Can Water of Life Reduce Kill Points?

He looked at the nine remaining drops of Water of Life in the sealed tube, his eyes burning.

One drop had saved him 27,000 Kill Points and produced even better results. As for the remaining eight drops...

"System, continue the upgrade! Use the Water of Life and prioritize raising my martial arts realm with all available Kill Points!"

Lin Ming gave the command again without hesitation. Strength was the foundation of everything, especially when pursuers could arrive at any moment!

He drew out two drops of Water of Life at once and swallowed them. An even more majestic yet gentle energy spread through his body.

[Two drops of 'Water of Life' consumed. Optimization effects have stacked.]

[Upgrade from Second Realm Eighth Level to Second Realm Ninth Level. Original cost: 40,000. Optimized cost: 4,000. Confirm?]

"Confirm!"

From...

"Confirm!"

Like a tireless machine, Lin Ming frantically charged through one realm barrier after another under the nourishment of the Water of Life's vast, gentle energy and the system's efficient "guidance"!

The blood and qi within him surged and roared like a mighty river, producing a rushing sound. This was the sign of Dragon Tendon realm completion!

Immediately afterward, the core of his blood and qi circulation began to seep from the muscles and tendons throughout his limbs into the five viscera and six bowels within his chest and abdomen, nourishing and tempering them!

Strands of dark-golden blood and qi, carrying the fierce aura of the Indestructible Asura Body and the profound heaviness of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art, began to resonate with his organs, initially strengthening and "goldening" them!

This was the key to breaking into the Third Realm, the Golden Viscera Realm! Tempering the meridians of the six bowels until they became like a furnace cast from gold, capable of absorbing and refining the essence of all things, allowing one's inner force to flow endlessly from then on!

With the Water of Life's nearly inexhaustible supply of life energy and the system's flawless guidance, the process went unbelievably smoothly.

His internal organs felt numb, itchy, and warm, as though invisible flames were repeatedly hammering them, expelling minute impurities and making them tougher and more vital.

The circulation of blood and qi through his organs grew faster and smoother, faintly forming a more efficient internal circulation system!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

It was as though thunderclaps rang out within his body! Every thunderclap represented the breakthrough of a minor realm, another small leap in the level of his life!

When the final drop of Water of Life was completely absorbed and the system's infusion came to an end, Lin Ming slowly opened his eyes.

An invisible, heavy aura carrying a faint ferocity and the majesty of dragons and elephants burst outward from him!

The scattered stones on the ground trembled slightly, and even the air seemed to grow somewhat thicker!

He sat there without making a single move, yet he seemed like a divine weapon freshly tempered in blazing fire and half-drawn from its sheath—its edge restrained, but impossible to meet directly!

Third Realm, Second Level!

Golden Viscera Realm, Second Level!

In less than half an hour, he had broken through three minor realms in succession and crossed the vast divide between the Second Realm and the Third Realm! His strength had undergone an earth-shaking transformation!

His total blood and qi alone, both in quantity and quality, had increased severalfold! His five viscera and six bowels had undergone initial tempering, and his vitality, recovery ability, endurance in prolonged combat, and efficiency in absorbing and converting energy had all made a qualitative leap!

[Current Martial Arts Realm: Third Realm · Golden Viscera (Second Level)]

[Remaining Kill Points: 19,215]

Lin Ming lightly clenched his fist, and the air in his palm let out a deep explosion.

He could clearly sense that as his blood and qi circulated, a more condensed and spiritual sensation of qi had faintly emerged within him. It was the embryonic form of true qi!

Though still weak, it had already taken shape. This meant he had taken another step closer to the grandmaster realm of truly releasing true qi and flying through the air!

He looked toward the martial skills section of the system interface. With his realm raised, although the Heaven-Splitting Three Forms, Dragon Roaming Step, and Immovable Mountain Seal were still at the "Subtle Mastery" level, the power they could now unleash was no longer comparable to before.

Especially the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art. After entering the Third Realm, his understanding of its first five levels seemed to have deepened further.

"Huff..."

Lin Ming slowly exhaled a mouthful of stale air. The breath remained condensed rather than dispersing, forming a pale-golden arrow of qi that shot several meters away and shattered a fist-sized weathered stone.

Power! An unprecedented sense of power filled his entire body.

Xia He had been keeping watch nervously in the distance. She could not see the specific changes within Lin Ming's body, but she could clearly feel the aura radiating from him rapidly and wildly soaring!

That aura became heavier and sharper by the moment, even carrying a pressure that made her soul tremble slightly!

When she saw Lin Ming open his eyes and shatter a stone with his breath, she covered her mouth in shock.

This... what kind of strength was this? He had clearly still carried the aura of the Second Realm just now. How had he suddenly become so unfathomable?

It felt... far stronger than Zhou Tianlang! He might even... have reached the Third Realm?

Was this the effect of the Water of Life? It was way too heaven-defying, wasn't it?!

Xia He was shaken, but she felt even more relief and lingering fear. Fortunately, she had given him the Water of Life in exchange for his protection. Otherwise, with his current strength, if he had harbored ill intent toward her...

Just then, Lin Ming suddenly turned his gaze toward the direction from which they had come, his eyes instantly sharpening like blades.

"They're here," he said flatly.

Xia He's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly raised her binoculars and looked over. Three black dots were racing toward them from the distant horizon at an astonishing speed!

They were far faster than ordinary martial artists running, clearly using some sort of movement technique, and their strength was formidable!

The pursuers! They had found them so quickly?!

Xia He's heart leaped into her throat, and her face turned pale. She looked at Lin Ming, only to find that he had already risen to his feet and slowly drawn the Silver Frost Spear from his back.

Dark-golden blood and qi flowed faintly across the spear's shaft, emitting an icy killing intent. His expression remained calm, but the light in his eyes gave Xia He an inexplicable sense of... reassurance?

The three black dots rapidly closed in. In the blink of an eye, they arrived below the hill, spreading out in a triangular formation to block Lin Ming and Xia He's path. They were Night Owl, Ghost Bat, and Wild Bull.

Night Owl's gaze was sharp as lightning. He instantly locked onto Lin Ming, who stood with his spear in hand, then glanced at pale-faced Xia He behind him. A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Lin Ming?" Night Owl spoke in a hoarse voice. "You really made us search hard. Didn't expect you to be such a good runner."

Ghost Bat sniffed, greed and surprise flashing through his narrow eyes.

"Hmm? The scent of Water of Life... It's much fainter, but it's still there. Kid, did you use the Water of Life? What a waste! But it doesn't matter. Once we kill you, whatever remains will still be ours."

Wild Bull rested a massive axe on his shoulder and laughed in a deep, muffled voice. "Kid, you're really worth a lot. The Chen Household put up a hundred million for your life. Tsk, tsk, a hundred million. I couldn't earn that much even if I killed people my whole life. Today, you're truly our god of wealth."

The three spoke casually, with the teasing confidence of cats playing with mice.

In their eyes, even if Lin Ming was stronger than the intelligence suggested, he could at most be at the peak of the Second Realm or had only just entered the Third Realm.