94: Lingxu Painting Mountains and Rivers

After entering the Spirit Ruins, spiritual energy gathered and evolved into substantial colors.

Within these originally void and chaotic Spirit Ruins, various colors intertwined, becoming increasingly brilliant as they continued to expand.

As time passed, in Qin Jin's perception, the Spirit Ruins continuously expanded, but a sense of fatigue washed over his mental state.

Using mental power to harness and guide the spiritual energy of heaven and earth consumed a significant amount of energy; during the non-stop expansion of the Spirit Ruins, his mental power was rapidly depleting.

At this very moment.

On Qin Jin's chest, the tiancang jade pendant he carried with him burst forth with brilliant light.

Amidst the blooming light, Qin Jin's mental fatigue eased. Simultaneously, the heavenly screen script within the tiancang jade pendant reflected in his mind. One specific character suddenly radiated a dazzling light while the others grew dim, leaving it to shine alone.

It was the character for [Ruins]!

The 'Ruins' of the Spirit Ruins!

Highlighted on the jade pendant's heavenly screen and reflected in Qin Jin's heart, it actually evolved into images.

Within the images was a mysterious land of unknown location, where various colors of spiritual energy were interwoven.

There was water spiritual energy, gathering into rivers and seas, with surging waves flowing endlessly.

There was earth spiritual energy, molded into high mountains that stood tall and majestic.

There was wood spiritual energy, giving rise to spiritual trees with lush foliage and unending vitality.

And there was fire spiritual energy, which, through continuous burning, brought warmth to this mysterious land. It vaguely gathered into a sphere, hanging high in the sky, looking like a great sun.

Within this land of ruins, various spiritual energies played different roles, stabilizing the entire world.

As this scene was reflected in Qin Jin's heart, more information was made known to him through the jade pendant and the 'Ruins' character.

“This is...”

“The true origin of the Spirit Void Realm in the Heavenly Azure Method!”

Qin Jin's eyes were tightly shut as his cultivation continued, with strands of thoughts flashing through his mind.

“The Immortal Dynasty methods are not without roots; they were established and perfected step by step by the human ancestors on this land countless years ago.”

“Just like the martial arts in the Federation.”

“There are precious lands in the world called Ruins. Ancient sages traveled millions of miles to every corner of heaven and earth to find these Ruins and witness them personally. Using them as a source for comparison, they opened Spirit Ruins upon their Dao Foundations, allowing human cultivators to harvest the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for their own use from then on!”

“The second major realm of a cultivation system was thus established.”

While his thoughts whirled, Qin Jin recalled everything in the images. Using his mental power to control spiritual energy, he attempted to recreate that scene within his own Spirit Ruins.

Spiritual energy evolved into rivers, mountains, and trees, gradually taking shape within the already expanded Spirit Ruins and bursting with spots of light.

The moment they took shape, the Spirit Ruins became increasingly stable, and the efficiency of expansion surged.

This situation seemed to align with some unseen rules.

Qin Jin did not stop. Fire-attribute spiritual energy sat high in the sky of the Spirit Ruins, gathering into a great sun that shone brilliantly.

Ice-attribute spiritual energy settled in a corner, condensing into a cold moon, desolate and quiet.

Various spiritual energies evolved.

Due to the attraction of himself and his Dao Foundation, lightning spiritual energy was the most abundant. Under Qin Jin's control, lightning first surged to become thunderclouds in the sky. Then, even more lightning spiritual energy evolved into flowers, birds, fish, and insects, filling everything within the Spirit Ruins.

The various creatures created lacked consciousness but already had rudimentary forms. They swam aimlessly within the Spirit Ruins, lightning flashing around them, continuously tempering the Spirit Ruins.

This process consumed an immense amount of mental power.

But after the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was absorbed into the Spirit Ruins, it was stamped with Qin Jin's mark, making it easy for him to control. This act in itself was also a form of mental tempering!

Time passed.

Outside, the rain grew heavier.

The majestic spiritual energy drawn by the Dao Foundation had nearly enveloped the azure lightning dark halberd completely. Some spiritual energy even liquefied into rain, merging with the thunderstorm in the sky and falling together.

