between them in an instant. Chen Wei''s eyes widened in horror as the creature''s massive claw tore through the air, aiming directly at him. He barely had time to gather his dark energy to unleash another Soul-Shattering Palm. Boom!! The impact sent Chen Wei crashing to the ground, the bones in his arm, shattering under the beast''s strength. He gasped at the pain and disbelief flashing across his face. "It''s too strong!" he managed to shout before the beast turned its attention to the rest of the group. Panic surged through Meng Lin as she watched the beast move with incredible speed, its sharp claws glinting ominously in the dim light. The other disciples scrambled to react, but the creature was relentless. Without warning, it lunged again, targeting another disciple who had begun to run. The beast''s claws swept through the air, striking with lethal precision. No! Meng Lin leapt forward, but it was too late. The disciple was shredded before he even had time to notice the attack, his body lit on fire, disappearing before it hit the ground. Meng Lin felt a wave of dread wash over her as she appeared next to the beast, her half-body Armor appearing all over her body. Her remaining Brute Qi surged and she activated the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method to the maximum, channeling all her power to a single point. With her Brute Qi gathered, she enclosed her hands together and extended her nails to the maximum, while releasing all her Brute Qi in a single burst. "Heaven''s Punishment" PENG!!! The force of Meng Lin''s attack collided with the beast''s thick hide, but it was as if she had struck an immovable mountain. The creature barely reacted, turning its head slowly to regard her with those fierce golden eyes. A low growl rumbled from its throat, sending another shiver down her spine. Her heart pounded as she realized the gravity of their situation. Elemental Qi. This beast probably has the elemental qi of Earth or Gold, maybe even both. Otherwise, her Brute Qi would have done something; she had utilized all 10 fingernails, plus the Heaven''s Punishment. Everything was at full strength, yet her attack had merely scratched the surface. She internalized the stark truth: they were severely outmatched. "Damn it," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the creature''s menacing growls. She turned to the others, her eyes filled with urgency. "Run!!" Luo Mei and Chen Wei hesitated, their faces etched with concern!! Roar!! The beast roared and reared its claws, swinging at Meng Lin at lightning speed. Boom!! The ground caved in over several meters as Meng Lin''s figure emerged, a mass of mist shaping her body, she utilized the Formless Cultivation Method and her energy drained rapidly, just dodging that attack. She stopped paying attention to the others and quickly took flight, flying low in the forest, headed towards a single direction far south. Her mist form provided her a fleeting advantage, and the beast, a golden hue in his eyes, followed her into the depths of the forest. As she fled, Meng Lin circulated the Formless Cultivation Method, maintaining her mist form, while her energy drained more, she felt the lingering potency of the fruits coursing through her spiritual veins, utilizing the residual energies left to fly even faster. The beast''s growls grew stronger as she kept hearing the trees behind her being destroyed as more and more distance closed between them. She gritted her teeth and reformed her body to conserve her energy, her breath came in ragged gasps. Her eyes flickered to the sky, the fog-covered environment making it hard to discern the direction she was headed. She reached out with her spiritual consciousness, searching for any sign of her escape. However, it was all useless as Meng Lin''s senses were overwhelmed by the beast''s relentless pursuit. The ground shook with each of its powerful strides, and the forest seemed to blur past her as she pushed her body to its limits. Suddenly, she noticed an unusual energy fluctuation to her left. Desperation fueled her decision as she veered off the path and darted towards the source. Her spiritual consciousness picked up a hidden rock formation that seemed to pulse with a mysterious, ancient power. With no time to lose, Meng Lin approached the formation, utilizing the Formless Cultivation Method to enter into a narrow crevice in the rocks. Clank!! The beast snarled, its massive claws scraping against the rocks as it left white marks on the rock, it couldn''t enter through the rock formation. Meng Lin squeezed through the tight passage easily, feeling the jagged edges before emerging from the other side. Within, Meng Lin stumbled into a cave, with the cave walls reflecting the glowing water pond nestled within the rock creek. Taking a moment to catch her breath, Meng Lin quickly released her spiritual consciousness and realized that the beast was still trying to force its way through the narrow passage; even though it couldn''t make any dents, it remained persistent. Breathing heavily, Meng Lin leaned against the cold cave wall, her mind racing. The beast''s relentless assault outside echoed through her mind, reminding her that she was far from safe. "Okay, calm down Meng Lin..." she whispered to herself, trying to remain calm despite the pounding of her heart. She had to remain calm in these situations. Her eyes scanned the cave, taking in the glowing water pond. The energy emanating from it was unlike anything she had felt beforea mix of ancient power and serene tranquility. She approached the pond cautiously, feeling a slight pull towards it. Could this be a hidden Ancient Spirit Pool? She dipped her fingers into the water, feeling a fiery warmth spread through her body. Her fatigue began to fade, and she felt her energy reserves slowly replenish, more importantly she noticed a very hot Elemental Qi fluctuation in the pond. It was the Elemental Qi of Fire. 205. Ancient Spirit Pool Realm Part 5; The Black Tortoise and Golden Lizard Meng Lin sat in the cave, the glowing water of the pond casting an ethereal light over her, she breathed in and out, releasing breaths as heavy and hot as a forge. The energy around her pulsed, resonating with her every breath. The glowing water of the Ancient Spirit Pond seemed to ripple in response, amplifying the dense spiritual energy that filled the cave. Meng Lins eyes were half-closed, her focus submerging deeper into her cultivation. Each exhale sent waves of heat across the cave, causing the air to glimmer for a moment. Meng Lin could feel her fire spiritual root jolting as it began to interact with the Elemental Qi of Fire that she began to absorb. The cave thrummed with a vibrant energy, its every corner alive with the echoes of Meng Lins breathing. The water in the Ancient Spirit Pond glowed brighter, casting shimmering patterns on the rough stone walls, as if the cave itself was coming alive. As Meng Lin meditated, the temperature within the cave began to rise, the air thickening with the heat radiating from her body. The Elemental Qi of Fire swirled around her and a powerful force appeared over her body. With each inhale, she absorbed the fiery Qi, feeling it surge through her spiritual veins like molten lava, searing the pathways with raw, unfiltered Fire Qi. Her closed eyes narrowed in concentration as sweat began to appear on her forehead; the blazing energy radiating within the cave caused the temperature to start affecting the cave. Time began to lose its meaning as Meng Lin became too concentrated. The cave was filled only with the steady thrum of energy and the sporadic crackle of flames on both the wall and the ground as the fire Qi intertwined with her being. *** Thump!!! Finally, Meng Lin reached the peak of her absorption, and a burst of flame erupted around her, casting a fierce, red light that filled the cave before calming down with frightening control. Meng Lins eyes snapped open, a slight glow in her gaze as she felt the surge of power within her. The Ancient Spirit Ponds light returned to its calm glow as if nothing had happened. Meng Lin released a long breath, a slight surprise appearing in her eyes as a flaming hot stream shot out of her mouth; her lips felt a bit plump and tingling with residual heat. She took a moment to regain her bearings, feeling the immense power she had harnessed coursing through her spiritual veins. Her reflection wavered on the water''s surface as she stood up, a slight flush on her cheeks and the radiant glow in her eyes reflecting the intensity of her recent experience. The cave, although burnt, felt different now, vibrant and alive, almost as if it had become an extension of her own will; she felt the heat and liked it. She brushed a few damp strands of hair away from her forehead, the heat still lingering around her like a warm embrace. "Three days," she murmured to herself, amazed at how lost she had become in her cultivation. She looked around, noting the small scorch marks on the stone where the flames had touched. Her eyes glowed with slight purple as she slowly walked forward, feeling the air dense with the lingering Elemental Qi of Fire. She looked down at the Ancient Spirit Pond, its crystal clear glow subsiding as she felt the last bit of energy within. Looking at her face, Meng Lin saw deep emotionless eyes staring back at her with a smooth, porcelain complexion, seemingly untouched by hardships. Meng Lin didn''t pay much attention to her face as the reflection wavered on the water''s surface while she called out to the system. "System" [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points: 62>96%] System coin: 1080 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Gold Comprehension 13.8%] >[Fire Comprehension 100%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seals: Black Tortoises, Gong Fu - Golden Lizard. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin''s heart swelled with a potent mix of satisfaction and anticipation as she observed her progress. Her comprehension of the Fire element had reached its peak, and her cultivation base was not far behind. She thought back to when she was absorbing the Gold Elemental Qi and knew the major differences right away, without anyone to share the Elemental Qi with, she had been able to get the full benefits of the ancient spirit pool, increasing both her elemental qi and her cultivation base. Clunk! Meng Lin''s gaze shifted from the system interface to the entrance of the cave, finally noticing the beast still outside the cave. She began to think, it was weird that a beast that she knew nothing of was this persistent; she wondered why it was so attractive to her. Taking a deep breath, Meng Lin knew she had to act fast. This was no ordinary caveshe could still sense the Elemental Qi of Fire that filled the pond, as if endless. She knew that she had to make the most of her time and her thoughts went back to her Ancient Spirit beasts. there was no better time to attempt it. If she could successfully combine her spirit seals, she might stand a chance against the beast. Meng Lin steadied her breathing, her eyes narrowing with resolve. She extended her hands and closed her eyes, feeling the faint throbbing of the spirit beast marks on her forearm. The marks, one the Black Tortoise and the other of Gong Fu - the Golden Lizard, pulsed with energy. Come forth, Meng Lin commanded softly, her voice a whisper in the still air of the cave. She focused intently, sending signals to the marks on her forearm. After a few seconds of nothing, she opened her eyes with surprise and asked, Why wont you respond?" a bit of doubt began creeping into her tone. I need your strength now more than ever! The cave echoed her words, amplifying her words. Suddenly, a mocking whisper echoed in her mind, a sinister chuckle. "Naive.., too weak, you think you can command me so easily?" The voice was that of the Black Tortoise, deep and ancient. "Hahaha, yes, truly foolish," sneered another voice, a clear, childlike voice filled with a sharp hissing noise. Meng Lin''s jaw tightened. ''I had thought we had formed a bond, it seems it was all just in my head'' The Black Tortoise''s rumbling voice interrupted her thoughts. "Formed a bond? With a mortal like you? How laughable." The Golden Lizard''s voice joined in, dripping with disdain. "You are nothing but a vessel, a temporary shell. Your body will be one of ours to command." Meng Lin felt a chill run down her spine as she thought back to what happens when taken over, she asked. "What do you mean, ''ours to command''?" "Exactly as it sounds," the Black Tortoise replied. "One of us will take over your body, foolish girl. You are too weak to control us." "Your pathetic attempt is amusing," the Golden Lizard added, its voice filled with cruel glee. "But ultimately futile. It will be I who will be the master of this form." " You, ha. Don''t get ahead of yourself, kid," The Black Tortoise said, its voice annoyed. "What did you call me?" hissed the Golden Lizard, its voice rising in pitch with indignation. "You heard me," the Black Tortoise rumbled, its deep voice dripping with irritation. "A child like you has no place commanding a vessel as special as this one." Meng Lin''s head pounded with their arguing voices, her frustration mounting. "Enough!" she said, her voice echoing through the cave. "I''ll use force then" Her declaration was met with derisive laughter, their voices combined into one. "" You? Force us?" "How funny!"" Ignoring their taunts, Meng Lin reached into her inventory and pulled out a stone slate inscribed with an intricate beast mark. Holding it up, she channeled a strand of qi, directing the slate toward the marks on her arm. The air suddenly thickened with an oppressive energy. The slate in her hand started to glow, an ethereal light emanating from it. With a burst of light, Meng Lin felt a tug within her, as if something was being ripped away from her very soul. "Ahhh!" Meng Lin cried out, her knees buckling under the strain. The marks on her skin writhed, resisting with all their might. "You will not control us!" The Black Tortoise roared his voice a rumble in her head. But Meng Lin was ruthless, even to herself. She poured every ounce of qi within the seal, her vision blurring as her energy waned. The Black Tortoise mark was instantly pulled into the seal, while the golden lizard mark glowed and burst with even more power. You think you can defy us? the Golden Lizard hissed, its voice now frantic. I will consume your very essence! Then try! Meng Lin said under her breath, circulating her Elemental Convergence Method, pouring her mixed Elemental Qi into the ancient spirit seal union. Rumble!!! The cave trembled as the energies clashed, the air thick with tension. In a final act of desperation, she focused all her strength and shouted, Just give up" The slate erupted in a blinding light, and Meng Lin felt all her Elemental Qi wane further. No! This cannot be! the Golden Lizard screeched as its mark began to glow fiercely, struggling against the pull of the seal. The cave shook violently, and the marks on her forearm writhed as if in agonizing pain. You insolent child! the Tortoise roared from the slate, its voice mingling with the Lizards shrieks. You will regret this! Meng Lin decided to keep quiet and focus sorely on pouring even more Elemental Qi, and with a final surge of energy, Meng Lin felt the last mark being forcibly drawn into the seal. Boom!!! Suddenly, there was an explosion of energy, and Meng Lin was thrown back against the cave wall. The slate shattered into countless pieces, and a wave of power washed over her as the two spirits merged. Ahhh! she gasped, clutching her head as fragments of knowledge coursed through her head. What is this?" she whispered to herself as the surrendering darkness overtook her. --- When Meng Lin awoke, the cave was eerily silent, save for the faint echo of dripping water. She blinked, disoriented, her body aching from the intense ordeal. Slowly, she pushed herself up, feeling an unfamiliar yet potent energy coursing through her right arm. She noticed her drained energy had returned, and the surrounding Qi converged towards her as the Immortal Lotus Robe shimmered in the dim cave, it had been absorbing the Qi in the surroundings and replenishing Meng Lin''s. The shattered pieces of the beast slate lay scattered around her, dimmed out completely. Meng Lin''s gaze shifted to her arms, where the spirit marks had once been. Now, a single, intricate mark pulsed with a dark, crimson beast that looked like a dragon with stumps for legsa fusion of both the Black Tortoise and the Golden Lizard. Her mind buzzed with faint confusing memories, but she felt an undeniable shift in her being. The oppressive presence of the two spirits had been replaced by a singular, more cohesive force. It was as if the two polar energies had melded into a new entity, one that she could control. Pushing herself to her feet, Meng Lin steadied herself against the hot, damp wall of the cave. Her right arm felt different, heavier yet more powerful. She concentrated, feeling the flow of qi through her veins. "System," she called out again, and the familiar interface appeared before her. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Early)] [Experience points: 96>98%] System coin: 1080 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold Comprehension 13.8%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] Comprehension 0.02% Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seal: >Crimson Tortoise Dragon [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] 206. Ancient Spirit Pool Realm Part 6; Overwhelming Brute Qi Meng Lin took a moment to process the information displayed by the system. The merging of the Black Tortoise and Golden Lizard into the Crimson Tortoise Dragon was both unexpected and expected at the same time. She didn''t understand whether the Ancient Spirit Seal Union had worked as intended or if something different had happened. Nevertheless, just the absorption of the Fire Elemental Qi made her perceive the whole cave differently. The ground beneath her feet felt more solid, and her movements were more assured as she walked away from the wall. The oppressive heat had subsided, replaced by a steady warmth that seemed to emanate from her own body. She walked up to the Ancient Spirit Pool and stretched out her arm. "Come forth, Crimson Tortoise Dragon," Meng Lin said, her voice soft and could break through as the newly formed Tortoise Dragon spirit seal began to glow. Slowly, the intricate mark on her arm glowed with a bright crimson light, and the air grew heavy with a powerful, ancient energy. From the mark, a small, serpentine figure began to materialize, its form a fusion of a tortoise and dragon. It looked no different from a dragon, with the only difference being the four stumps that replaced the dragon claws. The creature''s eyes glowed with an intense, sentient awareness as it emerged fully, its presence filling the cave with an aura of immense power. The Crimson Tortoise Dragon coiled around Meng Lin, its gaze locking onto hers. For a moment, the cave was silent, the energy between them palpable. "Mistress," the dragon''s voice echoed in her mind, deep and resonant, a stark contrast to the derisive tones of the Black Tortoise and Golden Lizard. "Mistress?" Meng Lin''s eyebrows were raised at the unexpected title. She had anticipated resistance, even defiance, but this newfound spirit was showing her respect. "Yes," the dragon confirmed. "You are my creator, so you are my mistress." Meng Lin studied the Crimson Tortoise Dragon with an intense gaze before asking, "What do you mean by that? Are you not the union of the Black Tortoise and Golden Lizard?" "I am indeed the union of two mighty spirits, yet I am neither. My existence is solely because of your will," the beast answered. "My will?" Meng Lin felt a strange feeling emerge within her as she heard those words. In the end, she shook her head and said, "Fine, you may call me however you like." Meng Lin''s thoughts were a whirlwind as she began to plan out her next step while the Crimson Tortoise Dragon continued to coil around her. She had been in this cave for four days now, and that strange beast was still standing outside the cave. She knew that she was no match for it at her current level. She reasoned that the only thing she could do was to break through first and confront the strange beast. If she were to stack up the Brute Qi, as well as her Elemental Convergence Method, then she might have a chance at fighting the beast. If that didn''t work, then she would just use the Void-State Tablet. Even though it''s a Sacred-grade item, it''s mainly for transportation and has great control over the surrounding space. If that also didn''t work, then she would use the teleportation talismans that she received from Luo Hao to escape. As Meng Lin was lost in thought, she felt warm scales brushing against her skin, and from the scales came pulses of qi, elemental qi. She could feel all her elemental qi within the beastwater, erosion, mud, fire, and darkness. It seemed that when she poured all her Elemental Qi into the Beast slate, it integrated it into this new beast. She finally released her spiritual consciousness to gauge the beasts power, her mind calculating as new information presented itself. ''This creature could easily contend with, and perhaps even defeat, a late-stage cultivator,'' she thought. "It seems there really is a chance," Meng Lin said with determination as she sat down by the Ancient Spirit Pool, her mind focused on using the remaining Elemental Qi to increase her cultivation base into the middle stage. She allowed the tortoise dragon to return to its seal as she entered deep meditation. She felt the qi in the surrounding area swirling and gathering easily as her control over the Fire Elemental Qi filled the area. Hours passed with the only movement being the rhythmic pulse on the surface of the pond. Finally, after three hours, Meng Lin felt a shift within her. Her qi surged, the energy within her reaching a critical point, and she felt her body trembling uncontrollably. Boom!! A moment later, she felt a barrier within her cultivation shatter, and her qi erupted like a storm. Her entire being was flooded with power, her soul trembled, its form doubled in size and power as she felt her breakthrough to the Middle Stage of the Soul Wondering Realm. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. "Aah!!" Suddenly, Meng Lin felt an intense pain as a yelp escaped her mouth. Her body echoed with a chaotic aura and Brute Qi surged from her dantian, filling the whole cave. Her eyes opened wide as she felt her body heat up to an unimaginable degree. The pain surged through Meng Lin''s body like a raging inferno, overwhelming her senses and threatening to shatter her focus. The Brute Qi that had once been under control now surged uncontrollably, filling the entire cave with its chaotic energy. Her vision blurred, and she felt her consciousness on the edge of collapse. "Damn it!" Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to regain control, channeling her thoughts inward. She had to calm the raging Brute Qi before it consumed her. The Physique Cleansing Sutrashe had to recite its words, its rhythm. It had worked before, and it had to work now. Through the haze of pain, Meng Lin began to chant the Physique Cleansing Sutra, her voice trembling at first but growing steadier with each word. "By the will of the heavens, cleanse this body of impurities. By the essence of the earth, stabilize this form. By the power of the world, harmonize this vessel. Let the qi be tamed, and let the essence flow pure." As the ancient words flowed from her lips, they resonated within her, resonating with her Brute Qi. The chaotic energy, still raging within her dantian, began to slow its frantic pace; however, it didn''t lessen in power in the slightest. In fact, it was getting even more powerful as time went on. The entire cave became an unrecognizable place as the chaotic white qi shockingly began to eat away at the walls of the cave, slowly but surely. "By the will of the heavens, cleanse this body of impurities. By the essence of the earth, stabilize this form. By the power of the... Ah!" Before she could finish, the power within her swelled to an unbearable level. A searing pain shot through her body, and her vision went dark as she lost consciousness, collapsing beside the Ancient Spirit Pool. *.. Suddenly, Meng Lin''s eyes snapped open, and the Brute Qi stopped all movement. Meng Lin got up and stood unbothered within the clear white chaotic qi that encompassed the whole area. Within the gaze of Meng Lin was something strange. Her once warm and delicate eyes held a sharp, ruthless, and calculating gleam. This foolish girl, Meng Lin murmured, her voice deep, slightly charming yet laced with concern. She wasted no time, her hands moving in precise, practiced gestures. The Brute Qi in the air began to gather as she expertly funneled it into a small, dense ball of chaotic white light within Meng Lins dantian, containing its destructive outbreak with ease. The chaotic energy, which moments ago had threatened to tear Meng Lin apart, was now tightly controlled, condensed into a small sphere of pure, seething power within her dantian. The once uncontrollable Brute Qi was now completely under her command. With a final, deliberate motion, Meng Linor the entity now controlling hersealed the Brute Qi within and stabilized her internal energy. The ruthless gleam in her eyes softened, though the cold efficiency in her movements remained. There. That should hold for now, she said, her tone a mix of relief and frustration. Her voice, although still Meng Lin''s, carried an unfamiliar authority, one that spoke of ages of experience. And suddenly without warning, her hands ceased their movements, and Meng Lin''s body fell limp, her head slumping forward as if the strings that held her upright had been severed. For a moment, everything was still, the cave echoing with the soft sounds of the Ancient Spirit Pool. Then, just as suddenly, Meng Lin''s eyes fluttered open again, her expression dazed and confused. She blinked, looking around the cave as if unsure of where she was or what had just happened. The ruthless aura had vanished, replaced by her usual warmth, but her body was tense as if on high alert. What what just happened? she whispered to herself, her voice shaky, though she received no answer from the empty cave around her. Meng Lin''s mind reeled as she tried to piece together the events of the past few moments. The relentless pain, the overwhelming surge of Brute Qi, and then... nothing. It was as if a part of her consciousness had been wiped clean, leaving her with fragmented memories and a lingering sense of unease. She stood up, her body still trembling from the aftereffects of the Brute Qi eruption. The cave, now marked with signs of the chaotic energy, felt eerily quiet. The only sound was the gentle ripple of the Ancient Spirit Pool, its glowing water casting ethereal reflections on the cave walls. Taking a deep breath, Meng Lin attempted to steady herself. She reached out with her spiritual consciousness, trying to gauge the state of her dantian and the Brute Qi within. To her surprise, the once wild and uncontrollable energy was now neatly contained within a small, dense sphere. It pulsed with a steady, controlled rhythm, a far cry from the chaos she had experienced moments before. "What in the world...?" she muttered, her brow furrowing in confusion. The memory of what had happened lingered at the edge of her mind, but she couldn''t grasp it fully. It was as if a veil had been drawn over that part of her consciousness. Pushing the unsettling thoughts aside, Meng Lin focused on the task at hand. She needed to confront the beast that had driven her into this cave and had been waiting outside for days. With her cultivation now at the Middle Stage of the Soul Wondering Realm and her Brute Qi under control, she felt that she had a chance. "Crimson Tortoise Dragon," she called softly, her voice resonating with the power of her spirit seal. The air around her shimmered as the dragon materialized once more, its eyes glowing with intense awareness. "Mistress," the dragon greeted, inclining its head slightly. Meng Lin asked, "Can you tell me what happened after I passed out?" The Crimson Tortoise Dragon''s eyes glowed with a deeper intensity, as if it was accessing a well of ancient memories. "Mistress," it began, its voice echoing within her mind, "after you lost consciousness, an ancient presence within you took control. It was this presence that managed to stabilize the chaotic Brute Qi and condense it into the small, dense sphere within your dantian." Meng Lin''s eyes widened. "An ancient presence? What do you mean?" "It is difficult to explain, Mistress," the dragon replied. "It was as if a different part of your soul, one that carries immense experience and authority, emerged to save you. This presence displayed mastery over the Brute Qi that even you, in your current state, could not achieve." Meng Lin''s mind raced, thoughts of a certain master coming to her mind. "I understand," she said, keeping it to herself. "For now, we have a more immediate problem to deal with." The dragon nodded in agreement, its serpentine form coiling around her protectively. "The beast outside," it said. "It has been waiting for you." Meng Lin''s eyes hardened with determination. "Then let''s not keep it waiting any longer." 207. Ancient Spirit Pool Realm Part 7; Uncertain Thought Meng Lin approached the narrow crevice that led out of the cave and extended her spiritual consciousness, sensing the beast''s presence still lingering outside. It was as massive and menacing as ever, its golden eyes gleam with predatory intent. The creature let out a low growl, its gaze hardening as it noticed Meng Lin''s probing. Meng Lin took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly as countless possibilities ran through her mind, the big question still lingering at the back of her mind. She turned to the Crimson Tortoise Dragon and spoke, "Return to your mark. When I give the signal, you come out" The dragon hesitated for a brief moment, its glowing eyes narrowing as it scanned Meng Lins face. "As you wish, Mistress," it finally said, its voice echoing with a note of caution. The dragon''s serpentine body began to dissolve into a crimson mist, which was quickly absorbed into the intricate mark on Meng Lins forearm. The cave dimmed slightly as the powerful aura of the Crimson Tortoise Dragon receded, leaving Meng Lin standing alone by the glowing pool. She took another deep breath, calming her nerves, and prepared to activate the Formless Cultivation Method. Her body started to shift, becoming smoke as she entered her mist form. The sensation of losing her physical form was always a bit disorienting, but it allowed her to move unnoticed through the smallest of spaces. Meng Lin moved across the narrow crevice where she had initially entered, easily slipping through the rock formation, but just as she passed through the rock wall, a sudden, violent shockwave rippled through the air, sending tremors underfoot. Before she could react, the beast she had not seen for four days suddenly appeared, its enormous golden eyes gleaming with feral intent. It had been able to notice her instantly. Roar!! A sharp, predatory roar echoed through the area, and in the blink of an eye, the beast lunged at her with terrifying speed. Its claws, massive and glinting with a metallic sheen, swiped through the mist that was Meng Lins form. The force of the strike seemed to be imbued with something powerful, it easily dispersed her mist form, sending a shockwave of pain through her mind. Meng Lin barely had time to comprehend what had happened. The beasts attack had not only struck her, but it had also disrupted her mist form, causing her to rematerialize with a jolt. She stumbled sideways, her body solid once more, and stared in shock at the creature before her. It can disrupt my mist form? What was that?!'' Her thoughts raced as she tried to piece together how the beast had attacked her. But there was no time to dwell on it. The beast roared again, its eyes narrowing as it prepared for another attack. Meng Lins heart raised slightly, but she forced herself to remain calm. Her mind flashed through the options she had considered earlier. The Void-State Tablet was her best bet if she wanted to escape, but using it meant she would have to give up on defeating the beast and miss out on the opportunity to test her new abilities. But there was something elsesomething that she had yet to fully explore. The small, dense sphere of Brute Qi within her dantian. It pulsed with a raw, untamed power that had nearly destroyed her before, but now it was under control, contained by an unknown force. If she uses it...''No, not yet'' Roar!! Another roar brought her back to the present, and she saw the beast charging toward her, its eyes locked onto hers. There was no time to hesitate. Meng Lin steeled herself, circulating the Elemental Qi Convergence Method and taking out the Celestial-Thunder Blade. Boom!! With overwhelming weight, pressure descended onto the beast, the Celestial-Thunder Blade in Meng Lins hands glowing with a brilliant aura as she channeled Elemental Qi into the blade, its sharp edge crackling with thunderous energy. The beast, undeterred by the Top Grade weapon, charged forward, its claws extended to strike. But this time, Meng Lin was ready. With a swift motion, she slashed the blade through the air, sending a wave of elemental energy hurtling toward the creature. The energy collided with the beast''s claw causing a deafening explosion that reverberated through the ground. The force of the blast sent shockwaves through the surrounding rocks, violently shaking the ground within several meters beneath Meng Lin''s feet. Roar!!! The beast lunged from the smoke of the explosion, its body slightly scorched. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Meng Lin held her breath as the beast emerged from the smoke, its fury palpable. Despite the Celestial-Thunder Blade''s power, it was clear this ancient creature would not be easily defeated. The slight scorching on its scales only seemed to enrage it further, its golden eyes narrowing as it locked onto Meng Lin with a fierce determination. The ground trembled as the beast lunged again, its massive form casting mirages as it flew toward Meng Lin. She tightened her grip on the Celestial-Thunder Blade, her mind racing for a strategy. Drawing on her Elemental Qi Convergence Method, she willed the surrounding elemental qi to coalesce around her. The air crackled with intensity as the Elemental qi of fire, erosion, and darkness converged, forming a volatile mix. With a sharp exhale, Meng Lin directed the combined elemental qi toward the blade, infusing it with an intense, crackling energy. The beast, sensing the energy shift, hesitated for a brief moment as it finally felt danger, but it was too late. Meng Lin slashed the blade downward, releasing a burst of elemental power that erupted in a brilliant flash of darkness. The ground shook violently as the energy wave collided with the beast, engulfing it in a swirling vortex of pure darkness. For a brief moment, everything seemed to pause. The world around Meng Lin stilled as she looked at the result; it had just crossed her mind to utilize only the most destructive elements for her attacks, and her power output increased exponentially, although her darkness qi seemed to hold much of the power within the attack. Suddenly, with a deafening roar, the swirling vortex of darkness exploded, sending shards of rock and debris flying in all directions. Meng Lin was thrown back by the force of the explosion, her body skidding across the rough terrain. She winced as she felt the sharp sting of cuts and bruises forming on her skin, but she quickly pushed herself back to her feet, her eyes searching through the smoke and debris. The dust began to settle, revealing the form of the beast, now struggling to rise. Its once-imposing figure was more battered, its scales charred more with small cracks forming in its frame. it took a lot more damage Meng Lins mind raced as she considered her options. The offensive elemental qi attack had worked, but the beast''s resilience was beyond anything she had faced before. There was no guarantee that the beast would allow another attack like that to hit it. Meng Lin didn''t let her thoughts run too much as she slashed out with another sword strike of the three offensive elemental qi, with another swirling vortex of darkness heading towards to beast. Suddenly, the earth split open beneath the beast, and from the cracks, massive tendrils of golden energy surged forth, wrapping around the creatures body like a protective cocoon. The swirling vortex of darkness struck the golden cocoon, and rather than an explosion, Meng Lin saw the golden tendrils of energy absorbing the swirling darkness effortlessly. "What!" Meng Lin gasped in disbelief as her swirling vortex of darkness was absorbed by the golden tendrils. The golden cocoon seemed to glow even brighter before shattering to reveal the beast within. The beasts scales, once scorched and cracked from the previous battle, now shimmered with renewed vitality. Its form was unblemished, its golden eyes more intense and burning with a fierce cruelty. Meng Lins breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight. The realization hit, the beasts defensive mechanism had not only shielded it but had also restored its health. Realizing her previous strategies were ineffective, Meng Lin felt a surge of frustration. Her mind raced through possible solutions as she prepared for another attack, understanding that any hesitation could be fatal. ROAR!!! Suddenly, the beast began to undergo a change as massive amounts of Earth and Gold Elemental Qi surrounded its body; the Elemental Qi became corporal and folded around its armored body, slowly turning into a new layer of spiky Golden Armor. Rumble!!, the beast took a step and Meng Lin raised her blade, about to strike. Suddenly a chill ran through her spine as the beast became a blur in her sight, disappearing the next moment, Meng Lin''s eyes widened as she wasted no time, Armor began to appear on her body while she tried to locate the beast''s location. Peng!!! Before Meng Lin could react, she heard a massive noise as her left side was hit by a massive force that sent her flying across the ground, opening up a ravine as blood flew in the air while she continued tumbling across the rough terrain. She came to a stop at a small pond and pain radiated from her left side where the beast''s attack had struck with overwhelming force. As she tried to move, she looked and realized that her left arm and waist had been shredded into mangled flesh by the beast''s attack. Both her Armor and the Immortal Lotus Robe, which had protected her from countless dangers, were useless against a single attack from the beast. Struggling to her feet, Meng Lin''s breath came in ragged gasps of pain as blood dripped from the slashed edges of her robe, and she could feel her strength rapidly draining. Realizing how outmatched she was Meng Lin quickly took out a small golden talisman. With trembling hands, she activated it. A warm, golden light enveloped her, seeping into her torn flesh and mending the grievous injuries. The pain gradually eased as the talismans energy worked to restore her damaged body. Quickly, her wounds began to heal and she wiped the sweat and blood from her brow, her mind racing with strategies to deal with the beast. Despite the healing effect of the talisman, she knew she couldnt afford another direct hit with the creature in its current state. Roar! The beast''s roar reverberated through the air, signaling its approach. Meng Lin''s heart pounded in her chest, and her mind flashed back to the small, dense sphere of Brute Qi within her dantian, and she gritted her teeth. The beast disappeared once more however Meng Lin instead scanned her surroundings, desperately searching for something or someone, she didn''t want to use her Brute Qi however she saw no other ways of defeating this beast. With a deep sigh, Meng Lin focused inward, drawing upon the raw, untamed power of the Brute Qi. She felt it pulse with intensity as it rushed to cover her body. Thump!! The air around her crackled with the force of the Brute Qi as it began to emanate from her body, creating a violent, pulsating aura that twisted the very wind around her. She could feel the power surging through her spiritual veins, heightening her senses and amplifying her strength to an almost unbearable degree. Her eyes turned to her left where the beast, which had been too fast before, became clear in her eyes, its massive claws were raised as it swung across her body, its claws radiating a strange blue light. Meng Lin felt strangely calm as everything appeared to be moving slower, and her thoughts moved fast. She gripped the Celestial-Thunder Blade tightly, and with a slow motion, she slashed at the approaching claw, the top-grade weapon channeling the raw, untamed power of brute qi. The Celestial-Thunder Blade, infused with potent energy, cleaved through the air. As the blade met the beasts claws, rather than an intense clash of power, the blade shimmered red as it slipped through the beast''s claws, causing blood to spurt out. Roar! The beast reeled back from the loss of its claw and the ground opened up underneath it as golden tendrils emerged, wrapping around the beast''s body in an attempt to protect it. The tendrils glowed fiercely, trying to regenerate the beasts damaged claws and armor. Meng Lin''s heart was still calm as she saw the beasts claw re-forming, the golden tendrils working rapidly to heal its injuries. With no time to lose, she drew back her sword and thrust forward, uttering under her breath. "Heavens Punishment". The blade glowed fiercely as it stuck through the air, directed straight at the golden cacoon. Meng Lins Celestial-Thunder Blade surged with overwhelming energy as she executed the Heavens Punishment attack. The blade, now imbued with the raw, untamed power of the Brute Qi, cut through the air, leaving a trail of crackling energy. The golden tendrils surrounding the beasts body seemed to shimmer and pulse, trying to resist the incoming attack. But the sheer force and intensity of Meng Lin''s attack bypassed the golden cacoon and slammed directly into the beast. Roar! The beasts roar turned into a pained bellow as the energy from the Heavens Punishment struck true, creating a massive, gaping hole in its side. The impact of the attack caused the golden tendrils to shatter, and the beast staggered, its mighty form faltering before slowly falling. Meng Lin, despite her fatigue and injuries, stood with a mix of relief and apprehension. Her breath was calm despite the battle. However, her body trembled all over; she was utilizing movement too fast for her body, and it strained her muscles quite a bit. The Brute Qi within her was still pulsing, and she could feel its chaotic power. The Celestial-Thunder Blade, now dimmed and drained, hung heavy in her grasp, its structure holding difficult against the Brute Qi. She approached the fallen beast cautiously, her senses still on high alert. The environment was eerily quiet, with only the distant sound of slowing water from the pond close by. Meng Lin looked around, expecting something else to happen; however, to her surprise, the surroundings stayed the same while she began to question her intuition. After about 10 minutes of nothing happening, Meng Lin let out a sigh of relief and took a moment to catch her breath and assess her condition. As she retracted her Brute Qi, she failed to notice a pair of eyes watching her just a couple of miles away from the battlefield. 208. Ancient Spirit Pool Realm Part 8; Hidden Danger Meng Lin, battered and exhausted, cautiously approached the fallen beast. Its massive, golden-scaled body lay still on the ground, the deep wound she had inflicted with her Celestial-Thunder Blade slowly oozing blood. Despite the beasts apparent defeat, Meng Lins instincts kept her on edge. She didn''t know why, but she felt that the battle was not over. As she drew closer, Meng Lin focused her spiritual consciousness on the creature, probing it. The energy from her Heavens Punishment attack had deeply disrupted the beasts internal flow, yet she could still sense a faint, erratic pulse of vitality. It was still not dead. ''That''s surprising,'' Meng Lin thought. "Hmm?" she noticed a thick black aura coming from the wound of the beast; it was the Darkness Qi from her slash. Just as she prepared to move closer, her senses flared. A cold, piercing presence appeared within her spiritual consciousness, sending a shiver down her spine. She felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her side as a surge of Qi struck one of her spiritual veins, causing her to falter backward as the blade moved down to tear her body apart. ROAR!! Suddenly, a raging inferno engulfed Meng Lin as a draconic head sprang out of her forearm, its gaze a piercing cold ruthlessness as a massive force gathered. Boom!! A defensive explosion of fire erupted. The inferno, a mix of Elemental Qi, expanded outward, creating a tempest of raging flames and blistering heat. The ground beneath Meng Lins feet trembled as the wave of fire surged through the area, incinerating everything in its path. Meng Lin struggled to regain her footing amidst the chaos. The overwhelming heat and energy from the explosion had left her slightly disoriented; however, she didn''t sustain any damage. Through the haze of flames and smoke, she glimpsed the distant silhouette of her attacker. The figure was standing several meters away, unaffected by the sudden explosion. The draconic head that had emerged from Meng Lins forearm slowly retracted, its fierce gaze softening as the inferno subsided. Meng Lins heart pounded in her chest as she got a good look at her attacker. Intriguing, a charming and familiar voice cut through the chaos, as several meters away stood a woman with lazy eyes and an amused smile on her face. "You!?" Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she recognized the woman standing before her. Her familiarity was unsettling; a mix of annoyance and apprehension slowly began to rise within Meng Lin. The woman, draped in a flowing robe that was untouched by the explosion, looked too nonchalant in the current dangerous situation. "Indeed," Wei Wei replied with a lazy smile, her voice dripping with amusement. I must say, your reaction was quite impressive. I didnt expect you to have such... methods. Meng Lin released her spiritual consciousness, only for it to pass through Wei Wei as if she were not there. However, even in the dangerous situation, she forced a smile on her face. So it was you, she said, her voice steady despite the seething pain. You were the one behind the attack. Wei Weis lips curled. I wonder about that. You, on the other hand, have been quite the enigma. Your storage method, your techniquesnone of it was what I anticipated. She took a step closer, extending her left hand, in which she held a small storage bag. Meng Lin narrowed her eyes, her gaze focused on the storage bag in Wei Wei''s hand. Despite her weakened state, she didn''t fluster. So you want something from my storage bag. However, why attack me, and why now? Wei Weis eyes glinted with cold, detached amusement. Stop pretending. You have another storage method. What I want is the jade box." Meng Lins gaze flickered as she contemplated the words the jade box! Meng Lin looked down and sighed. So you think you can waltz in here and take my stuff by force? If you wanted it, you should have come sooner. Wei Weis smile widened slightly, but her eyes remained as icy as ever. Oh, I had my reasons for waiting. And now, as luck would have it, you are right where I need you to be. The Ancient Spirit Pool is the perfect place for a confrontation. Meng Lin took a deep breath, her mind racing as she assessed the situation. She was still on edge from the battle with the beast, and her Qi reserves had dwindled significantly. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Her eyes flicked suddenly as she said, "I didn''t notice before because of my realm, but your aura, Meng Lin said, struggling to keep her voice steady, it feels... off. Are you hiding something? Wei Weis gaze flicked to Meng Lins, her smile faltering for a split second before regaining its earlier charm. "Youre perceptive. But lets focus on the here and now, shall we? She raised her right arm and gathered a swirling mass of golden Qi into a spear. Her aura, which had been restrained, surged; her late-stage Soul Wondering Realm power erupted with a force that made the air around them tremble. The golden Qi coiled around her spear like a serpent ready to strike, and the ground beneath her feet cracked under the pressure. In an instant, Wei Weis figure vanished from sight. Meng Lins eyes darted around, her senses on high alert as she activated her Brute Qi. Before she could react, Wei Wei reappeared directly in front of her, the spear aimed straight at her chest. Peng!! The spear struck with explosive force, sending Meng Lin crashing backward. Her Brute Qi flared, barely holding together as the impact shattered her defenses. The shockwave of the attack reverberated through her body, making her gasp in pain. Without missing a beat, Wei Wei reappeared to Meng Lins left, her movements smooth and almost imperceptible. She thrust again, the spear slicing through the air with ease. "Ah!" Meng Lin twisted her body, but the spears edge grazed her left side, ripping through the Immortal Lotus Robe like butter and causing her to cry out in pain. Wei Weis and eyes narrowed. Youve got some fight in you; Ill give you that. With a swift flick, she gathered her spears energy in the air before disappearing before Meng Lin once more. Meng Lins senses were stretched thin and she sensed the shift in the air. With a burst of energy, she twisted around and unleashed a wave of Darkness Qi all around. The shadows swirled and mixed around her as she tried to create an area of effect that would make it harder for Wei Wei to appear freely. Wei Wei''s figure appeared within the vortex of shadows, her movements slowed with slight confusion. Clever, she remarked before she began to spread her spiritual consciousness. However, to her surprise, it could not make sense of her surroundings; it was as if it were not registering the surrounding space. Suddenly, she felt the ground wiggle as her legs began to submerge into the shifting shadows beneath her feet. Her spear faltered momentarily as she fought to keep her balance. Her eyes widened in brief surprise. Another Variant Elemental Qi," she said as she recognized the different Elemental Qi at play. "Hump," she snorted, took a deep breath, and expelled a wave of brilliant golden light from her body, dispersing the shadowy darkness around her. The surrounding darkness began to fade as Wei Wei began to see clearly once more. The sight that greeted her made her form an amused smile. Meng Lin appeared behind the fading darkness, her blade shimmering with a threatening chaotic aura. A small crack appeared on her blade, and she unloaded her attack. "Heavens Punishment!" Meng Lin''s voice rang out as she thrust forward with all her remaining Brute Qi. Wei Weis lips curled into a condescending smile as the darkness receded, revealing Meng Lins imminent attack. She smiled further as she used her ability, teleporting away from the attack. As Wei Weis figure flickered and vanished to appear a few meters away from Meng Lin, her smiling face suddenly took on a perplexed look as she felt energy surge toward her from out of nowhere. Before she could react, a blinding flash of light enveloped the area. In an instant, the blinding light pierced through her abdomen, leaving a wide, jagged hole in her stomach. The force of the impact sent her crashing to the ground, her golden spear falling from her grasp. Meng Lin, utilizing her last bit of energy, stood with her breathing calm. She watched as Wei Wei struggled on the ground, her body shaking in a pool of blood. You are too overconfident, Meng Lin said, her voice strained. And now, you face the consequences. Wei Wei tried to raise her head, her face pale and breath ragged. "Hehe, me overconfident," she gasped, her voice weak, she looked towards the sky and said. "You... That was her last bit of energy this is where she dies, right, my double?" "Yes," another voice called out, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the area. Suddenly, Wei Wei''s body glowed with an intense crackling golden light before bursting out in splendor. As the blinding light faded, a figure emerged, draped in a deep azure robe that shimmered subtly. Her long, white hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes, sharp and calculating, betrayed no emotion, while Meng Lins heart sank as she recognized the elderly face. "Senior Sister Liu...?" Meng Lins voice trembled slightly. Senior Sister Lius lips curled into a faint smile. Yes, Meng Lin. It seems youve finally caught on. Meng Lin looked at the figure for a moment before her gaze turned cold, her hands trembling as she gripped her weapon tighter. You finally show yourself." Senior Sister Liu tilted her head, seemingly surprised by Meng Lins lack of shock. Youre not as surprised as I anticipated. I assumed the revelation would shake you more. Meng Lins eyes narrowed. You were careful, so very careful to make me come up with the idea of leaving the sect on my own accord." Senior Sister Liu''s eyes gleamed with a touch of amusement. Ah, have you pieced something together?" Meng Lins gaze grew colder. What was the reason Wei Wei threatened me right before the pagodas, right under the gazes of the Spiritual Imprints?, what was the reason the Blue Feather Bird left your villa to answer my questions in that manner, and what was the reason you told me that it might be possible for someone to be keeping an eye on me the moment I stepped outside my villa?" Meng Lin took a step forward, her eyes locked on Senior Sister Liu as she explained. "I didn''t know the answers as to why all that happened, but I did know the feelings that I felt when I was in each of those situations." Senior Sister Lius eyes grew colder, her amusement slightly diminishing. She took a slow breath, her expression now unreadable. It seems youve connected all the dots. However, it doesnt change the outcome, this is where your journey ends" Meng Lin''s body pulsed with a red light as her eyes held a sharp ruthless light. You may have orchestrated every detail, but I still have one last move to make." 209. Ancient Spirit Pool Realm Part 9; Formless Cultivation Method Third Form Meng Lins body pulsed with a fierce red glow as her aura surged, causing a palpable pressure to envelop the area. The ground beneath her trembled, and the very air seemed to vibrate with the intensity of her energy. Her hair lengthened and flowed around her like a fiery halo, shimmering with an intense crimson hue that reflected the power she wielded. Her face contorted in slight pain while her youthful appearance matured slightly; her eyes now held a cold and resolute look. Senior Sister Liu''s eyes narrowed slightly, her calm demeanor unshaken despite the power display. "One of the techniques from the Jade Library," she mused, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "Yes," Meng Lin answered, her body suddenly experiencing an explosive burst, her aura erupting outward, sending a wave of intense heat and pressure through the area. The very air around her crackled with energy as all her Elemental Qi swirled into a storm around her. The effects of the Vital Essence Exchange Technique took hold as her Qi began to replenish, drawing upon her blood essence at the cost of her Life Force. Her full-powered aura filled the area, vibrating with the force of her revitalized power. Senior Sister Liu smiled slightly. "Impressive. I didnt expect you to push yourself this far." Senior Sister Liu remained composed, though her eyes watched Meng Lin with cold calculation. "Even with that technique, do you truly believe you can defeat me?" Meng Lin didn''t respond immediately. Instead, her blade shimmered as she took a slow, deliberate step forward, her aura pulsating ominously. Her Qi began to turn to mist, taking shape into a small gray cloud around her. Shaking her head, the aura around Senior Sister Liu changed, her sharp gaze turning ruthless as a colossal amount of Qi began to permeate the air. Boom!! Meng Lin felt a sickening feeling as if the very atmosphere was being squeezed and compressed by the force of Senior Sister Lius energy, even the Peak Stage Rank 4 beasts hadn''t make her feel like that. ''So this is the power of a Peak Stage Soul Wondering Cultivator'' Meng Lin thought with a weird expression, she could feel that Senior Sister Liu still has hidden strength left. With a flick of her wrist, Senior Sister Liu manifested a dazzling golden palm a dozen meters wide. The palm radiated with an intense, oppressive force, its surface shimmering with intricate golden runes that pulsed with even more power. Meng Lin''s eyes widened as the golden palm surged forward with unstoppable momentum. The ground cracked beneath the air pressure as the massive hand approached with devastating speed. Her gaze hardened as the golden palm neared, the pressure and force of the attack almost tangible. Without hesitation, she began circulating the Formless Cultivation Method to the maximum, the mist around her bursting out as she focused her energy on the incoming threat. As the golden palm closed in, Meng Lin''s mist surrounded it, causing it to shimmer with bright light and slowly dissolve. The immense, oppressive force of the palm was quickly rendered ineffective as the palm''s intricate golden runes flickered out of existence, the golden palm itself dissipating into nothingness, leaving only a faint ripple in the air. The ground where the golden palm was about to strike was left untouched, save for the massive crater left by the failed attack. The air around Meng Lin was clear, the attacks force having been wiped completely. Senior Sister Liu''s expression quickly changed, a small frown appearing on her face. She looked at her now empty hand, the golden hand that she had manifested vanishing as if it had never been there. Meng Lin emerged from the dissipated energy, her form pristine and unaffected. Her aura continued to glow with the red light from the Vital Essence Exchange Technique, her eyes locked onto Senior Sister Liu, who was now visibly perturbed by the situation. Senior Sister Liu''s expression hardened as she drew a slender, golden sword from out of nowhere. The blade glimmered with an aura of intense sharpness as it crackled with energy. Meng Lin''s gaze followed the sword''s movement, recognizing it as a top-grade weapon. Senior Sister Liu''s body suddenly disappeared, teleporting right before the eyes of Meng Lin, who began to spread her mist all over the area, as if anticipating her attack. Slash! Crack!! Blood was splattered as Meng Lin felt a large amount of pain in her back, the mist around her jolting at the sudden appearance of the figure within it. "Oh!" Accompanied by the sound of a crack forming on her blade, Senior Sister Liu appeared with slight surprise in her eyes as she quickly disappeared once more, before appearing a few dozen meters away behind Meng Lin. With an intrigued expression, she raised her golden sword to examine it, noticing a small crack had appeared on the structure of the blade. ''What is this?'' she thought. She didn''t understand how a top-grade weapon could suddenly crack just from slashing Meng Lin. Looking back at Meng Lin, her expression hardened as she saw Meng Lin turn with a smile, despite the sudden and unexpected attack. The slash from the golden sword had struck Meng Lins back, but the impact seemed to have only grazed her, leaving her with a faint crimson line of blood running down her back. Senior Sister Lius eyes flickered with both confusion and curiosity. She knew the might of a top-grade weapon; even Nascent Soul Cultivators would be afraid of a full-powered attack by a top-grade weapon. Yet here it had cracked after a single successful strike against the enemy, and why was Meng Lin not injured further. Meng Lin, with her aura still blazing brightly, took a moment to let her energy settle, allowing her vitality and strength to synchronize with the lingering effects of the Vital Essence Exchange Technique. Despite the pain from the wound on her back, her focus remained intact. