Emerging from Seclusion to Challenge, Combat Power Increased

The "rock" outside the barrier moved again.

This time it slid forward an inch, and sunlight glinted off its surface, giving it a metallic sheen. I kept my eyes closed, breathing steadily, fingers resting on my knees, spiritual power circulating slowly through my meridians. But the mark between my brows twitched slightly, as if sensing something.

The spirit beast's tail swept the ground in a half-circle, its ears flattened and nostrils flared slightly.

I knew it was ready.

I wouldn't wait any longer. I couldn't keep delaying my seclusion. The second revolution of the cultivation technique was already clear, and although the Flowing Abyss hadn't fully recognized me as its master, there was resonance. If I didn't act now, whatever was outside might break in on its own.

I took a deep breath, drawing a line on my knee with my fingertip, and instantly accelerated the spiritual power within me. The vortex in my Dantian contracted sharply, then exploded, sending a force several times more solidified than before surging through my meridians to my limbs. It felt like streams rushing beneath my skin, every inch of bone vibrating.

I opened my eyes.

The air in front of the bluestone platform distorted, and the yellow light of the Silent Spirit World-Protecting Talisman began to crackle, like glass being pried apart by invisible hands. The pillars of light at the four corners extinguished one by one.

I stood up, the hem of my Daoist Robe sweeping across the stone. The spirit beast rose with me, its shoulders reaching my waist, golden patterns flowing across its fur like embers that hadn't quite died out.

"Let's go out."

As the words left my mouth, I took a step forward, directly breaking through the remaining barrier. The shield shattered into light particles, scattering with the wind.

The air in the valley rushed towards me, carrying the scent of grass, trees, and damp earth. In the distant bushes, the "rock" was gone. Only a shallow indentation remained on the ground, as if something heavy had passed over it.

I walked to the center of the open space, stretching my wrists, and attempted to activate the third stance of the Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Art. Spiritual power surged from my arm, forming a rotating current in my palm. There was no hesitation, no backlash. It was much smoother than before my seclusion.

The System interface popped up automatically: [Consume 100 points to activate "Beginner Combat Feedback Simulation"?]

I clicked confirm.

The scene flickered, and a phantom appeared, holding a staff in a steady stance. It didn't speak, but charged directly at me.

I sidestepped the first attack, raised my right hand, and the Mystic Light Blade appeared. The blade swept horizontally, colliding with the phantom's staff with a crisp clang. The shockwave traveled up my arm, but I held my ground.

After three rounds, I was sweating, but my rhythm was improving. Especially with each attack, the mark between my brows would tremble slightly, as if responding to my movements.

For the final blow, I used Wave Splitting Stream Severing to exploit a gap in the phantom's defense, stopping the tip of my blade half an inch from its throat.

The phantom dissipated.

System notification: [Combat feedback complete, data recorded.]

I retracted the Mystic Light Blade and exhaled. This body could now withstand the operation of the advanced cultivation technique and could briefly channel the Flowing Abyss's resonance. Although I hadn't achieved unity of man and sword yet, it was no longer a mere external application.

The spirit beast walked over, nudging my hand with its nose. Its body temperature was higher than usual, its muscles tense, clearly sensing the external threat.

"You think it's time to act too?"

It let out a low growl, as if in reply.

Just then, the ground suddenly shook.

It wasn't a tremor, but the sound of heavy footsteps approaching from the north. With each step, the blades of grass sprang up. Then, a strong smell of earth, mixed with the panting of a wild beast, pressed down from the forest.

I looked up.

The forest parted, and a colossal beast emerged.

Its size was mountainous, its four hooves striking the ground, causing it to crack immediately. Its twin horns curved like hooks, covered in cracks, as if they might explode at any moment. Its eyes were grayish-white, pupil-less, with only two swirling mists.

Earth Splitting Rhinoceros.

I hadn't seen it before, but the System's information mentioned its name. A Primordial Wilderness variant, its hide and bones were like iron, and it was born with control over Earth element power. It shouldn't have been in such a small valley, but now it was here, and it was heading straight for my location.

It stopped, twitched its nose twice, and then threw its head back and roared. The sound boomed through the valley like thunder, shaking leaves from the trees.

The next second, it charged.

Its speed was unbelievable for its size. The ground collapsed beneath its feet, each step kicking up gravel and dust. I didn't have time to think and pulled the spirit beast to the side.

BOOM!

