Volume 1, Chapter 26: Hibernation and Healing, Undercurrents Surging

The night in the West Courtyard was quiet to the point of being eerie.

Outside the courtyard, moonlight like water spilled onto the mottled bluestone ground, but it could not shine into the room shrouded by a simple Formation.

Two Late Stage Qi Refining Disciples stood at the door like clay statues, their breathing long and almost inaudible, yet their Divine Sense was like invisible tentacles, enveloping the entire small courtyard.

Inside the room, Lin Xuan lay quietly on the bed, his breathing weak and long, his face pale, eyes closed tightly, presenting the appearance of someone critically injured and in a deep coma.

But if anyone could pierce through that disguise with their Divine Sense, they would find that the scene within his body was far from the dead silence it appeared to be on the surface.

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, Lin Xuan's consciousness condensed into a weak yet tenacious ball of light, struggling to sort through the massive amount of Legacy information.

"System, can you filter the core summary of the Ancient God Body Refining Technique, the Foundation Establishment chapter of the Indestructible Body of the Martial God, and the 'Basic Method for Controlling Earth Vein Evil Qi' to extract the parts most urgently needed and best suited for my injury recovery, and then integrate them into an actionable healing and cultivation plan?"

[Integrating and analyzing...]

[Core summary of the Ancient God Body Refining Technique · Fragment: Contains the essence of "Refining the Body with Evil Qi," as well as supreme concepts regarding "Origin of Qi and Blood" and "Physical Body Reshaping." Current applicability: Extremely high. It is compatible with the Foundation chapter the host has already cultivated, can accelerate injury repair, and lay a Foundation for subsequent Breakthroughs.]

[Indestructible Body of the Martial God Foundation Establishment chapter: The core lies in "Endless Vitality" and "Breaking and then Establishing." It records secret techniques for guiding Qi and blood, stimulating the potential of the Physical Body, and rapidly repairing injuries while in a critically injured state, or even taking the opportunity to achieve a Breakthrough. Current applicability: Extremely high. Especially suitable for the host's current "Breaking and then Establishing" state.]

[Basic Method for Controlling Earth Vein Evil Qi: Requires a specific Physique and Cultivation Technique to Cultivate. The host has cultivated the Ancient God Body Refining Technique and has been tempered by the Evil Qi of the ruins many times, so the Physique initially meets the requirements. Current applicability: Medium. Can attempt initial cultivation to secretly absorb the remaining Earth Vein Evil Qi in the surroundings to accelerate recovery, but the risk is high; it may trigger injuries within the body or alert the outside world.]

[Integration plan suggestion: Use the Indestructible Body of the Martial God Foundation Establishment chapter as the core, combined with the "Origin of Qi and Blood" concept from the Ancient God Body Refining Technique core summary, to perform "Breaking and then Establishing" style healing. At the same time, cautiously attempt the Elementary application of the "Basic Method for Controlling Earth Vein Evil Qi," and under the premise of not alerting the outside world, absorb the Earth Vein Evil Qi that may remain below this location due to the collapse of the ruins, as an additional energy source.]

Lin Xuan's heart settled. The plan provided by the System coincided with what he had thought.

He no longer hesitated and began to follow the plan, guiding that weak yet pure warm current of Legacy within his body, slowly and cautiously running it through his damaged Meridians according to the healing route of the Indestructible Body of the Martial God Foundation Establishment chapter.

Every movement was accompanied by tearing pain, like scraping bone with a dull knife. But at the same time, wherever the warm current passed, the damaged Meridian walls, ruptured blood vessels, and displaced internal organs began to be repaired and reshaped at an extremely slow but firm speed. Around the fractured bones, new and denser bone tissue was quietly forming; the damaged muscle fibers, nourished by the warm current, were re-weaving into tougher muscle bundles like a silkworm spinning silk.

This was an extremely painful and slow process, requiring great patience and willpower.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan divided a strand of his mind to attempt the most Elementary technique recorded in the "Basic Method for Controlling Earth Vein Evil Qi" — "Drawing Evil into the Microscopic." He used the Qi and blood of the Ancient God Body Refining Technique as a guide and the vitality of the Indestructible Body of the Martial God as a shield, extremely carefully, like unspooling silk, absorbing the extremely weak Earth Vein Evil Qi that had dissipated due to the collapse of the ruins from the surrounding air and deep underground.