The flowers, grass, and ordinary plants on the ground appeared increasingly lush and vibrant under the influence of this majestic spiritual energy. If they could survive for a long time, they might have a chance to turn into spiritual herbs or plants.

Qin Jin devoted himself entirely to it.

At a certain moment.

Qin Jin sensed the existence of a limit.

The expansion of the Spirit Ruins had reached its limit.

This limit was based on the cultivator himself and the strength of his Dao Foundation. Once the limit was reached, if one were still unsatisfied, great danger would occur.

Qin Jin's mental power shifted from guiding to blocking. Simultaneously, he actively closed the entrance through which the Dao Foundation accepted spiritual energy.

On the lightning-struck wood, a complete branch had actually grown. It was no longer withered but truly contained vitality, standing out uniquely.

Opening the Spirit Ruins caused the Dao Foundation to grow as well.

His spirit flooded into the Spirit Ruins.

At a glance, the interior was no longer chaotic. The mountains, rivers, sun, moon, flowers, birds, fish, and insects evolved from spiritual energy occupied a small portion of the area. The rest was still filled with various spiritual energies, constantly intertwining.

“Spirit Void Realm.”

Qin Jin recalled the heavenly screen script: “A Spirit Void Realm cultivator uses the Spirit Ruins as a furnace and the Dao Foundation as fire, continuously tempering and mastering spiritual energy until it can be released and retracted at will.”

“At the same time, they constantly consolidate the Spirit Ruins, making them increasingly sturdy.”

“This is the cultivation method of the Spirit Void Realm.”

“The land of Ruins...”

He raised his hand and gripped the tiancang jade pendant tied to his chest.

“That princess of the Immortal Dynasty hid more information within these cultivation scripts.”

“Only as I continue to break through realms can I truly discover the mysteries within.”

“The evolution of mountains, rivers, sun, and moon within the Spirit Ruins—this state looks like using the cultivator's own body as a foundation to build a small world.”

While his thoughts wandered and he connected different pieces of information...

Qin Jin opened his eyes.

The moment they opened, a reflection of the Spirit Ruins flashed through his eyes.

He was sitting cross-legged in the cockpit. Now, he slightly clenched his fists, sensing the surging life energy within his body and his increasingly resilient physique, his eyes shining with spirit.

Cultivating the Spirit Ruins is cultivating oneself.

While he was fully devoted to opening the Spirit Ruins, his own body was also continuously improving through the washing of spiritual energy and the feedback from the Spirit Ruins. “This is the Immortal Dynasty method.”

His spirit connected to the mecha, and the azure lightning dark halberd burst forth with brilliant light.

Qin Chi sensed it slightly, his gaze narrowing.

“This is—”

Perhaps because the spiritual energy of heaven and earth drawn in was so abundant, the azure lightning dark halberd, as a transcendent mecha, under the washing of spiritual energy...

...seemed to have undergone some changes as well.

Qin Jin could sense that his perceptions after the spiritual connection were slightly different.

But where exactly the changes were would only be discovered after piloting and controlling it.

The sound of heavy rain outside the mecha reached his ears.

Without the attraction of the source, the gathered spiritual energy scattered, and the spiritual energy tornado dissipated. Everything returned to nature. Within just a few minutes, the thunderclouds above vanished, and this area became clear once again.

Qin Jin did not take the time to seriously familiarize himself with his improvements.

Because the moment all the phenomena dissipated, his attention focused on the distance.

Looking out.

Outside the area originally covered by the thunderclouds, various ferocious beasts of different shapes and sizes had actually gathered. As the phenomena dissipated, they stared hungrily at the azure lightning dark halberd.

Looking further away, there were even carcasses of ferocious beasts on the ground. It seemed they had already fought a battle while Qin Jin was breaking through.

Just as the phenomena were dissipating.

Some ferocious beasts were still in the middle of a fierce fight.

“What's this?”

The moment doubt arose in his heart, Qin Jin suddenly realized.

“They've mistaken me for some heavenly treasure?!”

Qin Jin had long studied the crystal cores of the Great Wilderness's ferocious beasts; the growth of these beasts was inextricably linked to spiritual energy.

His breakthrough here had drawn heavenly phenomena and a high-intensity gathering of spiritual energy, attracting these ferocious beasts and causing a conflict because of him.

