Golden Spirit Phenomenon

Yang Huai had acted as though he did not care at all about the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram, but deep down, he had been eagerly anticipating it.

If Feng Ying had persisted, Yang Huai might well have relented.

Although the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram lacked two of its five parts and could not form a complete Innate Gengjin Spirit Body, if he could transform his skull, spine, and upper-limb bones into spirit bones, his Innate Spirit-Awakened Sword Body would certainly be developed further, and it would also be of greater help in his future absorption and refinement of mana.

The more complete the innate spirit bones within him were, the higher the efficiency with which he would absorb and refine mana once his future foundation took shape.

Furthermore, once the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram was cultivated to completion, the Innate Gengjin Spirit Body would possess the power of sinews of gold and bones of iron, as well as considerable defensive strength.

If he could obtain the complete Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram, he might even have a chance to glimpse a creation bordering on the divine.

As Yang Huai carefully studied the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram, he saw that to cultivate it, the first thing he had to do was visualize the spirit of gengjin between Heaven and Earth.

By establishing a connection with the spirit of gengjin, he could then draw the power of metal spirits from Heaven and Earth into his own bones, gradually forming innate patterns akin to innate sword bones. That would count as successful cultivation.

Yang Huai himself possessed an Innate Spirit-Awakened Sword Body of the gengjin attribute. Following the visualization method recorded in the secret scroll, he felt, in only a brief moment, as though his soul had crossed vast stretches of the cosmic macrocosm. It was as if he sensed a force between Heaven and Earth that brimmed in every direction.

The omnipresent spirit of gengjin slumbered deep within the earth, weighty and sharp.

It seemed to transform into an immense, boundless gengjin battle-axe, capable of cleaving apart all things between Heaven and Earth.

As Yang Huai's thoughts shifted, the form of that spirit of gengjin truly transformed into a gengjin battle-axe!

The massive axe seemed capable of splitting open his soul, sending a chill through his flesh. Qingli, deep within his sea of consciousness, was so frightened that he froze, completely curling up in its depths and not daring to peek at that terrifying golden light.

Yet Yang Huai found the spirit of gengjin he had visualized exceptionally familiar.

With every breath in and out, it was as though he shared one body and one pulse with that spirit of gengjin.

Once the visualization succeeded, he followed the secret scroll's instructions, spreading his stance and assuming a posture with all five centers facing upward, as though welcoming the spirits of gengjin from the heavens.

Yet this time, the commotion was even greater than he had imagined.

Rumble rumble rumble!!

In an instant, countless showers of golden light surged from the depths of the void toward him like a flood, even covering the meditation quarters where he cultivated.

They even formed a pillar of golden spiritual energy that was almost tangible.

This already counted as an extremely powerful phenomenon.

It drew the attention of quite a few Daoists in the temple.

Following the pillar of golden spiritual energy, gaze after gaze fell upon this area of meditation quarters.

Those gazes carried a hint of astonishment!

As Heavenly Being cultivators and even High Truths of the Daoist temple, they naturally knew very well that this area was reserved solely for the young Daoist children.

In other words, this phenomenon had been caused by a Daoist child.

Not far from those meditation quarters, Feng Ying was studying and comprehending the circulatory cycle method. Just as he was finding it obscure and difficult to endure, he sensed the spiritual-energy phenomenon churning above the quarters and could not help stepping outside. As he looked at the majestic pillar of golden spiritual energy pouring down from overhead, his eyes immediately shook.

"A spirit-light pillar phenomenon actually formed?"

He instantly guessed which Daoist child had drawn forth that pillar of metal-spirit energy!

After all, he had only recently handed that secret art to the other party!

His expression changed. This secret art had been obtained by chance by one of his ancestors and preserved as a separate transmission within the clan. Among his father's generation, there had also been cultivators of profound attainment who had practiced it.

Yet he had never heard of anyone drawing such a tremendous vortex of gengjin spiritual energy the very first time they visualized the spirit of gengjin.

He had studied this secret art as well. According to its records, the overwhelming majority of cultivators could only achieve spiritual energy as fine as threads. Only by progressing further could they form a spiritual-energy vortex. Only a small number of those with supreme aptitude, who were exceptionally compatible with the spirit of gengjin, could form a pillar of spiritual energy.

After a brief silence, he could not help sighing inwardly.

"It seems Dao Brother Qingli's path to the Dao holds great promise!"

He had clearly become the final brick beneath the other's feet as he took flight.

At the foot of the mountain, numerous exotic beasts lowered their heads. Many extraordinary-looking figures clad in animal hides surrounded a tall, middle-aged man with an ordinary face and a solemn expression. He wore animal hides, held a shaman's staff, and had a vine rope tied around his waist. Deep within his eyes, the sun, moon, and stars seemed to flow. His gaze fell upon the depths of Qingping Daoist Temple, where he too saw the tiny figure cultivating within the meditation quarters. He could not help sighing.

"Wanqu City truly produces talents in abundance. When will my tribe ever enjoy such a flourishing scene?"

An elderly Daoist accompanying him stroked his beard and smiled at those words.

