Nian Lin's pupils contracted. A wave of shock surged through his mind, followed immediately by disbelief. The jade slip had forcefully carved its contents into his consciousness like a burning mark.
Then a sharp sound echoed in the silent cave.
The jade slip instantly shattered into fine dust, scattering like grey ash through the dim air.
Nian Lin stood motionless.
The cave was deadly quiet, yet his mind was anything but calm.
Within his consciousness, thousands of pieces of information surged violently—chaotic and dark, difficult to comprehend at first glance.
But one truth stood out clearly.
Refinement, devouring, theft of cultivation, theft of spiritual roots, theft of talent.
A ruthless path that defied the natural order of cultivation itself.
Even the heavens rejected its existence. Those who cultivated it would immediately invite heavenly punishment the moment they activated it.
But this jade slip also contained information—methods to avoid heavenly tribulation.
Nian Lin sat down for a few moments, thinking.
He thought to himself: even the heavens are helping me?
Whether they were helping him or not, he did not know.
It had taken him several months just to reach the first level of Qi Condensation. Was this jade slip meant for him?
He shook his head inwardly.
He had no one to steal from. No foundation to take.
That is not possible.
He stood up again and looked at the crystal in his hand.
He originally thought the crystal's information would be recorded inside the jade slip, but there was nothing at all.
It seemed different things were involved, or perhaps the crystal had accidentally entered that statue-like space.
He wondered what he would use the crystal for.
His depleted spiritual energy had already been completely refilled.
This thing could restore spiritual energy inside the cave.
He was very satisfied.
Although he had not seen any human in four years, he knew clearly: such a treasure must be protected.
Nian Lin carefully stored the crystal inside his small makeshift pouch. Then he wrapped it again in another layer before finally concealing it inside his inner thigh garment, ensuring it would not be easily discovered.
He quickly rearranged the cave, packed the remaining clean meat, and secured his supplies.
Then he stepped outside silently.
He would not sleep inside this cave tonight.
Spiritual energy had already seeped into the cave.
And when spiritual energy gathers in one place during the night,
What if it drew something like a mutated beast?
What if it attracted a creature at the level of the two-headed bird—or something even worse?
One mistake could cost him his life.
Without hesitation, he left the cave behind.
He returned to the cave where he had hidden the eggs of the two-headed bird.
After confirming the surroundings were safe, he entered, sealed the entrance behind him, and rested there for the night.
___________________
At this moment, the silver crystal buried against Nian Lin's chest was like a vortex. It continuously absorbed the spiritual energy in the surroundings. The spiritual energy flowed into the crystal before entering his body.
As a result, Nian Lin's cultivation speed greatly increased.
Time slowly passed.
Popping sounds began to echo from within his body.
As the sounds intensified, a large amount of impurities flowed out from the pores all over his body. A pungent smell soon filled the cave.
Nian Lin remained seated and continued cultivating.
More and more impurities were expelled.
His skin gradually became cleaner than before. Even his dirt-covered face appeared more refined.
The popping sounds continued for a long time before gradually weakening.
The spiritual energy flowing through him slowly calmed down.
After some time, everything became quiet once more.
Nian Lin slowly opened his eyes.
A faint silver light flashed through them before disappearing.
For a moment, his mind felt sluggish.
The dark cave was no longer dark in his eyes. He could see the stone walls and the corners of the cave much more clearly than before.
Nian Lin lowered his head and examined his body.
A look of disbelief gradually appeared on his face.
"This feeling..."
A trace of excitement appeared in his eyes.
He slowly stood up and threw a punch forward.
Whoosh!
A sharp sound of wind came from the punch.
Nian Lin's eyes brightened slightly.
Because the cave was too small, he could not properly test his speed. However, from the feeling in his body and the power behind the punch, he could tell that he had improved.
His strength had increased.
His senses had become sharper.
The spiritual energy within his body had also become much stronger than before.
After two years, he had finally reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation.
For the past several months, he had been trying to break through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation, but he had failed every time. Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
Whether it was because of his talent or some other reason, he did not know.
He had even consumed the remaining eggs of the two-headed bird.
Even with such opportunities, he still could not enter the Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation.
However, compared to before, he was much stronger.
Thinking of this, he quickly calmed down.
He still remembered the red snake lizard.
The red snake lizard was stronger than him, but not by much.
At least now, he was no longer as weak as before.
His hand unconsciously touched his chest.
Two years ago, he had cut open his own chest and buried the crystal inside his body.
After all, this treasure was too important.
He did not trust himself to carry it outside.
Only by hiding it within his own body could he feel at ease.
Nian Lin lowered his head and looked at the scar on his chest.
The scar had long since healed.
No one would know that a precious crystal was hidden beneath it.