First Close Encounter with a Blade Beast

Fellow cultivators who often cultivate immortality all knew that Spirit Gathering Formations were mainly divided into two types.

Spirit gathering and spirit release.

What Wang Jixuan needed now was a Spirit Release Array, which released and purified the spiritual energy inside spirit stones, allowing Qi Refiners to absorb it to strengthen themselves or restore their mana.

He first took out three Bone-Piercing Nails, dismantled them section by section, carefully erased the restrictions carved inside them, and repurposed them into formation patterns.

Before long, a broken black circle lay before Wang Jixuan. He took three diamond-shaped "crystal cores" from his pocket, wrapped them in qi, suspended them above the circle, and gently pressed down.

A barely audible click sounded.

The formation patterns on the sixteen Blade Beast exoskeleton fragments lit up at once. Strands of spiritual power flowed from the patterns, turning into hazy, colorless qi.

It worked!

Wang Jixuan clenched his fist hard, nearly throwing back his head and howling.

Unfortunately, he had to hold it in.

This was his dormitory. Since it was off-duty hours, it was quite lively outside, with passersby walking past from time to time.

Wang Jixuan immediately gathered his essence and focused his mind, actively circulating the qi within his body. Streams of colorless spiritual qi swiftly converged into his palms.

At last, he briefly regained the exhilaration and joy of cultivation from his past life!

Ninety-two or ninety-three percent of the spiritual qi here was directly absorbed by him. Formation losses and dissipation into the air were unavoidable.

He did not dare enter meditation. At this moment, he only focused on absorbing the spiritual qi and improving his cultivation, clearing his mind of stray thoughts as much as possible.

He was rapidly approaching the Qi Abundance Realm.

Though re-cultivation meant he lacked no insights, this Dao body's foundation was not particularly good, nor had he begun cultivating from childhood. He had to find a way to make his foundation at the Foundation Establishment stage solid and deep.

The matter of the Black Fire Gang had temporarily come to an end.

Yet the problems dragged out by the Black Fire Gang were even more troublesome and less controllable—the Psionic Capital, the war zone command front... and more.

Wang Jixuan was eager to absorb the spiritual qi within the crystal cores partly because he was considering the possibility of making a run for it.

If Captain Zhou could not withstand the pressure, then Wang Jixuan could only leave the fortress and attempt to survive in the cracks between human Technology Civilization and Blade Beasts.

It would be best if I could cultivate peacefully for a while longer.

Gradually, Wang Jixuan's limbs and bones began to feel swollen and full.

His Dao heart leapt with delight, and his five senses became clear.

He could clearly sense a faint Spiritual Light appearing within his Purple Palace, while a simple vortex formed in his dantian.

Qi abundance!

Spiritual Light appeared!

The first small step on the path of cultivation had finally been taken!

He finally was... no, his biological energy readings should still place him as an E-Class Psionicist...

The Qi Refining Realm emphasized refining qi, transforming spiritual qi into mana to nourish the flesh, then using the body's vital essence to nurture the soul, allowing one to enter the Gathering Spirit Realm.

The mark of Qi Refining completion was a qi sea like clouds.

The sign of entering the Gathering Spirit Realm was producing the first wisp of Spiritual Sense.

Daoist Wang was still a little short of that.

Once he entered the Gathering Spirit Realm, there would be a relatively long cultivation period. A cultivator had to refine qi and temper the body, gather spirit and forge the soul, gradually shed the mortal frame, and once the body returned to the innate state and the Dao body was initially free of impurities, one could enter the Returning to Truth Realm.

The Returning to Truth Realm focused on nourishing the Dao bones, resonating with heaven and earth to condense one's own divine self.

Qi Refining, Gathering Spirit, Returning to Truth, Void Return—once these four realms were achieved, one could complete Foundation Establishment and begin preparing to condense a Golden Core.

Though this humble Daoist's foundation in my past life was perfect, it was not deep enough.

Wang Jixuan thought this to himself.

If conditions allowed, he actually wanted to spend several more years on Foundation Establishment.

Unfortunately, this world's Cultivation Environment was incredibly poor, and he still could not find a safe Cave Dwelling.

About three hours passed like this.

Wang Jixuan sensed that the amount of spiritual qi he could absorb was rapidly decreasing. Just as he was about to open his eyes, one of the three crystal cores made a pinging sound, and cracks spread across its surface.

It shattered just like that?

It truly was worthy of being a crystal core from the lowest-tier Blade Beast. The other two still retained a trace of spiritual power...

—The infusion equipment at the fortress's Psionic Home was equivalent to the smallest possible equipment module. Only one person could enter at a time, and it could only use crystal cores from the lowest-tier Blade Beasts.

Hmm?

Wang Jixuan opened his eyes to a slit and stared at the shattered crystal core, his expression incomparably grave.

A faint mass of Black Energy was pulling free from the crystal core and rapidly gathering.

Within the Black Energy seemed to be a pair of indistinct eyes.

A Remnant Soul of Blade Beast?

