61: Destroy and then build! Return with strength

“Cough... cough, cough!”

Days later, a violent fit of coughing broke the deadly silence at the other end of the Abandoned Passage.

Li Dong leaned against the slippery rock wall, stumbling out of a cave barely wide enough for one person. The sunlight was a bit dazzling, and he instinctively squinted.

There wasn't a single good spot on his entire body. His clothes had long turned into rags, mixed with dried blood and unknown stains, emitting an indescribable odor. He looked as if he had just crawled out of some mass grave, utterly disheveled.

“Damn it... I’m finally out!” Li Dong plopped down on the ground, gasping for breath. For the past few days, he had been fleeing purely on willpower, several times believing he would perish in that dark, sunless passage.

However, despite his miserable appearance and weakened aura from days of travel and injuries, Li Dong's eyes shone with astonishing brightness. He could clearly feel a surging river within his body, full of explosive power.

“This damned place... if I stayed any longer, I’d be suffocated to death!” He grinned, pulling at the wounds on his face, which made him wince in pain.

“Ding! Host has successfully escaped the 'Earth Abyss' high-risk area!”

“Ding! Detecting that the Host has absorbed a massive amount of 'Earth Abyss' special energy and high-concentration 'spirituality fragments', cultivation has naturally progressed and successfully broken through to — Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment!”

In his mind, the cold System notifications rang out one after another.

“Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment?” Li Dong was stunned, then a wave of ecstasy surged through him.

He quickly introspected, and the spiritual power in his Dantian was indeed several times more abundant than before. His Meridians had also widened considerably, like tough river channels capable of accommodating a more turbulent flow of spiritual power.

“Hahaha! Good! This is great!” Li Dong couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Although this trip to the Earth Abyss was a near-death experience, almost costing him his life, the gains were truly astonishing!

“Ding! Beginning to settle rewards for this 'Earth Abyss Core Area Extermination Mission' (Special Mutation)...”

“Mission Completion: S+ (Over-completed)”

“Targets Killed: 'Doctor' (Mutated Fusion Body, comparable to peak Late Foundation Establishment Stage) x1, Modified Demons (Sewn Giant Spider, Wraith Corpse Dog, Poison Flame Winged Serpent, Corrupted Hounds, etc.) x157, Controlled Test Subjects x4...”

“Additional Contribution: Destroyed Forbidden Experiment core area, acquired 'core experimental data chip'...”

“Reward Settlement: Merit Points +85000! Spirituality +1500!”

“Eighty... eighty-five thousand Merit Points?!” Li Dong's eyes widened at the number. The merit he had painstakingly accumulated before was mere drops in the bucket compared to this!

“And fifteen hundred Spirituality! I’m rich! I’m truly rich this time!”

He could feel that with the significant increase in his Spirituality attribute, his perception of his surroundings became sharper, and his thoughts also seemed clearer and more agile.

“Ding! Detecting that the Host's Cultivation Technique, 'Heavenly Pill Sky-Rending Demon Suppression Seal', has been tempered and enlightened during combat and special energy absorption, it has been automatically repaired and strengthened!”

“Ding! Detecting that the Host's equipment [Black Scale Armor] is severely damaged, the System has consumed part of the 'Earth Abyss' energy and the Host's merit to repair and strengthen it!”

With a thought, a brand new [Black Scale Armor] covered Li Dong's entire body. The armor plates were even darker than before, with faint dark golden patterns flowing across them, exuding a heavy and resilient aura. Most importantly, he could feel that the Black Scale Armor was more compatible with his own spiritual power.

“What a treasure!” Li Dong patted his chest armor with satisfaction.

Next, he tried to activate the Heavenly Pill Sky-Rending Demon Suppression Seal. The spiritual power within his body surged with unprecedented smoothness, and the Demon Suppression Seal condensed by the Cultivation Technique also seemed more solid, its suppressive and purifying power far exceeding what it was before.

In particular, the Spirit Transformation Demon Suppression Seal he had comprehended, now combined with his surging Spirituality, was like a fish in water. Li Dong had a feeling that if he were to face the 'Doctor' again, he would definitely make him suffer even more bitterly!

