Chapter 2078 : Chaos Primordial Vein

Seeing that Chen Xiannian had formed a plan in his heart, Eldrin gave a slight nod of approval.

He pondered for a moment before suddenly inquiring, "The Venerable Taishi left the Primordial Immortal Domain many years ago. Do you know where he currently resides?"

Master.

Chen Xiannian pondered briefly before responding with measured words, "Before our teacher departed, he informed us that he was seeking an opportunity to reach the pinnacle of the Heavenly Emperor realm, and perhaps even break through to the Half-Step Unity stage."

This journey would take him beyond the boundaries of the Chi Yang Chaos Realm, hence the round trip would require a considerable length of time.

"However, he once told me that he would return in at most a little over a 1000 kalpas."

"Over a 1000 kalpas?"

Eldrin's gaze flickered slightly. Unbeknownst to him, his cultivation journey had now spanned nearly 1 100 billion years.

In other words, it had been over 9 100 kalpas since the Primordial Dao Ancestor departed, now approaching a full 1 1000 kalpas.

"It seems that the Ancient Primordial 1 should be returning soon."

Thinking this, Eldrin felt slightly more at ease.

He said no more, merely casting a glance at the Bagua Divine Tree before concluding, "With the Bagua Divine Tree here, your breakthrough to the Great Emperor Realm will proceed without mishap."

"Set your heart at ease and cultivate in peace. Though the path ahead may be fraught with hardships, I shall lend you whatever aid lies within my power when the time comes."

With these final words, Eldrin's avatar dissipated, vanishing into the boundless void.

Chen Xiannian gazed in the direction where Eldrin (Person Name) had departed, then immediately cupped his hands in a respectful salute and declared, "Your child shall prove worthy of Father's profound expectations."

After Eldrin had completely departed, Chen Xiannian hesitated no longer. He directly refined the 8 primal dao fruits of the Bagua Divine Tree and began his assault on the Emperor Realm.

Chen Xiannian possessed an extraordinary foundation to begin with, and with the devoted tutelage of 2 Great Dao Ancestors, obtaining 8 Origin Dao Fruits immediately propelled his cultivation into rapid advancement.

Before long, Chen Xiannian's 8 Trigrams Great Dao successively achieved breakthroughs, with each Great Dao attaining the realm of Emperor, manifesting a divine form of the Great Dao.

It is done.

Sensing the power of the 8 divine forms of the Great Dao, Chen Xiannian felt a subtle reassurance settle within his heart.

He attempted to circulate his energy and discovered that although his 8 Great Daos could not coalesce into 1, the power they unleashed could still be described as utterly astonishing.

Under the empowerment of this 8 Trigrams Great Dao, both his methods and combat prowess had stepped into a realm comparable to that of a Quasi-Saint. His battle strength was now almost on par with more than half a Quasi-Saint’s power.

"Hoo—"

After completing his breakthrough, Chen Xiannian immediately sent messages to Chen Xianzhu and Ye Yinghui.

Soon, both of them arrived with their guardians in tow, gathering together within the Eastern Barren 8 Trigrams Mountains.

The 6 of them gathered in the great hall. Chen Xiannian gazed at the group and declared, "My cultivation has also broken through. It is time we made our move against those ancestral veins."

Upon hearing this, everyone present broke into faint smiles.

As Chen Xiannian broke through to the Emperor Realm, among the 6 present, all except Ye Yinghui had attained cultivation at the Emperor-level domain.

Among the 6, Chen Xiannian, Chen Xianzhu, and Jiang Huang each possessed combat prowess comparable to a Demi-Sage.

Although the Immortal Emperor and Sword Profound Emperor were slightly less powerful, they both possessed strength within the invincible emperor realm.

Ye Yinghui was also a top-tier Great Emperor in terms of combat prowess, and among the contenders in this struggle for the Mandate of Heaven, he could be considered a truly formidable force.

Thus, the 6 of them—3 Tribulation-Receivers and 3 Guardians—were fully qualified to claim a Chaos-grade ancestral ley line.

With this thought in mind, Sword Sovereign Xuan inquired, "Since we are to take action, which targets should we select?"

Chen Xianzhu offered no reply, merely flicking his sleeve to manifest the topographic map of this primordial realm.

Behold, upon this magnificent map were marked tens of thousands of ley lines and celestial bodies, each representing a sacred abode beyond the Great Perfected Realm.

