Zong Shou remained stunned for a full half-moment before snapping back to reality. He raised his hand before his eyes, and a ball of True Qi emerged within his palm. It spun ceaselessly above his hand, stirring up gales of wind.
Not only had the circulation of energy within his body accelerated significantly, but the power was no longer diffuse as before; it was now intensely concentrated in one spot. At the very tip, it resembled a drill bit, sharp and piercing to an astonishing degree!
The force of his previous palm strike, infused with this spiraling True Qi, had increased by only about ten percent. Yet, because of this rapid concentration, it had resulted in the complete shattering of the wooden chair.
The might of this vortexing vital energy in his grasp was truly terrifyingly potent!
“So that’s how it is!”
After a moment of contemplation, Zong Shou understood the reason behind the True Qi’s rotation.
The acceleration in the cycling of True Qi was due to the dual meridians running in parallel within his body, mutually attracting and repelling each other, creating an effect akin to magnetism. Furthermore, the spiraling flow caused all the True Qi to become far more focused.
This method of channeling energy was incredibly violent, possessing a frighteningly sharp offensive power.
However, this approach came with both advantages and disadvantages; Zong Shou had to sacrifice much for it.
The speed of the Qi cycle’s circulation meant that, for now, he was locked into a path combining extreme speed with sheer ferocity.
Unless he reached a much higher realm, any martial arts or sword techniques that relied on yielding to overcome the rigid were entirely out of the question.
“There is gain and there is loss; nothing in the world is perfectly balanced. To have solved the issue of the dual, parallel meridians is already fortunate. To gain this additional benefit is an unexpected bonus!”
Zong Shou suddenly drew the Lei Ya Sword and flicked it towards the nearby space. A thin thread of sword energy, accompanied by a faint spark of lightning, shot out. Stone fragments scattered, and a clean hole was bored directly into the wall half a zhang away.
It was only as thick as a little finger, yet the interior was perfectly smooth. The rest of the wall remained completely unharmed.
After staring blankly for a moment, Zong Shou looked intently at the sword in his hand.
“Sword Qi! Only beyond the Innate stage can Qi manifest three zhang away. I am merely a Seventh-Rank Secret Martial Master, yet I can already generate Sword Qi!”
The sliver of ‘Sword Qi’ Zong Shou produced only traveled about one zhang. Moreover, compared to true Innate Martial Masters, it was exceedingly weak.
The might of the spiraling True Qi far exceeded his expectations. However, he could also feel that the spiritual conduits within his Lei Ya Sword seemed to have sustained some subtle damage. He would likely need to refine it several times with the Sword Cleansing Art later to repair it.
While the spiraling True Qi was undoubtedly powerful, its drill-like mode of operation was something ordinary weaponry could not withstand. Even the high-grade Talisman Weapon, the Lei Ya Sword, was barely adequate.
This was only the preliminary stage; completing the restructuring of the spiral meridians would take at least another year. These hundred-plus Mai Ling Pills might not be enough.
When the meridian structure he designed was finally complete, just how fierce and sharp would this spiraling vital energy become?
“My True Qi, moving in a spiral, its power is truly beyond expectation! It was not in vain that I tortured myself for over two hours earlier. I recall that in the past—no, perhaps about five thousand years in the future—a certain martial cultivator created a secret method called the Heavenly Vortex Force, which once made him famous, virtually unrivaled within the Cloud Realm. Unfortunately, he failed to step into the Immortal Martial realm and perished early. However, this man’s methods might be worth borrowing from; I could create a supreme art tailored specifically for my dual-meridian body!”
Zong Shou’s eyes flickered, and he forcefully suppressed the excitement surging in his chest.
While the spiraling True Qi was excellent, it would still require several months of effort to truly take effect. Moreover, Zong Shou had no intention of using those Mai Ling Pills again in the immediate future.
Although his meridians had been stretched and relocated, they were not yet stable. The fragile pathways could not withstand further expansion.
Furthermore, the subsequent days would certainly bring shrinkage and displacement as they slowly reverted to their original form. It required repeated applications to truly stabilize, so rushing was pointless.
To enhance his strength, the Spirit Master techniques of Sword Control and Mind Arts were far more reliable.
His gaze shifted to the Black Wave Sword. Zong Shou concentrated, and with a gentle mental nudge, he summoned his soul sense, causing the black spirit sword to abruptly lift into the air and hover before him.
A hint of approval touched Zong Shou’s face. It was, after all, a spirit weapon nurtured by that broken blade for many years. Although its grade was only First-Rank, its spiritual awareness was astonishing.
It could be controlled by mere thought, even without significant refinement.
This sword was already handle-less and hollowed out internally, which suited him perfectly. Its weight was significantly reduced, naturally lowering the consumption of soul power needed to manipulate it.
The only pity was that this sword was water-attributed, which didn't quite align with his control over lightning.
“This water-attributed spirit sword, however, can bring the illusionary talents of my Heavenly Fox body to their absolute peak. I can even utilize the Eighteen Shocking Cloud Annihilation Sword Intents derived from those Sword Fools and Puppets through this blade. Only my control over lightning abilities is somewhat wasted.”
The power of a spirit sword was exceptionally potent, not just because the materials used far surpassed those of Talisman Weapons, but also because the talismans inscribed upon them were far more intricate, bordering on the level of a ‘Formation.’
