Chapter Forty-Three: Racing Against Time, Secret Cultivation in the Dark Night

After Leng Ningshuang departed, the Guest Elder Courtyard returned to silence.

But Lin Xuan knew that this silence was merely the calm before the storm.

He returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and tucked the ice-blue jade talisman into his robes. It was cold to the touch but faintly pulsed with a strange rhythm, as if something living was sealed inside. Xuanbing Valley's handiwork was indeed extraordinary.

Outside the window, the sun gradually rose higher. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground. In the distance, the faint sounds of Bailian Villa Disciples practicing could be heard, mixed with the crisp clanging of weapons, adding a touch of Life Qi to the quiet courtyard.

Lin Xuan closed his eyes, and his mind sank into his body.

In his Dantian, that dark-gold spiritual power core slowly rotated. Nine hundred and ninety-nine wisps of Source Martial Spiritual Energy, like loyal guards, surrounded the core in a perfect cycle. Each wisp of Qi was more condensed and pure than before. The "Spirit-Martial Unity" Realm he broke through to after the battle with Wolf Seven had completely stabilized after a night of consolidation.

But it wasn't enough.

Late Stage Golden Core, Half-Step Nascent Soul—these words weighed on his heart like a great mountain.

He needed to become stronger.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes and took out the Jade Slip Ouyang Ye had given him—the Divine Forging Record.

His Divine Sense probed into it once more.

This time, he didn't just browse through it roughly as he had last night; instead, he read it carefully, word by word. Those profound characters unfolded in his mind, forming a complete diagram for Divine Soul cultivation.

"The Three Realms of Divine Forging: Spirit Concentration, Soul Refining, and Void Transformation."

"Spirit Concentration is to gather the mind and spirit, turning the scattered into a whole. The Divine Souls of ordinary people are scattered throughout the limbs and bones, muddled and unaware. The power of Spirit Concentration lies in gathering the scattered Divine Soul into a single point in the Sea of Consciousness, like gathering sand to form a pagoda or bits of fur to make a coat."

"Soul Refining is to temper the Divine Soul, removing the dross and keeping the essence. When the Divine Soul first gathers, distracting thoughts arise. One must refine it with heart-fire and forge it with will, removing its Impurities and retaining its essence. Once this Realm is achieved, the Divine Soul can be projected outward to probe objects, as easily as moving one's own arm."

"Void Transformation is the transition between void and reality, wandering through the Great Void. At Major Achievement in this Realm, the Divine Soul can briefly leave the body and roam the heavens and earth. Even if the Physical Body is destroyed, one can achieve Rebirth through Possession. However, this Realm is extremely dangerous; the slightest mistake will lead to Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering."

Lin Xuan finished reading and remained silent for a long time.

The value of this Divine Forging Record far exceeded his expectations. If he could truly Cultivate to the Soul Refining stage and project his Divine Soul to probe things, his perception range would far exceed his current thirty zhang. He would be able to anticipate his enemies' moves and gain every advantage in battle.

And if he could go a step further and reach the Void Transformation stage...

He shook his head, suppressing the thought. Biting off more than he could chew would be unwise; the priority was to take the first step—Spirit Concentration.

He began to attempt it according to the method in the Jade Slip.

First was gathering the mind and spirit.

This wasn't difficult for him. The loneliness of a hundred years in the Martial Dao Tower had already tempered his mind to be as firm as a rock. Those distracting thoughts and disturbances could be entirely cast aside with just a thought.

The difficulty lay in the second step—perceiving the Divine Soul.

According to the Jade Slip, the Divine Soul has no form or substance. Normally, it is scattered throughout the limbs and bones, making it hard to grasp. Perceiving it requires an extremely subtle method of 'inner observation'.

Lin Xuan closed his eyes and sank his entire mind into his body.

He 'saw' the spiritual power core in his Dantian, the flowing Source Martial Spiritual Energy, the pale gold marrow within his bones, and the surging blood and Qi in his veins.

But where was the Divine Soul?

He searched carefully but found nothing.

Time passed bit by bit. Outside the window, the shadows moved from east to west and gradually dimmed. Wang Mang and Li Dali came to knock and deliver food, but he quietly sent them away.

The night grew deep.

Moonlight filtered through the window lattice, spilling onto Lin Xuan. He was like a statue, motionless.

Finally, at the third quarter of the Hour of the Rat—

A trace of something faint and ephemeral was captured by him.

That thing was elusive and flickering, like a candle in the wind or ripples on the water. It wandered through his limbs and bones, sometimes condensing and sometimes dispersing, difficult to grasp.

It was the Divine Soul!

Lin Xuan's heart stirred, and he immediately followed the method in the Jade Slip, attempting to 'reel in' that wisp of Divine Soul.

However, that Divine Soul was like a slippery loach; every time he was about to touch it, it would suddenly disperse and vanish without a trace.

Lin Xuan was not discouraged and continued to try.

Once, twice, three times...

He didn't know how much time had passed, but when the eastern horizon began to turn gray, he finally succeeded in 'catching' that wisp of Divine Soul!

In that instant, an unprecedented and wonderful feeling flooded his heart.

It felt as if he had gained an extra pair of eyes—no, not eyes, but a more profound 'perception'. He could clearly 'see' everything inside his body, not through inner vision, but through that wisp of Divine Soul he had gathered.

That Divine Soul was like a faint thread connecting to his consciousness, wandering through his limbs and bones.

