21: Are you plotting against me? I'll make you lose more than you gain.

Time flew by, and the baptism ritual was already halfway through.

The energy flow above the altar suddenly intensified by another notch!

The already fierce energy became even more frenzied, and its momentum greatly increased.

"Ugh..."

"Pfft!"

Immediately, some people in the area groaned, and others couldn't help but cry out.

Many young people, who were weaker and less prepared, turned pale from the sudden surge of pressure.

Their bodies trembled incessantly, and their energy absorption rate visibly slowed down.

Some simply activated their protective Cultivation Techniques to resist, veins bulging on their foreheads, sweat rolling down.

This was the first hurdle. The mere increase in intensity eliminated many.

Compared to them, the Prodigies who occupied good positions were different.

Young Master Zhou Xian, the County Magistrate's son, and several direct descendants from the Demon Suppression Division, were all on the best prayer mats in the center of the altar.

They also felt the increased pressure, but it was clearly much easier for them.

With a turn of their Cultivation Technique, a stable energy vortex formed around them, continuously drawing good energy into their bodies.

There was no trace of pain on their faces; instead, they seemed to be enjoying it—this was a stark contrast to those struggling nearby.

The difference in position was most evident at this moment.

In good spots, the energy was pure and stable, absorbed quickly, and its impact was gentle.

Li Dong was still sitting in that chaotic corner of energy.

He feigned an appearance of desperately absorbing, looking a bit strained, with furrowed brows, pretending to resist the increasingly strong energy impact.

But just then, an unusual energy fluctuation came from his diagonal rear.

Hmm?

Li Dong's heart stirred.

He didn't even need to look to know that the guy not far behind him was up to something.

That person was well-dressed, seemingly a scion of a small Family from Mu Shi County, with a cultivation of roughly Body Refinement Fifth Level.

He was deliberately guiding some frenzied energy towards Li Dong, trying to cause trouble and prevent Li Dong from absorbing properly.

His methods weren't great, but his relentless annoyance was truly irritating.

Is this guy Zhao Zhen's man? Or does he simply dislike me and wants to seize the opportunity to cause trouble?

Regardless of which it was, Li Dong had no intention of letting him off.

He originally just wanted to quietly hunt for himself and get rich in silence. But some short-sighted fools insisted on seeking their own demise.

Since that's the case... Li Dong snorted inwardly. He no longer hesitated.

His face still maintained its calm expression, but a concentrated Mental Energy silently extended, accurately grasping a particularly violent and almost out-of-control turbulent energy current nearby, which was due to its poor position.

Then, he used a very clever force, giving it a gentle "nudge."

With just that one move, which seemed like an accidental adjustment of his own energy circulation, that turbulent energy current, like a wild horse unbridled, charged with a destructive Aura, precisely towards the Family scion who intended to cause him trouble!

"What?!"

That guy was still smugly thinking he had succeeded, never dreaming that this would happen.

He only felt a violent surge of energy, far beyond his endurance, crash into him, and his protective Cultivation Technique instantly shattered!

"Pfft—!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body violently shook, and he almost fell off the prayer mat.

His Qi and blood churned, his Meridians ached, his hard-maintained absorption rhythm was disrupted, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

He looked at Li Dong in horror, but only saw Li Dong still "struggling" to maintain his absorption posture, as if that just now was truly just an accident.

But he wasn't stupid! How could there be such a convenient accident? It must have been Li Dong!

This guy... his control is too terrifying! In this environment, he can actually accurately guide the turbulent energy to counterattack?

Suddenly, this Family scion's heart was filled with fear.

He immediately behaved, no longer daring to make any extra moves, and even subconsciously shifted to the side, moving further away from Li Dong. Looking at Li Dong's back again, it was filled with apprehension.

Finally, it was quiet.

Li Dong paid no attention to that guy's reaction.

Having resolved this minor nuisance, he focused all his attention on his "great hunting endeavor."

As the intensity of the baptismal energy increased, the spirituality fragments born in the energy torrent seemed to have increased in number and become more active.

This was simply a huge blessing for Li Dong!

His Mental Energy, like the most agile hunter, weaved through the chaotic energy field around him.