“In the eyes of these ferocious beasts, I probably look like a Ginseng Fruit right now.”

As the thought flashed by, a sharp glint passed through Qin Jin's eyes.

“However, you've come at just the right time!”

Accompanied by the roars of the fighting beasts in the distance, the azure lightning dark halberd moved.

With one step forward, the runic patterns all over the azure lightning dark halberd lit up. Supported by transcendent materials, an invisible aura rippled in all directions!

While many ferocious beasts were wary of each other, they were also closely watching the source of everything. Seeing the azure lightning dark halberd move, they instinctively reacted as well.

In an instant.

More fierce fights broke out.

However, these had nothing to do with Qin Jin.

His gaze was clear. With wide strides, the azure lightning dark halberd charged toward the location with the most ferocious beasts.

During the charge.

With a slight thought, spiritual energy surged within the Spirit Ruins and flowed out, operating along an extremely unique path.

That was...

A Treasure Technique!

Qin Jin had once used life energy to carry spiritual energy to simulate a Treasure Technique.

Now, after opening the Spirit Ruins, there was no need to go to such trouble.

In Qin Jin's perception, ice spiritual energy surged from himself, flowing extremely smoothly through the mecha's body, and finally gathered on the rotating black crystal on its chest.

“The spiritual energy of heaven and earth flows through the mecha's body without any obstruction, exceptionally smooth.”

“Is this because the recent washing of heavenly spiritual energy enhanced the azure lightning dark halberd's adaptability to it?”

That black crystal was precisely the eyeball of the Three-Headed Strange Python.

The Three-Headed Strange Python was of the ice attribute. Through the efforts of the mecha customization team, it had been transformed into a special module.

At this moment...

The special module had not been activated, yet the ice spiritual energy surging from Qin Jin himself gathered here and received an amplification from the mecha level.

In the next instant.

A cold light burst from the black crystal. Above the charging azure lightning dark halberd, ripples flowed, and an Ice Lotus took shape!

Ice Lotus Treasure Technique!

This Ice Lotus was countless times larger than when Qin Jin had simulated it in the past. It hung high in the air, constantly rotating and attracting ice spiritual energy from heaven and earth to enhance its power.

The temperature plummeted.

The ferocious beasts gathered from all directions simultaneously felt a freezing sensation. It was at this time...

...that some ferocious beasts, seeing the "heavenly treasure" in their eyes about to escape, watched for their chance and charged forward.

It was a multi-horned giant bull with three horns on its head and a fierce look in its eyes.

It galloped on all fours, roaring as it charged toward the azure lightning dark halberd.

Qin Jin's forward momentum did not decrease.

The azure lightning dark halberd's right arm module was activated, and the mystic dragon halberd dropped down, which he firmly grasped in his hand.

During the charge, while Qin was still dozens of meters away from the multi-horned giant bull, he thrust the halberd forward. Within the Spirit Ruins, the most abundant lightning spiritual energy surged and poured out continuously. Amplified by the azure lightning dark halberd, it converged above the mystic dragon halberd.

Dazzling lightning surged up, spreading and condensing at the halberd's head, growing continuously.

From a distance, it looked as if the mystic dragon halberd itself was growing.

But in reality—

It was the power of lightning, using the halberd as a foundation, continuously extending and evolving into the shape of the halberd.

In the next instant!

Before the two could even get close, the giant bull, in its rapid gallop, had no time to dodge. It was pierced through the head by the lightning halberd. The halberd slanted through, entering from the head and exiting from the belly. The surging lightning was unstoppable, and after entering the body, its power exploded.

It looked as if it had been nailed to the ground.

Afterward.

The lightning part extending from the mystic dragon halberd dissipated, and the azure lightning dark halberd rushed past the giant bull's body.

Ahead.

More giant vicious beasts were charging. These beasts were not engaged in internal strife, which meant they were powerful characters among the gathered beasts.

Watching their charging figures, Qin's eyes narrowed slightly. On his chest, the black crystal stone began to rotate rapidly!

Special Module: [Absolute Zero]

The air temperature plummeted. Above the black crystal stone, hidden runes shone, and a beam of light projected out. The moment it fell on the vicious beasts, terrifying frost condensed, freezing into ice and spreading across their bodies!

