The scent of blood still lingered faintly on Lin Xuan's robes as he disappeared deeper into the forest, the cold wind brushing past him like whispers from the dead. His eyes, sharper now than before, scanned the underbrush with practiced precision. His mind wasn't shaken—not anymore. The weight of death no longer burdened him; it was fuel, a tool, and he wielded it without hesitation.
He crouched near a moss-covered rock, plucking a rare Blood Spirit Herb from the soil. A few more herbs followed—Ironwood Root, Ghost Vine, and Crimson Lotus—all ingredients for the next pill he had in mind. He had no time to waste. Every breath was one closer to his ascension.
---
Back in the quiet confines of his room, Lin Xuan lit a faint blue flame using the fire technique from the Records of the Human Emperor. There was no cauldron—only will, energy, and raw mastery.
With steady hands, he began the pill refinement process. The herbs sizzled and twisted mid-air, merging with a subtle hum. His aura flared violently as the concoction formed, layer by layer. This wasn't just any breakthrough—it was the bridge between realms.
After swallowing the pill, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged and activated a secret body refinement technique from the Scriptures of Severed Unity. His muscles tensed, his veins pulsed with power. Every cell in his body screamed, then reformed—stronger, denser, faster.
Hours passed.
A thunderous surge rippled through the room—Qi Transformation: First Layer.
He slowly opened his eyes. Their cold glint hinted at a beast that had just shed its skin.
With this new strength, he estimated he could overwhelm a cultivator at the Fifth Layer of Qi Transformation with ease. The Sixth Layer would require effort—but it was within reach. That alone spoke volumes of the terrifying power hidden in the Scriptures of Severed Unity.
---
Meanwhile, far from the quiet inn…
Within the walls of the Zhi Clan's main hall, chaos stirred. A bloodied survivor limped through the gates, his face pale, fear burned into his bones.
"Dead… all of them… he killed them… that boy… Lin Xuan," he whispered before collapsing.
The elders' expressions turned grim. Whispers echoed in the hall.
"Liu Yue is alive?"
"Impossible. We confirmed her death."
"And the scriptures… if he has them, the boy must be eliminated."
The hall fell into heavy silence before the patriarch rose. His eyes, cold as obsidian, stared into the shadows.
"Send the Black Talon Envoy. No mistakes this time."
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