Tempering Spiritual Power

After the Meteor Core left the Shadowed Marsh, the world once again opened up, but the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy.

The Evil Qi in the air was no longer aimlessly drifting but carried a subtle sense of agitation and killing intent. In the distance, one could even see thick streams of ferocious evil energy rising like smoke signals, piercing straight into the clouds.

Following the hint from the Witch Clan youth Chi, Li Su knew they were approaching the area known as the "Wall of Sighs," where a large-scale beast tide was surging.

He didn't rush forward immediately. Instead, he found a relatively hidden mountain hollow and decided to refine the three Meteor Cores first to improve his strength and prepare for the dangers ahead.

"Fellow Daoist Zhiwei, I need to go into seclusion for a moment to refine what I've obtained. Please guard me," Li Su said.

Zhiwei solemnly agreed, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, I will do my utmost!"

Li Su's eight-zhang bamboo body deeply rooted itself into the ground, drawing upon the earth's energy for assistance.

He then took out a Meteor Core, guided it with his divine sense, and slowly placed it between the first and second sections of his bamboo body, at the most resilient bamboo node.

"Harness the stars for tempering, and Spiritual Power will be forged!"

He circulated his cultivation technique, and the star-like radiance on his Mo Xing Bamboo body suddenly lit up, resonating strongly with the Meteor Core in his hand!

The purest essence of stellar origin was guided out like a trickling stream, injecting into his bamboo body.

This time, it wasn't a violent energy surge but a gentle yet profound tempering and fusion.

The stellar origin energy flowed through every minute structure of his bamboo body, slowly merging with his existing Stellar Evil Energy, Soul Devour origin, and that wisp of "Bedrock Rune" Dao charm.

The color of his bamboo body became deeper, and the star-like points within the ink-black hue grew more brilliant, as if he had truly incorporated a miniature starry sky into his body.

The bamboo nodes hummed, becoming tougher, with faint sounds of wind and thunder echoing.

On the bamboo leaves, the dark light and starlight flowed ceaselessly, the sharpness contained within, making it even more dangerous.

He focused on tempering two Spiritual Powers: "Soul-Devouring Dark Light" and "Star Evil Body Protection."

The Soul-Devouring Dark Light integrated more of the star-quenching intent, becoming more concealed and its power even greater than before, significantly increasing its lethality to souls.

The Star Evil Body Protection absorbed a large amount of stellar origin, making the protective halo more solid. The star-like points flickering within the halo seemed to form tiny stellar vortices, capable of not only resisting physical and energy attacks but even providing some resistance against divine sense impact.

[Refined Meteor Core, absorbed Stellar Origin, foundation slightly improved.]
[Soul-Devouring Dark Light (Intermediate) proficiency greatly increased, power enhanced.]
[Star Evil Body Protection (Beginner) advanced to Star Swirl Body Protection (Intermediate), defense significantly improved, added faint divine sense resistance.]
[Cultivation advanced to late-stage Earth Immortal.]

The system's prompts sounded one after another.

When all three Meteor Cores were completely refined, Li Su opened his "eyes" (his divine sense scanned himself), feeling his strength surge, his divine sense more condensed, and his perception of the Cosmos enhanced severalfold! If it were night, the speed of cultivating by drawing upon stellar energy would greatly increase.

Late-stage Earth Immortal! His strength had once again ascended to a new level!

He looked at Zhiwei, who had been guarding him with a tense expression, and said, "Thank you for your hard work. I have succeeded."

Zhiwei sensed Li Su's increasingly profound and powerful aura, both surprised and delighted, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on your significant cultivation advancement!"

At this moment, the beast roars and energy explosions from the distance grew more frequent and intense, even seeing spell lights shooting into the sky.

"The battle ahead is fierce, we need to hurry," Li Su said gravely.

The two no longer lingered and proceeded at full speed towards the northwest.

The further they went, the more tragic the scene on the ground became. Huge beast corpses and fragments of broken magical treasures were scattered everywhere. The earth was cracked and scorched black, clearly having endured a fierce battle.

The Evil Qi mixed with the smell of blood, making one nauseous.

Finally, a colossal "wall" that seemed to connect heaven and earth appeared on the horizon!

It wasn't a real wall but a three-dimensional defense line constructed from a massive magical barrier, natural hazards, and countless defensive fortifications!

The barrier's light flickered unstably, with runes flowing across it, constantly withstanding the impact of ferocious beasts surging like tides from outside! Countless cultivators, Yao, and even some massive alien races were fighting desperately against the beasts inside and outside the barrier!

Sword light crisscrossed, magical treasures roared, Spiritual Powers exploded, and beast roars shook the heavens! Every moment, lives were lost, and new forces replenished the ranks!

This was the Wall of Sighs! One of the front lines where the beings of the Primordial World resisted the beast tide!

Its name, "Sighs," perhaps because no matter how much was sacrificed, the beasts seemed endless, leading to despair and sighs; or perhaps because countless heroes shed their blood here, evoking regretful sighs.

Li Su and Zhiwei were deeply shaken by the grand spectacle of war. The power of individuals seemed so insignificant in the face of this terrifying beast tide.

"Should... should we go over?" Zhiwei's voice trembled.

Li Su's divine sense swept across the battlefield and found that the barrier was not completely sealed. There were several large gates, heavily guarded, allowing teams of cultivators to enter after inspection.

Many cultivators, who appeared to be coming to support or for trials, were entering the battlefield through these gates.

"We must go," Li Su's tone was firm. "Stay close to me. We'll go through that gate over there and act according to the situation."

The two concealed their auras and blended in behind a small team that had just repelled a minor wave of beasts and was preparing to retreat into the barrier to rest. They approached a gate.

Guarding the gate was a team of Celestial Immortal cultivators with sharp auras, clad in uniform battle armor. The leader was even at the early stage of True Immortal cultivation. They strictly inspected everyone entering and exiting.

"Halt! Which tribe or sect are you from? Your identification token!" A Celestial Immortal guard stopped Li Su and Zhiwei, his sharp gaze sweeping over them, particularly lingering on Li Su's form.

Li Su took out the white jade token gifted by the Jade Clarity Retreat, "Rogue cultivator Mo Xing, who was once aided by a fellow Daoist from Jade Clarity Retreat. I wish to seek the Dao in Kunlun."

The guard took the token and examined it, nodding, "It is indeed a Jade Clarity token. However, the front line is currently critical. All cultivators above Earth Immortal must be registered and may be conscripted to assist in defense if necessary. Are you willing to register?"

Li Su pondered for a moment and said, "We are willing to do our part, but we need to hurry to Kunlun as soon as possible."

"You may. After registering, you will be free to move about. If there is an urgent summons, your token will provide a notification, and you must proceed to the designated location quickly.

Remember, desertion is forbidden, or you will become an enemy to all beings in the Primordial World!" the guard said sternly. He handed them two simple jade talismans to leave their spiritual imprints on before letting them pass.

Passing through the heavy barrier gate, the deafening sounds of battle and violent energy fluctuations washed over them! Only by truly stepping inside the "Wall of Sighs" defense line could one more profoundly feel the cruelty and grandeur of war.

And the moment Li Su stepped onto the defense line, the "Bedrock Rune" deep within his Primordial Spirit trembled slightly once more. This time, the direction it pointed was no longer simply northwest, but slightly toward the depths of the fiercest battlefield!

There, did something seem to be attracting it?