Chapter 574: Six-Pattern Yao (II)
Within the dark void space, Lin Zheyu had no idea that two powerful yaos were already waiting outside the node rift for him to walk into their trap. Even if he had known, he would not have cared much. His strength gave him absolute confidence. As long as he did not encounter a seven-pattern Nascent Sou realm yao, he was confident that even if he could not win, he could still retreat safely back to the space-time node.
A ripple spread through the void. Lin Zheyu stepped out of the node rift, and his figure flickered and shot downward like a cannonball, plunging into the turbulent lake of chaotic energy below. Suspended amid the violent currents of law-infused energy, he turned his attention to the data displayed within his consciousness.
[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]
[Name: Lin Zheyu]
[Origin Force: 211]
[Skills: Earth Shrinking Technique (Perfection), Primordial Concealment Technique (Perfection), Golden Ocean Secret Manual (Perfection), Seven Absolute Sabers (Fifth Stage: 3%), Primordial Golden Body (Second Stage: 100%), Spirit Martial Universe Secret Art—Advanced (Perfection)]
Only 211 units of Origin Force remained. Replenishing the golden energy in his sea of consciousness required 2 units of Origin Force each time, which was only enough to support a single day's use of the golden Heavenly Eye in the demon realm. On top of that, reverting from his yao form back to human form consumed another unit. On average, Lin Zheyu was spending 3 units of Origin Force every day.
The Spirit Martial Universe Secret Art—Advanced is practically useless now. Using Origin Force to improve it again just to restore my human form would be a waste, Lin Zheyu pondered silently.
After opening his spirit divine repository, Lin Zheyu's spirit and soul underwent an astonishing transformation, evolving into a golden form that was nearly tangible. His physique had likewise experienced a tremendous metamorphosis during the breakthrough.
Yet even so, after investing 43 units of Origin Force into the Spirit Martial Universe Secret Art—Advanced, he had finally exhausted the technique's latent potential. Unless his physique underwent another dramatic transformation, the only path forward would be to switch to a stronger technique, namely the Spirit Martial Universe Secret Art—Ultimate.
After a moment of contemplation, Lin Zheyu made up his mind.
"Three more days. In three days, I'll begin cultivating the third stage of the Primordial Golden Body."
He did not have much Origin Force left. He needed to reserve enough of it for cultivating the third stage of the Primordial Golden Body. Having reached a decision, Lin Zheyu cast aside all distractions and began replenishing the golden energy within his sea of consciousness.
Use 2 units of Origin Force to cultivate the Golden Ocean Secret Manual.
The thought was transmitted. Vast mysterious energy surged forth, sweeping up the energy within the lake and drawing it into Lin Zheyu's body, where it transformed into torrents of blood qi energy and golden energy. Under the influence of the mysterious energy, the golden energy poured into his sea of consciousness at an astonishing rate. The scant remnants of golden energy within his sea of consciousness were quickly swallowed by a surging golden tide and restored into a boundless golden ocean.
A few breaths later, Lin Zheyu's sea of consciousness was once again filled with vast quantities of golden energy. Floating within that golden sea, his golden soul form felt incomparably comfortable. His figure shifted slightly as a pair of enormous wings burst from his back. With a gentle flap, he shot toward the node rift leading to the demon realm.
***
In the Demon realm, ripples spread through the void as a purple-black figure slowly emerged. After concealing his energy within his divine repository, Lin Zheyu's aura became faint to the extreme. His powerful perception spread outward. The roars of yaos rose and fell all around him. As always, large numbers of yaos had gathered nearby.
Hm?
A trace of surprise flashed through Lin Zheyu's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved into a faint smile.
Lin Zheyu chuckled. "A six-pattern Purple Flame Qilin. Heh, I've finally reeled one in..."
Over this period, he had intentionally made no effort to conceal the life aura released whenever he returned to human form. Part of the reason was to bait out powerful prey. If the fish he hooked was too large, he could simply leave. But if it were merely an early-stage six-pattern yao, he would strike with thunderous force. Coincidentally, the one that had appeared now was precisely an early-stage six-pattern yao. And there was only one of them.
This is the perfect chance to test my current strength. If I can't beat it, I'll just retreat into the space-time node, Lin Zheyu pondered inwardly.