Among them, the 70-2 Emperor-level earth veins and the 9 Chaos-level earth veins shone most brilliantly.

Gazing at the map, the Immortal Emperor couldn't help but marvel, "A single grand primordial realm actually possesses such magnificent foundations."

"In comparison, even at its zenith, the Primordial Barren Realm could not match 1-tenth of the foundations of this realm."

Emperor Jiang also nodded and remarked with considerable emotion, "Large-scale primordial domains possess an exceptionally high rank, theoretically capable of giving birth to 9 Chaos God Emperors."

"Once all 9 Divine Sovereigns return to their thrones, this primordial realm has the potential to ascend into a mid-grade primordial realm."

"Alas, the Eminent Supremacy of Blazing Radiance intervened personally, severing the primordial domain's path to ascension."

Hearing this, everyone present could not help but feel deeply moved.

It must be admitted that if the Blazing Yang Supreme did not intervene, even if the 20-some Chaos Heavenly Emperors from the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss joined forces, they would never be able to breach this Primordial Domain.

Once the 9 Chaos God Emperors of this primordial realm successfully ascend, this domain is destined to become another major power among the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss.

By that time, this primal domain, which housed 9 Divine Sovereigns, would likely surpass the 3 Extremes Primal Domain and become an existence akin to the former Immortal Cosmos Primal Domain.

At this thought, Chen Xianzhu remarked thoughtfully, "The reason that Supreme Unity Realm Supreme Elder made a move was likely to eliminate a potential threat in advance."

"That is most likely the case."

Ye Ying murmured softly before speaking, "If the 9 Divine Sovereigns successfully advance, then with the power of a single grand Primordial Domain, it should be enough to withstand a single Path-Unification Supreme."

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but feel deeply apprehensive.

A vast primordial realm had been snuffed out in its cradle, filling them all with profound trepidation.

Fortunately, even if the heavens were to fall, figures like the Eldrin (Person Name) and the Taiyuan Immortal Sage (Person Name) would bear the burden, so they didn't need to worry excessively.

The Immortal Emperor gazed at the map before him and spoke, "Overthinking serves no purpose. Let us strategize which of those primordial chaos ley lines we should capture first."

The others, hearing this, also collected their thoughts and turned their gazes toward the Kanyu Map.

Within the cosmographic chart, 9 Chaos Ancestral Veins were distinctly marked. Each of these primordial veins encompassed the Zhou Heaven Stars, the lands of immortal domains, and the profound depths of the Netherworld.

Amidst the Zhou Heavenly Stars, there existed 3 Chaos Star Dao-Fields: the Solar Emperor Star, the Lunar Emperor Star, and the 'Ancestral Court of Myriad Stars' rooted in the 3 Enclosures' primordial lineage.

In the nether realm, there also exists a nether dojo known as the 9 Yin Nether Domain.

Within the mortal realm, there exist 5 Primordial Ancestral Veins, situated at the center of the Celestial Domain and the 4 poles of heaven and earth.

These 5 Primordial Chaos Veins were respectively located in the Central Region, Eastern Wastelands, Southern Domain, Northern Plains, and Western Extremes—each 1 a foundational artery of heaven and earth.

They are respectively the 'Abyssal Prison of Primordial Desolation' (Forbidden Ground), the 'Ancestral Vein of Kunxuan' (Mystical Land), the 'Undying Inferno Prison' (Forbidden Ground), the 'Eternal Frost River' (Forbidden Ground), and the 'Western Spiritual Mountain' (Sacred Land).

9 Great Ancestral Veins.

Chen Xianzhu murmured softly, and after a long while, he finally spoke: "The Primordial Abyss has been seized by the Heavenly Punishment and Heavenly Slaughter Emperors, while the Solar Imperial Star has fallen into the hands of the 10 Golden Crows."

"My advice is to not meddle with these 2 spiritual veins."

The others also nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Protected by the Heaven-Slaying Great Emperor, Tian Xing possessed the greatest strength among all the Children of Providence. Moreover, he had already utilized the earth veins to set up a grand formation, making any attempt to conquer his territory an utterly impossible endeavor.

You must understand, the Primordial Abyss is no ordinary place—it once nurtured a fated Divine Sovereign who was highly likely to achieve sainthood through physical cultivation.