It slammed into the spot where I had been standing, the entire ground caving in three feet, sending shards of rock flying. The shockwave swept across my back, nearly tearing my Daoist Robe.

"Avoid its frontal charge!"

I knew clearly that confronting such a creature head-on would be futile. As I retreated, I brought up the System interface.

[Use "Temporary Tactical Guidance"?]

I clicked yes.

Three messages popped up:

1. Evade its frontal charge. 2. Strike its right hind limb old injury. 3. Agitate aerial spiritual energy to disrupt its sense of smell.

I didn't have time to ponder how the System knew about its injury, but I had no choice but to trust it now.

I immediately formed a hand seal, dividing my spiritual power into several streams and sending them into the air. A vortex of wind instantly formed, disturbing the surrounding airflow. The Earth Splitting Rhinoceros paused, its nose twitching repeatedly, seemingly unable to smell my location.

Now was the time.

I circled to its right side, channeling spiritual power into the Mystic Light Blade, and aimed directly at its right hind knee joint.

As the blade fell, it emitted a piercing grinding sound.

Its hide is indeed tough, like iron armor. But I used the force-releasing technique from Wave Splitting Stream Severing for this strike, slicing into the joint gaps. Still, it managed to open a gash. Black blood immediately poured out, carrying a heavy, earthy smell.

The Earth Splitting Rhinoceros roared and swung its tail. The thick tail swept towards me, and I leaped to dodge, but its other foreleg slammed down on the ground.

BOOM!

The ground exploded, sending countless rocks flying into the air, raining down on me. I rolled to evade, but a rock struck my left shoulder, making my bone throb.

"Spirit beast!"

I shouted.

It immediately charged forward, opening its maw and spewing a beam of golden light. This was the power condensed from the golden patterns on its body, which spread out above us like a thin shield, blocking several rounds of falling stones.

The Earth Splitting Rhinoceros exerted more force, its feet scraping the ground. The entire valley floor began to tremble. Cracks spread from beneath its feet, fanning out like a spiderweb.

Earth vein tremor.

This was a signature move, capable of completely disrupting the terrain within a hundred zhang. The ground beneath me gave way, and I nearly fell into a crevice. The spirit beast bit the corner of my robe and pulled me back.

I can't stall any longer.

I gripped the Mystic Light Blade and poured all my spiritual power into it. The mark between my brows suddenly grew warm, and the intermittent sword hum in my Sea of Consciousness sounded again.

This time, I didn't suppress it. Instead, I released my spiritual sense, letting the sound flow through my meridians into my arm.

"With me—slash!"

The moment the blade descended, a grayish-green sword energy shot out from the blade.

It wasn't an energy blast formed by a spell, nor was it a pure burst of spiritual power. The sword energy seemed to surge out from the depths of the blade itself, carrying an ancient, cold will.

It sliced across the ground, precisely cleaving into the main fissure beneath the Earth Splitting Rhinoceros's feet.

BOOM!

A backlash reverberated from underground. The giant beast's entire body lurched violently. The old wound on its right leg split deeper, and it finally couldn't support itself, collapsing onto one knee.

It raised its head, its gray-white eyes fixed on me, emitting a low growl from its throat.

Then, it stood up, turned, and walked towards the dense forest on the northern slope. Its gait was limping, but still heavy. Only when its figure disappeared into the woods did the trembling of the ground finally cease.

I stood in place, catching my breath for a moment, and sheathed the Mystic Light Blade back into its scabbard behind me.

The spirit beast walked over and lay down at my feet, panting heavily, but its eyes were bright.

I reached out and stroked its head, then looked at my own left hand.

My palm was covered in sweat, my knuckles were red, but my grip was steady.

A System notification appeared before my eyes: [Combat data has been updated. The next quiz will incorporate actual combat performance to generate new question types.]

I didn't rush to read it. Instead, I looked up towards the forest to the north.

It was quiet there now.

But I knew that the sword strike just now wasn't just about winning a battle.

It proved that I could channel the feeling of Flowing Abyss, even if only a little.

This is the true beginning.

Just as I was about to speak to the spirit beast, my peripheral vision caught a flash of dark light at the base of the tree roots on the edge of the northern slope.

It wasn't metal, nor was it stone.

The object moved close to the ground, extremely slowly. Its shape resembled a leaf, but its edges were too straight, unlike something that grew naturally.

I slowly moved my hand towards my sword hilt.

The spirit beast's ears twitched.