49: spirits

The night deepened, and the Cultivation inside the cave came to a temporary halt.

Chen Linsheng felt the surging power brought by the newly Initiated Python Dragon Strength within his body, feeling completely satisfied.

He knew that with this specialized internal strength, he now had the Foundation to temper all his muscles and officially step into the Flesh Refining Realm.

"It's getting late. Time to go back."

With a thought, he once again submerged himself into the hidden waterway and swam toward home.

The river water was cold, enveloping his entire body.

The Python Dragon Strength, which he had just Initiated, seemed to vibrate slightly on its own between his muscle fibers, stimulating his Qi and blood, making his perception of the water flow sharper and his swimming smoother and more effortless.

He was like a fish returning to its nest, tracing a smooth path through the water.

Unconsciously, his understanding and utilization of Aptitude for Water seemed to Breakthrough a certain threshold. The familiar vibration came from the spirit book in his mind again, and the text updated:

[Skill: Aptitude for Water (Major Achievement)]

[Progress: (0/2000)]

[Divine Effect: Treading Waves, Pseudo-Underwater Breathing, Minor Water Control Power. Allows short-term running on the water surface, enables extremely weak gas exchange through the skin, and allows minor manipulation of nearby water flow.]

"Mastery of Water Nature!" Chen Linsheng rejoiced inwardly.

In an instant, countless revelations flooded his mind regarding how to use the surface tension of the water and how to utilize the strength of his limbs to briefly exert force on the water surface.

He felt his affinity with water had reached a new height; he could even vaguely "drive" the water flow in a small area around him, making it propel him forward.

He tried mobilizing the weak “Minor Water Control Power,” and sure enough, he felt the water flow beside him accelerate slightly, pushing him forward a little faster.

This feeling of being perfectly at ease in the water and having control over it was wonderfully extraordinary.

However, just as he was immersed in the joy brought by the Aptitude for Water Breakthrough, and when he was not too far from the riverbank—

A feeling of terror originating from the depths of his Soul suddenly erupted!

The Beast Intuition brought by Tracking (Perfection) frantically warned him at an unprecedented frequency; the icy sense of danger was like a physical needle, fiercely piercing his mind!

Extreme danger!

Chen Linsheng's hair stood on end. Without thinking, he fully activated Mastery of Water Nature and Eight Steps Catching Cicada, preparing to rush toward the water surface.

It was at this moment that the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of the scene in the dark riverbed below, a sight that made his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering—

An immense, flesh-colored behemoth, like a lurking demon suddenly Awakening, shot out fiercely from the darkness of the river bottom!

The object's surface was covered in mucus, and its speed was beyond imagination. Wherever it passed, whether it was a palm-sized crucian carp, a several-foot-long grass carp, or even some ignorant aquatic beasts, they were instantly enveloped by an invisible suction force and swallowed before they even had time to struggle!

And the core of that terrifying suction force was heading straight for Chen Linsheng!

"This is bad!"

Chen Linsheng was horrified. His entire body's Qi and blood erupted, the Python Dragon Strength circulated frantically, and his legs kicked violently in the water. At the same time, the weak “Minor Water Control Power” was pushed to its limit, desperately stirring the water flow around him, trying to counteract the terrifying suction.

"Whoosh!"

Thanks to the Mastery of Water Nature he had just achieved, especially the subtle interference of the “Minor Water Control Power,” he finally managed to violently break free a few feet diagonally upwards at the critical moment, narrowly avoiding the fate of being directly enveloped.

However, the edge of the suction still grazed him, making him feel as if he had been violently yanked by an invisible giant hand, causing his Qi and blood to churn.

He dared not delay even slightly. Taking advantage of the force of his escape, his body shot toward the water surface like an arrow.

"Splash!"

His head broke through the water surface, and he immediately took a deep breath.

The next moment, the Divine Effect of "Treading Waves" naturally activated!

