198: Let me show you a big scene

Time passes quickly in the mountains.

The quiet room in Courtyard Ding-zi Seven felt like an isolated island cut off from the world.

Su Ming was completely immersed in Cultivating the Ruoshui Art.

Thanks to the auxiliary effect of the “Water Refining Spiritual Gathering Plate,” coupled with the wondrous cycle of water generating wood within his body, his Cultivation advanced rapidly.

Unlike the forced, “helping the sprouts grow” feeling he experienced when Cultivating Wood-type Cultivation Techniques previously, this Breakthrough came naturally.

He felt as if he had turned into a tireless water-absorbing sponge.

The gentle Water Spiritual Qi surrounding him continuously seeped into his body through his pores and breath. It was neither rushed nor aggressive, simply filling Su Ming's Meridians, Dantian, and every inch of his flesh and blood, bit by bit.

Qi Refining Second Layer Perfection... Qi Refining Third Layer... Qi Refining Third Layer Peak... If it were anyone else, when assaulting the small Bottleneck of Qi Refining Fourth Layer—the transition from Early Stage to Middle Stage—they would typically need to accumulate power and charge fiercely to break the constraints of the Meridians.

But Su Ming did not “charge.”

He was merely “waiting.”

He was waiting for the Water Spiritual Power within his body to accumulate to its maximum, waiting for the feeling of overflow to naturally flow.

When water is full, it overflows; this is the Heavenly Dao.

Late on the seventh night.

When a drop of dew outside the window slid down a bamboo leaf and landed softly on the stone steps.

Inside Su Ming's body, a nearly inaudible “pop” sounded.

It was like the final drop of water being added to an already full cup.

There was no violent tremor, nor any painful tearing.

That layer of originally tough Bottleneck, facing the vast Water Spiritual Power, melted silently like a sheet of window paper soaked through with water.

Boom!

The Qi Sea within his Dantian suddenly expanded twofold.

The Spiritual Power, which had been like a stream, instantly transformed into a surging river.

An unprecedented feeling of fullness and control instantly spread throughout his body.

Qi Refining Fourth Layer!

Su Ming slowly opened his eyes.

In that instant, a deep pool of water seemed to flash within the depths of his pupils, profound and silent.

He raised his hand and looked at his fingertips. Without needing to deliberately circulate his Cultivation Technique, the moisture in the surrounding air automatically condensed at his fingertip, forming a crystal-clear water bead that changed shape according to his will—sometimes turning into a sharp Ice Needle, sometimes into a flexible water shield, and sometimes into a harmless mist.

Moisturization, penetration, and endurance.

This was the true essence of Water Spiritual Power.

“Congratulations, disciple. Your Dao Foundation is initially formed, and your Realm is stable.” Lin Yu's voice sounded at the right time, carrying a hint of gratification. “This Breakthrough was perfectly smooth, your Foundation is solid, and your future is promising.”

Su Ming's lips curled slightly as he clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within his body.

“So this is the Middle Stage of Qi Refining...”

Although he had only advanced by one layer, he felt that his current self could defeat ten previous versions of himself.

That power was no longer borrowed, violent energy that could spiral out of control at any moment, but rather a part of himself, completely his own and easily manipulated.

“Master, how are things on your end?” Su Ming did not forget to ask about the person inside the ring.

He had been Cultivating smoothly these past few days, but occasionally he could feel extremely obscure fluctuations emanating from the xuantian ring, indicating that Lin Yu hadn't been idle either.

“Me?”

Lin Yu sighed, his tone carrying a hint of trouble. “It's hard to explain. Your Master here has run into some difficulties regarding the compatibility of the Cultivation Technique.”

Inside the xuantian ring.

Although Lin Yu's Phantom Image was much more solid than before—so much so that his helpless expression was clearly visible—he was currently scratching his head in frustration while facing a floating piece of golden scripture.

It was precisely the True Explanation of Nurturing Spirit.

“Disciple, isn't this strange?” Lin Yu pointed at the scripture. “This Cultivation Technique is remarkably effective. Since I started Cultivating it, my Soul Body has solidified, and I feel refreshed. But when I carefully study the key points, I find peculiarities everywhere.”

“Peculiarities?” Su Ming was puzzled.

“Exactly, many descriptions defy common sense!” Lin Yu spoke as if facing an incomprehensible Heavenly Tome. “Look at this sentence—‘Draw the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth, transform it into an intangible touch, take the Soul as skin, and intent as bone.’ What does this mean? How can the Soul Body be skin? How can intent become bone?”

“And this sentence—‘Disperse to become Qi, gather to form shape, no fixed posture, no constant form, moving with the heart's desire.’ This is simply impossible for the physical structure of the Human Race! Humans have physical bodies, and the Soul is locked within the flesh. If I truly Cultivate according to what it says, dispersing the Soul into Qi, wouldn't I just become a Lonely Ghost?”

Lin Yu grew more agitated as he spoke: “I increasingly believe that this method was not meant for the Human Race at all! The prerequisite Foundation for its cultivation is a type of being that has no physical form and is purely composed of spiritual energy!”

Su Ming's heart stirred.

No physical body... pure energy form... “Master, are you saying...”

“Exactly.” Lin Yu's voice deepened. “I suspect the True Explanation of Nurturing Spirit was prepared for the naturally born ‘Spirit Race’ or some form of energy-based life!”

Su Ming fell silent.

No wonder the Old Man Guarding the Pavilion had said those words back then.

The Dao of the Divine Soul is mysterious and profound. If Lin Yu himself weren't already in a Soul Body state, he would probably have suffered Qi Deviation long ago.

“However...” Lin Yu suddenly changed the subject, his tone becoming strange. “Although the logic is flawed, I just tried to forcibly circulate the ‘Spirit Communication’ chapter within it, and the result... something strange happened.”

“What strange thing?” Su Ming immediately grew alert.

“I sensed... emotions.”

Lin Yu's voice became ethereal, as if recalling an unspeakable experience. “Not my emotions, nor yours. But rather... this ring's.”

Su Ming subconsciously looked down at the xuantian ring on his hand.

This ancient ring had been on his hand for so long, and aside from being able to Store Items and hide his Master, it had always seemed like an inanimate object.

“A ring... has emotions too?”

“Not before, or perhaps they were Sealed. But as my Soul Power increased, especially when I tried to touch it using that ‘non-human’ logic just now...”

Lin Yu took a deep breath. “Disciple, prepare yourself. I'm going to take you... to see a grand spectacle.”

Before his voice faded.

Su Ming felt a sudden heat at the base of his finger.

This time, it was no longer the gentle auxiliary perspective, but an overwhelmingly domineering suction force, directly dragging his Divine Sense and slamming it fiercely toward the depths of the ring!

“Master!” Su Ming was greatly alarmed.

“Don't resist! Follow my guidance! Use the ‘Penetration’ meaning of the Ruoshui Art, and treat yourself as a drop of water!” Lin Yu's shout exploded in his Sea of Consciousness.

Su Ming immediately gave up resisting and instinctively circulated the Cultivation Technique, transforming his Divine Sense into a wisp of gentle water flow, and drilled into the ring following the suction force.