Volume One

Chapter 4: Demon Core Body Tempering, Breaking Through Like a Tide

Deacon Wang stood in the side hall of the Deacon Hall, standing respectfully with his hands at his sides. Seated at the head was an elderly man with a lean, refined face, wearing a green cloud-patterned Daoist robe. He was Zhou Xian, the Deacon Elder stationed by the Yunni Sect in the Qingshi area, with an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation. The green Jade Slip beneath his fingertips was slowly dimming, evidently having just finished receiving a message.

Sandalwood incense curled in the hall, but the atmosphere was somewhat stagnant.

"The trip to Black Wind Ridge was exactly like that." Deacon Wang finished recounting the contents of the Shadow-Recording Jade Slip brought back by Su Qingyue and the detailed report, adding at the end, "That Lin Xuan's close-combat strength can be described as terrifying, especially that final strike that heavily injured the Flame-Claw Demon Bear... I have repeatedly examined the battle segments Su Qingyue imprinted with her Divine Sense. His method of exerting force is bizarre; it seems able to ignore part of the Yao Beast's scale armor protection and penetrate directly into the internal organs. Furthermore, there were no signs of Spiritual Qi leakage throughout the entire process."

Elder Zhou's knuckles lightly tapped the sandalwood tabletop, producing a rhythmic thumping sound. Only after a long while did he slowly speak: "Martial Dao Extreme Realm? One Day, One Hundred Years? Martial Nephew Wang, do you believe it?"

Deacon Wang smiled bitterly. "In response to Elder, this matter is indeed too incredible. However, this boy's performance is certainly not something a common Body Cultivator or even a Blood-Burning Secret Method can explain. The majesty of his vitality far exceeds the scope of a Qi Refinement Stage Body Cultivator, yet it differs from the Vitality Furnace phenomenon of ancient Body Cultivators recorded in history; it appears more... restrained and silent. Moreover, Su Qingyue reported that his aura was stable after the battle and his injuries recovered extremely quickly, not appearing as if he had overextended his potential."

"What is the movement on Zhao Long's side?" Elder Zhou changed the subject.

"Senior Brother Zhao Long has already taken Zhao Hu back to the Sect. Before leaving, he held quite a grudge against Lin Xuan, but he did not lash out on the spot. Only..." Deacon Wang hesitated slightly. "According to reports from secret sentries, there seemed to be a slight anomaly in Lin Xuan's inn room last night. After a brief disturbance in Spiritual Qi fluctuations, it returned to calm. It is suspected he was attempting to Cultivate or... process his spoils of war."

"Cultivate? Using a Demon Core?" A strange look flashed in Elder Zhou's eyes. "The energy in a Demon Core is mottled and violent, with Evil Qi that can invade the soul. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators need to supplement with Medicinal Pills and Formations to refine them carefully. A 'Martial Artist' without a Spiritual Root... how interesting."

He paused and then instructed, "Regarding this boy, continue to focus on observation and winning him over. The dark red mist in Black Wind Ridge is expanding, suspected to be connected to some ancient leyline or a small ruin. The Sect has already dispatched more Disciples skilled in exploration. At that time, perhaps we can let this Lin Xuan accompany them to further test his strength and Heart-Nature. As for Zhao Long..." A cold indifference flashed in Elder Zhou's eyes. "Internal strife among fellow Disciples is never honorable. Handle it as you see fit; do not let my Yunni Sect become a laughingstock."

"Subordinate understands." Deacon Wang bowed in response and then asked for instructions, "Then, regarding Lin Xuan's battle merit rewards, as well as the disposal of the Demon Cores he obtained from Black Wind Ridge..."

