Carefully, Xiao Ning drew out the Yin essence. At first, it resisted, remaining hidden beneath the silver crescent mark on his palm. After several attempts, however, he managed to extract a thin stream and guide it toward the vortex within his chest.
The moment the two energies met, he noticed something unexpected. The destructive force left behind by the Nine Serpents of Heavenly Blight complemented the Yin essence remarkably well. One was violent and destructive, while the other was cold and restrained. Together, they formed a balanced cycle that strengthened his heartbone and the surrounding tissues.
A rare smile appeared on his face.
"Perfect. This is exactly what I needed."
With the heartbone fully transformed, Xiao Ning moved on to the rest of his skeleton. He started with his ribs, carefully directing the combined energy through each bone. The process required considerable concentration, as even a slight mistake could disrupt the balance between the two forces.
By the end of the day, he had successfully transformed half of his ribcage into hardened structures capable of conducting energy.
Although exhausted, Xiao Ning was satisfied with his progress. For the first time since awakening in Li Fang's body, he felt that he was finally moving in the right direction.
"One day down," he muttered, lying back against the cave floor. "Not bad. Let's see how much progress I can make tomorrow."
After resting for a while, he decided to check his status panel again.
Name: Li Fang
Cultivation Realm: Mortal
Body Cultivation: Fourth-Stage
Lifespan: 25/320 years
Spirit Roots: Dark and Earth Dual Spirit Roots (Disabled)
Cultivation Technique: Annihilation Bone Scripture
Xiao Ning glanced at the panel and shook his head.
"Still a mortal, according to this. But I have more important things to worry about."
He smirked. His current cultivation was hardly impressive, but the Annihilation Bone Scripture offered a path that didn't depend on his disabled spirit roots or a functioning Dantian. As long as he could continue developing it, there was no reason to rush.
For now, he had another matter to settle.
"Enough stalling. Let's see if we can reach an agreement—or at least find some common ground."
Xiao Ning activated his Paradox Meridians at their lowest setting, allowing a small amount of quantum foam to enter his consciousness without overwhelming him. He carefully controlled the process, unwilling to repeat the mistakes of the past.
"All right, Codex. Don't keep me waiting."
He searched for the dormant presence within his mind.
At first, nothing happened. His consciousness remained silent, with no sign of the Codex. Then, faint lights began appearing in the darkness. They gathered into jagged lines of text, shifting between gold and void-black before forming a coherent display.
[Eternal Paradox Codex — Reinitialization Protocol]
Host Designation: Xiao Ning (Li Feng Shell)
Soul Integrity: 40% (Stabilized)
Xiao Ning examined the information, a hint of surprise crossing his face.
His Voidshell state had disappeared, and his Soul Integrity had risen from 26% to 40%. Whatever changes his body had undergone, the Codex now recognized him as existing in a cultivation state.
Then another notification appeared.
[Lifespan Update Detected]
Remaining Lifespan: 473/767 years
Increase Granted: +200 years
Xiao Ning checked the figures twice before smiling.
"An additional two hundred years. Not bad at all."
He wasn't about to complain about gaining more time, especially when his previous condition had left him with so few options.
"Looks like you're finally becoming useful, Codex."
The display changed again.
[ALERT: HOST TRANSFORMATION DETECTED THROUGH NON-CODEX METHODS]
[UPDATE: VOIDSHELL STATUS REMOVED — HOST NOW REGISTERED AS EXISTING IN A CULTIVATION STATE]
Xiao Ning chuckled.
"So you finally noticed. I suppose you weren't expecting me to find another way forward."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"Still, I shouldn't underestimate you. We may not see eye to eye, but there's no reason to waste a useful tool."
The Codex displayed his current information.
[ACTIVE PARADOXES]
- Paradox Meridians
- System Masking: Early Core Formation Realm
- True Power: Early Nascent Soul Realm
Xiao Ning studied the display briefly before dismissing it.
His cultivation was still far from what it had once been, but he had established a new foundation through the Annihilation Bone Scripture. For now, that was enough.
"All right. Time to get out of this damned cave."
The cave lay deep within the Ironspine Mountains, far from the usual paths and settlements. For reasons he didn't yet understand, Mei Lin had brought Li Fang's lifeless body to this remote location.
Xiao Ning glanced around. The cave was saturated with death qi and stagnant Yin energy, making it suitable for secluded cultivation. He could understand why someone might choose such a place, but he doubted Mei Lin had brought him here for his benefit.
In fact, she had never expected him to return to life.
Her original plan had been considerably darker.
Mei Lin intended to refine Li Fang's corpse into a Spirit Corpse, binding it to her will through specialized corpse-forging techniques. His flesh would be hardened, ghost-binding runes would be carved into his bones, and a Soul-Stabilizing Pill would preserve fragments of his memories and combat instincts.
Through Yin rituals and corpse fire, she could preserve much of his body's former strength while stripping away his freedom.
The result would have been a powerful fourth-rank Spirit Corpse, a servant completely under her control.
Had the ritual succeeded, Li Fang's body would have risen again, but Xiao Ning would never have regained control of it.
Unfortunately for Mei Lin, things had not gone according to plan.
Xiao Ning rose to his feet and released the full force of his cultivation. His aura surged outward as he left the cave and headed toward the Shadowclaw Sect.
It didn't take long for him to reach its stronghold.
Before him stood the sect's imposing gates, constructed from black iron and rune-etched stone. Two guards stood at the entrance, their expressions relaxed as they passed the time.
The moment they noticed the approaching figure, however, both froze.
One stared at him in disbelief. The other instinctively reached for his weapon before stopping halfway, his eyes widening.
"That face... it can't be."
The long black coat edged with silver thread, the familiar appearance, and the cold gaze were unmistakable.
"Li Feng..."
The guard's voice trembled. A moment later, he raised it in disbelief.
"Sect Master Li Feng!"
Both guards immediately dropped to their knees. One pressed his forehead against the cold stone, while the other struggled to speak.
"It's really you!" one of them exclaimed. "Sect Master, you've returned!"