[Host: Mo Yuan] [Realm: Qi Refining Level 5 (physical strength comparable to late-stage Qi Refining)] [Cultivation Techniques: Basic Qi Refining Manual (Perfected), Divine Dragon Body Refining Art (Beginner), Gengjin Sword Qi Secret Arts (Beginner), Ghost Shadow Footwork (Beginner), Shangqing Thunder Arts (Beginner)] [Skills: Mount Mao Foundation Boxing (Perfected), Primer on Talismans (Perfected), Basic Incantation Secret (Proficient), Basic Formations (Beginner), Basic Crafting (Beginner), Object Control Art (Basic)] [Magic Items: Soul Cleansing Banner (Low-Grade Magic Item, can grow), Lightning Struck Wood Sword Embryo (unfinished)] [Items: Low-Grade Spirit Stone x15, Medium-Grade Spirit Stone x15, High-Grade Spirit Stone x1, Low-Grade Spirit Crystal x1, Core of Hundred-Year Lightning Struck Wood x1, Thousand-Year Dark Wood (small piece) x1, Dragon Blood Grass x1, Spirit Nurturing Pill (Low-Grade) x3, Evil-Slaying Talisman (Enhanced) x5, some talisman paper and cinnabar...] [Core Talent: Primordial Comprehension (max)] [Special Auras: Innate Spiritual Energy (one wisp, continuously refining), True Dragon Evil Qi (one wisp, initially fused), Essence of Earth (trace amount, absorbed), Purity Bamboo spirituality (one wisp, merged into the Soul Cleansing Banner), Mystic Yin Evil Qi (one wisp, infused into the Soul Cleansing Banner for conversion), faint Progenitor Dragon Will (one trace, refined)]
Looking at the translucent system panel before him, Mo Yuan gained a clearer understanding of his current state. His cultivation had stabilized at Qi Refining Level 5, and his body far surpassed those of the same level thanks to the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art and the Progenitor Dragon Will. His methods had also become much more varied, but he still needed to remain cautious when facing the mysterious Black Fiend Sect.
"The Black Fiend Sect's headquarters, the ancient tombs to the southwest..." Mo Yuan murmured thoughtfully, shifting his gaze to the Gengjin Sword Qi Secret Arts and Divine Dragon Body Refining Art on the panel.
"My offensive methods currently rely mainly on Geng Metal Sword Qi, but its consumption is considerable. My body may be strong, but I lack effective close-quarters combat techniques.
"The Soul Cleansing Banner excels at dealing with soul bodies, but it is weak against physical attacks. The Lightning Struck Wood Sword Embryo still needs further tempering."
He realized that before venturing deep into the tiger's den, he had to further improve his immediate combat strength. With a thought, the system's sign-in opportunity refreshed once more.
"System, sign in at my current location, outside Blackwater Town!"
[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the following at "Outside Blackwater Town (Aftermath of the Calamity)": Low-Grade Spirit Stone x20, Gold Essence Fragment x1, Dragon Snake Eight Styles: Fragment x1, residual aura of the Primordial World: Weaponry Evil Qi (one wisp)!] [Gold Essence Fragment]: A crystallization of sharp metal qi. It can be used to enhance the sharpness and toughness of metal-attribute magic items. [Dragon Snake Eight Styles: Fragment]: A basic close-combat fighting art containing dragon forms and serpent intent. Its moves are ruthless, and its force is tricky and vicious. It complements a dragon's physique perfectly. [Weaponry Evil Qi (one wisp)]: A fierce, baleful aura left behind on ancient battlefields. It governs slaughter and can be integrated into sword qi or body-refining evil aura.
"Perfect timing!" A sharp glint flashed through Mo Yuan's eyes. The Dragon Snake Eight Styles perfectly compensated for his weakness in close combat, while the Gold Essence Fragment and Weaponry Evil Qi could further enhance the power of his Geng Metal Sword Qi or magic items.
He immediately found a concealed cave and decided to enter brief seclusion to digest his gains.
First was the Dragon Snake Eight Styles. With the support of Primordial Comprehension, Mo Yuan quickly mastered these eight ruthless and tricky combat techniques.
The first move, "Dragon Emerging from Shallow Waters," gathered force before erupting. The second, "Serpent Coiling Around a Perilous Peak," defended before counterattacking. The third, "Dragon Soaring Through the Sea of Clouds," transformed his movement... After practicing all eight moves, they proved incomparably compatible with his powerful dragon physique. Every gesture sent fierce winds howling, accompanied faintly by dragon roars and serpent hisses. His close-combat ability surged dramatically.
Next, he tried to refine the Gold Essence Fragment into the Lightning Struck Wood Sword Embryo. Using Innate Spiritual Energy to ignite spiritual fire, he carefully transformed the Gold Essence Fragment into liquid golden radiance and slowly infused it into the wooden sword embryo.
The process placed extreme demands on fire control and spiritual sense. The slightest mistake could damage the sword embryo's structure. Mo Yuan concentrated fully, and after a full day and night, he finally succeeded!
The originally dark-brown Lightning Struck Wood Sword Embryo now bore fine golden patterns across its surface, like dragon scales. The blade had become more slender, heavier, and steadier in the hand.
