Uncle Nine's pure, profound Foundation Establishment spiritual power flowed into Mo Yuan's body like a warm current. Wherever it passed, the sinister black energy that gnawed at his bones melted away like snow beneath the sun.
A numb, itchy sensation came from the gruesome wound on his left shoulder as new flesh began growing at a visible rate.
His withered meridians were nourished, and even his nearly drained Dantian began gathering a faint trace of spiritual power once more.
The pallor gradually faded from Mo Yuan's face, restoring a hint of color. He kept his eyes tightly shut, fully cooperating with his master's treatment while circulating the Basic Qi Refining Manual to hasten his absorption of spiritual qi and repair himself.
After a long while, Uncle Nine slowly withdrew his power, a faint sheen of sweat visible at his temples.
He carefully examined Mo Yuan's injuries and only sighed in relief after confirming that the strange corrosive energy had been completely expelled. Yet his brows remained tightly furrowed.
"Your injuries are no longer serious, but your vitality has been greatly depleted. You will need to recuperate properly for some time."
Uncle Nine spoke in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping across the three scorched and cold corpses in the courtyard, his eyes icy.
"'Netherworld'... so it really is those rats that cannot stand the light! They dared stretch their claws into the heart of Maoshan and assassinate my personal disciple. They truly have no regard for anything!"
With a sweep of his sleeve, several True Fire Talismans shot out and landed precisely on the three corpses. In an instant, they were reduced to ashes, leaving no trace behind.
"Master, they seemed to be after the 'fortuitous opportunity' on this disciple," Mo Yuan said as he opened his eyes, his voice still weak. "And they seem convinced that I am connected to the freed dragon soul."
Uncle Nine snorted coldly. "A man is guilty by possessing jade. You rose too quickly, carry rare treasures, and are involved in the matter of the dragon soul. Naturally, that will draw covetous eyes. This Netherworld organization is mysterious and far more troublesome than the Black Fiend Sect. They specialize in assassination and soul arts, with ties to many factions of the evil path. Having failed this time, they will never let the matter rest."
He paused and looked at Mo Yuan, his tone turning grave. "After this battle, you should understand that the cultivation world is far from peaceful. When you travel down the mountain in the future, you must be extremely vigilant. But there is no need for excessive fear. Since they dared act on Stone Bamboo Shoot Mountain, they have challenged Maoshan's dignity. Martial Grand-Uncle will not stand idly by."
Just then, a transmission talisman streaked into the courtyard as a flash of light and landed in Uncle Nine's hand.
He swept it with his divine sense, and his expression eased somewhat. "Martial Grand-Uncle already knows of the matter. He has ordered you to rest and recover well. The sect will strengthen its defenses and begin investigating the source of Netherworld's operation. As for your visit to the fourth floor of the Scripture Pavilion, I will personally take you there once your injuries have healed."
Mo Yuan felt his heart settle. With the sect at his back, the pressure truly lessened considerably. "Thank you, Master. Thank you, Martial Grand-Uncle."
"Focus on healing."
Uncle Nine patted his shoulder. "You remained calm in the face of danger this time, defeated the strong while weak, and slew two assassins of the same realm in succession. You even used the Soul Cleansing Banner to break their soul assassination. Your performance far exceeded my expectations. Reflect carefully on what you gained from this battle. It will greatly benefit your cultivation."
After Uncle Nine left, Mo Yuan sat down cross-legged again. Yet instead of immediately resuming his healing, he relived the perilous battle from moments ago.
Had the Soul Cleansing Banner not protected him in time, his soul would already have been scattered.
The power of a High-Grade Magic Item, especially its protection against and restraint over the soul, had played a decisive role in that battle.
And using the earth vein qi at a critical moment to disrupt his opponents had been a flash of inspiration, applying the Earth Vein Dragon Seeking Art to actual combat.
"Attack, defense, support, control... my methods are still too limited."
Mo Yuan reflected, "The Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear is powerful, but its consumption is immense and it lacks versatility. The Soul Cleansing Banner excels at defense and entrapment, but its offensive power is insufficient. Against different enemies, I need more ways to respond."
He thought of the system rewards, the <Minor All-Heavens Cloud Restriction Secret Method (Fragment)> and the Primal Chaos Qi Refining Canon (Fragment).
The former was an art of restriction and sealing. If he could master it, he would gain another means of subduing enemies in battle. The latter concerned the foundations of magic-item refinement, and perhaps it could reveal a way to unlock the potential of the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear and Soul Cleansing Banner.
"System, check in."
[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations, Host, you have obtained: Medium-Grade Spirit Stone x50, Soul Nourishing Pill (High Grade) x3, detailed explanation of Spirit Binding Incantation x1, residual aura of the Primordial World: a wisp of Clear Spirit Wisdom Light!] [Soul Nourishing Pill (High Grade)]: A supreme medicinal pill that nourishes and repairs the soul. It has miraculous effects on soul injuries and depletion. [Detailed Explanation of Spirit Binding Incantation]: A mid-level Maoshan incantation that can bind spirit entities, yin souls, and even temporarily restrain a cultivator's movements. [A Wisp of Clear Spirit Wisdom Light]: Can temporarily enhance comprehension, clarify the heart and reveal one's true nature, assist in comprehending cultivation techniques, and resolve difficult problems.
