C19 Middle Period of the Source Tempering

High above in the distant heavens, a lone figure with a sword stood atop a mountain peak. His deep eyes were devoid of emotion, yet brimming with an overwhelming killing intent. This image seemed to be ingrained in Zhou Ming's very bloodline, erupting tumultuously and expanding across his mind as soon as the killing intent was triggered.

Within Zhou Ming's consciousness, a mass of infinite killing intent boiled and bubbled like frenzied water.

"How dare you!"

Red emerged from the shadows, gripping a long spear in her hand, and thrust it toward the malevolent aura!

The spear's tip blazed with a chilling light, transforming into innumerable spear shadows. The shadows pierced through the killing intent, both dissipating simultaneously.

After throwing a punch, the killing intent within Zhou Ming began to subside. The image that had just unfolded lingered in his mind, refusing to be forgotten. Once he regained his composure, he noticed Ming Shuang nearby. Pushing off with his feet, he blurred into a shadowy afterimage and unleashed a palm strike.

Ming Shuang was no saint. Her cunning ran deep, and her recent attack was even more vicious than Guan Shikun's. Had Zhou Ming not been in the Dream Fulfilled state, he might well have been reduced to a half-dead carcass by now. There was no reasoning with someone like her; the only option was to fight back.

"Pa! Pa! Pa!"

Three successive palm strikes hit Ming Shuang, who then managed to twist her body and evade Zhou Ming's fourth strike.

Multi-Dimensional Palm Strike: An intermediate attack skill that strikes the enemy from various angles, yielding better results when synchronized with footwork. When multiple palms strike simultaneously, they can produce a devastating critical hit.

Zhou Ming shifted his position thrice, and the force of his three palm strikes collided within Ming Shuang's body, inflicting severe damage.

Ming Shuang's throat turned sweet as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She had been momentarily paralyzed by Zhou Ming's fierce killing intent. She recognized that Zhou Ming was inexperienced in combat; had it not been for her brief lapse in concentration, he might not have been able to touch her.

Upon seeing Ming Shuang wounded, Zhou Ming chose not to press the attack. Instead, he retreated swiftly, disappearing into the grassland.

"Don't chase him, return to the Watchtower."

Ming Shuang clutched her chest and instructed the few Origin Guardians.

The remaining Origin Guardians didn't dare pursue Zhou Ming, a man so dangerous they were grateful just to be alive. They hoisted Guan Shikun into the vehicle and made a hasty retreat in disarray.

The effects of Dream Fulfilled had long since worn off, and Zhou Ming was running tirelessly across the grassland. The skill not only had side effects but was also incredibly draining. He was mentally fatigued and longed to lie down and sleep right there. Yet, without a prompt from the system, the mission was clearly incomplete, and sleep was not an option. He needed to find a relatively safe place to rest; otherwise, being found by the Watchtower's forces would mean the end of the line.

As the sky grew overcast, chilly raindrops began to fall, quickly escalating into a downpour. Soaked to the skin, Zhou Ming trudged through the mud, his steps growing heavier with each stride.

I can't keep going; I've hit my limit. As the thought crossed his mind, Zhou Ming's foot slipped, and he tumbled into a mud pit. Lying there, he let the rain wash over him. The pain from his injuries kept him faintly conscious.

'Is my fate really my own to control?' Zhou Ming wondered why he would utter such an adolescent phrase. He gave a wry smile as darkness crept into his vision, and he finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep.

The Watchtower stood imposingly at the heart of Brohebis, its vast grounds and distinctive architectural style resembling a fortress. The enormous Sword Shield emblem was affixed above the Watchtower, soaring into the clouds.

In the expansive lounge, a middle-aged man stood before the luminous floor-to-ceiling window, hands clasped behind him, gazing intently at the view outside.

"General Ming, Ming Shuang has a report for you."

A stern woman stood rigidly outside the lounge.

Minghe's brow furrowed. He loathed interruptions during his downtime. His voice carried an authoritative tone, "What's the matter? Speak."

