Evil Cultivator Appears

Although the zombie incident had temporarily subsided, Uncle Nine's doubts only grew.

The ferocity of Ren Weiyong's zombie transformation, and the potential conspiracy behind it, weighed heavily on his mind.

At the same time, Mo Yuan's near-demonic comprehension and the fleeting mysterious power within the talismans made him realize he had to adjust his teaching methods for this disciple.

The next morning, Uncle Nine summoned Mo Yuan to the quiet room alone.

"Mo Yuan,"

Uncle Nine's expression was solemn. "Your talent is extraordinary, far exceeding my expectations. But the path of cultivation is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall back.

If your foundation is not firm, even heaven-reaching power will be a castle in the air.

From today onwards, in addition to your daily lessons, you must double your efforts in tempering your mind and body."

With that, Uncle Nine produced two items. One was a seemingly ordinary grey linen vest, but it was extremely heavy to the touch, weighing perhaps dozens of pounds.

"This is the 'Iron Vest.' It's woven from fine Xuan Iron threads. You must wear it during your cultivation, whether you are walking, sitting, or lying down. Do not take it off.

The other item was a slender stick of sandalwood incense. "This is 'Soul-Stabilizing Incense.' After lighting it, you must sit in meditation on the cushion until it burns out, clearing your mind of all distracting thoughts, and feel your spiritual power circulating like a gentle stream through your Heavenly Circuit. Initially, set the time for one incense stick, and gradually extend it later."

This was clearly intended to put him through rigorous training with a weighted vest and deep meditation.

Mo Yuan understood his master's intention – to prevent him from progressing too quickly and causing instability in his state of mind. He nodded vigorously. "Disciple understands and will not fail Master's expectations!"

As soon as Mo Yuan put on the Iron Vest, he felt his body sink, and every movement became difficult.

However, after circulating his spiritual power and adapting for a moment, he felt his blood and essence circulation actually become more active under this pressure.

After lighting the Soul-Stabilizing Incense, he tried to clear his mind. His Primordial Comprehension, however, became a "burden" at this moment, as his thoughts were too active, with countless ideas flooding in.

He struggled to control his mind, guiding his weak spiritual power inward, and gradually entered a deep state of meditation where he forgot himself and his surroundings.

In this state, his perception of his own spiritual power became clearer than ever before. He could even "see" that wisp of Innate Spiritual Energy, like a monarch, quietly residing at the core of his Dantian, emitting a faint yet supreme aura.

"System, sign in!" Taking advantage of this special state of deep meditation, Mo Yuan signed in again.

[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Medium-Grade Spirit Stone x5, Basic Formation Diagram x1, Spirit Nurturing Pill (Low-Grade) x3, Remnant Aura of the Primordial World: Essence of Earth (Trace)!]

[Essence of Earth (Trace)]: A fragment of the primordial earth's origin aura. After refining, it can slightly enhance earth affinity and physical foundation.

New rewards! Especially the Essence of Earth. Although it was a trace amount, it perfectly matched his current need to temper his physique.

Mo Yuan rejoiced inwardly but did not refine it immediately. Instead, he continued to immerse himself in deep meditation, consolidating his state of mind.

The days passed one by one.

During the day, Mo Yuan wore the Iron Vest while practicing the Foundation Building Fist Technique, drawing talismans, and studying more basic incantations taught by Uncle Nine. At night, he lit the Soul-Stabilizing Incense for deep meditation.

He also began to study the Detailed Explanation of Basic Artifact Refining and Basic Formation Diagram rewarded by the system.

With the boost from his Primordial Comprehension, these difficult subjects became clear and organized in his eyes, allowing him to draw parallels and understand them at an astonishing speed.

During this time, he also attempted to cultivate the Minor Five Elements Spell: Geng Metal Sword Qi Technique.

This technique was not a simple matter of manipulating qi into a sword but involved how to condense one's spiritual power, especially metal-elemental spiritual power, into an indestructible sword qi.

In the current era of declining magic, Five Elements spells had greatly reduced in power and were extremely difficult to cultivate. However, this Geng Metal Sword Qi Technique was clearly of a high grade and seemed to resonate subtly with that wisp of Innate Spiritual Energy.