Each time it extended, it could accurately lock onto a restless spirituality fragment.

Then, with a thought, simulating the oscillation characteristics of the Heavenly Pill Rifting Demon Seal, he silently captured and shattered it!

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Extremely faint shattering sounds continuously rang out around Li Dong, but they were completely drowned out by the roar of the violent energy.

One spirituality fragment after another was precisely "killed" by him, transforming into the purest energy and experience points, integrating into his body.

"Ding! Killed baptismal energy accompanying spirit body (fragment) x1, gained experience +55!"

"Gained: Pure energy +11 points."

"Ding! Killed baptismal energy accompanying spirit body (fragment) x1, gained experience +60!"

"Gained: Pure energy +12 points."

...The energy became increasingly fierce, and the experience and pure energy Li Dong gained from eliminating fragments actually increased a bit!

Li Dong's movements became faster and more accurate.

From being constrained at first to now doing it effortlessly, his control over Mental Energy had reached a level of complete freedom.

He even felt that with each fragment he eliminated, his grasp of power became more refined—this itself was the best training!

The System prompts in his mind rang incessantly.

Experience points soared!

Pure energy accumulated little by little, not in large quantities, but of excellent quality.

He used this energy to temper his muscles and bones, making his Body Tempering Realm Great Perfection foundation even more solid, and he even felt—that threshold to Foundation Establishment seemed to be within reach!

It really had to be the benefits he obtained himself!

Li Dong felt incredibly refreshed.

That Old Man Zhao Zhen, who had painstakingly arranged this terrible position, originally intended for those chaotic energies to overwhelm him, preferably crippling him in the first round.

Who would have thought? This actually benefited Li Dong!

The things others avoided like the plague were gathered here, practically serving as food for Li Dong!

On the surface, the "good" energy Li Dong absorbed in his position was certainly inferior to those occupying good spots.

But factoring in the benefits he secretly gained from eliminating fragments... with this addition and subtraction, the real advantages he reaped had probably caught up to, and perhaps even surpassed, those top students!

He did all these things secretly.

In the eyes of outsiders, Li Dong was still that unlucky fellow who was stubbornly enduring the energy storm, with a bit of good luck.

On the high platform, the presiding "Old Man" and Zhang Wu, who was beside him, were both watching Li Dong.

They felt that Li Dong's ability to withstand the increasingly fierce impact in such a bad spot, and remain quite stable, meant this young man was not simple.

"This young man, his Heart-Nature and foundation are both top-notch."

The "Old Man's" eyes showed a touch of admiration, "It's not easy to last this long in such a chaotic place, and maintain such stable Qi."

Zhang Wu also gave Li Dong a thumbs-up in his heart, feeling that this young man was even more formidable.

Although he couldn't clearly see what Li Dong was up to, he felt that despite the chaos of energy around him, Li Dong himself was very stable—indicating that he could handle it.

It seemed his previous worries were unfounded. This kid was truly a monster!

Only Zhao Zhen, on the other side, had a long face.

He stared intently at Li Dong's direction, muttering to himself, always feeling that something was off.

What the hell is going on?

According to the plan, Li Dong should be half-dead from those rotten energies by now, perhaps even injured!

But how could he... look so relaxed? Although he was frowning, that look, it must be an act!

Moreover, the energy on his side was the most chaotic, so his absorption efficiency should be the lowest, yet how did it feel... that this kid's Aura wasn't weakening, but rather growing stronger?

It didn't make sense!

Zhao Zhen racked his brain but couldn't figure it out.

How could he know about spirituality fragments, let alone that Li Dong had a System?

He just instinctively felt that things seemed to have gone awry, out of control.

What tricks is this kid playing?

Zhao Zhen squinted, trying to see more clearly, but over by the altar, the energy surged, and light and shadows flickered, making it impossible to see anything clearly.

He could only suppress the anger and bewilderment in his heart, cursing inwardly: "Hmph, even if you manage to pass by luck, so what? There will be more trials for you later!"

He secretly pondered his next move.

"Oh, Senior Brother Zhao, you don't look so good. Could it be that you're feeling unwell?" Li Dong's voice suddenly came, carrying a hint of imperceptible teasing.