57: Chapter 57 Blood Essence Tempering! The Legend of the Void Beast of Mount Shu!
The moment that drop of dark gold essence blood entered his mouth, Lin Feng felt as if he had swallowed a red-hot iron ball!
No, it was hotter than an iron ball!
It was magma! It was molten lava from deep within the earth's core!
“Ugh, ahhh—!!!”
Lin Feng let out a muffled groan and curled up on the ground, his entire body trembling violently.
The essence blood slid down his throat, and everywhere it passed—his esophagus, stomach, intestines—it felt as if it were being seared by a branding iron. It was a searing, burning pain!
But this was only the beginning.
A second later, the essence blood exploded in his stomach!
Boom—!!!
Terrifying energy erupted like a tsunami, instantly surging into Lin Feng's limbs and every vessel in his body!
Every blood vessel was expanding!
Every muscle was tearing!
Every inch of bone was wailing!
“Hiss... ha...”
Lin Feng gasped for air, the veins on his forehead bulging, and beads of sweat poured down like a waterfall.
He felt as if his body was about to split apart.
The left side of his body was scalding hot like fire; that was the violent energy from the essence blood rampaging through him.
The right side of his body was as cold as iron; that was his Glorious Corona Physique instinctively resisting.
The two forces were fighting, colliding, and tearing at each other crazily inside him!
[Warning: High concentration of energy intrusion detected]
[Warning: Physical endurance approaching limit]
[Warning: Bloodline conflict risk at 97%... 98%... 99%...]
Warnings popped up frantically on his attribute panel, and red alert lights flashed wildly in Lin Feng's mind.
“Can't... can't hold on anymore...”
Lin Feng's vision began to darken, and his consciousness gradually blurred.
He had originally planned to follow the mage path, so his Physique only relied on natural growth from leveling up and a few added points, currently standing at only 155 points.
Faced with the terrifying energy impact of S-Rank essence blood, this amount of Physique was simply not enough!
“I'm... going to explode...”
Lin Feng could feel fine cracks beginning to appear on the surface of his skin.
They weren't external injuries; there was too much energy inside, and he was being split open from the inside out!
Blood seeped out from the cracks, instantly dyeing him into a man of blood.
“Master... help...”
Using his last ounce of strength, he looked toward Zhao Ritian.
Zhao Ritian had been watching quietly, without making a move.
Only at this moment, seeing that Lin Feng truly couldn't hold on any longer, did he let out a sigh.
“Kid, you're still too green.”
As he spoke, he raised his right hand and lightly tapped his index finger toward Lin Feng.
Buzz—
A soft, warm golden light shot out from his fingertip and sank into Lin Feng's brow.
This golden light was completely different from the violence of the essence blood.
It was gentle, heavy, and nourished all things like sunlight.
The moment the golden light entered his body, Lin Feng felt that violent energy that was about to blow him apart suddenly... become docile.
It didn't disappear.
It was tamed.
The golden light was like an invisible giant hand, gently smoothing out the rampaging streams of energy.
It guided them to circulate slowly according to the path of the Solar Saint Body Tempering Method.
One cycle.
Two cycles.
Three cycles...
With every cycle, the energy became a bit gentler and merged a bit more into his body.
The cracks on Lin Feng's body began to heal, and the seeping blood was evaporated by the golden light, turning into a bloody mist that dissipated in the air.
The pain receded like a tide.
In its place was a... tingling sensation of being reborn.
It was as if countless small hands were gently massaging his body, clearing his meridians, strengthening his bones, and washing his flesh and blood.
He could clearly feel his body becoming stronger!
His muscles were tighter, his bones harder, and his internal organs more powerful.
Even his skin took on a faint, jade-like luster.
[Physique +1... +1... +1...]
[Earth Element Affinity +0.1%... +0.1%... +0.1%...]
[Max HP +10... +10... +10...]
On the attribute panel, the numbers were ticking up slowly but steadily.
Although the amount added each time was small, it was continuous.
Minutes and seconds ticked by.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
It could have been an hour, or perhaps three.
When Lin Feng opened his eyes again, the sky outside was already dark.
No lights were on in the room; only the speck of golden light at Zhao Ritian's fingertip provided illumination.
“Awake?”
Zhao Ritian withdrew his finger, and the golden light dissipated.
He looked a bit exhausted, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
Clearly, the move he just made had taken quite a toll on him.
“Master...”
Lin Feng struggled to sit up and moved his body a bit.
Crack, crack—
His joints made crisp popping sounds.
He felt much lighter, as if he had shed dozens of pounds of weight.
“How do you feel?” Zhao Ritian asked.
Lin Feng quickly pulled up his attribute panel.
[Name: Lin Feng]
[Rank: 16]
[Physique: Radiant Corona (Prodigy-grade)]
[Talent: F-Rank Fusion]
[Strength: 53 (+2)]
[Agility: 55 (+2)]
[spirit: 660 (+2)]
[Physique: 175 (+20!)]