The first step was a success.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of turbid air. Within that turbid air, there was actually a faint golden luster.

After a night of Cultivation, Spirit Concentration was initially achieved.

Although there was still a long way to go before reaching the true Spirit Concentration stage, he had at least taken the first step.

He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

The early morning sunlight hit his face, carrying the unique fragrance of the bamboo forest. In the distance, the buildings of Bailian Villa were faintly visible in the morning light, like an ink wash painting.

Nineteen days left.

He clenched his fist, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

...

In the days that followed, Lin Xuan did not leave his room.

During the day, he nursed his injuries, consolidated his Realm, and occasionally guided Wang Mang and Li Dali in cultivating the Basic Martial Dao Spirit-Transformation Art. Those two were quite motivated; over these few days, they had actually made further progress. Wang Mang had already reached the threshold of the fifth level of Qi Refining, and Li Dali had stabilized at the third level of Qi Refining.

At night, he would Cultivate the Divine Forging Record, bit by bit condensing that ethereal Divine Soul.

The days passed one by one.

On the fifth day, he successfully condensed the first wisp of his Divine Soul into the Sea of Consciousness, officially stepping onto the threshold of the Spirit Concentration stage. Although it was just the threshold, his perception range had expanded from thirty zhang to fifty zhang. The entire Guest Elder Courtyard, and even a large portion of the surrounding bamboo forest, were under his perception's coverage.

On the seventh day, Ouyang Ye sent someone with a batch of Medicinal Pills and Spiritual Plants, saying they were "rewards for those who have performed meritorious service." Lin Xuan knew full well that this was Ouyang Ye's indirect way of helping him heal.

On the tenth day, Leng Ningshuang visited again, bringing news: that Grand Elder from Xuanbing Valley had agreed to step forward. On the day Zhao Yuanzhen arrived, she would be present alongside Ouyang Ye under the guise of "observing a sparring session," to delay for as much time as possible.

On the twelfth day, Liu Yanran also sent news: it seemed that someone else from the main Yunni Sect headquarters, besides Zhao Yuanzhen, was paying attention to this matter. She was still investigating the specifics.

On the fifteenth day, Lin Xuan's injuries were finally completely healed.

He stood in the courtyard, feeling the surging power within his body. That spiritual power core was a bit more solid than it had been fifteen days ago, and the nine hundred and ninety-nine wisps of Source Martial Spiritual Energy flowed smoothly without any obstruction.

His cultivation of the Divine Forging Record had also achieved minor success. Within his Sea of Consciousness, a faint wisp of Divine Soul swam slowly like a fish. Although it couldn't be projected outward yet, he could clearly perceive everything within fifty zhang.

He looked up toward the north.

That was the direction of the Yunni Sect.

Five days left.

Zhao Yuanzhen should already be on his way.

...

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away.

A streak of green light cut through the sky, racing toward Bailian Villa.

Within the light was a middle-aged Daoist with a lean face and sharp eyes. He wore a green Daoist robe, an ancient sword hung at his waist, and his aura was as heavy as a mountain. He was already at the Late Stage Golden Core, just one step away from Nascent Soul.

He was none other than the Inner Sect Elder of the Yunni Sect—Zhao Yuanzhen.

Behind him followed two Disciples also dressed in Daoist robes, both at the Late Stage Foundation Establishment stage.

"Revered Master," one Disciple said respectfully, "we will reach Bailian Villa in three more days. Does that Lin Xuan truly deserve your personal intervention?"

A faint smile touched the corner of Zhao Yuanzhen's mouth, a smile carrying a hint of condescending composure:

"A junior at the Qi Refining stage is naturally not worth it. But the things he possesses... are worth it."

He paused, his gaze fixed on the distance, a flicker of heat in his eyes:

"The Ancient Martial Dao Legacy... if I can obtain it, the day I take that final step will be just around the corner."

The streak of light continued northward.

...

Bailian Villa, Guest Elder Courtyard.

Lin Xuan withdrew his gaze and turned to walk back into the room.

On the table lay several Jade Slips—the Divine Forging Record given by Ouyang Ye, the remnant fragments of the Xuanbing Valley Cultivation Technique left by Leng Ningshuang, and the Northern Region Power Distribution Map sent by Liu Yanran.

He picked up the distribution map and probed it with his Divine Sense.

A massive map unfolded in his mind.

Bailian Villa, Yunni Sect, Xuanbing Valley, Liehuo Sect, Sky Wolf Gang... the locations of each power were clearly marked. Those names, whether friend or foe, were like chess pieces scattered across this Northern Region chessboard.

And he, Lin Xuan, was the black piece stirring the game.

He set down the Jade Slip, his gaze falling outside the window.

The sun was setting, and a field of burning clouds ignited the horizon, looking like they were stained with blood.

Five days.

He took a deep breath and slowly clenched his fist.

Let them come.

(End of Volume 2, Chapter 43)

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[Next Chapter Preview]: Racing against time, secret cultivation in the dark night. Fifteen days pass in a flash; Lin Xuan's injuries are healed, and his mastery of the Divine Forging Record has achieved minor success. Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanzhen's light is already approaching Bailian Villa. The countdown for the final five days has begun. Can Leng Ningshuang's promise be fulfilled? What is the deeper meaning behind Liu Yanran's intelligence? And how will Lin Xuan face the impending powerful enemy? Next chapter: A Powerful Enemy Approaches, Storm Clouds Gather!