“The power of Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment... the enhancement of the Heavenly Pill Sky-Rending Demon Suppression Seal... and the keen perception brought by this Spirituality...” Li Dong clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within his body, an unprecedented sense of strength filling his heart.

“The Lin Family! Doctor! You all just wait for me!”

He took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart. The most pressing matter was to deal with the current troubles.

He took out clean water and wound medicine from his Storage Pouch, simply cleaned his wounds, and changed into a clean set of green martial attire. Although he still couldn't hide his fatigue, he at least regained some semblance of a human.

“The name Li Dong is definitely on the Lin Family’s blacklist now.” He stroked his chin, pondering, “In the Prefecture Demon Suppression Division, Lin Xiaotian’s influence is deeply entrenched. Isn’t it courting death to just waltz back in?”

“Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the hidden achievement 'Nine Deaths, One Life', rewarding special item: Shape-Shifting Mask x1.”

“Shape-Shifting Mask: Can slightly alter the wearer's appearance, bone structure, and aura, lasting for twelve hours, with a cooldown of one hour. Note: Its effect is weakened against high-level Cultivators (Golden Core Stage and above) or special investigative Magic Treasures.”

“Shape-Shifting Mask?” Li Dong’s eyes lit up. “System, you really are my thoughtful little cotton jacket!”

He retrieved the mask from the System space. It was a flesh-colored mask as thin as a cicada's wing, cool to the touch. Following the instructions, with a thought, the mask perfectly adhered to his face.

He walked to a nearby pond and looked at his reflection in the water.

The young man in the reflection had an ordinary face, the kind that would be lost in a crowd. His originally slightly sharp eyes had become much gentler, and even his height seemed to have shrunk by two points. Most importantly, his aura had become unfamiliar and weak, like an ordinary Cultivator who had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage - Early Phase.

“Not bad, not bad!” Li Dong nodded in satisfaction. “From today onwards, Li Dong temporarily disappears. I am... Mu Feng!”

“Mu (wood), standing against the wind? Hmm, not bad!” He chuckled self-deprecatingly.

After orienting himself, Li Dong—no, now Mu Feng—stealthily headed towards the Prefecture City.

At the Prefecture City gate, inspections were much stricter than usual. Teams of Demon Suppression Guards scanned every person entering and leaving the city with sharp eyes, and blurred portraits were posted on the city walls, seemingly for a wanted person.

“It seems that old dog Lin Xiaotian has already started his move,” Mu Feng sneered inwardly. With his Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation and greatly enhanced perception, he easily detected several scouts hidden in the shadows.

He did not choose to enter through the main gate but instead circled to a relatively secluded area on the west side of the city. This area mostly had small gates used by peddlers and porters, and the guards were relatively lax.

He suppressed his aura to the extreme, hunched his body slightly, and pretended to be a dusty, low-cultivation Loose Cultivator. He blended into the crowd and, without much trouble, entered the Prefecture City.

The atmosphere within the city was also somewhat strange. The number of patrolling Demon Suppression Guards on the streets had noticeably increased, and some normally bustling market districts seemed a bit deserted.

“It seems the Earth Abyss incident caused quite a stir,” Mu Feng mused.

He didn’t rush to the Demon Suppression Division but first found an inconspicuous inn to stay in.

Late at night, Mu Feng sat cross-legged on the bed and took out the core experimental data chip he had obtained from the 'Doctor'.

The chip was cool to the touch, covered with profound runes, and faintly pulsed with energy.

“System, how much merit does it cost to analyze this thing?”

“Ding! To analyze the first layer of information of the 'core experimental data chip', 10000 Merit Points are required. Proceed with analysis?”

“Ten thousand? Why don’t you just rob me?” Mu Feng’s mouth twitched, but he gritted his teeth and said, “Analyze!”

“Ding! Merit Points -10000, beginning analysis...”

A moment later, the System notification sounded again.

