29: Chapter 29 Consuming Elixir and Refining Crystals, Turning Back to Fight with Sword

Holding the cool and smooth gui water escape talisman, a path to survival was within reach.

But flashing before Lin Ye's eyes was the aged and entrusted gaze of Master Xuanyuan's phantom, the boundless slaughter that might ensue after the demon abyss sword broke its Seal, and even more so, the cold and greedy face of Chen Mo.

Run? He could run for a moment, but could he run for a lifetime?

Since Chen Mo knew of this place, and knew that he possessed the ancient ring and bone ring, as well as their secrets, he would surely become a thorn in Chen Mo's side once he got out.

Rather than fleeing passively, it was better to leave behind some countermeasures while the demon abyss sword had not yet fully broken its Seal and Chen Mo had not yet succeeded!

At the very least, he had to be worthy of the crystal and Medicinal Pill bequeathed by Master Xuanyuan, and he had to be worthy of that unyielding Qi within his own heart!

"Senior, this Junior's abilities are meager, but having received your gift, I will certainly do my utmost!" Lin Ye bowed silently toward the ice platform.

Then, he sat cross-legged, opened the jade box without hesitation, took out the "life creation pill" that was the size of a dragon's eye and emitted a rich, fresh scent of vitality, and swallowed it in one gulp!

The Medicinal Pill entered his abdomen and instantly transformed into a surging, tidal wave of warmth that rushed toward his limbs and bones!

Wherever it passed, his broken bones emitted a faint "crackling" sound, healing and knitting back together at a speed visible to the naked eye; his damaged internal organs were nourished and repaired by the gentle medicinal power; old hidden injuries were swept away; and even his Foundation at the Third Level of Qi Refining, which had been shaky from a forced Breakthrough, was tamped down and consolidated by this pure medicinal power!

In just half an incense stick of time, Lin Ye's injuries were mostly healed, and his condition recovered to an unprecedented Peak, even stronger than before he was injured!

His cultivation at the Third Level of Qi Refining was completely stabilized, and he was moving toward the Middle Stage.

But he did not stop.

Immediately after, he picked up the "mystic yin crystal".

The crystal was ice-cold and bone-piercing to the touch, with liquid dark blue light seemingly flowing within, and the incomparably pure aura of mystic yin true water rushed toward his face.

This was a supreme treasure for Cultivating the Ice Soul Sword Art and enhancing ice-attribute spiritual power!

He operated his technique and pressed the mystic yin crystal against his Dantian.

The pure and vast mystic yin power surged into his Meridians like a burst river!

The cold spiritual power within his Dantian instantly boiled, expanded, compressed, and condensed!

Third Level of Qi Refining Middle Stage... Late Stage... Peak!

Boom! Everything fell into place, Qi Refining Stage 4!

Moreover, his spiritual power was incomparably pure, carrying the unique cold and heavy characteristics of mystic yin true water, far stronger than the spiritual power of an ordinary Qi Refining Stage 4 Cultivator!

Not only that, the power of the mystic yin crystal further tempered his Physical Body, and his Mystic Jade Body directly broke through to the second level, with jade-colored light faintly flowing beneath his skin, greatly increasing his defensive power.

Under the scouring of the mystic yin power, the ancient ring "ancient ring yuan sha" on his left hand and the bone ring on his right hand also shone brightly, as if washed and nourished, becoming more closely connected to him, and their might seemed to have increased a notch.

When the last trace of energy from the mystic yin crystal was absorbed and it turned into powder, Lin Ye opened his eyes.

His eyes were bright with essence, his entire body was chillingly cold, and he felt filled with power in every movement.

In a short time, he had leaped from a severely injured and dying Second Level of Qi Refining to a Qi Refining Stage 4 Cultivator with a perfect state and solid Foundation!

With the two rings on his person, the second level of Mystic Jade Body, and the Ice Soul Sword Art advanced, it was time!

He did not leave the ice cave immediately, but first used his cold spiritual power to quickly carve a rough structural map of the Inner Chamber on the ice wall, especially the locations of the demon abyss sword, the high platform, and the Restricted gate.

Then, he began to repeatedly rehearse the plan in his mind.

The goal: not to defeat or Seal the demon abyss sword (that would be courting death), but to accomplish three things as much as possible without waking (or waking it as little as possible):

Retrieve the escape talisman from the leather bag (it might be damaged, but it was still a precious resource).

Leave a tracking or interference mark on the demon abyss sword, preparing for future positioning or interference.

If possible, make a small change to the Inner Chamber Restriction or environment to delay its Seal-breaking time or create favorable conditions for a future return.

He first tried to communicate with the bone ring on his right hand.

After refining the mystic yin crystal, his connection with the bone ring was deeper, and he could perceive the state of the Inner Chamber Restriction more clearly.

The Restriction was like a candle in the wind, likely to be completely extinguished at any moment, and time was tight.

