The two of them were in equally miserable condition.
Their tattered clothes were full of holes, layered over even more holes, and stained with countless patches of dried blood. Anyone who didn’t know better might have mistaken them for monsters.
After escaping the basement, they had never had the chance to change clothes.
Survival had consumed all of their attention. Between the constant fighting and scrambling for their lives, neither of them had given their appearance a second thought.
Without realizing it, they had practically turned themselves into walking piles of mud.
“Hahaha!”
Luo Yunxi couldn’t help bursting into laughter as she pointed at Feng Moxi.
She laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face.
Then, just as suddenly, she leaned against the wall and began crying again.
The journey these two young women had endured…
It truly hadn’t been easy.
Feng Moxi shook her head.
She took two buckets of water from her storage space, and the two of them quickly washed themselves as best they could.
Unfortunately, they had no clean clothes to change into.
In the end, they reluctantly put the same filthy outfits back on.
Luo Yunxi sat down in one corner of the room and resumed her physical training.
Suddenly, Feng Moxi remembered something.
She reached into her pocket and took out three or four crystal cores before handing them over.
“These crystal cores contain a small amount of energy. Hold one in your palm and slowly try to sense the energy flowing inside. Then try to absorb it.”
“I can’t really explain the exact method. You’ll have to figure it out yourself.”
“But one thing is certain. As long as you continue absorbing the energy from crystal cores, you’ll eventually break through to the next level.”
In her previous life, Feng Moxi had awakened a strength-type mutation.
Ordinary first-tier ability users only needed around a hundred crystal cores to advance.
She…
Sometimes couldn’t even break through after absorbing a thousand.
She had tried every method imaginable.
In the end, she could only watch everyone else climb higher and higher while she worked ten or even a hundred times harder.
Eventually, she quietly faded into obscurity.
That…
Was the sorrow of the weak.
“They can actually help us level up?”
Luo Yunxi jumped to her feet in excitement.
She carefully accepted the crystal cores and held them up toward the light.
Only then did she notice the faint shimmer slowly flowing inside each one.
Without looking closely, it was impossible to notice what lay hidden within.
“But if I use these… what about you?”
“I still have more.”
Luo Yunxi’s heart warmed.
She hadn’t expected Feng Moxi to give her the most valuable resources without hesitation.
Her admiration for Feng Moxi only grew stronger.
An unconscious smile spread across her face.
“I’ll work hard.”
Feng Moxi nodded.
She crossed her legs on the bed, interlocked her fingers, and formed several hand seals in quick succession.
Resting both palms upward, she slowly guided an invisible current of energy into her meridians.
Before long, she entered a deep meditative state.
As time passed, the golden energy inside her body became denser and purer.
After circulating through several complete cycles, it gradually settled down before returning to her dantian.
Perhaps it was only her imagination…
But today’s energy seemed noticeably purer than yesterday’s.
It was easier to refine.
Easier to absorb.
“Absolute Slaughter…”
Feng Moxi silently repeated the name of the cultivation technique.
Rise from certain death.
Be reborn through slaughter.
Was this technique created for the apocalypse itself?
Watching Feng Moxi sink into meditation, Luo Yunxi copied her posture.
She rested her hands on her knees, holding a crystal core in each palm.
She focused all her strength, attempting to draw out the energy inside.
Nothing happened.
Again.
And again.
She repeatedly gathered her strength until she was completely exhausted.
Yet the faint light inside the crystal core continued flowing peacefully, showing no sign of responding to her.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she rested briefly.
Then a thought struck her.
She summoned two tiny droplets of water, wrapping them around the crystal core.
As she concentrated once more…
A gentle warmth suddenly flowed into her palm.
The glow inside the crystal core instantly disappeared.
The hard shell crumbled into fine ash.
Luo Yunxi froze.
Then joy exploded across her face.
It worked!
She had actually absorbed the energy from the crystal core.
Her entire body suddenly felt invigorated.
She smiled brightly, picked up another crystal core, and entered cultivation once more.
Meanwhile, Feng Moxi sank deeper and deeper into her own meditation.
Her body became incredibly light.
Warm currents slowly flowed through every meridian.
In her awareness, countless tiny specks of light gradually drifted toward her.
Each one felt strangely familiar.
Pale white motes of light floated around her body.
Some hovered nearby.
Others drifted in from the distance.
Little by little…
They all gathered around her.
For some reason, Feng Moxi felt an overwhelming desire to reach out and touch them.
The instant that thought arose…
Her entire body relaxed instinctively.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Joyful.
The countless invisible lights slowly entered her body through every acupuncture point, through her skin, between her brows, and through the palms of her hands.
Her body seemed to become a vast net.
It continuously drew those streams of energy inward.
More.
And more.
Faster.
And faster.
Until every inch of her body felt completely filled.
Her meridians swelled as if an immense force was about to burst free.
An indescribable sense of exhilaration surged through her.
Pop.
A soft sound echoed within her body.
She had broken through.
She really had.
After days and nights of relentless cultivation, Feng Moxi had finally stepped into the Innate Realm.
Her body now overflowed with inexhaustible strength.
It was still nowhere near enough.
But…
She had finally taken the first step.
With a single thought, her consciousness entered the mysterious space.
This time…
The broken sword no longer resisted her.
As she swung it, faint golden light flowed along the blade.
The stronger her spiritual control became, the more naturally the sword moved.
It danced through the air almost of its own accord, radiating dazzling golden light.
Each movement became smoother than the last.
It felt as though the broken sword had been forged specifically for her.
The sword’s light gradually dispersed the surrounding darkness.
The once pitch-black space slowly brightened.
Gray-white mist spread across the sky above fertile yellow earth.
Only then did Feng Moxi realize she was standing on a large island.
Clear blue water surrounded it on every side.
A thin layer of mist drifted lazily over the river, embracing the island like something from a fairy tale.
At the very center stood a plain wooden cabin.
It looked lonely in the vast landscape.
Surrounding it, however, stretched rich, fertile farmland as far as the eye could see.
The fresh scent of earth filled the air.
“It’s… this big?”
Feng Moxi couldn’t hide her astonishment.
So after reaching the Innate Realm…
This dark space had truly transformed into land that could be cultivated.
From now on…
Would she never have to worry about food again?
In her previous life, Wan Wanxin had never been this fortunate.
The realization made Feng Moxi want to burst into laughter.
Then…
Something suddenly occurred to her.
Her expression changed instantly.
Where were all the supplies she had painstakingly collected?
The enormous island contained nothing except the lonely wooden cabin.
Unwilling to believe it, she withdrew her consciousness before entering again.
Still…
There wasn’t a single supply crate anywhere.
Yet whenever she willed a specific item into existence…
It immediately appeared in her hands.
What exactly is going on?
Feng Moxi pushed the question aside.
She hurried toward the cabin.
Inside stood a low wooden table.
Resting atop it were the broken sword…
And an ancient-looking jade slip with a pale bluish-white color.
Across from the table lay two meditation cushions.
Other than that…
The cabin was completely empty.
But none of those things captured Feng Moxi’s attention.
Her eyes were fixed on the small side door tucked into one corner of the cabin.
The real secret…
Had to be behind that door.