These Evil Qi, in the eyes of a normal person, were still poison. But Lin Xuan, having been tempered by the Ancient God Body Refining Technique many times, had undergone subtle changes in his Physique. After those Evil Qi entered his body, guided by the core summary of the Ancient God Body Refining Technique, although they still brought stinging pain, they were no longer indiscriminately destructive, but were like another form of "energy," slowly absorbed. Part was used to replenish consumption, and part merged into the bones and internal organs, continuing that slow but profound tempering.

Combining internal and external, working in both aspects. Lin Xuan's aura was recovering bit by bit at an imperceptible speed. Although he was still a long way from a full recovery, the feeling of weakness bordering on exhaustion was slowly receding.

Outside, time passed in silence.

At the Hour of the Rat.

The door was gently knocked. The two enforcement Disciples stiffened and looked at the visitor.

It was Deacon Wang. Behind him followed two servants carrying trays, on which were steaming medicinal soup and a few exquisite small dishes.

"Has Young Friend Lin woken up yet?" asked Deacon Wang in a low voice.

"Reporting to the Deacon, he has been in a coma and has not shown any movement," one Disciple respectfully replied.

Deacon Wang nodded, signaling the servants to send the items into the room, while he walked to the bedside, looking at the "comatose" Lin Xuan with deep eyes. He reached out to test Lin Xuan's forehead and checked his pulse, his brows slightly furrowed. The pulse was still weak, the aura still floating, and the injuries... seemed to show no signs of improvement, and even showed signs of worsening.

"Take good care of him. If there is any abnormality, report it immediately," Deacon Wang instructed the two Disciples, then took another look at the "comatose" Lin Xuan and turned to leave.

The room returned to silence. The two servants placed the medicinal soup and small dishes on the table and quietly retreated.

Lin Xuan remained "comatose." But he knew this was just the first wave. Han Feiyu and Deacon Wang were both waiting, waiting for him to wake up, or waiting for orders from the Sect. And this period was his most precious "Hibernation period."

In the adjacent side room.

Wang Mang was restless, pacing back and forth in the small room like a trapped beast. Li Dali sat by the bed, holding a few Medicinal Pills, his brows locked tightly.

"Brother Li, do you think Brother Lin will be alright? That Deacon Wang, and that Han Feiyu, I always feel there's something wrong with the way they look at Brother Lin!" Wang Mang said in a muffled voice, keeping it very low.

Li Dali sighed: "Whether he will be alright is no longer under our control. Don't you see? We are also under house arrest. They say 'rest well,' but aren't there 'guards' standing at the door?" He paused, a flash of sharpness in his eyes, "However, Brother Lin won't fall so easily. He survived that situation in the ruins. What we can do now is not cause trouble, conserve our strength, and wait for him to wake up."

Wang Mang nodded heavily: "I trust Brother Lin!"

The two looked at each other, said no more, and silently adjusted their breathing to recover.

...

Yunni Sect station, main hall.

After Han Feiyu took the Medicinal Pill, his complexion improved a lot, but the sinister look in his eyes became even worse. Deacon Wang returned from the West Courtyard and informed him of the inspection situation.

"The injuries have not improved, and may even be worsening," Deacon Wang said in a deep voice. "If he really obtained the Legacy, why would he let himself be so seriously injured? Could it be... the Legacy did not fall into his hands, or the Legacy itself... is damaged?"

Han Feiyu pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Junior Martial Uncle Wang, at that final moment, the commotion he caused was too great. Even if the Legacy did not fall into his hands completely, he must have obtained key items or information. Otherwise, why would the metal component resonate with him? And why could he trigger the obelisk? This matter must never be judged by appearances."

He paused, lowered his voice and said: "I have sent a message via Flying Sword again, marked as urgent. I estimate that by tomorrow evening at the latest, the Sect will have a reply. Before that, in addition to strict supervision, we also need... to probe."

"Probe?" Deacon Wang raised an eyebrow.

"Correct." Cold light flickered in Han Feiyu's eyes. "Doesn't he have two loyal Loose Cultivator companions? Tomorrow, find an excuse to send them away from the station. If we can elicit a reaction from Lin Xuan, or... get something out of their mouths, that would be best. If he remains 'comatose' and unresponsive, we can also use this to see how much he really cares about those two."

Deacon Wang thought for a moment and nodded slowly: "This plan is feasible, but... we need to grasp the scale, don't make too much of a scene and end up giving others an excuse."

