Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

202: Xu Li was ambushed”External forces are external forces after all.”

He murmured to himself.

”The Alchemist Association’s regard and Tianfa Pavilion’s protection are all built upon the value and potential I’ve displayed.

If I stagnate or lose this value, all of it will collapse like a castle in the air.”

The cultivation world, in the end, is a world where strength is paramount.

Borrowed influence is, after all, an external force, like a rootless duckweed, seemingly powerful but actually superficial.

The Zhong Family’s submission stemmed from their fear of the Alchemist Association and Tianfa Pavilion’s power, not from reverence for Lin Jingyu himself or the true strength of the Lin Family.

Whether it was Gu Yue’s high regard or Shui Sheng’s protection, it was essentially an investment in his Alchemy talent and future potential.

This ’influence’ needed to be maintained and consolidated with his own strength and continuously demonstrated value.

”Strength... only by possessing absolute strength can one truly establish a firm footing, fear no storms, and protect everything one wishes to protect.”

He muttered in a low voice, his gaze, illuminated by the moonlight, becoming even more resolute and profound, like a star in the cold night.

The chill in the secret chamber seemed to be dispelled somewhat by his firm will.

He took a deep breath, the cold air rushing into his lungs, invigorating him. He slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the Sea of Consciousness, that vast Mental Energy lake that had become even more expansive after being tempered by the Spirit Refining Art.

Three Mental Energy lakes shimmered, representing the profound Realm of ”three-way concentration.”

The lake water displayed a crystal-clear texture, as if it weren’t illusory Mental Energy, but real Spiritual Liquid.

He guided the formless, intangible yet immense Mental Energy, tempering, dividing, and condensing it repeatedly... enduring the subtle yet persistent tearing pain from the mental plane. This was the price that had to be paid on the path to greater strength.

Cultivating the Spirit Refining Art was painful and tedious; each division of Mental Energy was like tearing apart and reorganizing the Soul.

But he had long grown accustomed to this pain, even finding a sense of tangible growth and fulfillment in it.

Inside the secret chamber, all was silent, save for his steady, deep breathing and that Dao Heart, colder than moonlight and tougher than bedrock, silently and powerfully beating... The next day, early morning.

As the rising sun cast its first golden rays upon Black Mountain, dispelling the thin mist.

When the Lin Family Village’s pale green ”Waterwood Flowing Cloud Array” light curtain shimmered with a dreamlike radiance in the morning glow, Lin Jingyu slowly opened his eyes.

”Buzz...”

Inside the quiet room, an invisible ripple seemed to spread, and a faint, imperceptible flash of electricity seemed to pass through the air.

In the depths of his pupils, a brilliant Divine Light slowly receded, and his entire demeanor became more introverted and profound.

The first layer of the Spirit Refining Art, Late Stage, was complete!

Although the Mental Energy lake’s area hadn’t expanded much, the ’texture’ of the lake water had become more condensed and pure.

It was as if ordinary stream water had transformed into viscous Spiritual Liquid. His control over his body and his perception of the surrounding environment had both risen another level.

He could even clearly ’see’ the flow of Spiritual Qi in the air and perceive the subtle changes in airflow caused by his clansmen moving outside the courtyard.

However, when he directed his consciousness to the cluster of ’Fire Stele’ visualization imprints, seemingly weak yet eternally unextinguished, suspended in the center of the Mental Energy lake, he couldn’t help but sigh softly.

This supreme visualization method, obtained from the Taihao Elixir Canon, was mysterious and unfathomable.

This small flame, the size of a green bean, lay quietly in the heart of the lake, emitting a faint but constant warmth, nourishing his Divine Soul, yet it showed no further changes.

No matter how he tried to guide or communicate with it, it remained motionless, as if it had fallen into a deep slumber.

”It seems the Opportunity has not yet arrived; it cannot be forced.”

Lin Jingyu quickly felt relieved; the path of immortal cultivation was long, and impatience was the greatest taboo.

With a thought, he summoned the ’Intelligence Panel’ that others could not see, as he always did.

Refreshing the upcoming future events or recently past intelligence daily was his most important reliance, without exception.

Its importance even surpassed the Taihao Elixir Canon.

New lines of text quietly appeared in the future intelligence section:

[Xu Li, an Inner Sect Disciple of Qinglan Sect, led Liu Chengcai and others out of danger, fulfilling the agreement with the Liu Family Patriarch.]

[In the Liu Family’s secret vault, he received a ’Bronze Key’ stained with an ancient aura, suspected to be related to a hidden Secret Realm entrance deep within Black Mountain.]

[After Xu Li and Xu Shousheng made preparations, guided by the key, they avoided all watchful eyes and quietly entered the Secret Realm.]

[To fulfill the agreement and also to scout ahead, they brought five self-willing Core Disciples of the Liu Family into the Secret Realm.]

[Inside the Secret Realm, the world was gray and bleak. Although the Spiritual Qi was extremely dense, it contained a stagnant Evil Qi, making it extremely difficult for ordinary Cultivation Techniques to refine and absorb, and instead easily corroding the Meridians.]

[Upon reaching the outer edge of a desolate and eerie ’Soul Burial Forest,’ an unexpected change occurred!]

[The five Liu Family Disciples behind them suddenly attacked, black Demonic Light erupting from their bodies, their aura surging. The combined attack formation they formed was actually comparable to the Peak of Ninth Level Qi Refining!]

[At the same time, several Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Demonic Cultivators ambushing in the forest appeared, attacking from both front and back! Xu Li and the other were caught off guard and instantly suffered severe injuries!]

[At the critical moment of life and death, Xu Li burned his Origin, overcharging his painstakingly cultivated ’Cracked Wind Sword Intent,’ Sword Qi soared to the heavens, forcibly breaking through the encirclement and killing several Demonic Cultivators!]

[However, the core of his Sword Intent was also corroded by Demonic Qi, on the verge of collapse!]

[Ultimately, the two managed to escape into a desperate land deep within the Secret Realm, thanks to the sliver of hope Xu Li tore open at the cost of his shattered Sword Intent. However, Xu Li’s Foundation was damaged, his Sword Intent tainted, and his path to immortality... was almost completely severed!]

When Lin Jingyu saw this message, his heart suddenly trembled, and his pupils slightly contracted.

The cold air in the secret chamber seemed to freeze.

Xu Li!

That Sword Dao Prodigy who, in front of the ancestral hall, silenced the entire crowd with just a sharp Sword Intent, was a man of few words, yet he had invited him to join the Qinglan Sect.

That Inner Sect Elite with clear eyes and a firm Dao Heart. His dashing appearance, clad in a green robe with a sword, was still vivid in his memory.

To be ambushed like this, and fall into such a desperate situation!

Cultivation falling, immortal path severed!

For a Genius who was proud and lived by the sword, this was an even more cruel blow than death!

His Sword Intent tainted, his Foundation half-crippled—this almost completely cut off his possibility of returning to his Peak.

Although Xu Li had intimidated him, he bore no ill will; on the contrary, he had shown a hint of appreciation and a desire to recruit him.

Thinking of such an astonishingly talented individual possibly falling, Lin Jingyu couldn’t help but feel a trace of melancholy and coldness.

It was a pity that he knew nothing about the so-called Secret Realm information.

Otherwise, he would have tried to save him.

This could have been a life-saving grace from a future Foundation Establishment or even Core Formation Grand Cultivator.

At the same time, a strong sense of crisis also arose.

An Inner Sect Disciple of Qinglan Sect, plotted against and crippled just like that—how arrogant must the mastermind behind this be!