novelhk Chapter 45 Success in Body Refinement and the Perilous Refinement of the Soul
Chapter 45 Success in Body Refinement and the Perilous Refinement of the Soul
Deep within Lin Yan's sea of consciousness, in the vast space transformed by the Qiankun Stabilizing World Plate, the area designated as the "Special Supply Zone" had expanded to an astonishing 500,000 mu. Influenced by the original rules of the divine artifact, the flow of time on this land was 150 times faster than outside. Furthermore, with Xiao Qi's meticulous command of a large number of puppets over the past seven days, and the most careful irrigation and cultivation with incomparably precious spiritual spring water, it had already undergone a tremendous transformation, becoming a true blessed land, a paradise on earth.
In the vast spiritual fields, the once ordinary rice has evolved into jade-like rice. The plants stand tall and straight like carved jade, with broad leaves whose veins flow with a constant spiritual light. The heavy ears of rice droop humbly, the grains plump and round, radiating a gentle, warm jade-like luster and a pure, peaceful energy. The various vegetables and fruits are also extraordinary. Tomatoes are as translucent and crystal clear as rubies, and the green vegetables are as vibrant and fresh as newly born jade, all containing boundless vitality and spiritual energy.
The animals that inhabit these lands have evolved from ordinary domestic fowl and livestock into spirit birds and beasts with vigorous energy, like furnaces. In the primeval forests and vast grasslands of the distant mountains, the roars of tigers are deep and resonant, the cries of monkeys are clear and melodious, the leopards move swiftly, and the bears run with powerful strides! These former mortal beasts, nourished by the spiritual spring water and rich spiritual energy for a long time, have transformed into spirit beasts that are more powerful, more spiritual, and have even awakened a trace of ancient bloodline.
"Brother, the jasper rice and blazing beef from the special supply area have been prepared to the highest standards."
Under Xiao Qi's strict supervision, the puppets cooked using specially made spirit stone stoves. Jade marrow spirit rice was placed in a jade steamer and steamed with spirit spring water. The moment the lid was lifted, a refreshing and invigorating fragrance, seemingly capable of cleansing the soul, wafted out, making one feel relaxed, salivating, and causing every pore on one's body to involuntarily open. The blazing barbarian beef was roasted with spirit fire until its exterior was golden and slightly charred, while the interior retained an enticing pinkish color. As it sizzled, it released a domineering and mellow meaty aroma, strangely without any fishy or gamey smell, only a pure energy aura wafting over.
Lin Yan took a deep breath, the aroma seemingly giving him strength. He first tasted a mouthful of spirit rice. The rice entered his mouth without much chewing, instantly transforming into a warm, sweet current, carrying pure and peaceful energy that quickly spread to his limbs and bones, nourishing every meridian and every inch of flesh, bringing a feeling of complete comfort and gentle breeze.
Immediately after, he ate another piece of roasted spirit beast meat. With a light bite, the abundant, scalding juices burst in his mouth, an exquisite aroma and an unparalleled sense of power. The meat was firm and chewy yet not at all dry; each chew felt like releasing a small energy storm. A torrent of hot, pure qi and blood surged powerfully into his stomach, then surged fiercely to every corner of his body. He could feel his qi and blood instantly boiling like dry wood thrown into a blazing fire, roaring and surging through his veins, bringing a slight swelling sensation of rapidly filling him with power.
The effects far exceeded expectations! The purity and quantity of the energy provided by these genuine spirit beasts and plants were almost comparable to the precious medicinal baths he used when he first practiced the "Great Zhou Celestial Body Refining Technique"!
After just a few bites, Lin Yan felt the subtle deficiencies deep within his body, accumulated from his first body refinement and daily cultivation, being rapidly replenished. His qi and blood became more abundant and surging than ever before, and his heart pounded powerfully like a war drum, providing an incredibly solid foundation for the second body refinement that was about to begin. He dared not waste a single bite, quickly and attentively finishing all the food in front of him.