The sword's nature had already achieved sentience, and the reason Spirit Masters could wield them with intention was due to the embedded talisman formations providing anchor points.
In simple terms, by later standards, spirit weapons possessed specific focal points designed to interface with soul power.
However, refining them was extremely complex. To gain complete, unhindered control over a spirit weapon, immune to the influence of other Spirit Masters’ intentions, required at least half a year.
Zong Shou smiled, formed a hand seal, and urged his soul power, igniting a flame that licked across the sword.
About half an hour later, when the sword had been scorched to a dark reddish-black, he stopped. As it gradually cooled, he abruptly seized it with his right hand and plunged the tip into his left forearm.
When he pulled it out, blood streamed forth, but a portion of the blood slowly seeped into the ridge of the sword, forming an indescribably strange blood mark within the metal body.
Instantly, several threads of mental connection snapped into existence between Zong Shou’s spirit and the Black Wave Sword.
This method of Blood Sacrifice Sword Refining was a technique of the Demonic Sects, which originally required the blood of ten six-year-old boys to consecrate the blade. Zong Shou, however, was using his own essence blood as a substitute. The result was similar, though it would inevitably leave him weakened for a time.
Fortunately, he still possessed the essence from the Thunder Luan Egg, so there was no serious danger.
This single step saved him several months of nurturing the sword.
Those who achieved mastery in martial arts often possessed hard, cold hearts. Zong Shou was no exception; he was ruthless not only to others but equally so to himself.
Once again, it was nighttime, approximately seventy li outside Cloud Saint City, atop a secluded, small hill.
Xuan Yuan Yiren sat cross-legged, her delicate body bare, atop the summit of the hill.
Her body, as pure and white as jade, shimmered with an incomparably holy radiance under the cold moonlight. Her proud twin peaks and skin like congealed fat—every part of her figure was enough to drive any man to madness.
Yet, her eyes were tightly shut, and a crimson and azure pill hovered before her chest. It resembled a spirit beast crystal but was perfectly round, smooth, and utterly transparent, as if made of pure clarity.
At this moment, it was gathering immense amounts of wood and fire-attributed spiritual energy toward itself.
If viewed from further away, the entire hill was densely studded with countless beast crystals.
Nine wooden towers, each about three feet tall, were positioned at the nine cardinal points, with nine clusters of spirit flames burning atop them. Xuan Yuan Yiren was situated precisely in the center of this talisman array. With every breath, she inhaled massive amounts of spiritual energy into her body before exhaling it again.
Even the moonlight seemed physically distorted above this location, forcefully channeled toward Xuan Yuan Yiren’s body. A tiny speck of condensed moonlight essence pierced directly into the center of her brow.
With every passing moment, the luster on Xuan Yuan Yiren’s skin grew brighter.
After a full half an hour, when the moonlight faded, Xuan Yuan Yiren suddenly exhaled a long breath.
Then, with another sharp intake, she swallowed the golden pill into her abdomen.
She stood up straight and immediately reached out, gathering all the discarded robes nearby and draping them over her body.
Li Yungniang stood a short distance away, perched on a treetop, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.
Seeing Xuan Yuan Yiren finally rise, the branch beneath her feet immediately bent and sprang back, and Li Yungniang gracefully leapt to her mistress’s side, her face filled with confusion. “Miss, why did you conclude your practice so early today? Was the moonlight too dim?”
“It was indeed somewhat faint.”
Xuan Yuan Yiren nodded slightly, looked up at the sky, then a trace of a smile crossed her face. “But the progress today was quite satisfactory. I wonder if it’s because mastering a new pill formula put me in a better mood. If things continue like today, it should only take about two to three months to break through. Then, without relying on the power of this external elixir, I should possess Innate abilities. I won’t need to depend on the Nine Spirit Flame Moon Array for cultivation; I can use the external elixir to supplement my practice normally.”
Saying this, Xuan Yuan Yiren’s cheeks flushed slightly. “The Profound Moon Wood Radiance Art Master picked for me is too shameful. Every time I practice, I must be completely unclothed. Out here in the wilderness, it’s terrifying, always afraid of being discovered. I don't know when I can cultivate to the point of not igniting objects on contact. Damn it, why can’t I find that Fire-Washed Immortal Gauze...”
Hearing this, Li Yungniang couldn't help but chuckle, showing a hint of schadenfreude. “Miss, the Wood Radiance Art is the inherited secret of the Dan Quan Sect, balancing spiritual and martial cultivation. It cannot be learned by anyone outside the lineage disciples; countless disciples within the Dan Quan Sect envy you, yet here you are complaining. Didn't Elder Dan Ling anticipate this and prepare a separate cave dwelling for you? You insisted on running out here to find Zong Shou!”
At the mention of this name, Li Yungniang’s brows immediately furrowed again, as if the mere utterance was unpleasant.
“Miss, do you truly intend to marry that wastrel? Even if you despise Young Master Wen from the Shang Xiao Profound Spirit Sect, you shouldn't seek out Zong Shou! Even if this person manages to survive this current tribulation, he will be nearing old age in a mere decade or so. With your thousand-year lifespan, how can you walk alongside such a mortal? Miss, you are throwing away your entire life—”
Xuan Yuan Yiren did not appreciate the advice. Her delicate face darkened slightly, showing clear displeasure. “Sister Yunniang, I know you dislike him. But no matter how flawed that person is, he is still Xuan Yuan Yiren’s fiancé.”