Mo Yuan did not rush to condense sword qi. Instead, he repeatedly pondered the essence of "sharpness," "condensation," and "mental drive" within the technique.

At the same time, he focused his attention on the [Core of Hundred-Year Lightning Struck Wood] he had obtained from the sign-in.

Lightning-struck wood, containing the yang and evil-breaking power of heavenly lightning, was an excellent material for crafting magical swords and talisman brushes.

Combining it with the Detailed Explanation of Basic Artifact Refining, a bold idea formed in Mo Yuan's mind: he would forge his first magical artifact himself – a lightning-struck wood sword!

Artifact refining required true fire. Qi Refining stage cultivators could not condense Dantian fire and usually had to rely on earth fire or special talismans.

But Mo Yuan found a different path. He attempted to guide the wisp of Innate Spiritual Energy within his body. Although extremely weak, its level was exceptionally high, allowing him to barely ignite a trace of "spiritual fire" close to the origin to temper the materials.

This process consumed a tremendous amount of mental energy and spiritual power. Mo Yuan proceeded with extreme caution, spending a full three days using that faint spiritual fire to initially temper the Core of Hundred-Year Lightning Struck Wood, removing impurities and shaping it into a three-inch wooden sword embryo.

The moment the embryo took shape, faint arcs of electricity flashed, emitting pure yang energy.

Although it was just the roughest embryo, far from a true magical artifact, and would require continuous nurturing with spiritual power and the inscription of formations in the future, for Mo Yuan, this was a crucial step on the path of artifact refining.

When Uncle Nine learned of this, he was once again speechless with shock, attributing it solely to Mo Yuan's profound and mysterious "fortune."

One day, Uncle Nine received a communication from a fellow Taoist in a neighboring town, seemingly for an important discussion.

Before leaving, he specifically instructed Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng to watch over the Mortuary, especially the suppressed zombie Ren Weiyong. He then solemnly said to Mo Yuan:

"Mo Yuan, your progress is rapid, but you still lack practical combat experience.

While I am away, if ordinary ghosts disturb the Mortuary, you may handle them to hone your skills.

But remember, act within your capabilities. Do not act rashly against a strong enemy; prioritize the safety of the Mortuary and yourself."

"Master, rest assured, disciple knows the gravity of the situation." Mo Yuan replied earnestly.

After Uncle Nine departed, the Mortuary seemed to return to its usual tranquility. But Mo Yuan could feel that the oppressive atmosphere of an impending storm had not dissipated.

He continued his diligent cultivation during the day. At night, he wore the Iron Vest, meditated deeply with the aid of the Soul-Stabilizing Incense, and began to attempt refining the [Essence of Earth (Trace)] and the [Wisp of Innate Spiritual Energy].

The refining process was more difficult than he had imagined. The Essence of Earth was manageable. Although its energy was pure, its attribute was relatively gentle. It slowly integrated into his bones, muscles, and flesh, making him feel more grounded and increasing his strength, while his perception of earth energy became clearer.

However, that wisp of Innate Spiritual Energy was like an arrogant monarch, extremely difficult to tame.

He could only work at it slowly, using his own spiritual power to gently envelop and assimilate it. The progress was slow, but with every trace he refined, he could feel the essence of his spiritual power undergoing a subtle yet profound transformation, becoming more condensed, purer, and even imbued with an ancient aura, like the dawn of chaos.

His cultivation, in a natural progression, quietly broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining. His aura became even more contained, but his eyes grew deeper and clearer.

This night, the wind was high and the moon was dark.

Mo Yuan was meditating in his room when he suddenly sensed an extremely faint but malevolent energy fluctuation emanating from the direction of the morgue!

It wasn't from Ren Weiyong's zombie, but from... the ordinary coffins temporarily stored there, awaiting burial.

Mo Yuan's eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing within them. He quickly got up, grabbed the lightning-struck wood sword embryo he had refined himself and a few talismans, and silently crept towards the morgue.

