Lin Feng stared blankly at the jade slip for a long moment, then checked it repeatedly before finally slumping in resignation.
The secrets hidden within his father's storage ring had been one of his greatest hopes—a driving force behind his relentless cultivation. He'd expected clues about his parents' whereabouts upon opening it. Yet now, that hope lay shattered. Though the ring did contain a monumental secret, it had nothing to do with their location.
A once-in-a-millennium Heavenly Spirit Root? A peerless cultivation art? He would trade it all in a heartbeat just to learn the truth of that day… to know where they were.
"Father… Mother… Where are you? What happened back then? Why won't you tell me?!"
His knuckles whitened as he crushed the jade slip. Muttering to himself, his eyes swam with loss and confusion.
"Were you afraid I'd investigate and put myself in danger? What happened… Was it the Shadow Fiend Sect? Yes… It had to be them!"
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. After regaining some composure, a realization struck him. His father's silence about abandoning him wasn't neglect—it was protection. By saying nothing, he shielded Lin Feng from a perilous truth.
Yet Lin Feng had uncovered the Shadow Fiend Sect's involvement. Fury surged through him—a burning desire to storm their gates and demand answers.
But as he stood there, rage cooling into icy resolve, he acknowledged reality. My current strength wouldn't even let me find their agents, let alone challenge the Sect itself.
After a moment of smoldering frustration, clarity returned. His path was clear: follow his father's instructions. Cultivate fiercely. Power was the only key to freedom.
"Heavenly Spirit Root… Starry Sky Art… Starry Sea…" Lin Feng murmured the terms like a mantra, his gaze hardening. He stored the jade slip, then picked up the multicolored stone. Spiritual sense swept into it—instantly, a torrent of intricate, esoteric knowledge flooded his mind. The cultivation art. Too vast to grasp now. He carefully stored it away.
Next, he lifted the spirit stone pouch.
"So many?!" Astonishment washed over him. Inside lay nothing but mid-grade spirit stones—nearly one hundred thousand!
Why had his father sealed such wealth away? If even a fraction had been accessible earlier, his decade of struggle could have been avoided. But understanding dawned quickly: an ordinary mortal possessing such riches would be a walking target. The seal ensured he'd only access it at Golden Core—when he possessed the strength to journey safely to the Starry Sea. Attempting it at Foundation Building would have been suicide.
Since mastering Repair Technique, Lin Feng hadn't truly lacked spirit stones. Millions of low-grade stones had flowed through his hands. Yet seeing a hundred thousand mid-grade stones still sparked exhilaration. One never had too many spirit stones.
After storing the pouch, Lin Feng finally exhaled deeply. He looked up—and froze.
At the hall's entrance stood Changgong Xiaojing, watching him with wide, startled eyes.
Their gazes locked. She blinked, snapping back to awareness.
"Lin Feng... are you alright?" Her voice held genuine concern.
Lin Feng offered a strained smile. "Why do you ask? Of course I am. I successfully formed my Golden Core."
Xiaojing had arrived earlier, witnessing his emotional turmoil as he clutched the jade slip. She hadn't interrupted. Now, seeing him steadier, she ventured a soft smile. "Congratulations... on reaching the Golden Core stage."
"Thank you." Lin Feng studied her intently, his smile warming. "You've reached Foundation Building, ninth layer?"
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes. Thanks to the Spirit Nurturing Pills and Spirit Spring you shared. I only used a fraction... These remaining—"
"Keep them," Lin Feng cut in gently, waving a hand. "You'll need them later. No need to return them." He shifted focus. "What's the current date? Have we missed the valley's closing?"
Her expression sobered. "Yes... by ten days."
"I was secluded that long?" Lin Feng frowned slightly, though he'd anticipated this. He stood decisively. "Don't worry, Xiaojing. As a Golden Core cultivator now, the Black Mist's poison outside holds no fear for me. Let's see if we can break this hall's barrier."
With a flick of his wrist, he recalled the Crimson Soul Sword lying nearby. He then began gathering the unused spirit stones scattered around—mostly high-grade stones he'd laid out as a precaution during his tribulation. Many were still intact; wasting them was unthinkable.
Xiaojing joined him, scooping up stones. Even Xiaoqiu grabbed a few—not to help, but to hoard them like a tiny dragon guarding its hoard.
