Deep inside the Chaos cavern, the Innate Spirit Spring bubbled and surged, giving off a refreshing, soothing chill. Lin Yue sat cross-legged on a bluestone beside the spring, eyes closed, a faint Chaos Airflow circling around him. Inside his dantian, the deep teal vortex that had troubled him for days was undergoing a tremendous transformation.
Three days earlier, following Pangu's guidance, he had incorporated the Dao Rhyme Fragment into his cultivation. The energy that had once circulated sluggishly suddenly began to flow smoothly. The profound laws within the fragment acted like an invisible guide, drawing the Chaos Energy in his body along a path he had never tried before. At first, this new circulation brought a faint stinging sensation, as though countless needles were passing through his meridians. But as time went on, the pain gradually faded, replaced by an unprecedented sense of ease. It was like a dry riverbed finally welcoming a rush of fresh water; every inch of his meridians was washed by the energy, becoming wider and more resilient.
At that moment, Lin Yue's consciousness was completely immersed in his dantian. He could clearly "see" countless golden specks of light enveloping and penetrating the deep teal vortex. The specks came from the Dao Rhyme Fragment's source, carrying the majesty of the innate laws. With every pulse, they stripped away the impurities in the vortex, leaving behind only the purest energy. The teal gradually faded, and gold spread from the edges toward the center, like dawn's glow dyeing the sky.
"Bzz..."
A faint tremor spread from Lin Yue's dantian through his entire body, making him shudder involuntarily. The Chaos Airflow around him suddenly spun faster, forming an energy vortex visible to the naked eye. He knew this was a sign of a breakthrough. The barrier that had kept him stuck at the peak of Mid-level Chaos was like a sheet of ice soaking in warm water. Now, it was beginning to crack with a sharp snap, countless fine fissures spreading across it. One final strike would shatter it completely.
Lin Yue didn't rush. Instead, he followed the breathing technique Pangu had taught him, slowly and steadily guiding the energy against the barrier. His breathing fell perfectly in sync with the pulse of the Chaos Airflow. With every inhale and exhale, fresh energy flowed into his body from the spirit spring and the surrounding Chaos, bolstering his breakthrough.
Half an hour later, a soft sound, as if rising from the depths of his soul, rang out. The barrier that had troubled him for so long shattered completely. The pale golden vortex broke free of its restraints and spun merrily in his dantian. Its energy fluctuations were several times stronger than before, carrying a denser, purer quality.
"High-level Chaos... I finally broke through!" Lin Yue's eyes flew open, undisguised joy flashing in them. He raised a hand without thinking, and Chaos Energy gathered in his palm, forming a light sphere about the size of a pigeon's egg. A faint golden sheen flowed across its surface. It was far more solid than the energy spheres he had formed at the intermediate level, and the pressure it gave off was clearly stronger.
He tested his control over the sphere. With a single thought, it darted nimbly between his fingertips, even splitting into three smaller spheres. His control over energy had improved by more than one level along with his breakthrough.
"Wonderful..." Lin Yue clenched his fist, feeling the power surging through him as warmth welled up in his heart. He knew full well that this breakthrough had been no coincidence. Without the Dao Rhyme Fragment Pangu had given him, without the cultivation insights Spirit Wood Daoist had left behind, and without the energy supplied by this Innate Spirit Spring, he had no idea how long he would have remained stuck at the peak of the intermediate level. He might never have reached the threshold of the advanced level at all.
At that thought, he immediately rose and respectfully bowed toward the towering figure deep inside the cavern. "Thank you for your help, senior! Without the Dao Rhyme Fragment you gave me, I'd still be struggling at the bottleneck. Senior, you really are my lucky star!"
Pangu remained seated, his figure as steady as a mountain. At Lin Yue's words, he only gave a slight nod without replying. But Lin Yue could feel the senior's gaze resting on him, carrying a hint of approval.
"Senior, now that my cultivation has improved, can I be of more help to you?" Lin Yue stepped closer, his face bright with hopeful eagerness to be praised. "The stones around the cavern need clearing. Should I move the ones in the way? There's also that energy-rich rock field to the east. I could collect more and bring them back. They might come in handy."
He truly wanted to do something for Pangu. Ever since arriving in the depths of Chaos, Pangu had said little, yet had always protected and guided him in silence. Lin Yue had never forgotten this debt of gratitude. Now that his cultivation had advanced, he finally had more to offer in return.
Pangu slowly shook his head, signaling that Lin Yue didn't need to be so formal. But Lin Yue noticed that the senior's gaze lingered on him a little longer than usual, as if he were observing something.
Just then, Lin Yue felt a faint warmth in his dantian. Looking within, he discovered that the Chaos Imprint Pangu had previously placed inside him had, at some point, begun to glow faintly. The light wrapped around the pale golden vortex, which trembled softly once before falling still again.
"When I broke through just now, I didn't feel the energy surge damaging my foundation..." A thought suddenly crossed Lin Yue's mind. Spirit Wood Daoist had once told him that energy surges during a breakthrough often caused minute damage to a cultivator's foundation, which then needed to be nurtured over time. But this time, not only had Lin Yue felt no damage, his dantian seemed even more stable than before.
Could it be the Chaos Imprint's effect?
Lin Yue looked at Pangu. The senior was still sitting with his eyes closed, so Lin Yue didn't ask. But he was even more certain that this mysterious senior had been protecting him all along, without making a show of it.
"Looks like clinging to senior's coattails was the best decision I've ever made." Lin Yue muttered to himself, a reassured smile appearing on his face. He didn't disturb Pangu again. Instead, he picked up a stone pick nearby, intending to clear the rubble around the cavern first. Even if the senior hadn't asked, he wanted to make the place more comfortable.
Sunlight streamed through gaps in the cavern ceiling, falling on Lin Yue as he worked and on the towering figure nearby. The man and the god formed a strange yet harmonious scene in the silent Chaos cavern. Lin Yue knew this breakthrough was only a new beginning, and that he still had a long road ahead. But with this senior by his side, he felt confident.
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