His right hand tapped his storage pouch, and a domineering silver-white saber appeared in his grasp. This time, Lin Zheyu intended to fight in his human form. That way, even if he lost, he could immediately retreat to the space-time node. If he transformed into his yao form instead, he would first have to revert to human form before he could return.
A delay of even a few breaths would be enough for a six-pattern yao to unleash a fatal attack. Lin Zheyu tightened his grip on the saber while maintaining an indifferent expression. With a soft burst, a pair of enormous purple-black wings unfurled behind him. He beat them once and shot into the distance just as he had done before.
Several yaos attacked him along the way. Lin Zheyu responded with a single punch, instantly blasting their enormous demonic bodies apart. He deliberately restrained his strength to the limit of the Foundation Establishment realm.
Whenever he encountered stronger yaos, he avoided them with astonishing speed. The goal was to mislead the six-pattern yao lurking in the shadows. While his face remained calm and unconcerned, the golden Heavenly Eye within his sea of consciousness had long since opened, carefully monitoring every move of the six-pattern Purple Flame Qilin.
"Hehe, a human genius truly comparable to a Golden Core realm cultivator. Such powerful blood qi. Such incredible vitality. Slurp... he's bound to be delicious."
The Purple Flame Qilin swallowed a mouthful of saliva, a savage gleam appearing in its eyes. Its figure flickered and vanished from sight, lunging straight toward Lin Zheyu.
Lin Zheyu's heart stirred. It's here!
Under the gaze of the golden Heavenly Eye and the perception granted by his martial cultivation, the six-pattern Purple Flame Qilin had nowhere to hide. Brilliant golden light erupted from the Heavenly Eye within his sea of consciousness. Every flow of energy within the Purple Flame Qilin and every critical node where that energy transformed was laid bare before Lin Zheyu.
Lin Zheyu's mind raced as he analyzed the six-pattern yao's fatal weaknesses. The Purple Flame Qilin possessed formidable defenses, and when combined with the absurd regenerative abilities of yaos, it would be extremely difficult to kill quickly without targeting a true weak point.
"Found it!" Lin Zheyu's eyes sharpened.
From the perspective of the golden Heavenly Eye, the complete energy pathways of the Purple Flame Qilin's demonic patterns unfolded before him. Demonic patterns were the very foundation of a yao's power. Sever the energy junctions connecting those patterns to the demonic body, and killing the creature became remarkably easy. This conclusion was the result of more than two months of study, during which Lin Zheyu had slain and dissected over a hundred yaos while researching their demonic pattern.
A terrifying roar erupted through the air, carrying a soul-shaking energy wave that slammed directly into Lin Zheyu's mind. Yet before the vast ocean of golden energy within his sea of consciousness, such a mental attack was no more than an ant trying to topple a tree. Lin Zheyu felt nothing at all. If anything, he found it somewhat noisy. Even so, he feigned being heavily wounded by the attack. His body faltered and froze briefly in midair, while the energy within him surged violently.
A violent gust of wind swept over him, carrying a nauseating stench. The Purple Flame Qilin opened its enormous maw and lunged at Lin Zheyu, intending to swallow him whole. At that moment, Lin Zheyu moved.
A silver-white blade flashed into existence as the icy saber plunged into the Purple Flame Qilin's body. The golden Heavenly Eye within his sea of consciousness blazed with dazzling radiance. The energy pathways of the yao's demonic patterns were fully exposed in his perception.
Blade lights streaked through the air, tracing the energy pathways Lin Zheyu had identified and carving through the Purple Flame Qilin's body. Vast blood qi energy mixed with golden energy poured through the saber and flooded into the yao's body.
"Grr?"
The yao's pupils widened in disbelief. It discovered that the energy within its body could no longer circulate. A powerful foreign energy had invaded its body, systematically disrupting every energy pathway it possessed. The Purple Flame Qilin let out a shrill, agonized roar. Fear appeared in its eyes as it tried to flee, only to realize it was already too late.
The saber in Lin Zheyu's hand moved with unimaginable speed. Vast blood qi energy thundered through his body with a deafening roar. Muscles bulged across his frame, while thick veins and blood vessels stood out like steel cables wrapped around his entire body.