Wang Jixuan did not dare be careless. This was his first time using a Blade Beast Crystal Core. He had previously learned that the process of using Blade Beast Crystal Cores for infusion to create Psionicists had an extremely high mortality rate...

"Hiss—"

A sound like a lizard flicking its tongue suddenly came from the Black Energy!

Wang Jixuan pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. Golden-black patterns bloomed across his forehead.

He sensed a threat from the unknown and was ready to use demonic arts to protect himself at any moment!

Suddenly!

A phantom shot out of the Black Energy!

The phantom was only two fingers long, yet it had a complete whiskered tail. It drilled toward Wang Jixuan's forehead at incredible speed!

"Begone!"

Spring thunder burst from Wang Jixuan's tongue!

He suddenly brought his hands together, two beams of golden light erupting from his eyes. Qi gathered in both palms as he barely managed to clap the phantom between them.

A sharp scream pierced Wang Jixuan's heart!

The thing pinned between Wang Jixuan's palms struggled violently!

For the moment, Wang Jixuan could not pull it away from before his face, so he opened his eyes and stared closely.

What kind of demonic creature was this!

This creature's demonic head had none of the facial features of any human, beast, bird, or other living thing Wang Jixuan knew. It had only an enormous mouthpart, ring after ring of sharp teeth within it, and a long tongue protruding outward from the center!

Behind its mouthpart was a thick neck. Its body resembled that of a ferocious tiger but was covered in a layer of armor. It had six claws beneath it, blades growing from its digits. Behind each of its six knee joints was a sharp "blade limb" structure, and a blade also jutted outward from its back.

At this moment, the Remnant Soul of Blade Beast continuously changed shape as it struggled.

When it curled up, the "blades" on its back and limbs turned it into a "tire" covered in sharp blades!

In fact, Blade Beasts got their name from this form possessed by the most numerous basic combat Blade Beasts.

The two clusters of qi in Wang Jixuan's palms firmly suppressed it, and he did not dare let it advance even half an inch.

Thankfully, it was only the remnant soul of a lowest-tier creature!

The Remnant Soul of Blade Beast struggled with less and less force. Wang Jixuan did not dare relax his guard and slowly pulled it away from his face. One usable talisman art and incantation after another flashed through his mind before he suddenly thrust forward.

The Remnant Soul of Blade Beast was pushed three feet away. It spun through the air, howling as it charged at Wang Jixuan!

He only had three seconds to cast the spell!

Wang Jixuan's hands trembled at high speed, moving so quickly that they nearly left afterimages. He completed nine hand seals and pointed forward with his Sword Finger!

"Array yourselves before me: Rin, Pyō, Tō, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen!"

Buzz!

Faint ripples bloomed from Wang Jixuan's fingertip. The charging Remnant Soul of Blade Beast was struck by the ripples, and its body swiftly turned into specks of ash.

It was not over yet.

The ashes flickered continuously. A faint vertical pupil appeared within them, light glimmering inside as it stared at Wang Jixuan.

What the hell?

Had some ancient demon among the Blade Beasts left behind a restriction, or something else?

Wang Jixuan stared back. His Dao heart would not permit even a trace of fear toward such a Demonic Monster, while that vertical pupil conveyed a clear emotion.

Uh, if Wang Jixuan understood correctly, that emotion was...

[Disdain].

In an instant, the vertical pupil vanished.

Wang Jixuan held his breath and watched as the spiritual qi dispersed, then lowered his head to look at the two crystal cores that still retained a little unused spiritual power.

When a breeze blew past, a chill ran down his back.

This...

He frowned and focused, picking up one crystal core to sense it carefully.

There was not much spiritual power Remaining inside the crystal core.

He secretly rejoiced that, to be safe, he had used a formation to draw out the spiritual qi rather than directly holding it in his hand and absorbing it.

If he had absorbed it directly, the barely perceptible Remnant Soul of Blade Beast inside might very well have taken advantage of the opening. Even if he could protect his Divine Soul, he might still have suffered severe injuries.

Good lord, was even speeding up cultivation in this world this dangerous?

However...

Crude cultivation.

Had he just been looked down upon by the owner of that large eye—some High-Tier Blade Beast?

Fine, fine. Very good.

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Do not mock this old Daoist for being poor!

If he used a Spirit Gathering Formation to draw out the spiritual power and left a small amount inside the crystal core each time, then he would not need to worry about Remnant Souls of Blade Beasts attacking him?

Then Wang Jixuan suddenly thought of something.

The crystal core Zheng Shiduo wore on him still contained some faint spiritual power.

In other words, there might also be a remnant soul of a Blade Beast inside it?

He frowned in thought. The phantom presented by the Remnant Soul of Blade Beast kept appearing in his mind, and he decided to find an opportunity later to warn Ling Tong.

If even the lowest-tier Blade Beasts were this terrifying, then higher-tier Blade Beasts...

I should still find a way to swallow my pride and cultivate in the fortress for a few more days.

Wang Jixuan lightly clenched his fist. The now quite distinct vortex in his dantian slowly spun, and a stream of qi rapidly coursed through his body. A thin layer of qi armor appeared over his fist.

