197: Chapter 197 The Prodigy Qin Yan!

The newly integrated five-colored stream of light, upon contact with the original imprint, merged seamlessly as if milk and water, swiftly combining together!

Buzz!

At the moment of fusion, a brilliant light erupted from Qin Yan's forehead!

Gold, green, blue, red, and yellow—five-colored lights flowed and swirled without end, forming a more complex and profound composite imprint pattern.

It was faintly accompanied by the reverberation of a Daoist resonance.

And it emanated an ancient, noble, and all-encompassing vast aura.

But this extraordinary phenomenon lasted only a few breaths before receding like the tide, the light withdrawing inward.

The fused five elements imprint also slowly faded beneath the skin of Qin Yan's forehead, disappearing from sight.

Qin Yan reached up and touched his forehead; the sensation was normal.

"It seems that before reaching the third level and gaining the qualification to choose a specific cultivation technique, this fused five elements imprint, aside from acting as a 'key,' won't manifest any other functions for now."

The five elements imprint is the proof of obtaining the inheritance of the Five Elements Sect.

And selecting a cultivation technique requires reaching the third level.

Just thinking about choosing a technique gave Qin Yan a headache.

Especially that ridiculously demanding "medium" requirement.

Deep down, he couldn't help but harbor a sliver of desire and ambition to try the legendary Five Elements Primordial Scripture, which required mastery of all five elements and whose cultivation difficulty was said to be hellish.

This impulse to pursue the extreme and challenge the impossible is perhaps deeply ingrained in the marrow of every genius.

But he had never mentioned this idea to his teacher, Xiao Huo, or any senior brother or sister.

Because he knew very well that once revealed, it would inevitably invite strong opposition and dissuasion.

In the eyes of his teachers and elders, it was almost a path doomed to failure.

"Enough, the cart will find its way around the hill when it gets there.

I'll make a decision based on the actual situation when I reach the third level."

Qin Yan temporarily suppressed this thought.

Overthinking now was useless; improving his strength was fundamental.

Just as his thoughts turned, a flash of light enveloped him, and he was automatically teleported into the twenty-first level of the Secret Realm Tower.

The white puppet on the twenty-first level stood silently, its aura completely different from before!

The fluctuations of its blood and qi were more restrained, yet it faintly exuded a quality of "vitality" and "fluidity."

As if blood was roaring and surging within its body.

This was precisely the unique aura of a third-grade "Blood Refining" realm martial artist.

After initially refining the "Turbid Blood" in the body into "Pure Blood" free of impurities.

Third grade early-stage!

Qin Yan's eyes sharpened, then ignited with blazing fighting spirit.

Based on his understanding and speculation about the Secret Realm Tower.

The strength of the guardian puppet on the twenty-first level should be the standard third grade early-stage!

The Third Grade Blood Refining Realm, as the name implies, focuses on refining blood.

Before reaching the third grade, the blood in a martial artist's body contains impurities, known as "Turbid Blood."

Breaking through to the third grade primarily involves refining the body's Turbid Blood, eliminating impurities, and transforming it into "Pure Blood."

Because this is merely about removing the dross and preserving the essence, not involving a fundamental enhancement.

Therefore, breaking through from second grade Perfection to third grade early-stage typically only increases base qi and blood by 10 points.

Thus, a standard third grade early-stage martial artist has a base qi and blood of approximately 645 points.

And what about him, Qin Yan?

After accumulating through two extreme breakthroughs, his base qi and blood had already reached a staggering 665 points!

This even exceeded the standard baseline for an ordinary third grade early-stage!

Coupled with the enhancement of his four-stage, three-foot Spear Light technique and the explosive power of the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear's Layered Aura secret method...

Facing a standard third grade early-stage puppet, he really couldn't think of any reason he might lose!

The white puppet launched its attack, faster than on the second level.

Its fist momentum was heavier and more ferocious, faintly carrying the howling sound of rushing blood.

Qin Yan's eyes were sharp. Without dodging or evading, he stepped forward.

The long spear in his hand, condensed with a three-foot golden Spear Light, shot out like a golden thunderbolt!

"Pfft!"

A soft sound.

The golden Spear Light effortlessly pierced through the white puppet's attack, then accurately struck its chest energy core.

The puppet's figure stiffened, the light in its eyes rapidly dimmed, and with a "bang," it turned into motes of light.

Instant kill!

Qin Yan shook his head. This White Figure on the twenty-first level didn't exert as much pressure as the puppet on the second level, which possessed three-foot fist radiance and technique close to mid-late four-stage.

Without the slightest pause, light flashed again, and Qin Yan entered the twenty-second level.

The puppet on this level had an aura slightly more condensed than the twenty-first, and its strength was also slightly improved.

But the result remained unchanged.

Qin Yan wielded his long spear, with three-foot Spear Light blooming, piercing through the heart with a single thrust, clearing the level once more.

Breaking through twenty-two levels in a row, his momentum was like a rainbow!

Standing amidst the dissipating motes of light on the twenty-second level, feeling his still abundant qi and blood and soaring fighting spirit, Qin Yan turned his gaze toward the teleportation light leading to the next level.

His challenge in the Secret Realm Tower was not yet over.

And he, at the second grade limit, already possessed the terrifying strength to contend with, even overwhelm, ordinary third grade early-stage martial artists head-on!

This was the rich reward brought by pursuing the limit and laying an unparalleled foundation!

Amidst the flashing light, he stepped into the twenty-third level of the Secret Realm Tower.

The moment he entered, Qin Yan's expression suddenly turned grave.

The guardian puppet on this level had an aura as deep and still as an abyss. The halo of qi and blood around it was noticeably stronger by a margin compared to the previous two levels.

Faintly exuding a more lively, more vibrant flavor.

third grade mid-stage!

Common martial knowledge swiftly passed through his mind: When a martial artist breaks through from the third grade early-stage "Pure Blood Realm" to the mid-stage "Vital Blood Realm," not only are impurities completely removed from the blood within the body.

But also, due to the prolonged tempering and nurturing by qi and blood, the blood's own vitality greatly increases, possessing stronger and faster self-healing effects.

Therefore, the breakthrough at this stage brings a greater increase in qi and blood—typically surging by around 20 points!

This meant that the base qi and blood of this white puppet before him reached a staggering 845 points!

The white puppet did not give Qin Yan much time to observe.

It took a step forward, its figure fast as a ghost, closing the distance to attack range.

On its right fist, a one-foot fist radiance instantly condensed.

No fancy footwork, just the most direct, most violent linear charge!

One fist blasted out. Before the fist wind arrived, the heavy air pressure had already rushed against his face, as if it wanted to blast apart the air ahead as well!

845 points of base qi and blood, amplified by the 13% enhancement of four-stage fist technique skill, instantly boosted the power to 1098 points!

Plus the additional 10-point qi and blood power increase brought by that one-foot fist radiance...

The comprehensive qi and blood explosive force of this punch remarkably reached 1198 points!

Facing this earth-shattering punch, Qin Yan held not a sliver of underestimation in his heart.

He knew he had to go all out!

"Come!"

Qin Yan roared lowly, the qi and blood throughout his body boiling violently!

The long spear in his hand seemed to resonate with his will, emitting an excited hum.

"Buzz—!"

A three-foot golden Spear Light instantly surged from the spear tip!

"Layered Aura, Second Layer! Condense!"