Chapter 134: Body Refining 13th Layer
As Xiang Yu returned to the spirit vein, he wasted no time and began his practice. With time growing short, he decided against focusing too heavily on talisman making, which had already reached an impressive level. Instead, he crafted just a handful of talismans to accumulate some experience points—enough to ensure the system wouldn’t double nothing during the upcoming reset.
His attention then shifted entirely to formation making. Having reached exactly one hundred points, he needed just fifty more to breakthrough to the next stage. This advancement would grant him the ability to craft formations capable of defending against Golden Core cultivators and even launching attacks powerful enough to threaten Nascent Soul experts.
Though his fingers itched to attempt crafting the upgraded sixth-grade explosion talisman, that project would have to wait. Following his earlier decision, Xiang Yu concentrated his efforts on refining attacking formations. By the time dinner approached, he had managed—with considerable effort—to create two complete attacking formations.
Satisfied with his progress, he left the spirit vein and headed to prepare the evening meal. This time, his martial aunt was present, allowing all three of them to dine together. Despite the apparent normalcy, Xiang Yu couldn’t help but notice the tension between his master and martial aunt.
"Martial nephew, you truly are a genius," Elder Huang remarked. "Your formations are exceptionally impressive."
Xiang Yu acknowledged the compliment with a modest smile. "Actually, I have two more," he said, retrieving additional formation disks from his spatial ring. "Would you help me set them up?"
Elder Huang’s initial surprise quickly gave way to delight. "Of course," she agreed readily, thinking to herself that Xiang Yu’s cautious nature was truly commendable. The additional formations would further strengthen the sect’s defenses.
"Also, take these," Xiang Yu continued, producing a substantial stack of talismans from his ring. He divided them into two equal portions, extending his hands toward both elders. "For both of you."
"Thank you," Elder Huang responded graciously, swiftly slapping away Elder Guo’s hand as it reached for the talismans. She turned toward him with a pointed look. "Aren’t you going to thank the Grand Elder?" she prompted, her tone leaving little room for refusal.
"No need!" Xiang Yu interjected hastily, rising from his seat. He wanted nothing to do with the obvious conflict between these two. In his mind, he hoped the special pills he had given Elder Guo would help resolve whatever issue had developed between them. Before departing, he offered his master a wink.
Back at the spirit spring, Xiang Yu fell into his now-familiar routine. He removed his outer robes and submerged himself in the shimmering waters.
As he prepared to release the bloodlines, different anxiety gripped him—not fear of the impending pain, which had become almost routine, but concern over Li Yao’s absence from the sect.
He took several deep breaths, reassuring himself that nothing catastrophic would happen. His martial aunt had already established the protective and attacking formations, with two more to be added today. The sect should be adequately defended.
Having calmed his racing thoughts, Xiang Yu steeled his resolve and finally released control over his bloodlines, bracing himself for the now-familiar agony that would follow.
...
[Body Refining: 12th Layer (7000/12,000) (+1000/12,000)]
[Qi Gathering: 9th Layer (200/900) (+200/900)]
[Mind: Level 5 (600/5000) (+120/5000)]
[Soul: Infant (200/100,000) (+40/100,000)]
[Spiritual Root: Medium-Grade Omni-Element (160/2000)]
[Transcendent Dao Body: Level 1 (2230/1,000,000) (+10/1,000,000)]
[Chaos Body: Level 1 (1550/10,000) (+50/10,000)]
[Bloodline: Dragon, Phoenix: Common Blood (300/2000) (+100/2000)]
[Enlightenment: Superior (1180/4000) (+60/4000)]
[Spirit Flame: Abyssal Void Flame: 5th Grade (150/50,000) (+10/50,000)]
[High-grade Lightning Strike & Palm: Minor Success (40/200)]
[High-grade Fire Palm: Intermediate (100/300)]
[High-grade Water, Wood, Earth, Metal Palm: Minor Success (144/200)]
[High-grade Ice, Wind, Light, Dark Palm: Minor Success (10/200)]
[Cook: 3rd Grade (90/700) (+30/700)]
[Appraiser: 5th Grade (100/500) (+100/500)]
[Talisman Maker: 6th Grade (10/400) (+10/400)]
[Alchemist, Formation Master, Blacksmith: 7th Grade (150/300) (+50/300)]
[Farmer: 9th Grade (10/100) (+10/100)]
[Experience Points Doubled]
