"Someone has actually refined a second wisp of spiritual energy?"
When Lu Fan saw the system notification appear, he could not help but feel astonished. It had only been three days, and yet someone had already used a single wisp of spiritual energy as a foundation to refine a second one.
The human body, in truth, also contains spiritual essence—after all, all living beings are born with spirit. The difference lies only in the quantity. From the moment of birth, every living being carries a trace of innate spiritual energy. Naturally, with the passage of time and the changes of metabolism, this wisp of energy is gradually consumed, hidden within the limbs and bones, until it becomes almost imperceptible—eventually vanishing altogether.
In a world devoid of ambient spiritual energy, the only way to cultivate is to awaken and refine the body's own innate essence. Of course, the difficulty of such a path is self-evident.
Yet precisely because of this, it revealed the terrifying talent of Xiang Shaoyun in cultivation.
Although the [Dao Transmission Platform] claimed to operate on randomness, such "randomness" was, to a large extent, influenced by innate talent. Those selected by the platform were invariably martial cultivators.
Nie Changqing needed no introduction, once ranked tenth in the Daoist Sect. The Great Zhou Emperor, Yuwen Xiu, too, practiced martial arts. As for Xiang Shaoyun, he was known throughout the Western Commandery as the Overlord—blessed with divine strength and unmatched martial prowess. It was said that at the mere age of six, he shattered a grandmaster's body with his bare fists. After formally stepping onto the martial path, his cultivation surged at a terrifying pace.
From all that Lu Fan had heard, Xiang Shaoyun's strength could easily rank among the top three in the Great Zhou—a pinnacle figure in this low-martial world.
"Confirm extraction."
Calming his spirit, Lu Fan selected to extract the newly refined wisp of energy. Instantly, the system interface displayed an increase—the spiritual energy counter climbed to 101 wisps. This marked Lu Fan's first solid step toward the third level of Qi Refinement.
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes as a thought stirred in his heart. Apart from trading soul strength, the key method to gather spiritual energy was still through the Dao Transmission Platform... Taking a cut from others' gains was indeed the most satisfying.
With that thought, a cold gleam flashed in his eyes. His original plan—to construct a secret realm and trigger the revival of spiritual energy in this low-martial world—would now have to be advanced. He needed to supply resources to these chosen individuals to boost their cultivation. The stronger they became, the more spiritual energy they would condense, and the greater his own harvest would be.
However, constructing a secret realm and reflecting it into real-world locations would require meticulous study.
His focus returned.
Within the Dao Transmission Platform, spiritual energy billowed.
Beneath the Eight Trigrams Array, three blurred figures had already fully formed. They had even been communicating for some time. Of course, they remained cautious during their exchange, careful not to reveal their identities in the real world—after all, Lu Fan had warned them before.
Spiritual energy roiled.
In the haze, the trio lifted their heads and beheld the figure seated in the center of the Dao Transmission Platform, shrouded in spiraling spiritual mist—Lu Fan, the so-called "Sixth Immortal."
"Greetings, Immortal."
Xiang Shaoyun and Yuwen Xiu clasped their hands, their eyes glinting with fervent reverence. Compared to their first visit, their attitude now was a world apart. Even Nie Changqing's heart surged with emotion.
Upon the platform, Lu Fan's figure remained cloaked in mist, otherworldly and aloof. He glanced down at the three, saying nothing.
A strange silence permeated the air—an oppressive, crawling quiet that made one feel as though ants were skittering across the palm of their hand.
Xiang Shaoyun could not bear it any longer.
He raised his head, his gaze fervent as it locked onto Lu Fan.
"Immortal! To think that true immortals exist in this world... I was ignorant before. I once doubted your divinity—how utterly wrong I was. Today, I offer my sincerest apology."
He clasped his hands with utmost sincerity.
"May the Immortal bestow another divine opportunity!"
Yuwen Xiu's expression also flickered with urgency, parting his lips to speak—
But before he could utter a word, Lu Fan, still shrouded in spiritual mist, interrupted.
