The Second Target: Yin-Yang Monastery

For the first time in his life, Lin Xiaosu had finally faced the power of the enlightened realm head-on.

He had finally felt the gap between the enlightened realm and the Peering into Heaven Realm for himself.

With his current combat strength, he feared no opponent in the Peering into Heaven Realm. Even a Remnant Seed from ten thousand years ago like today's Thousand-Spirit Saintess—once she reached that realm, he could tear through her defenses with a single move of Parting Tears.

Yet the enlightened realm and the Peering into Heaven Realm were entirely different concepts.

There was a qualitative difference between true essence and true qi.

Zheng Tianyan's strike had used true essence.

Lin Xiaosu had resisted it with all his strength, seemingly intercepting it successfully. Within Misty-Rain Jiangnan, he had covered the incoming giant finger in cracks, leaving even Zheng Tianyan visibly shaken.

But that interception had nearly caused his blood pagoda to collapse.

He practiced the Secret Rejuvenation Art, which excelled at healing his own injuries. He had also fused with the Thousand-Spirit Saintess's Wood Law Flower, whose miraculous power of law could regrow severed arms on the battlefield and heal injuries in an instant. Yet even with so many means of healing, Lin Xiaosu had needed a full two hours to recover from his internal injuries.

All because these were no ordinary injuries—they were injuries inflicted by true essence!

True essence differed fundamentally from true qi. Accordingly, the wounds it inflicted were far more severe than those caused by true qi or blades.

His eyes slowly opened.

Spring River brimmed with the vitality of spring.

Above a ghostly mask, a pair of eyes held a gentle gaze.

Feng Ji let out a soft breath. "Better?"

"More or less!" A smile appeared on Lin Xiaosu's face. "I've