The blazing, immense energy source within his abdomen radiated light and heat like a small sun. Without hesitation, Lin Yan jumped into the prepared bathtub, its contents bubbling with medicinal liquid. He focused his mind, formed hand seals, and sank his heart and soul into his sea of consciousness, once again visualizing the profound and complex Star Refining Diagram of the first stage of the "Great Zhou Celestial Body Refining Technique." He fully activated the technique, guiding and absorbing the external medicinal power and the vast spiritual energy within his body.
"boom--!"
As soon as the technique was activated, the vast amount of blood and qi energy accumulated in the abdomen was instantly ignited and began to be tempered along a specific route.
"Ugh!" Intense pain surged back like a tidal wave, far more profound and intense than during the first body tempering, as if every inch of flesh and every fiber was being forcibly torn apart, shattered, and then reassembled.
After each tearing and tempering, the essence of blood and spirit from the Jade Marrow Rice and the Blazing Wild Beef, along with the medicinal power of the external medicinal liquid, surge up immediately, carrying out deeper and more thorough repair, nourishment, and strengthening! Destruction and rebirth cycle at an astonishing speed.
With the powerful resource support of this blessed land, the second body refinement has officially entered the right track and is progressing rapidly.
As the second stage of the "Great Heavenly Celestial Body Refining Technique" reached its perfect cycle, and the final torrent of scorching, molten blood and qi washed over every inch of his muscles and every newly opened acupoint, Lin Yan slowly opened his eyes. He exhaled a long breath of turbid air, slightly darker in color and carrying a faint fishy smell—impurities forced out by this profound tempering process and settled deeper within his body.
He slightly flexed his fingers, then slowly clenched his fist. The first thing he noticed was the astonishing transformation of his muscles. His previously somewhat thin and wiry physique hadn't become bulging, exaggerated, or angular; instead, it presented a smooth and restrained yet perfectly defined line.
Every muscle fiber has undergone rigorous training, eliminating impurities and retaining the best. Muscle density has increased several times over, and the skin feels smooth and firm to the touch.
With that came an astonishing surge in strength. He was certain that if it were a simple contest of physical strength, it would be several times greater than the worldly concept of "a thousand pounds of strength".
After resting for two more days in the space, and with the help of a continuous supply of spiritual food to completely solidify the amazing results of this body tempering, Lin Yan took a deep breath and turned his attention to the more dangerous and will-testing field—the second soul tempering.
With a thought, a white jade bottle appeared in his hand, inside which lay three Soul-Replenishing Pills. He placed the bottle within easy reach, then glanced at the little Qilin who stood anxiously guarding him, its golden eyes filled with worry.
"Little Seven, I'll have to trouble you again this time." With boundless trust in the little guy, he reached out and gently touched Little Seven's hard scales.
Little Seven nuzzled his hand affectionately with its head: "Brother, you must be careful, you must hold on!" The image of Lin Yan's soul almost shattering and his breath barely clinging to life was still vivid in its mind, filling it with lingering fear. But it also knew that this was the path its brother had to take to become stronger, a path he couldn't avoid. All it could do was stay here and guard him to the death, gathering all its auspicious power to be its brother's most reliable support.
Lin Ning calmed his mind, cleared his mind of all distractions, and sat cross-legged with his eyes closed once more. His consciousness instantly sank into the vast and boundless depths of his sea of consciousness.
In his sea of consciousness, the enormous, ancient stone mill of gods and demons reappeared. Lin Yan's divine soul trembled violently as if facing a natural enemy.
Without hesitation! Lin Yan gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing his instinctive fear with immense willpower, controlling his soul and body, and resolutely threw himself into the entrance of the stone mill!
"Buzz—rumble—!"
The Divine Demon Stone Mill roared to life, emitting a deep, ancient sound!
"Ugh—!!!"
