The battle at Withered Bone Valley, though it destroyed the temporary altar of Guixu, was like a stone cast into a tranquil lake, stirring up even more turbulent undercurrents. Within three days, Qingshi Town became a scene of nervous tension.
The remnants of Tianque completely surrendered to Guixu and began spreading rumors frantically: "Gū Hóng is colluding with evil cultivators from the outer realms, attempting to trigger a terrestrial disaster!" "The Patrol Battalion has been infiltrated, and the Centurion is sheltering traitors!" The new players were gripped by panic; even those who had previously received kindness from Lín Fēng began to cast suspicious glances.
Lín Fēng turned a deaf ear to all of this. He formally recruited two stray players who had fought side-by-side with him in Withered Bone Valley—Tieshan, who wielded a heavy sword, and Liuyun, who was skilled in archery—into his squad. With the addition of Little Blade and Mo Li, the core team of five began to take shape. They used the Handyman Quarters as their base, drilling their teamwork day and night.
"Tieshan, you hold the front line and absorb the pressure. Liuyun, provide suppression from a distance. Little Blade, control the field and harass the enemy. Mo Li, assassinate the key targets. I will focus on breaking their formation," Lín Fēng said, mapping it out on the sand table. "But the space in front of the Soul-Suppressing Stele is narrow; Guixu will certainly set up multiple traps. We need... a trump card."
"Miss Qīngluán?" Little Blade suggested tentatively.
Lín Fēng shook his head. "Her status is special; it is not appropriate for her to join the battle directly. But..." A flash of determination crossed his eyes. "I need her medicine."
That night, Lín Fēng visited the back courtyard of the apothecary again. Qīngluán seemed to have anticipated his arrival; she was tending to a small, three-legged cauldron where a medicinal liquid was boiling, emitting a seven-colored halo.
"You've come," she said without looking up. "Do you know what price you must pay?"
Lín Fēng remained silent for a moment, then took out the iron plaque he had seized from the Guixu priest, added all the copper coins and materials he had saved up, and placed them all on the stone table. "If that is not enough, I can take on any mission."
Qīngluán finally looked up, her gaze as clear as water. "This is not what I want." She pointed to Lín Fēng's heart. "I want you to promise me—no matter what happens, hold onto your original intent. If you are eroded by the chaos of the Taixu Core Fragment, you must rather destroy yourself than become its puppet."
Lín Fēng's heart trembled. She had actually seen through his deepest fear—losing himself in the face of revenge and power.
"I promise," he said solemnly.
Only then did Qīngluán produce a pill the size of a dragon’s eye, completely transparent, with what looked like stars and rivers swirling inside.
【Item: Heart-Clarifying Realm (Pill) · Basic】 Effect: After consumption, the upper limit of the Mental Character Value increases by 10 for three days (current upper limit becomes 110), and the user gains the "Heart-Mirror" state—can briefly reflect the flaws in an enemy's moves (limited to 3 times per day, 5 seconds each time). Side effect: After the medicinal effect wears off, the Mental Character Value will fall back to its original limit, and the user will fall into a state of "Mental Exhaustion" for 24 hours (all stats -10%).
"This pill is based on Hundred-Year Poria, fused with the essence of the Cold Pool Ghost Lotus, and refined with a drop of my own heart blood," Qīngluán’s voice was gentle yet firm. "It can help you glimpse the threshold of 'Heart-Nature Manifestation'—but you must walk the road yourself in the end."
Lín Fēng accepted the pill with both hands, feeling a gentle warmth flow from his palm into his heart. He bowed deeply. "Gū Hóng will never forget Miss Qīngluán's kindness in this lifetime."
After leaving the apothecary, Lín Fēng did not take the pill immediately. He returned to the old locust tree at the Mass Grave and told Old Ghost (Lao Gui) the whole story.
Old Ghost listened, and for once, he did not drink any alcohol. A complex light flickered in his cloudy eyes. After a long while, he rasped, "Kid... you are more like I was back then than I thought." He reached into his robes and pulled out a broken jade slip, stuffing it into Lín Fēng's hand. "This is the third part of the Taixu Qi-Guiding Formula—the 'Mental Image Chapter'. It teaches how to control Qi with the heart and condense intent into imagery. Perhaps... it can help you harness that pill."
【Technique: Taixu Qi-Guiding Formula: Mental Image Chapter (Fragment)】 Effect: Initially guides the fusion of heart-nature power and internal power, laying the foundation for "Heart-Nature Manifestation". Requires extreme concentration during practice; failure will result in mental damage.
Lín Fēng treated it like a treasure. That night, under the moonlight, he calmed his mind, first taking the Heart-Clarifying Realm, then practicing the Mental Image Chapter.
In an instant, the world seemed to fall silent.
