Breakthrough, Earthen Yuan!

Late at night.

Occasional dog barks could still be heard outside Luo Manor.

Luo Heng's small courtyard.

Inside the room, Luo Heng sat cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by empty pill bottles.

He had swallowed and refined all fifty-five Body Tempering Pills.

At this moment, Luo Heng's skin glimmered with a faint golden sheen. Primal Energy surged through his body like rivers, and his Body Tempering Ninth Level cultivation had been compressed to its absolute limit. One step further, and he would reach the Earthen Yuan Stage!

But Luo Heng did not break through immediately.

"System, perform Daily Check-in."

[ Ding! Daily Check-in successful! Obtained: Ninth-Grade Yin-Sha Qi · Mysterious Nether Water (one wisp) ]

[ Mysterious Nether Water: An item of utmost yin and cold within Ninth-Grade Yin-Sha Qi. It contains extreme frost power. Once absorbed, it can condense ice-attributed Primal Energy, whose quality will surpass that of ninety-nine percent of Earthen Yuan Stage cultivators. ]

There it was!

A smile touched Luo Heng's lips. The reason he had chosen to break through at this time was simply to try his luck. The chill of night was at its strongest, so there might be an unexpected surprise.

As expected, he had won his gamble. The system had given him Ninth-Grade Yin-Sha Qi according to his current circumstances.

If it had given him some other reward, he could only have used the Fifth-Grade Yin-Sha Qi he had obtained by chance years ago as assistance.

Fortunately, the result was good.

In the world of Martial Universe, Earthen Yuan Stage cultivators needed to absorb Yin Fiend Qi when breaking through. The higher the grade of Yin Fiend Qi, the stronger the quality of their Primal Energy and the higher their future potential. Of course, it was not the deciding factor.

Generally speaking, it was already quite good for ordinary cultivators to absorb Third- or Fourth-Grade Yin Fiend Qi. Even Lin Dong had only broken through with the Fifth-Grade Yin Pearl due to Qing Tan's physique.

Yet Luo Heng had directly obtained Mysterious Nether Water, a supreme existence among Ninth-Grade Yin-Sha Qi!

"It's time to break through!"

Luo Heng's expression was calm as he formed hand seals and circulated the Great Devouring Art at full force.

The black vortex in his dantian spun madly, and a terrifying suction force erupted from its center.

Drawn by that force, the wisp of Mysterious Nether Water slowly merged into Luo Heng's dantian.

"Boom!!!"

The instant Mysterious Nether Water came into contact with the Primal Energy Seed in his dantian, an extreme chill erupted!

A thick layer of ice crystals instantly covered Luo Heng's entire body. The room's temperature plunged, and even the tables and chairs were coated in white frost.

The utmost yin and freezing power of Mysterious Nether Water began furiously battering Luo Heng's Primal Energy Seed.

This was the most crucial step in breaking through to the Earthen Yuan Stage: Yin-Sha Body Tempering!

When ordinary cultivators broke through, the collision between Yin Fiend Qi and the Primal Energy Seed brought immense pain. A single mistake could shatter their dantian and cripple their cultivation.

But Luo Heng was absorbing Ninth-Grade Yin-Sha Qi. Its impact was more than dozens of times stronger than ordinary Yin Fiend Qi!

Yet Luo Heng had expected this. The Great Devouring Art spun wildly, and the black vortex became a massive millstone, devouring, refining, and merging the freezing power of Mysterious Nether Water bit by bit.

At the same time, his powerful Spiritual Power began to show its effect.

Within his Niwan Palace, vast Spiritual Power surged forth like a tide, wrapping around his dantian and protecting the Primal Energy Seed from being crushed apart.

Time passed, second by second.

The ice crystals on Luo Heng's body grew thicker and thicker, but beneath them, his aura became increasingly powerful.

Under the tempering of Mysterious Nether Water, the Primal Energy Seed began to change.

Originally, it had merely been a golden ball of light the size of a little fingertip. Now, it continuously expanded and changed shape, while intricate icy-blue patterns appeared across its surface.

Those were the traces of Mysterious Nether Water merging with his Primal Energy!

Still not enough!

Luo Heng roared inwardly as his Spiritual Power erupted in full!

He wanted to use this breakthrough to condense his Natal Rune Seal in one stroke!

Talisman Masters needed to condense Natal Rune Seals in their Niwan Palaces. This was the core of a Talisman Master's power.

Natal Rune Seals were divided into three ranks: ordinary rune seals, Natal Spirit Runes, and Natal Heavenly Runes.