“Ding! First layer of information analysis complete. The chip contains a large amount of Forbidden Experiment data regarding 'demon-attracting incense' Improve formulas, 'Demon modification and enhancement plans', 'preliminary theories on Spirituality stripping and injection', etc...”

Mu Feng carefully examined the information presented by the System, growing more alarmed with each detail. These beasts were indeed conducting inhumane research!

“Continue analysis! Next layer!”

“Ding! To analyze the second layer of information, 30000 Merit Points are required. Proceed with analysis?”

“...” Mu Feng took a deep breath. “Analyze!”

“Ding! Merit Points -30000, beginning analysis...”

“Ding! Second layer of information analysis complete. The chip contains detailed steps for the 'Artificial Dao Body' project, analyses of failed cases, and preliminary research reports on a special entity called the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Flower'...”

“Soul-Devouring Demon Flower?” Mu Feng frowned. “What is that thing? It doesn’t sound benevolent from the name.”

“According to the data, the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Flower' seems to be the ultimate goal of the entire experimental project, or an extremely crucial medium. It can devour living Souls, absorb Spirituality, and can produce a special 'Dao Rhyme Crystal', which is considered the core Material for creating a 'Perfect Dao Body'. Currently, the 'Doctor's' experimental team seems to have only grasped some of its characteristics and is attempting to cultivate and control it...”

“Devouring Souls... Dao Rhyme Crystal... Perfect Dao Body...” Mu Feng muttered to himself, feeling a chill rise from the bottom of his heart. These people were absolutely insane!

He forced himself to calm down. Now was not the time to delve into this.

He thought of Zhang Wu. With such a major incident in the Earth Abyss, he wondered how Zhang Wu was doing now.

Mu Shi County was too far, and communication jade slips would have long become ineffective in that environment.

“I need to find a way to contact Brother Zhang,” Mu Feng pondered. He remembered Zhang Wu once mentioning a very secret contact point in Prefecture City, left behind from their previous missions, known only to a select few.

Early the next morning, Mu Feng changed into even more inconspicuous clothes and wandered around a dilapidated general store in the south of the city for a few rounds.

After confirming he wasn't being followed, he walked into the shop and, facing the drowsy shopkeeper, tapped the counter with a specific rhythm.

The shopkeeper raised his eyelids, glanced at him, and a flicker of subtle emotion passed through his eyes.

“What can I get for you, customer?”

“I’d like some aged ink, the most unremarkable kind,” Mu Feng said in a low voice.

The shopkeeper was silent for a moment, then got up, rummaged through a corner, and pulled out a cloth bag, handing it over.

Mu Feng took it, weighed it, placed a few broken silver coins on the counter, and turned to leave.

Back at the inn, he opened the cloth bag. Inside, besides a piece of inferior inkstick, there was also a small slip of paper.

The paper slip had only one word: “ install” (An, meaning safe). Next to it was a simple mark, Zhang Wu's habit.

Mu Feng breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that Zhang Wu was safe. He used the same secret code to write “Wind arrives, temporarily hidden, do not seek” on the back of the paper slip, then sent the slip out through another secret channel.

After completing all this, Mu Feng finally relaxed completely.

“Now, it’s time to properly digest the gains from this trip.” He sat cross-legged and began to circulate his Cultivation Technique, consolidating his newly Breakthrough cultivation.

“Lin Xiaotian, and that Lin Family... this debt, I, Mu Feng... no, I, Li Dong, will settle it with you sooner or later!”

The waters of the Prefecture were deeper than he had imagined. He was now like a fish that had just leaped from a shallow pond into a great river, and he had to first adapt to the turbulent undercurrents before he could find an opportunity to counterattack.

And the Soul-Devouring Demon Flower mentioned in the core experimental data chip was like a thorn, deeply embedded in his heart, giving him a premonition that what was involved behind this was probably far more complex than just a single Lin Family.

“Troublesome... it’s getting more and more troublesome...” He mumbled, but his eyes grew brighter.

No matter what ghosts and monsters, since he had already stepped into it, he might as well poke a hole in this sky and see what happens!