"According to the previous promise, the Grade Two Yao Core belongs to him, and the rest of the spoils will be distributed according to contribution. My Yunni Sect is not so base as to embezzle things a junior traded his life for." Elder Zhou waved his hand. "However, since he is not a Disciple of our Sect, staying at the inn long-term is also inappropriate. You may hint to him that if he is willing, a secluded courtyard can be arranged for him on the outskirts of the station for a temporary stay—consider it a gesture of goodwill. As for how he handles those Demon Cores... let him be. It's a good chance to see what kind of 'tricks' he can pull off."

"Yes." Deacon Wang took his orders and withdrew.

Only Elder Zhou remained in the hall. He cast his gaze toward the surging clouds outside the window and murmured to himself, "Martial Dao... an ancient Body Cultivator Legacy appearing in the world? Or something else... This Spiritual Qi Resurgence has indeed drawn out all sorts of monsters and demons. Lin Xuan... I hope you can be sensible and not lead yourself astray."

Yuelai Inn, Heaven-Grade Room.

With doors and windows tightly shut, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged on the couch, his five centers facing the sky. On the table before him, twenty-four dark red Grade One Yao Cores were neatly arranged, along with that Grade Two Yao Core that was as red as fire and faintly emitted scorching fluctuations, looking like a pile of ominous gems.

He was in no hurry to absorb them, instead first closing his eyes for an internal inspection.

Within his Dantian, the tiny vortex formed by a hundred wisps of Chaos-colored Source Martial Spiritual Energy was slowly rotating, stable and pure. Surrounding it was the vast and silent Origin of Martial Dao vitality, like a boundless sea of stars. Further out was the omnipresent, pale gray net of rule suppression. After completing the 'Dungeon Foundation Establishment,' the sense of restraint from this net seemed to have imperceptibly loosened a fraction.

"System, given my current state, what is the optimal plan for absorbing these Demon Cores?" Lin Xuan communicated in his mind.

[Simulated deduction in progress... Deduction complete.]

[Option One: Directly guide vitality to temper and absorb using the "Basic Martial Dao Spirit-Transformation Art." Each Grade One Yao Core is estimated to extract pure Source Martial Spiritual Energy equivalent to 2-3 days of the host's own cultivation, but there will be a trace accumulation of Evil Qi, which must be slowly worn away with will and vitality. The energy purity and total amount of a Grade Two Yao Core are approximately 18-25 times that of a Grade One Yao Core, with a corresponding increase in Evil Qi.]

[Option Two: Submit to the System to exchange for 'Rule Adaptation.' The current exchange rate is approximately: 40 Grade One Yao Cores or 2 Grade Two Yao Cores ≈ 1% Adaptation.]

[Suggestion: Hybrid strategy. Exchange a portion of the Grade One Yao Cores to prioritize increasing Adaptation, fundamentally weakening the suppression; use the remaining Demon Cores to assist in cultivation and charge toward the second stage of 'Vitality Spirit-Transformation,' which is 'Spiritual Power Like a Tide.' The host's will is firm and can withstand the current intensity of Evil Qi.]

"Exchange eight Grade One Yao Cores." Lin Xuan made his decision.

[Command confirmed. Exchanging eight Grade One Yao Cores... Exchange successful. Rule Adaptation increased by 0.2%.]

[Current total Adaptation: 0.7%.]

An indescribable sense of subtle lightness flowed through his entire body, as if some heavy shackle had been removed once more. The silent vitality and Source Martial Spiritual Energy within his body also seemed to become a fraction more active.

"Let's begin."

Lin Xuan reached out and picked up a Grade One Yao Core, holding it in his palm. His mind sank as the "Basic Martial Dao Spirit-Transformation Art" operated at full power. The chaotic vortex in his Dantian accelerated slightly, simultaneously drawing the vast vitality from his entire body to surge toward his palm like a great river.

The mottled and violent energy within the Demon Core was forcibly enveloped and dragged by the power of vitality, entering specific meridian routes. Intense pain followed, as if countless tiny ice and fire needles were alternately pricking his Meridians, and even more violent, chaotic fragments of intent (Evil Qi) attempted to assault his Spirit Terrace.