"General Ming, here's the situation..."

Ming Shuang recounted the details of Zhou Ming's ordeal. After listening, Minghe paced thoughtfully for a few moments, then fell into a contemplative silence.

Ming Shuang noticed Minghe's furrowed brow remained long after he had finished listening. She ventured cautiously, "General Ming?"

Could an ordinary recluse suddenly become an Essence Weaver, possessing a unique ability? A thought struck Minghe, and he addressed Ming Shuang, "You've done well this time. I'm granting you the authority to mobilize all resources. Find Zhou Ming. Alive, I want to see him in person; dead, I want his body."

"Yes, sir."

Ming Shuang withdrew, her keen observations of Minghe revealing the fleeting excitement in his eyes—a detail she did not miss. She found herself curious about Zhou Ming's identity that could compel Minghe to exercise such authority.

Minghe's hands, concealed behind him, began to quiver. Eight long years had passed, and now they dared to emerge? This time, Zhou Ming would not slip away. A harsh look crossed Minghe's face, only to be swiftly concealed once more.

Zhou Ming awoke to find night had fallen. He struggled out of the mud pit, disoriented and unsure of his location, but certain he was still within Brohebis.

The Watchtower, situated at the heart of Brohebis, meant that its guards would lead him towards the center. Given Brohebis's vastness, the idea of leaving on foot was laughably impossible.

His phone, ruined by the rain, left him without navigation, forcing him to trust his instincts and choose a direction in the pitch dark. Without any light, discerning his surroundings was a challenge.

He recalled the cultivation novels from his past life on Earth, where protagonists could infuse their eyes with spiritual energy to gain night vision and perceive the ethereal. Regrettably, when he naively channeled Primal Essence towards his eyes, it resulted in nothing but discomfort and swelling. Such novels, he mused, led many astray.

Wait—was that light? Spotting a dim glow ahead, Zhou Ming didn't hesitate and dashed towards it.

A straight highway stretched out before Zhou Ming, catching his eye. He glanced at the road sign and bolted toward the narrow path alongside the highway.

Zhou Ming raced forward, his body moving at a breakneck pace, almost as if he were sprinting fifty meters at a time. Instinctively, he channeled the Primal Essence, guiding it through the pathways outlined by the energy circulation diagram within him.

The Primal Essence in the vicinity was drawn to Zhou Ming, invigorating every limb and cell as they seemed to cheer and breathe. A wind pressure formed on either side of him, almost as though it were trying to lift him off the ground.

Pop! It was like the sound of a cork being released, resonating from within him. On Zhou Ming's attribute panel, the body level category shifted from "early period of Source Tempering" to "middle period of Source Tempering."

Zhou Ming felt a surge of power throughout his body, his mind sharpening remarkably. His injuries, both internal and external, began to heal, and a profound sense of exhilaration welled up inside him. Was this what a breakthrough in cultivation felt like? It was no surprise that so many aspired to become Essence Weavers; the sensation of breaking free from one's fetters was indeed mesmerizing.

After some time, Zhou Ming came to a halt near a highway checkpoint. He was certain that the Watchtower wouldn't let things slide and that they might have already issued a warrant for him across Brohebis. For safety's sake, he decided to disable the checkpoint's surveillance first.

Concealed in a blind spot out of the cameras' view, Zhou Ming picked up a few pebbles. Channeling Primal Essence into his hand, he flicked his fingers.

Crack!

The stone embedded itself in one of the cameras.

With a flurry of movements, Zhou Ming took out all the cameras. He then stealthily knocked out the checkpoint staff. It was a good thing Essence Weavers disdained such menial checkpoint duties, or he would have been in for another tough battle.

Having fully disabled the checkpoint and shut down all nearby surveillance, Zhou Ming settled in front of a computer, his fingers rapidly dancing across the keyboard. It was time to show them the might of a keyboard warrior... the prowess of a hacker.