[Intelligence: 51 (+2)]
[HP: 1,750 (Base) + 220,000 (tower soul Bonus) = 221,750]
[mana: 6,600 (Base) + 214,000 (tower soul Bonus) = 220,600]
[attack power: 106 (Physical), 3,300 (Spell)]
[Defense: 175]
[Element Affinity: Light 99%, Earth 96% (+2%!), Fire 10%, Water 10%, Wind 10%, Lightning 10%, Ice 10%, Dark 10%]
“My Physique went up by 20 points! Earth Element Affinity went up by 2%, reaching 96%!”
Lin Feng reported the data in pleasant surprise.
“Not bad.” Zhao Ritian nodded. “To have this effect from the first tempering shows your foundation is decent.”
“However...”
His tone shifted. “Your original Physique was too low. Trying to absorb S-Rank essence blood with only 155 points—you've got some nerve.”
“If I hadn't stepped in, your body would have exploded by now.”
Lin Feng scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Thank you for saving my life, Master.”
“Cut that out.” Zhao Ritian waved his hand. “Before the next tempering, stack your Physique to over 200, you hear me?”
“I hear you!” Lin Feng nodded heavily.
He now understood that if his Physique wasn't high enough, even the best essence blood would be poison.
“By the way, Master, my Earth Element Affinity is at 96%. Let me see what's changed.”
Lin Feng stood up, and with a thought—
Buzz—
The ground vibrated slightly.
This wasn't using the tower soul's Earth Control.
It was purely relying on Earth Element Affinity to sense, communicate, and manipulate!
Within a ten-meter radius, the sand, soil, and gravel on the ground all “came alive.”
They were like loyal soldiers, awaiting Lin Feng's command.
“Gather.”
Lin Feng said softly.
Shhh—
The sand and soil on the ground instantly converged, condensing into a fist-sized earth ball in his palm.
The earth ball rotated slowly, its surface as smooth as a mirror, with Earth Element energy flowing within.
“Scatter.”
The earth ball burst apart, turning into countless fine grains of sand that drifted to the ground.
The whole process was as smooth as flowing water, without the slightest hesitation.
It was as if... this sand and soil were a part of his body.
“Is this the control of 96% affinity?”
Lin Feng felt that effortless sense of control, his heart filled with excitement.
With 94% affinity before, although he could control sand, there was always a feeling of being separated by a layer.
Now, that barrier had vanished.
He truly could “control” the Earth Element!
“Feels good, doesn't it?” Zhao Ritian smiled. “95% is a threshold; once you pass it, it's a qualitative change.”
“While you can't move mountains or fill seas yet, manipulating a small mound or creating a quicksand pit isn't much of a problem.”
“Thank you for your guidance, Master!” Lin Feng thanked him sincerely.
If Zhao Ritian hadn't taught him the tempering method and helped him absorb the essence blood, he might have been stuck at that 94% threshold for a lifetime.
“Don't be so quick to thank me.” Zhao Ritian pointed to the pet egg on the table. “There's still this thing to deal with.”
Only then did Lin Feng remember that S-Rank pet egg.
“Master, you said it lacks ‘Life Qi’ and needs a massive infusion of life energy...”
“Correct.” Zhao Ritian nodded. “Ordinary life potions and healing Spells are useless for it.”
“What it needs is... the purest, most primitive, and most surging life energy.”
“Where can I find such energy?” Lin Feng asked.
Zhao Ritian pondered for a moment before slowly uttering two words.
“Void Beast.”
“Void Beast?” Lin Feng was taken aback.
“Yes,” Zhao Ritian explained. “Void Beasts are creatures that come from void fissures. They survive in the Void Realm for long periods, and their bodies contain the most primitive life energy.”
“Especially the Void Platypus Beast. This creature's life energy is particularly surging and... easy to absorb.”
Lin Feng's eyes lit up. “Where can I find a Void Platypus Beast?”
“Mount Dashu, on the outskirts of Donghai City,” Zhao Ritian said. “There's a small void fissure there where void creatures often emerge.”
“The Explorer Association has set up a blockade there, but there are always some that slip through.”
“If you can kill a Void Platypus Beast, in the few minutes before it dies, press the pet egg against its wound...”
“The egg will be able to absorb enough life energy to complete its Origin.”
Mount Dashu?
void fissure?
Void Platypus Beast?
Lin Feng's mind raced.
These were all blind spots in his knowledge.
They hadn't been taught in textbooks, his teachers hadn't mentioned them, and he hadn't even heard of them.
“Master, are Void Beasts... very strong?” Lin Feng asked tentatively.
“Strong?” Zhao Ritian laughed. “Put it this way: at the same Rank, a single Void Beast can take on three elite Dungeon monsters.”
“Because they survived in the truly cruel Void Realm, their combat instincts and killing experience are nothing like those monsters ‘designed’ in Dungeons.”
Lin Feng sucked in a breath of cold air.
One against three?
Just how strong was that?
“Moreover...” Zhao Ritian added, “Void Beast skills are often very bizarre and hard to guard against.”
“If you go, you'd better be mentally prepared.”
Lin Feng fell silent.
With his current strength, fighting Dungeon monsters of the same Rank was easy.
