Chapter 16: Seventh Body Refinement!

With more than 30,000 taels in his hands, Dustin Li once again found himself standing before the shop that sold array devices. His clothes, weathered by his recent hunt in Shinwu Mountain, were torn and mismatched, standing in stark contrast to the well-dressed customers coming and going from the shop.

"The shopkeeper, I'll take a first-order Spirit Gathering array device," Dustin Li stated firmly as he entered the store.

The middle-aged shopkeeper behind the counter paused for a moment, his eyes scanning Dustin's ragged appearance. "Are you sure you want to buy it? The first-order Spirit Gathering array is priced at 10,000 taels of silver."

The shopkeeper's doubt was clear, thinking that such a shabby boy couldn't possibly afford such an expensive item. Without a word, Dustin Li simply laid a thick stack of silver notes on the counter.

The shopkeeper's eyes widened as he saw the substantial sum, and a smile quickly spread across his face. "Ah, yes, of course! Wait a moment, I'll fetch it for you."

Moments later, the shopkeeper returned, holding an exquisite round wooden box. He opened it to reveal a disc with intricate patterns engraved on its surface. In the center, a small card slot was visible, and instructions for use were etched on the box's lid.

"You use vitality stones to power it," Dustin Li muttered, inspecting the device.

"Hehe, I assume you didn't know. Most auxiliary array devices require vitality stones to activate. Combat-type arrays are a bit different," the shopkeeper explained with a chuckle.

Dustin Li, not wasting any time, took out another 10,000 taels of silver and placed it on the counter. "Do you have any vitality stones for sale? I'll take a few."

The shopkeeper's face lit up with surprise at Dustin's generosity. "Yes, yes! I'll bring them right away!"

Soon, a wooden box containing twenty milky-white vitality stones was delivered. Dustin Li paid and prepared to leave, but just as he did, two new figures entered the shop.

A man and a woman—Emery Liu, wearing a stunning blue dress, and Jeth, a young man in white, carrying an air of arrogance. When Emery's gaze fell on Dustin Li, she was momentarily taken aback. She hadn't expected to see him here.

"Dustin Li?" Emery Liu asked, surprised.

Jeth, sneering, looked at Dustin and mocked, "Hah, look at you—tattered clothes and still trying to buy an array device?" He scoffed, his disdain obvious.

Dustin Li ignored him and walked past them, heading toward the door.

Jeth's anger flared. "Stop!" he commanded sharply.

Dustin Li turned slightly, his frown deepening. "What do you want?"

"I'm speaking to you. Didn't you hear?" Jeth's tone was cold, dripping with contempt.

Dustin Li smiled wryly, his gaze indifferent. "Why should I listen to you?" Without a second thought, he turned and walked out.

"Bastard!" Jeth spat in fury, but Dustin Li was already gone, unaffected by the taunt.

Jeth clenched his fists, his desire to retaliate burning in him. However, with Emery Liu by his side, he had to restrain himself, at least for now. "We'll see how you fare in the annual assessment. Let's see how you'll face Jude Zhang."

After leaving the array shop, Dustin Li proceeded to a weapon store, where he sold Kao's sword and Onyx's bow, amassing more than 800 taels of silver. Next, he visited the medicine shop and spent 15,000 taels on a bottle of Energy Yang Dan.

Yet, instead of returning to the Martial Hall, Dustin Li left Novaridge City and ventured back to Shiwu Mountain. The serene environment of the mountain, with its lush trees and clear waters, proved to be a better setting for his cultivation than the chaotic atmosphere of the Martial Hall.

He found a secluded spot, sat cross-legged, and began setting up the Spirit Gathering array. With a vitality stone placed in the device's center, the complex patterns on the disc glowed softly. The nearby aura of heaven and earth seemed to converge, drawn in by the array's mysterious force.

Feeling the energy pull around him, Dustin Li took out an Energy Yang Pill, consuming it to aid his cultivation. As he meditated, the vital energies of the world, combined with the medicinal power of the pill, swirled in his body, refining his muscles, bones, and organs.

Time passed unnoticed. Hours later, as the sky darkened, Dustin Li's heart raced with excitement as a surge of power erupted from within him.

"Seventh Body Refinement!" he murmured, joy lighting up his face.

His body felt stronger, more resilient, the results of his relentless training and the energy he had accumulated.

With a satisfied smile, Dustin Li reflected on his progress. It had taken him just one day to break through the bottleneck of the seventh level, something that would typically require months of effort for most cultivators of his age. He knew this was thanks to the unique Pearl of Life and Death inside him, which exponentially accelerated his growth.

As he prepared to leave, he reflected on the incredible potential of his current cultivation method. His body, enhanced by the Pearl of Life and Death, had allowed him to refine his strength far faster than anyone else, including those from noble families who enjoyed better resources and conditions.

The days passed, and the time for the annual assessment at the Martial Hall arrived. All students aged fourteen and seventeen were required to participate. Those who passed would advance to higher classes, while those who failed would be sent away.

At the grand arena, thousands of students gathered, their faces a mix of excitement and anxiety. The competition stage stood tall, with a crystal ball placed in the center. This array device would measure each participant's cultivation by emitting light when their inner energy was infused into it.

As Dustin Li arrived, he noticed the familiar faces of other students. Whispers filled the air, speculating on his progress.

"Dustin Li is brave, but Jude Zhang is already at the eighth level of Body Refinement. He'll crush him in the assessment!" someone said.

"Jude Zhang has been training hard. It's a sure thing he'll win," another voice added.

"Does Dustin Li know how strong Jude Zhang has become? I doubt he stands a chance."

But Dustin Li remained calm, unaffected by the murmurs around him.

As the assessments began, students stepped forward, one by one, to place their hands on the crystal ball, with varying results. Only three passed the assessment, and the rest were eliminated.

Finally, it was Dustin Li's turn. Stepping up to the stage, he saw Jude Zhang and his brother Joshua Zhang in the crowd, their eyes filled with disdain. Jude's gaze, in particular, was filled with arrogant confidence. With his breakthrough to the eighth level of Body Refinement, he was certain of his victory over Dustin Li.

But Dustin Li couldn't help but smirk inwardly. He was curious to see the expressions on their faces when they saw his cultivation.

He placed his hand on the crystal ball and infused his life and death energy into it.

"Om!"

The crystal ball glowed with an intensity that surpassed all others, dazzling in its brilliance.

The assessment elder's eyes widened in shock. "Ninth Body Refinement?!" He recovered quickly, though, and smiled faintly. "No, it's not the ninth level... It's the seventh!"

The arena fell silent, and all eyes turned to Dustin Li. The brilliance of his display spoke volumes.