Through the crack in the door, he saw a chilling sight: an ordinary corpse was being enveloped by a dense black mist, slowly sitting up from its coffin.

Green ghost fire flickered in its eye sockets, and it let out a "hoarse" guttural sound, clearly controlled by some dark art and transformed into a low-level "walking corpse."

Behind the walking corpse, in the shadows of the corner, a blurry dark figure could be vaguely seen, holding a strange seal in its hand and muttering an incantation.

"So someone is causing trouble!" Mo Yuan's heart grew solemn.

Is this the mastermind his master was worried about? Sneaking into the mortuary to cause chaos while his master was away.

The dark figure seemed to sense Mo Yuan's presence as well, controlling the walking corpse and letting out a low growl, lunging towards the door.

At the same time, the dark figure itself retreated rapidly, attempting to escape into the darkness.

"Trying to run?" Mo Yuan snorted coldly. He felt no fear, but rather a sense of responsibility to test his skills and protect the mortuary. He no longer hid, kicking open the door with one foot.

"Heaven and Earth, Xuan Sect, Myriad Qi Root, Vast Tribulation Cultivation, Attain My Spiritual Power! Golden Light Manifest, Protect True Man! Hasten as the Law Commands!"

The Golden Light Mantra flowed from his lips.

Although his cultivation was still shallow, combined with his increasingly pure spiritual power, especially the trace of Innate Spiritual Energy integrated into it, a faint golden halo immediately emanated from him, causing the charging walking corpse to stagger!

Immediately after, Mo Yuan flicked his hand, and an Evil-Breaking Talisman shot out, accurately striking the walking corpse's forehead.

"Pfft!" The black mist dissipated, and the walking corpse fell to the ground, returning to its appearance as an ordinary corpse.

This brief delay allowed the dark figure to retreat almost to the window.

How could Mo Yuan let him escape? He stepped into the improved Mount Mao footwork, his body like lightning, instantly closing the distance. The rough lightning-struck wood sword embryo in his hand thrust directly towards the dark figure's back.

The dark figure clearly hadn't expected Mo Yuan to be so fast, and its reaction was decisive and ruthless.

It hastily turned around, revealing a pale face shrouded by its hood. It now held a poisoned dagger, blocking the wooden sword.

"Clang!"

The sound of metal striking metal rang out. Although the lightning-struck wood embryo was not sharp, the potent yang-infused lightning power within was transmitted through the dagger.

"Ah!"

The dark figure cried out, its arm numb, the dagger almost slipping from its grasp. Its eyes showed horror: "Pure Yang lightning power? Who are you, kid?!"

Mo Yuan didn't answer. He rotated the sword embryo, executing the essence of the Geng Metal Sword Qi Technique he had pondered for days. Although he couldn't unleash sword qi, his sword moves already carried an indestructible sharpness. Pokes, thrusts, parries, and slashes, each move aimed at the opponent's vital points.

The dark figure's cultivation seemed not very high; it specialized in corpse-controlling dark arts. Close-quarters combat was no match for Mo Yuan, especially since Mo Yuan's spiritual power was of exceptionally high quality and also countered dark arts.

After just a few exchanges, the dark figure was in grave danger.

"Junior! Ruining my plans, you seek death!"

The dark figure roared and suddenly threw a black sphere. The sphere exploded, releasing dense black smoke with a pungent, fishy odor, clearly poisonous.

Mo Yuan was already prepared. He held his breath and retreated rapidly, simultaneously casting a Clear Wind Talisman, which stirred up airflow to disperse the poisonous smoke.

When the poisonous smoke cleared, the window was open, and the dark figure had vanished, leaving behind only a pool of dark red blood and a trace of residual evil energy.

Mo Yuan did not rashly pursue. He understood the principle of not chasing a cornered enemy.

He walked to the window and looked out into the dark night, his brow furrowed.

"A corpse-controlling evil cultivator... was he really after the reanimated Ren Weiyong zombie? Master's worries have come true."

He gripped the lightning-struck wood sword embryo in his hand, feeling the faint lightning power emanating from it, his heart filled with fighting spirit.