Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

This Ancient Stele, at first glance, appears to be a simple stone carving with nothing unusual about it.

If it appeared on the roadside, no one would notice it.

”Try to perceive it with Spiritual Power.”

Luo Lizhu’s voice was calm and patient, well-accustomed to Qin Yu’s astonishment at this moment. After all, everyone who comes here for the first time is deceived by the appearance of the Ancient Stele and asks the same question.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu gently nodded, then took a deep breath, let his body slowly fall, sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, then let the Spiritual Power spread out.

He dared not overestimate himself, so he only used a small strand of Spiritual Power and cautiously approached the stele, testing it first.

Like a wisp of smoke in the morning light, gentle yet powerful, slowly approaching.

However, Luo Lizhu beside him was momentarily stunned.

”Is this... Middle Tier Refining?”

A look of surprise appeared in her eyes.

It must be noted that two years ago, when she went to Cyan Mountain Sect, Qin Yu had just broken through to the Refining stage.

Counting fully, it hasn’t even been three years.

Even at the entry-level, rising at this speed is enough to amaze people.

Not to mention the Refining stage.

Such breakthrough speed, even as the Palace Envoy, she was astounded.

Perhaps...

An unrealistic idea emerged in her mind, making her even more expectant.

Qin Yu was unaware of Luo Lizhu’s thoughts. At this moment, he gathered his Spiritual Power into thin appendages, gently attaching them to the Ancient Stele.

In the next instant, as if something had been triggered, the Ancient Stele, originally dormant in the dust of age, suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light, like dawn breaking, piercing the surrounding gloom.

Before Qin Yu could react, the golden light moved like spiritual snakes weaving swiftly. They outlined and intertwined on the stele with indescribable rhythm, silently drawing until a complex array emerged.

Focusing intently, the array on the stele seemed like an obscure and unpredictable pattern, yet appeared to be a combination of pattern and ancient text, intertwining and converging across the stele’s every inch, making the originally dilapidated stele seem alive, shining brilliantly with a golden glow, luminescent, emitting an enigmatic aura.

Doubt flooded Qin Yu’s mind. Although the stele bore no trace of danger, he felt as if shrouded in fog, unable to comprehend its mysteries.

In the art of arrays, he was akin to a fledgling, faced with an array that seemed like heavenly script, feeling utterly clueless, not knowing where to start.

”How can this be deciphered?”

Qin Yu lightly furrowed his brow, his mind stirred, attempting to sketch with his Spiritual Power.

Each inch of line, each bit of strength, he endeavored to maintain precision, gradually forming an array under his Spiritual Power’s guidance.

With his Middle Tier Spiritual Power, the drawn array matched almost perfectly to that on the stele, seemingly impeccable.

Yet, Qin Yu’s frown deepened further.

The array he drew, though similar in form, lacked essence, hollow and devoid of charm, seeming merely a rigid copy of the appearance, lacking any significance.

Like...

Something was missing.

Clearly, mere resemblance was of no use.

”I wonder if the Celestial Eye would help.”

Qin Yu pondered, activating the Celestial Eye, as if a pair of eyes grew at his brow.

Under the Celestial Eye, the surrounding space was shrouded in a gloomy veil, lacking vitality, starkly contrasting with the bright world outside, reminiscent of two completely different realms.

”Graveyard?”

As soon as this word emerged in his mind, it blew like a cold wind, involuntarily sending a chill up Qin Yu’s spine.

He surveyed the surroundings.

Only to see steles standing delicately scattered, appearing casually placed but covertly following some kind of rhythm.

The arrays revealed one by one under the Celestial Eye, not only etched on the stele’s surface but also deeply penetrating beneath the earth, like ancient and mysterious networks, woven into a large and intricate web, forming a...

Array!

The networks, Qin Yu was scrutinizing them.

But crucially, each array was too complex, with one hundred and eight ancient steles, each sporting a different array, woven together intricately, like a tangled ball of threads, possibly requiring Qin Yu to unravel them one by one, painstakingly.

”How long would it take to untangle this?”

Qin Yu felt his scalp tingle.

No wonder this Ancient Array is so difficult to comprehend, just one stele would require immense effort and time, let alone the entire array.

He refrained from being overly ambitious, instead focusing on the stele before him.

With his concentration, the networks on the stele seemed to be drawn by invisible threads, progressively revealing clearly and vividly in his perception.

Moreover, distinct from sensing with Spiritual Power.

Under the Celestial Eye, these patterns were indeed moving, appearing to be engaging in some sort of sequencing, with their final forms solidifying into an enigmatic... rune.

Though Qin Yu remained ignorant about the rune’s meaning, he could clearly discern its overall structure and network.

He felt confident that he could ’draw’ this rune.

To be precise, he should be able to copy it.

Luo Lizhu had been observing Qin Yu all along and witnessed his preceding series of actions.

It’s normal; the behaviors of cultivators around largely mirrored Qin Yu’s.

But, Qin Yu differed from them, pausing after merely one attempt, settling himself there, motionless.

”Is it possible... he gave up?”

Luo Lizhu felt puzzled.

With Qin Yu’s comprehension, that shouldn’t be the case.

However, to understand the array on the Ancient Stele, one must undergo numerous explorations and trials, clarifying its intricate networks continuously.

If Qin Yu doesn’t try, how could he possibly comprehend those complexities?

Luo Lizhu felt quite baffled.

Yet, this time from Cyan Mist Hall, Qin Yu wasn’t the sole attendee; she gradually shifted her attention to the others present.

The four halls, with nearly two hundred people gathered here.

In her perception, one individual progressed fastest, his Spiritual Power was unexpectedly at the High Tier Refining!

No wonder he distinctly outpaced the others.

Two more were only slightly less adept, seemingly poised to decipher a stele sooner or later.

While Luo Lizhu was observing them, suddenly, a profound aura began expanding not far from her.

It was Qin Yu!

Before him, was a rune suspended, condensed entirely by Spiritual Power.

Luo Lizhu was left astounded.

What’s going on?!

Had she missed something?