"Don't worry, Junior Martial Uncle Wang, I understand." A sneer curled the corner of Han Feiyu's mouth.

The undercurrent continued to surge.

...

The next morning.

Wang Mang and Li Dali were "invited" out of the side room, saying that the station was short-handed and they needed them to assist in handling some matters after the earthquake in Black Wind Ridge. Although the two were unwilling, under the "polite" "invitation" of the enforcement Disciples, they were powerless to resist and had to be taken away.

The news reached the West Courtyard. Lin Xuan remained "comatose," without any reaction.

Hearing the news, Han Feiyu's brows furrowed even tighter. Was this Lin Xuan really in a coma, or was he enduring? He was a bit unsure.

The sun rose higher, and Qingshi Town continued in an uneasy calm amidst the aftershocks. The news of the Black Wind Ridge earthquake, like a stone thrown into a pond, was spreading to the surrounding areas. Some keen-nosed Loose Cultivators had already started wandering outside the town, inquiring about news.

At noon.

Pharmacist Zhou came to the West Courtyard again to check Lin Xuan's pulse. He furrowed his brows and remained silent. After a long while, he stood up and said to the guarding Disciples: "The injuries are still extremely severe, but there is no immediate danger to his life. He needs to continue to rest quietly and must not be disturbed."

After saying this, he hurriedly left and went to the main hall to report to Han Feiyu and Deacon Wang.

His diagnosis was still the same as last night.

Han Feiyu's patience was being consumed bit by bit.

...

As the sun set, the aftershocks gradually subsided.

Lin Xuan remained "comatose" and unresponsive.

Just when Deacon Wang was almost about to believe that Lin Xuan was indeed critically injured and beyond help —

A clear sword hum came from the sky outside Qingshi Town!

Immediately following, a green sword light, like a shooting star chasing the moon, fell straight into the main hall of the Yunni Sect station!

A Flying Sword transmission! The Sect's reply had arrived!

Han Feiyu was energized and quickly caught the sword light, which turned into a green Jade Slip. He probed his Divine Sense into it and read the content. His face first showed joy, then became solemn, and finally turned into a hint of ruthlessness and... dread.

Deacon Wang looked at him nervously: "Junior Martial Nephew Han, what does the Sect say?"

Han Feiyu was silent for a moment, slowly put away the Jade Slip, and said in a deep voice: "The Sect attaches great importance to this matter. Revered Master has ordered: at all costs, ensure that the Legacy clues (if they exist) do not fall into the hands of outsiders. If Lin Xuan has indeed obtained the Legacy or key tokens, he must be immediately 'invited' into the Sect to accept 'protection' and 'questioning.' If he resists or conceals..." He paused and made a gesture.

Deacon Wang's pupils shrank. This was a determination to spare no cost.

"Then now..." Deacon Wang asked.

"No more waiting." Han Feiyu stood up, cold light flickering in his eyes. "A long night brings many dreams. Bring Pharmacist Zhou and two Disciples proficient in the Soul Searching Technique, and go to the West Courtyard at the Hour of the Rat tonight! I want to see if he is really in a coma or just faking sleep!"

His voice was as cold as iron.

In the West Courtyard, in the secret room.

Lin Xuan was still lying quietly, as if he knew nothing about the coming storm.

But deep within his Sea of Consciousness, that ball of consciousness light suddenly brightened a bit. The speed of that weak yet tenacious warm current of Legacy seemed to silently... accelerate by a fraction.

The undercurrent was about to turn into a raging wave.

(End of Volume 1, Chapter 26)

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[Next Chapter Preview]: A night visit brings a sudden change, showing the dagger at the end of the map! Han Feiyu brings Soul Searching Disciples to break into the West Courtyard at night, intending to force questions upon the "comatose" Lin Xuan to demand the whereabouts of the Legacy! Lin Xuan has been hibernating for two days, how has his injury recovery gone? Will he continue to feign a coma, or be forced to reveal himself to deal with it? Wang Mang and Li Dali have been sent away, left isolated and helpless, how will Lin Xuan face this sudden murderous intent? Can the hidden ace turn the tables in a desperate situation? Next chapter: Night of Soul Searching, Counterattack from a Desperate Situation! Lin Xuan: "I wanted to lie down for a few more days, unfortunately, someone couldn't wait."