"Perfect timing!"
Mo Yuan was delighted. The Soul Nourishing Pill was exactly what he needed. His soul had been struck by the Soul Spike just now. Although the Soul Cleansing Banner had blocked it, a faint ache remained and needed nurturing.
The Spirit Binding Incantation also made up for the lack of control methods at his disposal.
And that wisp of Clear Spirit Wisdom Light was truly aid in a snowstorm!
He immediately swallowed a Soul Nourishing Pill. The pill melted the instant it entered his mouth, and a cool, soothing aura rushed straight into his sea of consciousness, nourishing his slightly injured soul.
The previous stabbing pain quickly faded, while his spiritual sense instead became more condensed and full.
Afterward, he drew that wisp of Clear Spirit Wisdom Light into his sea of consciousness. In an instant, he felt his thoughts become incomparably clear and lucid. Many obscure and incomprehensible cruxes from his previous cultivation became clear as day, like clouds parting to reveal the sun.
He first began comprehending the Spirit Binding Incantation. This incantation involved weaving spiritual power and locking onto targets with spiritual sense, making it rather complex.
But beneath the illumination of the Clear Spirit Wisdom Light, he quickly grasped its essentials. He even drew further inferences, considering how to combine it with the Soul Cleansing Banner's Purity Domain to form a stronger binding force.
Next, he turned his attention to the Primal Chaos Qi Refining Canon (Fragment).
The fundamental concepts of artifact refinement that had once seemed obscure and difficult now appeared to have shed their mysterious veil.
He understood why the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear was so compatible with him. It was because it contained his blood essence and will, as well as the acknowledgment of the Thunder Dragon Soul Essence.
The Soul Cleansing Banner, meanwhile, had been refined from his own spiritual talisman essence and the spirituality of Purity Bamboo, linking it to his merit.
"Primal Chaos Qi places importance on communication and fusion... perhaps I can try refining that wisp of Innate Gengjin Thunderous Fiend Energy deeper into the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear, elevating its very essence, and perhaps... drawing upon that trace of Chaotic Thunder Source Dao Rhythm to try inscribing it upon the spear?" A bold thought formed in his mind.
The effects of the Clear Spirit Wisdom Light lasted for about an hour before gradually fading. Mo Yuan gained enormously, not only mastering the Spirit Binding Incantation.
He had developed a deeper understanding of artifact refinement, and even several difficult points in the Nine Heavens Thunder Talisman Scripture that had long stumped him suddenly became clear.
He felt that once his injuries fully healed, his overall strength would surely rise to another level.
Over the following days, Mo Yuan remained at Listening Thunder Abode and focused on recovering.
With the dual nourishment of the Soul Nourishing Pills and the Myriad Year Warm Jade, his soul injuries quickly recovered. He even gained a blessing in disguise, his divine sense growing stronger.
The flesh wound on his left shoulder also healed completely under the nourishment of spiritual power.
During that time, Martial Uncle Qian He and Martial Uncle Four Eyes both came to visit him. They were deeply enraged by Netherworld's actions, and they also brought news of several developments within the sect.
It was said that Sect Leader Shi Jian had ordered a thorough investigation. The atmosphere both inside and outside the sect had grown tense, and several disciples with questionable ties to outside forces had truly been uncovered and severely punished, thoroughly purging Maoshan's internal ranks.
On this day, Mo Yuan's injuries had fully healed, and he was in even better condition than before the martial competition.
Uncle Nine arrived as promised.
"Come, Yuan'er. Follow your master to the fourth floor of the Scripture Pavilion." Uncle Nine looked at his disciple, whose essence, qi, and spirit were all full, satisfaction appearing in his eyes.
"There lies the true essence accumulated by Maoshan over hundreds of years. I hope you will gain something from it and lay down a supreme Dao foundation."
Mo Yuan took a deep breath and suppressed the anticipation and excitement in his heart.
The fourth floor of the Scripture Pavilion, the place of Maoshan's core inheritances—he had arrived.
Meanwhile, within a dark secret realm far from Maoshan, a figure shrouded in a pitch-black cloak listened to a subordinate's report.
"...The operation failed. All three perished. The target possesses an extremely powerful soul-defense magic item and seems deeply connected to the dragon soul. His thunder arts also contain a special fiendish energy of astonishing power."
An inscrutable chuckle came from beneath the cloak. "Oh? Even the 'Soul Devouring Jar' failed? It seems this pawn is more valuable than we imagined... Continue watching him, but suspend further action.
Wait until the Sacred One awakens before making a decision. Maoshan... hmph, let them enjoy a few more peaceful days."
The undercurrent did not subside because of one failed attack. Instead, it quietly gathered in deeper, darker places.
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