The overwhelming majority of Talisman Masters could only condense ordinary rune seals. Natal Spirit Runes were exceedingly rare, possessing special abilities and offering immense aid to cultivation.

As for Natal Heavenly Runes, they were legendary existences with the terrifying might to Devour Heaven and Earth.

Luo Heng's goal was to condense a Natal Spirit Rune. As for a Natal Heavenly Rune, it seemed that after reaching some laid-back realm, there was a chance for it to advance into a Natal Heavenly Rune.

Still, he intended to try condensing a Natal Heavenly Rune!

He possessed innately powerful Spiritual Power, a supreme technique like the Great Devouring Art, and the system's assistance. If he could not even condense a Natal Spirit Rune, he would be letting down his own talent! As for the higher-ranked Natal Heavenly Rune, both luck and talent were indispensable.

"Condense!"

Luo Heng immersed his mind in his Niwan Palace. Vast Spiritual Power gathered and compressed there, forming a vortex.

At the center of the vortex, an illusory talisman rune began to take shape.

This talisman rune was extraordinarily intricate, composed of countless tiny spiritual patterns and radiating an ancient, mysterious aura.

It did not resemble any known talisman rune. Instead, it was a completely new Rune Seal that Luo Heng had created himself based on the traits of his Spiritual Power and the various concepts of talisman runes from his past-life memories!

"Since it's a completely new Rune Seal, then I'll call it... the Myriad Law Seal!"

With a thought from Luo Heng, the Spiritual Power vortex within his Niwan Palace abruptly contracted!

"Buzz!!!"

An invisible ripple spread outward from Luo Heng's body.

Within his Niwan Palace, a half-illusory, half-solid Rune Seal finally formed!

This Rune Seal was pale gold and shaped like a constantly spinning vortex. At its center, countless tiny talisman runes could vaguely be seen flowing.

The Myriad Law Seal!

Luo Heng's Natal Spirit Rune!

[ Ding! Congratulations to the host for condensing the Natal Spirit Rune · Myriad Law Seal! ]

[ Myriad Law Seal: A growth-type Natal Spirit Rune possessing the three core abilities of "Analysis," "Copy," and "Deduction." ]

[ Analysis: Can analyze the essence of all techniques, talisman runes, and arrays in the world. ]

[ Copy: Can Copy analyzed cultivation techniques, martial arts, and Talisman Arrays. The Copy effect is limited by the host's strength. ]

[ Deduction: Can deduce the subsequent contents or directions for improvement of cultivation techniques and martial arts. ]

[ Current Grade: Beginner (can grow alongside the host's Spiritual Power) ]

The system's notifications rang in his mind.

Luo Heng was overjoyed! He had not expected such a pleasant surprise. Although it was somewhat regrettable that he had not condensed a Natal Heavenly Rune, this seemed even more unique!

Analysis, Copy, Deduction!

These three abilities were practically divine skills created for cultivation—and for him!

With the Myriad Law Seal, cultivating any technique or martial art would yield twice the result with half the effort. He could even use Analysis to Copy the ultimate arts of others and make them his own!

"As expected of a Natal Spirit Rune. It's truly powerful!"

Luo Heng suppressed his excitement and continued his breakthrough.

With the Myriad Law Seal's enhancement, his Spiritual Power surged, and his control over the Primal Energy Seed in his dantian became even more precise.

The fusion of Mysterious Nether Water and the Primal Energy Seed accelerated, and the icy-blue patterns grew increasingly distinct.

Finally—

"Rumble!"

A tremendous blast sounded from within Luo Heng's dantian!

The Primal Energy Seed completely shattered into countless specks of light, then re-condensed into an icy-blue mass of energy the size of a fist!

The Earthen Yuan Stage Primal Energy mass had formed!

At this moment, Luo Heng officially stepped into the Earthen Yuan Stage!

And he had done so with Mysterious Nether Water, Ninth-Grade Yin-Sha Qi, as his foundation!

"Buzz—!"

The ice crystals covering Luo Heng's body instantly shattered and scattered as countless shards of ice.

A powerful aura erupted from within him, causing the entire room to tremble faintly.

Early Earthen Yuan Stage!

Yet the intensity of Luo Heng's Primal Energy far surpassed that of an ordinary Early Earthen Yuan Stage cultivator!

For an ordinary Early Earthen Yuan Stage cultivator, the Primal Energy mass would only be the size of an egg and pale blue in color.

Luo Heng's Primal Energy mass, however, was the size of a fist and a deep icy blue. Faint purple-gold patterns flickered across its surface.