[Farmer: 9th Grade (10/100) -> (20/100)]
[Alchemist, Formation Master, Blacksmith: 7th Grade (150/300) → 6th Grade (0/400)]
[Talisman Maker: 6th Grade (10/400) → 6th Grade (20/400)]
[Appraiser: 5th Grade (100/500) → 5th Grade (200/500)]
[Cook: 3rd Grade (90/700) → 3rd Grade (180/700)]
[High-grade Ice, Wind, Light, Dark Palm: Minor Success (10/200) → Minor Success (20/200)]
[High-grade Water, Wood, Earth, Metal Palm: Minor Success (144/200) → Intermediate (0/300)]
[High-grade Fire Palm: Intermediate (100/300) → Intermediate (200/300)]
[High-grade Lightning Strike & Palm: Minor Success (40/200) → Minor Success (80/200)]
[Spirit Flame: Abyssal Void Flame: 5th Grade (150/50,000) → 5th Grade (300/50,000)]
[Enlightenment: Superior (1180/4000) → Superior (2360/4000)]
[Bloodline: Dragon, Phoenix: Common Blood (300/2000) → Common Blood (600/2000)]
[Chaos Body: Level 1 (1550/10,000) → Level 1 (3100/10,000)]
[Transcendent Dao Body: Level 1 (2230/1,000,000) → Level 1 (4460/1,000,000)]
[Spiritual Root: Medium-Grade Omni-Element (160/2000) → Medium (320/2000)]
[Soul: Infant (200/100,000) -> Infant (400/100,000)]
[Mind: Level 5 (600/5000) → Level 5 (1200/5000)]
[Qi Gathering: 9th Layer (200/900) → 9th Layer (400/900)]
[Body Refining: 12th Layer (7000/12,000) → 13th Layer (0/13,000)]
...
Xiang Yu felt the transformation ripple through his being as he broke through to the thirteenth layer of body refining. Power surged within him, his strength climbing to unprecedented heights. Even after the initial burst of energy settled, he could feel his physical prowess continuing to strengthen in the background, albeit a little slower.
He marveled silently at the true impressiveness of body refining cultivation. With his current physical strength alone—even without factoring in his qi capabilities—he felt confident he wouldn’t lose in a rematch against the Core Formation expert he had previously defeated. Despite this confidence, Xiang Yu harbored no intention of testing this theory. Unnecessary combat remained firmly against his survival-focused philosophy.
His qi cultivation had broken through to the ninth stage during the bloodline stimulation session. After the system’s doubling effect, he had gained four hundred points total. At this rate, he felt certain he could breakthrough to the tenth layer after the next reset, provided he maintained his current practice regimen. The prospect filled him with quiet satisfaction.
Following the doubling of his spiritual root points, Xiang Yu had begun noticing subtle changes in his qi absorption efficiency. Though the improvement remained too nascent to quantify precisely, he could feel the difference in how energy flowed into his meridians—smoother, with less resistance than before.
His enlightenment had made remarkable progress as well, already passing the halfway point. Just one more reset, and it would breakthrough to the next stage—a development he anticipated eagerly.
Most of his techniques advanced at their usual pace, with the fire palm technique being the only notable exception. It had already passed the halfway point and would likely breakthrough to the Major Success realm after the next reset.
Among his professional skills, cooking had increased by more points than usual, though Xiang Yu recognized this as a temporary boost—the result of preparing a third-grade spirit meal for Li Yao and packing her an entire week’s worth of dishes.
His talisman making had gained only ten points due to his deliberate shift in focus, but this didn’t concern him. Today, he would finally craft some sixth-grade talismans, a prospect that stirred genuine excitement within him.
His remaining professions—alchemy, formations, and blacksmithing—had all broken through to the sixth grade. Each advancement brought with it a flood of insights about these higher-level crafting techniques, expanding his capabilities exponentially.
After reviewing his daily progress, Xiang Yu closed the system screen with a sense of accomplishment. His advancement truly impressed even himself, exceeding the already ambitious expectations he had set.
The only aspect that left him somewhat dissatisfied was his qi refining progress. Though objectively rapid by any normal standard, he couldn’t help feeling it still lagged behind his other attributes. At this rate, he might achieve invincibility while still technically remaining at the qi refining realm—not that this particularly troubled him.
With a slight shake of his head, Xiang Yu dismissed these thoughts as he stepped into his spiritual sea.