20: The secret of the baptismal site?

Boom!

The moment the elder presiding over the ceremony finished speaking, Li Dong felt an incomparably vast torrent of energy violently surge into his body!

This feeling was anything but gentle.

If the energy particles previously diffused in the air were warm water, then the energy now channeled through the altar was scorching hot molten iron, carrying a primal, wild, and even destructive force, intending to completely melt him from the inside out!

“Ugh!”

Even with Li Dong’s formidable Physical Body at Great Perfection of the Body Tempering Realm, he couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan under this first wave of impact. All his bones and muscles tensed instantly, and a needle-like, fiery stinging sensation spread through his Meridians.

This was the Demon Suppression Baptism? It truly lived up to its reputation!

He glanced around, only to see that many of the other young Geniuses on the futons had instantly turned pale, their bodies trembling violently, clearly enduring immense pressure.

Some had already begun to Cultivate their respective Cultivation Techniques, attempting to guide and absorb this violent energy.

But more people, under the initial impact, seemed a bit flustered, and some even had traces of blood oozing from the corners of their mouths.

This was just the beginning of the first round!

The presiding elder’s words about “refining the body and building the Foundation” were indeed not just empty talk. This energy not only cleansed the Physical Body but was more like hammering and forging. Those with a weaker Foundation or less firm will might not even be able to fully endure the first round.

Li Dong steadied his mind, and the “Basic Body Refining Art” in his body operated on its own, beginning to try and guide this “unwelcome guest” that had entered his body.

Although this energy was violent, it was indeed incomparably pure, far exceeding the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi he usually absorbed, and even higher in quality than the energy contained in a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.

With each operation of his Cultivation Technique, he could feel his Physical Body being torn apart, reorganized, and strengthened. Although the process was painful, the effects were significant.

Just then, the cold, mechanical voice in his mind rang out again.

“Ding! Detected a special energy field [Baptism Altar], meeting the sign-in conditions. Do you wish to sign in?”

It’s here!

Li Dong’s heart stirred.

Sure enough, in such special places, the System was never absent.

“Sign in!” He silently chanted in his mind without any hesitation.

“Ding! Successfully signed in at the [Baptism Altar]!”

“Reward acquired: [Baptism Energy Affinity +10%]!”

“Reward acquired: [Special Item: Spirit Gathering Jade Pendant (One-time)]!”

Affinity increased?

Almost the instant the System’s prompt fell, Li Dong immediately felt that the baptismal energy, which had originally been wild, rampant, and difficult to tame within his body, suddenly became a little “docile.”

Although still vast and surging, it was no longer purely repulsive and destructive; instead, it gained a hint of… closeness?

The speed at which he guided the energy to circulate had noticeably accelerated! The efficiency of absorption and refinement had also increased out of thin air!

This 10% affinity had an immediate effect!

Good stuff!

Li Dong praised inwardly.

As for the [Spirit Gathering Jade Pendant], the System also provided a simple explanation.

“[Spirit Gathering Jade Pendant (One-time)]: A one-time jade pendant containing a special Spirit Gathering formation pattern. After being crushed, it can form a small Spirit Gathering field around the user for the duration of an incense stick, greatly increasing the Spiritual Qi concentration and energy absorption speed within the area.”

Another trump card!

Li Dong noted down the information about this jade pendant. It seemed this item was for critical moments, perhaps proving very useful in later stages of the baptism or when attempting to Break through a Bottleneck.

With the bonus of affinity, Li Dong’s energy absorption speed far surpassed others.

The discomfort brought by the first wave of energy impact quickly receded, replaced by a comfortable feeling of power surging through him.

He even had enough Mental Energy to sense the mysteries of this baptismal energy more carefully.

And just then, he “saw” it!

Relying on his increased affinity and perception far exceeding those of his peers, Li Dong discovered that amidst the surging, invisible torrent of energy, there were some extremely tiny “fragments” emitting a faint, spiritual glow!

These fragments were very small, appearing and disappearing, like plankton in water, drifting with the flow of energy.

What were they?

Li Dong was puzzled.

“Ding! Detected baptismal energy co-existing spirit bodies (fragments).” The System’s prompt sounded at the opportune moment.

“These spirit body fragments are peculiar existences born from the overly dense baptismal energy combining with the special environment of this place. They possess weak sentience and instinctively pursue Mental Energy or energy fluctuations.”

“Absorbing such fragments can slightly enhance Mental Energy strength.”

“Killing such fragments can yield a small amount of pure energy and experience points.”

Co-existing spirit bodies? Fragments?

And they could be absorbed to enhance Mental Energy? Killing them could yield experience and pure energy?

Li Dong’s heart trembled.

Such things were hidden within this baptismal energy?

He immediately observed carefully.

