In Lin Tian's mind, two images gradually emerged, brought on by the profound connection with the silk book. At this moment, all of his insights condensed into twenty-four characters—this phrase felt like a bridge leading him to a higher realm. The "spirit" mentioned here did not refer to mere power, but to spiritual energy, which was a necessary stage in the cultivation of the Dao of Law—referred to as the "Refining Spirit" stage, which birthed the "Primordial Spirit."
Lin Tian, unaware, did not realize that what he had gained was not additional power, but a deep understanding of the essence of power. Every insight seemed to open a door to a higher realm, but the true change didn't seem to occur in his body.
At that very moment, his mind seemed to explode, and an intense pain almost overwhelmed him. It felt as though something intangible had torn his consciousness apart. The pain almost drove him to crash to the ground, but as the pain spread, a strange coolness followed, as if it had cleansed all of his worries and stress. The refreshing sensation nearly made him moan in pleasure.
If Lin Tian had been fully conscious at this time, he might have realized that he had just broken through the "Consciousness Palace," which most cultivators of the Dao of Law believed was nearly impossible to cross. At that moment, his spiritual power suddenly broke through, shattering the seal of the Consciousness Palace with pure strength, entering the intermediate stage of Spirit Gathering, and beginning to cultivate a faint trace of a spiritual root.
This spiritual root symbolized the fresh beginning for a cultivator of the Dao of Law. If it continued to grow, it could eventually form a spiritual wheel, becoming the source of spiritual power. Breaking through the Consciousness Palace and obtaining spiritual power represented the birth of a true cultivator of the Dao of Law, an unparalleled distinction that martial cultivators could never compare to.
However, while there were countless martial artists in the world, only a few could cultivate the Dao of Law, and fewer still could break through the Consciousness Palace to gain spiritual power. For Lin Tian to break through in this state was an extraordinary stroke of luck.
The strange sensation made him almost doubt whether he was still dreaming. Everything around him seemed full of illusory colors. At that moment, he suddenly pushed aside the rubble in front of him, revealing his upper body. When he saw the Bishézhē Mó Hùn (a magical soul) swirling around the girl, suddenly lose control, and emit a sharp scream as it rushed toward him, the scene before his eyes felt like a cold iron block crashing down. His head exploded with intense pain, and he lost consciousness.
The silk book hidden in his chest seemed to sense the changes occurring within him and suddenly emitted a bright light, as if it were a source of guiding power. It forcibly drew the out-of-control magical soul back into him until it was entirely absorbed. When everything ended, Lin Tian finally realized that his Consciousness Palace had somehow been opened without any prior warning!
"This... How is this possible?" Lu Benben stared dumbfounded at the rubble covering Lin Tian, the blood in his eyes slowly fading as an inexplicable fear rose in his heart. The sudden disappearance of the magical soul left him unable to connect with it, and for a moment, he had no idea what had just happened.
A sharp pain surged in his chest, and suddenly a spray of blood shot out. Lu Benben quickly turned around, desperately trying to avoid it. At that moment, he felt a sharp cold wind cut across his chest, and he was struck with sudden pain— a long sword had almost pierced his heart!
It was the girl! She had seized a brief moment to thrust the sword deeply into Lu Benben's chest!
A look of despair flashed across Lu Benben's eyes. He slapped the girl's shoulder with both hands, shaking her protective aura to pieces. With that impact, he shot backward like an arrow, blood spraying into the air.
The girl's eyes dimmed slightly. She had intended to pursue him, but feeling the intense pain in her shoulder, coupled with her body's exhaustion, she chose not to chase after him. Instead, she coldly watched as Lu Benben disappeared into the distance.
"I owe you a life. Consider this a favor repaid today," she whispered, her eyes filled with complex emotions. She took out a five-colored lotus seed from her chest and gently placed it into Lin Tian's mouth. The lotus seed seemed to melt instantly. Although Lin Tian remained unconscious, his body began to naturally absorb the medicinal effects of the seed, and his muscles and bones gradually became stronger.
"If I ever see you practicing the Ashura Demon Art again, I will not spare you," she left those words behind, then turned and walked away, fading into the distance.
Lin Tian woke up groggily, feeling a sharp pain in his head. However, his body felt unusually refreshed. The sticky feeling on his skin made him frown. He touched his skin and found a greasy substance covering his body, emitting a foul odor. As he tried to get up, he was shocked to realize that his Bone Refining realm had somehow broken through and reached the high stage!
This unexpected breakthrough filled him with unease, especially with that oily substance on his body, which seemed to be a manifestation of internal impurities. Nonetheless, the fragrance of the lotus seed still lingered in his mouth, and the wounds on his arm had completely healed, with only slight discoloration where the skin was still tender.
All of this made Lin Tian suddenly realize that the change had come from the five-colored lotus seed. He began to understand that this small heavenly treasure truly had an astonishing effect that could change a cultivator's constitution. However, why had the girl not experienced such a dramatic change after consuming the lotus seed?
Lin Tian's heart sank as he suddenly realized the girl's deeply unfathomable identity. The five-colored lotus seed must have been commonplace for her, given her status and power, which would be enough to shock any ordinary cultivator.