Had it not been for the Supreme Unity Paragon forcibly severing his heavenly mandate, this individual would likely have ranked among the top 2 of the 9 Divine Sovereigns.

As for the Sun Emperor Star, it naturally goes without saying that the 10 Sun Emperor Sons joining forces could contend against 2 or 3 Demi-Sages.

If a real fight broke out, they likely had no certainty whatsoever of defeating their opponent.

After all, the 10 Great Imperial Scions were backed by the Solar Emperor Star. Even though they had yet to fully restore this ancestral leyline, the might of the grand formation they deployed was by no means comparable to what it once was.

At this thought, everyone dismissed the 2 great ancestral veins and turned their attention to the remaining few.

Among the remaining ancestral veins, the 'Kunxuan Ancestral Vein', 'Eternal Flame Abyss', 'Primordial Frost River', and 'Western Paradise Mountain' were all extraordinary, largely controlled by the inheritors of the Heavenly Emperor.

The 9 Serene Nether Domain, the Stellar Ancestral Vein, and the Lunar Imperial Star—these 3 ancestral veins need no elaboration, for each is governed by formidable direct descendants of the Celestial Emperor.

After a careful glance, the group continued using the process of elimination.

The Jiang Emperor dismissed the matter of the Eternal Frost River and declared, "Ni Cangtian is backed by the Myriad Gods Primordial Realm, with the supreme Celestial Emperor Taiyan Shenhuang as his patron. His strength may well rival that of the previous 2."

"Moreover, in days of old, we once fought side by side against formidable foes from foreign realms. For that bond, I shall refrain from seizing his ancestral ley line here."

Everyone nodded in agreement upon hearing this, offering no objections.

Having eliminated this place, the remaining 6 ancestral veins, though not weak in strength, held no fear for the group.

After all, an existence rivaling a Demi-Saint was an exceedingly rare sight across all 7 domains of the Southern Abyss.

Aside from the 3 top Heavenly Emperors' backing forces, the other 7 major earth veins should not possess experts comparable to a Demi-Saint.

Thus, in their eyes, those who remained were nothing but easy targets.

Thus, they began selecting their territories. Chen Xianzhu directly claimed the Western Regions’ Spirit Mountains, then declared, “I intend to establish the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, yet I lack a Chaos-tier sacred ground.”

"This Western Region Spirit Mountain, I intend to give it a try."

Seeing this, Chen Xiannian directly chose the Kunxuan Ancestral Vein and declared, “This land’s fortune is extraordinary—it shall serve as my cultivation daoist arena.”

After the 2 had made their selections, Ye Yinghui chose the Lunar Emperor Star as his target.

Seeing that all 3 had chosen their targets, Emperor Jiang spoke directly, "The timing is perfect. The 10 Great Solar Progenies are still mending the Primordial Chaos Ancestral Vein."

"By seizing the Chaotic Earth Veins now, we can minimize unforeseen variables."

"Then let's begin."

Chen Xianzhu retrieved his Immortal Iron Rod, ready to set out and assist Chen Xiannian in assaulting the Kunxuan Ancestral Vein.

Just then, a streak of light descended from beyond the heavens, landing before the crowd and materializing into a spirit talisman.

Jiang Huang took the missive and scanned it, his gaze flickering slightly. "It's from Magnus the Virtuous Lord," he said. "He wishes to enlist your aid in assaulting the Ancestral Land of Stars."

Chen Xianzhu smiled faintly and spoke without preamble, "Then let's begin. We'll seize the Ancestral Starfall Grounds first."

As the words fell, Chen Xianzhu tore through the heavens and vanished between the sky and earth. Seeing this, the others swiftly followed suit.

After a full day of heaven and earth spinning around them, they found themselves deep within the Zhou Tian Starry Skies.

In the boundless void, a Wenqu Star drifted slowly, connecting with 11 Imperial Stars to continuously transform the primordial chaos into the righteous aura of the Confucian path.

Chen Xiannian could even perceive that this vast righteous energy was immensely majestic, surging forth like the starry heavens, possessing a sublime and sacred power of utmost grandeur.

"The righteous aura of the Confucian school truly possesses extraordinary merits."

Emperor Jiang spoke slowly, his tone tinged with admiration.

At the same time, the light atop the Star of Scholars quivered faintly as 2 divinely elegant figures emerged.

Jiang Huang looked up and recognized 1 of the figures as Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name), while the other was his Dao Protector—Yan Xuanqi (Person Name).

