Qin Xi surveyed his surroundings with caution. All he saw was a vast expanse of ocean, with winds rising, clouds surging, and waves reaching to the heavens. Standing upon the great sea, he felt like duckweed in the wind, the turbulent Spiritual Qi buffeting his body with a searing pain.
He knew this was an extremely profound formation. Its master must be a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage or above, which was why even his Dingyue Lantern could not detect any anomalies. He also knew the master of this place harbored no ill intent. A few days prior, he had clashed with a seventh-rank demon beast, expending considerable effort to slay it, and ended up injured. By chance, he had entered this formation.
During the days trapped within the formation, its master had done nothing to him. Since it was a trapping formation rather than a killing one, he steeled his heart and simply began healing his wounds on the spot. Once he recovered, perhaps the master had grown weary, or perhaps he found Qin Xi somewhat agreeable, and opened the formation to let him leave.
However, the lack of malice was relative to his previous unintentional entry. Now, he intended to force his way through the formation. This trapping formation would likely transform into a killing one.
Before he could even formulate a plan, a flash of lightning streaked down. Qin Xi's figure blurred as he instantly shot out a hundred zhang. Looking back, a cold sweat broke out all over his body.
The spot where he had been standing was now churning with monstrous waves that collided with the lightning. A deafening boom shook heaven and earth.
And his sleeve was already scorched black.
It had indeed become a killing formation.
In the days since entering this formation, each day had presented illusionary and maze formations that caused no actual harm. But now, if he had been even a moment slower, he would likely have ended up like his sleeve.
After a moment of contemplation, Qin Xi closed his eyes and unleashed his spiritual sense in full.
Boundless, endless ocean... He sighed in disappointment, a shadow of gloom passing through his eyes. Indeed, this formation was beyond his current ability to breach by force—just who was the master of this place? Even if it were a Nascent Soul cultivator's formation, it wasn't as if he had never seen one before. He had even relied on his Dingyue Lantern to break through a Nascent Soul cultivator's restrictions. Facing a Nascent Soul expert, even if he lacked the power to fight back, he could at least do something. Never before had he felt so utterly at the mercy of others, as if even the possibility of escape was nonexistent.
He let out a soft sigh, but an instant later, closed his eyes to gather Spiritual Qi. The Three Yang True Fire Sword was summoned from his Dantian. Under the influence of his hand seals, the sword's body blazed with dazzling golden light, its flames burning fiercely.
This Three Yang True Fire Sword was his natal magical treasure. In a past adventure, he had unexpectedly obtained a cultivation technique and the method for forging this sword; the two were originally a set. Seeing their combined power was astonishing and that they matched his own spiritual roots, he had chosen it as his natal treasure. After achieving Core Formation, he had endured countless hardships to refine it using Gold-Essence True Fire. The moment this sword was born, it stirred wind, clouds, and thunder. That year happened to coincide with a demon beast uprising. Relying on this sword, he had made a name for himself in West Kunwu immediately after forming his Core. He reckoned that with sufficient Spiritual Qi, he might even have a chance against a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Now, trapped within this formation, he could sense the immense power of its master. He was merely at the Core Formation stage; he could only rely on this Three Yang True Fire Sword to give it a try.
Lightning flashed once more. Qin Xi didn't even move. The Three Yang True Fire Sword hovered in mid-air, supported by his Spiritual Qi, its radiance brilliant.
A bolt of lightning finally leaped down. He raised his palm, and the Three Yang True Fire Sword floated in the air, meeting the lightning. The sword trembled slightly but held its ground.
Seeing this, Qin Xi formed another hand seal. The Three Yang True Fire Sword absorbed the lightning, remaining steady, while the lightning itself gradually weakened, flickering bright and dim. The fire grew more intense; the lightning slowly died out.
By the time the lightning vanished, the Three Yang True Fire Sword burned like a scorching sun, so bright it was difficult to look upon directly. Qin Xi moved his hand seal, and an overwhelming aura shot skyward, almost tearing a rift in the heavens.