That was the phenomenon produced by the fusion of Mysterious Nether Water's freezing power and the devouring power of the Great Devouring Art!

"So this is the power of the Earthen Yuan Stage..."

Luo Heng opened his eyes, and a flash of icy-blue light passed through them.

He extended a hand. With a thought, a ball of icy-blue Primal Energy immediately condensed in his palm.

The ball of Primal Energy radiated a bone-piercing chill. The room's temperature dropped once more, and even the air seemed about to freeze.

"The effect of Ninth-Grade Yin-Sha Qi really is terrifying."

Luo Heng felt the surging Primal Energy inside his body and nodded in satisfaction.

With the intensity of his Primal Energy now, even a Late Earthen Yuan Stage cultivator would not be his match!

Moreover, after breaking through to the Earthen Yuan Stage, his Spiritual Power had also undergone a qualitative transformation.

Inside his Niwan Palace, the Myriad Law Seal slowly rotated, radiating a faint golden light.

With a thought from Luo Heng, Spiritual Power surged outward like a tide.

One hundred meters!

The range of his Spiritual Power perception had actually reached a terrifying one hundred meters!

Ordinary Early Earthen Yuan Stage cultivators had a Spiritual Power perception range of only around ten meters. Reaching thirty meters was already considered genius-level.

Yet Luo Heng had directly reached one hundred meters!

That was the result of innately powerful Spiritual Power combined with the Myriad Law Seal's enhancement!

"System, bring up my status panel."

[ Host: Luo Heng ]

[ Age: Sixteen ]

[ Actual Cultivation: Early Earthen Yuan Stage ]

[ Cultivation Techniques: Qi Guiding Art (Second Grade), Great Devouring Art (Beginner Chapter · 5%) ]

[ Martial Arts: Mountain-Shaking Palm (First Grade), Gale Sword (Second Grade), Soaring Dragon Steps (Self-Created · Third Grade), Flowing Cloud and Soaring Goose Steps (Ninth Grade · 18%), Tiangang Thunderclap Fist (Ninth Grade · 20%) ]

[ Spiritual Power: First Seal Rune Master (Myriad Law Seal) ]

[ Spiritual Secret Arts: None ]

[ Origin Divine Skill: Great Devouring Art ]

[ Daily Check-in Attempts: 0/1 (used) ]

[ Monthly Check-in Attempts: 0/1 (used) ]

[ Yearly Check-in Attempts: 0/1 (used) ]

[ Combat Power Evaluation: Can defeat a Late Earthen Yuan Stage cultivator. Spiritual Power can suppress a Two-Seal Symbol Master. ]

Seeing the combat power evaluation, a smile curled Luo Heng's lips.

As an Early Earthen Yuan Stage cultivator, he could defeat a Late Earthen Yuan Stage cultivator. If word of that spread, it would absolutely shock all of Flame City.

However, Luo Heng had no intention of revealing his true cultivation, at least not until he had the ability to protect himself.

In the battle against Lei Li three days later, he would still only display Body Tempering Sixth Level cultivation.

But defeating Lei Li would be effortless.

"Next, it's time to cultivate a spiritual secret art."

With a thought, Luo Heng took out the Stone of Enlightenment Fragment.

[ Do you wish to use the 'Stone of Enlightenment' to assist in comprehending a spiritual secret art? ]

"Use it! Target: Myriad Law Seal. Deduce a spiritual secret art suitable for me!"

Luo Heng injected his Spiritual Power into the Stone of Enlightenment Fragment.

The Myriad Law Seal began to rotate slowly as its Analysis and Deduction abilities operated at full force.

Countless pieces of information concerning spiritual secret arts surfaced in Luo Heng's mind, combining and undergoing Deduction.

Common Grade, Refined Grade, Qi Stage, God Stage...

The profound principles of all kinds of spiritual secret arts were rapidly analyzed and absorbed by him.

Finally, an hour later—

[ Deduction successful! ]

[ Obtained self-created spiritual secret art: Myriad Techniques Spirit Needle (Refined Grade) ]

[ Myriad Techniques Spirit Needle: Uses the Myriad Law Seal to condense Spiritual Power into invisible spirit needles that attack the enemy's Niwan Palace. Possesses three effects: penetration, paralysis, and shock. Upon reaching mastery, it can condense ninety-nine spirit needles at once and form a Needle Array. ]

[ Current Mastery: Beginner (can condense three spirit needles) ]

The grades of spiritual secret arts, from lowest to highest, were Common Grade, Refined Grade, Qi Stage, God Stage, and supreme secret arts beyond God Stage.