The cultivation chamber was silent, with only the faint fluctuations of spiritual energy circulating around Lin Sheng's seated figure.
A thin layer of crimson light occasionally emerged beneath his skin, spreading from his chest before gradually disappearing into the rest of his body. His breathing was exceptionally slow, almost imperceptible, yet every time his chest rose and fell, the Qi-Blood within him circulated with astonishing vitality, flowing through his meridians and nourishing every part of his physical foundation.
At the centre of this process was his heart.
Lin Sheng had been refining it for some time, and the progress was considerably better than he had initially anticipated. As the Five Elements Essence liquid continued circulating through the organ, he could gradually feel its activity changing. His heartbeat was becoming slower, but each beat carried considerably more force, producing a deep, resonant sound that seemed to reverberate throughout his chest.
Thump!
Thump!
Every beat was followed by a subtle surge of Qi-Blood, the powerful energy spreading through his body like a tide before returning towards the heart, where it was refined once again.
His complexion had also undergone a noticeable change. Whenever another cycle of refinement was completed, a faint flush would spread across his face, making his skin appear healthier and more vibrant, almost as though his entire body was being replenished with fresh vitality.
Lin Sheng could feel the difference.
The heart was not merely becoming stronger, its Essence was undergoing a gradual transformation, and the Qi-Blood produced through its circulation was becoming increasingly refined. Even the Qi-Blood Furnace seemed to have benefited from the process, its outer layer growing slightly thicker and more substantial than before.
He wasn't particularly surprised by this development.
The heart was responsible for circulating a considerable portion of the body's Qi-Blood, and its condition was closely connected to the quality of the energy flowing through his entire physical foundation. Strengthening the heart would naturally improve the foundation supporting his Qi-Blood Furnace, and as the organ continued to undergo refinement, the furnace itself was also receiving a degree of nourishment.
Lin Sheng slowly examined the changes within his body.
'The quality of my Essence Origin has improved again'.
He could clearly sense that the Five Elements Essence liquid had become more effective than before. The changes were not limited to the heart, as the increased quality of the refined energy had also improved the nourishment provided to his internal structures.
More importantly, there were indications that his lifespan had increased.
Although the change wasn't so dramatic that he could immediately determine the exact number of years added, the improvement in his vitality was unmistakable. His body felt younger and more vigorous, and the subtle signs of ageing that had accumulated over the years seemed to have receded slightly.
This was enough to support his earlier conjecture.
Organ Nourishing was not simply intended to strengthen the internal organs, it also improved the quality of the body's Essence, and as the five Zang organs underwent refinement, the overall vitality of the practitioner would gradually increase. If the process continued successfully, the improvement in lifespan should become increasingly significant.
Lin Sheng's attention returned to his heart.
The refinement had now reached approximately 30%.
Compared with the less than ten per cent progress he had achieved previously, this was an enormous improvement, particularly considering how long he had struggled to push the process forward before discovering the importance of maintaining the Five Elements balance.
He had initially assumed that the increase would be relatively gradual, but the sudden improvement suggested that changing the composition of his Refining Energy had produced a much greater effect than anticipated.
The five elemental Essences were now working together, with Fire remaining dominant during the nourishment of his heart while the other four attributes maintained the balance of his internal structure. This had allowed him to increase the intensity of the refinement without producing the subtle disharmony he had encountered during his earlier experiments.
Lin Sheng nodded inwardly.
'At this rate, I should be able to make considerably more progress'
He didn't intend to become complacent, however. 30% was still far from completion, and the remaining refinement might become increasingly difficult as the heart approached its final transformation. Nevertheless, he had finally found a stable method, and as long as he continued refining his organs carefully, his external cultivation should advance steadily.
He closed his eyes again, allowing the Qi-Blood Furnace to continue the process.
---
Meanwhile, another year had passed in the Eastern Region.
The conflict between the cultivators had become considerably less intense at the highest level. The Nascent Soul True Monarchs and the major factions had gradually reduced their direct confrontations, each side seemingly occupied with consolidating its gains and dealing with the consequences of the previous battles.
However, this did not mean that peace had returned.
If anything, the situation among the lower and middle-level cultivators had become even more chaotic.
Those at the Purple Palace Realm and below continued clashing almost every day, with disputes over resources, territories, and cultivation opportunities frequently turning into bloody confrontations. The major factions might have restrained their strongest members, but their subordinate forces and independent cultivators had no intention of following the same example.
The reason was simple.
Countless ancient cultivator tombs had begun appearing throughout the Eastern Region.