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. She suddenly dashed forward towards Senior Sister Liu, her speed doubled by the boost from her Vital Essence Exchange Technique. The ground beneath her seemed to ripple as she moved, her body a crimson blur that streaked through the battlefield. Senior Sister Lius gaze shifted from curiosity to wariness as she observed Meng Lin''s sudden acceleration. The crack in her sword was a troubling sign, and the sight of Meng Lin charging at her without hesitation caused a flicker of concern in her eyes. Instinctively, Senior Sister Liu opened her mouth and spat out a small golden bell while channeling her Qi to reinforce her sword. Meng Lin closed the distance in the blink of an eye, her sword slashing forward as she circulated the Formless Cultivation Method to the maximum. Senior Sister Liu''s expression tightened as she met Meng Lin''s attack with her sword, noticing the large amount of mist coating the aura of her blade. Boom!! Her blade collided with Meng Lin''s, and the impact reverberated through the air, creating a shockwave that sent debris flying. The golden sword, despite being reinforced by Senior Sister Liu, showed more cracks on its blade, the golden aura surrounding the blade dissolving as the blade came into contact with Meng Lin''s. Quickly taking action, Senior Sister Liu teleported further away before calling out to her golden bell, which began to grow in size. Rumble!!! The golden bell expanded rapidly, its size increasing until it towered over Meng Lin like a mountain. It emitted a deafening clang as it materialized fully, sending out shockwaves that shook the surrounding space. Meng Lins gaze remained unchanged as the bell descended, its weight and force threatening to crush her beneath its overwhelming power. She could feel the intense pressure bearing down on her, making every breath a struggle. However, her aura flared fiercely, her mist converging towards her hand as she raised it to intercept the bell. The moment the bells surface touched her hand, it let out a thunderous crash, and Meng Lin felt an intense vibration ripple through her body, almost overwhelming her senses. Crack!! Suddenly, cracks began to appear on the bell from where Meng Lin touched it, quickly spreading before the bell began to dissolve away as if it was melting into the air. The immense force that had previously pressed down on Meng Lin started to dissipate, the bells energy unraveling and breaking apart. Meng Lin gritted her teeth as the golden bells pressure eased. The cracks on the bell expanded rapidly, causing it to lose its form and disintegrate into shimmering golden particles. Senior Sister Lius eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Her once confident demeanor faltered as she watched the remnants of her powerful weapon dissolve. She hadnt anticipated that Meng Lin could neutralize such a top-grade artifact in an instant. Impossible! What technique is that? Senior Sister Liu''s voice trembled with a mix of frustration and amazement. She stared at Meng Lin, whose aura was still blazing brightly, despite the toll of the action. Meng Lin, panting heavily, focused on her opponent. Her Vital Essence Exchange Technique had pushed her to the limit, but she could not continue using the technique; otherwise, it would do more harm than good. Seeing the bell''s destruction, Senior Sister Liu quickly recalculated her strategy. She gathered a large amount of Qi and, with a flick of her wrist, summoned a swirling vortex of golden energy. The energy coalesced into a series of sharp, golden projectiles that surged toward Meng Lin with deadly speed. Meng Lins eyes sharpened as she sensed the incoming attack. She once again utilized the Formless Cultivation Method to the maximum, activating the third form againForm Nullification. As the projectiles approached, Meng Lins aura surged, the mist spreading and touching the golden projectiles, which began to shimmer and dissolve into nothingness before they could reach her. Senior Sister Liu, seeing her attack thwarted, didn''t show much reaction as she took a deep breath, her expression darkening while she began to channel her Qi into a series of rapid, intricate hand seals, her energy flaring around her with intensity. Meng Lin, not recognizing the danger of the hand signs, focused all her remaining energy on maintaining the third form of the Formless Cultivation Method. No matter the attack, as soon as they approached her, their form would break down and get nullified, thus her absolute protection. Rumble!! As Senior Sister Liu completed her hand seals, the space around her distorted, and the air vibrated under the pressure. Above her, a massive golden sigil materialized, pulsating with a dark, ominous energy. The sigil began to descend slowly, merging with Senior Sister Lius body causing her aura to spike, and her cultivation to surge toward a bottleneck as a vast power flooded her veins. Her once-aged face began to changewrinkles smoothing out, her features becoming sharper and more refined, her white hair darkening to a lustrous black, and her skin glowing with a youthful radiance. Within moments, Senior Sister Liu had transformed into a breathtakingly beautiful figure, her appearance now youthful, vibrant, and mesmerizing, as if she had turned back the hands of time. Meng Lin stared with a frown as Senior Sister Liu underwent such a drastic transformation. The aura around her had intensified to a suffocating degree, and a palpable energy radiated from her like a star on the verge of exploding. "Impressive, isnt it?" Senior Sister Lius voice rang out, now smooth and melodic, filled with melancholy. "This is the power of the Golden Sigila secret sect inheritance from the Jade Library that grants me a temporary boost in strength. Now you are witnessing a Half Step Nascent Soul Cultivator." Meng Lin clenched her hand on her sword, feeling an overwhelming weight pressing down on her. Even with the protection from the mist of the Formless Cultivation Method, her body trembled from the pressure exuded. Senior Sister Lius lips curled into a cold smile. You fought well, but this is where it ends. With a wave of her hand, an invisible force lashed out, gripping Meng Lin by the neck and lifting her off the ground. Meng Lin struggled to breathe as she felt her throat constricted. Panic surged through her veins as her vision blurred, the world around her becoming dim as she felt a force begin to invade her head, causing her spiritual consciousness to be released unconsciously, disrupting the invading force. "Oh!" Senior Sister Liu raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden resistance. "Youre still struggling? How interesting." Her grip tightened, and the invisible force around Meng Lin''s neck increased. However, no matter how much force she used, Senior Sister Liu wasn''t able to bypass the protection of Meng Lin''s spiritual consciousness. And so, with annoyance, she said, "If I can''t get to your head, then your soul will do," her now youthful and flawless face radiating both beauty and cruelty as she raised her hand, fingers twisting in a complex motion as a surge of golden energy enveloped her hand, which shot toward Meng Lin''s stomach, targeting her dantian. A searing pain ripped through Meng Lins body as she felt her dantian pierced and her soul forcibly pulled from her body as if it were being yanked by invisible claws. Her vision dimmed, and the world around her faded into a dark void. It felt as though her very existence was unraveling, each fragment being peeled away as she was eventually left with a feeling of nothingness. Senior Sister Liu grinned, watching Meng Lin''s soul from the sphere held within her hand. "Lets see what secrets youve been hiding." Just as she prepared to delve into Meng Lin''s soul, Meng Lin''s eyes shot openher soul flickering with instability. She couldn''t feel any Qi within her; however, she felt another source of energy, a soul force, which she directed towards the sphere around her soul, causing Senior Sister Liu to be startled momentarily. BOOM!!! In an instant, the sphere erupted in a brilliant, blinding explosion of red and gold light, the violent surge of energy tearing through the air. The shockwave sent Senior Sister Liu tumbling back, her protective Qi barely holding as the force of the explosion shattered everything around them. The wind blew over the area and the dust settled, only silence filled the battlefield, Meng Lin''s body was gone, obliterated by the explosion. All that remained was the faint, dissipating remnants of her Qi, scattered like ashes in the wind. Senior Sister Liu slowly stood up, her beautiful face now marred with anger and shock. She hadnt anticipated such an end. Meng Lin had chosen to die rather than allow her soul to be searched. 210. Ancient Spirit Pool Realm Part 10; Resurrection Senior Sister Liu walked toward the site where Meng Lin''s body had been obliterated by the explosion, her steps heavy and her thoughts a mix. She couldn''t understand how Meng Lin would just blow herself up like, not unless she had something to rely on, because no cultivator would willingly do that unless they had been through thousands of years of experience, and this Junior Sister of hers seemed inexperienced in that regard. This led her to think that there had to be something else at play, and so she had to investigate. As she neared the edge of the crater, her eyes were suddenly drawn to a pristine white robe lying on the ground. Despite its torn fabric, the robe pulsed with intense energy, absorbing the surrounding qi to mend its fabric. "What is this?" Senior Sister Liu muttered, her voice tinged with curious suspicion. She had seen many items and weapons in her time, and this robeits aura reminded her of one of the primal lotuses. Could this be crafted from something related to the Immortal Lotus? For it to endure such a massive explosion and remain intact? Senior Sister Lius mind reeled with the implications; she couldn''t help but reevaluate this Junior Sister Meng. Suddenly, the air shifted with an unsettling tremor, and from where Meng Lin''s soul had exploded, a mysterious figure emerged from nowhere. The figure was an old woman with silver hair that fell to her shoulders like a waterfall. She was wrapped in a mystical robe that seemed to bend the space around her. Her eyes, deep and weary, looked into the sky with a mixture of sadness and worry. Without a word, the old woman turned her gaze to Senior Sister Liu. Her presence exuded immense power that seemed to warp the space around her. Who Senior Sister Liu started, but her question was cut short as the old woman raised a finger. I hate those who betray their own kind, the old womans voice was soft, but it carried a weight that seemed to press down on the very air. Before Senior Sister Liu could react, the old woman''s raised finger released a wave of energy that surged forth, her voice resonating with ancient power. Although it''s a waste, I only eliminate you because you have seen me. Vanish! A mystical beam of light shot from her outstretched finger, striking Senior Sister Liu directly. The force of the attack was so intense that Senior Sister Liu''s form was obliterated instantly, her scream echoing through the crater before fading into silence. "Oh, quite the interesting physique she has," the old woman commented on the obliterated figure as she held a knowing smile. She shook her head and turned to the sky again, her face etched with concern. Her eyes narrowed, seemingly worried about something. In that moment, a small amulet materialized in the air before her. The old womans eyes flashed with recognition. Without hesitation, she moved toward the amulet, and a sphere of light coalesced around her. As the sphere formed, it began to pulse gently, casting a warm glow as her form turned into a small ball of light that shot into the amulet. Within moments, the amulet was enveloped in the ball of light, its figure vanishing, replaced by the sudden appearance of the destroyed core that surrounded Meng Lin''s soul. **** Far across the continent, at the borders of the God Blood Sea, an old man, Father Emperor, held a stern and weathered expression as he floated in the sky, his eyes a shade of mystical colors as he looked into the sea, seemingly gazing through it. Above the God Blood Sea was a storm of intensely churning clouds and crackling lightning, a sign of the large amount of energy that thrummed through the air. Father Emperor exuded an oppressive force that focused on the sea. As his mystical-colored eyes scanned the tumultuous God Blood Sea, his expression shifted momentarily, revealing a flicker of concern as he noticed an intricate weave of elemental energies converging somewhere within the seas depths. With a swift motion, he extended his hand, and the clouds and blood water parted, revealing an intricate array of ancient formations 30 miles in length, glowing faintly beneath the surface. So that''s where you hid, Father Emperor murmured, his voice a low rumble that resonated with ancient power. The Eclipse Serpent Formation, why is something like this here?" Father Emperor''s gaze narrowed as he took in the sight of the Eclipse Serpent Formation, its complex patterns of light and shadow swirling in enigmatic patterns beneath the sea''s surface. The formation seemed to pulse with a life of its own, drawing on the raw energy of the sea to maintain its integrity. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "I wonder if..." Suddenly, a fluctuation in the air caught Father Emperors attention. Father Emperors eyes sharpened as he detected a significant fluctuation of primal energy in the air, signaling a powerful presence comparable to his own. His gaze shifted from the Eclipse Serpent Formation to the source of the disturbance further into the continent, and his mystical eyes revealed an ethereal, shifting light that pierced through space to show him the location of the fluctuation. Without further hesitation, Father Emperor''s form dissolved into a swirl of energies, merging seamlessly with the air as he moved toward the fluctuation. **** Meng Lin felt a jolt in her consciousness as she experienced a pulsating feeling in her mind; her awareness sharpened as she strained to understand it. It felt familiarlike the beating of a heart. It was faint, far away, yet with each pulse, it grew louder and stronger, as if pulling her toward something. Then came the pain. It was slow at first, like a dull ache, but it quickly escalated into something fierce, something raw. Her chest felt tight, her limbs heavy, her very soul stretched and twisted by invisible hands. And then, like a rush of cold water, she felt ither soul. Her senses exploded all at once, an overwhelming flood of sensation. She gasped, her lungs burning as air filled them, her body jolting awake as if dragged from the brink of death. She could feel againthe weight of her body, the earth beneath her back and the heat of the sun above her, the sound of her own breath were ragged and heavy in her ears and her eyelids trembled. Her eyes fluttered open, blinding light pouring in from above. It took a moment for her vision to clear, but as it did, she saw the clear sky, the faint glow of the sun flickering overhead. Realization hit her like a shockwave, leaving her disoriented. The last thing she remembered was Senior Sister Liu''s golden hand, the tightening grip on her throat, the sensation of her soul being ripped from her dantian; she should be gone, yet here she was, lying on the cold ground, her body aching but whole. Forcing herself to sit up, Meng Lin took in her surroundings. She was in the middle of a desolate field, the jagged remnants of a battle scattered around her. The earth was scorched, torn apart by powerful forces, scores of dust and debris standing like eerie monuments, and the remnants of her qi still clung faintly to the air, dissipating slowly. Her hand instinctively reached for her stomach, experiencing the cool sensation of her touch on her Dantian. The spot where Senior Sister Liu had struck felt hollow, a strange emptiness there, but now she could feel her soul. Faint, flickering, but present. Her spiritual energy was weak, barely a whisper compared to what it had been, but it hadnt been destroyed. It seemed that the Soul Bound Amulet of Resurrection had protected her. Meng Lin closed her eyes, focusing inward, trying to sense the flow of her Qi in her dantian. To her surprise, she felt a strange energy within her soul, the same foreign energy she had controlled when she had suddenly exploded her soul. Soul energy, it was entwined with her soul, and next to it, she felt a small foreign consciousness that was ancient, heavy, and pulsating with power. It wasnt hers. Then, a voice echoed in her mind. "You should have died." Meng Lins eyes snapped open, her heart racing. She wasnt startled, though; she knew this voice. Master? she whispered into the silence, her breath catching in her throat. It was the voice of Li Ya, her master. "You pushed yourself too far," Li Ya''s voice resonated in her mind, calm and regal. "But you are alive, for now." Meng Lins chest tightened at memories of her interaction with her elderly master. Master, why are you in my soul core?" A soft sigh echoed in her consciousness. "It was the only place I could be to avoid detection from others, although now I wouldn''t be so sure." "What do you mean?" Li Ya''s voice came through, filled with an undercurrent of urgency. "My disciple, my primal energy fluctuation was revealed when your soul core was breached. Anyone in the Ascension Realm and above could sense it. We need to be cautious; there are powerful beings aware of my presence now." Meng Lin''s mind raced with the implications. "What should I do now?" "Do not worry. Now that I am back in your soul core, it will be impossible for anyone to detect me, unless they delve into your soul core, which would be the same as attacking you," Li Ya said. "However, we are not out of danger yet. For now, you should just find a place to recuperate." "Um, Master, have you been watching me all this time?" Meng Lin asked, a note of worry in her voice. Li Yas tone softened, though it still carried an air of gravity. "Not exactly. The technique I used to hide my presence causes me to enter a dormant state within your soul core. I only awaken when your life is in severe danger. I do not see everything that you experience; otherwise, I would have been easily able to warn you about that Senior Sister of yours." Meng Lin''s concern deepened. "Then you didn''t see everything that happened?" Li Yas response was calm but firm. "I sense the critical moments, but my awareness is limited." Meng Lin took a deep breath, feeling a mix of relief and understanding. She looked around at the desolate field, the remnants of the battle, and the scattered debris. A gust of wind blew by, and Meng Lin suddenly realized that she wasn''t wearing anything; her body had been obliterated in the explosion, so she was resurrected in flesh only. A flush of embarrassment colored her cheeks as she quickly looked around for something to cover herself. Then, she quickly released her spiritual consciousness, scanning the area and making sure there were no witnesses. Within her spiritual consciousness, she quickly found her Immortal Lotus Robe; she spotted it at the edge of the crater, still pulsating with energy, slowly repairing itself. She rose to her feet, wincing as her sore muscles protested the movement, and made her way over to the robe. As she picked it up, she felt the immense power contained within it, like a reservoir of energy waiting to be tapped. She quickly used her Qi to tidy herself up before bringing out some undergarments from her inventory and wearing everything, with the comforting robe supplying her with Qi as it wrapped around her. With the important matter addressed, Meng Lin looked through her spiritual consciousness, noticing how even the Peak Rank 4 beast had disappeared, presumably due to the explosion of her soul. She also noticed a pond a few hundred meters away, the same pond she had seen amidst her battle with the Peak Rank 4 beast. Although the energy within the pond seemed to have diminished by half since then, she still recognized the large amount of Elemental Qi held within. After slowly walking toward the pond for a few minutes, Meng Lin arrived at the pond to the sensation of two different elemental energies in the air. The air around the pond shimmered with power, the mingling of Gold and Fire creating a radiant heat that pulsed against her skin. Standing at the edge of the pond, Meng Lin extended her hand, feeling the waves of qi emanating from the surface. The elemental energies were potent yet stable. She could sense their inherent conflict, the sharpness of Gold clashing with the wild, consuming nature of Fire. But even so, they held a delicate balance. After giving instructions to the crimson tortoise dragon, Meng Lin sat cross-legged, closing her eyes and allowing herself to slip into a meditative state. Her breath steadied as she focused inward, letting the remnants of her qi circulate through her body. Slowly, she extended her spiritual consciousness toward the pond, scanning for anything before extending her qi into the pond. The moment her qi touched the water, a surge of energy rushed toward her, intense and overwhelming. Her body tensed, but she quickly adjusted, letting the Elemental Qi flow into her. The Gold energy was more intense, while the Fire was controlled as it touched her qi, recognizing the fire elemental qi within her. Meng Lin had not been in that position for long when she felt a small tremor run through the ground, and the water of the pond rippled as if disturbed by an unseen force. Meng Lins eyes snapped open, her senses alert. The tremor was faint but persistent, hinting at a larger disturbance. Rumble!! Suddenly the tremors intensified, and Meng Lin felt the whole ground shaking as if an earthquake was affecting the entire realm. She quickly rose and looked toward the sky, where she saw five colossal pillars of several dozen miles stretching out from a fractured space in the sky, blocking out the sun. Crack!! Meng Lin''s eyes widened in pure shock and terror as the five pillars of several dozen miles slowly began to bend, their massive forms taking on the shape of five colossal fingers that seemed to be ripping apart the sky. 211. The Palace Master Strikes **Pavilion Mountain** Within the first villa of Pavilion Mountain, a golden light suddenly burst forth. A small blue bird shot out from the barrier of the villa, its form glowing brightly as it flew high into the sky. Mid-flight, the bird shimmered a bright gold before bursting into a cloud of gold to reveal the figure of none other than Senior Sister Liu. Clutching her chest and coughing up blood, Senior Sister Liu''s eyes were full of hatred as she floated in the sky, her face pale. "Damn that woman!" she hissed, wiping the blood from her lips. Her eyes were filled with fury and frustration. "Just who was that, and Meng Lin, could she have survived that? No, no one would be able to make it out of that explosion." She slowly floated down while contemplating, "And that robe no ordinary item could endure that level of destruction." Suddenly, her attention shifted to large ripples in the air, sensing a huge familiar energy flying across the sect. With a confused expression, she looked to the sky, wondering what was going on. She extended her spiritual consciousness and saw the sect master flying in a directionthe location of the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm. She found no immediate connection to the old woman she had encountered earlier, but she quickly retracted her senses, unwilling to take any risks. She turned and entered her villa, the frustration in her chest only growing. "Meng Lin, just where is the jade box?" *** Back within the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm, the crack in the sky widened, tearing the heavens apart as a colossal hand opened the sky into a slit, causing a deafening sound that reverberated through the entire realm. From the darkness beyond the crack, Meng Lin strained her eyes to see the faint silhouette of an old man stepping through the colossal chasm. The old man floated effortlessly in the air, his long, white hair flowing behind him. His eyes, glowing with a myriad of colors, swept across the realm with an unsettling gentleness. His gaze was both distant and penetrating, as though he could see beyond the surface of things, into the very soul of the realm itself. Suddenly, the old man flicked his hand, and the atmosphere shifted. A powerful force erupted from him, sweeping across the realm like a tidal wave. Meng Lin felt it immediately. "Ah!" Her body was yanked upward with such force that she could barely breathe, her qi resisting in a futile attempt to stabilize herself against the overwhelming pull. A rush of air struck her, the very sky compressing and stretching as she was pulled with relentless speed. The world around her blurred into streaks of color, and her senses struggled to keep up with the sudden acceleration. She focused, and at the last second, finally saw her destinationthe old man''s figure becoming clearer and clearer, causing her heart to skip a beat in shock. The distance between her and the old man collapsed in moments, and she stopped mere meters away from him, suspended mid-air. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of panic and awe as she felt the weight of his presence. The very air around him bent and warped under his overwhelming power. Meng Lin recognized him immediatelythe figure her master had spoken of in caution. He was not just any cultivator, but a being far beyond ordinary understanding. "You''re all here," the old man said, his voice calm yet filled with authority. His eyes flicked across the gathered disciples of Pavilion Mountain. Meng Lin''s eyes widened as she realized she wasnt the only one. All around her, the disciples were suspended in the air, caught in the same overwhelming force. The old man''s gaze swept over them, and a heavy pressure descended upon the disciples. Some lowered their heads, nervous under his scrutinizing eyes. Father Emperor''s gaze moved among them, his presence commanding as he studied each of them, but there was nothingno trace of the primal energy fluctuation among the disciples. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He frowned, his disappointment evident. "It seems I was too late," he murmured. "However," his eyes landed on one disciple in particularMeng Lin. His sharp gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than the others, something about her countenance stirring a flicker of recognition. The sensation was fleeting, but it was enough to make him pause. "What is your name?" he asked, his voice carrying a weight that silenced the air around him. Meng Lin looked up, startled by the elders attention. Her mind raced, but she kept her composure, bowing respectfully. "I am Meng Lin, Elder," she answered, her tone humble but steady. Father Emperors eyes narrowed slightly, but after a moment, he shook his head and dismissed the thought. "Hmph. No matter," he muttered, turning his back to the disciples, looking in a peculiar direction. Suddenly, the space around them trembled. From thin air, a figure appeared, exuding a majestic presenceSect Master Tian arrived, his robes fluttering, his gaze steady but tense as he looked at the old man. "Huan Tian," the old man spoke, his voice carrying a weight that seemed to suppress the very atmosphere. "It has been a long time." Sect Master Tian immediately cupped his hands and bowed respectfully. "Palace Master," he greeted, his tone deferential. "I did not expect your arrival in the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm. To what do we owe the honor?" The old man''s expression remained impassive, but a faint smile tugged at his lips. "I sensed something unusual," he said, his voice echoing like thunder. "So I came to see for myself. And here you are, as well." Sect Master Tian kept his posture straight, but a subtle tension ran through him. "This realm is under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Pavilion; they did not inform me of your visit, Palace Master." The old man''s eyes narrowed slightly, the glow in them intensifying. "Inform?" he repeated, his voice turning cold. "Do you presume to tell me where I can and cannot go, Tian?" Sect Master Tians expression tightened, but his tone remained respectful. "I would never dare, Palace Master. But the Immortal Pavilion has established certain rules for the safety of our realm. Even someone of your stature should respect that." For a moment, silence fell over the realm, the pressure from the old man increasing subtly. The disciples held their breaths, sensing the growing tension between the two. Then, the old man laughed softly. "I shall not argue with you, kid. If they are unsatisfied with my conduct, then they can confront me themselves." Sect Master Tian sighed and stayed quiet while the old man''s eyes, shimmering with a myriad of colors, swept over the disciples before him and he spoke in a voice that resonated with authority. "You," he said, gesturing for Meng Lin. "Step forward." Meng Lin''s heart raced as she felt the intense weight of the old man''s gaze fall upon her. Her thoughts went back to her master, and she worried. She floated forward, noticing the old man''s eyes raised slightly as she approached. His gaze shifted away from Meng Lin, moving to the other disciples. He examined each one with the same meticulous scrutiny and called out once more, "And you." "Huh?" Within the crowd, Ruan Lee''s heart skipped a beat as he felt the old man''s gaze stop on him. Shock rippled through the crowd as the disciples exchanged glances. Ruan Lee, with his weaker cultivation baseonly at the early stage of the Gold Core Realmwas the last person anyone expected to be called forward. Even Sect Master Tian raised an eyebrow in surprise, although he easily saw that Ruan Lee was able to fight beyond his realm, but half of the other disciples here were able to do the same. He glanced at the old man, clearly confused by the choice. "Me?" Ruan Lee muttered under his breath, unsure whether he should feel honored or anxious. His eyes darted nervously toward Meng Lin, who remained calm but slightly surprised. "Yes, you," the old man confirmed, his tone as unyielding as stone. "Step forward." Ruan Lee took a deep breath and floated forward with wobbly legs; he tried to keep his composure. The old man chuckled slightly and opened his mouth before pausing with a serious expression, his multicolored eyes flickering as he gazed toward a certain direction, speaking in a low ramble, Trying to escape as we..." Without another word, he turned to Sect Master Tian, his gaze commanding. Ill be taking these two with me, he said, motioning towards Meng Lin and Ruan Lee. Sect Master Tian sighed and nodded in reluctant acceptance. He knew the old man would not take no for an answer. In an instant, Meng Lin felt an overwhelming force envelop her. Space seemed to wrap around her, pulling her into a familiar yet strangely calming sensation. Her surroundings blurred and shifted, as if the world itself had been slowed down, twisting and warping in front of her eyes. She could barely comprehend what was happening. Ruan Lee experienced the same, his weaker cultivation base making the sensation even more disorienting. His heartbeat quickened, panic rising as he tried to stabilize his breathing. The scene around them continued to shift, with colors blending together as they traversed through space. It felt like moments stretched into hours, but in reality, only a few seconds had passed. As the distorted world finally began to settle, Meng Lin found herself floating in a vast, unfamiliar expanse of sky. Her heart pounded in her chest. Next to her, Ruan Lee struggled to steady himself, his expression a mixture of fear and awe. Meng Lin wondered why the old man suddenly teleported them when she suddenly noticed something below. Looking down, Meng Lin''s eyes widened as she saw a familiar presence wreaking havoc in the space below. Her body tensed as the sight of a massive creature roaming on an island two miles long, with golden eyes, dark, jagged spikes jutted from its back, and a hulking form that nearly reached 50 meters in length. Meng Lin was shocked to see that it was the monstrous beast that she encountered within the dead zone of the Nether Cloud Domain. However now, the oppressive aura it exuded was vastly more powerful than ever felt before, this was the beast that could content with Ensoulment Realm Cultivators. "This thing... its not the same," Meng Lin whispered, feeling her heart race, before she could think about it more, a voice cut through the tense atmosphere. Stand aside, child. Startled, Meng Lin turned to see the old man. His calm demeanor had a slight change as a cold ruthlessness appeared in his eyes; he faced the creature with an expression of no amusement, as if the beast were his arch enemy. ''Finally here.'' The monster down below looked up, and its multiple red eyes held a surprised expression. It spoke, its voice surprisingly calm, "Her again." Its gaze shifted toward the old man as it bellowed out, "Hahaha, finally, a familiar face." The old man''s expression hardened. "Familiar face? You mock me?" His voice echoed through the vast expanse, carrying a coldness that sent shivers through Meng Lin and Ruan Lee. The monster continued to laugh, its multiple mouths glinting menacingly. "Ah, I remember how I slaughtered you lot. You were one of the few that ran away, hahahah." The old mans eyes narrowed, and a fierce anger ignited within him. "YOU INSOLENT!" The old man''s voice thundered through the air, the sheer force of his words causing the atmosphere to ripple. The weight of his fury was palpable, and Meng Lin felt it wash over her like a tidal wave. She could see the monster''s laughter falter for a moment, surprise flickering across its grotesque features. "You think you can taunt me with your twisted memories?" the old man continued, his tone low and filled with venom. "You will pay for every life youve taken and every drop of blood youve spilled." With a swift motion, he lifted his hand, summoning an aura of brilliant energy that swirled around him like a tempest. The sky darkened momentarily, and lightning crackled as the old man channeled his power into a single, devastating attack. Rumble!!! A colossal wave of energy surged forward, cutting through the air with a deafening roar. The monster''s eyes widened in surprise as the force of the attack arrived before it could react. The impact was catastrophic; a brilliant explosion lit up the sky, and the space in hundreds of directions shattered instantly, while Meng Lin and Ruan Lee had to close their eyes because of the blinding light that engulfed the whole area. 212. Rekindled Ambition As the blinding light receded, the light around Meng Lin and Ruan Lee slowly began to reform, though the aftermath of the old man''s attack had left the sky shaking, crackling with a residual shockwave. Meng Lin opened her eyes cautiously, her heart still racing from the overwhelming display of power. Below them, the island where the monstrous beast had once stood was now a gaping black void. The surrounding ocean water rushed inward to fill the void, creating a swirling vortex of crashing waves. Meng Lin glanced over at Ruan Lee, who had a pale face and sweat on his forehead. He was clearly shaken, barely able to comprehend the destruction he had just witnessed. The old man, on the other hand, stood calmly in the air, his expression cold and unreadable. His eyes, still glowing with a myriad of colors, scanned the void beneath him as if searching for any remaining traces of the beast. But there were none. The tension in Meng Lins body slowly began to ease, but a lingering sense of dread remained. The sheer magnitude of power displayed by the old man was beyond anything she had ever experienced. It made her realize just how small she was in the grand scheme of things, how far she had to go to truly stand among the strongest; it ignited her ambition once more. Just as she thought the danger had passed, the old man''s voice cut through the air once again, this time quieter, more calming. "That was but a fragment, a splinter of its consciousness," he said, his tone laced with frustration. "The real entity dwells within the Primal Sea, far beyond the reach of most cultivators." Meng Lin''s eyes widened in shock. That creature... was only a fragment? She couldn''t believe it. The monster that had nearly killed her and wreaked havoc on the continent was not even at its full power? The thought alone was terrifying. "Palace Master," Meng Lin''s voice broke the silence as she floated closer, her expression still tense but more composed. "What is that creature?" The old man remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the void where the beast had once been. His eyes, still swirling with a myriad of colors, narrowed slightly as if considering her words. "A remnant of ancient times," he finally said, his voice filled with weariness. "A beast born from the chaos of the Primal Sea, where all sorts of monstrosities reside, seven centuries ago, this fragment appeared on this continent, wrecking havoc before being sealed by the Immortal Pavilion." Ruan Lee, having calmed down, finally spoke, his voice determined. "The Primal Sea? If that was only a fragment, how can anyone stand against it?" The Palace Master glanced at him, a flicker of amusement returning to his cold eyes. "Few can. Thats why it doesn''t dare to show its actual form. This beast is only one of the dangers lurking within the Primal Sea; it''s not special." The old man turned then, his gaze settling on Ruan Lee. "You," he said, his voice deep with an unspoken command. "I sense a Dao Mandate on your body." Ruan Lee blinked, clearly taken aback. "A Dao Mandate...?" The old man nodded slowly. "When cultivators reach the Ascension Realm, they unlock their Dao Mandate, granting them unique divine abilities. If you unlock yours now, by the time you reach the Ascension Realm, you could be one of the most powerful cultivators in the realm." The weight of the old man''s words hung in the air, and Meng Lin felt the implications. She couldn''t help but wonder about this junior brother of hers. "Will you be my disciple?" the old man asked Ruan Lee, his voice echoing with authority. Ruan Lees eyes widened in astonishment, clearly flattered and overwhelmed by the offer. He glanced at Meng Lin, unsure of what to do, but she simply nodded. This was a chance not to be missed, and if she were in his place, she would take it. "Yes, I will," Ruan Lee replied, bowing his head, determination igniting in his eyes. A flicker of approval crossed the old mans features. "Good. And you, Meng Lin," he said, turning toward her. "I shall not interfere with your matters, but tread carefully when you leave the boundaries of this Blood Realm." "I''ll take you back now," the old man said, extending his hand toward Meng Lin. But she quickly stopped him, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "I dont want to go back to the sect," she said firmly. The thought of Senior Sister Liu still lurking within the sect filled her with unease. She had no intention of walking back into that. The old man studied her for a moment, his expression inscrutable. "Very well, then we shall take our leave." Ruan Lee, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth to say something but in the end couldn''t voice his thoughts. "Take care, Senior Sister Meng," he finally managed. Meng Lin nodded, "You as well," she said as the old man extended his hand, causing the air to shimmer around them. The two warped in space and disappeared, leaving Meng Lin alone in the sky. Meng Lin sighed, slightly relieved that the old man had left before anything else happened. Even now, there was anxiety gnawing at her, showing on her very fatigued face. The events of the past few hours had been overwhelming, from the peak-stage beasts attack to her fights with both Wei Wei and her Senior Sister Liu, to her death and resurrection, and the unexpected encounter with the Palace Master, or rather Xiao Luan, the man her master wanted revenge on. Luckily she had taken everything from her villa before she left for the ancient spirit pool realm, as for the girls within her villa, she had stored them within her inventory in the unlikely case that Senior Sister Liu would use them against her, it has all worked out in the end. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Looking down at the emptiness of the void below, Meng Lin was reminded of the fragility of her situation. She had narrowly survived, but she was nowhere near strong enough to face such beings on her own. Her cultivation journey, while progressing steadily, had shown her just how vast and dangerous the world could be, especially with ancient beings like the one she had just witnessed. Still, her determination surged within her. She wouldnt allow herself to be overwhelmed by fear. The presence of powerful beings like the old man and creatures from the Primal Sea only meant that the potential for growth in this cultivation world was high. She had come far, but she had much further to go. The remnant of the Levitation Sect and the Yuan Kingdom are a few hours to the south of here... Meng Lin murmured to herself, recalling her earlier moments here in the Scattered Islands Region. "Master," Meng Lin turned her gaze southward, her thoughts briefly drifting to her master, Li Ya. After a moment of no response, Meng Lin gave up, thinking that her master was either being cautious and choosing not to speak for now or was in a deep dormant state. Meng Lin took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts and focusing on the next steps of her journey. The encounters she''d had today made it clear that she couldn''t afford to relax. For now, she needed to recuperate and digest the experience and items she received from the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm. Without wasting any more time, she flew southward, her figure a blur as she raced through the sky, her mind sharp and focused. After several minutes of flying, she spotted an island in the distance. It stood out against the vast ocean, a small piece of land surrounded by rough, crashing waves. As she approached, Meng Lin noticed two novice Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators fighting against a rank 2 mid-stage beast. The sight made her remember how this place used to be crawling with such beasts. It appeared that most of the beasts had been dealt with across the continent, with only a few left roaming the Scattered Islands Region. Meng Lin shook her head slightly, remembering her early days of cultivation when such beasts would have posed a challenge. But now, they barely registered as a threat to her. She hovered for a moment, watching the two struggling cultivators. They fought valiantly, but it was clear they were on the verge of exhaustion. A single misstep could cost them their lives. For a brief moment, Meng Lin considered stepping in to help, but quickly discarded the thought. Intervening now wouldnt benefit her, and she needed to replenish her energy. "I can''t afford distractions," she murmured to herself. With a flick of her sleeve, she vanished into the sky once more, leaving the two cultivators to fend for themselves. Not long after, she found a secluded section of the islandan uninhabited, rocky corner that would be perfect for a temporary cave. With a few swift hand movements, she carved out a small 10-meter-long cave into the side of a jagged cliff and entered it. Once inside, she placed the Soul Confusion Array at the entrance and took out some illumination stones before sitting cross-legged in the center of the cave, her mind focusing inward. She waved her hand, drawing several pills from out of nowherespiritual replenishment pills, along with a few recovery elixirs. She popped them in her mouth and began to circulate her qi, her thoughts blank as she allowed herself a rare moment of stillness. The medicinal power of the pills flowed through her spiritual veins, rapidly restoring her depleted qi and healing the minor injuries she had sustained from the earlier attack by the old man. Her breathing slowed, her body relaxing as the fatigue slowly lifted, and her spiritual energy grew more stable. **Sixteen Hours Later** Meng Lin slowly opened her eyes. Her vision clear and her spiritual consciousness spread, she scanned the entire island in an instant. To her surprise, she saw the two novice cultivators seated near the center of the island, healing their wounds and replenishing their qi. It seemed that they were able to deal with the beast. Nevertheless she didn''t pay attention to them, she called out to the system, feeling her cultivation base slightly more consolidated, the effects of the recovery process stronger than she had anticipated. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wondering Stage (Middle)] [Experience points: 1>6%] System coin: 1080 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha wheel:for unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold 13.8>20%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] [Comprehension 0.02>0.06%] Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seal: Crimson Tortoise Dragon [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin sat in silence, taking in the system''s updates. Her cultivation had progressed steadily, and though the increase seemed small, it felt substantial in her current state. Her spiritual qi had become more refined, and the Gold Elemental Qi had grown noticeably stronger. Even her comprehension of the Heavenly Dao of Death had increased ever so slightly. Her gaze lingered on the Death Comprehension. She wondered if she had to die every time for it to increase; she noticed how it had not just increased by 0.02 percent like when she revived through the Immortal Flesh skill, but rather by 0.04 percent, perhaps because both her soul and her body had been destroyed and resurrected. It was still a long way from mastery, but now she felt that if she were to focus on the Dao of Death, she could glimpse or understand some things better than before. If she were to intently meditate on it, then she could definitely achieve something from it. She took out all the items that she got from the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm and began to look through them, first starting with the seven scrolls she had taken in haste. Meng Lin carefully unfolded the first scroll, its intricate symbols shimmering in the cave''s dim light. After, she went over the characters of each scroll for several hours, deciphering them one by one. The first scroll, *Power of Elements and Spatial Boundaries*, explores the origins of spiritual elements and offers insights into its many different uses, even in everyday life. It also talks about the spatial boundaries, phenomenons that have not been completely understood and its connection to the Primal Sea. The second scroll, titled *Strange Tales of Man .5*, recounted the journey of an ancient cultivator who mastered Thunder Elemental Qi and founded a powerful sect. His greatest achievement was a technique called Searing Thunder Art. He reached the Peak of Nascent Soul Realm and died in a fight against another cultivator, leaving a lasting legacy. The third scroll, *Taoist Theory .2*, was dense with theories about inner demons, heavenly tribulations, and meridian cultivation, providing the harms and benefits to the body. The next three scrolls, *Gold Core Experience*, *Flesh Refining Experience*, and *Breakthrough Experience*, offered insights into the understanding of the mentioned titles, and for one to navigate their paths. It was the last scroll that caused her to finally show a reaction. *Anuttara Scroll .5*. This scroll spoke of the interconnection of existence and the deeper understanding required for true cultivation. In the end was a technique called the Void Reflection Technique, allowing one to project their spiritual consciousness into the void and create a temporary clone. This clone had 20 percent of their power and could explore or engage in combat, channeling elemental qi and mimicking almost all the original''s abilities. Excitement surged within her; this technique perfectly complemented her. She envisioned its strategic potential, especially against formidable opponents. However, she realized something: the system had not shown any panels asking her if she wished to learn the technique. Meng Lin wondered why. Rereading through the technique, Meng Lin realized that mastering it would require intense meditation and a profound understanding of her spiritual consciousness. She sighed, realizing that she might have to stay on this island way longer than she originally thought, at once she began contemplating the Void Reflection Technique. 213. Progression and Interrupting Four days had passed since Meng Lin secluded herself on the remote island studying the Void Reflection Technique with deep concentration. Outside the cave was a dense forest where the trees swayed gently with the breeze, their leaves glistening under soft sunlight. Two figures of red and black moved within the forest, their bodies a blur as they clashed midair, pulsing with energy. The two blurs separated to reveal the figures of a young woman in a vibrant red robe, with flames flickering around her and her eyes sharp with determination. Opposite her stood a calm young woman in black, droplets of water swirled around her, and her dark hair flowed behind her. De Sijie, wrapped in fire, and Xi Lin, encased in water, locked eyes, their energies poised for another clash. The two, along with Xi Lan and Purple, had been released by Meng Lin four days ago, and since then, one of the two, De Sijie, had done nothing but challenge Xi Lin, unwilling to accept the fact that Xi Lin was a step ahead of her, reaching the peak stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm before her. De Sijie flicked her fingers, sending out a barrage of fireballs that danced through the air like crimson flames, illuminating the canopy above. "Let''s see how much you''ve improved!" she called out, her voice full of excitement. Xi Lin smiled as she twirled her hands in an intricate pattern, controlling the water droplets around her to spiral in front of her, forming a protective barrier against De Sijies fire attacks. Boom! The fireballs exploded against the watery barrier, sending up a mist in the sunlight. Xi Lin steadied herself, the droplets of water around her dwindling as she prepared to counterattack. De Sijie, on the other hand, gathered her energy, the flames around her intensifying as she conjured a massive wall of fire that surged forward, consuming the space between them. The forest crackled under the heat, and Xi Lins eyes widened at the new tactic. A sphere of water formed in her hand, and she condensed it with a swift motion, concentrating her energy into the sphere until it pulsed with a powerful aura. Without hesitation, Xi Lin hurled the water sphere forward, her hand guiding its trajectory through the fiery wall. The sphere, tightly condensed and radiating with elemental force, shot towards the blazing inferno. Chi!! A sharp sizzling sound filled the air as steam rose from the collision, but Xi Lins water sphere remained intact, breaking through the flames and shooting toward De Sijie. De Sijies eyes widened in surprise, quickly shifting her stance as she raised her hands to summon another burst of flames in defense. However, the speed of Xi Lins attack left her little time to respond. The water sphere collided with her body, its force surprisingly calm as De Sijie was only pushed back slightly. De Sijie scowled but finally sighed. I lost again. She admitted defeat, though her eyes still burned with the desire to improve. Turning to the side, De Sijie noticed Xi Lan standing quietly, observing their battle with a thoughtful expression. Xi Lan, De Sijie called out, are you running out of energy? If so, you should deactivate your forcefield around the place." With Xi Lan at the epicenter, the 20-meter radius was encased in a faint shimmering energy, the forcefield that Xi Lan had been maintaining throughout the sparring session. Within this forcefield, all forms of damage were significantly reduced, lessening the impact of every blow and slowing the attacks just enough to give her companions time to react. Forming this kind of forcefield around herself came as a surprise to Xi Lan, as her physique could somewhat manipulate the surroundings. Xi Lan, with her silver-streaked hair swaying gently, glanced at De Sijie. I still have plenty of energy, she replied calmly, "Although I can''t keep it up for more than 20 breaths. When my cultivation stage increases, the duration will increase as well." Xi Lin, walking forward, smiled softly. It truly is a great physique. With it, you will surpass us in no time." De Sijie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. It doesnt help that I can barely feel Xi Lins attacks in this bubble youve created. How am I supposed to know how strong Ive really gotten? Xi Lan chuckled softly. Its not about brute strength. This forcefield is meant to help you hone your control and precision. Power alone won''t win every battle. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. De Sijies flames dimmed as she pondered Xi Lans words. She clenched her fists, frustrated yet understanding. I guess youre right. But still, a good fight now and then wouldnt hurt. Xi Lin, meanwhile, stopped and scrutinized De Sijie, her smile widening. I am more curious about your technique. Where did you get such a technique? Its power is almost comparable to the Imperial Water Art that I cultivate?" De Sijies lips curled into a smirk as she crossed her arms, her fiery aura pulsing lightly. Oh? Curious, are we? She tossed her hair back, pride clear in her stance. This isnt just any ordinary flame technique. Its something called the Crimson Flame Art, a high-tier mid-grade manual. It''s well known for its aggressive nature, and with the right cultivation method, it can devour weaker spiritual attacks. Xi Lins brow arched in intrigue. Crimson Flame Art so where did you get it?" De Sijie''s smirk faltered for a brief moment, and she hesitated before answering. "Where did I get it?" She repeated the question, her eyes briefly flickering with something deeper, something hidden. "Lets just say its something that I learned from my family." Xi Lin raised an eyebrow, noticing the subtle shift in De Sijies demeanor. "Your family? Youve never mentioned them before. Are they a cultivation clan?" De Sijie waved her hand dismissively, her usual fiery confidence returning. "It''s nothing you need to worry about. It was just something I learned as a kid." She tossed her hair back, trying to shift the focus. Xi Lins sharp gaze didn''t miss the fleeting vulnerability in De Sijie''s words. She had always been curious about De Sijies past, but the fiery woman was skilled at deflecting personal questions. Still, Xi Lan chose not to press further. She knew De Sijie all too well. "Well, its powerful," Xi Lan said, her voice calm, "and with more practice, you''ll be able to control it even better." De Sijie relieved that the conversation didnt pry too far, grinned. "Exactly. Ill surpass you soon enough." Xi Lin chuckled and just shook her head. As they stood there, reflecting on their progress and challenges, a sudden burst of spiritual consciousness swept through the whole island, giving them a shock. The sudden surge of enormous consciousness sweeping past them sent a chill down their spines, and all three cultivators instinctively fell into defensive stances. What was that? De Sijie asked. Xi Lan furrowed her brow, her forcefield subsiding in response to the disturbance. It felt like a very powerful cultivator has just swept through the area with their spiritual consciousness." Xi Lins expression hardened. Thats not a good sign. They could..." Boom! Atop the cliff, Meng Lin emerged from her secluded cave, sending debris into the air as her aura rippled through the atmosphere. Irritation flickered across her face as her focus had been shattered by the sudden intrusion of spiritual consciousness. She released her spiritual consciousness, its form slightly denser as it swept through the island and beyond it. Within a moment, Meng Lin was able to pinpoint the source of the spiritual consciousness, and immediately she took to the skies, swiftly flying toward a small flying boat about three miles away in the ocean. Meng Lin''s irritation grew as she closed the distance between herself and the small flying boat. As she flew closer, she felt something within her inventory react. Opening the panel, she saw that it was the Visionary Lamp, she had gotten it after defeating the little bandit leader within the Orchid Spring Mountain. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she realized the situation. The Visionary Lamp, a seemingly innocuous item, had likely been tapped all along. The flying boat was now in view, 20 meters long, sleek and ominous as it hovered just above the oceans surface. She sensed several powerful cultivators withinthree at the Soul Wandering Realm and twelve at the Gold Core Realm. Stopping a few meters from the boat, Meng Lin hovered in the air, her robes billowing in the wind as her sharp gaze took in the scene. "So, they''ve been tracking me all this time." She spotted a lone figure walking out to the decka man with sharp features, cold eyes, and a scar on his left cheek. The man wore dark robes and had two short blades strapped to his back. His presence exuded malice, and his spiritual energy was masked so well that Meng Lin might not have noticed him at all if not for his earlier outburst of consciousness. The man slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers. "Meng Lin," he said, his voice low and gravelly, "we finally meet." Meng Lin narrowed her eyes, her body tense with caution. "Who are you?" The man smirked. "You don''t deserve to know me." With lightning speed, he vanished from the spot, his figure blurring as he appeared right in front of Meng Lin, his blade flashing toward her throat. Meng Lin barely had time to react, raising her hand to extend her claws just in time to deflect his strike. Sparks flew as the blade clashed against her claws. Meng Lin felt a large force within the strike and was pushed back several meters. The impact sent a ripple through her body, but she steadied herself, her eyes narrowing further. Although the man was masking his cultivation base, she felt that he was at least the Late Stage of the Soul Wandering Realm. His attack was fast, even comparable to Senior Sister Liu. Without hesitation, she circulated her Formless Cultivation Method, the second form, Form Eraser, blending into the surrounding air. Her presence became intangible. The man paused, his cold gaze scanning her mist form. "San Di, launch the formation!" he bellowed, his voice directed to the flying ship. Suddenly, another figure appeared on the deck of the boat. It was a man in the Early Stage of the Soul Wandering Realm, his appearance was crude as he replied, "Yes, Boss Xue. Everyone in position." As the crude-looking man, San Di, spoke, a rumble echoed from the flying boat. The air around Meng Lin grew thick with energy as an intricate formation began to materialize. It shimmered, forming a vast, translucent dome that covered the surrounding sky and ocean, locking her within. Meng Lin''s heart sank slightly as she realized that her form was becoming corporal. She couldn''t use her mist form. ''That ship, is it a high-grade item?'' she wondered. She could feel the spiritual energy of both Soul Wandering Realm and Gold Core Realm cultivators flowing into the formation, strengthening the dome barrier. "An entire formation just for me?" Meng Lin muttered, her voice laced with sarcasm despite the seriousness of the situation. Her irritation deepened, knowing that this wasn''t an ordinary battle anymore. This was a full-scale trap, and they had been preparing for her for a while. The man with the scarred face grinned, his cold gaze locking onto her as he hovered in the air. "You''re more trouble than youre worth, Meng Lin. But its time to end this little chase. Hand over the jade box, and I might consider letting you leave with your life." Meng Lin''s eyes flashed with anger. The jade box again. She took a deep breath and steeled herself, her forearm glowing as she spoke. "Youre underestimating me if you think Ill just hand it over." The leaders grin widened, and without a word, he signaled to the ship. The formation trembled as spiritual energy intensified, condensing into a more confined space around Meng Lin. She could feel the pressure of immense might, crushing down on her body and restricting her movement. She felt the space around her constrict, barely allowing her to move. Roar!! Suddenly, from her glowing forearm, came an eight meter long serpentine dragon, its form bursting forth in a blaze of elemental power as four different elemental energies swirled around Meng Lin, creating a chaotic vortex of destructive qi. The dragons roar reverberated through the dome, its elemental force slamming into the formation''s barrier. The barrier held, though cracks began to form at the points of impact. The combined strength of so many cultivators wasn''t easily broken, but Meng Lin was finally free of the constriction. The leaders expression darkened as he watched the cracks form. "You persistent bitch," he growled, his voice laced with venom. "But it wont save you!" He suddenly disappeared once more, his speed fast. Meng Lin''s eyes flickered as she caught the faint ripple in the air, sensing the man''s approach even as he vanished from sight. The Crimson Tortoise Dragon responded immediately, its serpentine body coiling through the air to intercept the scarred man. Elemental energy crackled from its body, unleashing bursts of water, fire, and darkness as it charged at the assailant. The man''s blade clanged against the dragons hardened scales, and the clash of their energies sent shockwaves through the dome. Circulating the Formless Cultivation Method to the max, Meng Lin utilized the third form, Form Nullification. A wave of mist erupted from her, and she slashed out with her claws. Her attack carried the mist of her Form Nullification, a force capable of destabilizing physical forms and dissolving spiritual defenses. The air around her warped, and a crescent slash shot forth, aimed not at the scarred man but at the flying boat where the formation originated. A crescent slash of formless energy tore through the air, cutting into the translucent barrier. The energy rippled outward, reaching the flying boat in an instant. BOOM! The vessel shuddered under the impact, its hull slowly splitting in two as its formation shattered, sending pieces of the ship plummeting toward the ocean below. Different panicked screams echoed as the ship began to break apart, its crew scrambling to hold on while some perished under the claw strike. 