Next, he communicated with the ancient ring "ancient ring yuan sha" on his left hand.

This ring was originally refined to absorb and convert Evil Qi, and now that its quality had improved, its sensing and tolerance of the demon abyss sword's Evil Qi should be even stronger.

Perhaps he could try to "steal" a wisp of the outermost, relatively mild Evil Qi, refine it for his own use, and at the same time leave a tiny "mark" on it, composed of the ancient ring's Evil Qi.

Finally, he recalled the words of Master Xuanyuan's phantom — — "The demon sword is about to emerge, this place cannot be stayed in for long".

Perhaps, he could use the extreme cold Qi remaining in the ice cave, which was of the same origin as the mystic yin true water, combined with the bone ring's authority, to perform some kind of reinforcement or interference on the Restriction (or water vein) at the connection between the Outer Chamber and the Inner Chamber?

The plan was set, no more hesitation.

He first used the bone ring as a guide to mobilize the dense cold air in the ice cave, condensing a thin, constantly flowing layer of ice armor (a second-level ability of the Mystic Jade Body) outside his body to further isolate his aura.

Then, he crawled back into the slide and returned the same way.

This time, with his cultivation greatly increased, his movements were much lighter and faster.

Very quickly, he returned to the small hole under the stone platform in the Inner Chamber.

He carefully poked his head out.

The scene in the hall remained the same, with the demon abyss sword floating in the center, slowly rotating and absorbing Evil Qi.

But the dark red cracks on the sword body seemed to have healed by a small portion, and the pressure it emitted was more restrained, but also deeper and more terrifying.

The light of the Restricted gate was even dimmer than before, with cracks spreading.

The leather bag still lay quietly not far from the gate.

Lin Ye held his breath and focused, using both the Qi Concealment Technique and the ice armor for double concealment, like the most patient hunter, slowly sliding out from the hole, landing without a sound.

He did not rush to the leather bag immediately, but first crouched in the shadow of the stone platform, raised his left hand, and aimed the ancient ring "ancient ring yuan sha" at the distant demon abyss sword.

Concentrating his mind, he mobilized the Evil Qi within the ancient ring that had been refined and tamed, dividing out a wisp of "Evil Qi thread" thinner than a hair and almost undetectable, drifting slowly toward the demon abyss sword like fishing.

This was not an attack, nor was it absorption, but more like a kind of "greeting," an approach of "same-origin" aura.

The Evil Qi thread gently touched the layer of pale red Evil Qi mist surrounding the demon abyss sword.

The demon abyss sword paused slightly, seemingly sensing something, but it did not fly into a rage; it just trembled slightly, as if confirming the source of this weak "kindred" aura.

It was working!

Lin Ye felt a slight joy in his heart, carefully controlling the Evil Qi thread, not to go deep into the sword body (that would be certain death), but like a spider weaving a web, leaving a tiny "mark" in the Evil Qi mist on the periphery of the demon abyss sword, composed of the ancient ring's Evil Qi and almost indistinguishable from the surrounding Evil Qi.

This mark was very fragile and could be washed away by the demon abyss sword's own Evil Qi at any time, but as long as it existed for a moment, the ancient ring could generate a weak sensing within a certain distance.

After completing this step, cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

Dealing with a tiger for its skin was nothing more than this.

He slowly retracted the Evil Qi thread, and the demon abyss sword seemed not to care about this tiny "harassment," continuing to rotate.

The first step succeeded!

Next, the second step.

His figure was like a ghost, sticking to the shadows of the wall, rushing toward the leather bag by the door with the fastest speed and lightest movements!

The three-zhang distance was covered in an instant!

Just at the moment his fingers were about to touch the leather bag — an unexpected change occurred!

Beside the leather bag, the skeleton that belonged to Master Xuanyuan's Disciple, which had been silent before, suddenly ignited two points of faint, ghostly green fire in its empty eye sockets!

Immediately after, the skeleton actually moved!

It raised its arm, which was nothing but bone, and grabbed at Lin Ye's wrist!

This skeleton actually still had a lingering obsession of a remnant soul?!

Or rather, it had been infected by the demon abyss sword's Evil Qi and turned into some kind of low-level "Evil Puppet"!

The skeletal arm was as fast as lightning, carrying chilling ghostly Qi and the residual pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage (albeit weak), grabbing straight at him!

Lin Ye's hair stood on end!

He never expected that a seemingly ordinary skeleton would "resurrect" and attack at this moment!

Dodge? It was too late!

The arm grabbing at his wrist blocked his route to retrieve the leather bag.

Resist head-on?

Qi Refining Stage 4 against the residual pressure and Evil Qi erosion of the Foundation Establishment Stage, even if the opponent was just a skeleton, was by no means an easy task!

And what was even more terrifying was that the commotion here was very likely to alarm the terrifying demon abyss sword in the center of the hall!

A hair's breadth away!