Tempering Divine Abilities

Leaving the Shadowed Marsh, the land opened up once more, but the atmosphere grew increasingly grim.

The baleful energy in the air was no longer scattered chaotically. It carried a faint air of restlessness and slaughter. On the distant horizon, thick columns of vicious energy rose like beacon smoke, shooting into the heavens.

From the hints given by the Witch Clan youth Chi, Li Su knew they were approaching the region known as the "Wall of Sighs," where a massive tide of Fierce Beasts was surging.

He did not immediately continue on his way. Instead, he found a relatively concealed mountain hollow and decided to refine the three Meteor Cores first, increasing his strength to deal with the dangers ahead.

"Fellow Daoist Zhiwei, I need to enter seclusion briefly to refine my gains. I'll have to trouble you to stand guard for me," Li Su said.

Zhiwei solemnly agreed. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. I will do everything in my power!"

Li Su's eighty-foot bamboo body rooted deeply into the earth, drawing upon the energy of the earth veins for support.

He then took out a Meteor Core and guided it with his divine sense, slowly placing it at the toughest bamboo joint between the first and second sections of his body.

"Draw upon the stars to temper myself; divine abilities shall arise naturally!"

He circulated his cultivation art. Specks of starlight atop his Mo Xing Bamboo Body abruptly lit up, resonating intensely with the Meteor Core in his hand!

Extremely pure stellar origin energy flowed out like a gentle stream and was guided into his bamboo body.

This time, it was no longer a violent impact of energy, but a gentle yet profound tempering and fusion.

The stellar origin energy flowed through every minute structure of his bamboo body, gradually merging with his original Stellar Evil Energy, Soul Devouring Origin, and that trace of Dao rhythm from the Bedrock Rune.

His bamboo body became an even deeper shade of black. The starlike points contained within that inky hue shone ever more brilliantly, as though he had truly absorbed a miniature starry sky into himself.

The bamboo joints hummed as they became even tougher, while faint sounds of wind and thunder echoed within them.

Dark light and starlight flowed endlessly across the bamboo leaves. Their sharpness was restrained, yet they seemed all the more dangerous for it.

He focused on tempering two divine abilities—Soul-Devouring Dark Light and Star Evil Body Protection.

Soul-Devouring Dark Light incorporated more of the stars' annihilating intent, becoming even more concealed and more powerful than before. Its destructive force against souls increased drastically.

Star Evil Body Protection absorbed a great amount of stellar origin energy. The protective halo around him became more solid, while the flashing points of starlight within it seemed to form tiny stellar vortices. It could not only withstand physical and energy attacks, but even provided a certain degree of protection against divine sense assaults.

[Refined Meteor Core. Stellar origin absorbed. Innate foundation slightly improved.]

[Proficiency in Soul-Devouring Dark Light (Intermediate) greatly increased. Power enhanced.]

[Star Evil Body Protection (Beginner) advanced to Star Swirl Body Protection (Intermediate). Defense greatly improved. Weak divine sense resistance added.]

[Cultivation advanced to late Earth Immortal stage.]

The system notifications sounded one after another.

When all three Meteor Cores had been fully refined, Li Su opened his "eyes"—using his divine sense to inspect himself—and felt power surging within him. His divine sense had become more condensed, and his perception of the stars throughout the heavens had grown several times clearer! If it were nighttime, the speed at which he drew upon star power for cultivation would surely increase greatly.

Late Earth Immortal stage! His strength had risen to another level!

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

Sensing the increasingly profound and powerful aura around Li Su, Zhiwei was both shocked and delighted. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on your great advancement in cultivation!"

At that moment, the roars of beasts and explosions of energy from afar grew increasingly frequent and fierce. Spell lights could even be seen soaring into the sky.

"The fighting ahead is intense. We must hurry there," Li Su said gravely.

The two no longer lingered and headed northwest at full speed.

The farther they went, the more tragic the scene on the ground became. Enormous beast carcasses and shattered fragments of magical artifacts lay everywhere. The earth was cracked, and scorched black patches covered the land. It was clear that a brutal battle had taken place here.

Baleful energy mingled with the stench of blood, making them nauseous.

At last, an enormous, majestic "wall," seemingly connecting heaven and earth, appeared on the horizon!

It was not a true wall, but a three-dimensional defensive line formed from a massive magical barrier, natural perilous terrain, and countless defensive fortifications!

The barrier's glow flickered as runes flowed across its surface, continuously enduring the impacts of Fierce Beasts pouring in like a tidal wave from outside! Countless cultivators, demon clansmen, and even some massive foreign races were fighting the Fierce Beasts to the death both within and outside the barrier!

Sword light crisscrossed, magical artifacts howled through the air, divine abilities exploded, and beast roars shook the heavens! Lives perished every moment, while fresh forces continuously rushed in to replace them!

This was—the Wall of Sighs! One of the foremost frontlines where the beings of the Primordial World resisted the mad tide of Fierce Beasts!

Its name, "Sighs," perhaps came from the despairing realization that no matter how many sacrifices were made, the Fierce Beasts seemed endless; or perhaps it was because countless heroes had shed their blood here, leaving others to sigh in grief.

Li Su and Zhiwei were deeply shaken by the vast spectacle of war. Before this terrifying beast tide, individual strength seemed so insignificant.

"Are we... going over there?" Zhiwei's voice trembled.

Li Su swept the battlefield with his divine sense and found that the barrier was not completely sealed. Several enormous gates, heavily guarded by troops, allowed inspected groups of cultivators to enter and exit.

Many cultivators who appeared to be arriving as reinforcements or for training were entering the battlefield through those gates.

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

The two restrained their auras and mixed in behind a squad that had just repelled a small wave of Fierce Beasts and was preparing to return inside the barrier to rest and recover. They approached one of the gates.

A squad of sharp-auraed Celestial Immortal cultivators in uniform battle armor guarded the gate. Their leader was even an early True Immortal. They scrutinized everyone entering and leaving.

"Stop! Which tribe or sect are you from? Show your identification tokens!" A Celestial Immortal guard stopped Li Su and Zhiwei, his sharp gaze sweeping over them. He studied Li Su's form especially closely.

Li Su took out the white jade token granted by the Jade Clarity Retreat. "This independent cultivator is Mo Xing. I once received help from fellow Daoists of the Jade Clarity Retreat and am heading to Kunlun to seek the Dao."

The guard accepted the token and inspected it, then nodded. "It is indeed a Jade Clarity token.

"However, the front line is under great pressure. All cultivators at Earth Immortal stage and above must register. When necessary, they may be conscripted to assist in the defense. Are you willing to register?"

Li Su pondered briefly before saying, "We are willing to contribute what little strength we can, but we must reach Kunlun as soon as possible."

"That is acceptable. After registering, you may act freely. If an emergency conscription arises, your tokens will notify you, and you must hurry to the designated location.

"Remember: you must not flee from battle. Otherwise, you will become enemies of every living being in the Primordial World!" the guard said sternly. He handed them two simple jade talismans and had them leave divine sense imprints before allowing them through.

As they passed through the thick barrier gate, deafening sounds of slaughter and violent energy fluctuations rushed toward them! Only upon truly entering the Wall of Sighs defensive line could they more deeply understand the cruelty and immensity of war.

The instant Li Su stepped into the defensive line, the Bedrock Rune deep within his primordial spirit trembled faintly once more. This time, the direction it indicated was no longer simply northwest, but slightly toward the depths of the front battlefield, where the fighting was most intense!

Something there seemed to be drawing it in?