214. Damaged Spiritual Veins "Impossible!" the bandit leader snarled, his voice filled with disbelief as he watched the flying ship crack and shatter before his eyes. The once formidable formation that had trapped Meng Lin was now reduced to a cascade of splintering wood and fading spiritual energy. His grip tightened on his blade as rage twisted his scarred features. "How could she!" He didn''t get to finish his sentence as the Crimson Tortoise Dragon lunged at him again, its fangs gleaming with elemental energy. The bandit leader raised his weapon just in time, but the force of the dragon''s attack sent him flying backward, crashing through the remnants of the ships shattered formation. His body skidded through the air before he managed to halt his momentum, his expression a mixture of fury and shock. His eyes flicked toward the dragon, but then a more sinister realization dawned on him. "I underestimated her..." he muttered. In an instant, his figure blurred as he shot into the distance, retreating without another word. Meng Lin, still hovering in the air, looked at the scene in bewilderment. "He''s running?" she muttered, her face turning serious. "You wont escape." With a command, she sent the Crimson Tortoise Dragon to handle any remaining threats around the shipwreck and pulled out a small golden talisman from her robes. A soft glow enveloped her as she injected qi into it. In a flash of golden light, she surged forward, cutting through the sky like an arrow. The wind howled around her as her figure blurred, and in moments, she caught up with the bandit leader. Killing intent flared in her eyes as she hovered just behind him. "You''re not getting away." Her voice was cold, filled with an unmistakable promise of death. The scarred man felt her presence and turned sharply, but before he could react, Meng Lin was already upon him. Her claws extended, shimmering with mist-like energy, and she struck. A fierce clash echoed through the air as the bandit leader raised his blades to block, but this time, Meng Lins strike carried the weight of Form Nullification, destabilizing the spiritual energy around him as cracks appeared in his weapons. The scarred bandit leader quickly tossed one of his swords as he was pushed back, producing a small blood-red token from his robes. Without hesitation, he crushed it, and a streak of blood-red light shot out, enveloping him. In an instant, his figure blurred, transforming into a streak of crimson energy that shot off into the distance. Meng Lin was shocked as she quickly gathered herself. She poured more qi into her golden talisman, feeling its power surge around her. With a flash of golden light, she kept pace with the man, the world around them blurring as they sped across the vast sea, passing several islands. The pursuit was relentless, and Meng Lin could feel the talisman straining under the rapid expenditure of qi, but she refused to relent. After several minutes of pursuit, Meng Lin noticed somethinghis speed was slowing down. Her eyes narrowed as she summoned her brute qi, ready to end this once and for all. "Die!" she said, raising her hand as the Brute Qi surged while the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method circulated through her body. Large amounts of chaotic energy gathered at her fingertips, ready to strike. But just as she was about to release her attack, a sharp pain tore through her chest. Her vision blurred, and she coughed violently, blood splattering from her mouth. Cough cough! "Huh?" The scarred man, sensing the shift, turned his head slightly and saw Meng Lin stop and violently cough up blood, "Nows my chance!" he hissed as he gripped his remaining sword. In an instant, his figure vanished, reappearing right next to Meng Lin, his blade aimed straight for her throat. Meng Lins reflexes kicked in, and she raised her claws, deflecting his strike with a resounding clang. But the force behind the attack was immense, and in her weakened state, she couldn''t fully block it. The blade nicked her shoulder, ripping open her robe and drawing blood. She was blown back, her vision spinning. Boom! Meng Lin''s body crashed into the water below like a falling star, her robes fluttering as blood sprayed into the air. She coughed again, her energy quickly dissipating, but her eyes remained fierce, her gaze still strong. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. The bandit leader, steading himself from the earlier exchange, hovered in place, his gaze narrowed as he watched her struggle to stay aloft on the water. His blade gleamed, dripping with her blood. "I don''t know what''s going on but you''re finished," he sneered, his voice filled with malice. "Give up the jade box, and I''ll spare you more suffering." Meng Lin wiped the blood from her lips, her eyes locked onto the bandit with unwavering resolve. "Spare me?" she whispered, a soft chuckle escaping her lips despite the pain. "You''re mistaken if you think I''ll hand anything over to you." Her strength was fading fast, and she knew she couldn''t keep this up much longer, so with a resolute expression she gritted her teeth and reached out with her hand, pulling out the Void-State Tablet from her inventory. Suddenly, the space around her began to tremble, threatening to tear apart with a violent force. The bandit leader''s eyes widened in surprise as the small tablet appeared in front of Meng Lin, swirling and pulling at the air around them. Meng Lin reached out, and as soon as it touched her fingers, she felt its feeble will tugging at her, almost as if demanding her qi as a threatening aura surfaced all around her. Without hesitation, she poured her remaining qi into the tablet. Her eyes widened as a sharp pain tore through her body, circulating her qi through her spiritual veins caused blood to surge up her throat, and she coughed violently, the metallic taste filling her mouth. "That tablet-!" the bandit leader exclaimed, taking a step back as he felt the sheer power radiating from it. Crack!! Before the man could react further, a giant crack in space opened up, bringing with it a surge of suction force. The last thing Meng Lin saw was the bandit leader''s shocked expression as he was instantly sucked into space along with her. When Meng Lin opened her eyes, she found herself floating in a vast expanse of crimson. Her body felt weightless, but the air was thick with a strange, oppressive energy. Everywhere she looked was a sea of blood, stretching out infinitely in all directions. The God Blood Sea. Her heart raced as she realized where she had been teleported. This place was very dangerous, even among Nascent Soul cultivators, a place of ancient origin and unimaginable danger. "You?" The bandit leader growled, his voice laced with panic. "What have you done? How could you bring us to a place like this?" his voice echoed through the calm sea when suddenly something changed. Rumble!! Surge!! Below the surface, the sea began to roil violently, sending waves crashing upward in a chaotic frenzy. The scarred mans eyes widened as he felt an overwhelming pressure from the God Blood Sea pressing down on them. Meng Lin looked around, feeling the oppressive energy that enveloped them. The sea was churning as though alive. Rumble!! From the depths, a massive shadow surged upward, displacing the blood in a colossal wave. Meng Lin''s heart raced as she recognized the outline of a gargantuan creature, a whale-like behemoth whose form seemed to absorb the very light around it. Grrrrraaaawwwr! The creature, whose sheer scale was too overwhelming to describe, opened its mouth with a deafening noise. The beast broke the surface, its enormous mouth opening wide to reveal rows of jagged teeth, glistening with the red color of the sea. No! I have to leave here! The bandit leader''s panic erupted into action as he began to retreat, but the sheer scale of the creature was too overwhelming; it was like an ant running away from an elephant. Meng Lins gaze faltered as the sheer sight of the creature reminded her of the colossal beast she encountered within the Primal Sea. As she watched, she felt a colossal wave of suction power from the mouth of the creature, and before she could react, everything went black. The last thing that ran through Meng Lin''s mind was how a creature so massive could take notice of insignificant cultivators like them; she didn''t even know what happened. **** Meng Lins eyes snapped open, her chest heaving as she coughed violently, blood dripping from her lips. Her body felt heavy, her spiritual veins damaged and aching. Pain pulsed through her with every breath, her limbs numb and sluggish as if weighted down by something far more oppressive than exhaustion. The stench hit her nextthick, foul, and metallic, coating the air like a suffocating blanket. Her senses sharpened, and she realized with sinking horror where she was. The ground beneath her feet was not earth or stone, but fleshy, damp tissue, rippling and undulating each second. The walls around her pulsed, contracting slightly as they oozed a viscous, dark fluid. The beasts stomach. She was inside it. Her mind raced as she staggered forward, fighting the waves of nausea that rose from both the stench and her injuries. "This... this can''t be happening," she muttered, her voice barely audible above the constant churning of the creatures massive innards. Coughing again, she wiped the blood from her mouth, her fingers trembling. How do I get out of here? Panic threatened to creep in, but Meng Lin forced herself to breath, despite the pain. Her eyes narrowed as she took in her surroundings, the fleshy walls glistening under the faint glow of the beasts stomach fluids. She noticed a pulsating glowing light from the fleshy ground. Walking forward, Meng Lin realized that it was the Void-State Tablet; its aura was slightly weak, the fleshy ground stuck to the tablet as if the beast''s stomach was trying to digest it. The sight of the Void-State Tablet gave Meng Lin a faint sense of hope, though it seemed weakened from the creature''s corrosive stomach acids. Gritting her teeth against the pain and nausea, Meng Lin reached down, her fingers slipping slightly against the slimy surface as she pulled the Void-State Tablet from the flesh. She stored the tablet in her system inventory and staggered forward, every step accompanied by a slight pain coursing through her body. As she moved further into the beasts belly, something in the shadows caught her eyea giant 30-meter-long skeleton, twisted and crushed, its bones almost fused with the fleshy walls. Her breath hitched at the sight as she felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from the skeleton. Whatever that was had been powerful, and yet, they had perished here, forgotten and digested by this monstrous creature. Beyond the skeleton, she saw a figure sitting cross-legged on one of the colossal bones. It was an old man, his robes tattered and threadbare, yet his demeanor was calm, even serene. His long white beard fell to his lap, and his eyes, though sunken, held a timeless clarity. His skin was pale, almost translucent, as if he had been drained of life force for eons; yet there was no sign of fear or despair on his face. "Someone else has come at last," the old man said, his voice smooth and steady, as if the passage of time held no meaning to him. "I guess all my wait hasn''t been in vain." Meng Lin blinked, startled by his composure. She stepped closer, careful not to let her guard down. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice hoarse. The old man looked up at her, his eyes calm, unperturbed by the grotesque surroundings. "I am Taoist Tian Yu," the old man responded, his voice carrying a weight that matched the ancient energy surrounding them. "And you, young one, have entered a place where there is no escape." Meng Lin''s brows furrowed, her heart pounding with both apprehension and curiosity. "No escape?" she echoed, suppressing her rising panic. "Why do you say that?" Tian Yu chuckled softly, though there was no humor in it. "Because there is nothing you and I could do against a rank 8 Ancient Voidshroud Whale. This rank 8 beast is beyond the limits of rank 8." "Even an Ascension Realm Cultivator could do nothing but succumb to its might." He gestured at the massive skeleton beside him. "This is an Ancient Abyssal Serpent, once another rank 8 beast, yet it was swallowed and forgotten by the one whose belly we now reside in. Its power, its essence... All but consumed." Meng Lin''s heart skipped a beat as she gazed at the gargantuan skeleton. Rank 8? Her mind reeled. Even though she had witnessed the might of the old man, the Palace Master a few days ago, she knew that this was on an entirely different level. The oppressive weight of the place almost crushed her spirit, as if the very air was rejecting her existence. Taoist Tian Yu''s expression softened slightly, though there was a hint of something beneath his calm exterior. "You must understand, I''ve been waiting here for centuries. Waiting for one like me. Waiting for someone like you." Meng Lin took a cautious step back, her instincts screaming at her to stay alert. "Like you?" she asked warily. "What exactly do you mean?" Tian Yus smile was thin and calculating. "You see, there is no escape from this placenot for me, not for you or that woman. However, with you two... perhaps I can find a way out." "That woman?" Meng Lin repeated when a thought surfaced in her mind. She asked, "What did you mean?" "Hehe, I am naturally talking about the woman gazing at me in your soul core." His eyes gleamed with a hunger that sent a chill down her spine. "After all, it''s not easy to find two people who cultivate the brute qi physique." 215. Fluctuation From Inventory Boom! The old man waved his hand, and Meng Lin felt the air construct as she was blown back; another figure was expelled from her body, crashing against the fleshy wall with a sickening thud. The figure stood up, revealing an old woman whose aura crackled with primal qiMeng Lins master, Li Yu, opened her eyes with a shocked expression. "Master! Meng Lin gasped, struggling to regain her footing amidst the chaotic energy swirling around her. She felt both relief and concern as she saw her master. Get back! Li Yu shouted, her eyes locking with the old man. This man is dangerous. Tian Yu''s serene demeanor shifted, a glint of amusement flickering in his eyes. Ah, both master and her disciple. How delightful. Two strong physiques, yet you are both so naive in the use of it. Naive? Li Yu scoffed, her eyes hardening. You want to fight me in the belly of this beast? Fight? Tian Yu echoed. I have no intention of playing. I seek liberation, and you two may very well be my key. He gestured dismissively toward the creatures pulsating walls. But you must understand, both of you, that I am not bound by the same limits as you. With a flick of his wrist, the atmosphere trembled, and the air around them warped, forming crackling noises in the stomach. The air crackled with primal qi as a shockwave erupted from the old mans position, throwing Meng Lin and Li Yu back once more. Li Yu''s eyes narrowed as she extended her hand toward Meng Lin. A surge of primal qi enveloped her disciple, pulling her closer as Li Yu formed a protective barrier. "Stay close," she commanded, her gaze never leaving Tian Yu. Meng Lin clenched her fists, her body trembling under the suffocating force from the old man; she felt out of place. Rumble!! Suddenly, the walls of the huge stomach began to constrict; the fleshy walls writhed, pulsating violently in response to Tian Yus energy. The ground beneath Meng Lin''s feet quaked, and the air began to heat up, as if the creature itself was reacting to the growing conflict within. Li Yu glanced around, assessing their surroundings. If this creature becomes too agitated, we may find ourselves in a worse position than we are now. If we start a fight here, then you know what will happen, right?" Li Yus voice grew loud, turning toward the old man. Tian Yu chuckled softly. "Oh. You seem to not understand something." He gestured to the walls, and suddenly, the pulsating flesh that was closing in on them stopped, and the heat in the air ceased increasing. Meng Lin''s eyes widened. "He''s stopped the beasts stomach!" she said. "Master, I think we need to" Before she could finish, Tian Yu made his move. He waved his hand lazily, the air shimmering as the space around them trembled. His primal qi surged into the formation of a technique. Boom! A blood-red aura erupted from Tian Yus fingertips, coiling into a giant serpent that erupted with a malicious aura. The serpent twisted and writhed, hungry for destruction as it locked eyes with the two. Cough Cough Meng Lin felt her qi stir, and she coughed up more; her chest began to sting as she felt her qi throb under the malicious gaze locked on her. The Sacred-grade item, give it to me, Li Yu said, her voice calm yet nervous. Meng Lin barely had time to think, instinctively pulling the Void-State Tablet from her inventory and handing it to her master. As soon as Li Yu touched it, a surge of immense power radiated through the area. The Void-State Tablet was injected with primal qi, and its aura intensified. In a blinding flash, Meng Lin found herself teleported 50 meters away, landing against the quivering flesh of the beasts stomach. She looked up, breathless, her gaze filled with wonder. Tian Yus eyes narrowed. ''A Sacred-grade item?'' his thoughts echoed with slight irritation. ''And one that controls space; how inconvenient!'' ''A mere Sacred-grade item would hardly trouble a being such as myself, who could tear apart space and use it to travel long distances, but...'' "Why are you quiet all of a sudden?" Li Yu asked with a smirk. Tian Yu''s expression darkened, his amusement fading. The confined space of the beasts stomach made spatial manipulation impossible, yet now this feeble Sacred-grade item was a lethal factor, even for someone of his level. It would take a long time for him to win if they use that sacred grade item, If he had even a tenth of his strength then he wouldn''t have to worry, however after being confined in this stomach for thousands of years, his primal qi was all almost finished. He didn''t want to be in any drawn out battle. His gaze sharpened as he looked at the Void-State Tablet, now glowing with primal qi in Li Yu''s hands; he slowly began to stand up from his seated position. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Seeing this, Li Yu wasted no time. Gripping the Void-State Tablet in one hand, her primal qi shifted into chaotic qi as she circulated the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method. Boom! The very air around Li Yu distorted as she utilized her Brute Vortex Cultivation Method, forming a swirling mass of brute qi around her. Tian Yus eyes narrowed as he studied the vortex forming around Li Yu. "Brute Vortex Cultivation Method... It seems you''re not as naive as I thought." With a single motion, he sent his blood-red serpent forward. The serpent shot through the air in a blur, its jaws wide open, aiming to engulf Li Yu in one swift attack. Li Yus eyes focused, and with a thought from her, the vortex around her disappeared as she raised her hand in a small motion. Woosh! A small tornado formed within her palm, crackling with the energy of brute qi. The tornado rapidly expanded, its aura surging as she directed it toward the oncoming serpent. "Brute Vortex!" Li Yu shouted lightly, her voice faint in the small whirlwind toward the giant snake. The tornado grew in size, becoming a chaotic maelstrom that rumbled with a deafening noise. Burst!! The red serpent twisted as its eyes widened with primal instinct the moment the tornado collided with its body. Boom! The impact echoed through the stomach''s walls, causing the stomach to tremble slightly as the whirlwind of chaos obliterated the serpent''s form. Heh, not bad, Tian Yus voice dripped with mockery, even as he raised an eyebrow at Li Yus unexpected display of power, after all an early-stage cultivator of the same realm was able to contend with a technique from him. But can you withstand what comes next? As the remnants of his blood-red serpent faded into nothingness, Tian Yu touched his ring, and a small spiked ball materialized in his palm. Li Yus expression shifted to one of scrutiny. What is that? she asked, sensing the potent danger emanating from the spiky ball. Tian Yu chuckled, Oh, this? He held the spiked ball aloft, letting it catch the dim light. Its a lovely little trinket I picked up during my travels. A useless one that might finally prove to be useful now. In an instant, he vanished, moving faster than the eye could follow. The air around him whipped as he reappeared; however, instead of Li Yu, he appeared right above Meng Lin, his aura crackling with energy. Before Meng Lin could grasp the situation, the space trembled once more, and she found herself teleported 50 meters again, appearing right under the massive bones of the dead Rank 8 beast. In her original place, Li Yu appeared, already having her hand outstretched for an attack. However, as a small tornado began to form around her, the old man let out a small laugh. "I got you," he said. Suddenly, the spiked ball in Tian Yus hand emitted a low hum, vibrating with energy as if it were alive. In an instant, the spiked ball erupted in a blinding flash, and an array of crystal spikes shot forth, darting toward Li Yu like deadly arrows. Vortex! she shouted, conjuring a vortex of chaotic qi just in time. The spikes collided with her vortex, sending shockwaves through the confined space. The space around her trembled as she tried to use the Void-State Tablet, but to her shock, she couldn''t teleport. Puchi!!! The spikes pierced through the chaotic vortex, finding their mark as they embedded themselves into Li Yu''s chest, left arm, and shoulder, eliciting a pained gasp from her lips. Li Yu staggered back, her eyes wide with shock and pain. The crimson spikes that had penetrated her flesh pulsed with an ominous energy. Tian Yus laughter echoed through the creature''s stomach. You see, the beauty of this little trinket is that it not only disrupts spatial abilities, but it also disrupts your connection to your qi. You cant use your brute qi now, can you?" *** Meng Lin''s heart raced as she watched her master stagger, the crimson spikes pulsing from her body. A deep sense of dread filled her, and she fought against the overwhelming urge to rush to Li Yu''s side. Instead, she took a deep breath, focusing on the connection she still held within her spiritual consciousness. As she was about to do something, she suddenly felt a fluctuation from her inventory. Opening the panel, she saw the slot that held the mysterious jade box vibrating, as if reacting to something. Meng Lin was shocked, the jade box that, both senior sister Liu as well as the bandit leader we''re looking for was finally responding to something. She quickly pulled the jade box from her inventory and the moment it appeared, the jade box began to glow with an eerie, pulsating light. The pulsating filled the entire space, casting an ominous glow over the fleshy walls of the whales stomach. Meng Lin''s hand trembled as she held the box, and a strange force radiated from it, growing stronger with each passing moment. Tian Yus attention shifted to the strange occurrence, his gaze towards the jade box, tried to inspect the item and found that he couldn''t understand it, his gaze turned to curiosity as he spoke under his breath What is that?" Li Yu, still struggling with the spikes embedded in her body, managed to glance at the scene, recognition flashing in her eyes. Meng Lin... That''s Before she could finish, the jade box suddenly erupted in a blinding flash of light. The energy surged outward, and the entire stomach of the beast began to tremble violently. The box seemed to be reacting to the corpse of the dead Rank 8 beast above. Boom! blood-red essence emerged from the bones all around Meng Lin as the remnant essence of the dead beast, long dormant, was suddenly drawn into the jade box like a torrent. The box absorbed the residual essence, its glow intensifying with every second. The walls of the whales stomach convulsed, unable to handle the chaotic energy unleashed by the box until finally Crack! A loud tearing sound echoed through the space as a massive hole opened up in the stomach. The whale''s body violently reacted to the overwhelming force, and with one final shudder, the beast opened space and ejected everything within its stomach. Meng Lin felt the world around her turning upside down as her body was thrown into the air, spinning uncontrollably before she was caught by an arm, steadying her fall. Meng Lin gasped for air. The jade box in her hand had dimmed but still pulsed faintly with power. She looked around to see a vast expanse of the blood-red sea and the distant silhouette of the colossal Ancient Voidshroud Whale slowly sinking beneath the waves. Tian Yu was nowhere to be seen, and her master was beside her, though her face was pale and strained. The crimson spikes were gone, but the toll of the attack was evident in her weary posture. Meng Lin! Li Yu gasped, looking at the jade box with a mixture of complex emotions before finally speaking. "We have to first get out of here." As she said that, the Void-State Tablet in her hand trembled as the surrounding space began to stretch and twist. The two of them were encased in a bright light before their figures slowly faded As the two were being teleported, they failed to notice the surrounding qi suddenly converge toward a certain direction, forming into a swirling vortex of energy around an old man in tattered robes, floating in the air. "Hahaha! I am finally free! The convergence of energy is just so delightful!" Tian Yu''s voice echoed, a mixture of happiness and relief. His form was enveloped by a swirling mass of primal qi, its colors shifting and shimmering like a living tapestry. "To think that a mere mortal could provoke such a response from that beast. Fate is finally on my side" 216. The Cultivation Realms Meng Lin blinked in confusion, her vision adjusting to the sudden shift in their surroundings. The world around her was eerily familiar, a huge contrast to the chaotic raging sea of red. "This place..." Meng Lin muttered, her hand still gripping the jade box tightly. She glanced to her left, where her master still held her. Weve arrived safely. This island is protected by a spatial barrier; I used that as a focal point for the teleportation. No one should discover us unless they have spatial abilities," Li Yu said as she released Meng Lin. Meng Lins eyes widened as she released her spiritual consciousness, recognition flashing on her face. A spatial barrier? It''s this undisclosed island... Ive been here before. Her master turned to her, her expression curious. Oh, then is this a good place to rest? I sense a lingering danger from this place; what might that be?" Meng Lin''s gaze flickered. "It should be the multiple spatial boundaries several dozen meters ahead behind those trees. I hear that they are quite dangerous." "Several boundaries?" Li Yus expression hardened as she gazed into the distance, where the trees cast long shadows over the terrain. Multiple boundaries this close together... that explains the danger I sensed earlier, she murmured, more to herself than to Meng Lin. Meng Lin nodded, still feeling tense from their chaotic escape. "Yes, its unpredictable. The last time I was here, if it wasn''t for the Realm Breaking Crystal, I wouldn''t have dared to stay near them. One wrong step, and you could be torn apart. Li Yu sighed softly. Its perfect then, manageable for us to stay hidden. Well use this time wisely. Meng Lin glanced up at her master, some thoughts surfacing in her mind. "Master, I have been fighting and cultivating, and at first, I thought I understood the realms involved in cultivation, but I couldn''t grasp the realms of all those beings we met these past days. What exactly is the Ascension Realm?" Li Yu raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips. Its about time you asked. I was wondering when you''d seek my knowledge on such matters. She sat down cross-legged in the sand, motioning for Meng Lin to join her. Since were safe for now, Ill start teaching you. Youve earned it. Meng Lin sat down beside her, slightly surprised yet nervous. "Perhaps you should wait for your wounds to heal; I don''t know if this is the appropriate time for teaching." Li Yus gaze softened as she smiled. For me to fully heal these wounds would take more than four months, she said, her voice calm despite the severity of her injuries. But for now, the wounds are doing no further harm. This is as good a time as any. Meng Lin blinked, concern still evident in her eyes, but she nodded slowly. Her master seemed at ease despite the immense toll her body had taken in the recent battle. Li Yu leaned back slightly, her gaze fixed on the distant waves of seawater. Youve been through much these past few days, and youve encountered beings far beyond what most cultivators at your stage can even fathom. Its natural that youre confused about the realms and the power gaps between them. Meng Lins brow furrowed. Yes, Master. When I faced those stronger cultivators, especially that old man Tian Yu, I realized how little I knew. What exactly is the Ascension Realm? And what lies beyond it? Li Yu nodded, her expression serious but not harsh. Youve reached the mid-stage of the Soul Wandering Realm, a significant milestone. But there is much more to cultivation than just climbing the ranks. Each realm represents not only power but also an understanding of the world and yourself. She paused, tracing a line in the air with her finger. You started at Qi Condensation, where you gathered and refined basic qi. Then, in the Foundation Establishment realm, you stabilized that energy and laid the groundwork for your journey. Meng Lin nodded, recalling those early cultivation moments. After that, you reached the Golden Core realm, where your energy condensed into a core within your dantian, and you began to learn about elemental qi, a higher form of qi. And now, in the Soul Wandering Realm, your soul is in metamorphosisallowing you to use soul energy to some extent. Meng Lin''s mouth parted slightly at the new information; she had been able to utilize her soul energy to blow herself up before, but she didn''t think it was because of the realm she was in. Thinking more about it, she realized that even the soul defense technique that she learned utilized soul energy; she just didn''t pay it much heed. Li Yu stopped for a minute, noticing Meng Lin''s focused expression. After a moment, she continued, After Soul Wandering comes the Nascent Soul Realm, where your dantian core is able to leave your body and merge with your body to create a translucent spectral body. Thats where cultivators begin to grasp the deeper mysteries of existence. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. And then? Meng Lin asked, with a gleam in her eyes. Then, Li Yu continued, her finger tracing the line, theres the Ensoulment Realm. At this stage, your physical body and soul become one, making them nearly impossible to separate or destroy without significant effort. All your attacks carry the weight of both spiritual and soul energy." Li Yus gaze grew sharper. Beyond Ensoulment is the Nihility Realm, where cultivators comprehend the voidthe emptiness between worlds. This is where spatial abilities, like those you''ve encountered with that Palace Master, truly manifest. Those who master the void can traverse vast distances or even create dimensions as big as this continent." Meng Lins mind wandered, her thoughts turning to the powerful scenarios that transpired before. "And after the Nihility Realm...?" Li Yus voice became softer yet more profound. After Nihility comes the Ascension Realm, where I stand. In the Ascension Realm, we gain access to primal qi, energy that we can draw from any realm we occupy. We can also manipulate time, fate, and some lesser laws to an extent." Meng Lin felt a chill run down her spine as she grasped the immensity of what her master was saying. Does that mean that someone like me could be affected by a manipulation from someone in the Ascension Realm?" Li Yu nodded slowly, her expression serious. Yes, I suspect our fate was altered to meet Tian Yu so that he could somehow escape from the bowels of that Voidshroud Whale." Meng Lin furrowed her eyebrows as she considered the implications. "You think Tian Yu did it?" "No, that''s the problem; it''s impossible for someone at the Ascension Realm to do that." Meng Lin''s thoughts raced as she processed Li Yu''s words. The implications of the Ascension Realm and its connection to the manipulation of abstract concepts stirred a mixture of awe and fear within her. "Then who could have altered our fate?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Li Yu''s gaze grew distant, as if peering into the fabric of space before her. There are only five beings known to have surpassed the Ascension Realm. They exist in the Half-Immortal Realm, referred to as the Five Absolutes. However, I don''t think they need to do something as tricky as manipulating fate." Meng Lin was silent for a moment, her thoughts jumping at the titles mentioned. "The Five Absolutes..." Li Yu noticed Meng Lin''s sudden silence and her furrowed brow, and she worried if she shared too much. For now, focus on your own growth. We will need to stay here for a while. I have to recover from the injuries inflicted by Tian Yu, and you too need to heal your spiritual veins." Meng Lin silently agreed, her mind still swirling with the events that had unfolded. The confrontation with Tian Yu, the jade boxs strange power, and now the colossal amount of information was overwhelming, as well as exciting. As she looked out over the vast horizon, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore in the distance filled the air, giving her a moment of peace amidst the chaos. She closed her eyes and meditated. **Huanxia Province** **Origin Cave Mountain** In the grand cave system of Origin Cave Mountain, deep within the Huanxia Province, Jin Xue paced in frustration. His eyes flickered with irritation as he listened to the report coming through the talisman in his hand, his subordinates anxiously waiting nearby. "My brother''s soul tablet... destroyed?" Jin Xue growled, gripping the talisman tighter. "How could this happen? Who could have possibly taken him down?" The voice on the other end of the talisman was shaking. "We dont know, Boss. He was seen near the central region; however, he quickly evaded our scouting. We don''t know where he is now." Jin Xue''s frown deepened. "Riu, Li!" he barked, turning to his two subordinates, who stood at attention. Riu, the Shadowblade, a slim man cloaked in black, and Li, the Iron Fist, a hulking brute of a man, exchanged glances before stepping forward. "Take a group of men and investigate. I want you to find out who did this, and if the suspect has the box, apprehend him!" Jin Xue ordered, his voice cold and demanding. Riu nodded, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. "We''ll find him, Boss." Li cracked his knuckles, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I''ll make sure they pay." "Good," Jin Xue said, his tone icy. "How are the preparations going?" Riu stepped forward, his tone calm and composed. Everything is proceeding according to plan, Boss. The sects under our control have been informed of your intention to ascend as the new ruler of the Yuan Kingdom. Theyve expressed no dissent, given the power we hold over them. We should be ready to leave within the week. Jin Xue nodded, his frustration easing slightly as he turned his back to them and gazed toward the cave''s entrance. His eyes burned with ambition. Good. Once I sit on the throne, no one in the Yuan Kingdom will be able to challenge us. The sects here bend to our will, and soon the kingdom will as well. He continued, "All those who oppose us will be crushed. But first, I need to make sure everything is in place. I have unfinished business here. Riu raised an eyebrow. Unfinished business, Boss? Jin Xue turned back toward them, his expression dark. I didnt come back to Origin Cave Mountain just for the throne." Riu and Li exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued, but they knew better than to ask further. Jin Xue was not the type of man to reveal his plans until the moment was right. Jin Xue strode deeper into the cave system, his footsteps echoing through the grand halls. Behind him, his subordinates followed in silence. The cave walls, lined with gleaming ores and strange inscriptions, continued until the heart of the mountain. Jin Xue paused before a massive stone door engraved with ancient symbols. He pressed his hand against the cool surface, and with a surge of his qi, the door rumbled open, revealing a hidden chamber. Inside, resting on a pedestal at the center of the chamber, were two jade boxes. This, Jin Xue murmured, his hand brushing over the intricate carvings on one of the jade boxes, is the key to ensuring my rise to power. With these boxes, not even the strongest cultivators of the continent will be able to do anything to me." Riu and Li remained silent, their eyes fixed on the jade boxes, knowing that whatever lay inside held immense powerpower that could change the course of the entire continent. Jin Xue smirked, his grip tightening on the two jade boxes. Once I claim whats inside, not even the heavens will stop me from becoming king. 217. The Interrogation Meng Lin opened her eyes with a new light, feeling a shift in her cultivation and understanding. The air around her felt more vibrant, and her spiritual consciousness, once released, seemed sharper, more attuned to the world around her. She took a deep breath and called out to the system in her mind. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wandering Stage (Middle)] [Experience points: 6 > 10%] System Coin: 1080 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha Wheel: Unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold 20%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] [Comprehension 0.06%] Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seal: Crimson Tortoise Dragon [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin studied the screen, her eyes lingering on the slight increase in experience points. She had made progress, but it seemed so slow that she couldn''t wrap her head around how the system calculated it. She looked at her inventory and sighed in disappointment; she realized that she didn''t have the ingredients necessary for the Spirit Rejuvenation Pills, and her system coins were also not enough to buy them. She contemplated for a while before she looked into her system market. After several minutes of browsing through the market, she found something that she could use for transportation. Skyveil Foot Cloud A small, ethereal cloud that allows the user to fly at a moderate speed, offering smooth transportation but limited usefulness or uniqueness. 420 System Coins Meng Lin hesitated briefly before confirming her purchase. With a soft chime, the Skyveil Foot Cloud materialized in front of her. An ethereal, mist-like cloud shimmered into existence beneath her feet. It was cool to the touch, almost weightless, and made her hover just above the ground. With a thought, she felt the cloud lift her smoothly into the air, and she tested its responsiveness by speeding forward and stopping sharply. It was pretty slow for her taste, but it was smooth and efficient, comfortable for travel over longer distances. Sitting back down on the ground, her thoughts shifted to the past events that had happened, and she looked at the jade box still clutched in her hand; it was no longer responding to anything. In the past, when she tried to open it, she realized it wouldn''t budge, but after consuming that rank 8 ancient spirit beast essence, it just might open now. With a heave, Meng Lin channeled her strength and tried once more to open the jade box. She focused, applying all her physical strength, but the box didn''t budge. Frustrated but not discouraged, Meng Lin set the box in her inventory. She knew she would have to uncover more about its origins or gain greater power to unlock it. For now, there were other matters to attend to, and her spiritual veins were at the forefront of it all. She closed her system menu, her thoughts returning to her masters words about the Ascension Realm and the manipulation of fate. Whoever had tampered with her and her master''s path to intersect with Tian Yu had to hand immense powerpossibly even beyond the Ascension Realm. The Five Absolutes Meng Lin trembled at the thought. Ill grow stronger, she whispered to herself, determination burning in her eyes. "I''ll uncover the truth behind all of this. And no one shall control me." Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. She stood up, glancing at the horizon of the crashing waves. She turned to her master and spoke. "Master, I think it''s time for me to head out and gather some alchemy ingredients. I need them to heal my spiritual veins." Li Yu, who had been meditating silently, opened her eyes and regarded Meng Lin with a thoughtful expression. "You wish to go alone?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of concern. Meng Lin nodded. "Yes." Li Yu sighed, her gaze softened. After a moment, she reached into her sleeve and pulled out the Void-State Tablet. "Here, take this with you. Ive left a spatial imprint on it. If you encounter danger, the tablet will sense it and call for me; this way, I can be there if things go wrong." Meng Lin hesitated for a moment before she nodded, tucking the Void-State Tablet into her robes as she stored it away in her inventory. "I''ll return safely." With one final glance at her master, Meng Lin turned and began walking toward the island''s edge, gazing across the horizon and recalling the encounter with the bandit leader and his group. With a flick of her wrist, she accessed her system inventory once more, this time taking out a map. It was a crude map she made based on the map she had seen when she visited the Lark Jade Restaurant with Luange Chen. In the map, she had marked the undisclosed island and the nearby sects, trading hubs, and scattered cultivator settlements that dotted the region. However, with the events that had happened all across the continent, Meng Lin didn''t know how accurate the information on the map was anymore. Nevertheless, she selected the nearest onea high-tier city known for its alchemy market and trade connections. If she could get there, she might find the ingredients for the Spirit Rejuvenation Pills. She turned her gaze to another island a few miles away, the barren island where she had been with the girls; she had to get them first before journeying into the trading island. Stepping out onto the Skyveil Foot Cloud, Meng Lin allowed her mind to wander as she flew in the sky. The slight increase in her experience points still nagging at her, making her wonder what would push her progress further. The journey was what Meng Lin would describe as very boring; the Skyveil Foot Cloud was moving fast enough to match Gold Core Cultivators, but it was still very slow for her current self. It took her several hours to reach the area of her last battle. The sea was calm, the wreckage of the flying boat long gone, likely swallowed by the crashing waves. Meng Lin looked around, scanning the area for any signs of anything. Once satisfied that the coast was clear, she directed her cloud to the nearby island. As she neared the island, the familiar aura of the Crimson Tortoise Dragon began to show, covering the island as if a protective barrier. Swoosh! Within seconds, the tortoise dragon appeared before her, its aura surging in excitement as it closed in on her. "Mistress, are you all alright?" the dragon asked, sensing something amiss as it looked at Meng Lin. Meng Lin gave a small nod. "What happened after I left?" As you commanded, the dragon replied, I took five of the remaining cultivators hostage. The others were eliminated. Meng Lin nodded approvingly. She directed the cloud toward the island, descending from the sky onto the clearing where the three girlsDe Sijie, Xi Lin, and Xi Lanstood waiting, alongside the five prisoners. As she touched the ground, the girls rushed forward with concern etched on their faces. Miss, are you alright? Xi Lin asked. Meng Lin merely shook her head, her expression calm but distant. Im fine. she said flatly. She didnt elaborate further; her focus shifted to the five hostages kneeling nearby, their hands bound with thick elemental spiritual qi; they probably also had their dantians sealed as well. The five men, each with varying degrees of fear and defiance in their eyes, trembled as Meng Lins gaze fell upon them. One of the men, San Di, couldn''t help but ask in shock, The boss, is... is he dead? His voice cracked with fear, and the others'' faces changed. Meng Lin''s gaze turned cold as her aura changed, she fixed her eyes on San Di. "Your leader is dead." San Di''s body trembled, and the others exchanged fearful glances, their faces paling as they realized their last hope for rescue had vanished. H-how can that be? San Di stammered. Meng Lin stepped closer. Im not here to discuss your leader''s fate. I want information. She scanned their faces, noting the flickers of fear and defiance. You five are all thats left of your group. Tell me everything you know about the plans and operations of the Golden Fang Bandits. The five men exchanged anxious looks, and San Di finally spoke up, his voice quaking. The Golden Fang Bandits? Boss Xue had us desert the Golden Fang Bandits after he took the jade boxes; we don''t know anything." Meng Lin''s eyebrows raised, but she remained impassive. The jade box. What can you tell me about it? San Di swallowed hard. I don''t know, but Boss Xue believed that with it, he could become unstoppable. And where is the other one now? Meng Lin pressed. San Di hesitated, glancing nervously at his companions. We we dont know. It was with Boss Xue, but he never told us its location. He probably has it in his storage bag; after the first one was taken, he always kept the other one with him." Meng Lin narrowed her eyes in contemplation. If the other box was with this boss Xue, then does that mean it''s lost in the belly of the giant whale, or does Taoist Tian Yu have it now? One of the other prisoners, a burly man with a scarred face, piped up, Wait! I heard him mention a place before. An ancient ruin to the north. He goes there a lot; it might be there. That''s where we found the floating ship." Meng Lin''s interest piqued. Ancient ruins? What else do you know? The man swallowed hard, sweat trickling down his forehead. Thats all I know, I swear! Please, spare us! We were just following orders! His voice cracked with fear, and the two girls in the group nodded quickly, pleading with their eyes. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed as she assessed them. "You were following orders?" she repeated, her tone cold. That doesnt absolve you from the consequences of plotting against me. You were part of an ambush meant to take my life." The young mans face turned pale, and the others lowered their heads, realizing that their chances for mercy were slim. De Sijie took a step forward, her eyes still glinting with slight curiosity. What are you going to do with them?" Meng Lins gaze remained fixed on the prisoners. "What else," she said. "I want information on the Golden Fang Bandits." One of the older prisoners, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke, his voice gravelly and resigned. You wont get anything from us, he muttered. Were already dead. Meng Lins eyebrows raised as her gaze turned even colder Well see about that, she said. She waved her hand toward the Tortoise Dragon, which summoned a thin, invisible thread of elemental energy. It coiled in the air before wrapping tightly around the older prisoner, forcing him to his knees. You have two choices, Meng Lin continued, her eyes locked onto the mans. You talk, or you die in the worst way imaginable. The prisoner clenched his jaw, refusing to speak. But Meng Lin wasnt in the mood for a drawn-out negotiation. With another motion of her hand, the small, thin, invisible thread of elemental qi tighten slowly, causing him to gasp as the pressure intensified around his body. Choose your words wisely, Meng Lin said coldly, her voice steady as she watched the mans desperate attempts to free himself. This can end quickly or drag on painfully. The older prisoner, now gasping, felt the energy squeeze tighter, crushing down on his ribs. His face turned a pale shade, the color draining as he fought against the invisible force. P-please! he managed to choke out, his voice breaking under the strain. Ill tell you what you want! Just let me go! Meng Lins gaze remained unwavering, and with another flick of her wrist, the thread tightened further. The sickening sound of cracking bones echoed through the clearing, mingling with the rustle of leaves as the other prisoners looked on in horror. Stop! Well talk! San Di yelled, his voice filled with panic. Just let him go! Well tell you everything! Meng Lins eyes flicked to San Di but stayed locked on the older man, whose body was now buckling under the pressure. Sweat poured from his forehead, and his breaths became frantic gasps. With one final motion of her hand, the thread pulsed violently, and the mans body snapped in two with a sickening crack. The sound reverberated through the clearing, followed by a haunting silence. Half of his body crumpled to the ground, blood spilling onto the forest floor, staining the ground with a crimson color. The remaining prisoners recoiled in horror, their faces reflecting shock and terror. They had just witnessed a brutal execution, and it was clear that Meng Lin would not hesitate to do the same to them. Now, Meng Lin said, her voice calm yet chilling as she surveyed the remnants of the man before her. Who else wants to tell me about the Golden Fang Bandits? San Di, trembling uncontrollably, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. Well talk! Well tell you everything! His eyes darted to the fallen body. Meng Lin smiled, her expression unfaltering as she stepped over the dismembered corpse to move closer to San Di. Good. Start with the locations of your hideouts and the strongest in each of them. I want every detail, or you will share the same agonizing fate as him. The air was thick with silence as even the three girls standing at the side were quiet. San Di gulped down before he began to speak, his voice shaking. Meng Lin listened, absorbing the information as San Di spilled out everything he knew. After an hour of questioning from Meng Lin, she was finally satisfied with the obtained information, mentally marking the locations, important phrases, and key figures within the Golden Fang Bandits. ...and the last information i know is that they are going to be moving from the mountain to the Yuan Kingdom Capital this week, San Di concluded. De Sijie at the side snorted after listening in, disdain flashing across her face. How arrogant can this bandit leader be, thinking he can just take over an entire kingdom without retaliation from the others?" Meng Lin nodded. "Either he overestimates himself, or he has something that he thinks can turn the tables." Turning back to San Di and the remaining prisoners, she declared, Now that I have what I need, your lives are no longer of use to me. The prisoners faces blanched at her words, panic washing over them. With a flick of her wrist, the Crimson Tortoise Dragon opened its mouth, a large amount of Elemental Qi gathered. Meng Lin looked at the prisoners, her voice calm. You will die for taking part in the attempt against my life, but I''ll make it painless for you. Boom! In an instant, A blinding flash of light appeared one second, and the next, the light faded to reveal a small crater where the prisoners once stood. 218. Purples Bloodline Shift A silence hung thick in the air as the three girls processed what they had just witnessed. De Sijie rubbed her temples. "That was... quick. Too quick," she murmured. Xi Lin glanced at Meng Lin, her face conflicted. "I understand they attacked you, but was it truly necessary to kill all of them?" Meng Lin met her gaze calmly. There was nothing else they could offer. We have all the information we need for now, and I dont intend to waste time with unreliable allies. "You should have crippled them," Xi Lin said. Meng Lin shook her head. I understand your concerns, but were not going to confront the bandits just yet. If you''re worried about the information being false, I was going to double-check when we reach our next contact with the bandits. Xi Lin had a conflicted expression. "That''s not what I meant Some of them didnt look as if they wanted to be there. Perhaps they were just following orders...?" Meng Lin''s gaze softened slightly, though her tone remained firm. "It''s a hard truth in this world: following orders in such a way carries its own consequences." She glanced at the crater left by the Crimson Tortoise Dragon''s attack, her expression unreadable. "Besides, they are bandits. I have no intention of sparing someone who robs, pillages, and steals. If they had taken me down, you know what would have happened to you." Xi Lin lowered her head, falling silent at Meng Lins words. De Sijie, who had been quietly watching the exchange, broke the silence, a small smile on her face as she spoke. Speaking of unexpected things while you were away, Purple went into a deep sleep after eating those red crystals you gave him, and this strange red boulder began forming over him. She pointed a few meters away where a small red boulder gleamed. Meng Lins eyes sharpened as she examined the red boulder, her spiritual consciousness stretching toward it, feeling the energy pulsing from within. There, curled in the center, she could see Purple, its small form nestled within the crimson glow. She turned to Xi Lan, looking for answers. Xi Lan, who had been quiet all this time, spoke, studying Meng Lins expression. He went into this state shortly after you left, she said. At first, I thought he was simply sleeping, but then this crystal began forming around him, so I panicked and called the others. Meng Lin gently ran her fingers over the boulder''s rough surface, thinking back to where she got those red crystals: the Ancient Spirit Beast Pagoda Tower, a small essence of numerous other ancient spirit beasts. After she had settled down on the island, she released Purple and gave Xi Lan all the spiky crystals, instructing her to feed Purple with them once in a while; it seems something finally happened. She sensed the concentrated energy sealed within and muttered under her breath, Purple is undergoing a transformation. Xi Lin took a hesitant step forward, the earlier tension fading as worry and curiosity took over. So hes alright? Yes, Meng Lin replied, her gaze fixed on the boulder. Certain spirit beasts, especially those with strong potential, will enter this kind of hibernation when theyre ready to break through their bloodline limits. Its rare, but its a good sign. Unbeknownst to Meng Lin, the bloodline of the White Crystal Serpent that she exchanged with Purple''s rattle serpent bloodline was infinitely close to making this breakthrough, yet the White Crystal Serpent''s plan of using the Crystal Lizard as the catalyst to complete that breakthrough was shattered by Meng Lin, and its bloodline was being used for someone else. De Sijie crossed her arms, watching the glow of the crystal. So how long will this take? Meng Lin exhaled, a slight smile crossing her lips. It shouldn''t be long; once he emerges, we can go." "Go where?" De Sijie asked. Meng Lin said, "Once Purple awakens, well head to a high-tier city a few hundred miles away on another island. I need specific ingredients for some pills, ones I can''t find here." Xi Lan tilted her head curiously. "Pills? Are they for you?" Meng Lin nodded. "Yes, I''ve gotten somewhat injured." The girls showed different expressions, concern flickering across their faces. Injured? You didnt mention that before. How bad is it? Meng Lin waved her hand dismissively, the gesture light but firm. Its nothing I cant handle, but it will slow me down if I dont treat it. For now, how about you tell me what you guys found in the storage bags of those bandits?" The three girls set up a small camp near the glowing boulder and began talking, telling Meng Lin all that she had missed. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. After sorting through the storage bags of the bandits, Meng Lin discovered various items typical for a group of cultivators operating in the shadows. First, she found several vials of potions. Among them were healing potions for minor injuries, stamina replenishing elixirs, and a few mysterious concoctions of poison whose effects were unclear but likely potent. Next, she took a storage bag containing a selection of talismans. Some were defensive, while others were for offense or temporary boosts to speed and power. Although all the talismans were of good quality, Meng Lin thought they were not as powerful as the golden talismans in her possession. Among the more interesting finds were a pair of gleaming daggers, well-crafted and surprisingly light. Although only a middle-grade weapon, De Sijie took a liking to it and held the item as if it were a treasure. A scroll with faded ink caught Meng Lin''s attention. It revealed a map marked with various locations that the bandit group had visited, including hidden bandit hideouts and some villages raided by the bandits. It also provided information about groups of people who had interacted with them. Something that surprised Meng Lin slightly was that among all the spirit stones, which combined to 20,000 low-grade spirit stones and 57 mid-grade spirit stones, there were bags that held coins: a collection of gold and silver coins typically used only by mortals. With their findings laid out before them, Meng Lin distributed some of the items among the three girls, making sure to even bring out some items from her inventory so that each of the girls was given adequate resources to both protect and help them cultivate. At noon on the third day, Meng Lin felt a pulse within her heart and opened her eyes before standing up. Crack! Suddenly, a loud crack echoed from the boulder. The girls woke from their meditation and turned toward the source of the sound. The red boulder surrounding Purple began to shatter, revealing the little creature within. Its body trembled as it moved, crimson energy swirling around it like a storm. As the last of the crystal fell away, Purple emerged, his original crystal scales glimmering in shades of dark crimson. He stretched his small body, eyes sparkling with newfound strength and vitality as he looked around at his surroundings, his eyes widening in excitement once he laid eyes on Meng Lin. Meng Lin walked forward and knelt beside him, her voice a mixture of excitement and concern. Are you alright?" Purple let out a low, melodious hiss, his body vibrating with energy. The transformation had increased the limit of his bloodline from Rank 4 to Rank 5; furthermore, his aura indicated that his realm had once again increased, reaching the middle stage of Rank 3. Wow! Xi Lan pointed, her eyes wide with awe. Hes got such beautiful red scales now, and he''s much bigger too! Meng Lin smiled, pride swelling in her chest. Although Purple had only changed from being 2 meters long to now being 7 meters long, it was still small in comparison to how long he was at Rank 2, which was over 20 meters. De Sijie clapped her hands together, her enthusiasm contagious. So now what? What can he do? Meng Lin thought for a moment, recalling the potential abilities associated with the White Crystal Serpent bloodline. Purple''s bloodline should still be the same; however, the change in his scales might indicate something else. "The White Crystal Serpent bloodline should allow him to shoot out his tongue, which contains a powerful poison; his fangs are also the same. He should be able to harness the elemental Qi of ice too in the future. However, that''s all I know about the White Crystal Serpent bloodline." Lets put him to the test! De Sijie suggested, a mischievous glint in her eye. Meng Lin shook her head, though a smile tugged at her lips. Lets not waste any more time; we need to head to the high-tier city and secure the ingredients. The sooner we do that, the sooner I can heal and we can prepare for the Golden Fang Bandits. The group gathered their belongings and quickly stepped onto the Tortoise Dragon, who soared into the air with a flurry of wind. As they ascended, the island below transformed into a tiny speck amidst the vast expanse of the ocean. Meng Lin stood at the front, instructing the Tortoise Dragon on the direction to head toward. De Sijie, now perched on the Tortoise Dragons back, peered over the edge to admire the view. How far is it to this high-tier city? she asked, her voice barely heard over the rush of wind. With the speed that we''re traveling, about half an hour, Meng Lin replied, her gaze scanning the horizon. But we will have to stop a few miles away from the island to change our form of transportation." Xi Lan, her white hair fluttering wildly in the wind, leaned closer to Meng Lin. A change in transportation? Can''t we just fly? Meng Lin shook her head, a hint of seriousness in her voice. to my knowledge, each high-tier city has a Soul Wondering Realm cultivator watching over it, we need to be inconspicuous. Flying directly into the city could attract unwanted attention, especially given my current condition. Xi Lin furrowed her brow. What do you mean? Is your injury that serious? Meng Lin said, My spiritual veins are damaged. Without proper circulation of Qi, I wont be able to use Qi practically." De Sijie raised an eyebrow, her expression turning serious. So we have to find these ingredients quickly, then? Yes, Meng Lin replied, her resolve solid. The sooner I recover, the better prepared well be. A few more minutes into their journey, the coastline of the island came into view. "Hmm," Meng Lin furrowed her brows as she looked ahead. Xi Lin, Xi Lan, and De Sijie at the side noticed it and looked to where Meng Lin was looking; however, other than more sea, they couldn''t see anything else. Suddenly, De Sijie perked up, seeing a fleeting ray of light. "What is that? I can''t see clearly!" Meng Lin squinted her eyes, trying to make sense of the flickering light in the distance. "It seems like theres a fight going on ahead," she said, her voice calm. As they drew closer, within 15 miles of the island, the flickering light transformed into a chaotic scene. A group of cultivators was locked in combat, their movements swift and powerful as they clashed. The air crackled with energy, and waves of force rippled outward from the center of the battle. De Sijie leaned forward with excitement. It really is a fight? Should we help? Meng Lin shook her head. We dont know whos involved or whats happening. Its best to stay hidden for now and observe. As the Tortoise Dragon got closer, they could see that two groups were engaged in fierce combat. One group wore dark robes, their faces concealed, while the other bore distinctive insignias and armorthe city guards. ''Are those rogue cultivators?'' Meng Lin wondered. ''No, they are too weird in their fighting; the guards seem to be overwhelmed.'' Meng Lin released her invisible spiritual consciousness, stretching across vast distances and covering over 19 miles of sea ahead, reaching her limit as she caught a clear view of the situation ahead. It became evident that the dark-robed group were not rogue cultivators but instead a bandit group; their robes held a small mark resembling a skull, the mark of the Veil of Shadows. A small, well-known bandit group that used to operate in the north. Composed of six Gold Core cultivators, they were pressing hard against the city guards, their movements synchronized and ruthless. Meng Lin observed carefully, her gaze sharpening. The Veil of Shadows was a small but notorious bandit group known for using fear and ambush tactics. Seeing them this far from the north was surprising, especially since they rarely initiate fights directly. Whatever had brought them to the city must be significant. "Theyre strong, Xi Lin noted. The guards dont stand a chance. Meng Lin nodded. They must be after something valuable to risk this kind of open confrontation. De Sijie clenched her fists, eagerness in her eyes. Are you going to interfere?" Meng Lin didn''t answer, instead she held up a hand and took a deep breath, releasing a pulse within her invisible spiritual consciousness that settled like a gentle but undeniable pressure over the area. It wasnt an attack, but a silent announcement of her presence, unmistakable to any cultivator caught within it. Instantly the two groups fighting all faltered, their heads turning towards the south of the island, sensing a powerful force approaching at a fast pace. Realizing what was going on, the Veil of Shadows group exchanged tense glances and quickly took out talismans, retreating in flashes of black light towards the opposite direction. De Sijie, seeing the bandits retreat, said. Just like that, theyre running away? Meng Lin watched the bandits disappear over the horizon, her face expressionless. We still don''t know the situation; it''s better to be cautious." With the threat gone for now, Meng Lin gestured to the Tortoise Dragon to continue its flight. Lets keep moving; I sense no Soul Wondering Realm cultivator on the island and since I released my presence, I might as well go in like this..." 219. Agreement with the City Lord As they approached the island, the Tortoise Dragon lowered its altitude, gliding over the ocean and slowing as it neared the battlefield above the island. The group of guards in the air hurried over, each with a sense of unease as they approached the newcomers. They stopped advancing for a moment as their gaze met the Tortoise Dragon, whose aura caused all of them changes in expressions. Not only was it releasing a very powerful and dangerous aura, but it was also a beast that they had never seen before. However, its energy alone indicated that it was at least a rank 4 beast. After a while, a tall man in tattered yet dignified armor approached, his sharp eyes gazing at the Tortoise Dragon before it looked at the several people atop such a powerful beast. His gaze flickered as it landed on the trio of girls, instantly discerning their realms by the aura they released. His gaze stopped on Meng Lin, to whom he offered a respectful bow. "Honored fairy," he began, "thank you for your assistance. I am Captain Zhu Wei, head of the city guard." He straightened. "We were not expecting aid, but it was timely." Meng Lin nodded, her expression impassive. "I merely intervened because I don''t like bandits." She surveyed the guards, noticing their strained, fatigued faces. "It seems your city has been facing some trouble." Captain Zhu Wei sighed, glancing back at his men, who were catching their breath after the intense fight. "Yes, several bandit groups have been more aggressive lately, though this is the first time the Veil of Shadows made a move this far south. It was a difficult battle, and they would have overwhelmed us if not for your presence." Meng Lin shook her head. I merely wanted to come to get some ingredients for my alchemy. Captain Zhu Wei straightened, a glimmer of hope igniting in his gaze. He was about to speak when suddenly a woman''s melodic voice filled the air. "Honored guest," the voice began warmly, "I am Yue Lan, the Lord of Sky Mist City. For your timely intervention, I extend my deepest gratitude." Meng Lins eyes narrowed slightly, recognizing the voice transmission; only a Soul Wandering Realm cultivator could project their voice so clearly from a distance. However, she had not sensed any Soul Wandering Realm cultivators when she released her spiritual consciousness, it left her a bit baffled. She replied, "City Lord Yue Lan, it was merely a passing gesture. As you are here, even if I didn''t intervene, you would have taken care of it." The voice remained silent for a moment, as though thinking about something. Then it responded with a calm yet serious tone. "Honored guest," Yue Lan''s voice continued, "I invite you to join me at my mansion. There, we may discuss matters of mutual concern, and I would be pleased to offer my hospitality to you and your companions." Meng Lin considered the invitation, sensing the underlying importance in Yue Lans tone. She smiled, thinking to herself. The city lord was not merely offering thanksshe clearly valued Meng Lins earlier remark about being an alchemist; otherwise, she would have probably continued to observe rather than send a voice transmission. Very well, Meng Lin replied evenly. Ill accept your invitation. A soft note of satisfaction touched Yue Lans voice as she responded. Thank you, honored guest. Captain Zhu Wei will guide you to my residence. I look forward to our meeting. With that, the voice faded, leaving only the sound of the wind and the steady hum of the Tortoise Dragons energy. Captain Zhu Wei gave Meng Lin a respectful bow. Please, follow me, honored fairy. As Captain Zhu Wei led the way, the Tortoise Dragon followed him as they quickly arrived at the city before descending toward a platform in a less crowded section of the city. As the Tortoise Dragon landed, Meng Lin''s gaze swept over the area, noting the sparse gathering of mortals and a handful of lower-realm cultivators nearby, each casting curious glances at the group. Around the platform was a group of guards that made way for them. The trio of girls along with Meng Lin disembarked from the Tortoise Dragon. De Sijie let out a breath, a bit relieved to be on solid ground. Xi Lin and Xi Lan looked around with slight interest; although the place had fewer cultivators than normal, it was still a sight for the two, who had been with Meng Lin and hadn''t seen much of the cultivation world. Once on the ground, Meng Lin waved her hand, causing the Tortoise Dragon to turn into a torrent of red light that swirled around before sticking to her forearm. The guards around gasped, and Captain Zhu Wei asked with a stammer, A seal? You have a spirit seal? He glanced at the light on Meng Lin''s arm, which turned into the mark of a beast on her forearm. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "Oh." Seeing their shocked expressions, Meng Lin asked with interest, "You know what this is?" Captain Zhu Wei nodded, his expression a mix of fear and respect. Yes, I have heard of spirit seals, particularly ones that bond a cultivator with a powerful ancient beast." Meng Lin regarded the captain thoughtfully, recognizing his knowledge. It seems your city has encountered such a situation before. Do you have experience with other cultivators who possess similar seals? Yes, he replied, glancing around at his guards who were listening intently. We had an encounter with a cultivator some time ago who wielded a spirit seal. However... that man became crazy and went on a rampage before he was ultimately slain. The destruction he caused was significant. Meng Lins brow furrowed slightly. He went crazy." She recalled the events within the Nether Cloud Domain, how an old man was taken over by the will of the ancient beast, the Crimson Lizard. It appears someone who received a spirit seal couldn''t control it fully and had their wills taken over by the ancient spirit beast. Although the thought left her with a sense of unease, she knew how the Tortoise Dragon came to be, so she quickly shifted her thoughts and calmed her mind. Captain Zhu Wei led them through the city, followed by a couple of guards who maintained a vigilant watch over the group. As they walked, the bustling sounds of the city began to fill the air, contrasting sharply with the quiet tension of their earlier encounter. The streets were lined with stalls selling various goods, fragrant herbs to intricate items. Despite the earlier chaos, the people seemed to have become accustomed to it, with merchants calling out to passersby and cultivators darting between stalls. Meng Lin took in the sights, her heightened sense recognizing some things. She could feel a small undercurrent of anxiety on the face of the crowd. The past bandit attacks had undoubtedly left a mark, and the air was thick with the lingering dread of potential threats. After navigating through a maze of bustling marketplaces, they arrived at a grand mansion that stood out amidst the surrounding architecture. As they approached, a pair of intricately carved doors swung open, revealing a lavishly decorated entryway. Upon entering the mansion, they were led by a maid through a few hallways before arriving at a wide room. They were greeted by the scent of fragrant tea wafting through the air, calming yet elegant. A woman draped in a long red robe sat elegantly on a plush chair, her demeanor exuding grace. Her long, flowing hair framed her features, and her eyes sparkled with an intelligent glimmer. She got up and cupped her hands. Yue Lan of the Breeze Sect greets fellow cultivators." Her voice was melodic, resonating with authority and warmth. Meng Lin walked forward, returning the gesture. I am Meng Lin of the Soul Shattering Sect, she replied, a subtle smile gracing her lips. She was still wondering why she couldn''t sense any energy fluctuations from Yue Lan. She noted the flicker of surprise in Yue Lans eyes, but it was quickly replaced. Ah, the Soul Shattering Sect, she mused, her tone reflecting respect. Ive heard of your esteemed sect. Its a rare honor to have you here, especially considering the recent turmoil." Meng Lin replied, Thank you for your kind words, City Lord Yue. I appreciate your hospitality. As they settled into the plush seating, the maid served them fragrant tea. Yue Lan leaned forward, her gaze piercing yet inviting. I heard that you are an alchemist. What ingredients did you come here to obtain?" Meng Lin smiled, noticing how Yue Lan didn''t beat around the bush. Reaching into her robe, she took out a small folded slip of paper and tossed it, explaining, I am looking for the ingredients for three different pills; here is a list of ingredients." Yue Lan looked at her maid at the side, who waved her hand, drawing the slip of paper into Yue Lan''s hands. She scanned the ingredients. Her brow furrowed in thought, a hint of intrigue in her expression. ''These ingredients I cant recall any specific pill that would require this combination. More importantly...'' Yue Lan looked over the list of ingredients carefully, her expression thoughtful as she read each item. After a moment, she glanced up at Meng Lin, curiosity in her eyes. ''These ingredients theyre uncommon, advanced-level materials. If I wasn''t looking for all sorts of exotic spiritual plants, then I wouldn''t recognize them.'' Her gaze lingered on Meng Lin, a touch of admiration showing through. Are you perhaps a Rank 4 alchemist? Hearing Yue Lans words, the trio of girls by Meng Lins side were taken aback. Their miss a rank 4 alchemist? When and how did that happen? Just a few months ago, Meng Lin had barely learned how to concoct a single pill, and the first time they met Meng Lin had to ask them what some normal pills could do and now she was already a Rank 4 alchemist. Obviously, their miss would say no, right. Meng Lin inclined her head slightly, acknowledging the compliment without adding more. Yes, I am a Rank 4 alchemist, she said simply, meeting Yue Lans gaze with calm assurance. Hearing the statement from Meng Lin herself, the eyes of the trio widened in disbelief, and De Sijie, being the blunt one, opened her mouth to speak but was quickly silenced by a gentle tap of Xi Lins fingers. Yue Lan nodded slowly, her expression turning serious as she folded the list and set it aside. ''To reach such a level at her ageit''s no small feat. She should be only in her mid-20s to early 30s. Even in the Breeze Sect, Rank 4 alchemists are revered. Just who is she?'' She leaned forward. I do have the ingredients youre looking for, but I would like to make a proposal." Meng Lin looked at her steadily, waiting for her to continue. Yue Lan looked at the trio of girls beside Meng Lin and shook her head before speaking. Years ago, my soul core was damaged. The cracks in it limit how much spiritual energy I can use, affecting almost all my abilities. She straightened slightly, her tone becoming firm again. Ive searched for all the ingredients; however, I wasn''t able to get the help of any Rank 4 alchemist." If you could assist me in concocting a pill that would mend the cracks in my soul core, I would be willing to exchange all the ingredients you need for the pills you mentioned earlier. Additionally, I can offer my assistance in any way you see fit within Sky Mist City. Meng Lin weighed the proposal carefully. Helping Yue Lan could benefit her in the long run. What kind of pill are you looking to create? she asked. A Core Restoration Pill, Yue Lan explained. Its a rare concoction, requiring specific spiritual herbs that can stabilize and heal a damaged soul core." After a moment, she nodded. Ill help you refine the pill." Relief and gratitude softened Yue Lans expression as she nodded. Thank you. This this means more than I can say. She gestured to a maid nearby, who bowed and left the room. Ill have everything you need delivered to your quarters, and when youre ready, we can begin the refining process. Yue Lan got up and excused herself in a slightly hurried manner. Meng Lin gave a small nod of acknowledgment, turning to her companions. De Sijie, Xi Lin, and Xi Lan still held looks of amazement and puzzlement. 220. Alchemy Jade Slips As Meng Lin settled into the comfortable room prepared for her, she took the time to look through her system menu. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wandering Stage (Middle)] [Experience Points: 10%] System Coin: 1080 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha Wheel: Unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold 20%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] [Comprehension 0.06%] Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seal: Crimson Tortoise Dragon [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin studied the screen, her gaze focusing on her alchemy section, quickly bringing up the panel for it. [Alchemy (Expert) 1%] Pill Slot: None Ingredients: None Chance of Success: 25% She held a small smile as she gazed at the alchemy panel; after successfully refining two Spirit Rejuvenation Pills, she had not tried to create anything else, thus her percentage remained at 1. She closed her system menu and felt a flicker of anticipation. This was an opportunity to elevate her alchemy skills, and she was determined to make the most of it. The Core Restoration Pill, much simpler than the Spirit Rejuvenation Pill, was still a rank four pill. It required precision and patience. She knew the City Lord, Yue Lan, would be cautious, likely providing several sets of ingredients to ensure success. For Meng Lin, these extra resources would mean more proficiency and a higher chance of successeach attempt increasing her chance of success and also boosting her overall proficiency. She had the High Tier Rootless Flame, which increased her chance of success even more, so she felt confident that she could steadily refine her skills with each attempt. And once she got her hands on the ingredients for the Spirit Rejuvenation Pills, she wouldn''t have to worry about a low chance of success because, by then, her alchemy proficiency would be much higher, allowing her to make even more pills. Meng Lin quickly inserted the Core Restoration Pill into the pill slot of her Alchemy panel, wanting to see the ingredients of the pill. Her thoughts, however, were briefly interrupted by Xi Lin and Xi Lan, who approached, curiosity dancing in their eyes. "Miss," Xi Lin started hesitantly, "when did you reach Rank 4 in alchemy?" Meng Lin offered them a faint smile, evading a deep explanation. Its nothing special, she replied casually while turning away from them When I left before to go to a secret realm, I met a master at the Ensoulment Realm who gave me the inheritance of a master alchemist. That''s how I quickly advanced in Alchemy." Meng Lins nonchalance about meeting an Ensoulment Realm cultivators as well as a master alchemists inheritance piqued their interest slightly, but they didn''t ask further, understanding that Meng Lin didn''t want to talk about it. De Sijie, at the side, wore a frown that deepened as she listened, her arms crossed, a hint of skepticism in her eyes. She wasnt one to accept things at face value, especially when it came to Meng Lin, whose abilities always seemed to defy the usual norms. Her own Crimson Flame Art was comparable to the core cultivation manuals of rank 4 or 5 sects, yet a casual manual given out by Meng Lin was of a similar grade. However, being an alchemist herself, the idea of Meng Lin receiving such advanced alchemy knowledge with relative ease left a bitter taste in her mouth, if only she was that lucky. Meng Lin noticed De Sijie''s expression but remained unbothered. She returned her attention to the Alchemy panel, selecting the Core Restoration Pill and focusing on the ingredient list. As the panel displayed each component, she noted them carefully, mentally preparing herself for the process. The Core Restoration Pill required a few standard medicinal herbs, though it also needed rare ones with precise energy properties. She mused that with her High Tier Rootless Flame, shed have greater control over the refinement process, especially with a pill that depended on flame control. *** Later that evening, a maid came to the room, holding an ornate box containing rare herb descriptions and a small slip of paper containing the refining process of multiple Rank 4 alchemy, as well as the Core Restoration Pill. Meng Lin recognized several sets of ingredients that she had seen on the alchemy panel, and her thoughts became assured. More importantly, her eyes shined with glee as she quickly began reading several of the jade slips, understanding how rare it was to get ones hand on such knowledge.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. She had been slightly worried about the alchemy panel, but with this, her confidence grew and she knew her alchemy chance of success had suddenly increased by a large margin. Looking at the several jade slips, she wanted to immediately go and visit Yue Lan and ask her if she has anything just like the jade slips. However, having not known Yue Lan for too long, Meng Lin maintained a certain amount of caution regarding the fact that she was dealing with a cultivator in the same realm as herself. The next moment, Meng Lin, accompanied by the three girls and the maid, headed to the alchemy chamber provided in the mansion. The room was lined with shelves of tools and components and some luminescent stones to light the room up. As Meng Lin arrived at the alchemy chamber, her gaze met Yue Lan, who stood patiently near the entrance. Yue Lan acknowledged her presence with a slight nod and gestured toward a nearby table covered with various sets of rare herbs and spiritual plants. Meng Lins eyes flicked over the ingredients, confirming that Yue Lan had indeed prepared multiple sets, likely anticipating the challenging refinement process. Yue Lan spoke calmly, Ive provided six complete sets of ingredients, just in case. As a Rank 4 pill, the Core Restoration Pill is no simple tasksuccess rates for alchemists at this level tend to hover between twenty and forty percent. Meng Lin nodded, her expression steady. Thank you, City Lord Yue. Ill surely be able to create one or two pills from this. Please ask everyone to wait outsideI dont wish to be disturbed. Yue Lan raised an eyebrow, seeming slightly surprised by Meng Lins last sentence, but she respected her request, gesturing to her maid, Xi Lin, Xi Lan, and De Sijie, who all followed her out. As the door shut, Meng Lin was left alone in the quiet, spacious room, surrounded by the array of rare herbs and the luminescent stones. She took a deep breath, centering herself as she opened her system menu and confirmed the Core Restoration Pill in the alchemy panel. With her High Tier Rootless Flame, she knew her chances were slightly higher than usual, though still challenging. She looked towards the door, and after contemplating, she tossed out a small sealed scroll, quickly employing the Soul Confusing Array, which came in the form of a white fog that covered the walls of the room. Meng Lin was quite pleased with the item, for it had accompanied her even more than Purple; its ability to confuse the soul came in handy, though it was about to outlive its usefulness. [Alchemy (Expert) 1%] Pill Slot: Core Restoration Pill Ingredients: Moonlight Dew x2, Blood Jade Ginseng x1, Voidshade Herb x2, SoulBind Herb x4 Chance of Success: 60%. From 25 percent all the way to 60 percent. Meng Lin marveled at the few jade slips that were given to her by the maid. Just looking over and having an understanding of the jade slips of the previous alchemy refining process for the Core Restoration Pill had already boosted her already slightly better chance to more than double. "Six sets of ingredients. If I make more pills than needed, I could keep a few for myself. After all, a pill that restores the soul coreit''s bound to have its uses beyond this deal. Seated down, Meng Lin summoned the small alchemy furnace and began to first burn the ingredients with the Rootless Flame, removing all the impurities, before placing them within the alchemy furnace. Pressing start, Meng Lin observed the ingredients within the furnace through her spiritual consciousness. A small timer of 30 minutes appeared beside the furnace, the High-Grade Rootless Flame already cutting the time by a considerable margin. Meng Lin focused intently on the alchemy process, her spiritual consciousness finely tuned to the space within the furnace. As the seconds ticked down, the ingredients began to meld together. The impurities had already been removed by the Rootless Flame, thus no problems arose in the quality; the process however... **** Outside the alchemy chamber of the manor stood Yue Lan, who occasionally flickered her gaze toward her maid servant as well as Xi Lin, Xi Lan, and De Sijie, who had gathered in a corner, each one silently awaiting the outcome of the alchemy process. Yue Lan appeared calm, her expression unreadable, but there was concern behind her eyes. She had been watching the door for a while, and although her posture remained poised, a subtle unease lingered within her. ''It has been three hours since Meng Lin began her alchemy refining process...'' Yue Lan thought to herself, her fingers lightly tapping against her sleeve. She had not expected the process to take this long, though she knew that the refinement of a Rank 4 pill was no small feat, especially with the additional complexity of the ingredients. Her anxiety, however, stemmed not just from the time that had passed, but from the possibility that the young woman inside the chamber might fail. After all, Yue Lan had offered six sets of ingredients, and she might have tried to play it off as more than enough. She herself knew that six sets was just the bare minimum to make just a single pill, however she couldn''t do anything about, those six were all the sets of ingredients that she had left; if she had more, then she would have added to it. This was also her way of not limiting her betsif Meng Lin failed, it would be a big loss, but if she succeeded, it could only be advantageous to both parties. The hum of spiritual energy coming from the alchemy room seemed to intensify as another hour passed, drawing Yue Lans focus back to the door. Suddenly, the door to the alchemy chamber opened with a soft creak, and Yue Lan stood frozen for a moment, holding her breath. Meng Lin stepped out, the fragrant aroma of her past alchemy inside wafting into the air. Yue Lans eyes brightened. "How did it go?" Meng Lins expression remained calm. "Two pills, both for you," she said while raising her hand. Within it was a small, glowing vial containing two perfectly formed Core Restoration Pills. The rich, ethereal glow of the pills was unmistakableboth were of high quality, the result of Meng Lins meticulous control over the alchemical process. Yue Lans eyes widened in genuine surprise, her usual calm demeanor cracking slightly at the sight of the flawless pills. She stepped forward, her fingers trembling slightly as she took the vial from Meng Lins hand. The scent of spiritual energy emanating from the pills was potent, a clear indication of their success. "You you made two?" Yue Lans voice was soft, almost in disbelief. "The success rate is so low, yet you managed to refine two of them?" Meng Lins lips curled slightly in a subtle smile, though her expression remained composed. "I said Id make one or two, and thats what I did. Your ingredients were sufficient." Yue Lan nodded, taking a moment to compose herself before her usual poise returned. "I am impressed. I truly am. You have my gratitude." Her voice carried a sense of respect, but there was also a sharpness in her gazesomething about this young alchemist piqued her interest, beyond mere transactional dealings. "Ill ensure the transaction is completed immediately," Yue Lan continued, her tone now warmer, tinged with unspoken appreciation for Meng Lins skill. She quickly took out a small storage bag from her sleeve, which she handed to Meng Lin. "As agreed, the ingredients for the pills you asked for, plus a bonus." Meng Lins gaze flicked toward the storage bag before she accepted it with a nod of acknowledgment. "Thank you," Meng Lin replied, her voice steady, but a spark of curiosity lit within her. She had expected a straightforward exchange, and she got just that. Yue Lan observed Meng Lin closely, her sharp eyes never leaving the young alchemist. She felt that Meng Lin was something rare even among higher-ranked alchemists, combined with the aura that Meng Lin emanated. With a soft smile, Yue Lan gestured toward the door. "Please, if youd like, we can discuss future matters over tea or dinner. I find that such things are best enjoyed with a more personal exchange." Meng Lin glanced over her shoulder, seeing Xi Lin, Xi Lan, and De Sijie lingering nearby, waiting for her. "Perhaps another time," Meng Lin replied, her voice as measured as ever. "For now, I have other matters to attend to." Yue Lans smile remained, though there was a glimmer of understanding behind her eyes. "As you wish. I will leave the invitation open." Meng Lin nodded once more, then turned on her heel, heading toward her companions. As they walked through the manors halls, the sharp gaze of Yue Lan stayed with her for a few more seconds before fading. Once outside the manor, Meng Lins expression softened, and she released a quiet breath. "We have what we came for," she said, looking at Xi Lin and the others. "Lets head out and buy a few things before leaving. There are still things we need to prepare for." 221. Peak Stage Soul Wondering Realm Aura Within one of the bustling restaurants in Sky Mist City, Meng Lin sat with Xi Lin, De Sijie, and Xi Lan at a table on the second floor. Gazing out the window, Meng Lin couldn''t help but feel a slight sense of nostalgia. The place was alive with cultivators from various realms, most of them at the Qi Gathering and Foundation Establishment Realm. Her gaze returned to the dish on the table, which featured ingredients carefully selected to nourish cultivators. Despite her high cultivation level, which made sustenance unnecessary, Meng Lin found unexpected joy in eating. The dishes before her were far beyond ordinary foodthey were infused with spiritual energy, their colors vivid and their aromas tantalizing. She lifted her chopsticks, savoring each bite with relish, a peaceful expression crossing her face. It was a simple indulgence, but one she cherished deeply. De Sijie stuffed her mouth with food using her chopsticks, eating with slight elegance. These Rank 3 dishes are something else! The spiritual energy in them is practically overflowing! And they taste so good! Xi Lin nodded thoughtfully, her gaze drifting to Meng Lin as she spoke. Ive heard that Rank 3 dishes like these are quite rare, even among the higher realms. To think that the City Lord would give these out so easilyis this the bonus she was talking about? No, Meng Lin shook her head before continuing. These dishes were not part of any bonus she mentioned. Meng Lin took a bite, feeling a slight amount of qi running through her body. "I told the manager of the restaurant to bring out their finest dish; this is simply the result of careful selection and preparation by master chefs who understand the spiritual essence of food." Xi Lan, who had been quietly observing, now spoke up with her usual calmness. I see. At your level of cultivation, food doesnt provide nourishment in the usual sense, but you still had us come here after merely passing bydo you just like eating? De Sijie, who had been stuffing her face with the dish, gave a playful laugh. Who doesn''t like enjoying the taste of food? Theres no harm in eating once in a while, right? She flashed a grin, clearly pleased by the overflowing spiritual energy in the food. She continued, Although I wonder if Miss is just pretending to enjoy this. Could it be that youre secretly relishing the attention from everyone? You certainly have the presence for it, she teased, throwing a sly glance at a nearby table where several cultivators in extravagant clothing had turned their attention to the group. Among them, some radiated the aura of the Gold Core Realm; they were among the elites of Sky Mist City, hailing from prestigious clans with names recognized by nearly everyone in the city. Yet despite their high standing, they couldn''t help but feel a strange pressure whenever they glanced at Meng Lin and her group. Some of them had already begun connecting Meng Lin with the Soul Wandering cultivator''s aura that swept through the area. Meng Lin gave a nonchalant shrug, her expression unchanged. Let them stare. So long as we''re not disturbed, I''ll tolerate it, she said, returning to her meal. After a brief pause, the conversation shifted. Xi Lan, appearing older and keen on discussing her own cultivation progress, leaned back in her seat. With this, I think Ill be reaching the middle stage very soon. Maybe in a few more days. Her voice was calm, but there was a flicker of excitement in her eyes. De Sijies eyes narrowed slightly, a playful but competitive spark in them. Oh? So, youre going to jump to the middle stage already? Thats fast. She placed her chopsticks down with a deliberate clink. I should reach the peak stage in just a month or two, if I really push myself. Xi Lin glanced at her, her smile serene. She was about to say something when suddenly she paused. Not just her; everyone on the second floor paused in what they were doing. The cause of everyone''s paused action was a powerful spiritual aura sweeping through the area, its origin coming from the City Manor. Meng Lin held an intrigued look as she looked out the window, surprise evident in her eyes. Earlier, when she first arrived, she couldn''t sense the actual cultivation level of the City Lord. However, now she could clearly feel the aura of a peak-stage cultivator, even more powerful than the aura of Senior Sister Liu when she was at the peak stage. "What was that just now?" The cultivators in the restaurant, as well as in various parts of the city, were visibly affected by the sudden surge of spiritual power. Whispers started to circulate among the tables as cultivators exchanged surprised glances and speculated on the origin of the overwhelming aura. De Sijie, wiping her mouth, raised an eyebrow. The City Lord? Did she do something just now? Xi Lin leaned forward, her expression serious. It appears so. Thats the aura of someone who has reached the peak of the Soul Wandering Realm. Ive never felt anything like it. Meng Lin continued to gaze out the window, her expression thoughtful. "The City Lord had a cracked soul coresomething that limited her ability to store spiritual energy. Now that she has two Core Restoration Pills, this should be the result of her cracked soul core being healed." The atmosphere in the restaurant shifted. Some of the cultivators around them were now looking toward the City Lord''s manor, their senses attuned to the spiritual energy that had just emerged. A few whispers grew louder, and one of the older cultivators at a nearby table commented, I heard the City Lord was a genius of the Raising Star Rank; it seems that''s true. I wonder if the rumors about her cracked soul core were false." The conversation in the restaurant grew more hushed as the powerful aura from the City Lord''s manor began to settle down.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Meng Lin caught the hint of recognition in the other cultivators voice and smiled. "Sounds like the City Lord has more than one trick up her sleeve," she said softly, almost to herself. Back when she had made four Core Restoration Pills, she gave two of them to the City Lord to lower any suspicions about the refinement process. However, she didn''t think that just a few hours after receiving the pills, the City Lord would be fully healed to her peak; it seems the effects of the Core Restoration Pill were not just for show. Then, as if snapping out of her thoughts, she turned to the others. This doesnt concern us right now. Lets finish our meal and be on our way. We still have places to visit before leaving. De Sijie stood up with a grin. Let''s just go now; we''re already full, and I am interested to see what a high-tier city has to offer. Xi Lin and Xi Lan stood as well, though their expressions were a bit more thoughtful. The interruption had clearly left an impression on them. Outside, the streets were crowded, as usual, with cultivators moving between various stalls, shops, and vendors. The girls quickly found themselves making their way toward a few of the vendors they had intended to visit earlier. They picked up a few rare herbs, some low and mid spiritual weapons, and an assortment of alchemy and blacksmithing materials. Along the way, Meng Lins eyes were drawn toward a vendor selling broken spiritual weapons, her gaze flickering with curiosity. The stall was small but well-organized, with a range of damaged blades, staffs, and armor pieces laid out in neat rows. Some of the items looked like they had once been powerful. She paused for a moment, inspecting a rusted sword with faint spiritual runes etched into its hilt. The aura it emitted was faint, but Meng Lin''s sharp spiritual consciousness detected traces of a once-powerful formation embedded within the weapon. Looking through the entire stall with her spiritual consciousness, Meng Lin found only three other weapons that caught her eye. The vendor, a hunched old man with a patchy beard, noticed Meng Lin''s interest and shuffled over. His voice was raspy, but there was a gleam of pride in his eyes as he spoke. "Ah, I see you have a keen eye, young lady. These are rare finds. Most of them come from cultivators who fell in battle." Meng Lin''s gaze shifted to the vendor. "How much for one of them?" Her tone was calm, but there was an undercurrent of genuine interest. The vendor scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Depends on the weapon, miss. Some can be restored to their former glory with the right materials and craftsmanship, while others are too far gone. For something like that sword youre looking at..." He paused, studying her. "I could sell it to you for 50 low-tier spirit stones. But if you want it repaired, you''d need to find a skilled blacksmith. Reforging a weapon like this can be costly." Meng Lin tilted her head slightly, considering the offer. The sword was clearly damaged, and its power was at most at the level of an early-grade spiritual weapon, and it was selling for a high price of 50 spirit stones. However its potential was clearly undeniable. If she could find the right materials, it could be restored into something much more powerful. Her mind went back to the items she had. The Soul Water Drop, the Crystal from the Crystal Serpent''s cave, and the Crystal of Pure Yin from the High-Grade System packif she used those, as well as the dagger overflowing with demonic aura, then she could create powerful advanced or top-grade weapons. "Fifty low-tier spirit stones, huh?" she mused aloud, her gaze turning to three other items. "What about these other three weapons?" The vendor nodded, clearly eager to make a sale. "Ah, the other three are similar. Not in the best condition, but they all have traces of spiritual energy embedded in them. If you want them all, I could sell them to you for a total of 150 spirit stones, but again, they will require significant work." Meng Lin''s eyes flickered with interest. These were not just any ordinary weapons; they had probably been middle or advanced-grade spiritual weapons, and if she could restore them, they might serve her well. Besides, the price was negligible. "Deal," she said after a moment of contemplation, her voice firm. "I''ll take them." The vendors face lit up, clearly pleased. He shuffled over to a corner of the stall and carefully handed the four weapons to Meng Lin. "You have a good eye, young lady," he repeated. Meng Lin accepted the bundle with a nod, tucking it away in her storage bag. She nodded, her expression unreadable. She turned to the others, who had been watching the transaction with mild curiosity. Xi Lin raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing. "Four broken weapons? Are you planning to repair them all, or is there a reason for this?" Meng Lin gave a small smile, her eyes gleaming. "Just curious about their potential. They should have some unique traits." De Sijie, who had been more interested in browsing the stalls, shrugged. "Well, if you think theyre worth the effort, I suppose it could be interesting to see what you can do with them." Xi Lan added, "Lets hope you find the right blacksmith, then." Meng Lin simply nodded and didn''t say anything; her thoughts were already moving ahead to how to repair them. They stopped by a few more vendors and stores before they finally made their way to the edge of the city, where the platform was located. Without much fanfare, Meng Lin summoned the Crimson Tortoise Dragon, which materialized in a flash of brilliant light. The dragons majestic form hovered above the ground, its powerful aura stirring up the air and attracting bystanders. The trio of girls, along with Meng Lin, settled atop the dragons back. Lets go." As the Crimson Tortoise Dragon soared through the skies, the familiar sight of Sky Mist City slowly shrank into a distant silhouette, fading beneath them. Meng Lin sat at the front, her gaze focused ahead, her expression contemplative as the wind tugged at her hair. The dragon, undeterred by the strong currents, moved with a grace that betrayed its immense size, its long, sinuous body cutting through the air like a serpent in water. Xi Lin, sitting next to Meng Lin, broke the silence. "So, were leaving already? Is there something we need to do outside the city?" Meng Lin turned her head slightly, a faint smile gracing her lips. "Ive already found a secluded island," she said calmly, her tone laced with purpose. "Thats where were headed." De Sijie, lying lazily atop the dragons back, sat up with a raised eyebrow. "A secluded island? Sounds mysterious. Why there, of all places?" "Its hidden," Meng Lin explained. "Its in a spatial barrier formed from a formation, so it cant be seen by ordinary means." Xi Lan, always quick to catch on, nodded thoughtfully. "A hidden island... That sounds like its the perfect place to lay low." Meng Lin replied. "Exactly, there are pills I need to refine, as well as heal my spiritual veins." The Crimson Tortoise Dragon sliced through the air, passing a few scattered islands before Meng Lin guided it toward their destination. The sea below stretched out endlessly, an expanse of blue with hints of green where islands emerged like forgotten relics of an ancient world. After what felt like hours, the dragon veered off course, heading into a less-traveled stretch of the ocean. Below, the islands became increasingly sparse until only open water remained. De Sijie, watching the horizon, raised an eyebrow. "How much farther?" Meng Lin looked up at the dragons steady flight, her eyes narrowing as she felt the familiar pull from the Void-State Tablet In her robe. "Not far now." The island itself was concealed in the folds of space, invisible to the eye and unreachable by most means. Even the dragons sharp senses seemed to register nothing but the endless sea as they passed by, but Meng Lin knew exactly where to go because of the Void-State Tablet. She was about to speak when a flicker of light shimmered in the air ahead, an island 12 miles in diameter appeared out of nowhere. Meng Lin smiled; that was definitely her master''s doing. Looking ahead, her eyebrows raised in shock as she saw a grand palace towering into the sky at the center of the island. The palace was emanating a large amount of spiritual energy, and at the highest point of the palace lay a platform with a panoramic view of the entire island. "Since when was that there?" Meng Lin said, shock evident on her face. 222. Rank 6 Alchemist Inheritance Meng Lin began to think as she gazed at the towering palace, the spiritual energy emanating from it was swirling in the air like a magnetic force. The platform at the top of the palace seemed to glow with an ethereal light, and upon seeing it, Meng Lin told the Crimson Tortoise Dragon to land there. As the Crimson Tortoise Dragon descended toward the platform, Meng Lin couldnt help but feel a twinge of surprise. Her master, Li Yu, had always been mysterious and low key, never showing much of what she could do. But this. The island, the palace, and the sheer spiritual energy around it were beyond what she had experienced before. When the dragon touched down, its massive form folded neatly as it landed, Meng Lin quickly dismounted, followed by Xi Lin, De Sijie, and Xi Lan. They all took in the breathtaking view of the palace, their expressions a mix of awe and curiosity. The moment they set foot on the platform, a soft voice echoed through the air, warm yet commanding. "Youre back." Meng Lin''s gaze flickered as she recognized the voice immediately. It was Li Yu. Suddenly, the space in front of them tore open and from within the torn space a serene figure was seated crossed legged on a bed. She looked just as Meng Lin remembered, but there was an unmistakable aura of calm strength about her, Li Yu brought down her raised hand, her movements were slower than usual. Li Yu gave a slight smile through the portal. "You took longer than expected." Meng Lin hurried to ask. "Master, this place When did you?" Li Yus replied. "This palace? I constructed it using the spiritual energy of the island. Well be staying here for a while, so I thought it would be best to create a place for us to rest and tend to our needs. The spiritual energy here is abundant, so it will aid in your cultivation as well as the cultivation of your three aids." Meng Lin blinked in disbelief. "You made all of this with just spiritual energy?" Li Yu nodded. "At my level, controlling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is a simple task, especially for something like this. This is a temporary residence, after all. Nothing too difficult." She continued " I will continue to tend to my injury, you should too." With that the small tore in space closed and the Meng Lin and the others were left on the platform. Meng Lin stood still for a moment, feeling a bit of gratitude towards her master. Li Yu had been thoughtful and resourceful enough to create this palace, even when she was injured. "We should rest then and choose our rooms," Meng Lin said, turning to her companions. As the group settled into the palace, Meng Lin led them in having a small tour of the various chambers, all constructed with the same spiritual energy that suffused the entire place. There were rooms for cultivation, rest, and even a space dedicated to blacksmith and alchemy, it seems her master had thought of everything. De Sijie, Xi Lin and Xi Lan feeling the influx of energy in the air, directly went to different cultivation rooms, circulating their cultivation methods and absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy. Meng Lin, however, didn''t have the same immediate urge to cultivate. Her mind was already focused on something more pressing. With a sense of urgency, she walked through the palace and made her way to the designated alchemy room, closing the door behind her shut. The room, like all other rooms within the palace was vast yet empty, and suffused with rich spiritual energy that seemed to swirl around her, making the air feel dense. Meng Lin walked over to the middle of the room, her mind already bringing up the system menu. Sitting down, crossed legged. She opened the alchemy panel and began to insert the pill slot with the Spirit Rejuvenation Pill. [Alchemy (Expert)1>8%] Pill Slot: Spirit Rejuvenation Pill. Ingredients: 5 Spirit Blossom Petals, 2 Dragon''s Blood Herb, and 1 Moonlight Dew Chance of Success: 65%. Meng Lin took out the storage bag given to her by City Lord Yue Lan, and she began taking out the items within. She had already scanned the contents of the storage bag when she got it, and she had found that there were six distinct stocks of ingredient, each stock had the ingredients for the Spirit Rejuvenation Pill, however there were additional ingredients too. Meng Lin had written three rank 4 fake pill recipes with the ingredients for the Spirit Rejuvenation Pill added within. In the unlikely case that City Lord Yue had ulterior motives like stealing the recipes, she wouldn''t be able to figure out the right ingredients from the fake. As each ingredient is precious, Meng Lin doesn''t think the city lord will go to the extent of trying every combination of the pill ingredients just to get the recipe. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. So after separating the real from the fake, Meng Lin was able to get 5 stocks of ingredients just for the Spirit Rejuvenation Pills. Other than that, she also saw that there were five jade talismans as well as a piece of paper within the storage bag, the so call bonus that Yue Lan had mentioned. The five stocks of the required ingredientsSpirit Blossom Petals, Dragon''s Blood Herb, and Moonlight Dewwere of good quality and she quickly sorted them out before storing them inside her system inventory. She turned towards the five jade slips and one piece of paper, her mind racing. Yue Lan had made her intentions clear through the jade slips and the piece of paper that accompanied them. While the jade slips contained valuable rank 4 alchemy insights, it was the paper that caught Meng Lin''s attention most. The paper boldly declared "Rank 6 Alchemist Inheritance," a phrase that suggested a much more significant opportunity for Meng Lin. "Rank 6 Alchemist Inheritance?" she muttered under her breath. "Yue Lan wouldnt just hand over something like this. Is it real? Or is she testing me?" The jade slips beside the paper radiated faint spiritual fluctuations, each containing rank 4 alchemy insights. Those were tangiblepractical and immediately useful. But this paper? It felt more like a key or a riddle than a straightforward offer. She glanced toward the storage bag Yue Lan had given her, her thoughts swirling. A Soul Wandering Realm cultivator with a cracked soul core and now this inheritance? Why is she so eager to pull me into her plans? Meng Lin let out a small, dry laugh. Shes clever. Dangling an inheritance in front of me like a carrot. Does she know something I dont? Her voice softened as she thought aloud, her fingers gripping the paper more tightly. What if its real? Just reading the Rank 4 jade slips are enough for me to progress this much without wasting valuable resource, if I had the rank 5 and 6 jade slips then it would only be a matter of time before I can reach Rank 6. the techniques, the methods, the knowledge That could change everything. But why trust me with it? Unless " Unless she doesnt have it yet. Could it be that she needs my help to claim it or does she merely want to exchange the location with me The thought lingered, gnawing at her curiosity. She didn''t want to make any premature decisions especially when dealing with a lack of information. Although the offer is alluring, alchemy wasn''t her main occupation, just another way to gain more power, she could only sigh and put the matter at the back of her mind. After carefully folding the paper and setting it aside, Meng Lin turned her attention to the jade slips. Although they were not as powerful as the inheritance hinted at on the paper, the rank 4 insights contained within the slips were still incredibly valuable. They offered advanced techniques and methods that could help increase her chance of success. Meng Lin spent the next few hours carefully absorbing the jade slip''s teachings, each one adding new layers of understanding to her alchemical practice. As she finally set the last jade slip aside, Meng Lin felt a deep sense of confidence and she finally turned her attention towards the alchemy panel. [Alchemy (Expert)8>20%] Pill Slot: Spirit Rejuvenation Pill. Ingredients: 5 Spirit Blossom Petals, 2 Dragon''s Blood Herb, and 1 Moonlight Dew Chance of Success: 65%. As Meng Lin stared at the alchemy panel in her system menu, she felt a surge of excitement. Her proficiency had climbed from 1% to 20% in a single day. Even though the 65% success rate for the Spirit Rejuvenation Pill remained the same, she still felt overflowing confidence in refining it. Taking out one stack of the ingredients for the Spirit Rejuvenation Pill, Meng Lin arranged them with precision, her movements ease and steady. She activated the Rootless Flame, and controlled the flame to slowly burn away impurities of the Spirit Blossom Petals until it turned into shimmering droplets of pure essence. The Dragons Blood Herb came next. The herb mixed with the droplets of pure essence from Spirit Blossom Petals, coating the herb before being carefully placed inside the small alchemy furnace. Pressing start, the concoction began without the Moonlight Dew and Meng Lin used her spiritual consciousness to look at the situation within the furnace. The Rootless Flame flickered with vibrant intensity, its heat carefully controlled as it was placed under the alchemy furnace. The Dragons Blood Herb that was surrounded by the shimmering droplets of pure essence began to break down, its essence intertwining harmoniously with the surrounding pure essence. Despite her confidence, Meng Lin took a deep breath, she didnt let her guard down for a second. She waited until the timer reached 15 minutes and the ingredients reached a complete state of harmony before introducing the Moonlight Dew. It was the most delicate ingredient, its ethereal nature easily disrupted by even the slightest imbalance. Meng Lin''s eyes narrowed in concentration as she slowly put the Moonlight Dew into the furnace. The dew evaporated almost instantly, releasing a faint silver mist that enveloped the mixture inside. She guided the mist with her spiritual consciousness, ensuring it evenly permeated the concoction. The alchemy furnace trembled slightly, signaling the final stage of the refinement process, a faint glow emanated from the combined ingredients. Moments later, the trembling stopped, and the glow intensified before subsiding as a small chime was heard from the furnace. Meng Lin exhaled slowly, a satisfied smile forming on her lips. She opened the furnace and two perfectly formed pills floated out the furnace, their surfaces glistening with an iridescent sheen. [Congratulations! You have successfully created two Expert-Grade Pills: Spirit Rejuvenation Pills] As she held the pill in her hand, she couldn''t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. "Perfect," she whispered. Two down, and several more to go. Storing the completed pills, Meng Lin glanced at the remaining ingredients in her inventory. With that, the chance of success is 70%, I should be able to refine the rest with greater efficiency now. One step at a time, Meng Lin murmured, reigniting the Rootless Flame. **** Yuan Kingdom Huanxia province Skyveil Sect, a prominent mid-tier Rank 4 sect in Huanxia province, a powerhouse of several Nascent Soul Realm cultivators as well as dozens of Soul Wondering Realm cultivators was currently in complete chaos. At the center of the chaos, high above the sect''s grand halls, a woman floated, her presence radiating an otherworldly power. Dressed in ancient, flowing robes, the demoness''s long black hair danced with the wind as her cold, demonic eyes scanned the crumbling sect below. Several Nascent Soul cultivators lead by the sect master quickly gathered above the skies of the sect, the sect master''s voices rising as he called out to the woman who hovered above them. "You. Why are you attacking us? We have already agreed to the demands of the Golden Fang Bandits! We are not your enemies!" The demoness''s lips curled into a sneer, her eyes gleaming with contempt. "The Golden Fang Bandits? I don''t take orders from anyone, let alone those filthy bandits." With a flick of her wrist, she released a surge of demonic aura, and her horn pulsed light. In an instant, a beam of energy shot towards the sect master, too fast for him to react. Boom! The beam of energy struck the sect master directly in the chest, causing a massive explosion that rocked the air. The Nascent Soul cultivators surrounding him scrambled to evade the shockwave, their faces filled with horror. Despite the destructive force of the attack, the sect masters Nascent Soul, glowing with a faint golden hue, shot out from the explosion. The demoness watched coldly as the Nascent Soul flew away, attempting to escape, however it quickly began to writhed in the air, slowly deteriorating as a dark mist surrounded it. The poisonous demonic energy she released seeped into the sect master''s nascent soul like a curse. His attempts to resist the poison were futile. The once vibrant golden core of his soul began to tarnish, dark veins spreading across its surface as it came to a complete stop. "You lowly humans think too highly of yourself ," the demoness whispered, her voice low and venomous. As the sect masters soul was subdued, the remaining Nascent Soul cultivators quickly employed multiple methods to flee, some of their bodies turning transparent and phasing out of the immediate area. "Hump!" The demonesss energy surged, her dark aura flaring to new heights as her body began to distort and grow. Her form twisted into something monstrousher human features dissolved, replaced by the hulking form of a colossal spider. A sharp, menacing horn grew from the center of her forehead, glowing with ominous power, as her eight legs expanded, their tips razor-sharp and dripping with lethal intent. With a deep, guttural growl, she raised her two front legs high into the air. "Inherent Art, Sky Rending Silk!" she cried, her voice vibrating with dark energy. From between her raised front legs, a beam of concentrated light shot out, its brilliance cutting through the air like a bolt of divine retribution. The beam stretched across the sky, faster than any eye could follow, and its target was the fleeing Nascent Soul cultivators. Before they could even react, the beam struck them, severing their bodies in midair. The Nascent Soul cultivators, once among the most formidable of their kind, were torn in half, their forms disintegrated into nothingness, leaving only their Nascent Souls which were quickly covered with spider silk, brought to the demoness. Returning to her original form, The demonesss glowing crystal pulsed brightly in her hand, absorbing the Nascent souls of the fallen elders as well as the sect master. The crystal radiated with an eerie glow, its energy growing ever stronger as the last remnants of their souls were consumed. She stared at the crystal, her face unreadable, before murmuring in a voice laced with satisfaction, "Its ready." With a swift motion, she hurled the crystal into the air, where it burst with energy, sending shockwaves of dark power throughout the sect. The sky above darkened further, the surrounding space itself beginning to tremble. A rift, massive and unnatural, began to tear through the sky, filling the air with the thunderous sound of breaking space. 223. Potent Pill Eating As the gate creaked open, the demoness unfurled a massive scroll. Strange crimson symbols shimmered across its surface as an invisible barrier materialized around the gate, forming a small dome that sealed the area in a small bubble. "It won''t be long now," she said, her crimson eyes narrowing. "A few more months, and the true Exhales will pour forth. But even now, one or two demon emperors should breach the boundary." Her words had barely settled when an eerie voice emanated from the portal. "You have done well young lady of the Silk Valley." The air trembled as an old man stepped out of the swirling darkness. His pupils were pure black and his eyes glinted with malevolence, an aura of decay clung to him like a shroud. As he stepped out, he examined the gate with a twisted smile. "Finally," he rasped, his voice resonating. "Centuries of waiting and it begins." The demoness inclined her head slightly. "Welcome, Elder Yao. The gate has yet to stabilize, but your presence will ensure the preparations are completed." "Indeed," Elder Yao replied, his dark gaze scanning the barrier. **** Far to the south of the continent, within the imposing halls of the Scarlet Demon Sect, three overwhelming presences stirred to life. "Finally!" A booming laugh echoed through the grand hall, shaking its crimson pillars. A figure clad in blood-soaked robes stood at the center of the hall. his long hair flowing like dark flames. A cruel smile twisted his face as his gaze burned with madness. "The Demonic Gate has opened," declared Demon Ancestor Bloodshade, his voice filled with a malevolent glee. "The time of reckoning is upon us." From the shadows, another figure stepped forward. His presence was a suffocating, black abyss that threatened to devour the light. His crimson armor glinted ominously as he spoke. "Now is the perfect time then," Emperor Crimson Abyss said, his voice a deadly whisper. "The fools of the Soul Shattering Sect won''t know what hit them." Bloodshade chuckled darkly. "Yes, indeed. Send word to NightFang. Mobilize the entire sect. This is our time to run rampant." *** Elsewhere, in the Configuration Sect, a solitary figure sat cross-legged in a chamber filled with mirrors. Emperor Thousand Face gazed into his endless reflections, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he felt something. "Ah faster than expected," he murmured, his tone almost amused. "The demoness must have grown stronger. Lucky for me, I tainted the earth veins long before this day." He chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with dangerous anticipation. --- At the same time, within the Spiritual Sea Regions, a few hundred miles away from the Scattered Islands Region. At a small lake within the depths of the Divine Soul Sect, Emperor Ethereal Mirage stood alone next to the lake. His translucent form seemed to fade into the mist, blending with the very air around him. His ethereal gaze turned toward the south, his expression shifting to confusion. "What was that just now?" he whispered, narrowing his eyes as though trying to pierce through the distant shadows. "It''s something I can''t perceive." **** Back at the palace of the undisclosed island. Within one of the cultivation chambers, Li Yu''s serene expression turned cold as her eyes snapped open. she scoffed, her voice sharp and laced with disdain. "The Demon Realm," she muttered. "Still up to no good, they aim to turn the entire Blood Realm into a battlefield between them and the Immortal Planes. How predictable." She turned her gaze towards one of the walls, her gaze penetrating it easily and landing on the figure of her disciple, her gaze turned contemplative as thoughts surfaced in her mind. In the end she closed her eyes and continued to tend to her injuries. *** Within the alchemy room, the alchemy furnace chimed once again, the Rootless Flame flickered with a golden intensity as Meng Lin worked methodically. Her hands moved with precision, selecting ingredients, purifying their essences, and merging them with focus. Each refinement brought her closer to mastery, her proficiency slowly growing with each attempt. [Alchemy (Expert) 20% 25%] By the time the fifth and final batch of Spirit Rejuvenation Pills was complete, she had crafted ten flawless pills, each imbued with radiant spiritual energy. Meng Lin leaned back, a sheen of sweat glistening on her brow.