Some were discovered beneath ancient mountains, others within abandoned ruins, while a few emerged from previously inaccessible secret realms. Many contained the remains of cultivators who had lived during ancient eras, and although the passage of time had destroyed a considerable portion of their inheritances, even the surviving treasures were enough to attract countless people.
Ancient cultivation techniques, spiritual treasures, medicinal pills, formation diagrams, and the personal belongings of long-dead experts were all possible discoveries.
For an ordinary cultivator, finding even a single valuable inheritance could change the course of their life.
Naturally, such opportunities also brought enormous danger.
Many cultivator tombs contained ancient restrictions and deadly formations, while others had been deliberately constructed with traps intended to prevent outsiders from disturbing the remains of their owners. Even when a group successfully entered a tomb, there was no guarantee that they would be able to leave safely.
And sometimes, the greatest danger wasn't inside the tomb at all.
It was waiting outside.
At the entrance of a ruined cave tomb, a large group of cultivators had gathered, their auras pressing down upon three figures who stood with their backs towards the cave entrance.
The three were members of the Lin family.
The one standing at the front was a young woman dressed in a pale blue robe, her long hair tied behind her head, while a faint spiritual radiance circulated around her body. Her appearance was still youthful, but the composure in her eyes revealed that she had experienced considerably more than an ordinary cultivator of her age.
Her name was Lin Yan.
Behind her stood two younger members of the Lin family, both of whom had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. They were clearly nervous, their faces pale as they looked at the enormous number of cultivators surrounding them.
The people standing opposite them were not weak.
Almost every one of them possessed the cultivation of the Purple Palace Realm, and there were even several whose auras were considerably stronger than the others. Their spiritual pressure spread across the surroundings, forming an invisible enclosure that made it difficult for the three Lin family disciples to find an opening.
One of the cultivators stepped forward.
He was a middle-aged man with a narrow face and a pair of cold eyes, his hands clasped behind his back as he examined Lin Yan.
"Lin Yan, if you know what's good for yourselves, hand over your storage rings for inspection."
His voice was calm, but the threat behind his words was unmistakable.
Lin Yan's expression immediately darkened.
A vein almost appeared on her neck as she stared at the man.
"Inspection?"
She repeated the word slowly, unable to conceal her anger.
"What gives you the right to inspect our belongings?"
The middle-aged man smiled faintly.
"There's no need to become agitated. We merely want to confirm that you haven't taken anything that belongs to the other cultivators. After all, this tomb was discovered in a remote region, and none of us can be certain what treasures might have been taken from inside."
Another cultivator immediately chimed in.
"That's right. You three were among the first to enter, so it's only reasonable that everyone should inspect your gains."
"Hand over the storage rings."
"Don't make us repeat ourselves."
"Unless there's something inside that you don't want us to see?"
One voice after another rang out, and before long, almost every cultivator surrounding the three Lin family disciples had begun demanding that Lin Yan surrender her storage ring.
Lin Yan's expression became increasingly cold.
She had encountered shameless people before, but she had rarely seen anyone so brazen.
The tomb had been undiscovered until they stumbled upon it during their journey. After confirming that no one else was nearby, she had led the two younger disciples inside to investigate, and although the three of them had encountered several dangerous restrictions and nearly lost their lives to a hidden formation, they had eventually managed to reach the inner chambers.
They had been among the first to explore the tomb, and naturally, they had obtained some of its inheritance.
Unfortunately, their discovery had not remained a secret.
By the time they emerged, the surrounding cultivators had already gathered, and it quickly became apparent that these people had deliberately stationed themselves near the entrance to ambush anyone who managed to leave.
They hadn't entered the tomb themselves.
They had simply waited outside, intending to rob whoever emerged with the treasures.
Lin Yan glanced at the surrounding figures.
There were too many of them.
Even if she could defeat several opponents, protecting the two Foundation Establishment juniors behind her would be extremely difficult. Their cultivation was simply too weak to withstand the attacks of so many Purple Palace cultivators, and if a battle broke out, they would almost certainly become the first casualties.
She tightened her fingers.
'These bastards!'
The middle-aged man noticed her expression and sneered.
"What? Have you finally understood the situation?"
He took another step forward.
"Don't overestimate yourself. Even if you're a member of the Lin family, that name won't protect you here. Nobody knows what you've obtained from the tomb, and if you insist on refusing our request, we can only assume that you've taken something you shouldn't have."
Several cultivators immediately released their spiritual pressure.