"To enter the realm of immortality is to receive a single chance at divine fate."
"That chance has been granted. Ask no more. Ask again, and you shall be cast out."
His voice was calm, yet cold, echoing throughout the space like a decree from on high.
The expressions of Xiang Shaoyun, Yuwen Xiu, and Nie Changqing all changed subtly.
"Immortal! You once said you could help us evolve the Blood-Moving Art into a true cultivation method. I beg of you…"
Xiang Shaoyun was unwilling to give up. He had refined a second wisp of spiritual energy, had tasted its benefits, and now fully believed that this Immortal was no fraud. He clearly understood the value of a true cultivation method.
Though he had broken through with his talent alone, continuing further without guidance would be extremely difficult. After all, the innate spiritual essence of the human body was finite.
But before he could finish—
On the Eight Trigrams Platform, Lu Fan's indifferent gaze swept across him. Then, with a casual wave of his sleeve—
Boom!
Xiang Shaoyun's figure blurred, as a terrifying pressure crashed down upon him. His legs buckled, knees almost giving out.
"You would have me kneel?!"
Xiang Shaoyun's eyes burned with rage. He staggered but forced himself upright. He was the Overlord of the Western Commandery. He bowed to neither Heaven nor Earth—even if Lu Fan were truly an Immortal, he would not kneel!
Pride ran in his very blood.
"To seek divine fate, one must show sincerity. Without sincerity… how dare you seek the divine?"
Lu Fan's ethereal voice echoed coldly from within the mist—detached, condescending, as if gazing down upon ants.
Both Yuwen Xiu and Nie Changqing could sense the shift in the Sixth Immortal's presence.
Now—this was what a true Immortal felt like. That arrogance, that chill, that supreme indifference toward all beings—it froze their very bones.
Yuwen Xiu began to regret.
Had he known earlier, he would have begged the Immortal to evolve the Blood-Moving Art during his first visit. Then, he wouldn't be so humiliated now.
The terrifying pressure intensified.
Xiang Shaoyun felt as though his spine were about to snap. Even his illusory form, formed of spiritual energy, contorted in pain.
On the platform, Lu Fan smiled faintly.
With a thought, the surrounding spiritual energy roared, transforming into a tempestuous force.
This time, not only Xiang Shaoyun—Nie Changqing and Yuwen Xiu as well felt their legs tremble under the weight.
Yuwen Xiu's heart was caught between awe and fury. He was the Emperor! A sovereign! How could he kneel?
But…
Within the Dao Transmission Platform, Lu Fan's will was absolute.
Under his control, the spiritual pressure surpassed even that of the triple-stone spirit compression on the Spirit Chessboard.
The three below lasted only moments before all fell to their knees amidst the swirling mist. Xiang Shaoyun's legs nearly snapped from the force.
Yuwen Xiu and Xiang Shaoyun were both shaken to the core. They… had knelt?
Nie Changqing, however, was less disturbed. To kneel before an Immortal and seek divine fate… was perfectly acceptable to him. If he could learn just one or two immortal arts like Lu Fan's miraculous "Spirit Compression with a Move," then the kneeling would be more than worth it.
Kneeling on the ground, Xiang Shaoyun lifted his head with stubborn pride. His body looked as if it could shatter at any moment under the immense pressure.
Yuwen Xiu, meanwhile, was stunned.
At the center of the Eight Trigrams Platform, Lu Fan seemed to recall something, and then, a faint chuckle echoed—ethereal and melodic, like a lark singing in an empty valley.
"Since you have knelt before an Immortal, then be granted divine fate."
"Hidden Dragon Ridge of Great Zhou… the dawn of spiritual revival begins there."
"This is your divine fate. Whether you can grasp it… depends on you."
His words struck the three kneeling figures below like thunder, their hearts trembling as they fixated on the name "Hidden Dragon Ridge."
Yet before they could gather their thoughts—
From the Eight Trigrams Platform, the Immortal flicked his fingers. A stream of energy, fierce as a dragon, swept forth and shattered their forms.
The world before their eyes crumbled into fragments.