There were quite a few of these spirituality fragments, scattered throughout the entire energy field. Their movement trajectories seemed chaotic, but upon closer inspection, some patterns could indeed be found—they seemed more easily attracted to Geniuses whose Mental Energy fluctuations were more intense, or whose Cultivation Technique operations caused larger energy tides.

For example, that Young Master Zhao Zhen, the Cultivation Technique he Cultivated seemed quite overbearing, and the energy fluctuations around him were more intense than others, attracting a relatively larger number of spirituality fragments.

And on Li Dong’s side… he once again felt the energy flow at his futon’s location.

Indeed, it was still that chaotic feeling!

Not only was the energy flow here obstructed, but it also seemed to more easily gather some… spirituality fragments carrying a hint of negative Qi, appearing even more agitated and restless?

Zhao Zhen!

Li Dong was almost certain that this was definitely Zhao Zhen’s doing!

This guy not only wanted him to suffer under the energy impact but even wanted to use these “Impurities” hidden in the energy to deal with him?

What a clever scheme!

However… instead of panicking, Li Dong’s lips curled into a barely perceptible arc.

What others considered a “disadvantage” was, in his eyes, simply a blessing in disguise!

The violent energy and negative fragments that others avoided were, for him, excellent “bait”!

Since Zhao Zhen went to such lengths to arrange such a “good spot” for him, he would gladly accept it.

Li Dong’s mind raced, and he quickly formed a plan.

On the surface, he maintained the state of normally absorbing baptismal energy, even deliberately pretending to struggle a bit, frowning slightly, as if fully resisting the chaotic energy flow.

Covertly, however, he quietly separated a wisp of extremely refined Mental Energy, like an invisible tentacle, carefully probing into the surging energy torrent around him.

Soon, a spirituality fragment, flickering with a dim light and appearing more agitated than the other fragments, was attracted by his chaotic energy field and drifted over unsteadily.

That’s the one!

Li Dong’s Mental Energy stirred slightly, like a fishing hook gently twitching. The fragment was indeed attracted and accelerated towards him.

Just as the fragment was about to touch his body, Li Dong’s mind moved, and he cleverly borrowed a trace of the operation method of the [Heavenly Pill Rifting Demon Seal], which he had just become familiar with.

It wasn’t to launch an attack, but to condense its vibrating and tearing characteristics at the point where his Mental Energy touched.

Pop!

An extremely faint, almost inaudible cracking sound rang out amidst the howling of the violent energy.

That agitated spirituality fragment, without even time to struggle, was silently crushed and dispersed by Li Dong, transforming into the purest energy and a faint, ethereal spiritual aura, which he instantly absorbed completely.

The entire process was silent, caused no energy fluctuations, and went unnoticed by others.

Almost simultaneously, the System’s prompt sounded in his mind.

“Ding! Killed baptismal energy co-existing spirit body (fragment) x1, gained experience +50!”

“Acquired: Pure Energy +10 points.”

Fifty experience points! Ten pure energy points!

Li Dong’s heart swelled with joy.

Although the single acquisition wasn’t much, this was a zero-cost business!

Moreover, the so-called “pure energy,” though small in quantity, was extremely high in quality, far superior to the directly absorbed baptismal energy, and seemed to have special benefits for solidifying one’s Foundation and even Breaking through a Bottleneck.

More importantly, Li Dong keenly noticed that after killing and absorbing this fragment, his control over the surrounding chaotic energy seemed to have improved by another trace!

It was as if that precise “hunt” just now was itself a special kind of Cultivation, allowing him to use energy with even greater subtlety.

So that’s how it is!

This so-called Land of Baptism was not just a simple energy infusion; it also hid such secrets?

Or rather, was this a special Opportunity bestowed upon him by the System?

Whatever it was, for him, it was a tremendous boon!

Zhao Zhen wanted to harm him with this chaotic energy and negative fragments?

That was simply wishful thinking!

This place was not a dead end at all, but Li Dong’s exclusive hunting ground!

A brand-new strategy quickly formed in Li Dong’s mind.

On the surface, continue to pretend, honestly absorb the baptismal energy, and not attract attention.

Covertly, fully utilize this “disadvantageous” position to actively attract and hunt those spirituality fragments that others avoided!

Accumulate small amounts to make a large sum, gather grains of sand to form a pagoda!

He not only wanted to compensate for the difference in energy absorption efficiency caused by his position but also wanted to seize this Opportunity to accumulate a large amount of experience and pure energy, laying the most solid Foundation for the subsequent, more intense baptismal impact, and even for a single Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Thinking of this, the arc at the corner of Li Dong’s mouth became even more pronounced.

His Mental Energy quietly probed out again, like the most experienced hunter, locking onto another spirituality fragment emitting an alluring glow not far away.

Come on, all of you, come into my bowl!