Here goes my sleep
Lin Xuanyu sat cross-legged on the bed while Derick and Jerry sat on the floor, silently observing him with expressions of fear.
They could still feel it—the sword on their necks had not gone away.
Lin Xuanyu glanced at the system interface, sighing as he reviewed the evolution points he had left. His quality sleep had been ruined, and now he had to prepare to hunt Lin Yuan.
This was a critical opportunity, a hit-or-miss chance. If he played his cards right, he might be able to take down the transmigrator.
But first, he needed to unlock more meridians and at least reach Transition Realm 7.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be confident in dealing with someone who might already be at Core-Formation 1st Level. Additionally, he needed to refine the Fire Rune Manifestation and Wood Rune Manifestation techniques.
With that, he began his preparations. His plan was to refine the high-grade energy gathering pills into energy gathering potions and consume them. He paid no mind to the two sitting on the floor; whether they saw his secrets or not was irrelevant. In his eyes, they were already dead. Even if they noticed something unusual, it wouldn't matter.
From his spatial ring, Lin Xuanyu pulled out nine bottles containing energy gathering pills, placing them neatly on the bed. Then, he gave a mental command to the system.
"System, refine these nine energy gathering pill bottles."
Immediately, the familiar screen of the Evolution System popped up.
[- 9 EP]
[Refining in progress....]
Soon, a new system window appeared.
[Refinement success...]
[Energy Gathering Potion (100% Purity) - Each Contains 60 Units of Cosmic Energy]
The bottles holding the energy gathering pills emitted a soft glow before transforming completely.
Wasting no time, Lin Xuanyu took the first bottle and drank it in one gulp. Without pause, he consumed the second, then the third, until all nine bottles were empty.
A powerful surge of energy coursed through his body. He immediately sat cross-legged and began drawing the energy into his meridians.
"Stellar Refinement," he muttered, activating the technique that filtered spiritual energy. Soon, his body was brimming with 540 units of cosmic energy.
The cosmic energy rushed into his energy channels, activating the energy in his four meridians.
The energies merged seamlessly with the incoming cosmic flow. Instantly, the combined force surged through his energy channels and charged straight into the 5th meridian.
Bam!
With a strong force, the cosmic energy destroyed the barrier blocking the 5th meridian and rushed straight into it.
The energy revolved in it five times before a bit of the cosmic energy detached and moved toward the 6th meridian.
There wasn't much resistance from the barrier, and it broke in two attempts.
Like before, the energy revolved in the 6th meridian six times before a portion rushed up to the 7th. It also broke through in four attempts. Finally, the energy reached the 8th barrier, breaking it in ten attempts. The energy revolved around the 8th meridian before settling.
After the breakthrough was complete, the eight awakened meridians started shining brightly.
Then, the cosmic energy within them rushed into his physical body.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Countless popping sounds rang out from his body as the cosmic energy circulated, strengthening his cells. Each cell in his body was continuously fortified by the miraculous energy.
It was almost like transforming from a skinny man into a super buff dude in seconds!
This was the miraculous ability of cosmic energy. Of course, spiritual energy did something similar, but it was not as effective as his.
To reach Core Formation, a cultivator must first strengthen their body to withstand the transformation of a meridian into a core. This process begins only after all 12 meridians are fully awakened and functioning at peak capacity.
Advancing to Level 2 of Core Formation follows the same principle but with significantly increased requirements. The body must now possess twice the toughness it had during the initial Core Formation stage to endure the transformation of another meridian into a core.
Each subsequent level demands exponentially greater physical resilience, ensuring that only those with extraordinary foundations can ascend further.
This was why the seed monster that reached the 2nd stage of core-formation wasn't as strong as a human cultivator at the same stage.
It needed thorough body strengthening to fully merge and utilize the power of its cores.
The monster indeed had two energy cores and even managed to form its first Origin ability because it formed a connection with The Heaven and Earth.
However, it couldn't fully utilize them due to its inadequate body. This was also the reason Lin Xuanyu could cut through its flesh—otherwise, he would have been dead.
The monster had forced its evolution by killing and consuming its own kind to develop the cores.