Even after its fall, that Three-Headed Strange Python had left behind an ice field in its place.

This was only its eyeball, incomparable to the beast itself. But after being specially crafted, it still served as a well-deserved dimensional strike against these vicious beasts in the Great Wilderness that cultivated by instinct.

The ice froze, and ice sculptures took shape.

Dazzling lightning surged around the azure lightning dark halberd, as if it had transformed into a God of War of lightning. Holding the mystic dragon halberd, it charged into the group of vicious beasts.

Above, the Ice Lotus surged.

This domain-type Treasure Technique began to take effect.

Ice controlled the field while lightning ravaged.

The spiritual energy within the Spirit Ruins was consumed rapidly, but at the same time, it was being replenished continuously.

This was the Great Desolation; there was no issue of being unable to replenish spiritual energy.

Moreover, his extraordinary Dao Foundation and wide Spirit Ruins made the replenishment speed of spiritual energy exceptional.

This was an extremely hearty battle!

Initially, the azure lightning dark halberd faced the vicious beasts attacking it. Later, Qin directly intervened in the fights between the beasts themselves.

“Stop fighting.”

“Come and fight me!”

An unknown amount of time passed.

The area gradually grew quiet.

With a swing of the halberd, the figure of a frozen vicious beast in front of him suddenly exploded. The azure lightning dark halberd turned back and looked around.

Just then, timid whimpers sounded. In the azure lightning dark halberd's line of sight, a few surviving vicious beasts turned around, burst out with their last bit of strength, and fled rapidly.

Vicious beasts act on instinct.

And now.

Under the intimidation of the azure lightning dark halberd, the extremely rare aspect of fear in their instinct was triggered.

“That was truly hearty.”

Inside the cockpit, sweat dripped from Qin Jin's forehead as he panted heavily.

His consumption was great.

But so what—

The young man from the Mining Star clearly sensed the concept of becoming stronger within himself!

He was growing step by step, constantly becoming stronger!

His gaze swept over the surroundings.

With the great battle over, it was naturally the season of harvest.

Crystal cores were collected. Based on the strength of the cores, Qin picked and chose, freezing some of the beasts' remains with ice spiritual energy and storing them into the mountain and river.

A great harvest.

The Great Desolation was vast; finding these vicious beasts would normally take a long time.

But now—

During his breakthrough, he had unintentionally become bait and caught quite a few fish.

While collecting.

His spirit sensed something, and Qin Jin's gaze focused on one spot.

There, a leopard several meters long was breathing heavily, its aura weak.

It hadn't attacked the azure lightning dark halberd. Instead, it had been heavily injured while fighting other beasts on the outskirts of the battlefield and had survived until now.

Seeing the azure lightning dark halberd approach, fear showed in its eyes as it struggled to escape.

However.

The huge wound piercing its belly left it too weak to exert any strength.

“Just right.”

Qin looked at it, his heart stirred, and his mental power sent out a whisper.

“I'm going to use you for an experiment.”

“If your luck is good enough and you don't die, I'll give you a chance to live.”

The voice fell.

He didn't care if the other party understood. Under Qin's control, his mental power surrounded the aspiration power, and both moved together, landing beside the leopard.

Then, he tentatively took it into the mountain and river.

Could the mountain and river hold living creatures?

This was a question he had since he first obtained it.

But because this function wasn't of direct help to him, and with the Heavenly Selection approaching, the mountain and river had been left in the Sacrificial Spirit Hall and had never been tested.

Now.

A very weak vicious beast that couldn't resist was the perfect time for a trial.

Under Qin Jin's watchful eye, the leopard suddenly disappeared.

His mental power entered the shan he remnant piece.

Spirit entered.

The Deep Driller stood alone at one end, while other collected crystal cores and flesh were piled together.

Suddenly appearing here, a flash of panic crossed the leopard's eyes, but being too weak, it could only stay obediently in place.

“Not dead.”

“The shan he remnant piece really can hold living creatures.”

Qin waited quietly for a while and finally confirmed the result.

With a slight thought, his mental power activated, and the leopard's body was expelled from the mountain and river, appearing back in its original spot.

Qin looked at it.

As time passed, its injuries grew heavier, and its eyelids struggled not to close.

At this moment.