He continuously stomped his feet on the water surface, simultaneously activating the explosive power of Eight Steps Catching Cicada. His figure was like light smoke or a specter, rapidly skimming across the river toward the nearby bank.

"Thud!"

The moment his feet touched solid ground, his heart, which had almost leaped out of his throat, finally settled slightly. Still panting heavily, he looked back at the calm river surface with shock and uncertainty.

Under the moonlight, the river surface shimmered. A breeze swept by, creating tiny ripples, as if the terrifying, all-consuming scene from moments ago was merely an illusion.

But Chen Linsheng knew it wasn't an illusion.

That icy sense of crisis, that giant flesh-colored shadow, that terrifying suction force that instantly swallowed countless schools of fish... "That thing... looked like a... tongue?!" An absurd thought, yet one that perfectly matched what he had just witnessed, uncontrollably popped into his mind.

This thought sent a shiver down his own spine.

A tongue?

What kind of immense monster must it be to possess such a giant tongue?

And it possessed such might from just a casual strike?

He focused his attention on the river surface for a long time and found that after the monster completed its "hunt," there was no further movement. The river bottom returned to silence, as if nothing had happened.

"This matter is too strange. The monster seemed to be just routinely hunting and didn't deliberately pursue me... If I rashly report this to the Water Patrol Division, I might alert the enemy and even invite unnecessary trouble." Chen Linsheng's mind raced, and he decided to temporarily suppress the matter.

He trusted his Master's judgment more than that of the newly arrived Water Patrol Division.

He suppressed the lingering fear in his heart, tidied his soaked clothes, and quickly walked toward his home... The next morning, Chen Linsheng headed straight for the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.

Compared to the Water Patrol Division, he was more inclined to discuss such bizarre matters with his Master, Zhao Zheng, first.

On the Training Grounds, shouts rose and fell. A group of official Disciples was Cultivating the Hunyuan Palm under the personal supervision of Zhao Zheng.

Chen Linsheng spotted Zhang Yang and Liu Mingyu in the crowd immediately.

Seeing Chen Linsheng approach, Liu Mingyu's eyes lit up. He immediately stopped practicing, ran over, his face brimming with enthusiastic smiles, and cupped his hands, saying, "Senior Brother Chen! Oh no, I should call you Patrol Runner Chen now! Congratulations! To be appointed Youjiao at such a young age, commanding your own boat—it truly puts the rest of us to shame!"

His tone was warm and clearly flattering: "Patrol Runner Chen, if you are free today, would you do me the honor of letting this Junior Brother host a celebratory banquet for you at the Drunken Immortal Tower?"

Chen Linsheng glanced at him. He held no ill will toward this Wealthy Faction Disciple who had once gifted him a residence, but they weren't particularly close either.

After a brief thought, he nodded: "Junior Brother Liu, that is very thoughtful of you. I happen to be free this afternoon."

"That's wonderful! Then it's settled!" Liu Mingyu was overjoyed.

Zhang Yang, on the other side, merely glanced at Chen Linsheng from afar, his gaze complex, holding a trace of subtle distance and stubbornness. He then practiced his palm technique with increased effort, as if trying to vent all his emotions through his fists and feet.

Chen Linsheng was not surprised by this. He nodded slightly to Liu Mingyu and walked straight toward Zhao Zheng, who was standing by the edge of the field.

"Master." He bowed respectfully.

Zhao Zheng looked at him, noticing the slight solemnity in his expression, and instructed the Disciples on the field: "Continue practicing on your own, carefully observing the changes in your internal strength."

Then he said to Chen Linsheng: "Follow me."

The two walked one after the other into the quiet backyard.

Although it was deep winter, an old plum tree in the courtyard was blooming in defiance of the cold. Its sparse shadows stretched across the ground, and a subtle fragrance wafted through the air, adding a touch of elegance to the severe atmosphere of the Martial Arts Hall's backyard.

