Chapter 553: First Arrival (I)
Within the dark void, multicolored violent energy surged and roared. This was the buffer zone connecting the world of the yaos and Lin Zheyu's world. The void passage formed by the space-time node ensured that the energy and power of rules here were not overwhelmingly destructive.
In the void, vast energy and shattered rules power converged, forming a massive lake of energy. Within this lake, dominated by demonic qi, lights of various colors flickered. Among them, a streak of golden light grew increasingly brilliant, yet it was not particularly noticeable amid the countless other glimmers of energy.
Lin Zheyu soaked within the lake of energy as hissing sounds rose around him. His immense golden blood qi burned and refined the invading energy within his body, expelling impurities that condensed into black smoke. A vast mysterious energy surged from deep within his cells, sweeping up the surrounding energy from the lake and drawing it into his body.
Under the influence of the mysterious energy, Lin Zheyu's aura grew increasingly terrifying. The life force contained within his cells surged upward without end. Even the thick shackles wrapped around his physique could not restrain the overwhelming vitality that continued to rise.
Struck by the surging blood qi, the shackles rattled, producing a clear and ethereal sound. The sound spread outward like ripples, cleansing Lin Zheyu's physique. Even as it suppressed the rising life force, that same clear resonance affected the vitality within him, washing away countless impurities and leaving it ever purer.
After a few breaths, Lin Zheyu slowly opened his eyes, which shone with dazzling golden light. He exhaled a long breath of turbid air. The impurities that had yet to be expelled gathered into a dark mass of gas and were forced out with his breath.
[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]
[Name: Lin Zheyu]
[Origin Force: 623]
[Skills: Earth Shrinking Technique (Perfection), Primordial Concealment Technique (Perfection), Seven Absolute Sabers (Fifth Stage: 3%), Primordial Golden Body (Second Stage: 100%), Heavenly Pivot Nine Refinements Nine Tribulations Art (First Stage: 96%), Spirit Martial Universe Secret Art—Advanced (Competence: 3%)]
Lin Zheyu looked at the data within his consciousness and paused slightly.
"Even after consuming 12 units of Origin Force, the Heavenly Pivot Nine Refinements Nine Tribulations Art still hasn't reached the perfection of the first stage?" Lin Zheyu said, somewhat surprised.
He understood that this technique was highly challenging, but he hadn't anticipated it being this demanding. The difficulty was partly due to already having cultivated a divine repository technique and reinforced all three great divine repositories once.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Zheyu relaxed slightly. With over 600 units of Origin Force left, he believed he had enough to perfect the Heavenly Pivot Nine Refinements Nine Tribulations Art and the Yellow Springs Nirvana Scripture, and to open the three great divine repositories. The Yellow Springs Nirvana Scripture, in comparison, would not take as much time to cultivate as the Heavenly Pivot Nine Refinements Nine Tribulations Art.
The main danger of this technique was its extreme risk. To reshape one's foundation and forge the strongest divine repositories, one had to be ready to face near-certain death and have the resolve to walk toward death for rebirth.
It was said that, including the original creator of the technique, fewer than five martial artists had successfully used the Yellow Springs Nirvana Scripture to open all three divine repositories. Most had died during cultivation, or only survived by luck, ending up crippled and unable to continue practicing martial arts. This underscores how perilous the technique is.
But with the support of Origin Force, Lin Zheyu was nearly invincible within his consciousness. The greatest challenge of the Yellow Springs Nirvana Scripture was hardly an issue for him.
Lin Zheyu came back to his senses. Soaking within the violent energy lake, he no longer felt the unbearable agony he had experienced the first time. The raging energy continuously burrowed into his body, only to be met with hissing sounds as it was refined into clusters of black, smoky bubbles that rose to the surface of the lake.
Lin Zheyu assessed his condition, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. "The threat posed by this energy lake is getting lower and lower. Once I bring the Heavenly Pivot Nine Refinements Nine Tribulations Art to Perfection, even without opening the divine repositories, I should be able to stay here for extended periods as long as my internal energy doesn't run dry."
Although the shackles suppressed him, nurturing the divine repositories still brought astonishing improvements to his physique. Lin Zheyu could feel the vitality within his cells growing to a terrifying strength. No matter how violently the lake's energy ravaged his body, it would recover within a few breaths under the power of that immense life force.
"It's time to leave. It's still not suitable to remain in this violent energy for too long." Lin Zheyu kicked off, a thunderous boom erupting beneath his feet as he shot toward the surface of the lake.
Although it no longer posed much of a threat, remaining within the violent energy lake required an enormous expenditure of blood qi at every moment. Without the support of Origin Force, Lin Zheyu estimated that his internal energy would be completely drained in less than a minute.
Lin Zheyu burst out of the lake, and with a soft sound, two massive wings unfurled behind him. The golden runes across his body flickered faintly as they rapidly absorbed demonic qi from the void, forming a layer of purple-black energy around him.
But just as he attempted to continue absorbing demonic qi and use Yao Transformation to assume a yao form, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. A terrifying sense of danger began to gather in the unseen. He felt that the moment he completed the transformation, catastrophe would descend upon him.
"Huff, huff, huff..."
Lin Zheyu immediately stopped absorbing demonic qi, gasping heavily as cold sweat ran down his face. In that brief instant, he had sensed a terrifying aura. Under that presence, he felt no different from an ant.
A realization dawned on Lin Zheyu. "I see. This space-time node hasn't fully stabilized yet, so yaos can't enter. If I use Yao Transformation here and take on a yao form, the Heavenly Dao will mistake me for an invading yao."
That realization eased him slightly. It was better that they could not enter. If the demonic realm on the other side proved too dangerous, he could retreat into this space, giving him both offensive and defensive options.
I'll head out first. If it's too dangerous outside, I can always come back, Lin Zheyu thought to himself.
Before leaving, however, he needed to disguise himself. While he could not use Yao Transformation, using the golden runes to channel yao energy to conceal his aura was still feasible. With that thought, the golden runes within him began absorbing demonic qi once more.
Within a few breaths, the radiant golden runes had all turned purple-black. After absorbing demonic qi, these runes condensed into demon essence, a form of energy unique to those who cultivated demon arts. Even the golden wings behind Lin Zheyu transformed into dark purple-black feathers.
Lin Zheyu swallowed, his spirit taut with tension. He pushed his senses to the limit, his spiritual sense covering every part of his body. He was testing the limits of the Heavenly Dao's will, trying to see at what level of transformation he would trigger its destructive response.
"Alright... no problem. Let's continue." Lin Zheyu paused, waited for a moment, and after confirming there was no danger, resumed absorbing demonic qi. Soon, his fair skin began to darken, small bumps forming across it.
A deafening rumble suddenly echoed through the dark void, and a streak of white lightning flashed in the far distance. Lin Zheyu's body jolted violently, cold sweat instantly soaking his back. In that fleeting moment, he had caught a faint scent of death.
Lin Zheyu wiped the sweat from his forehead, breathing slightly heavily as he said, "Hiss... it's been a long time since things felt this intense..."
He carefully observed the lightning from before and only relaxed after confirming it was not directed at him. After that scare, Lin Zheyu completely abandoned any thought of continuing his test. It was too terrifying. That feeling of being like an ant, one that could be wiped out in an instant, was far too intense. His heart simply could not take that kind of thrill.
"I'm leaving, and I'll come back later."
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