His qi sea had condensed.

The Qi Refining Realm was nearing major completion!

Next came continuous cultivation—nourishing his Divine Soul, condensing Spiritual Sense, and entering the Gathering Spirit Realm!

Wang Jixuan smiled, swiftly put away the three used-up crystal cores, sealed them with talismans, and considered how to acquire more crystal cores later.

Just these three hours of Spirit Gathering cultivation equaled fifty days of cultivation in the Wanlijin Gang's tent district in the Lower City!

This was the importance of spirit stones!

Wang Jixuan planned to save the remaining two crystal cores for his later attempt to break into the Gathering Spirit Realm. Condensing the first wisp of Spiritual Sense required consuming a considerable amount of spiritual qi.

I cannot slack off. After striving for so long, I have only seen a tiny glimmer of hope on the immortal path.

Wang Jixuan chuckled and continued considering ways to guard against attacks from Remnant Souls of Blade Beasts.

He did have many methods available.

But even the cleverest housewife could not cook without rice. Every method required the corresponding resources.

He picked up the Text Exchanger beside him. There was a message from Zhou Zhengde, sent half an hour ago.

[01: Things should be okay for now. An old S-Class Psionicist from the Psionic Capital is negotiating with my Maternal Grandfather. The Psionicists want to apply a law requiring all Psionicists to undergo regular inspections at Psionic Home, using that to take you to the Psionic Capital. My Maternal Grandfather refused. He said you aren't a Psionicist. According to my Maternal Grandfather's assistant, he's holding a button in his hand, and the Psionicists seem very wary of it. What should we eat tonight to celebrate?]

Wang Jixuan considered it briefly but did not feel relieved.

He was considering whether he should first hide in the Lower City...

Continue interrogating Kong Nu.

Daoist Wang closed his eyes and sensed his surroundings. The situation within a hundred meters entered his mind, and he could already vaguely make out several figures.

Wang Jixuan raised his Sword Finger and gently drew it. The Soul-Capturing Talisman slowly unfolded, revealing a three-inch-tall remnant soul.

The room was dark. Wang Jixuan slowly approached, and his cold, stern face possessed the beauty of an underworld magistrate.

He raised his Sword Finger and produced a thread of true fire.

Kong Nu's remnant soul wailed endlessly in Wang Jixuan's heart.

Daoist Wang silently cut off Kong Nu's screams and merely continued releasing true fire, feeling the increased endurance brought by his improved cultivation.

He was not a pervert. Listening to a soul scream did not excite him.

He simply wanted Kong Nu to suffer a little more before his soul scattered completely.

He burned him for roughly ten minutes.

Following the principle of conserving mana, Wang Jixuan stopped the burning. He watched Kong Nu's continuously trembling remnant soul and said gently:

"Landlady's eldest son, tell me something you think might interest me."

"When you stop talking, or when I no longer find it interesting, I will burn you completely with true fire."

"I can give you a hint. For example, your Psionic Infusion technology."

Kong Nu shuddered several times and cried in a trembling voice, "There's... there's a monitoring chip in our brains... no, I don't have a body anymore... You... who are you? Who are you! What kind of technology is this! My soul!"

Wang Jixuan smiled without speaking. A tiny flame bloomed from his fingertip.

Half an hour later.

Wang Jixuan lay on his bed, feeling as though his head was buzzing. Even though he had prepared his Dao heart beforehand, those numbers still shocked him deeply.

He seemed to see piles upon piles of white bones, to see a sea of blood filled with floating corpses.

Truly a great demon of this world, having harmed more than a hundred thousand people.

Besides that, Wang Jixuan also thoroughly questioned Kong Nu about Ye Zi's dealings with him.

What surprised Wang Jixuan was that even at death's door, Kong Nu still believed Ye Zi was innocent—that she was the last shred of kindness his mother had left him, an untainted White Lotus...

Ye Zi had gone to Fortress No. 82 with Kong Nu's family. They should be able to catch her afterward.

Wang Jixuan's Spiritual Sense twitched slightly.

Zhou Zhengde and Doctor Wei Na were jogging toward this place.

He immediately sprang up, tore the Soul-Capturing Talisman apart, hurried to the toilet, lit the talisman fragments with true fire, let the ashes fall into the toilet water, and pressed the flush button.

Wang Jixuan opened his left hand. The shattered bones of the Blade Beasts that had formed the simple Spirit Gathering Formation fell into his palm. He casually stuffed them into his pocket and pulled open the alloy door.

Zhou Zhengde's fist, raised to knock, struck empty air and nearly hit Wang Jixuan.

Zhou Zhengde glanced to either side and said in a low voice:

"Quick! Come with me first! Ling Tong might be coming to take you! She's hacked all my Communication Devices! I'll take you to find my Maternal Grandfather!"

Wang Jixuan froze for a moment.

Wei Na had already opened a long coat, intending to put it on Wang Jixuan.

Just as he was about to agree, his Spiritual Sense gave a faint twitch.

At the edge of his vision, Ling Tong's tall, slender figure had already appeared at the end of the Capillary Passage.