Xuanqi Yan was the foremost prodigy of the Primordial Domain of Haoran in bygone eras, and the second personal disciple of the Dao Ancestor of Haoran.

His strength had already reached the level of a Great Emperor, and his combat prowess had stepped into the domain of the top-tier Great Emperors.

However, that was all there was to it. The Primordial Realm of the Vast Radiance was sparsely populated, with only 5 Emperor-level powerhouses and not even a single Quasi-Sage.

This Yan Xuanqi, merely a top-tier Great Emperor, was already considered the foremost expert under the command of the Haoxu Dao Ancestor.

By comparison, nearly every other Chaos Heavenly Emperor had 1 or 2 invincible great emperors secretly groomed under their command.

Even after undergoing special cultivation, most of these Invincible Emperors had largely exhausted their potential, making the possibility of breaking through to the Quasi-Saint realm exceedingly low. Nevertheless, they remained an exceptionally formidable force.

Yet beneath Patriarch Haoxu, there was no invincible emperor. This clearly showed that their lineage truly suffered from a lack of successors. Should any misfortune befall Patriarch Haoxu, the entire Haoran Primordial Domain would likely face calamity.

It was precisely for this reason that the Dao Ancestor Haoxu almost never left the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss.

"You are too kind, Elder."

Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) smiled faintly and cupped his hands respectfully toward Jiang Huang (Person Name), saying, "I am truly indebted beyond measure for your esteemed assistance on this occasion."

Emperor Jiang gave a slight nod. When he had ascended to immortality, Magnus the Virtuous Lord had not even been born. As a junior from the Violet Realm, it was only natural for Magnus the Virtuous Lord to show him such reverence.

Without another word, he spoke directly, "Since you're here, let's not waste time. We'll settle this now."

Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) nodded upon hearing this and immediately led the group toward the 3 Enclosures Stars. Soon, they arrived before an ancestral spiritual vein.

Compared to other ancestral veins, the Star Ancestral Vein at the 3 Enclosures was the most unique.

This ancestral vein was formed by the convergence of 3 100 and 60-5 stars, a chaotic dao field condensed from the power of the celestial constellations.

At this moment, everyone could clearly perceive that these 3 100-odd stars were interconnected by a grand formation, transforming into a supreme killing array of Quasi-Sage level.

"What a formidable killing array."

The Immortal Desolate Emperor murmured, a trace of solemnity coloring his expression.

Chen Xiannian, who excelled in formations, chuckled lightly before speaking. "This formation is indeed extraordinary. However, the Chaos Ancestral Vein has been severely damaged, and currently only a small portion has been restored."

"Thus, the formation's power is incomplete, and we still have a chance to break through it."

"As he spoke, Chen Xiannian carefully observed the formation. After a moment, he declared, 'I shall use the 8 Trigrams Formation Flags to withstand the stellar energy. This should temporarily suppress the array.'"

"Seize the opportunity to strike and swiftly defeat all enemies trapped within the formation."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded at once, their expressions turning grave.

Witnessing this, Chen Xiannian instantly soared into the air astride his 8 Trigrams Formation Banner, transforming it into a grand formation that sealed the entire starry sky.

"This is..."

The moment he laid eyes on the 8 Trigrams Formation Flags, Yan Xuanqi’s face instantly paled with shock, revealing an expression of utter disbelief.

It turned out that this set of 8 Trigrams Formation Flags was composed of 8 innate supreme treasures, forming a peerless formation array whose power rivaled that of the 9 Dragons' supreme treasures.

This was the true importance of heritage. As the true disciple of the Primordial Dao Ancestor and direct blood descendant of the Nihility Dao Ancestor, Chen Xiannian received joint cultivation from 2 great Dao Ancestor lineages.

Otherwise, attempting to wield this set of array flags would be nothing short of a fool’s delusion.

You must understand, over 70 percent of Chaos Heavenly Emperors do not possess Chaos Spiritual Treasures. The artifacts they wield in battle are merely arrayed weapons composed of such Primordial Supreme Treasures.

"Bzzz—"

At this moment, Chen Xiannian (Person Name) channeled all his power into the array artifact. Instantly, 8 types of cosmic energies sealed the vast starry expanse, suppressing the Demi-Saint Formation (Cultivation System) in the area and temporarily neutralizing the lethal array's potency.