The atmosphere became increasingly oppressive.
Lin Yan's gaze swept across the surrounding figures before briefly settling on the two juniors behind her. Their expressions were tense, and although they were trying their best to remain composed, their trembling hands revealed how frightened they were.
She took a quiet breath.
There was no point wasting time arguing with these people.
If they wanted to rob her, then they would have to pay the price.
A strange fluctuation suddenly emerged from her body.
The middle-aged man's expression changed.
"What are you—"
KRAAAAAAA!
A thunderous Phoenix cry erupted above the ruined cave.
The sound was so piercing that the surrounding cultivators felt as though their eardrums were about to burst. Several immediately clutched their ears, while others staggered backwards, blood trickling from their ear canals as the terrifying cry swept across the area.
Before anyone could recover, the spiritual energy above Lin Yan suddenly ignited.
A gigantic crimson silhouette emerged.
Its wings spread across the sky, its body formed from blazing flames, and its long tail feathers trailed behind it like streams of burning light. The phantom resembled an ancient Phoenix, its brilliant eyes overlooking the surrounding cultivators with an aura of majesty that made even the Purple Palace experts feel an instinctive sense of dread.
The next instant, the Phoenix spread its wings.
A sea of flames descended.
BOOOOOOM!
The surrounding space was immediately engulfed in fire, and the cultivators who had been surrounding Lin Yan found themselves trapped within an enormous expanse of burning spiritual energy.
"Ah! What is this?!"
"Quickly, defend yourselves!"
"Impossible! This is..."
One of the Purple Palace cultivators stared at the Phoenix phantom in disbelief, his voice trembling as he finally recognised the nature of the attack.
"A Minor Divine Ability!"
His expression changed completely.
"She's actually comprehended a Minor Divine Ability!"
The realisation spread through the crowd.
A Minor Divine Ability was an extraordinary manifestation of comprehension, something that ordinary cultivators could spend their entire lives pursuing without ever successfully grasping. Even among Golden Core cultivators, not everyone possessed ample amounts and yet Lin Yan had somehow reached the threshold of entry-level proficiency before forming her Golden Core.
Such talent was frightening.
A young cultivator who could comprehend a Minor Divine Ability at the Purple Palace Realm possessed a foundation that could not be compared with ordinary geniuses.
The middle-aged man's expression turned vicious.
"Kill her!"
His voice thundered through the flames.
"Such a genius must be killed before she grows any stronger! If she reaches Golden Core, none of us will have another opportunity!"
The other cultivators immediately understood his meaning.
A genius who could comprehend a Minor Divine Ability before reaching Golden Core would undoubtedly possess extraordinary potential. If Lin Yan were allowed to grow, the people who had tried to rob her today might eventually find themselves facing an enemy they could no longer afford to provoke.
Several Purple Palace cultivators immediately circulated their spiritual energy to resist the flames, while others summoned defensive treasures and talismans, attempting to force their way through the divine ability's domain.
Unfortunately, Lin Yan had not unleashed the Phoenix flames merely to frighten them.
The sea of fire surged in every direction, and the Phoenix phantom swept its wings once more, causing countless streams of crimson flame to descend upon the trapped cultivators. Each strand carried a terrifying temperature, and although the Purple Palace experts could resist the attacks with their spiritual energy, doing so required a considerable expenditure of power.
The flames were not ordinary fire.
They carried the profound characteristics of Lin Yan's comprehension, and every time a defensive barrier was struck, the Phoenix flames would cling to its surface, burning away at the spiritual energy supporting it.
Some cultivators immediately understood that remaining within the flames would be disastrous.
"Break through!"
"Don't waste time! Attack the source!"
Several figures rushed towards Lin Yan, their spiritual treasures releasing brilliant rays of light as they attempted to force their way through the sea of fire.
But Lin Yan had already anticipated their reaction.
She raised her hand.
The Phoenix phantom released another cry, and the flames around her suddenly surged upwards, forming a wall of fire that separated her from the approaching cultivators.
At the same time, she turned towards the two juniors behind her.
"Go!"
The two Foundation Establishment disciples froze for a moment.
"Senior Sister Lin—"
"Don't argue! Leave immediately and return to the family!"
Her voice carried an unmistakable urgency.
The two juniors finally reacted. They immediately circulated their spiritual energy and rushed towards the opening Lin Yan had created, using the chaos of the burning domain to conceal their movements.
A few cultivators noticed something moving within the flames and attempted to pursue them, but the Phoenix phantom swept its wings again, sending a torrent of fire crashing down between them.