He "saw" it—
the thread of dark blue internal power within his body was no longer just a flow of energy; it was entwined with countless minute "threads of will"—that was his resolve, his obsession, his unwillingness to yield, and his hope!
And his Mental Character Value turned into a clear "Heart-Mirror", hovering in the center of his consciousness, reflecting every subtle fluctuation around him!
He attempted to channel this fused power into "Wenxin".
The blade hummed, and the dark blue halo actually condensed into a translucent blade shadow, hovering three inches off the tip! Although it dissolved after only an instant, Lín Fēng was overjoyed—this was the beginning of "Heart-Nature Manifestation"!
"Success!" he whispered, his Mental Character Value having jumped to 41/110 due to the breakthrough!
The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.
On the night of the lunar eclipse, the sky was like ink, and the blood moon was slowly devoured by shadows. Qingshi Town was deathly silent, except for a low, thunderous rumbling coming from the direction of the Mass Grave!
In front of the Soul-Suppressing Stele, dark-robed figures gathered. The Guixu priest stood atop the stele, holding a pitch-black scroll high in his hands, chanting sharply: "Taixu returns to Guixu, let all minds sink together! Activate—!"
Purple-black runes crawled onto the Soul-Suppressing Stele like living snakes, and the inscription "Soul-Suppressing and Evil-Stopping" actually began to flake away!
Just at this moment—
"Stop!"
A clear shout pierced the night sky!
Lín Fēng led his four companions as they lunged out from the dense forest of the Mass Grave! "Wenxin" was unsheathed, and the dark blue blade light pointed directly at the priest!
"You again!" The priest laughed in extreme rage. "Today is the lunar eclipse, the Taixu Core Fragment will surely awaken! You... will all become its nourishment!"
The battle erupted!
Tieshan cleared the path with his heavy sword, clashing head-on with two black-robed guards; Liuyun's arrows were like meteors, targeting the spellcasters; Little Blade threw fire-oil bombs soaked in Eagle-Cry Grass juice, forcing back the attackers; and Mo Li followed like a shadow, his daggers targeting throats and heart meridians!
And Lín Fēng lunged straight for the priest!
"Heart-Mirror" activated!
Every trajectory of the priest's hand seals, every rhythm of his incantations, turned into clear red lines of flaws in Lín Fēng's eyes!
"Now is the time!"
Lín Fēng surged forward! The Mental Image Chapter was pushed to its limit, and his heart-nature power poured into "Wenxin"!
The blade shadow reappeared! This time, it was as solid as reality!
"Wenxin: Breaking Intent!"
The dark blue blade shadow slashed at the scroll in the priest's hand!
"No—!" The priest was filled with horror.
"Slash!"
The scroll snapped in two! The purple-black runes dissipated instantly!
The vibrations of the Soul-Suppressing Stele stopped abruptly! As the blood moon was completely engulfed by shadows, a weak but resilient golden light rose from the base of the stele, stabilizing the seal that was about to shatter!
"Success!" Little Blade cheered.
But Lín Fēng felt a wave of intense dizziness—the medicine's effect from the Heart-Clarifying Realm was fading! His Mental Character Value plummeted back to 31/100, and his whole body felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar!
The priest took the opportunity to grin hideously: "Kid, you can't hold on anymore! Guixu lasts forever!" He tore open the collar of his robe, revealing a beating purple-black heart—he had actually used his own body as a container to hide a "Taixu Core Fragment"!
"Let's perish together!"
He lunged at Lín Fēng, his heart erupting with destructive energy fluctuations!
At the critical moment—
A green figure swept in like a flying bird!
Qīngluán, holding a Cyan Jade Medicine Pestle, tapped it in mid-air against the priest's brow!
"Miss Qīngluán?!" Lín Fēng was shocked.
Qīngluán's expression was solemn as she chanted: "Medicine King Subdues Evil, Green Pouch Seals the Soul!"
The medicine pestle bloomed with a soft white light, actually forcing the purple-black heart into a green cocoon of light!
The priest let out a miserable scream, all his black aura dissipated, and he slumped to the ground.
Qīngluán put away the cocoon and looked at Lín Fēng, her eyes filled with both reproach and relief. "Next time, don't shoulder all the burdens on your own."
Lín Fēng gave a wry smile, as the wave of mental exhaustion washed over him. But looking at the unscathed Soul-Suppressing Stele and the companions fighting side-by-side beside him, he felt incredibly steady inside.
The lunar eclipse ended, and a faint light appeared in the sky.
The wind at the Mass Grave didn't seem so cold anymore.
Old Ghost leaned against the old locust tree, gazing into the distance, and muttered: "Shouzhuo... your spark has truly started to burn."
Gū Hóng wears Wenxin, seeking the Tao in the Taixu. Even with a thousand calamities, there are still companions by his side.