But how much energy would it need to fully transform its body in a Level 1 gate? It was impossible to gather enough energy to strengthen its body to the 2nd stage of core-formation.
In fact, if a real core-formation cultivator entered a level gate, the entire energy inside would be sucked in with a single breath. The monsters within would start killing each other for energy to survive, eventually leading to their extinction.
That was the power of a core-formation cultivator.
As for Origin abilities, every core-formation cultivator had them—some had one, others had two. They were the hidden talents that surfaced when one became a higher life form, almost like a gift from the High-Heaven that ruled above all.
The requirements to reach core-formation were no joke, and the threshold for Lin Xuanyu would only be higher.
Now that was settled, Lin Xuanyu slowly opened his eyes and looked at the duo, who were staring at him in terror.
They seemed to have noticed that he had reached the mid-stage of the transition realm.
He directly ignored them, and then his eyes fell on the two techniques he bought.
[Fire Element Technique: Fire Rune Manifestation
Description: Flame Rune Manifestation is a fire-element technique that utilizes spiritual energy to draw intricate runes. These runes resonate with the law of fire, summoning flames for offense, defense, or utility.
Limitations:
- Drawing the runes requires time and huge amounts of energy leaving the cultivator vulnerable to interruption or attacks. This makes it ill-suited for fast-paced or chaotic battles.
- Will be useless against someone who have comprehended Laws.]
[Wood Element Technique: Wood Rune Manifestation
Description:
Wood Rune Summoning is a wood-element technique that channels a cultivator's spiritual energy to inscribe runes. These runes invoke the law of wood, allowing the cultivator to summon vines, roots, and other plant-based entities for offense, defense, or support.
Limitations:
- Drawing the runes requires time and huge amounts of energy leaving the cultivator vulnerable to interruption or attacks. This makes it ill-suited for fast-paced or chaotic battles.
- Will be useless against someone who have comprehended Laws.]
"System, refine both of these techniques."
[- 2 EP]
[Fire Rune Manifestation and Wood Rune Manifestation are being refined...]
Soon, a new window popped up, and a flood of information rushed into his mind.
[Fire Element Technique: Fire Rune Manifestation
Description: Flame Rune Manifestation is a fire-element technique that utilizes spiritual energy to draw intricate runes. These runes resonate with the law of fire, summoning flames for offense, defense, or utility. Damage is increased when drawn with cosmic energy.
Limitations: None]
[Wood Element Technique: Wood Rune Manifestation
Description:
Wood Rune Summoning is a wood-element technique that channels a cultivator's spiritual energy to inscribe runes. These runes invoke the law of wood, allowing the cultivator to summon vines, roots, and other plant-based entities for offense, defense, or support. Damage is increased when drawn with cosmic energy
Limitations: None]
Lin Xuanyu was shocked when he reviewed the new information in his mind.
He honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry. First of all, the damage dealt by attacks using runes would increase exponentially if he used cosmic energy to draw them—which he would.
The previous limitation of needing time and a large amount of energy to draw the runes was completely removed. Now, with a snap of his fingers, he could draw the most powerful rune from the technique, and the energy consumption would be negligible.
To put it into perspective, if he used Fire Rune Manifestation to draw a rune, it would have cost him 10 out of 100 energy. But now, it would only cost him 3 out of 100. That was simply game-breaking.
This meant he could draw more runes simultaneously and increase his firepower. Just the thought sent chills down his spine. He was becoming too overpowered.
Last but not least was the Law Suppression. It was completely gone—thoroughly wiped out from the technique. Now, even if someone with a Law stood in front of him and used it to induce suppression, it would have no effect on him.
Strangely enough, every technique he refined changed in a way to better suit his cultivation technique, Stellar Ascension. But that was a good thing. Now, he wouldn't need to worry about finding suitable techniques because he could just refine them to align with his cultivation path.
With this, he was finally out of Evolution Points.
However, with his newfound strength and the refined Rune Manifestation techniques, he was more confident in winning this fight than before.
He then turned to his "most trusted" subordinates on the floor.
"Well then, subordinates of mine." Lin Xuanyu smiled, "Please show me the way to Lin Yuan!"
Now that his body was strengthened by the cosmic power, he no longer felt tired but full of energy.