Chen Xianzhu did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately mounted his Immortal Iron Staff, soaring into the air as he strode forth to charge directly into the overwhelming slaughter formation.

"How dare you!"

Watching the intruders charge forth, the faces of the experts from the Ancestral Star Realm paled drastically.

In an instant, 5 supreme experts tore through the void, unleashing their Innate Supreme Treasures to block Chen Xianzhu’s path.

Yet after a single exchange, the 5 great experts retreated several steps, and Chen Xianzhu also halted with considerable surprise.

He lowered his head, only to find 5 figures radiating overwhelming auras standing firm within the chaotic mist. Several of them looked strikingly familiar.

Heaven's Evolution Sacred Emperor, Azure Pole Sacred Emperor, and 3 demonic path great emperors from the Primordial Demon Domain.

Chen Xianzhu spoke slowly, a trace of coldness flickering in his eyes.

It turned out that the 5 supreme Sacred Demon Emperors had joined forces—3 supreme emperors and 2 invincible emperors—to seize this Primordial Chaos Ancestral Vein.

In ages past, the Heavenly Derivation Sacred Emperor schemed against Eldrin, forcing him to flee in defeat to the Primordial Chaos Barren Sea. Moreover, the Azure Pole Sacred Emperor stood as Eldrin’s ultimate nemesis on the path of the Great Dao.

Upon seeing the 2, Chen Xianzhu felt a surge of murderous intent boiling within him, accompanied by a renewed wave of overwhelming battle fervor.

"Die!"

Chen Xianzhu spoke out, wielding the Immortal Iron Staff as he charged toward the heavens, directly advancing upon the 2 Great Emperors.

The Heavenly Derivation Sovereign's expression shifted slightly as he immediately summoned his life-bound supreme treasure, the Heavenly Derivation Disk, to block with all his might. Yet in the blink of an eye, he was sent flying through the air, coughing up blood.

Though renowned as a supreme Great Emperor, he was never adept in combat techniques. His face slightly altered as he exclaimed urgently, "Fellow Daoists, lend me your aid at once!"

"Heh, all of you shall perish."

Chen Xianzhu spoke, directly channeling and activating the 6 Sacred Mantras, transforming them into 6 supreme ancient characters that soared across the heavens, suppressing the 5 mighty experts.

The 5 supreme experts defended with all their might, yet they found themselves utterly incapable of restraining Chen Xianzhu in the slightest.

"Hiss..."

Taking a deep breath, the Cyan Pole Sovereign Emperor spoke with a face full of astonishment, "His combat prowess is likely comparable to that of a Demi-Saint. But why didn't he contend for the Primordial Chaos Ancestral Veil earlier?"

The 5 Great Sacred Emperors and the Demon Emperor were perplexed. By all reasoning, anyone possessing strength comparable to a Quasi-Sage should undoubtedly be able to claim a Destiny Throne.

After all, the effect of the Destiny Rank could only allow them to break through to the Quasi-Saint realm at most. At the very least, it might slightly increase their chances of attaining the Chaos Heavenly Emperor realm.

However, without the Primordial Chaos Qi, this minuscule effect was essentially of no use whatsoever.

It was precisely for this reason that those Chaos Heavenly Emperors and Quasi-Sages did not place much importance on the empowerment of the Heavenly Mandate.

At this thought, Qingji Great Emperor couldn't help but speak out: "With your level of cultivation, you are more than qualified to claim this Primordial Chaos Earth Vein."

"We shall take our leave now. Pray, do not stand in our way."

With these words, the Cyan Pole Sacred Emperor was about to cede the earth vein to Chen Xianzhu.

But at that very moment, a supreme sword aura tore through the void, forcing the Azure Extremity Sovereign Emperor to retreat while coughing up blood.