But a Void Beast... he wasn't so sure.
“Whether you go or not is up to you.” Zhao Ritian waved his hand. “You can also wait until your strength improves further before going. The egg is in your hands anyway; it's not going anywhere.”
But Lin Feng caught his Master's underlying meaning.
Zhao Ritian telling him all this meant he wanted him to go.
Since he suggested it, it meant... his Master believed he had the ability to handle it.
At least, there was hope.
“I'll go!”
Lin Feng gritted his teeth and made the decision.
Fortune favors the bold.
If he wanted to get strong quickly and hatch the pet egg, he couldn't be afraid of danger.
“Good.” Zhao Ritian nodded with satisfaction. “Now that's like my disciple.”
He pulled a crumpled map from his robes and tossed it to Lin Feng.
“This is a topographic map of Mount Dashu. I've marked the location of the void fissure.”
“Also, I've written the habits and weaknesses of the Void Platypus Beast on the back.”
Lin Feng took the map and unfolded it.
A location was circled in red, with “Small void fissure (Unstable)” written next to it.
On the back were several lines of scrawled handwriting:
[Void Platypus Beast]
[Rank: Usually 18-25]
[Weaknesses: Eyes, throat, soft belly flesh]
[Skills: Void Breath (Dark-attribute AoE attack), Life Siphon (Life steal), Platypus Thrust (Physical pierce)]
[Note: Life energy is most active within three minutes after the kill; the pet egg must absorb it as quickly as possible]
“Thank you, Master!” Lin Feng held it like a treasure.
With this information, he at least wouldn't be going in blind.
“Alright, everything that should be taught has been taught, and everything that should be given has been given.”
Zhao Ritian yawned, looking a bit weary.
“The rest is up to you.”
Lin Feng knew this was his cue to leave.
He stood up and gave a respectful bow.
“Master, then I'll head back first.”
“I'll head to Mount Dashu first thing tomorrow morning.”
Zhao Ritian nodded and said no more.
Lin Feng put away the map and the pet egg and turned to leave.
As he reached the door, he looked back.
Under the dim light, Zhao Ritian sat in his wheelchair, his back slightly hunched, exuding an indescribable loneliness.
“Master, please take care of yourself.”
Lin Feng said softly, then gently closed the door.
...
By the time he returned to his apartment, it was already past nine in the evening.
Lin Feng took a shower and lay in bed, but he couldn't fall asleep no matter what.
His mind was filled with today's experiences.
The pain of the essence blood tempering, the increase in Earth Element Affinity, the rumors of Void Beasts...
And his Master Zhao Ritian's weathered gaze, along with that tragic past.
“Beyond the Void... are there really so many dangers?”
Lin Feng looked at the ceiling and murmured to himself.
He thought of the Dungeon where his parents had disappeared, the [Void Corridor].
That was also a place connected to the Void Realm.
Could his parents' disappearance also be related to Void Beasts?
“Regardless, I need to get stronger first.”
Lin Feng clenched his fists.
Tomorrow, he would go to Mount Dashu, kill a Void Platypus Beast, and hatch the pet egg.
Then he would continue to improve his strength, save up enough resources, and temper his body again.
Step by step, he would advance toward a Legend-grade Physique.
And then there was that S-Rank Dungeon...
Thinking of this, Lin Feng felt much more settled.
He closed his eyes and began to circulate the Solar Saint Body Tempering Method.
Although the essence blood had already been absorbed, circulating the technique could consolidate the effects and even slightly improve his Physique.
The night passed in silence.
...
Early the next morning, as the sky was just starting to brighten.
Lin Feng got out of bed.
He checked his equipment.
scepter of sand (Purple)—spirit +50, Earth Element Affinity +30%.
holy light wing cloak (Purple)—spirit +40, Light-attribute skill damage +20%, allows flight.
war soul greatshield (Blue)—Defense +80, HP +500.
Ten cubic meters of sand in his Storage Pouch—as backup.
Various potions, food, tools...
After confirming everything was correct, Lin Feng changed into his combat suit, shouldered his gear, and headed out.
The streets in the early morning were still quiet, with only a few early-rising vendors preparing to open.
Lin Feng hailed a taxi.
“Sir, to Mount Dashu.”
The driver was a middle-aged man who glanced at Lin Feng through the rearview mirror.
“Young man, what are you going to Mount Dashu for? It's not very peaceful over there.”
“I heard some Void Beasts have been coming out lately, and the Explorer Association has blocked it off.”
Lin Feng smiled. “I'm an Explorer; I have some business over there.”
Hearing this, the driver asked no more and stepped on the gas, the car heading toward the outskirts.
Half an hour later.
The car stopped at the foot of the mountain.
Lin Feng paid and got out, looking up at the majestic mountain before him.
Mount Dashu was the tallest mountain on the outskirts of Donghai City, over a thousand meters above sea level, with steep terrain and dense forests.
It was said that before the world was digitized, this place was a tourist attraction.
After digitization, because of the appearance of the void fissure, it had become a danger zone.
“Void Platypus Beast...”
Lin Feng took a deep breath and began his ascent.