Meanwhile, inside the room, Lin Xiao’s eyes suddenly snapped open. Another mysterious bone pattern had formed within his spine. Torrents of evil energy surged through the five bone patterns, with terrifyingly malevolent aura radiating from his body in all directions.
At that moment, Lin Xiao felt as if he had become an evil god, his body brimming with unparalleled malevolent power. This force seemed capable of annihilating everything if unleashed.
“Success!” Lin Xiao’s heart leapt with joy.
Though the evil power of the Immortal Skeleton Technique originated from bone patterns, it differed from the self-contained Sealing Heaven Stone Hand. The Stone Hand, like spiritual energy, operated as an independent system, relying on the hand sea for power. If the hand sea did not advance, the petrification power would stagnate. However, the Immortal Skeleton Technique was different; its bone patterns remained linked to primordial energy. By infusing primordial energy into the bone patterns, the evil power was activated. The stronger the primordial energy, the more potent the evil power became.
The mysterious evil energy within the bone patterns could be enhanced and transformed not only by evil-attribute treasures but also by primordial energy. However, cultivating with primordial energy alone was far slower, whereas evil-attribute treasures could accelerate the process significantly. Just as cultivating the dantian could rely on ambient primordial qi or be boosted by pills, spirit stones, or other items, treasures suited to one’s realm were far more effective.
Thus, Lin Xiao had primarily relied on evil-attribute treasures to advance his Immortal Skeleton Technique. Cultivating five bone patterns solely with primordial energy would have taken an indeterminate amount of time. Since the mysterious evil energy in the bone patterns corresponded to one’s cultivation, the five bone patterns at the Seventh Martial Venerable realm were not merely one pattern stronger than the previous four; their evil energy had reached a terrifying level.
As Lin Xiao revelled in his achievement, a creak sounded as the door opened, and Shi Jindou’s cheerful figure entered.
“Senior Shi?” Lin Xiao was slightly surprised.
“Lin Xiao, have you successfully refined the Netherfire Evil Insect spirit core?” Shi Jindou asked with a smile.
“By luck, I’ve fully refined it and gained some benefits,” Lin Xiao nodded.
“That spirit core is no ordinary item, containing remarkable evil energy. Refining it must have boosted your strength considerably,” Shi Jindou said. “However, the top fifteen in this initial assembly list are all formidable, and they’ve been pushing their realms over the past half-month. Defeating the other strong contenders in the assembly will likely be challenging.” He then produced a pill and continued, “The Li family’s Li Renchou and Li Luo, chosen by Yunwu House, and the Xing family’s Xing Tian, chosen by Jinxuan Hall, are exceptional. To ensure Wanxiang Pavilion doesn’t lose its exclusive rights to a thousand cities, our pavilion master has upped the stakes and paid a price to secure you a Yuqing Pill, hoping it will help your spiritual energy break through as well.”
“Yuqing Pill?” Lin Xiao’s eyes widened in shock and excitement.
The Yuqing Pill’s primary ingredient was Yuqing Spirit Liquid, a treasure formed from the fusion of heaven and earth’s spiritual qi with a trace of the “charm of the Dao.” It was a divine elixir for spirit controllers. A single drop of sixth-grade high-tier Yuqing Spirit Liquid could elevate a mid-fifth-grade spirit controller to high-fifth-grade.
However, naturally formed Yuqing Spirit Liquid would leave a trace of impurity in the spirit controller’s mind. After a breakthrough, this impurity could stall progress for a time until fully purged. Ziling had previously used Yuqing Spirit Liquid to reach high-fifth-grade spiritual energy, but with her Substitute Saint Spirit Vein, she cleared the impurity in two to three months without side effects. For Lin Xiao, it would likely take much longer.
The Yuqing Pill, however, was different. Though its main ingredient was Yuqing Spirit Liquid, additional herbs eliminated the impurity entirely when refined into a pill. The challenge was that the auxiliary herbs were as rare as the liquid itself, so even those who obtained Yuqing Spirit Liquid rarely considered refining it into a pill.
Lin Xiao hadn’t expected Wanxiang Pavilion to procure such a pill. As a chamber spanning the Southeast Region, their influence was indeed vast.
“Thank you, Shi Jindou. If there’s ever anything I can do to help, I’ll spare no effort!” Lin Xiao said earnestly as he accepted the Yuqing Pill. It was impossible not to be moved by such a treasure. Having lingered at high-fifth-grade spiritual energy for some time, this pill offered a strong chance to break through to the next level.
As Shi Jindou noted, opponents like Li Renchou and Xing Tian were formidable. Relying solely on his Seventh Martial Venerable realm and mid-fifth-grade spiritual energy made victory difficult. A spiritual energy breakthrough could significantly boost his combat strength.
Shi Jindou chuckled, his face taking on the shrewd look of a cunning merchant. “With your promise, this pill wasn’t given in vain. In the future, we may indeed need your help. Cultivate well and don’t waste the Yuqing Pill!”
Lin Xiao nodded. Shi Jindou’s generosity was immense, and he would naturally do his utmost to repay it. After Shi Jindou left and closed the door, Lin Xiao consumed the Yuqing Pill. Spiritual energy surged in his mind, and he began refining it immediately.
“Is Lin Xiao still in seclusion?” Ling Xiao asked as Shi Jindou stepped out.
“That boy’s a cultivation maniac, planning to refine a tonic to boost his spiritual energy for the final push in the fourth round,” Shi Jindou replied, nodding but keeping the Yuqing Pill a secret.
Ling Xiao and Zihuang nodded, thinking little of it.
Two days later, in an opulent inn, a cold-faced youth in white spoke at a private dining table. “Don’t worry, he’s just a nobody. I can kill him effortlessly.”
“Thank you, Brother Xiang, for doing me this favour,” said the youth opposite, exuding an extraordinary aura. It was none other than Jian Wuqu.
“You’re too kind, Brother Wuqu. Jian Tianjiao is the Southeast Region’s top prodigy. It’s my honour to serve him, and your request grants me great face,” the white-robed youth replied.
“You’re too modest, Brother Xiang. You’re a genius in your own right. I’ll surely recommend you to my elder brother in the future!” Jian Wuqu said with a smile.
“Then I’ll trouble you for that!” the white-robed youth replied courteously. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
Jian Wuqu nodded. After the white-robed youth left, a dashing youth in green entered. “Junior Brother Wuqu, has Xiang Tianxing agreed?” he asked.
Jian Wuqu nodded. “He wouldn’t dare refuse my brother’s face.”
The green-robed youth nodded in agreement. “Xing Tian has agreed as well.”
“Brother Yang Xiu’s face is something Xing Tian wouldn’t dare refuse either,” Jian Wuqu said. After a moment’s pause, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. “Lin Xiao, I’ve enlisted Xiang Tianxing, Xing Tian, Li Luo, and Jin Yuxuan. I refuse to believe you’ll survive the fourth round!”
“If Lin Xiao dares to face Xing Tian or Xiang Tianxing, he’s as good as dead!” the youth called Yang Xiu said confidently.
Jian Wuqu neither agreed nor disagreed, but his tone grew icy. “If he survives this, I’ll kill him myself in the fifth round!”
“Are you planning to use that pill, Junior Brother Wuqu?” Yang Xiu frowned slightly.
“Absolutely!” Jian Wuqu nodded firmly.
“That pill’s cost is too great for a mere Lin Xiao. If he survives the fourth round, I’ll kill him in the fifth!” Yang Xiu said, shaking his head with disdain.
