Chapter 57: The Mark Awakens Once More

In the forest, trees with trunks ten yards thick could be seen everywhere. At this moment, Su Yizhao sat cross-legged within the hollow of a tree.

He had left the southwestern border, entered the Realm of Shadowed Souls, and then made his way into the forest. Within the Realm of Shadowed Souls, there was not a trace of elemental energy, but here in the forest, the concentration of energy was two or three times greater than in the southwestern border. With only a slight circulation of his technique, the dense energy poured into his body. No wonder their cultivation was so profound!

Su Yizhao sighed inwardly, drew out a jade slip, and pressed it to his forehead. Three bold words appeared in his mind: “Mystic Body Technique.” He had obtained this jade slip during the competition before entering the Mystic Qi Sect, and it contained five realms.

Body Tempering Realm, Bone Forging Realm, Blood Condensation Realm, Tendon Transformation Realm, Meridian Penetration Realm—after that, there was nothing more. The body cultivator he had slain back then had only reached the Tendon Transformation Realm.

Body refinement was painful. Su Yizhao knew this well enough. The first four realms were relatively simple, each using elemental energy to temper the flesh, bones, blood, and tendons. Beyond that, further advancement required rare herbs or elixirs.

Yet the benefits of body refinement were truly enticing. In the Body Tempering Realm, the skin became supple and resilient, strength increased to the power of ten oxen. In the Bone Forging Realm, strength doubled again and the toughness of all bones improved. In the Blood Condensation Realm, ordinary blades could not pierce the body; even if wounded, blood would stop flowing instantly.

Su Yizhao carefully pondered the technique. Cultivating immortality was difficult, largely because of the myriad techniques and the preciousness of time. If none could be mastered to their pinnacle, it was better to focus on a single path. Perhaps Xuan Wuji and the others were truly right!

“The difficulty of body refinement is like reaching the heavens; the pain of body refinement is like boiling in oil; elemental energy tempers the body, and all impurities are removed…”

With each recited mantra, the spiritual energy in Su Yizhao’s dantian began to boil. At that moment, the first layer of the “Creation Technique” operated simultaneously.

He had experienced this countless times; naturally, he was not afraid. His face remained calm as he waited for the agony of energy tempering his body…

Ten days later, a voice came from outside the tree hollow—Chi Xiangdong’s voice: “Fellow Daoist Su, are you ready to depart? The situation is becoming dire!”

Within the hollow, Su Yizhao opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing and vanishing in the darkness.

Ten days, and the “Mystic Body Technique” had already been cultivated to the mid-stage of the Meridian Penetration Realm.

He extended his right hand; the scars from previous injuries had vanished without a trace.

With his left hand, he drew a flying sword and lightly traced it across his right hand.

A sizzling sound—like cutting through leather—left only a pale mark on his right hand.

The mark faded, leaving his hand unscathed.

This was the power of body refinement.

One must know, this flying sword was a superior-grade mystic weapon! Its sharpness was beyond doubt.

Su Yizhao stood; it was indeed time to leave!

The cultivators who had scattered to divert the Tang Family's attention had naturally caused some undesirable consequences. The Tang Family had captured several cultivators, who undoubtedly confessed to his existence. Therefore, the Tang Family was likely already on their way.

He was about to reply when suddenly his expression changed, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.

Not before, not after—why now?

The elemental energy from the outside world entered his body, coursing through his meridians. Moments before, it had been gathering in his dantian, but now it surged toward his chest.

The mark!

The mark was absorbing energy again!

Normally a good thing, but under these circumstances, a calamity!

If he endured this, his cultivation would leap from mid-stage Five Spirit Realm directly to mid-stage Six Spirit Realm. All techniques—with suitable methods—could advance to the sixth tier.

But now, the Tang Family was about to attack!

Su Yizhao slowly settled back down and called out to Chi Xiangdong outside the hollow: “Fellow Daoist Chi, there’s a complication. I’m afraid I can’t leave for now!”

Chi Xiangdong was clearly shocked and asked anxiously, “Fellow Daoist Su, what should we do?”

Su Yizhao gave a bitter smile. The urgent need now was to immediately feed the mark with spirit stones.

He tossed out nine storage rings. “These are for you. However many sixth-tier techniques you possess, give them all to me!”

Chi Xiangdong received the rings, delighted, but hesitated: “Is it not too late to cultivate now? Sixth-tier techniques are truly rare—I have none at all!”

Su Yizhao thought to himself—so it was. Sixth-tier techniques were not for ordinary people.

Suddenly, a voice came from outside: “Tang Wen! Tang Wen’s storage ring should have them!”

Su Yizhao rejoiced. “Excellent! Fellow Daoist Chi, you may leave first. I cannot depart for the moment!”

Chi Xiangdong hesitated briefly, then declared resolutely, “I will guard you from outside. If they find this place, I will draw them away!”

Chi Xiangdong waited outside for a while; no more sound came from the hollow. After pondering, he turned and flew off.

Inside the hollow, spirit stones packed the space, their energy dense. Some dead branches slowly turned green, gradually coming to life.

Su Yizhao’s spiritual sense entered Tang Wen’s storage ring and he could not help but marvel.

With a thought, his spiritual sense wrapped around nine flying swords, drawing them out to float before him.

Golden swords glimmered with cold light.

Divine weapons?

He was overjoyed. Weapons had grades, after all. He only knew of mystic weapons, divine weapons, and ethereal treasures, corresponding to the three cultivation realms: lower, middle, and upper.

Mystic weapons matched the Mystic Realm, divine weapons matched the Spirit Realm, ethereal treasures matched the Void Realm. Each grade brought a leap in power, just like cultivation realms.

Yet in the southwestern border, acquiring weapons that matched one’s realm was exceedingly difficult.

Even he, having reached the Five Spirit Realm for years, still wielded mystic weapons. Even superior-grade mystic weapons could not compare with inferior-grade divine weapons.

But these before him were at least mid-grade divine weapons.

He took a silver sword and slashed it at the floating golden sword.

With a crisp snap, the silver sword broke in two.

“Amazing!” He stared wide-eyed at the golden sword like a country bumpkin.

Not a single mark marred its blade.

Happily, he imprinted his spiritual sense on all nine flying swords, excitement bubbling up. Using these nine swords to perform the “Earth Sword Technique” would produce unimaginable power.

Second Young Master Tang was indeed wealthy.

The entire storage ring was filled with superior-grade spirit stones.

Over three million spirit stones, mostly of the highest quality. There were also bottles of pills, unidentified ores, and three jade slips.

Su Yizhao’s gaze locked onto the three jade slips.

They were sixth-tier techniques: “Leap Technique,” “Ice Shield Technique,” “Vine Technique.”

No “Heaven Sword Technique”?

He felt somewhat disappointed.

As the mark absorbed energy, he was about to usher in the third layer of the “Creation Technique.” Then, his cultivation would soar to mid-stage Six Spirit Realm.

Once at the Six Spirit Realm, he could practice the sixth-tier “Heaven Sword Technique,” and the flying swords’ attacks would reach a new height.

Even Tang Wen did not possess it; others surely would not either.

Indeed, after searching all the storage rings, he found nearly ten million superior-grade spirit stones, but no sixth-tier techniques.

He closed his eyes. Strands of spirit energy, visible to the naked eye, surged into his body, gathering at his chest.

The eight-trigram mark on his chest began to swell.

At this stage, the energy in his dantian dwindled with each use, until his cultivation was exhausted.

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away, two wounded cultivators were being escorted by seven or eight people, rapidly approaching…