An unknown amount of time passed. Qin Xi's face gradually paled, his Spiritual Qi nearly exhausted, yet he could not stop now.
Metal begets thunder, but fire overcomes thunder. His Three Yang True Fire Sword was precisely of metal body and fire nature. Therefore, he first used fire to resist it, then seized its power, using metal to bolster the momentum. This power did not belong to him; he could only barely control it. If he stopped now, he would suffer a backlash. Facing such a powerful heavenly thunder head-on with his body refinement technique still incomplete would surely leave not even his bones intact!
"Hmph, not bad for this kid. He has some of my former flair!" At this moment, Yuanbao muttered to himself within the Void Heaven Realm. "Not bad, not bad. A mere Core Formation cultivator, using the five elements' generation and restraint cycles, actually dares to confront the Illusion Heaven Formation. Hmm. Since I find you agreeable, I'll play with you a bit!"
As soon as the words fell, Yuanbao flicked his sleeve. A rift immediately appeared before him, and he leaped into it.
Meanwhile, Zhong Muling placed his hands under Mo Tiange, helping her sit up. He positioned her in a cross-legged posture, then placed one palm on the crown of her head while retrieving a jade box from his robes with the other.
From Zhong Muling's palm emerged Spiritual Qi of unparalleled purity. This qi was neither yin nor yang, containing all five elements, yet it bore no resemblance to chaotic spiritual energy. It seemed to have formed a new kind of qi—clean, pure, and exceedingly gentle. This qi easily entered Mo Tiange's meridians and Dantian, slowly merging with them as one.
Mo Tiange's deathly pale complexion gradually regained color. Nourished by his Spiritual Qi, she seemed to rapidly recover her vitality, her face growing rosier bit by bit.
Seeing her gradual recovery, Zhong Muling flicked his other hand. The jade box opened, revealing a verdant green branch upon which grew a fruit that was neither plant nor metal, shaped like a human figure.
Mortals said that after a thousand years, ginseng could take human form, becoming a ginseng doll. In truth, what could truly take human form were immortal herbs. In the cultivation world, ginseng was merely a common plant imbued with immortal energy. Countless spirit herbs possessed far more spiritual energy, yet ginseng was the species closest to immortal herbs, which was why it could grow into human shape.
This Five Spirits Fruit was an immortal fruit. In the current human realm, such immortal roots could no longer be found. Only in spaces like the Void Heaven Realm, which simulated primordial chaos, could some remnants survive. Yet even among the known Void Heaven Realms, there were few, and the one that grew Five Spirits Fruit was his alone.
Zhong Muling lifted the Five Spirits Fruit, and thinking that he had only plucked this fruit a few days ago, a flash of anger crossed his face. However, he quickly calmed his expression. He was already a God Transformation Stage cultivator; his state of mind had long been undisturbed by waves. Even if this matter provoked his indignation, it subsided in but an instant.
Using Spiritual Qi to levitate the Five Spirits Fruit, under the influence of his balanced, pure, and harmonious qi, the fruit slowly dissolved, turning into a transparent, essence-like substance. He gently lifted this essence and poured it into Mo Tiange's mouth.
The Five Spirits essence entered her body, sliding down her meridians. Wherever it passed, her meridians regenerated. Sliding into her Dantian, the damaged areas were repaired bit by bit. Finally, it all soaked in, merging completely with her Dantian.
An unknown amount of time later, Zhong Muling withdrew his hands and said softly, "The Five Spirits refine the body, demonic qi cannot invade—with your Pure Yin Constitution, and now with your meridians reshaped by the Five Spirits Fruit, henceforth, aside from the inner demons of advancing to a new realm, you will not suffer Qi Deviation. Consider this my compensation to you."