"Chieftain, you are one of the great sages of Xi Huang Kingdom, and your tribal lands are vast and rich in resources, producing countless outstanding talents. How could these juniors possibly enter the chieftain's eye?"

The chieftain smiled faintly at this.

"You flatter me, Daoist friend!"

He had merely spoken casually. After paying respects at Xi Huang Hall, he stepped onto the neck of the leading Suanni beast and headed toward Wanqu City. He had other important business on this journey and could not afford delay.

"Seems it isn't that difficult!"

Inside the meditation quarters.

As Yang Huai began following the explanation in the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram and drawing in the wandering gengjin-attributed spiritual energy between Heaven and Earth, he immediately felt the metal-spirit energy of Heaven and Earth swarm toward him. It was first absorbed by the innate sword bone in his right arm, then slowly advanced through his right arm toward his wrist and hand bones.

This speed was not fast. Even with a stream of metal-spirit energy above his head pouring down as a pillar of light, Yang Huai only felt some 'metal' attribute runes take shape, without yet linking together.

But the progress was real.

"Truly wondrous!"

After sensing that part of the spirit bone in his wrist had taken shape, Yang Huai opened his eyes.

After drawing upon the metal-spirit energy of Heaven and Earth for so long, even with his powerful innate soul, he felt a trace of exhaustion.

He needed some time to rest.

Yet Yang Huai's spirits were soaring.

Just two innate sword bones had already granted him so many conveniences. One could imagine how formidable that body near the Dao would be once the innate gengjin spirit bones gradually spread throughout his body and eventually formed a complete innate gengjin physique.

After resting briefly, Yang Huai took out the secret scroll that recorded the Soul-Calming Spirit-Severing Technique and began studying it.

Whether it was the Heavenly Origin Pure Spirit Codex or the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram, both belonged to foundational Dao arts. Though they forged and even enhanced one's foundation, they could not grant him a protective art in a short time.

The Soul-Calming Spirit-Severing Technique, on the other hand, could give him the power to protect himself in a short time. Naturally, he had to devote twice the effort to it.

Holding the secret scroll of the Soul-Calming Spirit-Severing Technique, he went to the sunlight by the window and stared intently at it. Even Qingli, deep within his sea of consciousness, could not help clicking his tongue at such earnestness.

This state of studying day and night without ever going out or playing was something he could not imagine at all.

"This secret art isn't difficult either, but what is this intent to kill?"

Yang Huai suddenly muttered to himself, confusion in his eyes.

This secret art involved the 'spirit' and 'yang' secret characters among the twenty-two primordial runes. Yet the primordial rune patterns within were far more profound than the basic 'spirit' and 'yang' runes. They formed a rotating shape like an engraved yin-yang knife. To cultivate it into form, Yang Huai needed to expend tremendous mental effort to carve these runes deep into his soul. Yang Huai's soul was powerful, so doing so was not actually difficult.

He spent two hours visualizing it into form just as the "First Prohibition" was about to descend from the heavens.

Within his sea of consciousness, his flowing soul power gradually formed the outline of a pale white engraving knife. Yet the knife was not as sharp as imagined.

It had form but no spirit!

According to the secret scroll, its spirit was the intent to kill.

But Yang Huai could not understand what this intent to kill referred to.

At this moment, he looked inward into his sea of consciousness.

Anchored target:

[Name: Qingli]

[Age: Eleven]

[Primary Fate: Innate Sword Bones (Golden)] (Born with two innate sword bones, one in the right arm and one deep within the mud-pellet palace. Those who possess innate sword bones are naturally physically powerful, and when practicing secret arts related to sword-shaped weapons, they achieve twice the result with half the effort!)

Status: Right arm and mud-pellet palace sword bones fully awakened.

[Innate Spirit-Awakened Sword Body: 3/100] (The Innate Spirit-Awakened Sword Body centers on the innate sword heart. The soul is naturally tough and contains a unique sword-spirit perception, possessing over eighty percent compatibility with any sword-shaped weapon. The cultivation efficiency of secret arts related to sword-shaped weapons is multiplied.)

Innate Divine Ability 1: ?? (Not awakened)

Innate Divine Ability 2: ?? (Not awakened)

[Condense Thought into Talisman (Heavenly Yang Golden Light Talisman: 89/100)]

[Lesser Circulatory Cycle Method: 66/100 (Great Completion)]

[Heavenly Circuit Spirit-Light Protective Incantation: 20/100 (Beginner)]

[Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram: 3/206 (Beginner)]

[Soul-Calming Spirit-Severing Technique: 1/180 (Beginner)]

[Twenty-Two Primordial Runes (16/22)]

Seeing the stars gradually emerge across the night sky, Yang Huai stopped dwelling on it. He directly withdrew his mind from Qingli's body, entrusting Qingli's body to the Bronze Mirror and Qingli's consciousness.

At the Yang Family Hunting Grounds, the crowing of roosters rang out one after another through the tranquil countryside, while sunlight gradually tore through the hazy mist above the village.

Yang Huai spent the entire morning pondering the matter of the intent to kill.

At noon, however, he suddenly received some bad news.