By the time the two Foundation Establishment disciples reached the edge of the battlefield, the surrounding cultivators were still struggling to escape the divine ability's range.
Neither of them dared to look back.
They knew that remaining behind would only become a burden to Lin Yan, and after exchanging a quick glance, they immediately fled in the direction of the nearest Lin family territory.
Lin Yan watched their figures disappear from the corner of her eye.
Only then did she turn her attention back towards the surrounding cultivators.
Her expression was cold.
The Phoenix phantom continued burning above her, its enormous wings spreading across the sky as the sea of flames rolled violently beneath it.
However, maintaining a Minor Divine Ability at such a level was not without cost.
Even with her considerable spiritual foundation, the consumption was enormous, and she could feel her spiritual energy declining rapidly. She had not yet reached Golden Core, after all, and the difference between her current cultivation and that realm remained substantial.
She could not maintain this state indefinitely.
Fortunately, she had already accomplished what she wanted.
All she needed to do now was find an opportunity to withdraw.
The surrounding cultivators finally managed to break through the divine ability's range after expending a considerable amount of spiritual energy. Several had suffered serious injuries, their defensive treasures damaged or destroyed, while others had escaped with only minor burns and superficial wounds.
Their condition was far from good.
Some were panting heavily, others had blood flowing from their mouths, and even those who appeared relatively unharmed had consumed a substantial portion of their spiritual energy resisting the flames.
The middle-aged cultivator's face was especially ugly.
He had never expected Lin Yan to possess such an ability.
He looked around at the exhausted cultivators and immediately shouted, "Spread out! Search the surroundings! We must find Lin Yan before she gets away!"
His eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"If anyone finds her, notify the rest immediately. We cannot allow her to escape!"
He was about to continue when his voice suddenly stopped.
A strange sensation appeared around his neck.
For a brief moment, he couldn't understand what had happened. His vision seemed to shift, and he felt something warm trickling down his throat. He instinctively raised his hand, only to discover that his head was no longer properly connected to his body.
His eyes widened.
A thin line of blood appeared around his neck before his head slid sideways and fell.
Thud!
His head struck the ground, followed by his headless body, which collapsed heavily a moment later.
The surrounding cultivators froze.
Nobody had seen the attack.
There hadn't been any obvious fluctuation of spiritual energy, nor had they sensed the arrival of another cultivator. Their companion had simply been standing there one moment and dead the next.
"Who is it?!"
"Show yourself!"
Several cultivators immediately summoned their defensive treasures, their spiritual senses spreading through the surroundings as they desperately searched for the attacker.
Then a strange crimson light appeared in the distance.
It was faint at first, resembling a small spark drifting through the air, but it rapidly grew brighter until a figure emerged from within it.
A man dressed in dark robes slowly appeared above the ground.
His complexion was pale, his eyes carried an unsettling crimson glow, and a strange aura surrounded his body. It wasn't particularly violent, yet the moment the cultivators sensed it, they felt an inexplicable chill spreading through their hearts.
Mo Tou looked down at the corpses scattered around the cave entrance.
Then his gaze shifted towards the remaining cultivators.
His lips curled slightly.
"How fortunate. I was beginning to wonder where I would find something to replenish myself."
The cultivators exchanged glances.
One of them immediately stepped forward, forcing himself to remain calm.
"Fellow Daoist, we have no grievances with you. If you want the treasures from the cave, we can discuss—"
Before he could finish speaking, a crimson streak flashed across the air.
PCH!
His body suddenly stiffened.
He looked down and saw a hole in his chest, with a strand of crimson light extending from the wound and wrapping around his body like a blood-red serpent.
"Ah...!"
He attempted to circulate his spiritual energy, but the moment he did, the crimson light began absorbing it.
His complexion changed rapidly.
His skin lost its colour, his muscles shrivelled, and the vitality within his body was drawn out at an astonishing speed. Even the spiritual energy stored within his Purple Palace was being devoured, leaving him unable to resist.
In just a few breaths, the cultivator had become a dried corpse.
Mo Tou casually withdrew his hand.
The crimson light returned to his body, carrying the man's remaining vitality and spiritual energy with it.
The others finally understood that they were facing a terrifying enemy.
"Attack together!"
Someone shouted.
Several spiritual treasures immediately flew towards Mo Tou, accompanied by powerful techniques that illuminated the surrounding sky. Sword lights, seals, and streams of spiritual energy converged upon him, forming a combined attack powerful enough to threaten an ordinary Purple Palace cultivator.