Lin Xuan's expression remained unchanged; the will tempered by millions of years in the Martial Dao Tower was as firm as ancient stars. He guided his vitality like the most precise millstone and furnace, grinding, burning, and tempering that foreign energy bit by bit.

Impurities were stripped away, and the Evil Qi was forcibly crushed and dissolved by his vitality and will, leaving only the purest energy essence—tinged with scorching or icy attributes—which was carefully guided back to the Dantian and merged into that Chaos-colored vortex.

One, two, three...

Time passed in silence. Outside the window, the sun's shadow moved from east to west and rose again.

The Source Martial Spiritual Energy vortex within Lin Xuan's Dantian began to slowly but firmly expand and solidify as pure energy continuously merged into it. The Chaos-colored glow gradually deepened, and the speed of rotation steadily increased, faintly emitting a low hum like an approaching tide.

By the time the twelfth Grade One Yao Core turned to dust, the volume of the vortex had already more than doubled. Its color was deeper, and subtle glimmers of spiritual light appeared as it rotated. The total amount of Spiritual Qi had broken through two hundred and fifty wisps!

A sense of overflowing power spread through his body. The net of rule suppression, under the dual effect of increased Adaptation and his own strengthened Spiritual Qi, seemed to become increasingly "transparent" and "distant."

Lin Xuan did not stop, his gaze falling upon that Grade Two Yao Core. This was the true main event.

He adjusted his breathing, bringing his state to its peak, and held the scorching red Grade Two Yao Core between his palms. An even more majestic, burning, and violent energy, like a bursting lava volcano, crashed into his body!

"Hmph!"

Lin Xuan let out a muffled grunt. The skin on his body instantly flushed with an abnormal redness, even faintly revealing a golden light, while tiny beads of blood seeped from his pores. A tearing, bloating pain came from his Meridians, and the impact of the Evil Qi was several times more ferocious. Countless violent, bloodthirsty, and chaotic illusions tumbled and roared in his Sea of Consciousness, trying to drag him into an endless abyss of slaughter.

He held fast to a single point of clarity in his Spirit Terrace, pushing the supreme will tempered over millions of years to its limit. His vitality flowed like a starlit torrent, suppressing and grinding with even greater force!

This was a difficult and dangerous process, a life-and-death struggle between will, Physical Body, and violent energy. If it were a common Qi Refinement Cultivator, even with the protection of a Formation, they would never dare to absorb a Grade Two Yao Core so crudely, let alone clash with it using pure vitality.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

But Lin Xuan's Foundation was simply too profound. His martial peak physique was not only a vessel for power but also the sturdiest furnace between heaven and earth.

Time passed, and that torrent of violent energy was finally gradually subdued and tempered. Even purer and more massive essence of energy, like Chaos-colored sweet dew, poured into his Dantian endlessly.

The Qi vortex within his Dantian spun and expanded crazily, its color shifting from deep Chaos towards a more condensed, more introverted dark gold, and its volume surged! Three hundred strands, four hundred strands, five hundred strands...

When the very last trace of energy from the level 2 Yao Beast core was absorbed and turned into gray-white dust—

Inside Lin Xuan's Dantian, that Qi vortex had already become a rapidly spinning, egg-sized dark golden vortex! The total amount of Spiritual Qi had shockingly reached eight hundred strands!

At the center of the vortex, a bright golden light lit up, like the first ray of light carved out of Chaos. Even purer and more refined Source Martial Spiritual Energy was born from it, cycling back and forth, faintly emitting an increasingly clear sound of tidal surges!

[Ding! Detected that the host's total amount of Source Martial Spiritual Energy is approaching the thousand-strand critical point. The first stage of 'Qi and blood Spirit-Transformation' is nearing Perfection, beginning to transition to the second stage 'Spiritual Power Like a Tide'!]