"Hmm?" While collecting stones, Lin Feng swept his newly awakened spiritual sense around the chamber. The feeling of perceiving everything within a hundred meters was exhilarating. But when his sense brushed a corner, he paused—his gaze snapping towards the dark crimson dagger he'd previously avoided.
Before, he could only see it. Now, with spiritual sense, he could feel it. And what he felt contradicted his earlier dread: no aura of danger emanated from the blade.
He focused his sense, probing the dagger like a scanner. Another surprise struck him—it bore no soul imprint!
He'd assumed the 'zombie' cultivator had refined it. Clearly not. Strange. This was undoubtedly his weapon. Why leave it unrefined?
Recalling how the fallen disciple from Luo Ming Sect had seized it only to go violently insane, Lin Feng knew the dagger had been tampered with. That's why he'd avoided touching it. Yet his scan revealed no hidden menace. Whatever curse protected it must have vanished after awakening its owner.
Wary but intrigued, Lin Feng approached. Still hesitant to touch it directly, he extended his right hand. An invisible force enveloped the dagger, lifting it gently before him.
He examined the hovering blade. It was four inches long, with a hilt and blade of near-equal length. The blade, two fingers wide, curved slightly rather than running straight. Its entire surface was a deep, blood-like crimson, as if steeped in gore for centuries. A faint, unsettling metallic scent seemed to cling to it.
After multiple spiritual scans confirmed its inert state, Lin Feng finally grasped its hilt.
Equipment Integrity: 20%
Cannot be repaired.
No backlash occurred. Instead, the diagnostic information surfaced in his mind. A spirit artifact indeed… But damaged to 80%? Was this the cost of waking its master?
Twirling the dagger idly, Lin Feng turned to Xiaojing. "Let's head outside. Time to test that barrier."
They emerged into the main hall. Lin Feng gestured for Xiaojing to stand back as he approached the sealed exit. With a sweep of his hand, the Crimson Soul Sword materialized before him.
Wielding it now felt effortless—a stark contrast to his Foundation Building days. He sensed the sword's internal soul imprint like an extension of his own body.
"Zheng!!"
A mere thought sent the sword streaking forward like crimson lightning.
"Boom!"
The sword slammed into an invisible barrier at the exit and rebounded violently. Where it struck, subtle ripples shimmered across the empty air.
Hope flickered in Lin Feng's eyes. The Golden Core realm truly is transformative. A single strike now caused visible ripples—a feat that previously demanded his full might.
Encouraged, he channeled his true energy, launching the sword in a relentless barrage.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Impact after impact echoed through the hall. Ripples cascaded across the barrier like stones tossed into a pond.
Yet, though the barrier trembled continuously, it showed no sign of yielding. Lin Feng's brow furrowed. He pressed the assault until his true energy reserves dwindled, forcing him to stop. The barrier remained intact.
Suppressing a sigh, Lin Feng recalled the sword. He turned to Xiaojing, his voice steady but weary. "I need to recover. Then we try again. Since my strikes do affect it, sustained pressure might eventually break through."
"Alright... Please, don't push yourself too hard." Xiaojing's eyes held a flicker of pain as she observed his exhaustion. She understood his burden: if even a Golden Core cultivator couldn't breach the barrier, their imprisonment might stretch indefinitely. She longed to help, but her cultivation was simply too weak.
Lin Feng walked to a pillar, leaning against it as he sank to the floor. He swallowed a Qi Restoration Pill and began meditating.
His true energy replenished swiftly. Yet instead of immediately resuming the attack, he summoned the Crimson Soul Sword. A quick scan revealed its integrity had dropped to 60%—likely damaged during the tribulation. He retrieved repair materials and began the meticulous process of restoration.
Once the sword gleamed anew, he drew out the White Tiger Soul Raging Talisman.
The talisman had suffered grievously against the 'zombie' cultivator. Its protective White Tiger spirit had been shattered, leaving visible cracks on the jade surface itself. Its integrity had plummeted to a mere 20%. Fortunately, he still possessed the necessary repair materials.
The talisman's grade surpassed the Crimson Soul Sword's, and its damage was severe. Repairing it demanded immense focus. Yet now, bolstered by Golden Core cultivation and his upgraded Intermediate Magma Flame, the task felt manageable—a far cry from the Foundation Building days when restoring 5% would drain him completely. This time, he sustained the process until completion.
Just as the repair confirmation echoed in his mind… the unexpected occurred.
"Ding…"
"Skill Level Upgraded. Current Level: Master."