26: Ice Lotus

A Spiritual Energy User!

By now, he had already met cultists like Bai Qiushi and, having grown up on the Mining Star, he had also seen technologically modified individuals with mechanical enhancements. However, he had never encountered an extraordinary individual from the spiritual energy path.

Spiritual energy evolution is extremely mysterious and depends entirely on one's innate talent. Therefore, among the four major evolutionary paths, Spiritual Energy Users are the rarest.

“I wonder what kind of person this Spiritual Energy User is.”

A thought flashed through Qin Jin's mind as his fingertip landed on the attached map.

The map opened.

It was a map covering the New Sheep District and its surrounding areas, and the specially marked location on the map was clearly outside the New Sheep District.

“The destination is actually in the wilderness.”

“What is this, an initial test?”

Qin Jin raised an eyebrow slightly.

As a native of the Mining Star, he naturally knew the conditions of the outside world.

The environment of the Mining Star is harsh, with thunder constantly present in the sky year-round. Transport Starships arriving from the Star Sea need to maintain defensive fields at all times when entering the Mining Star.

Through Wen Jinglun, he also learned that outside the survival zones, there were not only natural threats but also extraordinary creatures.

“According to Uncle Yan's deduction, there might be other people involved.”

“If this is a test, what are the ages and cultivation realms of the others, and how do they pass?”

He pondered in his heart, ultimately suppressing these thoughts.

Since he was here, he would make the best of it.

Since he had already decided to participate in this “great opportunity,” then he would face whatever came his way.

Qin Jin checked other messages.

[Yu Sheng]: “Jing Ge, the money wasn't wasted! This Innate Martial Artist guided me very diligently. It's a shame you weren't here.”

[Yu Sheng]: “When school starts, let's spar.”

[Yu Sheng]: “Still not replying, huh? Alright, alright, busy, everyone's busy.”

[Wen Jinglun]: Qin Jin, I received Zhong Yi's message. You have passed the academy's review and have been placed on the observation list.

[Wen Jinglun]: “Related resource subsidies should be sent soon…”

[Yan Yue]: “Go for it, Qin Jin! My dad said you're going to meet that big shot. This time, you'll definitely soar to the sky (´∀`*)”

His gaze swept over them.

Qin Jin's mood lightened considerably as he replied to each one.

“Being on Wu Yuan Academy's observation list is a form of validation for my talent. This way, even if my progress is astonishing, it won't lead people to suspect anything else. Instead, their focus will remain on my talent itself and the resources provided by the academy.”

“Yu Sheng wants to spar with me. It seems he has made significant progress.”

“Unfortunately, by the time school starts, everything will probably have changed drastically.”

He and Yu Sheng were good friends and classmates. Thinking of the other party's astonished expression when school started, he couldn't help but curve his lips into a smile.

Compared to his role as a Sacrificial Spirit in the Great Wilderness, everything on the Mining Star allowed him to better recognize his true nature.

After replying, the light screen faded.

Qin Jin found the large pot from his last medicinal bath, set it up, and lit a fire.

He retrieved the frozen python blood from the Deep Drillers's storage space and placed it in the pot.

Under the scorching flames, the ice quickly melted, and the dark blue python blood flowed into the pot, causing the surrounding temperature to drop sharply.

“To be able to take a medicinal bath with the blood of such a creature can truly be considered a fortunate encounter.”

Qin Jin murmured to himself, consuming his Votive Power and letting it fall into the pot.

He stripped off his clothes, leaving only his shorts, revealing his robust physique, and waited quietly.

Time passed.

Inside the large pot, everything was calm; the dark blue blood was still and unmoving. Looking at it, one felt a sense of profound depth like the sea.

“What is this?”

After a brief examination, Qin Jin's gaze focused on the flames below.

“Ordinary flames aren't enough to stimulate the power hidden within the python blood?”

He pondered for a moment, then activated his Votive Power.

Strands of golden mist drifted into the flames.

In an instant.

The fire intensified, and before Qin Jin's eyes, the flickering flames turned crimson-gold.

“Using Votive Power as fuel, this can be called a Fire of Faith.”

As the crimson-gold flames burned, the blood in the large pot began to churn.

Qin Jin no longer hesitated, bending his body and leaping into the pot.

He descended with remarkable stability, not splashing a single drop of liquid.

In the Great Wilderness, the series of battles against fierce beasts had led to an astonishing improvement in his control over his own body.

Upon entering the pot, his body was submerged in the python blood. The first sensation that enveloped him was coldness!

The constantly churning python blood seemed to be boiling, but upon entering, it was extremely cold.

A stinging sensation assaulted him, and white frost condensed on Qin Jin's eyebrows.

He calmed his mind and focused, undisturbed by external factors, and immediately began circulating his Breathing Method.

In an instant.

With him at the center, the python blood rotated, forming a vortex, and the power within continuously surged into his physique.

This was his second medicinal bath.

However, perhaps because the Thunder Beast Breathing Technique had advanced to Lv4, the speed of energy absorption had significantly increased.

A torrent of icy energy surged into his body, raging throughout, tempering his physique while attempting to take over.

Qin Jin's eyes were slightly closed, his life energy surging, striking throughout his body, shattering this torrent, transforming it into nourishment, and enhancing himself.

The energy absorbed into his body was broken down by his life energy. As it continuously contracted, subsequent energy continuously gathered in Qin Jin's left chest.

As the energy converged, faint dark blue patterns appeared on the skin of his left chest. Upon closer inspection, they resembled an unformed ice lotus.

“The Treasure Technique has begun to condense.”

“It's just as I guessed, this is an imprint contained within beast blood, manifesting in the human body.”

“It's somewhat similar to a spell model.”

Qin Jin was no longer a novice from before; he seized the opportunity to analyze it carefully.

“However, both medicinal baths have triggered Treasure Technique condensation. Am I some kind of Innate Treasure Technique Holy Body?”

Qin Jin sensed the changes with his mental power. Just as the Treasure Technique was about to fully condense, the life energy, which had already accumulated and was ready, charged forward relentlessly, abruptly interrupting it.

The concentrated icy energy dispersed, spreading throughout his physique.

Now, through his contact with the Sacrificial Fire Tribe people, Qin Jin had a deeper understanding of Treasure Techniques.

He wasn't averse to this method of becoming stronger; after all, it was merely a divergence in evolutionary paths.

Like the evolutionaries on the technological path, they resorted to mechanical modifications and genetic fusions, stopping at nothing.

However…

Among the Si Huo Tribe, talented clansmen who condensed one Treasure Technique often found themselves unable to condense a second.

This was due to conflicts between powers.

In Qin Jin's mind.

If he truly needed to condense a Treasure Technique, then… why wouldn't he choose the strongest one?

He had ample time and even greater ambitions.

The energy for condensing the Treasure Technique was dispersed, spreading throughout his body. Unbeknownst to him, ice crystals condensed on the surface of his physique, covering his entire body. From a distance, Qin Jin appeared to have transformed into an ice sculpture.

Time passed.

The dark blue blood in the large pot gradually became transparent.

The energy contained within it was absorbed.

At a certain moment.

The ice crystals enveloping Qin Jin's body shattered with a violent tremor. Under the light, the fragmented ice crystals scattered in all directions, reflecting a brilliant radiance.

Qin Jin opened his eyes.

A chill permeated the air.

He extended his right hand, palm upward, recalling the process in his mind while manipulating his life energy with his mental power, circulating it in a highly unique manner.

Life energy left his palm but did not dissipate.

Silently.

In his palm, an energy-constructed, half-palm-sized, crystal-clear ice lotus appeared.