An unknown amount of time later, Mo Tiange awoke from unconsciousness. She had had a strange dream, as if returning to the beginning of chaos, when heaven and earth first separated. Thick Spiritual Qi had surrounded her. She greedily absorbed that qi, swallowing spirit herbs one after another. Her Dantian and meridians rapidly evolved and grew; her cultivation increased at an unbelievable speed...
Coming to her senses, she saw a pool of blood in front of her—oh, right. She had been cultivating, but then suddenly felt an intense pressure. This pressure had almost instantly robbed her of the ability to move. Her Spiritual Qi had gone out of control at that moment, rampaging chaotically through her meridians.
Horrified, she had wanted to stop cultivating, but the pressure bore down again. Her entire body wracked with excruciating pain, and then she lost consciousness.
Mo Tiange knew this was Qi Deviation. She couldn't help but wonder: Uncle-Master Xuanyin had said that with her Pure Yin Constitution, yin and yang did not clash, making it very difficult for her to suffer Qi Deviation. Just what was that pressure, that it could make her lose all control over her Spiritual Qi without even the ability to resist?
However, she immediately thought of something more important—if she had suffered Qi Deviation, what about her cultivation?
She hurriedly sat up cross-legged. As soon as she circulated her Spiritual Qi, she was stunned. Not only was her cultivation unharmed, but she had also advanced to the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment!
After the initial shock, wild joy surged in Mo Tiange's heart. It had been less than a year since she entered the Foundation Establishment stage. Previously, her cultivation had stagnated; forget advancing, even the growth of her Spiritual Qi had been so slow it was almost imperceptible. Now, she had suddenly reached Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment. How could she not be overjoyed?
Reaching Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment in half a year was simply unbelievable if spoken aloud. Even someone like Ye Jingwen, who reached Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment at forty, could be considered a genius!
"Awake?"
A voice sounded in her ear. This was Zhong Muling speaking to her via spiritual sense. Mo Tiange, having just entered Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, knew it must be the doing of this great ancestor. Her heart filled with even more gratitude as she respectfully replied, "Yes, Great Ancestor."
"Hmm. How is your condition?"
"This junior has reached Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment." Though her temperament was steady, Mo Tiange was still brimming with happiness at this moment.
Zhong Muling gave a light hum before saying, "I wasn't asking about that. Sense your meridians and Dantian."
Mo Tiange was taken aback. She immediately closed her eyes and circulated her Spiritual Qi. Her meridians... she hadn't paid attention earlier, but now she realized they seemed to have gained elasticity. No matter how she pushed her qi, there was no pain. However she circulated her Spiritual Qi, they could fully accommodate it. And her Dantian... it seemed... no matter how much Spiritual Qi, it could contain it all.
"The Five Spirits Fruit, hmph!" Zhong Muling still sounded somewhat displeased, but his tone was calm as he spoke to her. "I was momentarily careless, forgetting you were cultivating and should not be disturbed, causing you to suffer Qi Deviation. I have used the Five Spirits Fruit to help you reshape your meridians, changing your tendons and cleansing your marrow. From now on, you will never suffer Qi Deviation again—of course, that excludes the inner demons of advancing to a new realm."
Never suffer Qi Deviation again? Mo Tiange came back to her senses, even more ecstatic than before. This benefit was far rarer than reaching Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment. Never suffering Qi Deviation—didn't that mean she could cultivate the Refining Spirit Art without any reservations?
"Great Ancestor's kindness... this junior does not know how to repay..."
Zhong Muling said indifferently, "I have reached God Transformation. In this human realm, I exist almost like a deity. Why would I expect repayment from you? Since you are my descendant, it is only natural I wish to look after you."
"Yes, this junior speaks out of turn. This junior... will henceforth cultivate diligently, not disappointing Great Ancestor's expectations."
"Hmm. There is another matter. While you were suffering Qi Deviation, that Qin fellow barged into the Illusion Heaven Formation, saying he came looking for you. I see he has considerable courage, so I kept him. Would you like to see him?"