Taking the Water of Life!

Taking the Water of Life! East Forest Base City? Lin Ming recalled the map. It was not close, but at their speed, they could make it in five or six days if they traveled at full speed. They would have to cross quite a few dangerous areas along the way.

"Fine." Lin Ming nodded, accepting the deal.

"However, you must listen to me on the road. If we encounter danger and I tell you to run, you run immediately. Don't hesitate, and don't hold me back. If things become critical enough that I have to abandon you, I will do so without hesitation. Understand?"

His words were cold and direct, devoid of any warmth.

Xia He nodded firmly, showing no dissatisfaction. "Understood! I promise I won't hold you back!"

As long as she could survive and deliver the Water of Life, what did such a minor grievance matter?

In the rugged hills littered with strange rocks, the wind wailed as it swept up dry sand and dust.

Lin Ming leaned against the shadow of a massive wind-sheltered boulder. Xia He curled up behind another rock not far away, hugging her knees as she vigilantly watched their surroundings. Her face was still somewhat pale, but her gaze had become much steadier than before.

With the deal struck, Lin Ming accepted the tiny sealed tube Xia He cautiously handed over. It was only the size of a thumb and made entirely from some transparent crystal.

Inside the tube floated ten drops of liquid, as pure as liquid jade. Even through the crystal walls, he could sense the immense life energy and indescribable spiritual fluctuations within.

Merely holding it in his hand seemed to make the circulation of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art's qi and blood within Lin Ming speed up slightly, while the Indestructible Asura Body sent out an instinctive craving.

The Water of Life truly lived up to its name.

As Xia He watched him take the sealed tube, a trace of reluctance flashed through her eyes, but it was overwhelmed by relief and resolve.

She had handed over her most precious bargaining chip and staked her hope of survival on this cold yet powerful young man.

"According to our agreement, nine drops are yours, and one is mine. Now..." Xia He extended her hand, ready to receive the drop Lin Ming was supposed to return to her.

However, Lin Ming did not give it to her immediately. He held the sealed tube, his gaze settling on the jade-like droplets as he fell into thought.

This Water of Life could revive the dead and regrow flesh from bone, raise one's realm without side effects, and improve one's talent... If it were used in conjunction with his system, could it produce extraordinary results?

The system's realm advancement was essentially a simulation of "arduous cultivation," consuming Kill Points.

If he supplemented it during advancement with such a heavenly treasure that could directly provide vast life energy, perhaps even cleanse the body and strengthen one's foundation, could it reduce the time required for "arduous cultivation"?

Or perhaps... make the advancement even more effective?

Once the thought arose, it grew wildly in his heart like weeds.

"Wait a moment." Lin Ming glanced at Xia He. His tone was calm, yet brooked no argument. "I need to verify its effects."

"Verify it? Now?" Xia He froze, then anxiously said,

"This place is too dangerous! Although the Water of Life is gentle, it still needs time to be absorbed, and it will release energy fluctuations. It could easily attract..."

"I know." Lin Ming cut her off, leaving no room for discussion in his voice. "Move farther away and keep watch. If danger approaches, warn me immediately."

Xia He opened her mouth, still wanting to say something. But when she saw Lin Ming's calm, rippleless eyes, which nevertheless contained an unyielding will, she ultimately swallowed her words.

She silently rose to her feet and retreated to a taller boulder dozens of meters away. Pulling out a small pair of binoculars from her clothes, she nervously observed the surroundings, especially the direction from which they had come.

Lin Ming no longer hesitated. He sat down cross-legged and placed the sealed tube before him.

With a thought, he followed the simple method Xia He had told him earlier and used his mental power to guide one end of the sealed tube open soundlessly.

An indescribably refreshing fragrance instantly spread through the air, carrying the essence of vegetation and the pure aura of newborn life. It invigorated the spirit.

After taking only one breath, Lin Ming felt the flow of qi and blood within his body become several degrees more lively.

He did not hesitate. Carefully wrapping one jade-like drop in his mental power, he drew it out and suspended it at his fingertip. Then he opened his mouth and inhaled.

That drop of Water of Life seemed to possess sentience. It turned into a gentle warm stream and slid down his throat into his abdomen.

It was like a drop of boiling oil falling into a tranquil lake! Unimaginably vast life energy instantly exploded within Lin Ming's body!

The energy was incomparably pure and gentle, yet irresistible. Like a warm tide, it surged through his limbs, organs, every cell, every meridian, and every bone!

"Mm..." Lin Ming let out a muffled groan, his body trembling slightly.

This energy was too immense. If he had not cultivated the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art and possessed a solid foundation, along with the formidable physique of the Indestructible Asura Body, his meridians would likely have been swollen to the point of pain in an instant.

Even so, his entire body felt warm, as though he were soaking in a hot spring. Every pore relaxed and greedily absorbed the pure life energy.

At the same time, the system's cold notification suddenly sounded in his mind, carrying a trace of... fluctuation unlike before?

[High-concentration life origin energy detected... Analyzing...]

[Energy properties: Gentle, pure, contains fragments of life laws.]

[Can assist system cultivation simulation, greatly optimize energy absorption efficiency, reduce the hidden burden on the body from simulated arduous cultivation, and enhance foundation consolidation.]

[Overall assessment: During consumption of Water of Life, system advancement consumption reduced by 90%, effect increased by 20%.]

A 90% reduction in consumption! A 20% increase in effectiveness!

A sharp gleam burst from Lin Ming's eyes! It worked! Just as he had thought!

This meant that a realm advancement which originally required one hundred thousand Kill Points would now need only ten thousand! And the result would be even stronger than before! This was practically a heaven-defying exploit!

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Ming immediately communicated with the system. "System, advance my martial realm while I am consuming the Water of Life! Raise me from the seventh level of the Second Realm to the eighth level of the Second Realm!"

[Command confirmed. Host is consuming 'Water of Life' and meets optimization conditions.]

[Original Kill Point consumption: 30000. Optimized consumption: 3000.]

[Confirm advancement?]

Three thousand points! It really only required three thousand.

"Confirm!"

Buzz—!

This was an entirely different experience from before! A gentler, smoother, yet more efficient sensation of "simulated cultivation" flooded into his mind!

It was no longer a brutal, forced infusion. Instead, under the nourishment and guidance of the Water of Life, the breakthrough came as naturally as water flowing into a channel!

The qi and blood within him, already boiling from the Water of Life, began circulating under the system's "guidance" along more exquisite and perfect paths, washing through and tempering his meridians, tendons, and bones!

His bones crackled like fried beans, while his major tendons stretched and strengthened further like bowstrings. The total volume and density of his qi and blood visibly increased!

Moreover, the breakthrough was exceptionally stable. There was no feeling of an unstable foundation at all. Instead, he felt as though his foundation had been reinforced even more firmly!

In merely a dozen seconds, the advancement was complete.

[Advancement complete.]

[Current martial realm: Second Realm · Dragon Tendon (Eighth Level)]

[Remaining Kill Points: 49215]

Feeling the clearly increased strength within his body, Lin Ming was overjoyed. The result was even better than he had expected! Not only had the consumption been drastically reduced, but the breakthrough process had also become smoother and more perfect!