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Despite her elevated cultivation and the enhanced spiritual environment of the palace, it took her three hours to complete all five batches of ingredients; the mental effort was very taxing. Staring at the ten shimmering pills in her palm, Meng Lin allowed herself a rare moment of pride. "These alone would fetch a fortune in any auction," she thought, placing them securely before her. Yet, wealth was not her goal. With anticipation, her fingers trembled slightly as she took the first pill, raising it to her lips. The pill dissolved almost instantly as soon as it touched her tongue, sending a surge of cool, medicinal energy rushing through her system. The pill sank into her body, its energy merging with her Qi, stitching together the faint cracks that marred her spiritual veins. A dull ache spread through her body as the healing process began, but it was far from painfulrather, it was a gentle, almost soothing sensation, like a balm applied to a wound. She swallowed another pill, and then another, each one dissolving with ease, flooding her body with more revitalizing energy. Her spiritual veins were starting to knit together with greater strength and speed. The fine lines of her veins, once cracked from strain, now felt clear and smooth. Her Qi began to flow more freely through them; the sensation was exhilarating as she could feel the Qi within her spiritual veins moving, floating in her body, more freely. By the time she reached the fifth pill, the sensation of healing was complete. Her spiritual veins were now whole, completely back to the way they were before. She could feel them pulsing with vitality, her Qi flowing like an unstoppable river. But Meng Lin knew this wasnt enough. The transformation wasnt over yet. "This might be a waste, but..." she muttered to herself. She reached for the remaining pills and popped them into her mouth one by one. With each successive pill, her spiritual veins not only grew stronger, but the flow of her Qi surged. It was as though the pills were stretching her already strained spiritual veins. The more pills she consumed, the more she could feel her cultivation deepening. Her insides felt alive, crackling with energy. Her Qi had turned into a torrent, filling every part of her being with power. Her heart raced as the rush of energy coursed through her veins, enhancing her bodys ability to channel and store Qi. Her internal organs pulsed with the energy, her dantian expanding to accommodate the growing flow of power. Her muscles, too, felt tighter and stronger, as though the Qi was seeping into her very bones, reinforcing them from the inside out. After five hours, she finally absorbed the last remaining essence from the pills; her body no longer felt healedit felt transformed. Meng Lin could feel the difference down to the deepest part of her being, everything imbued with the very essence of the pills she had consumed. And yet, she did not stop there. With a quiet, determined breath, she took out her last two remaining bottles of Soul Strengthening Booze. She uncorked the first bottle and drank it in a single, fluid motion. The potent alcohol burned its way down her throat, searing her insides with its fiery heat. But this heat was invigorating, sharpening her senses and quickening her Qi. Without hesitation, she downed the second bottle. The second rush of heat was even more intense, flooding into her body. The Qi inside her surged once more, as if the booze had acted as a catalyst, speeding up her spiritual growth. Her veins practically hummed with power, and her dantian rushed with energy; the pressure of it all was nearly overwhelming. Meng Lin''s Qi now radiated fiercely from her body, the air around her shimmering with the intensity of her cultivation. As she opened her eyes, an even fiercer determination burned within them; she wasn''t finished. She reached out with her arm, and a small bottle with multiple pills appeared in her hand. The pills gleamed with a blue hue. It was the Soul Fortification Pills that she had refined before. Without hesitation, she opened her mouth and swallowed them one by one. Each pill sent waves of unique energy through her, strengthening her soul again and again until the bottle was empty. "Huff," Meng Lin exhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling as the last traces of the Soul Fortification Pills'' effects settled within her. She continued, quickly losing track of time as she took out a bottle of Qi Harmony Pills. Each pill was consumed at a fast pace, quickly syncing her Qi with her body, expanding its reach within her dantian. Then she took out the Soul Heart Pills, popping each pill into her mouth as it deepened her cultivation, strengthening her soul and increasing its size, flooding her with an overwhelming sense of strength and clarity. Then the Qi Heart Essence Pill, which dissolved in her mouth, causing a massive pressure to build within her. She felt a huge strain in her spiritual veins as the pill''s energy surged through her, pushing against her limits. The pressure intensified as her body struggled to accommodate the overwhelming influx of power. Her spiritual veins throbbed in protest, threatening to snap under the strain. But Meng Lin grit her teeth and took out a flawless pill with potent energy. The Essence Fusion Pill. Slipping the pill into her mouth, Meng Lin heard a massive boom in her head, as if the very fabric of her dantian was being torn apart. Her body trembled, and for a moment, everything went dark. But then, the darkness receded, replaced by an intense, brilliant light that illuminated her entire being. The forces of the pill''s energy seemed to settle into her, and she could feel her cultivation soaring, like a vast, unrestrained river that had finally burst its banks. Meng Lin gasped for air, her body trembling but no longer in pain. The rush of energy began to subside, leaving behind a profound stillness. Her heart beat steadily, and as she took a deep breath, she felt an unfamiliar yet exhilarating sensation of complete unity within herself. Her Qi, her soul, her very essencethey were all in perfect harmony now; her spiritual veins felt limitless, flowing effortlessly through her body with an abundance of power. The energy inside her was dense, so concentrated that it radiated from her very being, almost visible to the naked eye. Her senses were sharper, her control over her energy now more refined than ever before. The air around her seemed to crackle with the intensity of her newfound power, as though the world itself could feel the shift. It was as though she could reach out and bend the fabric of the universe, but of course, Meng Lin knew that was just the illusion she felt after her breakthrough. Meng Lin breathed a sigh of relief. "It''s been two whole days," she thought to herself. She was about to stand up when she was startled by a panel that appeared before her eyes. [Congratulations on having experienced a moment of enlightenment] [You have received a reward for breaking through to a pseudo realm for the first time] [Congratulations! You have received a Taoist Gacha Wheel Ticket.] [Congratulations! You have obtained a Pseudo-Realm Insight Crystal.] [Would you like to claim your rewards?] 224. True Late Stage Soul Wondering Realm "Pseudo Realm?" Meng Lin''s eyebrows raised, and she quickly brought up her system menu, wondering what was going on. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wandering Stage (late~pseudo)] [Experience Points: 0%] System Coin: 1080 Immortal Jade: 3 Taoist Gacha Wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold 20%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] [Comprehension 0.06%] Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seal: Crimson Tortoise Dragon [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin looked at her experience in contemplation. After ingesting sixty-three different pills and enduring two days of grueling cultivation and refinements, her progress was both immense and humbling. Yet, despite everything, her experience points only reached 0% for the late stage, and it was pseudo-late stage at that. "I guess that''s the price for breaking through so rapidly." The pseudo-realm was a state where one was in a false realm; for her to advance, it required gradual refinement to stabilize and solidify her realm. The process usually takes a few months. "Is that where you come in?" Meng Lin''s gaze fell upon the reward panel. "Accept," she said, raising her hand as a small crystal materialized in her palm. As Meng Lin examined it, she could feel its potent energy radiating in subtle pulses. It was smooth, translucent, and shimmered faintly with an inner light that seemed to shift between shades of silver and blue. [Pseudo-Realm Insight Crystal] A one-time-use treasure specifically crafted for those in the pseudo-late stage of the Soul Wandering Realm. It instantly allows those who have reached the pseudo-realm to stabilize their foundation and break through into the true late stage. This crystal is attuned with the true cultivation insights of the late stage of the Soul Wandering Realm. Meng Lin read the description, muttering under her breath before a small smile formed on her lips. Without hesitation, she sat back down in the lotus position, channeling her spiritual energy. She activated the crystal. A soft hum filled the air as the crystal dissolved into a stream of light, surging into her body and directly targeting her dantian. A surge of chaotic energy flooded her, mirroring the instability of the pseudo-realm. Meng Lin gritted her teeth as the crystals energy began reshaping the Qi within her body, stabilizing her realm. Her spiritual veins filled once more, accommodating the influx of refined Qi. The chaotic currents smoothed out, solidifying into a stable flow of immense power. Her soul resonated with the changes, growing stronger and sharper as the crystals essence integrated fully into her being. Suddenly, a loud boom echoed within her mind, signifying the shattering of the final barrier. The pseudo-realm was no more. Meng Lin opened her eyes, her aura now steady and immense, however she radiated power that seemed no different from before. She exhaled deeply, a faint smile on her lips. "So this is the true late stage," she muttered, marveling at the spiritual Qi flowing effortlessly within her; her soul also felt more robust than before. "Another step closer," she whispered, clenching her fist as her eyes brightened with a slight purple glint. Her attention returned to the system panel, her gaze focused on the Taoist Gacha Wheel Ticket. Now let''s try my luck, she said, ready to spin the wheel. 1. > Flame Lotus Petal x8 2. > Crimson Soul Pearl 3. Void Spirit Mirror 4. Shapeshifter''s Mask 5. > Celestial Heartstone 6. [System Mission] 7. High-Grade System Pack 8. Superior Booze Gift Bag 9. > Heavenly Moon StoneThis tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. 10. Immortal Jades x9 11. Spiritual Healing Pill x3 12. > Golden Silkworm Cocoon 13. > Shadowstep Talisman x2 14. Chaos Mountain 15. Essence Absorbing Insects x30 Meng Lins eyes flicked over the items on the Taoist Gacha Wheel. The new items alone sparked her curiosity, but she didnt overthink it, just going over them one by one. Flame Lotus Petals. The name alone made her think of fire, perhaps some exotic ingredient. Then there was the Crimson Soul Pearl, a soul-related artifact, or was it another weapon ingredient? The Celestial Heartstone sounded almost too grand. The Heavenly Moon Stone seemed to be tied to lunar Qi, and the Golden Silkworm Cocoon was probably the cocoon of a golden silkworm, although she had never heard of such a beast. Finally, the Shadowstep Talisman. A talisman? There were two of them, but the name made her wonder if it was one of those rare talismans that could manipulate shadows. The items sparked her curiosity, but she wasnt the type to get too attached to any one of them before seeing them in action. After weighing her options, she decided to spin the wheel, not knowing exactly what would come her way but trusting that each outcome would aid her in her quest for greater strength. With a flick of her wrist, the wheel spun. The shimmering lights and images blurred as it spun faster and faster. Her eyes followed each rotation, and when it finally slowed to a halt, it landed on: Immortal Jades x9 "Nine Immortal Jades... That should be useful," she thought, a slight smile curving her lips. They were far more significant than ordinary system coins, and with them, Meng Lin could access a vast range of things that would accelerate her progress. She quickly accessed the system market, filtering out the system coins and only leaving the immortal jade items. She began reviewing what was available for purchase. After searching for things related to her spiritual consciousness, she finally found what she wanted to buy. Spiritual Body Analyzer. The description caught her eye immediately. Spiritual Body Analyzer A high-grade spiritual item that allows the user to delve into their spiritual body with precision. It enables in-depth analysis of ones spiritual veins, soul structure, and the flow of spiritual energy within, as well as their spiritual consciousness and mind palace. System Coins: 8 Immortal Jades Meng Lins eyes gleamed with interest. ''This is exactly what I need'', she thought. The analyzer didnt just offer a view into her spiritual consciousness; it would allow her to understand everything about her body, even her soul. She realized that just gaining more insights about her soul would undoubtedly increase her cultivation base. Without hesitation, she exchanged 8 Immortal Jades to acquire the Spiritual Body Analyzer. As she bought it, a crescent-shaped item quickly materialized in Meng Lin''s hand. The smooth crystal on its body pulsed with a gentle light. It felt cool to the touch, and as Meng Lin activated it, the crescent crystal began to hum with energy, casting a faint glow around her. As Meng Lin injected more Qi into the Spiritual Body Analyzer, the world around her seemed to blur, and her perception shifted. A feeling of deep clarity flooded her senses, as if a curtain had been drawn aside, revealing her inner self in minute detail. Her eyes closed momentarily, and when she opened them again, her vision had transformed. She could see herself sitting cross-legged. Not just her physical body, but an intricate network of spiritual energy and structures within her body. The flow of her blood appeared as a radiant river of crimson, winding through her body like a pathway of life. Each pulse, each movement, was visible to her. The spiritual veins that ran through her were illuminated, robust yet delicate and powerful, shimmering like threads of light through her form. The most fascinating sight, however, was her bones. She saw her bones glow like jade, their almost translucent surfaces shimmering with an ethereal light. ''Is this the result of the divine bone strengthening pill?'' she wondered. She had taken it long ago and only assumed that it had just made her bones stronger; however, each bone was shimmering slightly, enhancing the flow of spiritual energy throughout her body. Shifting her focus from her bones, she turned to her soul, which resided within her dantian. Within a glowing sphere of energy nestled a small delicate figure of pure white light, her soul. The soul itself had its eyes closed; its size had doubled since the last time she saw it, and the soul core had gotten bigger to accommodate its size. Meng Lin shook her focus from her soul to another ball of energy within her dantianthe chaotic Brute Qi. The Brute Qi in her dantian was a swirling mass of raw, untamed chaotic energy, distinctly different from the harmonious flow of her other spiritual energy. Meng Lin frowned. "No wonder controlling it has always been such a challenge." She concentrated, circulating her Brute Vortex Cultivation Method. Watching it travel through her spiritual veins, she focused as it began to flow through her spiritual veins. However contrary to her expectations, the untamed energy moved smoothly, adapting to the pathways with surprising ease. Unlike its usual chaotic presence in her dantian, it now seemed subdued, as if the structured flow of her veins were the perfect passage for it. There was no resistance, no instabilityonly an unyielding energy that seemed perfectly at home within her spiritual veins. "So it can circulate without causing problems," Meng Lin murmured to herself, her brow relaxing. ''This has to be because of the Brute Qi physique; it seems my body is somewhat different,'' she concluded. Satisfied, she guided the energy back to her dantian, where it resumed its usual chaotic swirling. She shifted her focus away from her body, focusing more intently on her head, where a separate realm revealed itself. It appeared as a vast ocean, swirling in shades of deep blue and purple. Within this ocean, a small palace floated, ethereal and radiant. The palace was surrounded by ripples of spiritual energy, glowing faintly with an inner light. It was a calm, protected space within her mindher mind palace. The palace felt alive, humming softly as though it was a part of her, yet detached, representing something higher. The ethereal palace shimmered with hues of gold and silver, its form both delicate and imposing. Around it, the vast ocean of her spiritual consciousness pulsed rhythmically, mirroring the calm yet boundless depth of the palace. She observed as the consciousness flowed within the ocean, noting how they ebbed and swirled, uniting with the palace in a harmonious way. The palace radiated a faint glow that seemed to reach every corner of the ocean, creating a protective barrier that kept the currents from going further. "This is the core of my spiritual consciousness," Meng Lin whispered. Her voice echoed softly in her mind, resonating with the palace. "To master the Void Reflection Technique, I need to understand every detail of this place." Taking a deep breath, Meng Lin went deeper into her spiritual consciousness. As she focused, she felt herself being drawn closer to the palace. Its gates, towering and engraved with intricate runes, seemed to not exist as the Spiritual Body Analyzer passed right through it. Inside, the palace was vast and seemingly endless. Each room and corridor was entirely different from each other, arranged with meticulous precision. As she wandered through, she encountered shimmering orbs of light floating in the aireach one containing a fragment of her understanding, knowledge, and cultivation insights. One orb caught her attention. It hovered in a side chamber, glowing faintly with a dark purple hue. Meng Lin extended the Spiritual Body Analyzer toward it, and the orb unraveled, revealing its contentsa memory of her battle with the Golden Fang Bandits. "So even my memories are recorded here," Meng Lin mused. As she ventured deeper, Meng Lin encountered a barrier, a translucent wall of energy that blocked access to further sections of the palace. The barrier shimmered, etched with runes that she hadn''t seen before. Her eyes narrowed. "This must be the limit of the Spiritual Body Analyzer; after all, a high-grade item can only do so much, but I wonder what''s ahead." She muttered to herself. 225. Crafting High Grade Weapons Meng Lin placed her spiritual will against the barrier within her mind palace, probing it cautiously. A sharp resistance pushed back, forcing her to stop. Not minding it in the slightest, Meng Lin began to explore all the other areas that were not restricted, and as she did so, she discovered small intricate details about her spiritual consciousness. She quickly discovered the true extent of her spiritual consciousness; her maximum radius was an impressive 29 miles, a vast range that was almost double the normal amount. She could sense everything within this radiusevery fluctuation in spiritual energy and every living being within it; even the ants on the ground wouldnt go unnoticed. Focusing her concentration, Meng Lin realized that she could also condense all her spiritual consciousness into a single point, a new move that drastically enhanced its potency. Meng Lin quickly stopped using the Spiritual Body Analyzer, spreading her spiritual consciousness outward, quickly encompassing the whole island and beyond. She began experimenting, directing all her spiritual consciousness at some poor low-rank 1 sea beast by the shore. The result left her slightly surprised. The intensity of her spiritual consciousness, now focused to a single point, struck the mind of the beast with overwhelming force. She didnt even feel a single resistance as their mental defenses shattered under the pressure, reducing their consciousness to nothing. It was a precise and brutal attackmind destruction in its purest form. She continued to experiment, even utilizing the Spiritual Body Analyzer again on her spiritual consciousness while it was spread out. She discovered that it resembled the ocean she had seen in her head; however, it was more spread out, as if one inch of water covered the whole 24-mile radius. Done with her experiment, Meng Lin stood up, stretching her limbs, feeling the raw power coursing through her veins. She missed the feeling of Qi running through her body; it made her feel lighter. Her Qi was much denser, and her spiritual consciousness was sharper than ever before. Even the ambient Qi in her surroundings seemed to respond to her presence, swirling slightly as if drawn toward her. Her gaze fell on the empty bottles and pill containers scattered around her cultivation chamber. With a wave of her hand, she stored them away. A small price to pay, she muttered. The resources she had consumed might have been considered extravagant by others, but to her, they were a necessary investment for the road ahead. She also realized that consuming so many pills all at once lessened each pill''s effect one after the other; otherwise, she calculated that the pills consumed would be enough for her to reach the peak stage if consumed moderately. "And now I have almost no pills," Meng Lin sighed. Of course, she was only talking about pills that had an effect on her. Currently, within her inventory, she still had multiple bottles of rank 2 and rank 3 pills. "Now for the blacksmith panel," Meng Lin grinned, in a good mood as she stepped out of the alchemy room, heading toward the blacksmithing room. The soft hum of residual Qi lingered in the air as Meng Lin arrived at the blacksmithing room. The room was a stark contrast to the serene alchemy chamber she had just left. Here, heat and fire energy dominated the atmosphere. The walls were lined with fire Qi, and Meng Lin felt slightly uncomfortable being within the room. Her gaze swept across the room before she walked forward to the center. Apart from the fiery Qi in the air, the room was also empty. After sitting down, Meng Lin finally opened her blacksmith panel, noticing a small change within. [Blacksmith (Advanced) 50% > 80%] Weapon slot: none Ingredients: none Chance of success: 50% > 80% (+10) Meng Lins gaze lingered on her blacksmith panel, a subtle change catching her attention. The Advanced status was familiar, and the 30% increase was within expectations.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. She had broken through multiple realms, from the early stage of the Gold Core Realm when she last refined something to the late stage of the Soul Wandering Realm; she had gained a lot more knowledge compared to before. It was the "+10" next to her chance of success that was something she didn''t expect at all. She paused, feeling the residual fire Qi that filled the room. The heat seemed to press against her, making her body tingle with the intensity of the energy around her. "It must be the environment..." she murmured, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. It was clear that the atmosphere in the blacksmithing room was somehow boosting her proficiency. But how? And more importantly, did her master intend for this effect to happen? Meng Lin couldnt help but wonder. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Ill have to ask Master about this next time." Her curiosity grew. Taking a deep breath, Meng Lin focused on the task at hand. "Lets see what I can create," she whispered as she entered the weapon slot before selecting the item options. She was quickly shown items that she could create; she scrolled down through the options and finally found something that caused her to pause. Before her was a middle-grade item that seemed too simple, almost mundane compared to the more refined options. It was called Mystic Serpent Scale. The materials required were not overly rare; she quickly found all of them within the market for just 200 system coins. It was an item she would never have paid much attention to in the past, but it brought back her memories of the Mystic Serpent Amulet that she still had not used. After receiving the amulet, which summons the ancient spirit seal of a mystic serpent, Meng Lin stored it within her inventory, forgetting about it. It seemed now was the perfect starting point, something she could expand on. [Blacksmith (Advanced) 80%] Weapon slot: Mystic Serpent Scale Ingredients: Serpent Bone x2, Iron Ore x3, Viper Venom x1, Cobra Scale x1, Bloodstone Powder x1. Chance of success: 80% (+10) She took a deep breath, feeling a bit of excitement and nostalgia as she prepared to create the dagger. She carefully placed the Serpent Bones, Iron Ore, and the rest into the refining cauldron. Without wasting any more time, she focused her attention on the start button of the second panel. The refining cauldron began to heat up at once, and a countdown timer appeared. 1:59 seconds. Meng Lin felt the intensity of the spiritual energy within the cauldron as it interacted with the ingredients, slowly transforming them into the desired form. As the countdown timer ticked away, the cauldron''s heat intensified, further molding the ingredients together. A misty silver mist swirled and twirled within the cauldron until finally, the timer reached zero. The cauldron''s flames subsided, and the misty silver dissipated, revealing a blood-red scale floating above the cauldron. Meng Lin stared at the Mystic Serpent Scale, a small panel appearing right afterward. [Congratulations! You have successfully created a middle-grade item: Mystic Serpent Scale] [You have gained Experience] The Mystic Serpent Scale floated gently before her, emanating a faint aura of venomous energy mixed with an unusual metallic sheen. Meng Lin smiled faintly, recalling her attempts at blacksmithing long ago. This time, the process felt smoother, more natural. Meng Lin reached out and picked up the scale. It was surprisingly light but sturdy, and when she channeled a small thread of Qi into it, the scale shimmered, releasing a faint toxic mist that quickly dissipated. [Mystic Serpent Scale] A middle-grade item that can be fused with weapons or armor to imbue them with toxic properties. Provides slight poison resistance when carried. Can evolve through blacksmith refinement or fusion with higher-grade items. Her thoughts shifted to the Mystic Serpent Amulet she had stored away. It was still lying dormant in her inventory. "Perfect," Meng Lin murmured, her fingers tightening around the scale. **** Two whole days passed in a blur as Meng Lin created over a dozen medium-grade items in preparation for high-grade weapons. On the second day, her blacksmithing skills reached expert level, and she crafted four high-grade items. Incorporating the Dark-Gold Spirit Ore with multiple other ingredients, like the crystal of pure yin, the soul water drop, as well as the crystal from the crystal serpent''s cave, she was able to create custom items and weapons. The first was the Armor Shattering Axe, a massive battle axe forged with pure Dark-Gold Spirit Ore. Its blade was dull, yet once used, it could shatter most high-grade items. Next, she crafted the Soul Binding Chain, a chain infused with the crystal of pure yin and soul water drops with the Dark-Gold Spirit Ore. It could bind and trap souls, drawing out their essence and rendering them powerless. The third item was an upgraded Mystic Serpent Amulet. Using the Mystic Serpent Scale along with the Dark-Gold Spirit Ore and the original mystic serpent pendant, Meng Lin created an amulet that could not only summon the ancient spirit seal of a mystic serpent, but it could also store vast amounts of venom. Finally, the last one was called the Frostpetal Hairpin, an elegant yet powerful accessory crafted from both the ore and the rare Ice-Touched Crystal, which was the name given by the system to the crystal from the crystal serpent''s cave. The hairpin granted her the ability to manipulate a small amount of elemental Qi of ice, although its main purpose was in its ability to create ice elemental Qi, allowing her to slowly comprehend the elemental Qi. "Now," pleased with her work, Meng Lin admired the four items before focusing on the Dark-Gold Spirit Ore in each of them. It was an ore that could be used to enhance other items to top grade; utilizing it in all four items ensured that they all had the potential to reach top-grade items if nurtured properly. Smiling slightly, Meng Lin was about to take out the four broken weapons that she bought a few days ago when suddenly she felt something within her inventory react. Meng Lin paused, frowning slightly; she mentally reached toward the source, summoning it to her palm. A smooth, palm-sized golden token appeared in her hand, its surface shimmering faintly with intricate engravings of clouds and mountainsthe symbol of the Soul Shattering Sect. As she inspected it closely, a wave of spiritual energy surged from the token, and a voice emerged within it. All Soul Shattering Sect disciples are to return to the sect immediately. Meng Lins brows furrowed as the voice faded, leaving the golden token pulsating faintly in her hand and the spiritual energy lingering in the air. She flipped the token over, inspecting its engravings. The color it emitted was red, meaning the highest order of summon. For such a summon to be issued, something significant must have happened. "Why now?" she muttered, placing the token back into her inventory. The last time the sect issued such an urgent recall was during the attack by the Scarlet Demon Sect. "Is the stalemate broken?" Meng Lin stood, her gaze shifting to the items she had crafted. The timing couldnt have been more ironic; she had just completed several powerful weapons and tools, perfect for battle. Her thoughts turned to De Sijie, Xi Lin, and Xi Lan, and she strode out of the blacksmithing room, walking towards the open platform of the castle. A fresh breeze carrying the faint scent of sea salt drifted over, and the open sky stretched endlessly above. Meng Lin stopped at the edge, her gaze lingering on the horizon. Suddenly, the air beside her shimmered, and the space there was ripped open. A faint golden glow illuminated the open space, and through it, Li Yu''s voice drifted out. "You''re going." Meng Lin turned to face the portal and held up the golden token. "Yes. I did swear an oath after all." Li Yus voice carried a note of concern. "The sect wouldn''t issue such a recall lightly. Its clear the situation is dangerous. If you encounter anything beyond your strength, use the Void-State Tablet without hesitation." Meng Lin nodded solemnly. "I understand. Ill be cautious." A moment of silence followed before Li Yu continued, her tone thoughtful. "Do you intend to inform the others, that Xi Lan could come in handy?" Meng Lin hesitated, glancing toward the castle where the others remained deep in their cultivation chambers. "I could, but theyre focused on their progress. Besides, I can''t guarantee their safety." Li Yus voice softened. "Hmm. For now, trust your instincts and prepare for what lies ahead." "Yes, Master," Meng Lin replied firmly. The space began to shimmer, its light fading as Li Yus presence gradually withdrew. As the space closed up, Meng Lin turned her gaze back to the horizon. "War or not, I''ll be ready." With a flick of her wrist, she summoned her Crimson Tortoise Dragon. The creature emerged in a burst of fiery light, its majestic form towering over her. Let''s go to the nearest ancient teleportation formation, Meng Lin instructed, climbing onto its back. The dragon let out a low hint of acknowledgment before soaring into the sky. 226. "Shes More Than She Appears" Riding atop her Crimson Tortoise Dragon, Meng Lin soared through the skies, her gaze sweeping over the vast expanse of ocean and the undisclosed island, a dot below her. The dragons fiery aura trailed behind like a comet, and Meng Lin stretched her spiritual consciousness, covering a radius of over twenty miles. The world came alive in her mind for the next several minutes as she crossed the skies, the journey taking her over multiple smaller islands. The first few islands she passed were barren wastelands, with pockets of mist clinging to these desolate landscapes, giving them an eerie, abandoned feel. Some of these islands still held low-level monsters from the Nether Cloud Domain, marked by sparse vegetation and no signs of habitation. A few minutes later, she saw small groups of loose cultivators on some islands, occasionally in groups of three or four, either fighting with spiritual beasts or setting up makeshift camps built near shallow caves or atop rocky plateaus. One island in particular caught her attention: it had a ruined pagoda perched on a cliff, its broken spire pointing accusingly at the heavens. Around it, a handful of cultivators sat in meditation, their shabby robes indicating their status as wanderers with no sect or allegiance. They glanced up briefly as Meng Lins dragon passed overhead, their faces pale as they felt immense spiritual pressure sweep across them like a tidal wave. She paid them no mind, her focus set on the distant island within her spiritual consciousness, she was already near. As she continued to the island with the teleportation array, a subtle scene appeared within her spiritual consciousness, causing her to raise her eyebrows. On the island, a group of cultivators moved in formation through a dense forest. Five of them, all at the Gold Core Realm, an uncommon sight. Bandits, she muttered under her breath, a faint smirk curling her lips. Without needing to see their insignia, she could already tellGolden Fang Bandits. Scouts too. Meng Lin directed the Crimson Tortoise Dragon down, the beast moving in anticipation. With a powerful burst of its elemental qi, they appeared over the island, descending toward the forest at lightning speed. *** In the forest, the bandits were huddled in a tight group, their eyes focused on a jade tablet that began to change color. One of them glanced nervously around the area. Boss Li said the tablet will change color if it detects a trace of Second Boss''s aura, right? muttered one of the bandits. The grizzled leader nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the dense foliage. Stay alert. We''ll move forward. If the Second Boss passed through here, well know. Suddenly, the air seemed to crackle with heat. They all froze, eyes snapping upward. A vast shadow covered them, followed by an intense wave of fiery heat. The bandits looked up, their faces contorting from confusion to sheer terror as they saw the twenty meter long massive form of Meng Lins Crimson Tortoise Dragon descending from the sky. With effortless grace, Meng Lin stepped down from her mount, landing gracefully without a sound. She didnt need to speak for them to feel itthe sheer weight of her aura made the air feel thick and oppressive. The bandits instinctively took a step back, eyes wide in fear. Golden Fang Bandits, Meng Lin said, her tone cutting through the silence. What are you doing here? The grizzled leader took a step forward, gripping a jade slip tightly in his hand. His voice shook, but he tried to sound relaxed. You... are you affiliated with the nine sects of the Yuan Kingdom? If so, don''t interfere with us." Meng Lins gaze flicked to the jade slip in the mans hand. Her spiritual consciousness flickered as she instantly realized what it was. She chuckled slightly. Foolish, she whispered under her breath. Her hand shot forward, summoning a blade wreathed in gray flames. The Elemental Qi of Erosion and Fire hummed with power as she swung it in a wide arc, releasing a wave of destructive energy. The bandits barely had time to react. The earth trembled as the attack ripped through their formation, leaving scorched earth and shattered debris. Three of the men were obliterated instantly, their screams cut short in an instant. The two remaining bandits scrambled to their feet, their faces pale with terror. The leader, clutching the jade slip, crushed it in panic. A burst of red light shot into the sky, sending a signal. Meng Lins eyes narrowed and before the two surviving bandits could make a move, she raised her hand again, and a spear of fire materialized above her. With a flick of her wrist, it shot forward, piercing through both men, reducing them to ash. Her gaze drifted to the horizon, feeling two powerful auras locking onto the island. Two Soul Wandering Realm cultivators. Climbing back onto her dragon, she gave an unconcerned smile. Let''s go. *** On another island, a few miles away, Li and Riu both turned to the sudden burst of red light in the distance, their eyes darkening as the signal flare slowly faded.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Someones killed the scouts, Riu said, his voice cold. Li grinned, a malicious smile twisting his features. "Let''s go. Lets see whos stupid enough to pick a fight with us. Riu extended his spiritual consciousness outward, his brows furrowing as he sensed the lingering aura on the island. His eyes narrowed. A powerful cultivator Soul Wandering Realm and a woman." All the better, Li replied, hoisting a massive sword onto his shoulder. The two men quickly took flight, their forms blurring as they shot into the sky, heading straight for Meng Lins location. By the time they arrived, Meng Lin was already standing near the glowing teleportation array on the island, her eyes focused as the runes of the formation pulsed rhythmically. Her attention, however, was on the two figures descending rapidly from the sky. Boom!! Li hit the ground first with a thunderous crash, his giant sword digging into the earth beside him. Youve got guts killing our men, he growled, his deep voice filled with menace. Riu landed lightly beside him, his sharp eyes narrowing as he took out a jade slip from his robe. "So it''s you," Riu said coldly, his sharp gaze fixed on Meng Lin. He clenched the jade slip in his hand, the color of which was red. You killed the second boss and took the jade boxes, didn''t you? At Rius cold accusation, Meng Lins eyebrows raised. She glanced at the crimson jade slip in his hand, her eyes briefly gleaming with interest. Killed him, you say? she replied, her tone light. What makes you so sure? Li stepped forward, his voice rumbling like thunder. Dont play games. This jade slip is imbued with his essence. It lights up whenever his aura is felt. Its faint. But this means you''ve crossed paths with him. Meng Lin tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharp. So, hes dead, is he? she mused silently, a smile forming on her face. And what if I did? she finally said, her voice carrying an air of arrogance. Rius eyes narrowed, flickering with light as his spiritual energy surged. Then youll die here and now, and well take back whats ours. Li let out a low chuckle, the sound unpleasant as he gazed down her body. Don''t worry, well let you live for a little while longer. Meng Lin''s eyebrows twitched, her gaze flicked between the two bandits, both Peak Stage Soul Wandering Realm cultivators, and her anger flared, the smile slipping from her features as her eyes flashed dangerously. You think you can intimidate me? she said, her voice low. Youre nothing but dogs barking at the wrong person. The air thickened with her rising fury, her spiritual energy flaring to life like a storm. Li growled, his massive sword glowing with spiritual energy. Youre cocky for someone weaker than us. A newly late-stage cultivator? Do you think thats enough to take us on? Meng Lin rebuked, Do you always talk this much before dying? Before they could respond, Meng Lin made the first move. She extended her hand, summoning a giant axe from her inventory and slashing out in a swift motion. The air hissed as her spiritual energy surged, sending a wave of elemental qi and a crescent slash across the battlefield. Li reacted immediately, raising his massive sword to block the incoming crescent slash. When the two forces collided, the impact detonated like a thunderclap, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The ground beneath Li cracked and sank several inches, debris flying as the force pushed him back. His boots carved deep trenches into the earth as he struggled to steady himself. What? Li muttered, his voice edged with disbelief as he stared at Meng Lin. The late-stage cultivator had unleashed an attack that carried the weight of a peak-stage powerhouse. Riu narrowed his eyes, his spiritual energy surging as he assessed the damage. Shes more than she appears, he muttered. His grip on the crimson jade slip loosening as he threw it away, bringing out a small thin blade from his storage bag. Meng Lin looked at her attack with a smile; there had been a reason why she wanted to return to the sect even though she knew that Senior Sister Liu might be waiting for her there. It was confidence. She was confident in her strength to confront those at the peak stage, and if she were to utilize her brute Qi, then her strength would be even greater than that, so she didn''t feel threatened by these two late-stage Soul Wandering Realm cultivators at all. Meng Lins gaze shifted briefly to the thin blade in Riu''s hand, her lips curling into a smirk. Still underestimating me, are you? Li growled, shaking off his shock. He charged forward, his massive sword glowing with spiritual energy. With a feral roar, he brought the weapon down in a devastating arc. Meng Lin met his strike head-on, her giant axe gleaming as it crashed against his blade. The resulting impact unleashed a blast of energy that tore through the trees around them, uprooting them and sending splinters flying like arrows. Li grunted as the ground beneath his feet crumbled from the force, forming a shallow crater around him. To his surprise, cracks began to form on his giant sword. Li stared in disbelief as cracks snaked along the surface of his massive sword, spreading like a spiders web under the force of Meng Lins High-Grade Armor Shattering Axe. Peng! The resounding clash of weapons reverberated across the battlefield, sending shockwaves that flattened the surrounding trees and sent chunks of earth flying into the air. No way! Li growled, retreating a step as the weapon in his hands, a medium-grade giant sword, shattered with an ear-splitting crack, fragments of the blade exploding outward like shards of glass. Youll pay for that! Li roared, discarding the broken hilt of his weapon and stepping forward. The ground trembled beneath his feet as his fists began to glow, spiritual energy coalescing around them like molten steel. The nickname "Li the Iron Fist" was not just for showhis body emanated an aura of raw, overwhelming physical strength. Meanwhile, Riu moved with precision. As Meng Lins attention briefly shifted to Li, he vanished from sight, blending into the air. His thin blade gleamed faintly, its edge nearly invisible as he cut through the air with deadly silence. Meng Lins eyes narrowed, her spiritual consciousness flaring. She could feel Rius presence somewhere in the air, but she couldn''t see him, surprising her slightly, but she didnt let her focus waver. So, you cultivate fist arts and elemental qi too, she said, her voice calm yet laced with mockery. Lets see how long those fists last then. Li charged, his fists leaving trails of golden light in their wake as he unleashed a flurry of strikes. Each blow was like a cannonball, ripping through the air and shattering boulders in their path. Meng Lin, however, moved like water, her axe meeting his strikes with calculated precision. Every clash between her axe and his fists sent shockwaves rippling outward, turning the ground into a field of craters. In the midst of the chaos, Riu reappeared like a shadow, his blade flashing toward Meng Lins side in a lethal arc. She reacted instantly, spinning her axe in a wide sweep that met Riu''s blade, the sheer force of her strike carving a trench in the ground as Riu was sent flying. Riu and Li regrouped, their faces grim as they took in the destruction around them. The once-pristine forest had been reduced to a battlefield of shattered trees, scorched earth, and craters. Shes no ordinary late-stage cultivator, Riu muttered, his eyes narrowing as he tightened his grip on his blade. No kidding, Li growled, his fists glowing brighter as his spiritual energy surged. But its not over yet. Meng Lin stood at the center of the devastation, her axe resting on her shoulder and her expression calm but a bit playful. Come then, she said, her voice echoing across the battlefield. Show me what else youve got before I bury you both here. 227. Jin Xues Plan Li and Riu exchanged a glance, their faces hardening as the aura around them intensified and their bodies began to undergo a transformation. Li roared again, the gold elemental qi around his fists expanding to cover his entire arms. Spiritual energy hardened into plates of golden armor, jagged and primal, exuding an aura of indomitable strength. His fists seemed to grow heavier, each leg sinking into the ground. Riu, on the other hand, suddenly melted into the air. His form flickered in and out, black armor covering his body and blending seamlessly into dark tendrils that coiled around him. He appeared like a living shadow, his presence flickering in and out of perception. His blade, now pulsing with dark energy, radiated a chilling aura. Meng Lins eyes narrowed as she adjusted her grip on her axe. She murmured, Youve decided to use your full strength. Lets see what you can do then. Li charged first, his speed a blur as he appeared before Meng Lin. He swung his massive fists like battering rams, aiming to overwhelm Meng Lin with sheer force. Rumble!! The ground trembled as she sidestepped the first blow, her movements fluid, but the second came faster than expected, grazing her shoulder and sending her skidding backward. Before she could recover, Riu struck. He emerged from the shadows behind her, his blade slicing toward her neck in utter silence. Meng Lin twisted just in time, her axe intercepting the strike with a sharp clang. Sparks flew, but Rius blade slid along the surface of her weapon, aiming for her unprotected side. Meng Lin spun the handle of her axe, lashing out like a spear to force Riu back. She leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding a crushing punch from Li, who had lunged toward her with enough force to shatter the ground where she had stood. You guys are not bad, she admitted, her tone calm but laced with seriousness. But if this is all you have, its over. Riu and Li didnt respond. Instead, they pressed their assault, their coordination tightening. Li acted as a relentless wall of brute force, his fists hammering at Meng Lin with devastating power, while Riu filtered around the battlefield like a wraith. Meng Lin began to feel the pressure. The two bandits werent just strongthey were experienced fighters, and they seemed to coordinate well too. Rius sudden appearances and Lis overpowering attacks left her little room to counterattack. Suddenly, one of Rius strikes slipped past her axe, his blade cutting into her arm. Blood sprayed, but Meng Lin gritted her teeth, her expression darkening. She jumped back and raised her axe high, spiritual energy surging around her in a whirlwind of power. The air grew heavy as an ominous mist enveloped the battlefield. Her voice rang out like thunder: Form Nullification! The space around her warped, and for a brief moment, all spiritual energy in the vicinity was gone. Li stumbled, his armor flickering as his spiritual energy was suddenly disrupted and lost form. Rius shadow form wavered, his body appearing out in the open. Meng Lin didnt hesitate. She lunged forward, her axe covered in mist as it cleaved through Lis glowing fists. His armor shattered like glass, and his arm was cleaved in half. He was sent hurtling backward, crashing through several trees before hitting a rocky plateau. Before Riu could recover, Meng Lin turned on him, her axe moving like a blur. He raised his blade to block, but the force of her strike shattered his weapon and sent him sprawling, blood spraying into the air. Breathing heavily, Meng Lin stood over the two fallen bandits, her axe dripping with blood and her expression cold. You shouldve chosen your opponents better, she said, her voice quiet but lethal. Now, youll pay the price. Li groaned, struggling to rise, but Meng Lin appeared before him and slammed the butt of her axe into his chest, pinning him to the ground. Riu tried to fade into the air, but it caused him to cough up blood as he collapsed. Its over, Meng Lin declared, her voice tired. Now, tell me everything about your leader and the jade boxesor die here. Li spat blood, clutching his shattered arm. Despite his injuries, his eyes burned with defiance. You think... wed betray the Golden Fang Bandits? His voice was hoarse. Riu groaned, his shadow form dissolving completely. He coughed, blood staining his lips, but his glare was venomous. Kill us if you want, but youll never get what youre looking for. Meng Lins eyes narrowed, her expression colder than the surrounding mist. I see. Without hesitation, she raised her axe, spiritual energy gathering around the blade in a lethal arc. Wait! Riu gasped, panic flashing in his eyes as her weapon hovered above him. Meng Lin paused, her grip steady but her gaze unrelenting. Speak. Riu swallowed hard, glancing at Li, who gave a subtle shake of his head. Ignoring his comrades disapproval, Riu rasped, The boss, Jin Xue, is moving. The main hideout its being evacuated.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Li snarled, blood dripping from his lips. Riu, you coward Before he could finish, Meng Lin pressed the blade of her axe harder against Lis chest, silencing him with a grim smile. Go on, she said to Riu. The jade boxes, Riu continued, his voice trembling, are the only thing hes after now. Hes planning something bigsomething that he says will make him untouchable. Meng Lin tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. Where is he? Riu hesitated, his gaze darting to Li, who glared at him in disgust. Finally, he whispered, Hes heading to the Yuan Kingdom Capital. He wants to make himself king of the kingdom. Thats where hell be. Meng Lin studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Having interrogated the other bandit group of the second boss, she realized he was telling the truth. However, without warning, her axe flashed downward, severing Rius left hand cleanly from his shoulder. Ahhhh! Li''s eyes widened in shock as his comrades scream of agony filled the air. Blood spattered across the dirt as Riu writhed, clutching the stump where his hand had been. His face twisted in pain, and his venomous glare crumbled into raw fear. Li, stunned by the sudden brutality, froze in place. His gaze faltered, and he began to tremble. Meng Lin loomed over Riu, her gaze unyielding. That was for leaving stuff out. Her voice was as cold as the mist surrounding them. She stepped closer, leaning in with her blood-streaked axe glinting under the dim light. Tell me the truth, or Ill take more than just your hand. Riu whimpered, his bravado utterly shattered. II swear its the truth! Jin Xue... hes gathering everyone to the Yuan Kingdom Capital. Hes meeting with someonea demon woman." "Demon woman?" Meng Lins eyes narrowed further, her mind racing at the mention of a demon, thinking back to when the levitation sect was attacked by demons. She couldn''t help but tense up. Li finally found his voice, though it was weak. Rius just saying whatever will save his skin. Dont trust him. He spat blood again, glaring at Meng Lin. You''re thinking of making a Nascent Soul cultivator your enemy; you''re digging your own grave. Meng Lins gaze turned icy, her aura flaring, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. Ive faced worse than a Nascent Soul cultivator. Do you think mere threats will make me hesitate?" She turned her attention back to Riu, who was clutching his bleeding stump, his face pale. This demon womanwhat is her connection to Jin Xue? Why would a demon concern herself with bandits? I... I dont know much, Riu stammered, his voice weak from blood loss. But Ive seen her. She came to our main hideout once, weeks ago. Shes the one who gave Jin Xue the idea to take over the Yuan Kingdom. Thats all I know, I swear! Meng Lins brows furrowed. A demon cultivator guiding the bandit leader? It seems something more is brewing in the Yuan Kingdom. Meng Lin asked, confirming a question she had already asked before, That Jin Xue, is he really the only Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator among your bandits?" Riu swallowed hard, his face pale. Yes Yes! Hes the only one! Li groaned in frustration, his voice hoarse as he snapped, Riu, shut your mouth! But Riu ignored him. Its true! We were just a group of Gold Core cultivators at the beginning, scraping by with what little resources we could steal or extort. Do you have any idea how hard it is to cultivate without a sect or stable foundation? Meng Lins eyes narrowed but remained silent, prompting him to continue. Jin Xues the only one whos broken through to Nascent Soul, Riu admitted, his voice trembling. And even he struggles. He hoards the best resources for himselfthe spirit stones, pills, everything. The rest of us are left to fight over scraps. Thats why he''s already at the late stage while we remain stagnant. Meng Lins gaze flicked toward Li, who had turned his face away, his expression sour but resigned. Youre saying the Golden Fang Bandits are stretched thin, Meng Lin said slowly, her voice cold but measured. Your leader acts powerful, but his strength lies in hoarding resources and fear tactics, not the quality of his men. Riu nodded quickly, his desperation growing. Exactly! Thats why he allied with that demon woman! She promised him resourcestechniques to strengthen the weaker members. He thinks shes the key to making us unstoppable. Meng Lins expression darkened. It was clear that Jin Xue wasnt just leading a band of bandits anymorehe was building an army. If this so-called demon woman was providing demonic techniques, the chaos they could unleash might extend far beyond the Yuan Kingdom. She turned back to Riu. What are these methods she promised? What techniques? I dont know the details! Riu said hurriedly, wincing as the movement jostled his wound. But... Ive seen some of the effects. They involve blood ritualsoffering your life force or someone elses in exchange for power. Jin Xues disciples have started using them, but the cost His voice trailed off, his face pale. The cost? Meng Lin pressed. Its... worse than death, Riu whispered, his voice barely audible. Those who fail... they turn into mindless beasts, consumed by their own power. The survivors? They become stronger, but... not human anymore. Its like they lose a part of their soul. Meng Lin frowned. Anything else? she asked sharply. Riu shook his head frantically. Thats all I know! Please, Ive told you everything! Meng Lin considered him for a moment before stepping back, her axe lowering slightly. Youve been... informative. Riu sagged in relief, but his reprieve was short-lived. With a swift motion, Meng Lin spun and struck, her axe slicing cleanly through his neck. Lis eyes widened in shock as Rius body crumpled to the ground. You! he began, but Meng Lin cut him off with a cold glare. He served his purpose, she said flatly. Now, you have one last chance to be useful. Tell me what you know about these blood rituals. Li gritted his teeth, his face contorted with rage and fear. Youre a monster, he hissed. Meng Lin smirked, unfazed. And yet here you are, at my mercy. Speak. Li coughed, struggling to breathe under her unrelenting pressure. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, his defiance flickering. Meng Lins patience ran thin. She slammed the butt of her axe into his chest, forcing him to cough up blood. Youre already dead, she said coldly. The only question is how painful itll be. Lis resolve continued. No! he rasped. I''d never betray the boss." Meng Lins eyes narrowed, her spiritual consciousness surging forward. She raised her hand, and a small crescent-shaped item appeared in her hand, glowing with a colder energy. The Spiritual Body Analyzer in her hand pulsed faintly as she considered her next move. As a tool designed to probe deeply into the intricate workings of a person''s body, it stood to reason that it would be able to do the same for the brain. She raised her hand, and a ripple of spiritual energy surged outward, enveloping Li in an invisible grip. His body trembled, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth as Meng Lin exerted pressure on his sea of consciousness. Your loyalty as a dead man is admirable, she continued, her tone mockingly sweet. But do you really think Jin Xue cared about you? About any of you? Li spat blood onto the ground, his breathing ragged but his glare defiant. He wasbetter than youll ever be, he growled. Meng Lins lips curved into a smile. Well see about that. She activated the Spiritual Body Analyzer, focusing her spiritual consciousness on his brain. The device hummed to life, emitting a faint golden glow as it began to dissect layers of Lis memories. Li screamed, his resistance wavering as his mind was laid bare. Images and dialogues flashed in rapid motion, and through the haze of memories, Meng Lin finally got her answers. Crimson Conversion, Meng Lin murmured, her expression darkening. She withdrew her consciousness, leaving Li gasping and weakened, his body trembling from the invasive force. Ive seen enough, she declared coldly, gripping her axe. Youve told me more than you realize. Lis lips quivered, but before he could respond, his body convulsed violently. A dark mist began to seep from his pores, wrapping around him like a shroud. Meng Lin stepped back, feeling a dangerous aura embedded in his soul, most likely to prevent him from divulging secrets. A fail-safe, she muttered, watching as the mist consumed Li, reducing him to nothing but ash in seconds. The air crackled with energy before settling into silence. "That Jin Xue, in reality, isnt truly consolidating powerhes working on leaving this continent." Meng Lins eyes narrowed as she began to think. ''Jin Xue is willing to abandon his so-called empire just as its beginning to form.'' It was precisely because he knows the demon woman is using him. Shes not helping him build an army to ruleshes preparing to unleash a gate to the demon realm, using the Yuan Kingdom as the demon''s stronghold. ''So, Jin Xue knows she doesnt care about him or the bandits. Hes terrified shell use them as sacrifices to open the gate. Thats why hes trying to escape before her plan comes to fruition.'' "But where could he possibly be escaping to and why did he only tell this one bandit this secret?" Meng Lin asked herself, her mind racing. She wiped her axe clean, her expression unreadable. Jin Xue, the jade boxes, the demon woman, and now this demon realm... the stakes are higher than ever. The Golden Fang Bandits were proving to be more than just a nuisance. With Jin Xue planning on leaving the continent, and the Golden Fang Bandits being controlled by a different leader, she wondered if her heavenly oath still mattered. 