Beast Core

There are many stories about cultivators strengthening their Ki by forcing out their soul into physical existence. This serves as a unique method that allows energy to flow easier and doubles the Ki collection during meditation as both the soul and body meditate in total synced motion.

Yet there are particular stories of cultivators sharpening their mental force to such masterful degrees that it creates faster reflexes, stronger mental fortitude, and having high resistance to near immunity of hypnosis or mind control. There are even rumors that master level mental force are so heightened that the perception of time can become slower at will.

I don't have a body so the only benefit of using the bear's beast core would just be increasing my Ki. As well as my soul has yet to get used to energy flowing in and out at such odd intervals.

My only other choice would be using this beast core to strengthen my mental force but even if I do that I can barely utilize it in any way possible.

I was lucky that the wolf was so exhausted, becoming too easy to kill. This only reminds me that my arsenal of skills are extremely limited.

All I have at my disposal is the ceremonial sword dance and the ability to copy the surrounding underworld spirit beasts' breathing style.

The ceremonial sword dance is too impractical in combat and uses movements that only serve to be pleasing to the eye. I need to refine it and remove any wasted motion for maximum efficiency. I don't know how but I will figure out a way.

Even though I have the ability to copy spirit beasts' breathing style I–wait.

I have the ability to copy spirit beasts' breathing style.

I can mimic their prowess and use aspects of their powers as my own. As long as I can increase my Ki, I can prolong the duration of using the beast breathing styles and have higher survival in the Underworld.

Without hesitation, I decided to absorb the bear's beast core through meditation.

Absorbing a two ringed beast core is a lot harder than the previous beast cores I have taken in. It feels as though the Ki circulating inside can burst out and destroy my soul at any moment.

I must remain calm, I must not panic. This beast core will slowly be absorbed and this will soon be over.

Remain calm, must not panic. Remain calm, must not panic. Remain calm, must not pa–

*CRACK*

SHIT.

This stinging pain felt like glass cracking somewhere on my soul. I was too hasty and I'm struggling to absorb this beast core. I feel my soul's dantian sinking in, being sunk and clogged.

The circulation of Ki is out of place. It's not flowing properly anymore from what I can see. Maybe I can flow the absorbed Ki outside of my soul, maybe that'll fix thi–

*CRACK*

UGH. It only made the situation worse. Damn it. I underestimated the difficulty of absorption between a one ringed beast core against a two ringed beast core would be this much more intense.

If this goes any longer my soul will shatter and I won't find Li Ming.

I grit my teeth.

"RAGHHHHHHHH".

In a futile attempt, I tried absorbing the beast core properly once more, ignoring a part of my soul slowly breaking. My dantian is beating, pulsing hard to keep the absorbed Ki contained. I tried to keep an empty mind but I can't. I focused as hard as possible on absorbing this core but the pain is too great.

I slowly felt my struggle would become hopeless until I felt some of the restless Ki was being absorbed somewhere else.

It was going into my mind. Ki was traveling into my mind and entering my sea of consciousness.

I felt it slowly expanding and the crashing waves flourishing in my sea of consciousness was in complete harmony by the absorbed Ki. The pain I felt was gradually being relieved.

The golden wisp glowed and presented itself forth onto my forehead. It is helping me keep all this Ki contained.

I relaxed and allowed the wisp to do its work and I continued meditation.

***

After many grueling hours, the beast core was fully absorbed. In my soul, Ki was moving in and out free as the wind.

This must be the first layer of Ki gathering. I would never have thought I would take the first steps into my journey of cultivation like this.

I expected my soul for damage and saw that this golden wisp restored the parts that were being shattered in the process. It was a wonder to be seen.

Even though it lies in total mystery, this wisp has saved me.

After I rest, I should start hunting for more beast cores. I should absorb the next couple beast cores to strengthen my mental force instead of my cultivation base since that is what empowers this golden wisp. I will strengthen my mental force and see what this golden wisp has yet to show.

To tell time in the Underworld is not too different when telling time in Earth Realm. Where there is supposed to be a sun, there are two moons and when they're both in the sky it is equivalent to the time during the day.

The day is coming to an end when both moons rest beyond the red horizon and the night is represented by dark clouds covering the crimson sky, darkening and lighting the lands as though there was an eclipse happening above.

It seems both of the moons are setting down and the dark clouds are beginning to appear. More dangerous spirit beasts tend to hunt for food around this time. The darkness conceals their bodies and all I could ever see when I hid away was their bright eyes piercing out of the chilling darkness.

I'll continue staying on this tree branch and spend the night here. I then crossed my legs and soon entered in a meditative state.

Time has passed and I could see the twin moons slowly rising into the red sky. I stood up from the thick tree branch and I braced myself for what shall come for the next few days from now on.

No longer shall I be hunted.