With a light swing, sharp qi naturally sliced through the air with a faint hissing sound. Though it had yet to be inscribed with formations and was not yet a true magic item, its material and sharpness alone already far surpassed ordinary iron weapons. It could be called the Gold-Veined Thunderwood Sword.
As for the wisp of Weaponry Evil Qi, Mo Yuan considered it repeatedly and chose not to directly fuse it into his Geng Metal Sword Qi. Instead, he attempted to use it to temper his body.
The Divine Dragon Body Refining Art already possessed methods for using evil qi to refine the body. Though Weaponry Evil Qi was fierce and violent, under the suppression of the Progenitor Dragon Will and the harmonization of Innate Spiritual Energy, it was slowly absorbed. His muscles, bones, skin, and flesh gained another layer of resilience, while his blood carried a faintly sharp aura of battlefield slaughter.
Three days later, Mo Yuan emerged from seclusion. His aura had become even more restrained, but whenever his eyes opened and closed, brilliant light flashed within them. He was like a sheathed sword—still as an abyss and firm as a mountain when motionless, shattering stones and shaking the heavens when he moved.
He wasted no more time. Using Ghost Shadow Footwork, he sped toward the ancient tombs in the southwest.
Several days later, Mo Yuan arrived in a barren region of hills. Jagged rocks covered the land, vegetation was sparse, and the air was permeated with the faint stench of corpses and decay. Unsettling energy fluctuations vaguely seeped up from underground. According to the Black Fiend Sect cultists' confessions and the map's guidance, the entrance to the headquarters should be somewhere in this area.
He concealed his aura and moved through the hills like a ghost, searching carefully. At last, behind an exceptionally hidden pile of rocks, he found a cave entrance concealed by an illusion formation. The opening was deep and dark, cold winds gusted from within, and the dense evil aura was almost tangible.
"System, sign in at the entrance to the Black Fiend Sect's headquarters!" Mo Yuan silently said to himself. He knew this place was dangerous, and the sign-in reward might provide crucial assistance.
[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the following at "Entrance to the Black Fiend Sect's Headquarters (Mystic Yin Evil Qi Convergence Point)": Medium-Grade Spirit Stone x30, Realm Breaking Talisman (single-use) x1, Aura Concealment Technique (Advanced) x1, residual aura of the Primordial World: Earth Vein Dragon Qi (a faint trace)!] [Realm Breaking Talisman (single-use)]: Can temporarily break or weaken low-level formations and restrictions. [Aura Concealment Technique (Advanced)]: A more sophisticated aura-hiding method. Its effects are even better when used alongside Ghost Shadow Footwork. [Earth Vein Dragon Qi (a faint trace)]: Refined dragon qi contained within the earth's veins. It can nourish the body, assist cultivation of the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art, and grants a faint sense toward dragon-related things.
"Earth Vein Dragon Qi!" Mo Yuan was delighted. This would greatly benefit his cultivation of the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art. He immediately absorbed and refined it, feeling the connection between his body and the earth grow slightly closer.
At the same time, the Realm Breaking Talisman and the advanced Aura Concealment Technique were precisely the tools he needed for infiltration.
He immediately began practicing the advanced Aura Concealment Technique. His aura nearly vanished completely, blending into the surrounding environment. Then, with the Realm Breaking Talisman's aid, he silently passed through the illusion formation and restrictions at the cave entrance.
Beyond the entrance lay a narrow passage descending underground. Minerals embedded in the walls emitted a ghastly green glow, making the place even more sinister.
Mo Yuan held his breath and proceeded with utmost caution. Along the way, he encountered several patrols of Black Fiend Sect cultists, but easily avoided them with Ghost Shadow Footwork and the advanced Aura Concealment Technique.
The deeper he went, the heavier the evil aura became. He could even hear low roars and the dragging of chains coming from farther within. Finally, the path opened up, revealing a vast underground space ahead.
At the center of the space was an enormous blood pool. Countless white bones and struggling vengeful souls soaked within it, while above the pool floated a dark-red embryonic pill that radiated dense evil aura and the stench of blood—it was presumably the Evil Corpse Pill.
A massive evil formation had been drawn around the blood pool. More than a hundred Black Robe Cultists surrounded it, chanting as they poured their own evil power and gathered resentment into the formation.
On a high platform directly above the blood pool sat a figure dressed in dark-red robes, their face concealed beneath the shadows of a hood. Their aura was deep and obscure, far surpassing any opponent Mo Yuan had encountered before. They were likely at the peak of Qi Refining, perhaps even half a step into Foundation Establishment!
Beside the figure stood a slender woman with a black veil over her face. Though her features could not be seen clearly, that cold and wickedly alluring aura meant she was likely the so-called Holy Maiden.
Mo Yuan lurked in the shadows, observing everything with a grave heart. This spectacle was far beyond the minor disturbances in Blackwater Town. Charging in head-on would be anything but wise.
His gaze swept across the entire space before finally settling on several rune-carved stone pillars at the edge of the blood pool. Those pillars seemed to be among the formation's energy nodes.
Perhaps... I can secretly destroy the nodes, create chaos, and then act when the opportunity arises. Having made up his mind, Mo Yuan quietly made his way toward the nearest stone pillar.
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