[Warning: The transition process will trigger violent tremors in Qi and blood and Spiritual Power, which may cause energy leakage phenomena. Please be prepared, host.]

Lin Xuan's heart tightened. He immediately converged all his aura, exerting all his strength to restrain the boiling Qi and blood and restless Spiritual Qi within his body, attempting to suppress all anomalies.

But at the threshold of a Breakthrough, how violent is the transformation of energy!

Hum—!

With him as the center, the air in the room suddenly shook! Invisible fluctuations spread out, the teacup on the table shook gently, and ripples formed on the surface of the water. His pores opened and closed, and a faint dark golden glow leaked out uncontrollably, illuminating the room in a hazy light. A pressure as heavy as a mountain, as scorching as a furnace, and carrying a strange vitality permeated the area!

Downstairs in the inn, at the lobby counter.

The dark sentry sent by Deacon Wang, disguised as an accountant, was bowing his head and fiddling with an abacus. Suddenly, the abacus beads in his hand trembled inexplicably. Immediately after, an unspeakable feeling of palpitations came from the room above, as if a prehistoric Vicious Beast was waking up there. Just a trace of the aura naturally leaking out made his heart beat wildly, and his circulation of Spiritual Power became sluggish by half!

"Th-this is..." His expression changed slightly. He forced himself to stay calm, hurriedly wrote a few words, and beckoned a waiter to whisper a few sentences. The waiter nodded immediately, slipped out the back door, and hurried towards the Yunni Sect station.

Inside the room, fine beads of sweat seeped from Lin Xuan's forehead as he was making the final consolidation. Inside his body, the dark golden vortex slowly stabilized. Its volume had shrunk slightly, but it was more solid and pure, and the sound of tides became clearer as it spun. The eight hundred strands of Spiritual Qi circulated perfectly, endless and unceasing, as if a gate connecting to a boundless ocean of power had been opened within his body!

[Transition complete! Successfully promoted to the second stage of 'Qi and blood Spirit-Transformation' — Spiritual Power Like a Tide!]

[Effect: The upper limit of total Source Martial Spiritual Energy is significantly increased, and the recovery speed is significantly accelerated; the purity and controllability of Spiritual Qi are improved; it can initially release Spiritual Qi externally to form body-protecting Qi energy or perform simple detached attacks (requires corresponding techniques); resistance to rule suppression is enhanced.]

[Strength re-evaluation: Normal state can stably exert combat power equivalent to the Qi Refinement Stage Great Perfection. Short burst can reach the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage (subject to rule restrictions, duration and power are limited).]

[Unlock new ability: Spiritual Qi Perception (Elementary).]

Success!

Lin Xuan opened his eyes, a dark golden radiance flashing in his pupils before quickly returning to depth. He let out a long breath of turbid air. That breath was long and scorching, actually condensing into a pale white arrow of Qi in the air, shooting out three feet before slowly dissipating.

Feeling the refined Spiritual Power in his body that was surging like a tide yet flowing as he wished, as well as the subtle changes in his Physical Body that seemed to have become tougher and more transparent under the nourishment of Spiritual Power, Lin Xuan felt settled in his heart. His strength had finally recovered by a portion. Although it was still far from completely liberating the power of the martial peak, at least in this "new version," he had the initial capital to gain a foothold.

He looked at the remaining few level 1 Yao Beast cores on the table, as well as that 0.2% increase in adaptability.

"Still not fast enough." Lin Xuan whispered to himself, "The secret of Black Wind Ridge, the calculations of the Yunni Sect, the hostility of Zhao Long... Trouble will only come one after another. I must become stronger faster, obtain more resources, and understand more of the truth of this world."

Just as he was thinking, the newly acquired "Spiritual Qi Perception (Elementary)" ability operated spontaneously. With him as the center, the energy flow and life Qi and blood within a radius of ten zhang were reflected in his heart like reflections in water—the snoring and weak Qi and blood of the next-door guest, the noise and complex auras of the lobby downstairs, and even the meager Spiritual Power in the bodies of several peddlers at the street corner outside the window (low-level Martial Artists or those who had just introduced Qi into their bodies)...