Almost the instant the millstone began to turn, an indescribable, one-in-a-millionth of terrifying pain instantly swept over and devoured every vestige of Lin Yan's consciousness! It was no longer physical pain, but an extreme torture originating from the very core of his soul, being utterly torn apart, ground, and annihilated in the most brutal way! Far surpassing any known punishment in the world!
Lin Yan's body trembled violently in reality, so violently that he almost bounced off the prayer mat. His face instantly turned deathly pale, devoid of any color, and cold sweat poured out like a waterfall, instantly soaking his clothes and leaving dark stains on the ground. His teeth clenched so tightly that they made a sickening "crunching" sound, and even the corners of his mouth uncontrollably spilled crimson blood, the result of his muscles tensing and spasming from extreme pain, veins bulging, as if he were enduring the most cruel torture in the world.
The little Qi, who was standing guard to the side, suddenly bristled its golden fur and stood up abruptly. Its small body was taut like a bow, and its golden eyes were wide open. It pawed at the ground with extreme anxiety, and let out low, suppressed cries and sobs.
The millstone of gods and demons turned relentlessly and slowly in his sea of consciousness, round and round... Time lost its meaning here; every second felt like an eternity of torment in the deepest hell. Lin Yan's divine soul light had become extremely weak, flickering precariously, on the verge of being completely extinguished and his soul scattered.
Now! The tipping point!
Suddenly, golden light burst forth from Xiao Qi's eyes! Its little paws moved with lightning speed, almost turning into a golden shadow, grabbing the jade bottle beside it and precisely stuffing three Soul-Replenishing Pills into Lin Yan's mouth.
The elixir melted upon entering the mouth, instantly transforming into a vast energy that directly nourished and surged towards the almost completely annihilated origin of the divine soul.
Like parched, cracked earth receiving sweet rain, like an extremely cold, icy hell suddenly encountering a vast, warm sun!
The fragments of the divine soul, which were about to dissipate and return to nothingness, began to frantically absorb this life-saving energy under the wrapping, soaking and nourishing power of this powerful yet gentle medicine. They were re-condensing, repairing, bonding and growing stronger at an unprecedented speed!
Destruction precedes construction! Living through death!
The soul, which had been crushed to the extreme, began to undergo a fundamental reorganization and sublimation under the miraculous effect of the Soul-Replenishing Pill, becoming more solid, more substantial, and more resilient! The color of the soul also changed from dull and lackluster to lustrous and translucent, and even subtly expanded by a circle, emitting a spiritual fluctuation that was far more powerful than before!
After enduring an unknown amount of time in the tug-of-war between pain and healing, Lin Yan's violent trembling finally subsided. His clenched teeth slowly loosened, his breathing became steady and long, and the color in his face gradually returned, even gaining a deeper, more profound luster than before, as if jade had been polished.
He slowly opened his eyes, and a faint golden glint seemed to flash briefly in the depths of his eyes before disappearing. The range and precision of his divine sense perception were once again significantly enhanced.
The first thing he saw was Xiao Qi. Its eyes were still wet with tears, and it gently nuzzled his chin with its little head, making a pitiful yet dependent whimper.
"Thank you, Xiao Qi. You've worked so hard. Brother... you made it through again."
Xiaoqi nestled in his arms, its tail gently wrapping around his wrist: "Brother, you scared me to death! You must be more careful next time. Xiaoqi is scared."
Having endured such inhuman torment and extreme danger, he gained a significant enhancement and refinement of his spiritual essence. After one last such tempering, the strength and precision of his spiritual sense would be sufficient to steadily support his attempt to cultivate the two great cultivation arts of alchemy and talisman drawing. This path was fraught with thorns, immense pain, and perilous dangers, but with Xiao Qi by his side, unwavering in her support, a powerful inheritance at his disposal, and a Dao heart as firm as iron, he was fearless and forged ahead without hesitation.