Mo Tou merely raised his eyes.
A crimson radiance spread from his body.
The incoming attacks entered the light and immediately began to weaken, their spiritual energy being stripped away before they could reach him. A few spiritual treasures managed to penetrate the outer layer, but the moment they came close, crimson threads wrapped around them and began draining their spiritual properties.
Cracks appeared across their surfaces.
Then, one after another, they fell from the sky.
The cultivators stared in disbelief.
"What kind of technique is this?!"
Mo Tou didn't bother answering.
His figure disappeared.
The next instant, he appeared among them.
A crimson palm swept across the air, and several cultivators were struck before they could even turn around. Their protective barriers shattered, their bodies were sent flying, and before they could recover, countless strands of crimson light pierced through their flesh.
Their screams filled the surroundings.
Some attempted to escape, while others desperately unleashed their strongest techniques, but none of it made a difference. Mo Tou moved through their attacks with frightening ease, absorbing the spiritual energy directed at him and turning their own power into nourishment.
One cultivator managed to flee several dozen metres before a crimson streak caught up with him.
Another attempted to conceal himself beneath the ground, only for a blood-red hand to emerge from beneath his feet and seize his ankle.
Within moments, the entire group had fallen.
The area around the cave entrance became eerily quiet.
Corpses lay scattered across the ground, their bodies withered and shrivelled as though they had been dead for countless years. Their spiritual energy and vitality had been completely drained, leaving behind little more than empty husks.
Mo Tou slowly descended.
He glanced at the corpses, then opened his palm.
A small crimson orb emerged, hovering above his hand. Its surface pulsed with a strange light, and faint traces of spiritual energy could be seen flowing into it from the surrounding corpses.
The orb absorbed the remaining nourishment before returning to Mo Tou's body.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Still not enough."
Although he had devoured the cultivators' vitality and spiritual energy, the harvest was far from satisfying. Their cultivation was simply too low, and the energy he had obtained was insufficient to compensate for what he needed.
His current condition still required enormous nourishment.
Mo Tou turned towards the cave entrance.
He could sense the remnants of the ancient formation inside, along with the spiritual energy left behind by the cultivators who had explored it. However, none of those things particularly interested him.
He had already found something far more valuable.
His expression suddenly changed.
A faint strand of spiritual Qi had entered his perception from somewhere in the distance.
It was extremely subtle, so much so that an ordinary cultivator might have mistaken it for the surrounding spiritual energy. Yet to Mo Tou, it was unmistakably different.
He turned his head.
His crimson eyes narrowed as he carefully examined the direction from which the fluctuation had come.
"That aura..."
He extended his spiritual sense.
The strand of spiritual Qi was moving away from him, becoming increasingly distant, but he could still perceive its unusual characteristics. It possessed an innate purity, as though the person carrying it had been born with an extraordinary affinity for spiritual energy.
Mo Tou's expression gradually changed.
Then a look of disbelief appeared in his eyes.
"A Spirit Body?"
He couldn't help laughing.
An Awakened Spirit Body!
Such physiques were exceedingly rare, even among cultivators. Their bodies possessed an extraordinary compatibility with spiritual energy, allowing them to absorb and refine it with far greater ease than ordinary practitioners. Depending on the nature of the Spirit Body, its owner might also possess exceptional comprehension, unusual abilities, or an affinity for particular forms of cultivation.
To Mo Tou, however, its greatest value was something else.
Nourishment.
The vitality and spiritual energy contained within a Spirit Body were far superior to those of ordinary cultivators. If he could obtain such a body, the benefits would be considerably greater than devouring dozens of Purple Palace cultivators.
His current condition had left him desperately searching for a way to replenish himself, and although the cultivators he had just devoured had provided some nourishment, they were nothing compared to the prize he had unexpectedly discovered.
Mo Tou's eyes glowed brighter.
"Heaven has not forsaken me!"
He laughed again, his voice carrying an unmistakable excitement.
He had originally intended to search the surrounding region for more cultivators, but this discovery had completely changed his plans.
There was no reason to waste time on ordinary prey when something so valuable was within reach.
His body suddenly dissolved into crimson light.
WHOOSH!
A streak of blood-red radiance shot across the sky, moving in the direction of the fleeing Lin Yan.
Mo Tou's speed continued increasing as he followed the faint trace of spiritual Qi, his expression filled with anticipation.
He had found his next source of nourishment.
And this time, he had no intention of letting it escape.