Suddenly, he sensed that on the second floor of the tea house diagonally opposite the inn, by the window, a gaze was cast toward the direction of his room, seemingly non-existent. The owner of that gaze had an obscure aura, condensed Qi and blood, and steady circulation of Spiritual Power in the body, carrying a sense of scrutiny and observation, not an ordinary tea guest.

"Surveillance? Or curiosity?" Lin Xuan's thoughts moved slightly, but he did not alert the enemy, pretending not to know.

Just at this moment, the door was knocked gently.

"Is Senior Brother Lin there? The Deacon sent me to discuss something." The voice of Deacon Wang's trusted Disciple came from outside the door.

Lin Xuan stood up, straightened his unwrinkled coarse cloth clothes, walked to the door, and opened it.

The Disciple stood outside the door, looking respectful, holding a simple wooden box in his hand.

"Senior Brother Lin, the Deacon ordered that since you have made contributions in Black Wind Ridge, this is an extra token of the Sect's appreciation, some ordinary medicinal herbs for healing and recovering Qi and blood." The Disciple offered the wooden box and continued, "In addition, the Deacon said that the inn is noisy. If Senior Brother Lin does not mind, we can arrange a quiet small courtyard for you to stay temporarily at the west side of the station, which will also be convenient for... future contact."

Showing favor, winning over, and further "convenient observation."

Lin Xuan took the wooden box, weighed it slightly, and nodded: "Thank you to Deacon Wang on my behalf. The inn is still acceptable. As for the quiet small courtyard, allow me to consider it for a few more days."

"Yes. There is one more thing," the Disciple said again, "The Sect has decided to send specialists to investigate the dark red mist area of Black Wind Ridge in depth, and the team will set off in three days. The Deacon asked, is Senior Brother Lin still interested in participating? This time the danger is even greater, but if there are any discoveries, the Sect contribution will be generous, and the distribution of spoils can also be discussed."

Investigating the source of the dark red mist? Lin Xuan's heart moved. It is very likely that secrets related to the recovery of Spiritual Qi, or even ancient Body Cultivators, are hidden there, and perhaps there are more resources.

"Yes. Three days later, I will go on time." Lin Xuan agreed.

"Good, then the Disciple will report this to the Deacon." The Disciple saluted and retreated.

Lin Xuan closed the door and placed the wooden box on the table to open it. Inside were indeed some ordinary medicinal herbs of decent quality, which could be considered a small help for his currently meager "assets."

He walked to the window and looked at the tea house diagonally opposite. That scrutinizing gaze seemed to have left.

"Three days later..." Lin Xuan tapped the window lattice gently, dark golden light flowing in his eyes, "Dark red mist... I hope it won't disappoint me."

Improving strength, exploring secrets, dealing with calculations from all sides. His path of "Martial Dao Spirit-Transformation" was stepping forward solidly step by step in this new world of Spiritual Qi recovery.

(End of Chapter 4, Volume 1)

[Next Chapter Preview]:

Yao Beast core tempering the body, breaking the realm like a tide! Lin Xuan's strength leaps, attracting more attention! The Sect exploration team is imminent, what kind of ancient secrets are hidden at the source of the dark red mist?

Is Deacon Wang's frequent favor a sincere solicitation, or does he have other motives? Is Zhao Long's anger already brewing in the dark?

What advantages and opportunities will the newly acquired "Spiritual Qi Perception" ability bring to Lin Xuan?

And in the depths of the dark red mist, besides the possible opportunities, are there more terrible dangers lurking quietly?

Next Chapter: Fog Locks Black Wind, Ruins Appear!

Lin Xuan: "Opportunities often coexist with dangers. I am determined to get what is behind this mist."