Chapter 1 The biting mountain wind whipped across the cliffside, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. Lin Chen gritted his teeth, his knuckles white as he gripped the rough stone ledge. Below him, a sea of clouds churned, obscuring the treacherous depths of the ravine. He had been climbing for what felt like an eternity, his body pushed to its absolute limit. His mind, however, was elsewhere, replaying the events of the past few days. The ambush. The betrayal. The cold, mocking laughter of his former senior brother, Eldrin (Person Name). A wave of fury, hot and bitter, rose within him, but he forced it down. Anger was a luxury he couldn't afford right now. Survival was the only thing that mattered. With a final, grunting heave, he pulled himself over the cliff's edge and collapsed onto a small, relatively flat plateau. His lungs burned, and every muscle screamed in protest. He lay there for a long moment, staring up at the vast, star-dusted canvas of the night sky. The spiritual energy here was noticeably denser, a faint, soothing hum against his skin. He had made it. This was the Secluded Peak of Whispering Pines, the place mentioned in the tattered map he'd found sewn into his father's journal. Pushing himself up onto his elbows, he took stock of his situation. His robes were torn and stained. His dantian felt hollow, the core of his spiritual power nearly depleted after the frantic flight and the arduous climb. He fumbled in his worn spatial pouch, his fingers closing around a small, cool jade vial. He uncorked it and tipped a single, milky-white pill into his palm—a Basic Spirit Replenishment Pill. It was his last 1. He swallowed it without hesitation, feeling a trickle of warm energy begin to seep into his meridians, a mere drop in an empty ocean, but it was a start. His gaze then fell upon the object clutched in his other hand. It was a sword, its scabbard plain and unadorned. Yet, as he wrapped his fingers around the hilt, a faint, resonant warmth pulsed from within. This was the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure), his only inheritance, the 1 thing Eldrin and his lackeys had failed to take from him. They had dismissed it as a mediocre artifact, not worth their notice. Little did they know of its true nature, a secret his father had died protecting. "Eldrin," Lin Chen whispered the name into the wind, his voice a low, venomous promise. "Just you wait." He knew he was weak. At the 7th level of the Qi Refining stage, he was nothing in the eyes of the Profound Sky Sect. Eldrin, a Core Formation expert, could snuff out his life as easily as 1 might extinguish a candle flame. But here, in this secluded place, he had a chance. The map hinted at a legacy, a hidden grotto left by a reclusive master from ages past. For thousands of years, countless cultivators had sought immortality, treading a path littered with bones and shattered dreams. He, Lin Chen, would now add his name to that endless procession, either as another forgotten casualty or as 1 who defied the heavens themselves. He closed his eyes, entering a meditative state. The Basic Spirit Replenishment Pill continued its work, slowly circulating energy through his damaged meridians. He began the familiar cycle of the Profound Sky Sect's basic cultivation art, drawing in the thin wisps of spiritual energy from the surroundings. It was painstakingly slow. Each completed micro-cycle felt like dragging a boulder uphill. The impurities in his body and the blockages in his meridians, remnants of the poison he'd been fed, resisted the flow of energy stubbornly. Hours slipped by. The moon climbed higher, casting a silvery glow over the plateau. Just as frustration began to gnaw at him, a strange phenomenon occurred. The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, which lay across his lap, grew warm once more. This time, the warmth was more intense, spreading up his arms and into his core. A fragment of a forgotten mantra, cryptic and profound, surfaced in his mind, as if whispered by the sword itself. It spoke of "devouring," of "returning to the abyss," of "refining all creation." It was a stark, ruthless methodology, completely alien to the orthodox teachings of the Profound Sky Sect. A path of rampant consumption. A flicker of fear stirred in his heart. This was unorthodox, perhaps even demonic. To tread such a path was to invite calamity and the wrath of the entire cultivation world. But then he saw Eldrin's sneering face again. He felt the cold bite of the betrayal, the helplessness as he was cast down from the sect. What did he have left to lose? Orthodoxy had abandoned him. The righteous path had shown him its cruel underbelly. Gritting his teeth, Lin Chen made his choice. He abandoned the familiar rhythm of the Profound Sky art and tentatively guided his spiritual energy according to the esoteric principles of the new mantra. The effect was immediate and violent. The spiritual energy around him convulsed. Instead of gently seeping into his pores, it was violently ripped from the environment and funneled directly into his body. It was raw, untamed, and agonizing. It felt like his meridians were being scoured with sand and fire. He bit down on his lip until he tasted blood, his body trembling uncontrollably. This was not cultivation; it was a brutal, forcible seizure. Yet, through the searing pain, he felt it. The barrier between the 7th and 8th level of Qi Refining, which had stood unyielding for over a year, shuddered. A hairline fracture appeared. A fierce, wild light ignited in Lin Chen's eyes, reflecting the cold moonlight above. The path ahead was fraught with peril, a road of thorns leading to either ultimate power or a swift and utter destruction. He would take it. He would devour, refine, and conquer. And 1 day, he would return.