228. Formless Sect **Huanxia province** **Origin Cave Mountain** Within the heart of the underground cave system Jin Xue suddenly felt a thump in his heart and his expression darkened. "Riu and Li are dead," Jin Xue muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with anger. His aura flared briefly, causing the air around him to distort. "Those fools can''t follow a simple instruction." He raised his hand, summoning a black, ominous mirror. The surface rippled like water before solidifying, revealing a scene. A young woman was standing and poised, exuding a deadly presence. "That''s the one, a mere Soul Wondering Realm brat..." Jin Xue said, his voice low but cold. The mirror showed taking out a crescent shaped item and the screen went dark, Jin Xues grip on the mirror tightened, the frame breaking under the pressure. "Mei!" he barked, his voice echoing through the cavern. From the shadows, a woman with a serpentine grace emerged. Mei the Serpent Tongue, with her sly smile and calculating eyes, stepped forward. "Yes, Boss?" "It''s time," Jin Xue said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Were leaving this wretched continent." Meis brow arched in surprise, though she quickly masked it with a smirk. Are you certain this is the right decision, Boss? The Pure Yang Secret Realm is dangerous. If you enter Do you think staying here is a better option? Jin Xue snapped, cutting her off. That demoness is preparing to use this kingdom as a stepping stone for the demon realm. Once shes done, this entire continent will be a wasteland. I have no intention of becoming a sacrificial pawn in her games. Jin Xues gaze darkened further. "Enough. Gather what remains of our forces. We leave before dawn." Mei gave a bow. "As you command, Boss. But you know if you enter the Pure Yang Secret Realm, your cultivation level will be restricted right." Jin Xue didnt respond, his mind already racing with plans and contingencies. As Mei disappeared into the shadows to carry out his orders, he turned back to the mirror, which now showed Meng Lin standing amidst the carnage she had wrought. "I still have to deal with this nuisance," he muttered, his voice laced with anger. Unbeknownst to him, the demon womans schemes were already in motion, and his departure from the Huanxia province would only serve to accelerate the chaos. **** Within the outskirts of the Forgotten Forest, Meng Lin appeared on the ancient teleportation formation, her eyes narrowing as she took in the unfamiliar environment. The air was thick with the faint remnants of spiritual energy, and the once serene outskirts of the Forgotten Forest now bore scars of a battleuprooted trees, scorched earth, and a few giant craters around the formation. Her spiritual consciousness spread out instinctively, encompassing the area within a 24-mile radius. She immediately detected the faint clashes at the edge of her spiritual consciousness, but what caught her attention was the lingering aura of multiple powerful cultivators. Meng Lin''s expression grew cold. ''Was there a battle between Narscent Soul Cultivators here.'' she wondered, the energies felt too volatile, as if the cultivators involved had fought not too long ago. Her attention soon shifted to her spiritual consciousness where she has detected movement. Her expression darkened and without hesitation, she vanished from the formation, reappearing moments later near the scene of the conflict. The sight that met her was grim. Scarlet mists twisted in the air, from the blood of three disciples on the ground, their bodies torn in half. As Meng Lin appeared, the fighting momentarily halted. The perpetrators, a group of five Scarlet Demon Sect cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm and one at the Gold Core Realm turned their attention to her. "Who the heck ar-" one of the Scarlet Demon Sect cultivators began, but his words were cut short as Meng Lin''s spiritual consciousness slammed into the area with overwhelming force. The Scarlet Demon Sect cultivators froze and the blood mist in the air dispersed as their bodies held enormous pressure before they instantly gave in, kneeling on the ground with a thud. Meng Lin didn''t bother to ask what was going on as she raised she hand and her spiritual consciousness, condensed into a needle-thin spike, pierced through the mind of the nearest cultivator. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. His eyes widened in horror as his consciousness ripped apart, leaving his body to crumple lifelessly to the ground. The remaining cultivators were terrified. "P-please spare us!" one of them stammered, his voice shaking as he struggled against the crushing force pinning him down. Meng Lin didn''t answer and with another wave of her hand, her spiritual consciousness surged again, forming dozens of invisible spikes that stabbed into the cultivators spiritual seas. Their screams echoed briefly before their bodies went limp, collapsing into heaps on the blood-soaked ground. The battlefield grew silent once more, with only the faint rustling of leaves in the wind. Meng Lin glanced at the corpses briefly, her mind on the feasibility of using her spiritual consciousness as an attack. She turned to the sect disciples, who were now staring at her in stunned disbelief. Bloodied and exhausted, they seemed unsure whether to bow or run. One of them, a young man clutching his wounded arm, stepped forward hesitantly. "Senior thank you for saving us." Meng Lins gaze swept over them, her expression unreadable. "Why are Azure Wind Sect disciples here?" The young man flinched but answered quickly. "We we were sent to investigate the sudden invasion of the Scarlet Demon Sect in this region. We didnt expect to encounter them this far in." Meng Lin nodded slightly, her tone still cold. "Leave now. Return to your sect and report what youve seen." The disciples hurriedly bowed and retreated, their steps faltering as they fled toward the east. Meng Lin remained still for a moment, her spiritual consciousness sweeping the area once more. After confirming that there was no danger she flew off, heading towards the sect. As she soared through the air, Meng Lin felt a faint ripple in the air. Her brows furrowed as the disturbance grew stronger, looking afar to her left she saw a giant flash beyond the clouds which caused her to squint. Boom! When her vision cleared, she felt a shockwave that pushed her back. Focusing, she caught a fleeting glimpse of a colossal shadow within the cloud, accompanied by bursts of energy that sent shockwaves rippling in all directions. Her instincts sharpened. A battle? Without hesitation, she turned to the sect and increased her speed, her heart calming as the sect came into view. Her sharp eyes caught sight of a figure standing by the entrancea familiar face dressed in crimson and black robes. She quickly arrived at the entrance, where she landed swiftly, her robes still trailing the residual energy from her flight. Senior Wen Bonshan, Meng Lin greeted, her tone neutral, though her senses were on high alert. The man smiled faintly, his piercing blue eyes betraying no emotion, but Meng Lin could feel the faint ripple of energy emanating from hima deliberate show of strength or a subtle warning, she wasnt certain. Junior Meng Lin, welcome back, Wen Bonshan replied smoothly, his voice calm. Meng Lins eyes raised as she probed. Senior, the sect seems tense. Is it the Scarlet Demon Sect." Wen Bonshan''s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he spoke. Indeed, all sect disciples were called because out of nowhere the scarlet demon sect attacked. He gestured toward the inner sanctum of the sect. The Sect Master has left in a hurry and the grand sect elder held a meeting with the elders. You six in the Pavilion Mountain were each requested too. Meng Lin inclined her head. Understood. I will head there at once. As she turned to leave, Wen Bonshans voice stopped her. Junior Meng Lin. She glanced back, her eyes meeting his calm but probing gaze. "Be careful," Wen Bonshan said, his tone measured. "The Scarlet Demon Sects actions are strange this time." I will keep that in mind, Senior. Meng Lin nodded slightly and she ascended into the air, heading toward the Sect Masters hall. ''Half-Step Narscent Soul Realm.'' Meng Lin''s thoughts turned to the energy fluctuation from him, he might have tried to hide it, but Meng Lin was quite familiar with the energy fluctuation, from her battle with Senior Sister Liu. ''to think he would be this strong, it seems he isn''t that simple.'' while she had been at the sect courters of the Gold Core disciples, she had heard some news about this Senior Brother Wen Bonshan, he had made it to the top 10 of the Rising Star Ranking. However, it was only now that she realized how powerful he truly was. She turned her attention and she approached the Sect hall, her spiritual sense extended instinctively. She detected two powerful auras gathered inside, each one radiating authority. Landing softly on the stone pathway, she adjusted her robes with practiced grace, masking her unease. She stepped through the halls grand entrance, her gaze immediately falling upon the figures seated at the heart of the assembly. At the forefront sat the Grand Sect Elder, his frail frame draped in simple yet intricately embroidered robes. Despite his age and seemingly fragile state, the oppressive aura he exuded was suffocating. His hazy eyes, though clouded, seemed to pierce through all pretenses, locking onto Meng Lin with a scrutiny that made her instincts scream caution. Beside him sat another figure, a man whose presence was no less intimidating. Dressed in azure-and-gold robes of the Soul Shattering Sect, his sharp features were accentuated by an air of regal indifference. His aura hummed with restrained power, suggesting a profound cultivation realm. His eyes, however, betrayed a faint curiosity as they assessed Meng Lin. The Grand Sect Elder broke the silence, his hoarse voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere. "Disciple Meng Lin," he began, his tone measured, "You have been making quite the name for yourself. You have caught the attention of many." Meng Lin felt his piercing gaze and didn''t know what to say, the grand sect elder was definitely talking about the events of the ancient spirit pool realm, where the Palace Master appeared and took both her and junior brother Ruan Lee. She bowed her head slightly. "I was undeserving of the attention, Grand Sect Elder. I am simply doing what I must." The man next to the grand elder finally spoke. " It''s good to see our sect producing such talents," the man said, his voice smooth. His gaze lingered on Meng Lin, sharp and probing. "To rise so quickly and garner such attention yet not even appear on the Luan Catalog Rankings... it is no small feat." Meng Lin kept her expression neutral, but her mind raced. This man was clearly from the Soul Shattering Sect, but who was he, she felt a suffocating aura no less than the grand elder from this man. "Senior is too kind," Meng Lin said, keeping her tone respectful. The man gave a faint smile, but his sharp eyes did not waver. "Modesty is admirable, but false modesty serves no one. I am Yue Que." "Yue Que?" Meng Lin said, remembering it as a name she recognized. The Grand Sect Elder nodded faintly before continuing, his tone shifting. "Disciple Meng Lin, we shall not ask what happened with the Palace Master, rather we have a question for you." Meng Lin''s eyebrows raised, noting the subtle way the elder referred to himself, though she showed no outward reaction. "What is the question." She said, dropping her pretense. "The Formless Cultivation Method!" Meng Lins heart skipped a beat as the Grand Sect Elders words echoed through the hall. The Formless Cultivation Method. She couldnt hide her shock, and the slight widening of her eyes betrayed her. Her instincts urged her to deny it, but she remained silent, her lips pressed tightly together. A thin, knowing smile appeared on the Grand Sect Elder''s lips. "So it was you," he said softly. Meng Lin remained silent, her mind racing. How had they discovered her connection to the Formless Cultivation Method? It was a secret she had not told anyone, not even the three girls. The Grand Sect Elder leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "Do you know the history of the technique you are using?" Meng Lin hesitated, then shook her head slowly. "No, Grand Sect Elder. I only know that it is the core cultivation technique of the Formless Sect." "Formless Sect," Yue Que interjected, his voice steady but laced with curiosity. "A hidden cultivation sect that once stood at the pinnacle of our cultivation world during its prime. It was said that their techniques defied the heavens themselves." The Formless Sect members are considered sinners. Secluded, they were last seen 500 years ago, they have erased themselves from the annals of history. To find a trace of their techniques now quite interesting. Meng Lins mind churned with questions, but she kept her composure. The Grand Sect Elders tone shifted, becoming lighter and friendly. Enough of that for now. You are bound for greatness as long as you don''t die." Meng Lin looked up, startled by the sudden change in his demeanor. The Grand Sect Elder reached into his sleeve and retrieved a small, intricately carved jade token. This is a Formless Sect Token. It has no use for me so we shall give it to you, consider it an investment in your future. "It may resonate with certain areas or objects tied to the Formless Sect. Keep it close; it should be of use." Meng Lin hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to accept the token. Thank you, Grand Sect Elder." The elder waved a hand dismissively. You will have many opportunities to prove yourself. In fact, we have a task for you. Meng Lin straightened. What task? 229. Crimson Shadow Mountain The Grand Sect Elder spoke. "There is a mountain on the borders of our sect''s territory called Crimson Shadow Mountain. It is a resource-rich area, home to a rare spiritual stone called Scarlet Spirit Crystal. There is an untapped vein of these Scarlet Spirit Crystals and the Scarlet Demon Sect has recently sent their sect disciples to this area, turning it into a battlefield for the sect''s prodigies." Meng Lin nodded slowly, processing his words. "And my role?" The Grand Sect Elder leaned back, his aged voice steady. "You just need to join the group of sect disciples on the Crimson Shadow Mountain to secure it. We''ve sent both your senior brother Wu Dao and senior sister Luo Mei there as well, the Scarlet Spirit Crystals are useful for Soul Wondering Realm disciples so you should go there." Meng Lins brows furrowed slightly. "I understand. I will ensure the mountain is secure." The Grand Sect Elder gestured dismissively. "Good. You may leave now. You can proceed immediately If you are prepared." Meng Lin bowed deeply to both men before retreating from the hall, her mind digesting with the information given to her. As Meng Lin left the grand hall, her thoughts churned as she ascended into the sky, heading toward her quarters to prepare for the task ahead. Her spiritual consciousness remained active as she flew, noting the increased activity around the sect. Groups of disciples hurried between courtyards, and there were a lot less disciples around. After using the teleportation formation to arrive at the pavilion mountain, Meng Lin went straight towards her villa, noting how empty the mountain felt. She discovered a restrictive barrier on some areas of the mountain, the 12 pagodas on the other side of the mountain were blocked off by a barrier and even the jade library was blocked off as well. She couldn''t help but wonder the reason for that. After entering her villa, she quickly checked the whole villa, making sure everything was fine before she entered the alchemy room, there she began to sort her things before taking out a map of the sects territory. After looking through it she realized that the Crimson Shadow Mountain stood at the southeastern edge of the sects territory, a place very close to the Luo Kingdom. The kingdom notorious for its ambiguous stance toward sects, often fostering subtle alliances with rogue and demonic cultivators and even the Scarlet Demon Sect. Setting the map aside, Meng Lin closed her eyes and began to meditate, setting aside all her thoughts. *** Early morning of the next day Meng Lin left the sect, ascending once more into the sky, heading toward the Crimson Shadow Mountain at the sect''s borders. The morning sun shone around her as she flew steadily through the skies, the sect''s imposing mountains fading behind her. Her thoughts were calm yet focused, her spiritual energy flowing steadily as she headed towards her destination. After nearly an hour of flying at a relatively fast speed, the rugged mountain range of the Crimson Shadow Mountain came into view. shrouded in a faint red mist that carried an air of tension and hostility, the mountain was gigantic, its steep slopes covered in dense foliages of giant trees. Meng Lin landed at the prearranged meeting point at the base of Crimson Shadow Mountain. Wu Dao stood waiting in a concealed glade, surrounded by a small group of sect disciples. His figure was as steady as ever, his robes faintly shimmering with protective formations. Youre here, Wu Dao said, nodding in acknowledgment. Meng Lin inclined her head. Senior Brother Dao This isnt the real location for our operation, Wu Dao replied. Follow me. Were heading to a more secure place. Meng Lin followed as Wu Dao led the group up a winding path cloaked in mist. The dense grass around them muffled their footsteps, while faint traces of spiritual energy became more pronounced as they climbed higher. After a while, Wu Dao stopped before a jagged wall of rock.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. He raised his hand and channeled spiritual energy into the stone, revealing a shimmering portal. This way, he said, stepping through. Meng Lin stepped after him, entering a breathtaking cave system that led them to a wide valley hidden deep within the mountain. The spiritual energy there was rich and abundant, nourishing vibrant plants that glowed faintly in the dim light. Streams of liquid qi trickled through the area, and at the center of the valley stood an intricate formation carved on the ground. Standing near the formation was Luo Mei, her green robe gleaming in the soft light of the garden. She exuded an air of calmness, her expression unreadable as her gaze fell on Meng Lin. Youre finally here, Luo Mei said, her tone even. Meng Lin nodded in greeting. Whats that?" pointing towards the formation. Luo Mei opened her mouth, but decided not to ask the questions in her mind, she answered. "A double formation, we''re trying to carve I teleportation formation on top of this Concealing Barrier Formation, it''s designed to conceal our presence and protect us from external detection." Unfurling a map inscribed with the layout of the mountain she continued. Weve scouted their positions overnight. The Scarlet Demon Sect has fortified three key areas: the southern ridge, the central camp, and the northern cliff. They have a formation barrier around all three areas, the core of which is heavily guarded in the central camp. Wu Dao, who had been standing silently, added "Weve already lost several scouts who attempted to gather intelligence near their camps. Weve sent out messages to see if we can communicate but no response, so Its clear they are preparing for a full-scale assault on our territory." Meng Lins eyes narrowed slightly. "Then we need to strike first." Luo Mei nodded, her calm expression resolute. "Exactly, we''ve come up with a plan." Wu Dao said "The plan is simple. Luo Mei will stay here to protect the garden and take control of the formation, if anything happens. Ill lead the disciples to attack the barriers of the southern ridge, drawing their forces away. Meng Lin, you infiltrate the central camp and destroy their teleportation formation core. Once its down, we take care of the rest. Meng Lin studied the map intently, noting the layout of the enemys positions. isn''t that teleportation formation inside of the formation barrier, how do I get inside" Luo Mei replied we have a barrier disturbing talisman, once it''s used, It will lead them to think that we are heavily attacking them on one side, they will definitely send their strongest forces to that area, leaving their main camp less guarded" Their strongest is Zhao Ren and Yin Xue, both peak Soul Wandering Realm cultivators, we intend to lead both with Senior Brother Dao." Wu Dao''s expression remained calm. Ive faced them before. It might be taxing, but I can handle them." Wu Dao continued. if they decide to send all their forces on us then we retreat slowly, until you are able to destroy their teleportation formation. Meng Lin nodded. alright, I''ll take care of the teleportation formation. Luo Mei spoke, her tone softer than before. Be careful, the Scarlet Demon Sect wont hesitate to send reinforcements if they sense trouble. Meng Lin offered another nod. I understand. Luo Mei nodded, her gaze turning to the group of disciples around them, "does everyone else understand the plan." The disciples nodded in unison, their expressions serious. Wu Dao glanced around, ensuring everyone was ready before setting out with the half the disciples. *** High within the rugged terrain of Crimson Shadow Mountain, four young cultivators gathered in a large tent. The flickering lanterns cast shadows on their youthful faces as they discussed their next move. Zhao Ren, tall with sharp features, wore a simple black robe, his eyes cold and calculating. "How are the preparations on your sides?" he asked, his voice low and cold. Li Jiu, a man in an indigo robe answered, his hands clenched at his sides. "Everythings ready. We should strike now, no more waiting." Yin Xue, standing quietly at the back, with sparkling yellow eyes spoke, her voice calm. "Patience, Jiu. Rushing in without a plan is foolish. We need more information first." The last girl, lounging casually with a playful smirk, wore a deep violet robe. Her black hair framed her face as she stretched lazily. "But he''s right, you two are so serious. Let''s just attack. Weve got numbers, weve got power." Zhao Rens gaze shifted "not yet, do you guys have any information on this new disciple that joined their group." "Meng Lin was the name, right?" Li Jiu asked, arrogance coloring his tone. "Who is she? Why should we care?" Yin Xue raised an eyebrow, her glimmering yellow eyes thoughtful. "Shes a core disciple of the Soul Shattering Sect, I think she''s someone with a special physique, their so-called seventh Luan Soul." Mei Ling, the lazy girl sat up, her interest piqued. "Her? This sounds more interesting. Wasn''t she in the Foundation establishment realm when that news spread, I doubt she''ll make any difference here" Zhao Rens expression darkened. "I dont have many details, but i know she was able to instantly kill junior brother Zhang Wei. Shes unpredictable, and we cant afford to take her lightly." "She''s the one who killed Zhang Wei?" Li Jius eyes widened, his previous arrogance quickly turning to disbelief. "That little.... If she could take him out so easily, she must be more dangerous than we thought." Yin Xues yellow eyes glimmered with curiosity. "That rumor was true then, however to kill someone like Zhang Wei easily, she has to at least be at the peak stage of the Gold Core Realm." Zhao Ren crossed his arms, his gaze hardening as he thought. "That''s the problem, we don''t know how strong she is, if she were at the late or even peak stage stage of the Soul Wondering Realm then..." Li Jiu scoffed, brushing his indigo robe as he spoke. "Shes just one person. Weve handled worse, we have two peak stages here. I say we stick to the plan and crush them with our numbers." Yin Xue gave a small shake of her head. "Its not about numbers this time, Jiu. If we attack recklessly, we might end up walking right into a trap. We need a solid strategy before we engage." Mei Lings lips curled into a smile, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. "How about we test the waters first? Send a few of us in to provoke them. If shes as strong then shell show up soon enough. Well see what shes really made of." Zhao Ren considered her words, his eyes dark with calculation. "Thats not a bad idea, I..." Suddenly, the flap of the tent was thrown open, and a young disciple rushed in, his face pale with urgency. "Senior Brother Ren! Enemy attack" he panted, struggling to catch his breath. "They''re attacking the barrier of the southern ridge! Theyre there!" The tent fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere shifting immediately. Zhao Rens gaze sharpened, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a steely intensity. "How many?" The disciple swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "A full forcethere are dozens of them. Theyve caught us off guard!" Li Jius hands clenched tightly into fists, his anger flaring. "So they wanna strike first," he muttered, his voice edged with frustration. Yin Xue stepped forward with a slight shake of her head. "No. Rushing into a confrontation without knowing their full strength would be a mistake. We need to hold back and understand their position first." Mei Ling, reclining lazily against a post with a playful smirk, spoke with her usual nonchalance. "Patience again, huh? Well, Ill just hang back here and wait, just in case they decide to pop in for tea." Her tone oozed sarcasm. Zhao Ren''s eyes flicked from Mei Ling to the disciple, his expression darkening. "Gather your team and track them. Make sure we get a full report on their numbers and positions. We cant afford to make a rash move." The disciple nodded quickly, bowing before turning to leave. As the flap of the tent closed behind him, Zhao Ren suddenly reached into his robe, taking out a talisman glowing faintly, it was a message talisman. After reading it, he let out a slight laugh and turned to the group, his tone now sharp and commanding. "This changes everything. We cant waste any time. Since we have Intel, we move out. And when we do, well crush them." He continued with a smile. "I have a plan." 230. Grief-Binding Gaze Near the Central Camp of the Scarlet Demon Sect disciples, Meng Lin moved swiftly through the dense foliage, her form blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment thanks to the Formless Cultivation Method. As she approached the central camp, she noticed a few patrols, their vigilance heightened. She crouched low, her eyes scanning the area, and made mental notes of the enemy''s positions. The teleportation formation should be at the heart of the camp, in the biggest tent. As she waited for the signal, the distant sound of an explosion from the south reached her earsthe barrier-disturbing talisman Wu Dao had activated. With the explosion ringing out, it was time. The barrier around the central camp flickered briefly, distracted by the attack on the southern ridge. Meng Lin seized the opportunity. She darted forward, slipping inside the barrier when it flickered out of existence. Moving quickly and silently, she positioned herself on a boulder, waiting patiently. The Scarlet Demon Sect disciples were in a state of confusion, rushing to respond to the sudden commotion at the southern ridge. Meng Lin waited for ten whole minutes, taking advantage of their distraction as they focused on the south. She leaped from the boulder, her form a blur as she glided through the shadows. She maneuvered around the perimeter of the camp, avoiding the few guards around the tent. Although she knew she could easily use brute force, she wanted to see the effectiveness of the Formless Cultivation Method. As she walked toward the tent, she suddenly sensed something. Her eyes widened as everything in her field of vision turned black. It didn''t take long for her secret technique to react, but it was too late. Peng!!! The force of the impact sent Meng Lin flying, flying through the air with bone-jarring force. Her body slammed against a large boulder, crushing it, the impact leaving her breathless and disoriented. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog from her mind. Her secret technique, the Stellar Soul Shield, had activated just in time to mitigate the illusion attack, but she couldn''t put up any physical defenses to prevent herself from being thrown across the clearing. Her eyes sharpened as she pushed herself up from the ground, blood dripping from her lip and her chest. She could feel the lingering pain of the attack; she had been hit by a spear. The world around her came back into focus, and she realized with chilling certainty that she wasnt alone. Zhao Ren, Li Jiu, Yin Xue, and Mei Ling stood in a circle around her, their auras radiating a dangerous intensity. Four Soul Wandering Realm cultivatorstwo at the peak stage, one at the late stage, and one at the medium stage. Meng Lins pulse quickened as she realized just how dire her situation was. Her mind raced. So, this was their plan. They anticipated our every move. The teleportation formation... Was it a trap? Meng Lins eyebrows furrowed; the first thought after being found out wasn''t fear, but rather confusion. How had they figured it out? "You guys are quite the strategists," the man at the lead, holding a golden spear, said with a soft chuckle. "But we''re always one step ahead of you." Meng Lins eyes flickered with recognition as she studied him. The figure was none other than Zhao Ren, the one Wu Dao described. Meng Lins expression remained unreadable. "How did you know? Did you plant spies within our ranks?" Zhao Ren tilted his head slightly, as if amused. "Spies? I wouldn''t call it that. More importantly, you hid yourself quite well to take a thrust from me and survive." Meng Lin''s gaze turned icy as she wiped the blood from her lips. She straightened her posture, her aura stabilizing as the pain subsided; if she hadn''t been wearing the immortal lotus robe, that would have been a fetal strike. Her chest still hurts. Her eyes darted to each of her opponents, carefully assessing their stances and positions. The overwhelming pressure from their combined auras was intense, It was something she certainly hasn''t faced before. Zhao Ren smirked, his golden spear shimmering ominously in his hand. "You should feel honored. Its rare for someone to endure my Heaven-Crushing Strike and live to tell the tale. But I wonder... how long can you hold out against the four of us?" Li Jiu, wielding a crimson sword, chuckled darkly. "Lets not drag this out, Zhao. Shes just one person. Even if shes tough, she doesnt stand a chance." "Dont underestimate her," Yin Xue interjected coldly, her pale fingers tracing the hem of her clothes. "Shes not just any normal late stage. Someone who can take both of those attacks isnt ordinary." Mei Ling, her slender figure radiating an eerie demonic aura, stepped forward. Her figure blurred as her body pulsed with malevolent energy. "Enough talk. Lets see what this prodigy of the Soul Shattering Sect is truly made of." Meng Lin exhaled slowly, her breathing steadying as her vision began to turn blurry; however, the Stellar Soul Shield flickered faintly around her, its celestial glow returning the world back to normal. ''An illusion attack again,'' she thought as she summoned a giant axe from her inventory. The Armor Shattering Axe appeared, its blunt edge imbued with the water elemental Qi. "So, this is how the Scarlet Demon Sect handles thingsfour against one," Meng Lin said, her voice steady despite the tense situation. "Are you afraid to face me alone?" Zhao Rens smirk deepened. "Confidence doesnt suit the cornered. But if its a fight you want..." Without warning, Zhao Ren launched forward, his spear thrusting with lightning speed. Meng Lins eyes narrowed as she sidestepped, her form disappearing as she evaded the attack by a hairs breadth. Meng Lin retaliated instantly, her axe slicing in an upward arc. Zhao Ren twisted his body, deflecting the blunt edge with the shaft of his spear. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, the sound echoing through the clearing like thunder as they separated.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Li Jiu and Yin Xue joined the fray next. Li Jiu''s crimson sword burned with intense fire, the fire elemental Qi imbued in his sword as he slashed across, sending out a crescent fire toward Meng Lin. Meng Lin quickly spun her axe, the water elemental Qi around it surging outward in a protective wave. The water and fire clashed violently, creating a burst of steam that clouded the battlefield momentarily. Through the haze, Yin Xue struck. Her fingers formed a series of intricate seals, and spears materialized mid-air, shooting toward Meng Lin with pinpoint precision. Meng Lin''s eyes flashed coldly as she slashed forward with her axe, the blade meeting one of the spears mid-flight. However, instead of cutting through, the spear passed right through her axe as if it were made of ethereal energy. Meng Lins heart skipped a beat as the realization struck her: the spear was not physical. It was a soul attack. Peng! The Stellar Soul Shield flared into existence around her, shimmering with a protective glow. But the spear, infused with soul energy, still connected with her, sending a wave of force through her body. Her focus sharpened in an instant. She could feel her soul core vibrating from the impact. If not for the shield, the attack might have actually killed her. She steadied herself, her feet touching the ground lightly as she came to a stop, at the same time Mei Ling''s shadowy figure appeared behind Meng Lin. Her claws, brimming with dark energy, slashed down toward Meng Lin''s unprotected back. Meng Lin didn''t turn but lightened her stance, her Stellar Soul Shield flickering to life just in time to block the soul attack. The claws collided with the barrier. Peng! The impact reverberating through the battlefield as Meng Lin was sent flying forward, closing the gap between herself and Yin Xue in an instant. Yin Xue''s eyes widened as Meng Lin''s axe came down, but before it could land, a shadow flashed between them. Zhao Ren''s spear intercepted the blow, sparks flying as the two weapons collided. "You won''t get to her that easily," Zhao Ren growled, pushing against the weight of Meng Lin''s axe. Meng Lin smirked, twisting her weapon and forcing Zhao Ren to stumble. She spun on her heel, delivering a sweeping kick that caught Zhao Ren off guard and sent him skidding back. Meng Lin landed gracefully, her breathing steady but her expression colder than ever. She realized that dealing with these four was much more difficult than dealing with the two peak stage bandits. Not only was their spiritual Qi way stronger, but they also had elemental Qi as well as soul attacks, which made their strikes unpredictable and far deadlier than the brute force tactics of the bandits, It seems they weren''t prodigies for nothing. "Enough of this!" Meng Lin growled. She slammed the Armor Shattering Axe into the ground, causing a shockwave of Qi to ripple outward. Circulating the Elemental Qi Convergence Method, Meng Lin used its only technique. "Elemental Qi Convergence: Elemental Domain!" Rumble!! The ground beneath Meng Lin''s feet shimmered as a radiant, multi-colored aura spread outward, enveloping the entire camp. The air shimmered with different elemental Qi as various glows began to appear. The elemental energies of Water, Erosion, Mud, Fire, and Darkness surged together in a harmonious yet destructive way, creating a space where Meng Lin''s aura became even more brutal. The ground shook violently as Meng Lin''s Elemental Qi converged, the domain expanded, the air itself warping under its weight. Li Jiu and Mei Ling were the first to feel the air around them grow thick, and before they could react, dark tendrils shot up from the ground, coiling around their limbs and bodies, restricting them with an iron grip. What... What the hell is this? Li Jiu gasped, struggling against the tendrils that tightened around his chest, restricting his breath. I cant move, Mei Ling hissed, her blurry figure flickering as she fought to break free. Thisthis power... its suffocating. Her illusions, which had once surrounded her, were now useless as the tendrils kept her immobile. What is this... technique? Zhao Ren gasped. His body was pushed back by an immense force. The air itself seemed to press against him, trying to crush him under its weight, his voice strained as he struggled to keep his footing. This isnt possible! Just who is this person?! Yin Xues voice cracked, her breath coming in surprise. No one can control this many elemental Qi at once! Zhao Ren shot a glance at her, his face flushed with exertion. Suddenly, a rumbling sound filled the air as clouds began to appear in the sky. Rumble!!! The thunderous crackle of his lightning-infused spear grew louder as the elemental Qi of thunder began to gather in the air. Zhao Ren''s aura flared in response. He stood tall, thunderbolts crackling all around as he transformed into a golden thunder man. Seeing this, Yin Xue sighed, her eyes glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light as she activated her innate ability. Her yellow pupils dilated, revealing two deep, swirling vortexes within them. The very fabric of the domain seemed to ripple in response to her eyes. Meng Lin felt an intense gaze locked onto her, and her eyebrows furrowed. She suddenly felt an intense flood of emotions surge within hera torrent of sorrow, doubt, and regret began to surface in her mind. Her vision blurred as she stammered, "What... what is this?" she murmured, her voice cracking as tears began to fall down her face. The radiant colors of her Elemental Domain flickered, dimming as her emotional turmoil disrupted the harmony of the elements. The memories of her past flashed before her eyesmemories she had long forgotten, each one a haunting echo of lives lived and lost. The faces of those she had loved and the mistakes she had made surged through her mind, a relentless tide threatening to drown her in despair. In a flash of clarity, a realization struck Meng Lin like a lightning bolt: ''This was not my second life.'' "No... no! This can''t be!" she gasped, her fingers clawing at her temples as she was thrown from one sorrowful memory to another. "Im, I''m sorry... I!" The floodgates opened, and her once-controlled elemental powers spiraled out of her grasp. The radiant colors of her Elemental Domain morphed into a chaotic storm of wild energies, clashing against one another in a frenzy of light and sound. Yin Xue recoiled, her eyes raised as she wondered what was happening. This was the first time the Grief-Binding Gaze had such an effect. Zhao Ren, seeing the chaotic situation, gritted his teeth and lunged forward, his speed as fast as lightning. He appeared over Meng Lin and struck with his thunder-infused spear aimed directly at Meng Lins chest. Crackle! His spear crackled with a blinding light, the energy of the storm itself coursing through it as he thrust forward. The strike was fast, aimed at the heart of Meng Lin. Suddenly the air around Meng Lin distorted as her forearm began to glow. The arm moved on its own to stop the attack, but the Crimson Tortoise Dragon had reacted too late. Peng Puchi!! The spears tip ricocheted and plunged deep into Meng Lin''s stomach, the crackling energy of thunder surging through her body as a shockwave of pain exploded within her. Meng Lin gasped, and her eyes snapped open; the searing pain in her chest caused her to regain her consciousness. And her pain was replaced by a surge of raw power. She immediately entered the Brute Qi state, her body radiating an overwhelming force. "HA!" With a fierce cry, she swung her giant Axe in a wide arc, releasing an intense destructive wave of Brute Qi. Boom! The Axe smashed into Zhao Ren, crushing him instantly, his body reduced to a mangled mess, and the force of the swing reached Yin Xue, who was a few meters away. "Ahh!" Yin Xue screamed as the shockwave tore into her, her body flung through the air like a broken doll. She crashed into the scorched ground, her robes in tatters and her flesh burned. Smoke rose from her charred body as she struggled to move, coughing up blood with shallow breaths. Meng Lin stood motionless, her hammer resting heavily on the ground, her Brute Qi state still pulsing with raw, unrestrained energy. Blood poured from the wound in her stomach and her face was pale. A chaotic storm of Elemental Qi raged around Meng Lin as the Crimson Tortoise Dragon appeared, the dragon lowered its head, nuzzling her gently. "Mistress." Meng Lins vision blurred, her strength rapidly fading. With trembling hands, she reached up and patted the dragon''s scaled head. Take me back she whispered, her voice barely audible. The dragon carefully scooped Meng Lin onto its back, its movements gentle as it flew toward the south, on its back Meng Lin lay with a dazed expression, a spear stuck in her stomach. 231. Retreat and Regroup Waning Moon Art: Full Slash, Twofold Wu Dao slashed at the barrier before him, his sword releasing a two fold mirage slash that met with the barrier, causing radiant Qi spread as cracks began to spiderweb across the barrier. He could feel the energy within the barrier shifting, resisting his strikes. Why isnt this breaking?! Wu Dao growled, his expression darkening. Around him, disciples of the sect were locked in a fierce battle, but his focus remained on the absence of Zhao Ren and Yin Xue. It had been 5 minutes already, and almost the entire Scarlet Demon Sect force was hereyet their main unit of four was not present. His mind raced. Have we been tricked? Did they predict our movements? Wu Dao clenched his fists tighter, slashing across the barrier once again. If theyre not here, then Meng Lin Roar! Before he could finish the thought, a deafening roar split the air. The ground trembled as a massive shadow moved past the barrier and descended from the sky. Thump. A dragon crashed into the battlefield. Its enormous body stretched wide as it landed with an earth-shaking thud. Wu Daos eyes widened as he saw Meng Lin slumped lifelessly on the dragons back, the spear embedded in her chest glowing with a faint energy. Junior Sister Lin! he shouted, hurrying over. The Crimson Tortoise Dragon growled, its form flickering as it laid Meng Lins body on the ground before dissolving into a haze of Qi. Wu Dao appeared at her side, his gaze furious. He could see her pale face, her breath shallow and uneven. The spear in her chest was leaking Elemental Qi, eating away at her vitality. Hold on, Meng Lin, he muttered, his hands shifting to the spear. His hands trembled as they gripped the spear, feeling the high concentration of Elemental Qi radiating from it. The spear pulsed with resistance, almost as if it were alive, but Wu Dao yanked it free in one swift motion. Meng Lins body convulsed, and her pale lips parted as blood spilled from the wound. Wu Dao quickly pressed his hand over the gaping injury, channeling his Qi into her to stabilize her condition. Yan Rui! I need a few recovery pills! he barked, his voice cutting through the chaotic battlefield. Yan Rui, a disciple who had been holding the defensive line with the other disciples, rushed to his side. She quickly pulled a few Rank 3 Body Rejuvenation Pills and Wound Mending Pills from her pouch and handed them over. Will this be enough? Itll have to be, Wu Dao muttered, crushing the pill between his fingers and gently feeding the powder into Meng Lins mouth, using a thread of Qi to guide it down her throat. Meng Lin just hold on, he whispered. The fights on the battlefield stopped, all the onlookers'' expressions a mix of awe and fear after witnessing the dragons descent. The Scarlet Demon Sect disciples hesitated to advance, warily eyeing the group. We need to retreat, Yan Rui said urgently, her voice steady despite the tension. The Scarlet Demon Sect may regroup at any moment. If Zhao Ren, Yin Xue, and the others come, we wont stand a chance in this state. Wu Daos eyes flickered with frustration, but he nodded. Youre right. Everyone, fall back!" As the group began their hasty retreat, Wu Dao carried Meng Lin in his arms, his jaw clenched tightly. His thoughts raced as he didn''t look back. Behind them, the Scarlet Demon Sects forces were not pursuing but were clearly regrouping. Wu Daos mind raced with questions. What happened to Zhao Ren and Yin Xue? Were they lying in wait for us somewhere else? Or were they injured like Meng Lin? Glancing at Meng Lins bloodied form, Wu Dao couldn''t help but blame himself. **** "Cough." Yin Xue staggered to her feet, her body screaming in protest. Every breath sent sharp pain radiating through her chest, and the acrid taste of blood lingered on her tongue. Her once-pristine robes were now tattered, burned in several places, clinging to her charred flesh. She coughed violently. The battlefield around her was silent now, save for the faint crackling of lingering embers from Meng Lin''s devastating final attack. Zhao Ren''s lifeless body lay several feet away, twisted unnaturally. His eyes were slightly open, wide in surprise. Her stomach churned at the sight. Zhao Ren... how will the sect react to this? Yin Xue pressed a trembling hand to her side, feeling a jagged wound beneath her ribs. ''Zhao Ren was Zhao Lu''s brother. No matter the circumstances, the sect will hold me accountable.''If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Sigh." She stumbled forward, her boots crunching over charred debris. She released her spiritual consciousness and was relieved to see the teleportation formation still active. Her mind replayed Meng Lin''s last attack, and her hand reflexively traced the burns on her arm, her fingers trembling with rage as she touched the raw, blistered skin. She had still underestimated that individual. A rustle behind her caused her to tilt her head slightly; however, she couldn''t be bothered to turn around. Li Jin emerged from the shadows, his face a mixture of anger and disbelief. "You''re still alive," he said flatly, his eyes flicking to her wounds. "Barely," Yin Xue muttered, her expression surprisingly calm. Li Jin''s gaze lingered on Zhao Ren''s body, and his expression darkened. "He''s dead." Yin Xue nodded. "I know." "And you know what that means." His voice was sharp, accusatory. "Zhao Lu will definitely come. She won''t care that it was Meng Lin who killed him. She''ll kill us." "I know," Yin Xue snapped, her calm facade cracking. "Do you think I haven''t thought of that?" Yin Xue exhaled slowly, closing her eyes for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter, more controlled. "We need to regroup, send word to the sect, and keep an eye on that valley until the others arrive." "And what about Zhao Lu?" Li Jin asked, his voice laced with bitterness. Yin Xue''s eyes flicked. "She is not our concern," Yin Xue said coldly, her tone brooking no argument. She walked toward the teleportation formation, her steps unsteady. "Go help out Mei Ling; she''s badly injured." Li Jin scoffed and stormed off in the direction of Mei Ling, muttering under his breath. *** Meng Lin opened her eyes to a bright sun hanging high in the sky. Her gaze lingered on it; its blazing warmth was oddly soothing despite her battered state. The stillness of the moment was broken by a voice beside her. Youre finally awake. She turned her head weakly to see Wu Dao sitting cross-legged next to her, his face calm but shadowed with worry. What happened in there? he asked, his tone measured. Meng Lin spoke, her gaze blank and her voice faint. "I wasnt able to destroy the teleportation formation; however, I was able to kill Zhao Ren." Wu Dao''s expression tightened, his brows furrowing as he processed her words. Zhao Ren is dead? he repeated, his tone edged with disbelief. Wu Dao''s mind raced. Zhao Ren, ranked sixth on the Rising Star Ranks, was not someone easily defeated. Even he, ranked just above Zhao Ren, couldn''t guarantee victory without a drawn-out fight. Yet Meng Lin had killed him in just five minutes. He studied her battered state, her white robe surprisingly woven back together, and her dim late-stage aura. He noticed that there was no arrogance in her tone, no air of boasting. She simply stared at the horizon, as if Zhao Rens death was a mere consequence of necessity, not triumph. What about the others? Wu Dao finally asked, his voice low, almost wary. Meng Lins eyes flickered to him briefly. Yin Xue is still alive, but she''s seriously injured. The others She paused, her expression thoughtful. They should still be alive." Wu Dao nodded, sighing slightly. At least with this, they wouldn''t send all Six Demon Seeds, but one of them would definitely come, and the most likely option is... Meng Lin interrupted his thought process. More importantly, I was ambushed before I could reach the enemys main tent. Their forces knew exactly where I would be they were prepared. Wu Daos gaze darkened, his hand unconsciously clenching into a fist. Yeah, I realized there had been spies within our group. Wu Dao looked at her for a moment before he continued with a deep sigh, When we retreated back to the valley, it was already too late. The place was deserteddead bodies were everywhere, and He hesitated, his voice quieter. Luo Mei was gone." Meng Lins eyes widened, and she tried to sit up, but the pain in her chest forced her back down. Luo Mei gone? What happened? Wu Dao shook his head. We dont know. But whatever the cause, there was no trace left, not even a sign of a struggle." "You think she might be the spy?" Meng Lin asked, surprise in her voice. Wu Dao sighed and shook his head slowly, his expression thoughtful. "No, I dont think that''s likely. If Luo Mei were the spy, she wouldnt have a reason to run away. A spy thrives by staying unnoticed, blending in. Running would only draw suspicion to her." Meng Lin frowned. "But shes gone, and that timing is too convenient to ignore." Wu Dao let out a deep sigh, his tone measured. "True, it raises questions. But consider thison the battlefield, several disciples deserted to the Scarlet Demon Sect. We already confirmed that those were the ones who leaked the information." He continued. "If Luo Mei was one of them, why would she disappear after everything was over? Since we already identified the disciples that deserted us, she had no suspicion on her, and she could have just blended in with the rest of us. Better yet, she could strike when we least expect it. It just doesnt add up." Meng Lin was silent for a moment, processing his reasoning. "Then what do you think happened to her?" Wu Dao replied. "There are two possibilities. Either she was captured by someone who wanted her specifically, or she left for reasons we dont yet understand. But I dont believe shes the spy. If she was, this whole operation wouldve gone differently." Meng Lins eyes narrowed slightly. "I understand." Wu Dao paused, his voice softening. Theres still one thing in our favor. Within the valley, theres a hidden formationone strong enough to hold even against a Nascent Soul cultivator. I plan to attempt a breakthrough while the formation is active. It will give us a fighting chance. "A fighting chance? Against what?" Wu Dao''s expression grew serious. "Against Zhao Lu." Meng Lin raised an eyebrow. "Zhao Lu Who is that?" Wu Dao leaned back slightly, his gaze distant, as if recalling something dreadful. "Zhao Lu, one of the Six Demon Seeds." "Shes Zhao Rens elder sister. A prodigy. Ruthless, cunning, and completely deranged. People call her the Blood Lily. Among all cultivators below the Nascent Soul Realm, shes considered unmatched. Some say she can even fight on par with weaker Nascent Soul cultivators." Meng Lin''s brows furrowed. "Blood Lily? Fitting name for a demon cultivator, I suppose." Wu Dao nodded. "The problem is, she doesnt care for reason or negotiation. Zhao Rens death wont even enrage herit will just give her an excuse. An excuse for her to leave the sect and come after us, not to avenge him, but to simply kill everyone here." Meng Lin''s brows furrowed. Everyone here? Wu Dao nodded, his voice laced with a deep sense of foreboding. Thats how crazy that girl is. Meng Lin asked, Then wouldnt the Scarlet Demon Sect disciples be running away right now? Wu Dao shook his head. They cant. They all have an imprint in their soul, a bond they cannot break. They can never abandon their sect, and their soul tablet is with the sect. With it, they can be located wherever they go. Meng Lin sighed. "I don''t know if I would be able to keep that promise I made to the Grand Sect Elder." Wu Dao smiled before getting up. "I sent word for reinforcements, but that will take a while. Our sect is already spread thin; the difference between our sect and the Scarlet Demon Sect is their larger number of disciples and prodigies." Rest and recover. Your wound isnt fatal, but youll need a few days to regain your strength. Meng Lin nodded slowly, her gaze drifting back to the sun. Wu Dao left her side, his figure soon disappearing as he walked out of a formation barrier. 232. Skeletal Remains "System" [Meng Lin] [Soul Wandering Stage (late)] [Experience Points: 5>7%] System Coin: 540 Immortal Jade: 4 Taoist Gacha Wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold 20%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] [Comprehension 0.06%] Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seal: Crimson Tortoise Dragon [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin exhaled, her eyes glancing over the system menu. The subtle glow of the menu lingered before fading, leaving her to reflect on the experience she felt when she was attacked by that weird gazethe eerie sensation of doubt and unease that had invaded her mind during her confrontation with Yin Xue. She wondered what kind of innate ability it might be to cause such strange thoughts and memories. The scary part was how the Stellar Soul Shield hadn''t been able to do anything against it. "Blood Lily..." Meng Lin muttered. "If this Zhao Lu is truly as strong as Wu Dao claims, then she''s bound to have even more terrifying means of attack." Her gaze sharpened as she pulled up her inventory and retrieved several bottles of Rank 3 pills. She knew she needed every edge she could muster if she was going to face someone like Zhao Lu. Without hesitation, she uncorked a bottle and began consuming the pills one by one. The dense medicinal energy surged through her body, filling her with vitality. "Sigh." As the medicinal energy settled within her, she exhaled and directed her qi toward her injury, accelerating the healing process. She carefully controlled the flow, ensuring none of it went to waste. Her cultivation base grew slightly more stable, and the dull ache in her body faded. Her thoughts drifted back to Wu Dao''s warning. "Right now, if I use the brute Qi alongside the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method, I can barely confront Senior Sister Liu, when she was a Half-Step Nascent Soul Cultivator." "But this Zhao Lu is much stronger, having strength to rival Nascent Soul Cultivators. Her power far surpasses most cultivators at her level. Meng Lin clenched her fists. I cant afford to underestimate her. The difference between me and a true Nascent Soul cultivator is vast. My only chance lies in preparation and using every resource and trick I have. If that doesn''t work out, I can always retreat with the Void-State Tablet." Meng Lins fingers tightened around the bottle she held. And what exactly happened with Luo Mei? The other disciples were killed, while she disappeared. It doesn''t make any sense." Releasing her spiritual consciousness, Meng Lin began to inspect the whole valley, her senses stretching far and wide. The valley appeared calm on the surface, its gentle winds and rolling greenery concealing any potential danger. Other than another small hidden formation a few dozen meters away from here, everything looked the same. She didn''t fail to inspect the disciples, but even they appeared normal. Yet, as Meng Lin''s spiritual consciousness stretched far and wide, inspecting every subtle movement and fluctuation within the valley, she picked up on something strange. There were faint ripples in spaceso subtle that it seemed almost imperceptible at first, like tiny waves from the movement of dragonflies above oceans. If it weren''t for her experience with the Spiritual Body Analyzer, she wouldn''t have noticed such a small detail. She focused intently on the faint ripples, and her spiritual consciousness led her to a secluded corner of the valley, where the air felt unnaturally dense. Moving her body with slight discomfort, Meng Lin got up, walking forward for a few steps, only to suddenly feel something strange.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Looking back, she saw the place where she had been laying moments ago was now occupied by a large boulder. Her eyes narrowed. An illusion formation? It was subtle, expertly crafted, and layered to deceive not just the naked eye but even the spiritual consciousness of Gold Core Cultivators. ''No wonder,'' she had thought it was weird when she felt that other formation, ''It appears Wu Dao doesn''t trust the disciples surrounding us, to both set formations around himself and me.'' Shaking her head, Meng Lin''s body flickered, and a few seconds later, she quickly arrived at the entrance to a small cave, half-hidden by thick underbrush and rocks. The cave was unassuming, just a small opening leading deeper into the earth. Still, the ripples were unmistakably coming from within. She entered without a second thought, her steps light yet cautious. As she moved further into the cave, the air grew thick with an oppressive energy. The walls were slick, almost as if they were washed through with water. The faint flicker of her spiritual consciousness was all she could rely on to navigate the increasingly dark and foreboding passage. A few meters in, the cave opened into a larger chamber. And there, in the middle of the room, was something that made Meng Lins heart jump. Lying before her was a skeleton. But this wasnt just any skeleton. The remains were clearly humanoid, but the bones were twisted in unnatural ways. The most unsettling feature was the faint trace of red miasma swirling around the bones, clinging to them like a curse. Meng Lins spiritual sense recoiled slightly from the miasma, sensing a malicious aura that it carried. This wasnt just a result of decayit felt like a lingering, residual power, one that was far from natural. But what caught her attention most of all was the clothing. The skeleton was wearing a familiar outfitone she recognized instantly. It was the same type of clothing that Luo Mei had worn, the same uniform she had today. And what struck Meng Lin most was how perfectly preserved the garments were. Despite the years of decay needed for the body to be just bones, the clothes remained in pristine condition, as if untouched by time. Meng Lin''s breath hitched as the pieces clicked into place. Luo Mei... what would Luo Hai think? Her eyes narrowed as she approached the skeleton carefully, inspecting it. Her fingers hovered near the skeleton''s head, unsure of what to think. Then, her gaze fell to the storage bag tied to the skeletons waist. Without a second thought, Meng Lin reached for it, her fingers trembling slightly. She unclipped the storage bag with a dark expression and opened it carefully, her spiritual sense sweeping through it as she began to examine its contents. Inside, she found several items, including scrolls and talismans, as well as a few strange items. The first thing that caught her attention was a Cyan Crystal Clear Token, behind which was a drawing of a giant gate. Meng Lin wondered which faction it belonged to since she didn''t recognize it from anything she knew. Setting it aside, she pulled out three scrolls, each filled with strange, ancient writing. She recognized the similar writing in two of them, thinking back to the ancient scrolls she obtained from the Ancient Spirit Pool Realm. Meng Lins eyes narrowed as she carefully unfurled one of the scrolls, her fingers tracing the unfamiliar yet eerily similar script. The symbols were intricate, written in the same style as the ancient texts. After several minutes of deciphering, she translated the title to Demonic Theory 1. She turned to the second scroll, her spiritual sense sweeping over it. This one contained a detailed map, though its markings were strange as it had several small dots on a red background. At the center, there was a bold inscription which she deciphered to God Blood Sea. Meng Lins heart skipped a beat. The God Blood Seashe had barely escaped from that place alive, and now, here it was again, appearing in an ancient text. The map seemed to highlight specific points of interest, though she couldnt immediately discern their significance. Were these locations within the sea itself? Or perhaps, they marked something hidden beneath its blood-red waters? Shaking off her unease, she vowed never to set foot there until she had appropriate strength. She turned her attention to the third scroll. Unlike the others, this one radiated a faint pure aura. Meng Lin carefully unraveled the third scroll, immediately noticing that the script was different from the other two. The writing, though ancient, was surprisingly easier to decipher. With focused concentration, she traced the symbols, gradually piecing together their meaning. "Pure Yang Secret Realm." Her breath caught. A secret realm? Her eyes flickered back to the Cyan Crystal Clear Token she had set aside earlier. If this scroll mentioned an entrance, then perhaps She scanned the rest of the text, her spiritual consciousness flickering with excitement. The scroll detailed the requirements to enter the Pure Yang Secret Realm, and at the top of the list was none other than the Cyan Crystal Clear Token. Meng Lin picked up the token again, scrutinizing the intricate engravings on its surface. Behind the gate depicted on the token, she noticed something she had missed beforethe gate was actually formed by thousands of small formation runes, likely part of the key to activating the entrance. She frowned. How can someone shrink runes that small, and there are thousands of them? And why does Luo Mei have something like this? Meng Lin exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around the token. Luo Mei just who were you really? Shaking off the distraction, she stepped back, her mind racing. The presence of the storage bag, the strange miasma, and the preserved clothing all pointed toward something weird happening, but what happened? She shook her head and turned her back to the skeleton, making her way down the save system, her thoughts heavy with the unsettling mystery that had unfolded before her. *** Yin Xue stood at the edge of a glowing teleportation formation, her body still aching from the brutal burns across her skin. Although her outward appearance was back to normal, only she knew how much damage she had sustained during the battle. The soft hum of the formation was the only sound for several moments as the disciples of the Scarlet Demon Sect gathered around her, nervousness in the air. Li Jin and Mei Ling stood just behind her, their expressions tense and wary, with Mei Ling still nursing injuries from the earlier battle. The atmosphere suddenly shifted as the formation erupted with a surge of light, and a figure stepped forward, her silhouette appearing before them. A woman emerged from the formation, her eyes like burning embers. She was tall, her crimson robes swirling around her as if alive, embroidered with dark patterns that seemed to pulse with a sinister energy. Her hair, long and black as night, cascaded down her back in perfect waves, but it was her eyes that drew every ounce of attentioncold, apathetic, and full of barely contained fury. Boom! As her boots hit the ground, the very earth beneath them trembled, and an oppressive, almost suffocating aura swept through the area. It was as if the temperature had dropped and the air had become thicker, laden with killing intent so potent that the disciples instinctively recoiled, their breath catching in their throats. Yin Xue, though standing her ground, felt the oppressive force press against her chest, making it harder to breathe. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, and she maintained her silence. Zhao Lus gaze swept the area, her eyes scanning every person present with an unsettling, predatory calm. It was only when her gaze settled on Yin Xue that a smile formed on her lips. "Which one of you was in that battle with my brother?" Her voice was low, lacking the fury contained within her eyes. Li Jin''s hands tightened into fists behind Yin Xue, his expression darkening. Mei Ling shifted uneasily beside him, clearly unable to contain her anxiety. Yin Xues eyes met Zhao Lus, her face a mask of calm despite the weight of the oppressive aura pressing down on her. With a steady voice, Yin Xue answered, It was I; I was fighting alongside him before he died." Zhao Lus eyes narrowed, the smile on her lips twisting into something colder, more sinister. A dangerous silence filled the air, broken only by the faint hum of the formation behind them. You were with him? Zhao Lus voice was soft. Yet, youre still standing. I dont understand." She paused, tilting her head. "Why are you not dead with him? You should have perished alongside him, to accompany him. Her tone was a deadly whisper, the underlying menace almost visible. As she spoke, the temperature around them seemed to drop further, the air growing heavy with the promise of death. Zhao Lus eyes flashed with a red light, and her hand rose slowly, an ominous energy swirling around her fingertips. Just as Zhao Lus hand began to crackle with repulsive dark energy, ready to attack Yin Xue, a figure appeared from the formation behind her. The oppressive pressure in the air lifted in an instant, and the sudden shift caused everyone to freeze. The newcomers presence was commanding, yet calming, unlike Zhao Lus oppressive force. His tall figure cut through the tension, exuding a powerful yet composed aura. His sharp eyes surveyed the scene, taking in the situation before his gaze settled on Zhao Lu. With a single word, his voice rang out, firm and unwavering: Enough. Zhao Lus hand froze mid-air, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face the man who had intervened. Her lips twisted into a scornful smile, but she did not lower her hand. I said, enough, the man repeated, his voice slightly higher. His gaze softened, but there was a dangerous edge to it as he fixed Zhao Lu with an unbothered stare. Zhao Lus hands lowered and her lips curled into a smile, though it lacked any warmth. Always the voice of reason, eh, Yin Zhi? The man, Yin Zhi, nodded once. If you want vengeance, there are better ways to approach it. His eyes flicked to Yin Xue, his expression unreadable, before he added, Killing my sister wont bring your brother back. For a moment, Zhao Lu said nothing. Then, with a dark laugh, her figure vanished, her oppressive aura lifting from the air as quickly as it had come. Yin Xue exhaled quietly, but she knew the danger wasnt gone. Yin Zhis gaze softened slightly, though his eyes still held an unbothered look. He gave a single nod to Yin Xue before turning to the others. You guys head back to the sect; I doubt this mountain will continue to stand for much longer." 233. Blood Red Talismans Meng Lin sat cross-legged, back in her small formation created by Wu Dao. She had entertained the thought of reporting her findings to him, but considering the situation, she wondered if it would do more harm than good. Although Wu Dao had made it seem logical when he was explaining his thoughts on what might have happened to Luo Mei, Meng Lin still felt he had mixed some emotions into it. Regardless of the relationshipor lack thereofMeng Lin figured it wouldnt bode well to bring news of a close disciples death to someone undergoing a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm. Now that she thought about it, Wu Daos decision seemed rushed, almost reckless for someone of his experience. A breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm was no small matterit required absolute focus and stability of mind. Yet, despite the looming threat of Zhao Lu and the Scarlet Demon Sect, Wu Dao had chosen this moment to advance. But why? She checked her system panel once more. [Experience: 7% 8%] Her slow but steady progress reassured her. She wasnt at her peak strength yet, but her injuries had mostly healed thanks to the Rank 3 Pills. If Zhao Lu truly came, she wouldnt be caught off guard. However, she frowned, her fingers unconsciously tapping against her knee, thinking back to Wu Dao. Was it truly impatience? Or was there something else pushing him to break through now? Did he have an item that could help? Her instincts whispered that something was amiss. Even if Wu Daos reasoning about Luo Meis fate had some merit, it felt like he had deliberately framed the situation to downplay its severity. Almost as if he wanted her to just accept it. Was that how he was framing his own mind before the breakthrough? Or was there a deeper reason behind it? Meng Lins thoughts churned, but before she could dwell on them further BOOM! The entire valley trembled as a deafening impact rang through the air. Meng Lins eyes snapped open. She rose to her feet, swiftly moving through the formation to get a closer look at the source of the disturbance. Stepping outside, she looked up to see a massive force slamming against a protective barrier surrounding the valley, causing ripples of spiritual energy to pulse outward. It was a twenty-meter-long monstrous creaturea grotesque fusion of an insect and a crocodile. Its elongated body was covered in thick plates, each segment pulsing with eerie crimson veins. It had multiple legs, their jagged edges digging into the barrier as it reared up to slam its massive, fanged maw against the shimmering shield. With each impact, a dark-red aura flowed from the barrier into the beasts body, causing its veins to glow brighter. Meng Lin narrowed her eyes. So thats the valley barrier Wu Dao spoke of but what in the world is that creature? Boom! Another deafening bang echoed as the beast struck again, siphoning another surge of aura from the barrier. This time, the protective formation flickered violently before stabilizing. Meng Lin spread her spiritual consciousness, trying to gauge the beasts strengththen suddenly, her brows furrowed. The beast, although strong, only radiated power akin to a peak-stage Soul Wandering Realm cultivator. It was the figure standing atop a nearby rock formation that caused her to tense. With her crimson robes fluttering in the wind and a twisted smile on her lips, she took no notice of Meng Lin standing nearby. Did you bring that thing here? Meng Lin asked, her voice cold, already guessing the identity of the woman before her. How had she gotten past the barrier? Meng Lin wondered. She could also feel the aura radiating from the woman; although slightly stronger than Senior Sister Liu, it still couldn''t be compared to a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator like Senior Wen Bonshan. Zhao Lu finally turned her head, amusement flickering in her eyes as she met Meng Lins gaze. Oh? You noticed me already? Impressive. She smirked, then lazily gestured toward the monstrous creature still slamming against the barrier. And yeah, its one of my pets. It likes to target barriers and formations, siphoning the power within them until they no longer hold. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Meng Lins expression darkened. A creature that drains both the energy and aura of formations? That explained why the protective array was weakening so quickly. If left unchecked, it wouldnt take long before the valley was fully exposed. Zhao Lu tilted her head, a sly grin forming. Surprised? You really shouldnt be. You did kill Zhao Ren, after all. Meng Lin ignored her taunts and focused on the creature. Now that she had a better understanding of its power, she had to decide how to handle it. The beasts ability to drain formations made the situation even worse, especially since Wu Dao was still in the middle of his breakthrough. Meng Lins fingers suddenly widened, the Armor Shattering Axe appearing in her hand. So youre here for revenge? Zhao Lu let out a soft chuckle. Revenge? That would imply I cared about that fool. She waved a hand toward the barrier. I could say that he still carried my name. To disregard that and kill him means insulting me. However, do I need a reason to kill you? Boom! The monstrous creature slammed into the barrier again, and this time, the cracks that had been forming spread even further. As another wave of crimson aura bled into the beast, its body pulsed ominously, growing slightly larger. Meng Lin took a step forward, her voice calm but firm. You came all this way just to die? Zhao Lus smirk widened. Oh, I like you already. She flicked her wrist, and a blood-red talisman appeared between her fingers, pulsing with eerie energy. With a deep breath, Meng Lin activated her Stellar Soul Shield, a translucent barrier forming around her body. At the same time, she circulated her Elemental Qi Convergence Method. Zhao Lu watched with interest, eyes gleaming. Oh? Do you think you can kill me before the barrier falls? Meng Lin didnt respond. Instead, she burst forward, the Crimson Tortoise Dragon materializing beside her with a thunderous roar. The massive spiritual beast charged at the formation-draining creature, multicoloured energy flicking across its armored body as it lunged. BOOM! A gigantic impact shook the valley as the dragon passed through the barrier to confront the hybrid creature. Meng Lin didnt waste the opening. In a flash, she leaped toward Zhao Lu, axe raised. Zhao Lus smirk faltered at the sight of the Ancient Spirit Seal. Just as Meng Lins weapon came crashing down, the blood-red talisman in Zhao Lus hand ignited. Clank! In a flash, a massive, fiery talon materialized before Meng Lin''s axe, blocking the blow with a deafening clank. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the air, and the ground trembled beneath them. The impact sent a jolt through Meng Lin''s body, and she had to brace herself to stay grounded. But before she could react, the bird''s other talon moved with lightning speed, retaliating in a vicious swipe toward her. Meng Lin barely managed to twist her body, narrowly avoiding the deadly talon. The sharp edge of the birds claw tore her robe slightly, almost landing a wound on her body. Staggering back, Meng Lin looked at the new beast before her. "A Razor Talon Thunderbird; moreover, it''s half-step into rank 5." Zhao Lu grinned, watching Meng Lins reaction with twisted amusement. I see youre not as slow as I thought. But youre still not fast enough to avoid death. "KREEEAAAH!" The Razor Talon Thunderbirds wings flared, creating gusts of wind that shook the valley. It screeched, its talons flexing in anticipation as the crimson energy around it crackled. Meng Lins eyes narrowed. This was no ordinary beast. Even though she could feel the immense power radiating from it, she couldnt afford to back down. Her grip tightened around the Armor Shattering Axe, the weapon humming with energy. She circulated her Formless Cultivation Method, and the space around her began to ripple, distorting as mist began to surround her body, her silhouette disappearing within the mist. "KREEAA" The Razor Talon Thunderbird screeched once more, its wings cutting through the air with a sharp, almost deafening sound. The wind howled around it as it glided effortlessly, its talons bared and ready to strike again. The Razor Talon Thunderbird lunged, its talons aimed directly for Meng Lin, who vanished into the mist, leaving a faint afterimage in her place. Meng Lin, however, reappeared beside Zhao Lu, her Armor Shattering Axe raised high, gleaming with energy. Zhao Lus eyes widened in surprise but quickly narrowed with a wicked smile. She didnt flinch. Instead, within a blink, the fiery bird reappeared in front of her. Its talon spread to intercept Meng Lins blow. Slash! The moment the talon appeared, it made contact with Meng Lins Form Nullification technique; thus, before the axe could even make contact, the talon began to show signs of breaking down, albeit at a slower rate. However that was the desired affect. Puchi! Meng Lins axe cut right through the weakened talon, striking the beast with a clean, unopposed blow, which went right through the beast''s body, coming out at the other side to target Zhao Lu. Zhao Lu''s eyes widened as she realized the axe was headed straight for her. The sheer force of the strike reverberated through the air, the mist swirling in all directions. She barely had time to react before the Armor Shattering Axe slammed into her with devastating force. KaBoom! The impact sent her flying backward, crashing into the ground with a violent thud. The blood-red talisman she had summoned slipped from her hand, the mystical energy within it dissipating in the wake of the attack. "AAAAHHHHH!!! You bitch!" Zhao Lu screamed in pain, clutching her arm as blood poured from the deep gash. The force of the strike had not only shattered her arm but also sent waves of agony throughout her body. "You... you''ll pay for this," Zhao Lu spat through gritted teeth, struggling to speak. Her blood-red aura flickered around her, intensifying to a horrifying degree. Rumble! Zhao Lu, with a face twisted in fury and pain, reached into her robes and tore out five blood-red talismans. She activated them, and immediately multiple massive auras began to spread throughout the valley. Rumble! With a loud burst, several massive beasts materialized from the talismans: the first, a colossal scaled bear with massive claws, its body radiating immense strength. Hiss! the second was an obsidian-scaled serpent, its eyes glowing red with malice as it flickered its tongue. The third and fourth were lightning-charged greyhounds, each standing around 5 meters, with fur crackling with electric energy. The last one was a molten lion, flames flickering from its mane as it released its aura, which formed a golden aurora around it. Thump! Meng Lins heart pounded in her chest as she felt the five beasts auras bear down on her like an overwhelming storm. Her body began to shake as she felt the aura of five Half-Step Rank 5 beasts. "RIP HER APART!" Zhao Lu screamed, her eyes blazing with fury. The beasts, now fully materialized, let out terrifying roars as they encircled Meng Lin. Meng Lins hand trembled, her mind racing. Five Half-Step Rank 5 beastseach more terrifying than the lasthad appeared in an instant. The pressure was overwhelming, and she could feel the suffocating aura pressing in from all sides. The massive scaled bear lunged first, its claws the size of boulders tearing through the air. Meng Lin swung the axe to intercept the attack. Peng! The force of the blow sent shockwaves through Meng Lin''s arms, and she nearly lost her grip on the axe. She stumbled back, struggling to maintain her balance, her entire body screaming in pain from the force of the bear''s strike. Before she could recover, the two lightning-charged greyhounds pounced. With a crackle of electric energy, the first hound lunged at her, its jaws snapping toward her with deadly force. Releasing a vast amount of Brute Qi, she circulated the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method and slashed out with all her strength. The force of Meng Lins swing was immense, and she felt the backlash vibrate through her entire body as her axe collided with the charging hound. Boom! A shockwave rippled out from the point of impact, and the hound was thrown back, its body crashing into the ground with a screech. But the second hound was already on her, its fur crackling with electric energy as it lunged at her from the side. The lightning surged through the air, crackling toward her like a bolt of fury. With little time to react, Meng Lin swung the axe again, but this time, the hound was too quick. It dodged the attack and sank its fangs deep into her shoulder, the electric current jolting through her body, locking her muscles in place. Crack! A seating pain shot through her left arm as the bones snapped under the wolves jaw. Meng Lin''s breath came in ragged gasps as she felt her body seizing, her hand slick with blood and her vision waning. Thump! Suddenly, the sky darkened, and a massive red moon materialized in the sky, creating an eerie ominous glow over the battlefield. 234. Brilliant Sword Shadows The crimson glow of the red moon cast long shadows over the battlefield, painting the torn ground in a sinister light. The hound that had sunk its fangs into Meng Lin''s shoulder trembled for a brief moment before its grip loosened, a faint whimper escaping its throat as it instinctively backed away. Meng Lin gritted her teeth, pushing through the searing pain in her arm. The electric current still crackled through her veins, numbing her senses, but she was more focused on the red moon in the sky. Then, from within the oppressive glow of the red moon, a figure emerged with a sword raised in the air. Clad in flowing robes and releasing vast amounts of sword Qi into the air, Wu Daos voice rang out as the sword in the air was brought down. Secret Art: Lunar Eclipse! Shing!! The red moon behind him moved instantly, appearing before Zhao Lu before she had any time to react. Peng!! A deafening explosion rippled through the battlefield as the red moons energy clashed against an unseen force. Dust and debris shot into the air, obscuring the battlefield. The ground beneath cracked, forming jagged fissures that spread outward like a spiders web. Wu Daos gaze remained sharp, his sword still humming with residual energy from his strike. He had not held back as he knew that it was the perfect chance since she had already summoned her five half step Rank 5 beasts. The Lunar Eclipse was a technique meant to move as soon as it appeared, thus even if she did have something to block it, it was already too late. Although he wasn''t able to trigger a heavenly tribulation, his aura and Qi have both reached the Half Stage Narscent Soul Realm, plus his activated Sword Physique as well as his Secret Art. It was all of that combined that made Wu Dao confident enough to strike to kill on the first attack, However. His eyes narrowed as he gazed at the attack. As the dust settled, a shimmering barrier of distorted air flickered in front of Zhao Lu. A tall figure stood between her and Wu Daos devastating attack. Yin Zhi. His robes fluttered slightly from the force of the impact, but his expression remained as composed as ever. With a simple wave of his hand, the remnants of Wu Daos attack dispersed like mist. Zhao Lus tense stance eased, but her eyes flashed with fury as she turned toward Yin Zhi, her voice seething with disdain. "Yin Zhi, I don''t need your help" she spat. Yin Zhi ignored her, his gaze locked onto Wu Dao. That was a rather heavy-handed greeting, dont you think? Wu Daos eyes narrowed. Yin Zhi." His thoughts ran as he began to worry. Wu Daos sword hummed in his grip as he turned toward Meng Lin, his gaze filled with a mixture of caution and calculation. The encounter had already taken an unexpected turn. Yin Zhis timely intervention was probably no coincidence, the Scarlet Demon Sect probably sent him here to keep Zhao Lu in check. He could tell that the man was a genuine Narscent Soul cultivator, an existence he had no desire to underestimate. It seems their only option is to get out of here, luckily he had already told the other disciples to leave and go report back to the sect, otherwise they would have all died. He passed a few voice transmissions to Meng Lin before turning his attention to the two figures in front of him, although he has no desire to underestimate Yin Zhi, it didn''t mean he didn''t have the means to fend him off. His expression hardened as he began to channel his Qi into a series of rapid, intricate hand seals, his energy flaring around with intensity. "Hump, don''t interfere with my battles anymore Yin Zhi" Zhao Lu said with a threatening voice, her expression becoming even more angry when she thought back to when she lost an arm, Yin Zhi could have appeared then but he didn''t. Boom! The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. her aura ripped outward, intensifying with a violent surge of power. With a flick of her wrist, she called to the beasts around her. "You five, come here." Her body pulsed with a magnetic force, drawing the five massive beasts toward her. One by one, they were pulled into her, vanishing into her small frame with a terrifying force. Thump! Zhao Lus aura exploded outward with an otherworldly roar, her body twisting as if it could no longer contain her true form. Horns sprouted from her forehead, her legs morphed into canine legs, and her face contorted into the shape of a fiery, twisted lion. The mountain trembled beneath her, her aura was suffused with the intense, overwhelming presence of a Narscent Soul Realm. As Zhao Lu''s form became something beyond mortal comprehension, Yin Zhis expression remained unchanged, his eyes cold as ice and unbothered with his surroundings. "Hahaha" With a maniacal laughter, Zhao Lu''s form expanded as she raised her hand to conjure a beam of twisted dark energy. Krrr!! Space twisted as if to make way for the attack, as a laser streaked across the battlefield, cutting through the air with a devastating shriek. The beam shot toward Yin Zhi with unstoppable force, the distortion in the air bending around it as if even space itself recoiled back. Yin Zhi remained calm, a slight flicker of his gaze toward the approaching attack, with a flick of his wrist, he vanished from his previous position, his figure disappearing like a shadow in the face of the oncoming attack. The twisted beam, continued its relentless path, heading directly toward Wu Dao and Meng Lin. Wu Daos eye narrowed as he continued his hand signs and Meng Lin walked forward, her arm raised while the space in front of her rippled slightly to reveal the form of the Void-State Tablet. The next moment appeared too fast, the Void State Tablet pulsed with an intense light, and Zhao Lu, whose laughter still rang in the air, eye''s widened as a twisted beam appeared just inches to her face. Boom!! At the same time. Wu Dao, with a shocked expression at the situation completed his hand seals, the space around him distorting, and the air vibrating under the pressure. Above him, a massive golden sigil materialized, pulsating with a dark, ominous energy. The sigil began to descend slowly, merging with Wu Dao''s body, his aura intensifying as a colossal number of sword shapes began to appear around his body and his energy rippling throughout the mountain. Yin Zhi, appearing a dozen meters away, raised his eyebrows, his expression changing for the first time since he appeared. However it wasn''t because of the large amount of aura that Wu Dao was radiating, rather from the event that just transpired with Zhao Lu and Meng Lin. Zhao Lu stumbled back, her monstrous form trembling as she caught sight of the tablets glow. The beam she had unleashed upon Wu Dao had been reflected, nearly striking her at point-blank range. Though she had managed to react in time, the shock was evident in her widened eyes. You Her voice came out as a guttural snarl, her clawed fingers twitching in rage. Wu Dao, still mid-transformation, barely spared her a glance. His focus remained on Yin Zhi, whose composed expression had finally shifted into something resembling curiosity. A Spatial Sacred Grade Item Yin Zhi muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, yet it carried across the battlefield like a declaration. The weight of his words settled heavily in the air. Even Zhao Lu, despite her anger, hesitated for a brief second. The mention of such an item was not lost on any of themartifacts of this caliber were beyond mere spiritual weapons. They were items that even emperors and sovereigns would kill for. Yin Zhis gaze flickered between her and the tablet, his calm demeanor returning. I see, he mused. Zhao Lu, snapping out of her stunned state, let out a sharp breath, her rage boiling over. It doesnt matter what tricks you have! Youre dead Before she could finish, Wu Dao moved. The golden sigil above him fully merged with his body, his sword Physique roaring to life as a golden glow emanated from his body. Countless sword shadows surrounded him, humming with an intensity that sent tremors through the air. His eyes glowed with power as he directed his blade at Zhao Lu. Shing! A thousand sword lights erupted in an instant, each one carrying the weight of his full powered attack. The entire sky was consumed by the bright brilliance of the attack. Zhao Lu barely had time to react before the first blade reached her. Then the second. The third. The Dozens. The Hundredth. Rumble!! Her monstrous form twisted, her hardened scales and hide deflecting the first few attacks that came her way, but each sword light carved through her aura, tearing into her limbs, torso, and shoulders, the sheer volume of attacks overwhelmed her defenses. AGH!! Zhao Lu roared in pain, her voice distorting between human and beast as she struggled to stand admit the thousand swords. Wu Daos expression remained cold as he slashed his sword forward. The swords had only begun their work. The remaining sword lights condensed into a single, blinding crescent slashed through the space ahead. Crack! A deafening shatter resounded as Zhao Lu''s beastly transformation fractured. Her once-demonic frame twisted, her horns splintering, her fangs breaking. The five beasts that had just merged into her were almost expelled as she collapsed to one knee, panting heavily. Meng Lin couldn''t help but raise her eyebrows, she had known that Wu Dao was strong, but this level of sword mastery was beyond what she had expected. Just a few moments ago, she had thought herself on par if not stronger than him, yet he had something like this under his sleeve. His thousand sword lights had not only overwhelmed Zhao Lus monstrous form, comparable to a nascent soul cultivator. It was then that Meng Lin thought to never underestimate others, it seems like she wasn''t the only freak around. Cough cough Zhao Lus coughed as she spoke, her voice high "You think this is enough?" Her body pulsed as all of a sudden her wounds began healing at an unnatural speed. A crimson aura erupted from her form, warping the air around her. Meng Lin narrowed her eyes but Wu Dao remained unshaken, lowering his blade. The golden aura around him was almost gone, as over half his energy was spent on just that single attack, And now. But just as the words left his lips Boom! A deep sudden pressure descended upon the battlefield. A terrifying amount of aura emanated from Yin Zhis direction, shocking everyone. Even Zhao Lu stopped what she was doing to look in his direction. "Haha" Yin Zhu''s previously calm eyes remained the same, his lips curling into an intrigued smirk. This is quite unexpected, he said, his gaze once again locking onto the Void-State Tablet in Meng Lins hand. I was merely here to ensure Zhao Lu didnt cause a scene, but now I find myself interested. Meng Lin, who had remained composed throughout the fight, finally shifted her stance. The Void-State Tablet hummed, pulsing as if aware of Yin Zhis gaze. Wu Dao clicked his tongue in annoyance as he sent a voice transmission to Meng Lin. Meng Lin nodded subtly, understanding his meaning. Yin Zhi was an entirely different threatone that neither of them could afford to engage with right now. Without hesitation, Meng Lin raised the Void-State Tablet once more. Space trembled, a black fissure opening behind her and Wu Dao. Yin Zhis eyes flashed. Trying to escape? Shing! A single step from him sent a ripple through space, his figure blurring forward, closing the distance in an instant. His hand reached out toward the tablet But just before he could grasp it, he felt a chill go down in his spine causing him to falter. Boom!! The space around Meng Lin and Wu Dao twisted violently, a powerful suction force pulling them into the fissure. Their figures flickered, then vanished entirely into the void. The battlefield fell into silence. Yin Zhi exhaled slowly, his hand lowering as he stared at the now-empty spot where Meng Lin and Wu Dao had stood, surprise on his face. Zhao Lu, still kneeling in her battered form, clenched her fists, her face surprisingly calm. why did you let them go?" She asked in a calm voice. Yin Zhi remained silent for a moment before chuckling softly. I felt something just a moment ago He turned to her, his gaze unbothered. it seems we''ve stumbled onto something interesting." His fingers traced the lingering distortions in space. Meng Lin that artifact of hers that feeling as well this spatial folding space." Zhao Lu, still kneeling, spat blood to the side before wiping her mouth with the back of her clawed hand. "Tch, and it was just getting fun." Yin Zhi turned back to her, smiling slightly, "you need to tone down your anger, it''s almost not believable." Zhao Lu flashed a wicked smile, "is that so? 235. The Three Pathways "Hmm..." The moment Meng Lin was swallowed by the fissure, instead of the familiar sensation of teleportation, a violent force seized her body, and her surroundings blurred in an instant, replaced by an overwhelming gust of wind. "Ah!" A sharp cry escaped her lips as the wind howled around her, whipping her hair in every direction. She felt weightless, tumbling through the air as though gravity didn''t exist. She felt a massive pressure against her chest, making it difficult to breathe, and every attempt to stabilize herself with her Qi was met with another ruthless gust, sending her spinning in a new direction. Darkness pulsed at the edges of her vision. The sheer force of the wind battered her senses, making it impossible to tell which way was up or down. Then, suddenly... Boom! She felt an incredible force slam into her, and everything went dark. *** Pain exploded through her body as Meng Lins senses returned. She groaned, the sound barely audible over the roar of the wind. She felt her body against something hardperhaps a bouldershe was pressing against its horizontal surface, debris flying from the impact. She opened her eyes, barely able to see through the dust and debris swirling in the air like a storm around her. It was only then that she noticed the air was thick with Wind Elemental Qi. Her brows furrowed as she tried to circulate her own Qi, but the surrounding turbulence acted like a barrier, as if the very air rejected foreign forces, making it difficult to utilize her Qi. Meng Lin clenched her fists, forcing herself to move despite the immense force pressing her down. Pain coursed through her limbs as she barely managed to kneel. Taking a deep breath, Meng Lin extended her spiritual consciousness outward, trying to map the environment around her. The wind was so powerful that it was difficult to even open her eyes, but now that she was no longer tossed helplessly through it, she could sense the terrain more clearly. The ground was unevensharp, jagged boulders pierced the sky at strange angles. The land was barren, with no sign of vegetation or life, just endless stretches of stone and debris. The air was thick, the wind screeching through the landscape like a living thing, and, most importantly, she didnt sense any life forms. ''Does that mean Wu Dao and I were not teleported to the same place?'' Meng Lin clenched her jaw, bracing against the violent winds that threatened to sweep her off her feet. Her robes whipped around her like tattered banners, and every breath she took was sharp, the air carrying a cutting chill despite the sheer force of the storm. "Damn it." Meng Lins frustration showed. She was no stranger to being tossed into dangerous places, but this was different. The entire place felt... wrong. The sheer density of Wind Elemental Qi was even stronger than the combined Five Elemental Qi that she possessed. Ignoring the aching in her limbs, Meng Lin took her first step forward, the wind immediately resisting her movement. Every inch she moved felt like pushing against an invisible force, but she kept going, her spiritual consciousness pulsed outward again, searching... Nothing. No people. No structures. No life for miles on end. Just endless, screaming wind. Her brows furrowed as she gazed at a floating tablet a few meters from her. The Void State Tablet appeared unaffected by the wind, as though filtering itself out of existence. This damn thing... Every time she used it to escape one mess, she was thrown into another. First, shed been dragged into the God Blood Sea. Then, she had nearly been swallowed by an Ancient Voidshroud Whale. And now thisthrown into an unknown realm filled with nothing but Wind. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. What was wrong with this artifact? Was it cursed? Meng Lin let out a slow, frustrated breath, shaking her head. It doesnt matter. Complaining wouldnt change anything. Whatever this place was, although fiercely dangerous, caused a flicker of curiosity within her. It was then that she finally caught something within her spiritual consciousnessapproximately 28 miles away from where she stood, buried beneath layers of dust and debris, were the remnants of something artificial. Ruins. Old structures, barely clinging to existence in the face of the eternal storm. It was a faint trace, but it was there. Although she found something, the distance caused her to have second thoughts. Normally, such a distance could be covered by her in a few leaps, but in a situation where every inch of movement was tremendous effort, Meng Lin hesitated for a moment. The thought of using the Void State Tablet to leave this place crossed her mind, but she couldn''t help but wonder if there was an opportunity there. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to tap into another source within her Dantianher Brute Qi. Boom Her aura exploded outward, chaotic and untamed, clashing with the wind that whipped all around, folding around her body as a blue haze. Meng Lin smiled in joy as she circulated her Brute Vortex Cultivation Method, a chaotic vortex forming around her. The wind howled in fury, but it no longer fazed her. Every step forward was still met with resistance, but it was no longer just a few inches. So, after hours of struggling against the raging storm, Meng Lin finally saw ita colossal palace standing alone in the endless wasteland. Its towering walls were cracked but still intact. Without hesitation, she forced her aching legs to move faster, ascending the steps that led to its entrance. Two giant doors loomed before her. With a deep breath, she pushed them open. Rumble... Amidst the rumbling noise of the door being opened, Meng Lin took a step inside. However, the moment she did so, she staggered forward, almost falling, as she came to the realization that the force surrounding her was gone. And it wasnt just that. The deafening howl of the wind, the pressure that had fought against her every movementit all ceased in an instant. The air inside was utterly still, the silence so absolute it was almost suffocating. Meng Lin sighed in relief as she stopped circulating the Brute Vortex Cultivation Method. Her footsteps echoed as she moved forward, her body feeling as light as a feather. Her eyes adjusted to the dim interior. The palace was vast, its halls stretching endlessly into the shadows. Strange markings adorned the walls, causing a flicker of light to appear once in a while. Meng Lin paused to try and decipher them, but she soon gave up as they were written in characters she couldnt understand. Ahead of her, at the far end of the entrance hall, three paths awaited. As she stepped closer, she realized that each path was sealed by a barrierintricate formations and ancient runes flickering ominously, exuding an oppressive aura. Whatever lay beyond them was not meant to be accessed easily. Taking a step closer to examine them, Meng Lins instincts screamed at her, and without hesitation, she took a step back, her body tensing as a sharp killing intent brushed past her like a cold blade against her skin. Her spiritual consciousness flared, scanning the surroundings, but there was no movementno enemy in sight. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the three paths ahead. The barriers remained unchanged, yet the moment she had approached, something had reacted. She furrowed her brows, contemplating her next move. If even stepping closer triggered such danger, then recklessly charging in would be suicidal. After a long moment of thought, Meng Lin reached into her robes and pulled out a golden talisman. She hesitated for a moment before crushing it in her hand. Golden light surged as the talismans energy took form, coalescing into a towering stone golem. Its massive body radiated a steady, earthen aura, unmoving as it awaited her command. Meng Lins gaze flickered between the three paths before pointing at the left one. Go. The golem obeyed, its heavy footsteps echoing through the silent hall as it lumbered forward. Then A blinding light flickered from the barrier. Crackle! Thunder roared, and in the blink of an eye, a golden bolt of lightning shot forward, striking the golem with devastating force. Boom! The entire hall trembled from the impact, and when the light faded, only smoldering fragments remained where the golem had stood. Meng Lins gaze darkened. A lightning-based formation She had expected danger, but the sheer power of that particular formation was beyond what she anticipated. She raised her hand to her chin and turned to her left, where the same black tablet was floating. Lets see if there are any spatial barriers. The tablet vibrated, the space surrounding it rippling like water. Before long, the ripple passed through the three pathways, and suddenly Meng Lin felt a shift. Before she could react, the space around her twisted. In the blink of an eye, she found herself standing behind the lightning formation. "Ah." Meng Lin blinked in surprise, momentarily disoriented by the sudden shift. Her heart raced as she instinctively reached out with her spiritual consciousness to gauge her surroundings. She turned to the black tablet, uttering. "That was too sudden, tell me next time." Meng Lin furrowed her brows a little as the tablet vibrated, as if nodding. ''It appears the flicker of consciousness within it is growing, hopefully it doesn''t lead to anything''. She thought. The atmosphere was still heavy with an ominous energy, but she had successfully bypassed the barrierat least for now. Her mind raced through potential risks, but she quickly shifted her attention to the pathway ahead. Meng Lin stepped forward cautiously. The corridor ahead was wide and open, and as she continued, the space began to widen even more until she found herself standing in a vast room. The most noticeable things within the room were a table, a bed, a portrait, and the door at the corner of the room. Meng Lin stepped into the room, immediately feeling the desolate silence of the place. The air was thick, almost suffocating, as if the space had been abandoned for centuries. Her footsteps echoed on the cold stone floor, but everything else remained stilltoo still. The dusty table sat in the corner, covered with tattered scrolls and books. The edges of the pages were frayed, and the words were fading with time. She ran her fingers over one, feeling the paper crack beneath her touch, but she quickly set it aside, not wanting to destroy it, the knowledge it contained was still decipherable. On the floor next to the bed was a broken jade pendant. It still emitted a faint glow, though cracked and damaged, a remnant of its former power. She picked it up, scanning it with her spiritual consciousness, but couldn''t figure out its purpose. Meng Lins gaze fell to a withered flower in a flowerpot, its leaves curled and fragile. It was a strange sight, one that seemed out of place in the otherwise decaying room. Despite its appearance, there was a faint pulse of life emanating from it, like the last spark of a dying ember struggling to stay lit. She leaned closer, her spiritual consciousness brushing against the plant, and felt a small flicker of powerweak, but undeniably present. This flower has to be something special to survive this long. Perhaps it was the flowerpot keeping it alive. As she studied it further, a sharp sound suddenly broke the silence: the creak of the door at the far end of the room. Meng Lin tensed, her spiritual consciousness instinctively reaching out. However, once it reached the door, it couldnt go further in. The room remained still, and Meng Lins thoughts raced, her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden chill in the air and she instinctively took a step back, her eyes darting toward the portrait on the wall. The figure within it, a person dressed in the traditional robes of a powerful cultivator, stared at her through eyes that seemed too real, too piercing. For a moment, she swore the figure blinked. A shiver ran down her spine. She turned her gaze back at the door in the corner, but the chill she felt only grew heavier with each passing second, as if something unseen was watching her, waiting for her next move. Suddenly, a distant rumble sounded through the walls, drawing her attention to the broken jade pendant she had set down earlier. Its faint glow intensified for a brief moment, as if reacting to the shifting energy in the room. Meng Lin reached down to pick it up again, feeling the hum of power within, but there was still no clear understanding of what it could do. Her thoughts raced. Could the pendant be part of the key to unlocking something within this room? Something important. "Lin..." A soft whisper seemed to call her name, faint but distinct, from the far corner of the room. She froze, her body tense. Whos there? she called out, her voice steady despite the unease growing in her chest. For a moment, only silence answered. Then, the portrait''s eyes flickered again and the room felt even colder. 236. The Right Pathway Meng Lin felt the temperature around her drop as she heard the whispers again. They were faint but distinct, growing louder, almost desperate. She took a step back as she realized something was coming; her instinct screamed at her, and her gaze snapped to the corner where the door had creaked open earlier. Boom! Without warning, the door exploded open with a deafening crash, slamming against the wall on the other side of the room. Meng Lin''s heart skipped a beat as she quickly looked; however, to her disbelief, the doorway was emptynothing but a dark, empty void beyond it. "Is this?" A cold shiver ran down her spine as she instinctively released her spiritual consciousness, pushing it outward to scan all corners of the room. Then she saw it. "Skreeeeech..." A single shadowy figurefar larger than the ones she had encountered beforehovered just meters from her, its shape vague. It had no eyes, but she could feel its gaze on her, burning with hunger. A dark aura radiated from it, suffocating the space around her. Her mind raced back to the Nether Cloud Domain. That encounter within the ancient building with silver-white formations, the shadowy entities which were perceptible only within her spiritual consciousness; this was just like that time. Before she could react, it lunged at her, and Meng Lin felt a suffocating pressure rush over her body, causing her to falter in her movements. She was about to enter her Brute Qi state once again when suddenly, the pendant in her hand flared with light. A brilliant, blinding flash exploded from the pendant, engulfing the room in pure radiance. Meng Lin squinted her eyes at the light as she heard a guttural, soul-shattering sound. "Skreeeeech!" Looking ahead with difficulty, she realized that the creature''s shadowy form flickered, contorting as if it were being pulled by an invisible force. Skreeh!! Another screech pierced the air, but it sounded like a cry of anguish as the shadow fought against the light. Yet the more it struggled, the stronger the light became, until with one final, agonizing howl, the creature was completely consumed by the radiance. What was that? Meng Lin whispered, still feeling the remnants of the creatures malevolent Qi lingering in the air. Her eyes dropped to the pendant in her hand as she realized that it felt heavier now, like it had just been stuffed with a giant rock. The room fell silent, and Meng Lin blinked. The pendants light was fading back into its normal glow, and the oppressive weight that had filled the air was gone, replaced by an eerie stillness. She stood there for a moment, heart racing, her gaze shifting back to the painting on the wall, where the figure blinked, its eyes narrowing at her with an almost unsettling awareness. A shiver ran down her spine, but she forced herself to remain calm, trying to make sense of the situation. *That creature...* she thought, her mind flashing back to the shadow that had lunged at her moments ago. It had been powerfulhowever, what concerned her was the fact that it reminded her of the Nether Cloud Domain. Thinking of the events that had happened, she worried if she was inside the belly of some other sealed beast like the beasts from the Primal Sea that the Palace Master spoke of. "And this pendant..." Meng Lins fingers traced the cracks on the pendant. "Even though it is damaged, it is able to seal away such an entity. However, I wonder what actually caused it to be damaged in the first place." Her gaze shifted again to the painting as she held a hand under her chin, scrutinizing it. The fact that the figure within the painting hadn''t done any other actions besides blinking meant that it was also restrictedpossibly sealed too. She approached it and frowned. "But its not mindless. Its like its... waiting, watching. It cant move, but it can still see me." Her thoughts sharpened. ''I need to get out of here.'' She wasnt sure what the full extent of this place was, or what exactly was at play. The fact that she had heard her own name within the whispering voices proved that there might be something else going on. Meng Lin took a deep breath and turned toward the table. A quick sweep of her spiritual consciousness confirmed that there was nothing of immediate interest, but that didnt stop her from storing the tattered scrolls and faded books into her inventory. The old, brittle paper would be useful later, even if only as knowledge of what happened here. She knelt beside the bed, her fingers lightly brushing the fabric. As her spiritual consciousness extended, she felt a faint trace of Qi. It wasnt dark or oppressive like the Qi she had encountered earlier. Instead, this energy seemed way too pure. Although it was very little and felt like Qi, Meng Lin realized that it was entirely different from the Qi within the air"Primal Qi," she realized. She had felt it only once before. It had been during the battle between her master and Tian Yu within the depths of the Ancient Voidshroud Whale. Her heart raced as she realized the implications; she glanced back at the room, the faint dark energy still lingering in the air. If the Primal Qi was here, then it could only mean one thing: whichever cultivator had been here had to be as powerful as her master, within the Ascension Realm. She began to wonder but ended up shaking her head as her eyes drifted to the flowerpot next. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The withered plant had caught her attention earlier, its faint pulse of life still somehow managing to hold on in this desolate place. She hesitated, but then, with a simple thought, the pot and the fragile flower were stored away. And finally, her gaze drifted to the painting on the wall. The figures eyes seemed to light up at her gaze, almost as if it was waiting for her to act. She frowned, contemplating. ''Should I store it too?'' Her fingers twitched at the thought. ''Maybe master would know what it is; there''s no harm.'' But as she reached out, ready to take it into the system inventory, a panel appeared before her eyes. [Error.] Meng Lin blinked, taken aback. She stared at the painting for a long moment. "So, I cant store it away." She hesitated, but with a soft sigh, she dropped her hand and gave the painting one last lingering look before turning away. "Maybe it''s for the best." Meng Lins gaze shifted to the corner of the roomthe dark room where that ghostly figure had appeared. The memory of the creatures hunger was still fresh in her mind, so she didn''t dare have other thoughts. "Ive had enough of testing my luck for one night." With a soft exhale, she turned away, deciding not to press her curiosity any further. Walking out of the room, Meng Lin failed to notice the gaze within the painting turn angry, a malicious aura drifting through the room as it looked at her back with hatred. *** "Okay, now these two," Meng Lin said, standing back at the three-way pathways. She turned to the Void State Tablet and instructed, "Check for a spatial barrier once again, this time on the middle one." The Void-State Tablet hummed as it attempted to sweep across the middle path with rippling space. However, the moment its energy touched the formations of the path, a giant barrier flickered into existence. The rippling space was instantly rebounded, sending a sharp pulse of energy back toward Meng Lin. She took a step back, narrowing her eyes. "A reactive defense." This wasnt a simple spatial barrierit was a formation designed to retaliate against any attempt to probe it. Whoever set it up clearly didnt want anyone getting through. Without hesitation, she directed the tablet toward the right path. This time, the spatial ripple moved smoothly, encountering no obstruction. A faint glow rippled across the passage, but no rebounding force appeared. Meng Lin''s gaze sharpened. "So this one is clear." Nodding to herself, she placed her hand on the Void-State Tablet and said, "Teleport me behind the formation." The black tablet hummed in response, its aura flashing as shifting spatial energy coalesced around her. A faint ripple distorted the air, and in an instant, Meng Lins figure appeared deeper within the right passage, past the formation that had guarded the entrance. "Now let''s see what we''ll find in this one." Meng Lin walked forward, noticing how this hallway lacked the suffocating presence of lingering death or ancient malice. Instead, it was clean, almost refreshingan odd contrast to the rest of the ruin. After walking for a short while, the passage abruptly opened up into a spacious chamber. Meng Lin halted at the opening, her gaze sweeping across the room. Unlike the decayed and ominous atmosphere of the previous room, this one was pristinebut it held its own peculiarities. She took a cautious step inside, her fingers lightly brushing against the wall, which was glowing brighter. At the center of the room stood a single ornate pedestal, carved from a translucent jade-like material. Her gaze swept across the chamber as she noticed that, aside from the ornate pedestal in the center, three other things were in the room. Near the far wall, resting on a small stone platform, was the carcass of a six-winged golden cicada. Despite its diminutive sizebarely the size of her palmMeng Lin immediately recognized the insect. The aura it was radiating was almost comparable to the rank 8 beast corpse within the Ancient Voidshroud Whale. It had a lustrous golden shell filled with cracks, and its delicate wings, though still impressive, were hanging loose. Beside the cicada, lying abandoned in a corner, was a crimson vine, its tendrils shriveled yet still pulsing faintly with energy. Meng Lin wasnt sure if it was toxic, medicinal, or something else entirelybut it seemed valuable. The final item was also next to the small stone platform: a small mountain of nine-colored soil. Unlike the other items, this one hadnt changed with the passage of time. Faint hues of red, blue, and green still flickered across its surface, as if struggling to maintain its vibrancy. "A cultivator dedicated to spiritual beasts" The presence of these remainsespecially the golden cicadaconfirmed it. Someone, long ago, had a vested interest in nurturing, studying, or possibly even refining creatures of great power. Meng Lin stepped forward with cautious steps. If the previous chambers had traps, then there was no telling what kind of mechanisms might be hidden here. Sweeping across the whole room with her spiritual consciousness, she first confirmed that there was no danger before she focused on the four items that were in the room. Her eyebrows suddenly raised as she felt two different tugs within her: one from her inventory, the other from the beast garden. Meng Lin immediately opened her system inventory, and her eyes widened slightly when she saw that it was the Jade Box vibrating within. Without hesitation, she took it out, and the moment it was exposed to the chambers air, a powerful reaction occurred. A deep hum filled the space as thick red blood essence surged from the carcass of the six-winged golden cicada, flowing through the air in a twisting stream before being absorbed into the Jade Box. The scene was awfully similar, and thus Meng Lin watched in silence as the blood essence was completely drained from the carcass, leaving the once-radiant golden shell dull and lifeless. Then, as if responding to the sudden influx of energy, the Jade Box began to shine. "What" Meng Lin jerked in surprise. The box was reacting, but not in the way it had before. The glow intensified, intricate patterns lighting up across its surface like veins of molten gold. Thencrack. A sharp fissure split through the boxs exterior. Meng Lin''s eyes widened. It wasnt opening. It was transforming. The structure of the box collapsed inward, its form shifting and shrinking as the light became blinding. The air trembled with a suffocating pressure, and thenboom! The golden glow exploded outward, vanishing in an instant. What remained was no longer a box. Lying before her, floating in the air, was a simple crimson ring. No ornate engravings, no embellishmentsjust a smooth, unassuming band of deep red metal, pulsing faintly as if it were alive. Meng Lins breath hitched. The Jade Box had become the ring. Slowly, she reached out. Her fingertips brushed against the surface Boom! A shockwave of raw, unrestrained power tore through her body. She staggered back, gasping, as her vision blurred and her Qi churned violently within her meridians. Thenunderstanding flooded her mind. The knowledge was not her own, yet it carved itself into her soul as if it had always belonged there. Aspect of Power. That was its name. Her body trembled as the truth unraveled before her. This was no ordinary treasure. This was a defiance of the heavens themselves. The rings function was straightforward yet overwhelmingwhen infused with Qi, it doubled the wearers overall power output. Not just strength. Not just speed. Everything. A raw, unfiltered 2x multiplier to all of her abilities. And whats moreit worked across realms; it didn''t matter what realm the user was in. Whether at Foundation Establishment or at the peak of Ascension Realmas long as they wore this ring, their entire being would double in power. Her thoughts raced. Her master. What if her master wore this ring? Li Yu was already in the Ascension Realm. What would happen if she someone of that levelused this? Meng Lins fingers tightened around the ring. Her heart pounding hard. This was a treasure that could change ones fate. Artifacts that amplified power were exceedingly rare. But one that worked across any realmthat affected everything about a cultivatorwas unheard of. Her grip shook. This was too great. Too dangerous. Without another thought, she stored the ring into her inventory, sealing it away. She did not dare put it on. Not yet. What if it was bound to her the moment she wore it? A treasure of this magnitude, one that defied logic and reason was not something to be wielded carelessly. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind. It was only when she calmed down did Meng Lin finally remember that something else had reacted. Something within the Beast Garden. 237. Tempest Wind Domain "Purple," Meng Lin called out, and within a flash of red light, a seven-meter snake appeared. Its sinuous form slithered forward in a blur, the red glow of its summoning lingering in the air for a brief moment before fading. Hiss. Purple, with scales shimmering under the wall''s light, coiled gently around Meng Lin, rubbing its head against her shoulder in a display of affection. Meng Lin allowed a small smile to grace her lips as she reached out, running her fingers over the smooth, warm scales. "So," she murmured, her tone curious, "what got your attention?" Purples golden eyes flickered as it uncoiled slightly, shifting its focus toward the three strange items. It remained still for a heartbeat before lowering its head toward the golden cicadas remains. Meng Lin followed its gaze, studying the cracked yet still imposing corpse of the six-winged insect. Even after its blood essence was extracted, it still had a powerful aura. "Interested in that, are you?" she mused, crouching down beside the stone platform. Purple let out a faint, rumbling hiss, its gaze shifting from the cicada. Meng Lin followed Purples gaze, expecting it to linger on the golden cicada, but instead, it shifted toward the nine-colored soil. Her brows raised slightly. "This?" she murmured, stepping closer to the small mound of shimmering earth. The hues of red, blue, and green flickered across its surface, as though the soil itself was alive with spiritual energy. Purple uncoiled slightly, its golden eyes fixated on the soil, and for the first time, it let out a low, eager hiss. Meng Lin instantly understood. "You want to consume it?" she asked, glancing at the seven-meter snake. Purple lowered its head, its forked tongue flickering out, confirming her thoughts. Meng Lin watched as Purple flicked its tongue over the nine-colored soil, scooping up a handful when it suddenly froze. Its body trembled slightly, and its scales shimmered with a strange, multicolored glow. Then, to her surprise, it let out a slow, contented hiss and swayed ever so slightly, its body coiling and uncoiling with uncharacteristic ease. Meng Lin raised an eyebrow. Did did it just get high? She crouched down, waving a hand near its face. "Purple?" The snake blinked sluggishly, then rubbed its head against her arm with more enthusiasm than usual. Meng Lin smirked. "You look like you just had the best meal of your life or like you bathed in pure spiritual energy." Purple flicked its tongue, still looking strangely dazed but undeniably pleased. Shaking her head, Meng Lin scanned the beast with her spiritual consciousness before turning to the remaining soil. "It''s not a drug, but it sure hits like one." She knew that multicolored materials were powerful resources, usually packed with spiritual Qi. This soil was no exceptionit was just so rich in energy that Purple was practically glowing from absorbing even a small amount. "Alright, thats enough for now," she said, nudging Purple away before it could take another mouthful. "I dont need you floating off into enlightenment; besides, you have to digest first." Purple let out a reluctant hiss but obeyed, though its golden eyes lingered longingly on the soil. Meng Lin looked at the yearning in its eyes before she stored away the rest of the nine-colored soil into her inventory. She was about to say something when she noticed Purple shifting its attention. The snakes golden eyes flickered toward the golden cicadas remains, and before Meng Lin could react, it slithered forward, tongue flicking out eagerly. She frowned. Wait dont tell me Purple suddenly opened its jaws, clearly intending to consume the six-winged corpse. Meng Lin reached out and knocked on its head. Oi, glutton, what do you think youre doing? Purple flinched slightly but didnt back away, instead giving her a slow, almost stubborn look before glancing back at the cicada. Meng Lin narrowed her eyes. Seriously? First the soil, now this? Did that nine-colored Qi boost your appetite or something? Purple let out a low, almost guilty hiss but didnt move away. Meng Lin sighed, rubbing her temple. First, it acts like its floating on cloud nine; now it wants to devour a corpse full of rare material. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. She eyed the cicadas remains. Its body still carried a powerful aura. It was a Rank 6 beast when alive, and its exoskeleton alone should be strong enough to be used in sacred-grade weapons crafting. Meng Lin crouched beside Purple, tapping the hard, cracked carapace with her fingers. Are you sure you can even digest this? Purple flicked its tongue and let out another low hiss, its body shifting impatiently. Fine, she relented, standing up. But be careful. If you choke on a golden cicada shell, I am not saving you. Purple let out a satisfied hiss and immediately snapped up the palm-sized cicada corpse in one swift motion, swallowing it whole. Meng Lin blinked. Purples body gave a faint shudder before its scales pulsed with golden light for a brief moment. Then, just as quickly, it settled, its golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Meng Lin stared at it. That''s it? Did you even taste that? Purple flicked its tongue lazily, its eyes drowsy, clearly it was unbothered by her. She exhaled, black lines appearing across her face. She couldn''t help but feel like a nagging mother, but where had her cute little Purple gone? Did the bloodline transition change its mindset too? Still, she couldnt deny that whatever was happening was beneficial to Purple. Its scales looked shinier, and its aura seemed to have deepened ever so slightly, plus she felt a wave of sleepiness within her connection with Purple. She was sure that after some time, it would digest all of the things it swallowed today, and when it did, she half-expected it to evolve or at least increase in stage. Sighing, she sent him back to the Beast Garden, turning her gaze toward the last remaining items in the roomthe ornate pedestal and the crimson vine. The pedestal was peculiar. It was a smooth, rectangular slab of stone, inscribed with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with energy. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but the moment her spiritual sense brushed against it, she felt a strange pull, as if space itself bent around the platform. "A teleportation device?" she muttered, crouching beside it. But something felt off. Unlike the refined formations she had seen before, this one had an air of incompletenesseither it was damaged or it required some kind of activation method. Her eyes turned to the Void-State Tablet floating behind her before she shifted to the crimson vine. It lay coiled in a corner, its deep red tendrils pulsating faintly. Despite being severed, the vine exuded an eerie vitality, as if it were still alive. Meng Lin reached out, brushing her fingers against its surface, and a wave of warmth spread through her fingertips. "Blood-absorbing?" she guessed, recalling records of similar plants. If this was what she thought it was, it could be a valuable alchemical ingredientor a dangerous entity on its own. She straightened, glancing between the two items. Both were mysteries, but she didnt have the time to sit and experiment here. With a flick of her wrist, she stored the crimson vine away, its faint warmth vanishing along with it. Now, only the pedestal remained. She turned back to the Void-State Tablet floating silently behind her. This tablet she thought if anything could let her bypass the restrictions on this formation, it would be this. Her gaze shifted back to the ancient runes, their glow faint and incomplete. Someone had set the formation in haste; thus, activating it was made difficult, behind an unknown requirement. "Can you bypass the activation requirements?" The tablet pulsed once. Meng Lin understood and didnt hesitate to say, "Do it." The tablet shuddered, and in the next instant, the pedestal flared to life, runes blazing as the Void-State Tablet pulsed. A jagged tear split open above it, dark and endless, space twisting unnaturally. Before Meng Lin could react, an intense pull surrounded her as she let herself be dragged through. In a moment, her surroundings warped, and she was gone. **** Within a small clearing in a forest, space suddenly distorted, and the figure of a woman in white robes emerged, her robes fluttering as the spatial tear behind her sealed itself with a faint hum. Meng Lins eyes flickered as she steadied herself, her spiritual consciousness expanding instantly. The forest was dense with towering trees, their thick canopies filtering the sunlight into scattered rays. The air was dry with little Qi, and the scent of damp earth filled the area. After releasing her spiritual consciousness further, she quickly discerned the mountain''s inhabitantsRank 1 and 2 beasts with a single Rank 3 beast. Nothing that could pose a threat to her. "I left that realm." She frowned slightly, recognizing the familiar natural Qi in the air; her mouth jerked up, and she felt a bitter taste in her mouth. She had hoped to learn the wind-elemental Qi, yet she hadn''t encountered anything that could have helped. She exhaled and adjusted her mindset. Whats done was donedwelling on missed opportunities was meaningless. Without hesitation, she took to the sky, her figure vanishing into a streak of faint golden arc as her robe billowed in the wind. Minutes passed, and as Meng Lin was trying to figure out where she had emerged from, a subtle ripple within her spiritual consciousness made her pause. Below, nestled within a secluded cave in the mountain range, was a lone figure sitting cross-legged, a loose cultivator. Meng Lins eyes flickered with curiosity. She wasnt particularly interested in a random loose cultivator, but seeing as he was the first person she saw, she wanted to approach. ** Appearing a few meters from the cave, her gaze swept over it, revealing a weak barrier shielding the entrance. It was crudemeant to block and detect wild beasts or low-level cultivators, nothing that could stop her. With a simple motion, she bypassed it effortlessly, her figure flickering as she stepped inside. The cave was dimly lit, its walls rough and unrefined. At its center sat a middle-aged man with graying hair, his expression serene as he meditated. However the moment Meng Lin appeared, his eyes snapped open, shock flashing across his face. You! He instinctively reached for something but stopped when he registered Meng Lins incomparable aura. His breathing steadied, though caution remained in his gaze. Meng Lin didnt waste time. Who are you, and what place is this? Her voice was calm but authoritative. The man hesitated for a brief moment before bowing slightly. Senior, this humble one is just a wandering cultivator. As for this place it is but an unremarkable region, far from any major sects or powers. Meng Lin studied him. He seemed sincere, and she didnt sense any deception in his words. Whats the nearest big city? she asked. The man quickly responded, That would be Qinghe City, several thousand miles to the south. It is mostly inhabited by large cultivation families and sword cultivators. "And which region of the continent are we in?" The man blinked at her question before quickly responding, Senior, we are in the heart of the Luo Kingdom. Meng Lins expression remained unreadable, but inwardly, she was intrigued. The Luo Kingdom. From what she knew, it was not exactly a good place, at least to a righteous cultivator. It was the most prominent kingdom with a mix of demon sect influences and independent cultivators. Anything unusual happen in this region recently? she asked. The middle-aged cultivator hesitated for a moment before nodding. There was one major eventtwo years ago, the Tempest Wind Domain opened. It is a well-known dimensional secret realm, much like the other Seven Domains, though more dangerous due to its unstable winds. Meng Lins eyes narrowed slightly. Tempest Wind Domain She had just left that place, yet she knew almost nothing about it. The man continued, unaware of her thoughts. The domain only opens once every ten years, and when it did two years ago, several Nascent Soul cultivators entered, alongside many others. It was a grand event, attracting forces from nearby regions. "Two years ago," Meng Lin repeated, a sudden feeling coming to her. She had not even been in this world for more than two years; heck, it was five months, to be exact, counting from the day she had transmigrated. She was lost in thought for a moment and glanced at the man again, debating whether to ask more but ultimately decided against it. Flicking her wrist, she tossed a storage bag toward him before turning and vanishing from the cave. The middle-aged man remained frozen for a long moment, staring at the storage bag before shaking his head in disbelief. That was no ordinary cultivator **** "So I had unknowingly entered a famous domain, yet my time there had been short-lived." Meng Lin flew through the sky, her robes billowing behind her as her thoughts lingered on the Tempest Wind Domain. It was one of the Seven Domains, varying in strength. The Nether Cloud Domain was already dangerous, but the Tempest Wind Domain ranked even higher. Even Nascent Soul cultivators had to be cautious within itif they werent careful, they could easily suffer serious injuries. Yet, she had unknowingly traversed it, only to leave before truly exploring its depths, though she was glad she hadn''t pushed her luck. Her mood was relatively good, so she had left the middle-aged man with a few dozen middle-grade spirit stones. As for his cultivation realm? She hadnt even bothered to check. After all, a wandering cultivator residing in such a secluded cave was unlikely to be a Soul Wandering Realm cultivator; only sects and large organizations had those. Unknowingly, Meng Lin had begun to view those beneath the Soul Wandering Realm as insignificanta trait more prominent the more one''s cultivation increased. Of course, even if she did realize it, she wouldn''t give it much thought. Power dictated everything in the cultivation world, and she could attest to that. As she continued flying south, the land beneath her gradually became more developed. Forests turned to villages and villages turned into towns, and soon, a vast city emerged on the horizon: Qinghe City. It was one of the largest cities in the Luo Kingdom, bustling with activity. Even from above, she could see thousands of cultivators moving about, trading, cultivating, or simply going about their daily lives. Meng Lins eyes flickered with interest. A city this large was bound to have useful resourcesand information. She adjusted her flight path, descending toward the city entrance. Maybe she could also sell some things; after all, her inventory was full of high-grade weapons and Rank 3 pills. 238. The Void Reflection Technique As Meng Lin descended toward Qinghe City, she flicked her wrist, storing away the Void-State Tablet in one smooth motion. ''Walking around with a flying black board next to me would be too eye-catching'', she thought. Even in a city filled with cultivators, most would assume it was a high-grade artifact or a rare treasure. She had no interest in drawing the attention of opportunists or high-ranking figures. Her gaze swept across the massive city, taking in the towering walls carved from Spiritual Iron, their surfaces glowing faintly with defensive formations. Standing nearly thirty meters tall, the walls werent just for showMeng Lin could sense the powerful barrier surrounding the entire city. It was strong enough to withstand an all-out assault from a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator without faltering. Before the entrance, groups of cultivators formed orderly lines, each waiting their turn to pay the entrance fee. Some wore the distinctive robes of sect disciples, but the majority were rogue cultivators, clad in practical yet refined attire. Meng Lin landed near the checkpoint and approached, her steps calm and unhurried, drawing a few subtle glances her way. A guard, clad in silver-lined robes, took notice of her and immediately stepped forward. His cultivation was at the Gold Core Realmnot weakbut he kept his aura restrained as he cupped his fists in respect. Theres no need to wait in line, Senior. You may enter, he said, his tone polite yet firm. Meng Lin gave a slight nod and stepped forward, passing through the gate without a word. As expected, she thought. A Soul Wandering Realm cultivator holds value even in the most powerful organizations. In most cities, they are treated very respectfully. As she entered, her gaze moved across the city interior, taking in the bustling streets. Stalls lined the sides, overflowing with rare herbs, talismans, weapons, and even beast cores. The air itself felt different from the outsiderich with various spiritual energies. Nearly everyone here practiced cultivation. Most were in the early realms, but she occasionally spotted Gold Core cultivators and even a few other Soul Wandering Realm experts moving through the crowd. "This city is even more prosperous than I expected," Meng Lin murmured, her gaze sweeping over the lively streets. Qinghe City, as one of the most important cities within the Luo Kingdom, was ruled directly by the Luo Imperial Clan. It''s current emperor, Luo Tian, was a Nascent Soul cultivator with unfathomable strength, though rumors spread of his actual strength. After all, the kingdom ranking second in terms of resources translates to more strength. Only the Imperial Capital surpassed Qinghe City in wealth and influence. Unlike the cities of other kingdoms, where mortals still played a role in daily life, Qinghe City was entirely ruled by cultivators. Every shop, every stall, every exchangeeverything revolved around cultivation. She walked forward without hurry, ignoring the occasional glances sent her way. The Immortal Lotus Robe looked normal and restrained most of her aura, however the natural aura she carried made it clear she wasnt someone to be approached lightly. Towering pagoda-like buildings lined the streets, each adorned with large banners displaying their specialties: "Refinement Pavilion C High-Grade Artifacts Available!" "Moonlight Alchemy Hall C Custom Pills & Elixirs, Made to Order!" "Voidwalker Mercenary Guild C Recruiting Experts for High-Rank Missions!" It was a different kind of marketplace than she was used to, but the core remained the samestrength determined everything. Her gaze flickered as she considered her next step. Finding a place to stay came first. She didnt plan to linger in Qinghe City for long, but securing a proper resting spot before handling her affairs was always a priority. It didnt take long before she spotted a place. The Azure Pavilion Inn, a grand building surrounded by a faint Qi barrier. She stepped inside, passing through a spiritual detection array that briefly scanned her before vanishing. A young attendant behind the counter welcomed her with a polite smile, but as he was about to speak, an older man in flowing blue robes appeared, his demeanor carrying a little respect. Senior, we have private courtyards available for honored guests. Please, allow me to show you the way. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Meng Lin gave a small nod, appreciating the smooth service. She was led to a secluded courtyard, its walls layered with multiple sound-isolating as well as barrier formations. In the center, a small spirit spring bubbled, its waters rich with pure Qi. After settling the payment, she sat down cross-legged, her fingers flicking as she pulled up her system panel. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wandering Stage (late)] [Experience Points: 7>13%] System Coin: 540 Immortal Jade: 4 Taoist Gacha Wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold 20%] >[Ice 2%] >[Wind 1%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] [Comprehension 0.06%] Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seal: Crimson Tortoise Dragon [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lin''s eyes flickered as she studied the panel, her gaze settling on the newfound trace of Ice Qi. Her comprehension of the element had increased, and she instinctively knew the sourcethe Frostpetal Hairpin, nestled neatly in her hair. From the moment she had crafted it, the hairpin had been quietly accumulating Ice Elemental Qi, condensing it into an Ice Qi Essence. The moment it fully formed, her body had absorbed it without resistance, deepening her understanding of the element. Though the process was slow, requiring time to refine each essence, the steady progress made it worthwhile. Her gaze then shifted to the noticeable new section in Wind Qi comprehension. Unlike the gradual accumulation of Ice Qi, this gain had been entirely unexpected. The short but intense exposure to the Tempest Wind Domain had left its mark on her, embedding a trace of understanding within her mind. She tapped her fingers lightly against her knee, thoughtful. Is it my improved aptitude at work? Ever since she had used the aptitude advancement stone, comprehension had come easier, and the once-difficult mysteries of the elements were comprehended easier. "And yet I still haven''t learned this" Meng Lin muttered, taking out a small scroll from her inventory. Anuttara Scroll .5* The Void Reflection Technique. She had spent five days studying in seclusion, yet she still couldn''t comprehend it.. Unlike elemental techniques, which built upon her natural affinity, this one dealt with the spiritual consciousness. Furthermore It was not about controlling it or manipulating it but understanding it to a deeper level. "Now is the time" Meng Lin closed her eyes, letting out a smile as she let her spiritual consciousness expand outward. One of the reasons she had purchased the Spiritual Body Analyzer was to gain a deeper understanding of her Mind Palace and spiritual consciousness. Now, that decision was paying off. Her consciousness stretched, her mind molding her spiritual consciousness into a body. The form shimmering before her, ethereal and perfect. Yet just a construct. She gritted her teeth, pushing a portion of her consciousness away from the vast sea in her mind, feeling a sharp, stinging pain as it tore free. She poured the fragment into the ethereal body and the moment it entered, the figure solidified. The body took on real, tangible form. It breathed, before opening its eyes. "Ugh" Pain surged through Meng Lin''s head as she massaged her temple, the feeling subsiding slowly. The clone blinked, instantly aware of itself, and looked at its hands. "Wow, it really worked," Meng Lin muttered, staring at her hands. She moved around, flexing her fingers and stepping a little, clearly adjusting to the new form. "It feels... real," she said, her voice exactly the same as the Meng Lin sitting down. The Meng Lin sitting down chuckled softly. "Of course it does. It''s literally me." The clone nodded and repeating the same line at the same time. "Of course it does. It''s literally me" "Now," Meng Lin said, eyes narrowing slightly in contemplation. The Void Reflection Technique really creates a perfect clone, however instead of the clone possessing it''s own consciousness, it was Meng Lin who was in control. Controlling two different bodies at the same time, it would have been a daunting task for her when she was a Gold Core Cultivator, however the processing power of the Soul Wondering Realm made it easy. The clone looked back at her. "So, whats next?" Meng Lin thought for a moment. "Well, I guess we should start by testing what we can do." The clone raised its hand in the air. "Test away." Meng Lin smiled, clearly having fun playing with herself. "System" the clone muttered, however to its suprise, nothing showed up. The clone frowned, trying again. "System," it said, but once again, nothing appeared. Meng Lin the clone. stood still for a moment, thinking deeply. Her gaze flicked to her body sitting down, and that''s when it clicked. The soul. Although the clone wasn''t a separate entity with a mind of its own. It was simply another vessel, an extension of her own consciousness. It didn''t have her soul thus it wasn''t able to bring up the system, "which means the system is connected to my soul." The clone took a deep breath and began to process everything about the clones abilities. "Alright, lets break this down. The clone only has 20% of my strength, which means its roughly at the mid to early stages of the Soul Wandering Realm, not nearly as strong as me at the late stage." The clone paced, analyzing further. "The clone can use most of my techniques, but the effectiveness will be weaker. It wont have the full depth of my power, especially with techniques like the Stellar Soul Shield, Brute Qi and Immortal Fleshthey require my soul." Her eyes narrowed as she stopped pacing to flex her hands, her thoughts on the clone''s physical abilities. "Physically, its not as strong. My stamina, speed, and power are all reduced by 80%. The clone wont be able to last as long in battle." She then considered combat scenarios. "If it faces late-stage Soul Wandering cultivators, it wont stand a chance. It simply doesnt have the strength or the soul connection to match them. But against mid-stage cultivators? It can hold its ground, especially if it uses all at its disposal." Meng Lins thoughts shifted to spiritual energy. "The clone doesnt have the same spiritual energy reserves as I do. Without my soul, its limited in how much energy it can gather. Complex techniques or prolonged battles will drain it faster too." Finally, she concluded, "Its pretty weak, but still formidable. Against weaker opponents, it could do just as well. But if it faces someone stronger, it will struggle." But most importantly, I can store away the clone in my consciousnessit is a construct of consciousness, after all. Meng Lins gaze flickered as she willed the clone to dissolve. In an instant, it transformed into strands of spiritual energy, flowing back into her mind like a stream returning to the ocean. She could feel it resting within her consciousness, dormant yet ever-present. "This changes everything," she murmured. "I dont need to maintain it constantly. No energy drain, no risk of exposure. I can call it forth in an instant, anywhere, anytime." A smirk tugged at her lips and as she thought about the clones abilities, her mind couldn''t help but turn to the a distant memory. "Even if its weaker, that doesnt matter. In the right situation, it can do wondrous." Her fingers curled slightly as she slowly got up. It was time to go sell all those pills and weapons. Leaving the courtyard, Meng Lin made her way back to the inn, and upon entering, she spotted the young attendant from before and approached him. I have some questions about the city, she said, her tone casual. Of course, esteemed cultivator. What would you like to know? Meng Lin asked. Which store holds the most influence here? And which powers should I be wary of? The young man hesitated for a moment before answering. The Luo branch family dominates the city. They hold considerable power, and their influence extends to various businesses, including the well-known Moonlight Pavilion. He then mentioned other notable names, powerful figures within the city, and establishments that carried weight. However, what caught Meng Lins attention was when he mentioned another storeImmortal Pavilion. Her expression sharpened. Immortal Pavilion... The name triggered a memory. She recalled the sect master once mentioning it in a haste, back when he was trying to stop the Palace Master. Could it be the same one? A surge of curiosity filled her. Tell me more about this Immortal Pavilion, she said. The young man shrugged. Not much is known about them. Just the entrance cost is over 100 middle grade spirit stones, so only the truly powerful go to that place, and unlike the Luo family branch, they dont openly exert power. But... Even the Luo family branch would think twice about messing with them. Meng Lin nodded, deep in thought. The likelihood of this Immortal Pavilion being connected to the one mentioned seems way too low but she wanted to check it out anyway. "Thanks" she said, tossing a small bag to the attendant. 239. Body Cultivation Technique Meng Lin left the inn with her mind already calculating her next moves. Selling the pills and weapons came first, but she also needed to buy more ingredients as she currently didn''t have much left. She made her way to the bustling commercial district, where cultivators of various realms moved between stalls and stores. Her first stop was the Moonlight Pavilion, a Luo branch family establishment, where she presented a storage bag filled with mid-grade weapons to the receptionist. After their initial shock, they quickly called the manager, who led Meng Lin to the back room to negotiate the price of each weapon. It was the managers first time making a deal involving over a dozen middle-grade weapons at once. But despite his surprise, he continued to be professional and carefully inspected the quality of each weapon. As for Meng Lin, she wasnt concerned about any potential trouble. As a Soul Wandering Realm cultivator, it was only natural for her to possess and trade such items. Furthermore, she believed that no other cultivator at her level would be foolish enough to make an enemy of her over a mere batch of middle-grade weapons. However, in the end, it all came down to strength; she believed in her own power to handle any threats that might arise. Even if someone were reckless enough to make a move against her, she had confidence in her ability to deal with them swiftly. As for the involvement of a Nascent Soul cultivator, it was even less likely, but even then she held confidence. So after a quick negotiation, Meng Lin successfully sold the weapons at a favorable price. Before leaving, she also purchased some ores and blacksmithing ingredients, ensuring she had enough materials for future use. Next, she visited the Spirit Essence Hall, a high-end alchemist shop. There, she experienced a repeat of the previous store as the store manager quickly led her to another room. After examining the dozens of pill bottles, the store manager, an old man, nodded approvingly. High-tier refinement. Impressive. He stroked his beard. Ill offer 800 middle-grade spirit stones for the lot. Meng Lins expression remained neutral. 1,200. The old man chuckled. You drive a hard bargain, young lady. He stroked his beard for a moment before finally agreeing. Very well. 1,200 middle-grade spirit stones. After the payment, the old man stroked his beard and hesitated before he asked, "Are you perhaps an alchemist?" Meng Lin met his gaze, her expression calm as she nodded her head. The store managers eyes twinkled with interest. If you are truly an alchemist, you may find something of interest at an auction being held in two days. Meng Lins gaze sharpened slightly. An auction? The old man nodded. Yes. It will feature a collection of rare materials, including high-quality spiritual herbs, and even a few Rank 4 jade slips containing ancient pill formulas. While such slips are difficult to verify, many alchemists will be attending for the chance to acquire one. He then reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small, intricately engraved token. If youre interested, I happen to have a recommendation ticket. This will grant you access to the private booths." Meng Lins eyes flickered with interest as she looked back at the old man. "I believe you aren''t just offering this to me for no reason. What''s your real agenda?" The old man chuckled awkwardly, revealing a cheeky smile. Well to be honest, I was hoping you might be able to help me with something in return. His tone grew more serious as he sighed. Meng Lin remained silent, waiting for him to continue. I wont hide it from you. At my age, my lifespan is running out. He let out a bitter chuckle. I have tried countless methods to extend my years, but my limited talent and lack of resources have left me with few options. I had hoped to acquire a Longevity Pill, but such a thing is too rare and expensive for someone like me. He met Meng Lins gaze. You are at least a Rank 4 alchemist, and from what Ive seen, your skill is extraordinary. I was wondering if you might be able to refine a Soul Wandering Pill for me. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Meng Lins expression remained unreadable as she considered his words. Soul Wandering Pills were far rarer than even Longevity Pills; why would he ask for something like that? Im stuck at the peak of the Gold Core Realm, the old man continued. I dont have the resources to make a breakthrough on my own. A Soul Wandering Pill is my last hope, but I lack the means to obtain it. If you could help me, I have something with which I can exchange it. Meng Lins gaze hardened slightly. And what would that be?" The old man hesitated, then reached into his storage bag and pulled out a small book. The book he retrieved was old, its cover worn with age, but the faint spiritual fluctuations emanating from it hinted at its value. This is the Jade Spirit Codex, the old man said, his voice tinged with reluctance. It contains a rare cultivation technique known as the Six Lotus Rebirth Patha cultivation method that allows a practitioner to shed their body six times, each time increasing their durability and strength." Meng Lins expression remained unreadable, but inwardly, she was intrigued. A body cultivation technique was quite rare. Although most, if not all, cultivation practitioners wouldn''t consider practicing a body cultivation technique as the requirements were often extremely demanding. That, on top of the resources for both the spiritual and body cultivation paths would be immense. However, she was different; she had the system. She glanced at the book, and her mind ran. Six cycles... she wondered if the cycles correspond to the cultivation realms. If so, then this technique could be cultivated up to the Ensoulment Realm. The old man added, I know this technique may not be to your taste, but if you ever find yourself in need of a method to strengthen your body this could be invaluable. Plus, you can exchange it with someone else for something of equivalent value." "I want to offer this book in exchange for your help with the Soul Wandering Pill. Looking back at the old man, she finally spoke. A good offer. However, a Soul Wandering Pill is not easy to refine. Luckily for you, I happen to have all the ingredients; however, I need several days of preparation before I can try to make it." The old man''s eyes widened in surprise, his voice faltering for a moment as he tried to comprehend her words. You you have the ingredients? And you can refine the pill? Meng Lin gave a slight nod. Yes. The ingredients for the Soul Wandering Pill are rare, but most Soul Wandering Realm cultivators can get them. It''s the refinement process that''s the hard part." The old man exhaled sharply, as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. That is more than I could have hoped for Thank you. Meng Lins gaze remained steady as she extended her hand. I will keep a hold of this half for now. The old mans expression shifted slightly, but he didnt refute her words. Instead, he let out a dry chuckle. Sharp eyes, young lady. You noticed. He sighed, stroking his beard. Indeed, this is only part of the codex. The other half remains with me. Once you refine the Soul Wandering Pill, I will give you the second half as well. Consider it an assurance on both ends. Meng Lin narrowed her eyes slightly as she wondered what other secrets this old man had; her expression remained calm, but inwardly, she acknowledged his cunning. For a mere Gold Core cultivator to try to negotiate with a Soul Wandering Realm expert means he is no ordinary person. Either he is a complete idiot, or he has backings that give him confidence beyond his cultivation realm. Meng Lin remained silent, but her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she finally spoke. Three days. The old mans lips curled into a knowing smile. Three days. With that, Meng Lin turned and walked away, storing half of the Jade Spirit Codex within her spatial ring. As she stepped away, the old man watched her retreating figure with an unreadable gaze. His fingers lightly tapped against his sleeve, as if in deep thought. This child, he murmured to himself, before shaking his head with a quiet chuckle. Meng Lin, meanwhile, was already considering her next steps. Currently, she had six Soul Wandering Pills within her inventory: five from the system gacha and the last one from the realm advancement system package. Lying about her ability to refine the Soul Wandering Pill wasnt an issueafter all, she truly could refine it if she wanted to. However, presenting a fully intact Soul Wandering Pill right after a negotiation would be too suspicious. Even the old man had his doubts, but outright revealing such a high-grade pill without showing the difficulty in acquiring it could lead to unnecessary trouble. Shaking her head, Meng Lin pushed the thought to the back of her mind. Now that her sales were done, she had a substantial amount of spirit stonesmore than enough to check out the Immortal Pavilion. Following the directions given by the young man at the inn, Meng Lin eventually found herself standing before a tall building with dark jade walls and an intricately carved entrance gate. A single attendant stood at the entrance, a middle-aged man with a calm, detached expression. The man gave off no aura whatsoever, and if Meng Lin wasn''t looking at him, she would have assumed he was a puppet. Meng Lin approached without hesitation, her gaze briefly scanning the man as her thoughts ran. When Meng Lin approached, the man inclined his head slightly. Entry to the Immortal Pavilion requires a fee of 100 middle-grade spirit stones. Without hesitation, Meng Lin retrieved the required amount and placed it in the attendants hands. The man stepped aside, allowing her in. Welcome to the Immortal Pavilion. Stepping inside the building, Meng Lin didn''t notice any noticeable change. Inside, the Immortal Pavilion was quieter than Meng Lin expected. The air was cool, and the scent of aged parchment and incense lingered faintly. Rows of wooden shelves lined the hall, each neatly arranged with jade bottles, scrolls, and small chests sealed with intricate talismans. A few cultivators moved between the aisles, inspecting the items with quiet focus. Meng Lin walked forward at a steady pace, her gaze skimming the offerings. Most of the displayed goods were fairly standardmid-grade spirit artifacts, medicinal pills, and talismans for various purposes. Nothing particularly rare, but the Pavilion''s reputation meant there had to be more valuable items deeper inside. She was considering whether to ask for access to the higher-tier rooms when a quiet voice spoke beside her. You seem to be looking for something specific. Meng Lin turned her head slightly, her gaze landing on a young man in a deep blue robe. He had an easygoing expression, his hands tucked into his sleeves as he studied her. She didnt recognize him. Im browsing, she replied evenly. The young man hummed as if amused. Not many people pay the entry fee just to browse. Meng Lin didnt respond immediately. She wasnt interested in conversation, but the man didnt seem hostilejust curious. After a moment, he chuckled and said. No need to be wary. I just found it rare to see a new face here. He nodded toward the back of the hall. If youre looking for rarer goods, they keep those beyond the inner hall. Youd need to speak to the clerk near the counter. Meng Lin gave him a short nod before walking past him. Reaching the counter, she spoke to the attendant, a middle-aged woman with a professional demeanor. Id like access to the inner hall. The woman studied her for a brief moment before replying, A deposit of 3 high-grade spirit stones is required, or proof of affiliation with a recognized sect. Meng Lin''s eyebrows raised, a deposit thrice as high as the entrance fee just to get to the next floor, she considered the words and couldn''t help but wonder what they hope to achieve by asking for the other one, a proff of affiliation. She thought for a moment before she retrieved a sect token from her sleeve and placed it on the counter. The woman reached out to inspect it, but as soon as her eyes landed on the token, her fingers stiffened slightly. A flicker of surprise crossed her otherwise composed face. Meng Lin immediately noticed the reaction. The woman quickly masked her expression, but the brief hesitation was enough to put Meng Lin on alert. Something was going on. The attendant took a moment before nodding and passing her a jade token. You may proceed. Meng Lin took the token without a word, her mind playing back the whole process. She was directed to a staircase leading upstairs and quickly strode forward to the next floor. 240. Selling Soul Wondering Pills As Meng Lin climbed up the stairs, she suddenly felt a shift in the atmosphere as her surroundings blurred before she found herself within a spacious room. The air was ripe with spiritual energy, and it looked quite similar to the first floor, where rows of wooden shelves lined the hall, each neatly arranged with jade bottles, scrolls, and small chests sealed with intricate talismans. Except this time, it was vastly bigger. Yet, what caught her attention the most were the figures standing in the mist. There were several of themat least sevenbut their forms were shrouded within a thin veil of white mist, making their appearances indistinct. It was as if an invisible barrier prevented anyone from truly seeing each other. Meng Lins eyes narrowed. She raised her hand to notice a layer of white mist had appeared on her body, likely the same as the one on the silhouettes within the room. "Did that take you by surprise?" Meng Lin turned her head slightly, her expression hardening. The voice belonged to the same man from beforethe one in the deep blue robe. Even though the mist obscured his features, she could still recognize the easygoing tone in his voice, as well as the way his hands were held together. She didnt respond immediately, instead sweeping her gaze across the room once again. The several other cultivators within the room were each going through the shelves, indifferent to the newcomer, Meng Lin. She felt their auras were restrained, but each was undeniably powerful. Some were at the Soul Wandering Realm like her, while two even carried the oppressive presence of the Nascent Soul Realm. Meng Lins gaze flickered as she returned her attention to the man with a frown. "What are you doing here?" The young man let out a small chuckle, his posture still relaxed despite Meng Lins wary gaze. "I''m here for the same reason as youseeking something valuable." He said this before passing her, going through the shelves, his movements unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world. Meng Lin didnt relax. The fact that he had approached her twice in such a short time was more than mere coincidence. The mist shrouding everyones identities should have made them all anonymous, yet he had met her before here. She watched him for a moment before shifting her attention to the jade bottles and scrolls arranged throughout the room. Then her mind began to turn. The Immortal Pavilionthe fact that there were Nascent Soul Cultivators here to buy things meant that the force behind the pavilion was powerful enough to remain neutral even with cultivators of such high realms interacting within its walls. She couldn''t help but wonder what the connections were between this store and the Immortal Pavilion mentioned by the sect master. Even in a major city, it was rare to see Nascent Soul cultivators appearing so openly, let alone shopping in the same establishment as lower-realm cultivators. Meng Lin didnt immediately browse the shelves. Instead, her gaze swept the room until she spotted a receptionist''s desk, where a middle-aged man sat behind a table, his expression calm and businesslike. She approached with a steady stride and spoke directly. I want to sell somethings. The mans eyes flickered slightly as he looked up, his gaze unreadable. Without a word, he waved his hand, causing a white misty barrier to rise around them. Meng Lins eyes narrowed slightly. It was the same mist that was covering all the figures on the second floor. Is there a reason for this? she asked, her tone calm but curious. The man didnt seem interested. Privacy, he answered curtly before asking, What are you offering? Without hesitation, Meng Lin took out two Soul Wandering Pills and placed them on the desk. The man nodded slightly, taking one of the pills in his hand and inspecting it with his eye. Rank 4 pills and top tier refinement? Meng Lin met his gaze, her expression neutral. Naturally. The man turned the pill over in his hand, examining its luster and purity. After a brief moment, he gave a small nod. Not bad. Who refined these? Meng Lin didnt answer immediately. Does it matter? The man chuckled lightly. Not really. Just curious. High-quality pills arent easy to come by, even here. He placed the pill back on the desk. Five hundred medium-grade spirit stones per pill. Meng Lin frowned slightly as she began to think. Soul Wandering Pills were high-grade resources, difficult to refine and sought after by cultivators aiming to break through bottlenecks. Even in the open market, a single one could fetch at least seven hundred medium-grade spirit stonessometimes more, depending on urgency. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. But that was only the surface. Prices fluctuated based on demand, on competition, on desperation. She knew that well enough. She studied the mans composed expression, her instincts telling her that this was a deliberate offer, not a careless one. He knew their value. He wouldnt be sitting behind this desk if he didnt. Her gaze flickered to the mist that still hung in the air around them. If Nascent Soul cultivators frequented this place, then the force behind it had to be strong enough to control the flow of resources. That meant they set the prices, not the sellers. She still had four more pills. Three weee reserved for the Xi sisters and De Sijie, securing their path forward. That last one was the one she planned to give to the old man from the Spirit Essence Hall. ''Private buyers are risky and time-consuming, and an auction could guarantee profit, but too much exposure.'' Her decision settled, and she finally expressed her thought. Thats lower than expected. Even in a standard city, these start at six hundred. The man met her gaze evenly. Theyre valuable, but not rare enough to drive a bidding war here. If you want more, find a desperate buyer. Otherwise, this is the best offer youll getwithout attracting attention. A fair point. She weighed her options, then gave a slight nod. Fine. With a wave of his hand, the man produced a storage pouch and slid it across the table. Meng Lin picked it up and scanned its contents before storing it away. The misty barrier around them dissipated. She glanced at the man. I assume this isnt the only place to sell high-grade pills? The man smirked. Youre free to try elsewhere, but not many places can guarantee safe transactions like we do. If you bring more in the future, well be happy to do business again. Meng Lin nodded. Without another word, she turned and made her way toward the shelves. She had come to the Immortal Pavilion to investigate; however, her curiosity had been piqued by the vast wealth of knowledge hidden within its walls. As she moved through the aisles, she scanned the various displays, some holding up high-grade weapons and techniques. One display, in particular, featured a series of demonic cultivation techniques. The methods described were cruelfocusing on the manipulation and consumption of mortals to rapidly enhance power. The price was high, but Meng Lin couldnt help but feel a slight unease. Such techniques, while effective, left behind a trail of lingering problems. They could prove harmful if not used correctly. She quickly turned away, unwilling to linger on such disturbing methods. Her head ached at the thought of what such practices could do to a cultivators soul. On a shelf a little further down, a series of cultivation pills were displayed. Each one was carefully arranged in crystal vials, showcasing their pristine quality. One in particular made her raise an eyebrowa vial containing three golden rank 4 pills labeled "Yang Essence Reinvigoration Pill." Meng Lin narrowed her eyes. The description attached to the vial read: "A rare pill refined using the Yang Spirit Herb and Orchid Spring Ginseng. Increases vitality, enhances the Yang Essence, and restores stamina. Particularly effective for male cultivators experiencing Qi deficiency." She almost scoffed. The description danced around the real purpose of the pill but the two ingredients were clearly aphrodisiac, most likely designed to boost a mans performance. Meng Lin stared at the description for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. Cultivation could push one to the peak of power, allow one to traverse the heavens, and yet even the strongest sought out such trivial things. Shaking her head, she moved on, letting her gaze wander across the endless shelves of pills, artifacts, and scrolls. For the next hour, she browsed the Immortal Pavilion, occasionally stopping to examine rare and unique items. Some of which piqued her interest, but she didn''t buy anything in the end. Eventually, satisfied with her exploration, she walked down the staircase, feeling a shift in space as she found herself at a random shelf on the first floor. Meng Lin''s eyes flickered with understanding. "So that''s how it works." The second floors entrance wasnt just a simple staircaseit was a formation, a spatial mechanism designed to ensure that those who entered and left remained unnoticed by others. Glancing around, she confirmed that no one had reacted to her sudden reappearance. The other customers continued browsing, unaware that she had just spent an hour exploring a hidden section of the store. With nothing else catching her attention, Meng Lin turned and strode towards the exit. ** Back in her courtyard, Meng Lin settled near the pond, a cool mist forming around her from the slight drop in temperature of the weather. Around her were three of the six faded books that she had gotten from the ruins in the Tempest Wind Domain. Moving the old, brittle paper, which had its words almost completely faded, Meng Lin carefully traced her fingers over the ancient text. The book she had spent the last four hours deciphering wasnt just some obscure recordit was a guide. A slight guide to breaking through from the Nihility Realm to the Ascension Realm. Her eyes narrowed as she reread a particularly important passage: "Age, talent, cultivation base, Dao, and comprehensionthese are the pillars upon which the path to Ascension is built. Without this balance, one will collapse before reaching the peak." It was a structured approach, laying out the factors that determined success in this crucial breakthrough. But what caught her attention most was the emphasis on the Dao. "System," Meng Lin said, bringing up the system panel as she began to think. [Meng Lin] [Soul Wandering Stage (late)] [Experience Points: 13%] System Coin: 540 Immortal Jade: 4 Taoist Gacha Wheel: unavailable Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth] Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold 20%] [Ice 2%] [Wind 1%] [Heavenly Dao] [Death] [Comprehension 0.06%] Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method] Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] Skills: [Immortal Flesh] Ancient Spirit Seal: Crimson Tortoise Dragon [Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission] Meng Lins gaze rested on the Heavenly Dao section of her system panel, her expression calm yet calculating. 0.06% comprehension. A small fraction, but significant nonetheless. The Daoa force that stood at the pinnacle of cultivation. Power, in its purest form. Yet, power without understanding was dangerous. "From what the Palace Master and this book said, cultivators that reach the Ascension Realm unlock their Dao Mandate, granting them unique divine abilities. However, I still need to understand what the Dao truly is in this cultivation world," Meng Lin said as her thoughts went into all sorts of possibilities. Every cultivation world had its own interpretation of the Dao. Some treated the Dao as the foundation of reality, others as an external force to be harnessed, and some as personal enlightenment unique to each cultivator. Was the Dao here the same. The Dao of Death was a mystery. Unlike Fire or Sword Daos, which were easier to understand, Meng Lin couldn''t help but wonder what kind of ability a Dao such as this would give someone. She sighed and picked up another book, she had to decipher more words from these faded books, who knows what else she could find from them. Her eyes flickered over the worn-out pages of the book she was reading, while the faint mist of the pond surrounded her figure. 241. The Cracked Jade Pendant As the sun rose in the sky, down in the bustling streets of Quickel City, a young man dressed in green robes strode swiftly past the ornate wooden pillar doors of a mansion, his expression a mix of excitement and thoughtfulness. Luo Qing, a direct descendant of the Luo branch family, had just returned from an unexpected encounter at the Immortal Pavilion Shopone that he wouldn''t have anticipated. He didnt stop at the main hall but made his way directly toward one of the inner courtyards, where his uncle, Luo Feng, often spent his time cultivating. After walking for a few minutes, he arrived at an open courtyard where a tall middle-aged man stood beneath an ancient willow tree, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed at the koi pond before him. The man''s long green robes swayed slightly in the breeze, blending with the tranquil surroundings. Despite his calm demeanor, the air around him pulsed with a quiet but overwhelming presencethe kind only a Nascent Soul cultivator possessed. Hearing hurried footsteps, Luo Feng turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as Luo Qing approached. Youre in quite the hurry, Luo Feng said, his voice steady. What happened? Luo Qing cupped his hands respectfully, taking a deep breath. Uncle, at the Immortal Pavilion today I sensed something incredible. A womanher aura carried traces of one of the thirteen primal lotuses. Luo Fengs fingers twitched slightly before he fully turned to face his nephew. His expression remained calm, but his gaze sharpened. Which one? "The Immortal Lotus." I confirmed it using my Sacred Purity Wood Art, Luo Qing said, his voice brimming with certainty. It was faint, but unmistakable. She might..." Luo Feng raised a hand, silencing him, his gaze turning cold as he asked, Youre sure of this information? Luo Qing stopped in his tracks and smiled slightly. Thinking back to his encounter with the girl, he became even more certain; he hadn''t given direction to her out of the goodness of his heart, but rather to confirm what he felt. Already realizing the mechanism of the second-floor teleportation formation, he followed right after her to appear behind her and use his technique. The Sacred Purity Wood Art: one of its abilities is to create a resonance with wood-type energies, allowing him to perceive even the most concealed traces of wood spiritual essence. The moment he activated it, he felt a faint but undeniable pulse of the Immortal Lotus aura lingering around the woman. It was fleeting, almost imperceptible, but it was enough. Luo Qings smile deepened as he met his uncles gaze. I am certain, Uncle. Luo Feng remained silent for a long moment, his hands still clasped behind his back. If this was true, then their family had just stumbled upon an opportunity beyond imagination. The Immortal Lotus he murmured, his mind racing. "It is said to be one of the most coveted of the Thirteen Primal Lotuses, granting its wielder unparalleled regenerative and purifying abilities. If I have even a fraction of its power..." His eyes gleamed with calculation. Luo Qing took a step closer. Uncle, this could change everything for our family. If we claim that power for ourselves... Luo Feng raised a hand once more, silencing him. Foolish, he said sharply. Something of this magnitude cannot be approached with reckless ambition. He turned his back to Luo Qing, staring into the koi pond. Was she aware of your probing? She didnt react when I probed. Either she didn''t show or she didn''t know, but I am sure that she is suspicious of me." Luo Feng remained silent, his gaze fixed on the rippling koi pond. His fingers tapped lightly against the small jade ring on his index finger, a habit he had when deep in thought. After a long pause, he finally spoke. We need to know what we are dealing with, who she is, what she knows, and why the Lotus aura lingers around her. He turned back to the pond, watching the fish swim lazily beneath the surface. I want you to find out everything about her; the shadow organization Whispering Dawn should be able to get the job done." Luo Qing bowed slightly. I will not fail, Uncle. Luo Feng waved him away dismissively. *** "Sigh." Meng Lin exhaled as she finally finished deciphering the remaining five books from the ruins of the Tempest Wind Domain. The first book, The Forgotten Art of Spirit Binding, was merely an ancient technique of binding spirits to objects, detailing both the benefits and dangers of creating such weapons. Although it was Meng Lin''s first time hearing about actively binding spirits to weapons, she quickly understood why the practice had fallen out of favor. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. The process required subjugating a spirit, which could lead to unpredictable consequences if the spirit resisted or harbored grudges. Furthermore, maintaining control over a bound spirit demanded a continuous flow of spiritual energy, making it impractical for most cultivators. The second book, Essence Refinement Through Flames, delved into advanced alchemical flame techniques. As an alchemist, Meng Lin was particularly interested in its insights on enhancing pill refinement through flame control. The book mentioned an ancient method of refining spiritual herbs directly with rootless flames, which caught her attention. With herself possessing a High Tier Rootless Flame, she quickly got the hang of the process after reading it a few more times. The third book, The Interconnecting Subspaces, explored the relationship between eight subspaces, likely Domains like the Nether Cloud Domain and Tempest Wind Domain. Meng Lin didn''t really glimpse anything noteworthy but still took note of a few theoretical concepts that might prove useful in the future. The fourth book, Heaven''s Eye, revealed a technique that allows a cultivator to perceive hidden truths, requiring a rare innate eye ability called Divine Sight. Meng Lin wasn''t really interested in it because of her spiritual consciousness, although she acknowledged its potential usefulness for those lacking strong spiritual perception. The book described how cultivators with Divine Sight could see the flow of Qi, detect weaknesses in formations, and even glimpse traces of past events imprinted in space after cultivating Heaven''s Eye. While the technique itself was beyond her reach, Meng Lin skimmed through the details out of curiosity. After finishing her reading, she closed the book and set it aside, her mind already shifting toward practical application. The final book, The Fall of the Blood World, detailed a brief diary of an Ascension Realm cultivator, which she suspected to be the owner of the ruin she had entered. The diary itself was fragmented, with many pages missing or faded beyond readability. However, from what she could decipher, it recounted the final days of a cultivation world. The cultivator described ominous changes in the flow of spiritual energy, the emergence of strange anomalies, and the growing instability of the world''s foundation. One passage stood out to Meng Lin: "The sky cracked and three men appeared; the land wept a sea of blood. We who have reached the peak stand helpless against the men. Our Primal Qi turned volatile, and the Immortal Plane remained silent. I fear this is the end." Meng Lins heart skipped a beat as the mention of the sea of blood sent a ripple of recognition through her. She immediately thought of the God Blood Sea. As someone who had an encounter within the God Blood Sea, Meng Lin felt an unsettling connection between the two. As she read further, her eyes narrowed as the entries grew more fragmented and frantic. The tone shifted drastically, becoming more chaotic, as if the cultivators mind was deteriorating. The words written on the page were in an erratic rush. I saw one, one of the men; that man is definitely from the Immortal Planes. I am sure of it now; from the Heaven Cleansing Sect, a Dao like that can only be found there. They''re trying to use the world, use us, to reach the realm of the absolute. His Daoist title... they call him The page was torn at this point, the ink fading, but the final line still stuck in Meng Lin''s mind. She closed the book, a deep sense of intrigue settling in her mind. The idea of using an entire world to advance further in cultivation seemed crazy to her; however, it had most probably succeeded. ''The realm of the absolute,'' Meng Lin couldn''t help but think back to what her master said when she talked about the realm above the Ascension Realm, the Half Immortal Realm. "Now all that remains is this Luan continent." Shaking her head, Meng Lin turned her thoughts elsewhere. Although the history seemed distant, something about it unsettled her deeply. She reached her hand out, and in it appeared a small pendant. Its cracked surface was cool to the touch, and a faint pulse of energy radiated from within. Frowning slightly, she channeled a thin stream of her spiritual Qi into the pendant, testing its response. At first, nothing happened, which was within expectation, but she felt a sudden pull that jolted her awake. The pendant stirred and greedily absorbed her Qi. Shocked, Meng Lin tried to pull back, but the suction only grew stronger. Her brows furrowed in alarm, and she instinctively began to circulate her Qi, stabilizing its crazy flow into the pendant. Slowly, she allowed her Qi to be swallowed by the pendant, dropping down from 100 percent to 90... 80, until it was down to half when suddenly, her vision blurred. An overwhelming force seized her body, and before she could react, darkness consumed her completely. *** Meng Lin opened her eyes and found herself standing in a world of pitch black. If it wasn''t for the feeling of gravity, she would have thought she was in outer space because it was too quiet. The lack of Qi also felt like a force pressing against her, like an unseen weight. She steadied her breath, her senses sharp as she scanned her surroundings. Skreech!! A screech reached her ears and sent chills down her spine. It was distant yet felt uncomfortably close, as if it came from every direction at once. Meng Lins gaze shifted, and her spiritual consciousness expanded outward to probe the darkness. Immediately, she shifted her legs before jumping to the side as she felt a giant claw brush past her hair. Meng Lins heart pounded as she landed on the side, immediately circulating the Formless Cultivation Method before she took in the figure within her spiritual consciousness. A large shadowy figure hovered just meters from her, its shape vague without clear definition, constantly shifting in the pitch-black space. ''The shadow that the pendant had sealed? Could this be within the pendant?'' Meng Lin thought as she watched it lunge once again. Meng Lin also reacted, going on the offense as her body gradually began to float, turning into a shifting mist while a giant axe appeared in her hand. The shadowy figures claw slashed through the air, its claws passing through her right shoulder as Meng Lin felt a small excruciating pain tear through her body. The pain caused her to pause in surprise; although she didn''t feel any physical damage done to her right shoulder, the attack had been so powerful that she felt a strain at the attacked location. It was the first time something like that had happened, and it shocked her slightly. Nonetheless, she quickly pushed aside her thoughts as she felt the shadows claw remain embedded in her form for a moment longer before it passed through the mist. With a swift motion, she raised and swung her giant axe in retaliation. The dull blade arced through the air, creating a massive gust as it moved toward the creature. However, the shadowy figure reacted in time, raising another claw, its claws releasing a threatening dark aura wherever the claw passed. The two attacks came dangerously close to one another, yet instead of a colossal clash, the axe passed right through the claw, solidifying in the next instant as it rammed into the body of the creature. Screeeech!! The sound of metal scraping against metal echoed, the axe running across the body of the shadow while a surprised expression appeared on Meng Lin''s face. Meng Lin''s axe began to turn to mist, slipping through the creature along with her entire body before landing a few meters away from the creature, her face in shock. She exhaled deeply as her thoughts began to turn. It was very taxing on her when she wanted to be intangible; just that short exchange had depleted as much as 20 percent of her Qi. If this keeps up, it wont last long. Skreech! The shadowy figure didnt give her a moment to recover. It twisted its form unnaturally, its upper body turning a full 180 degrees as its claw lashed out, the dark aura around it doubling as it slashed out four crescent-shaped claws. Meng Lin barely managed to shift her body into mist once more, the attack phasing through her before she reformed a few steps away. However, the instant she reformed, an unbearable pain tore through her body, as if countless claws had shredded her from the inside out. Her vision blurred, and a sharp, suffocating pressure pressed against her chest. Her Qi, which was already strained, was now completely depleted. A cold sweat dripped down her forehead as she staggered, her legs nearly giving out beneath her. It was the first time in a while she felt completely empty and exposed. It took all she had to barely hold on to the giant axe, which was tilting slightly. However, it didn''t last long as immediately after, her body began to glow in a blue light as a chaotic force erupted where she stood. She had entered the Brute Qi State. A deep, primal force surged through her veins, replacing the emptiness left by her depleted Qi. The pain from before faded, and her muscles tensed, her grip on the axe tightening as the weapon stabilized in her hands. Her breathing evened out, but her expression darkened. The shadowy figure hesitated for the first time, its eerie form flickering as if sensing something. But it did not retreat. Instead, it gathered even more of its dark aura, preparing to strike with even greater force. Meng Lin exhaled slowly, steadying herself. The Brute Qi State was not something she used often, but now, she had no choice. Her Qi was completely gone. With a single, explosive step, she leaned backward. The space beneath her pulsing as she used all her might to throw her axe, the sheer force of the motion bending the surrounding space. Her Brute Qi state surged, amplifying her power. The raw force tore through the air, a shockwave ripping through the space around her. It was just shy of the power of a Nascent Soul cultivators casual strike. But for Meng Lin, that was enough. Boom!! The axe was launched with explosive force, tearing through the air. It blurred as it instantly appeared before the shadowy figure, leaving a trail of crackling energy in its wake. The shadowy figure recoiled, its form flickering, but it was too late. The axe struck with an earth-shattering impact. Boom!! The axe slammed into the shadow with explosive force. The impact shattered the creatures form instantly, tearing it apart like brittle glass. Dark shards exploded in every direction, scattering into the void as if melding with the dark space that surrounded the area. Meng Lin exhaled, her body still radiating blue light. The Brute Qi State hummed around her, and she couldn''t help but smirk at the lingering power coursing through her veins.