"What is it?" Zhao Zheng sat down on the stone stool beneath the plum tree and asked directly.

Chen Linsheng organized his thoughts and recounted his terrifying encounter in the river last night, focusing on describing the massive flesh-colored tongue, the terrifying suction, and how he narrowly escaped thanks to his newly achieved Aptitude for Water Breakthrough.

After listening, Zhao Zheng frowned slightly and pondered for a moment. Instead of fear, a hint of understanding and... surprise flashed in his eyes?

"What you encountered was not an ordinary strange beast, but a 'Essence Spirit'," Zhao Zheng said slowly.

"Essence Spirit?" Chen Linsheng asked, confused.

"Yes." Zhao Zheng explained, "Strange beasts in the world are a general term for all Vicious Beasts possessing Divine Ability. But internally, they are also divided. They can generally be separated into three grades: Vicious Beast, Essence Spirit, and Primordial Spirit."

"The strange tiger you hunted was a 'Vicious Beast'. Although it possessed strong Qi and blood, sharp claws and teeth, and could even initially utilize some wind and fire power, its spiritual intelligence had not yet opened. It acted purely on instinct, placing it in the Low Grade."

"A 'Essence Spirit' is different," Zhao Zheng's tone grew a bit more serious. "They often live much longer, or they acquire some Opportunity. Not only is their strength greater, but more importantly, their spiritual intelligence gradually opens, and they can even Awaken innate Divine Ability! That giant tongue you saw is likely one of its Divine Abilities. Such beings can already be ranked as High Grade strange beasts!"

"As for 'Primordial Spirit'..." Zhao Zheng shook his head, a hint of yearning and reverence appearing in his eyes. "That is a legendary existence, beyond what we can fathom. It is said they can resonate with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and possess incredible might."

Chen Linsheng suddenly realized that strange beasts had such detailed classifications.

At this moment, Zhao Zheng smiled and stroked his beard, saying, "However, this is not a bad thing for us; on the contrary, it is a heaven-sent Opportunity!"

"Opportunity?" Chen Linsheng was stunned.

"Exactly!" A sharp glint flashed in Zhao Zheng's eyes. "A Essence Spirit's entire body is a treasure, incomparable to a Vicious Beast. Its flesh, blood, sinews, and bones are all more potent. More importantly, there is a great chance that a 'Beast Core' will condense inside a Essence Spirit!"

"Beast Core?"

"This object is the crystallization of a Essence Spirit's essence and Divine Ability power, containing vast and pure energy." Zhao Zheng's tone held a hint of fervor. "If we can hunt this creature, using its Beast Core as the main ingredient, supplemented by other precious materials, perhaps... we could invite an Alchemy Great Master to open a furnace and refine a Spirit Pill that helps a Martial Artist Breakthrough to the Iron Bone Realm!"

A Spirit Pill for Breaking through the Iron Bone Realm!

Chen Linsheng heard this, and his heart also grew hot.

He had personally witnessed the Curled Beard Guest's Silver Bone, deeply understanding the power and difficulty of the Iron Bone Realm.

If aided by Medicinal Pills, it would undoubtedly save countless hours of hard work and greatly increase the chances of a Breakthrough!

He immediately understood his Master's intention—hunting the Essence Spirit!

"Master, are you suggesting..." Fighting spirit ignited in Chen Linsheng's eyes.

Zhao Zheng nodded, but then his expression became serious, and he whispered:

"This matter is of great importance. A Essence Spirit possessing Divine Ability is absolutely not to be trifled with. Before we figure out its details and make thorough preparations, you must not leak a single word!"

He looked at Chen Linsheng:

"For now, do not mention this matter to anyone, including your Senior Disciple Brother and the others. Wait until I personally investigate, confirm the Essence Spirit's lair, habits, and baseline strength, and then we will plan."

"This Disciple understands!" Chen Linsheng nodded solemnly, feeling both excited and cautious.