C13 Change

Moreover, Xu Tianzhi's body was riddled with dark spots, similar to acupoints, but these were dimmer and did not align with any known acupoints. Instead, they corresponded to areas of pain on his body. Suddenly, a gentle force emerged at the heart of Xu Tianzhi, nurturing these shadowy regions. As the force worked its magic, the once-dark areas visibly brightened, no longer shrouded in darkness. Concurrently, Xu Tianzhi could distinctly feel his injuries healing at an astonishing rate.

"What in the world is happening?" Xu Tianzhi exclaimed in astonishment.

"What are those two layers of light that fused into my eyes? It's as if their power allows me to perceive the true nature of everything. And there's more to it!" Xu Tianzhi pondered aloud. As he spoke, an energy within him began to flow.

He observed a faint force in his dantian, moving rhythmically. He recognized it as the spiritual energy from his spiritual realm, circulating through his body, growing stronger with each pass. Yet, as it intensified, it also faded, vanishing into his flesh and blood.

"This is my spiritual energy, but why does it keep dissipating? Why is my body absorbing it so voraciously? Could this be the underlying reason I've been unable to advance to the Body Quenching Stage?" Xu Tianzhi questioned himself.

Indeed, Xu Tianzhi had long been puzzled by his body and innate talent. What was the issue? The Body Quenching Stage, merely the foundational level of cultivation, wasn't even considered true cultivation. Yet, he had been stuck at this stage for over a decade, which was beyond belief.

Consider that in thirteen years, even the most average individual should have progressed, but he hadn't. Despite having access to an abundance of resources for thirteen years, thanks to his mastery of array formations—enough resources that even a pig could have made a breakthrough after consuming them—he hadn't. He had even ingested a solid body pill recently, but still, no breakthrough. It defied all reason!

At that moment, Xu Tianzhi finally grasped the critical issue at hand. His body was relentlessly consuming the spiritual energy within, and without an ample supply, breaking through to the next stage was impossible. Worse still, if he ceased his cultivation, the consumption would persist, potentially causing his realm to plummet instead of advancing.

The thought sent a chill down Xu Tianzhi's spine. If things turned out that way, his life would be more than just challenging; he wasn't even sure if he could survive. This was no sect with its generous support system.

Moreover, he had recently been the target of an attack, likely orchestrated by someone with influence.

His body, slightly more resilient than an average person due to his agility, could withstand such assaults. A severe beating would incapacitate him for days, but if his realm fell, the next beating could be fatal.

Despite being a sect apprentice, these aggressors had dared to strike, confident in their powerful backers. If Xu Tianzhi were killed, they would likely face no repercussions. And even if the lackeys were punished, what good would that do?

"No, I cannot die. I absolutely cannot end like this!" Xu Tianzhi internally screamed. His rebirth had not come easily, nor had the family he now cherished. His death would not only affect him but could drag his family into disaster.

Without the sect's protection, the Xu family's prospects were bleak.

But how to resolve this dilemma? The clearer the reality became, the more his heart raced with fear.

"No, I refuse to let this happen. I must break through. I must become a force to be reckoned with!" Xu Tianzhi resolved with fierce determination.

Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming weakness wash over him, his eyes stinging painfully before his body swayed and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

The injuries he had sustained were severe; he was told it would take at least ten days of bed rest to recover. Although his body had begun to heal, the toll it took was substantial.

Unbeknownst to Xu Tianzhi, as he lay unconscious, a soft glow began to emanate from his body. The energy that had been contained within the light film now meandered through his system. This energy seemed to ignite countless minuscule forces within him, causing his body to radiate a gentle luminescence that grew increasingly intense until it enveloped his entire being.

However, the surge of power was fleeting, quickly retracting as though his body was reabsorbing it once more.