The azure lightning dark halberd leaned down, its arm raised. Gentle water and wood spiritual energies surged out, merging into its wound to help it recover.

After the blood scab formed, Qin withdrew his hand.

“Whether you can survive depends on yourself.”

After doing all this.

The azure lightning dark halberd stood up and strode toward the direction of the Si Huo Tribe.

Since he had made a promise, he would not break it.

Only with an unfettered self can one comprehend the true essence of martial arts.

And now, within his own ability, Qin Jin was also striving to achieve an unconstrained heart!

Do what you think of; there's no need to care about others' opinions.

Soon—

The mecha's figure had already disappeared.

At the original spot.

The wound no longer bled. After waiting quietly for a while, the leopard struggled to its feet and worked hard to devour the beast meat on the ground.

After devouring quite a bit, its belly bulged, and its complexion improved significantly.

Looking at the ground full of vicious beast remains, a flash of hesitation crossed its eyes. Finally, it picked up a large piece in its mouth and turned to leave.

The direction it left in.

Was the same as Qin Jin's.

Qin Jin moved far away from that area.

A ground full of vicious beast corpses would undoubtedly attract something.

He traveled while recovering himself.

After advancing some distance toward the Si Huo Tribe, with a slight thought, the azure lightning dark halberd was retracted, and Qin's figure disappeared.

Inside the villa.

Qin Jin's figure appeared.

He checked the time.

It had been less than a day since he headed to the Great Desolation.

The time spent breaking through to the Spirit Void Realm had not increased because it was a higher realm; instead, it was slightly shorter.

“Perhaps—”

A thought arose in Qin Jin's mind: “This is because casting the Dao Foundation is a process of creating something from nothing.”

“The breakthrough to the Spirit Void Realm is not as complex.”

As these thoughts flashed by, Qin Jin picked up the personal terminal he had left in the villa when he went to the Great Desolation. He first ordered some food, preparing to feast.

On the light screen interface, there were quite a few unread messages.

After ordering his meal, he checked them one by one.

[Xie Wuhai]: “Qin Jin, we've met the third student. She's so beautiful and also very powerful. It's a pity you didn't come.”

[Xie Wuhai]: “How is your recovery? Can we fight?!”

[Xie Wuhai]: “Why is your residence in Do Not Disturb mode? Qin Jin, are you in seclusion?”

[Xie Wuhai]: “I'll just have to wait for you to come out to fight.”

Messages kept appearing.

Qin Chi somewhat regretted exchanging contact information with him.

“This guy is a talkative person who acts like an old friend.”

“I haven't replied at all, yet he seems completely unbothered.”

As the thought flashed by.

A new message popped up.

“Qin, another new S-class student has arrived at the academy. He even brought out a student who refused to see me before.”

“These two look like they had a conflict in the past. Do you want to come and watch the fun?”

“We're at the arena in the eastern part of the dormitory area.”

Qin Jin's brow twitched slightly.

After breaking through, his cultivation had reached a temporary stopping point. He also wanted to see what was so special about the other S-class students.

The thought flashed by.

Qin Jin replied: “Okay.”

Just as the message was sent, a reply came back.

“Good heavens, you're finally alive!”

“You should have said earlier that you like watching the excitement.”

“Come quickly, come quickly.”

Wearing his personal terminal, Qin stepped out of the room.

With a slight thought, his profession panel appeared before him.

[Cultivator: Spirit Void Realm]

[Martial Artist: Ningyi Realm]

[Life Index: 122.6]

[Spirit Index: 98.2]

“The Life Index has completely broken through the threshold of the Congenital Realm.”

“And this is only the impact of just entering the Spirit Void Realm.”

“My spirit has been tempered and has grown as well. However, the feedback to myself after breaking through to the Spirit Void Realm is mainly reflected in the physical body, so it failed to make the Spirit Index break its limit as well.”

“But it's not far off.”

“The next stage of cultivation will mainly focus on tempering the spirit to break the limit.”

“Then, seek out a spiritual opportunity to point directly to the Congenital Realm!”

“I wonder if, in the past history of Martial Abyss University, there has ever been an extraordinary prodigy who entered the Congenital Realm before school even started.”

Qin Jin muttered to himself as he left his residence and headed for the Arena Xie Wuhai had mentioned.