C19 Soulflower Seed

"Don't hesitate; seize the moment and absorb the wakan. Now is the perfect opportunity for your Spirit Domain to expand."

Before Ning Que could even begin to feel elated, Ling Jing's voice rang out again. Heeding the advice, Ning Que no longer wallowed in the comfortable sensation. Instead, he concentrated his mind and began to voraciously absorb the wakan drifting around him.

An observer would have seen a dramatic scene above Ning Que's location: the wandering wakan was being pulled in rapidly, creating a ferocious vortex. His body, like that of someone parched for days, frantically drew the wakan into itself.

With the wakan's infusion, his Spirit Domain was stretched and expanded to accommodate the influx, and it continued to grow.

Only when his Spirit Domain had more than doubled in size did the pace of absorption and expansion begin to slow. Just as Ning Que was about to ease up, the Abyssal Ring on his hand underwent a sudden transformation.

A streak of green light flashed by, and Ning Que watched in horror as a small green dot traveled up his arm and shot towards his abdomen with lightning speed.

"Ling Jing, what's happening?"

Ning Que, in a state of panic, tried to channel his wakan to fend off the green dot's invasion, but to no avail.

Ling Jing's face was etched with concern. He, too, had sensed the anomaly immediately and watched as the light dot relentlessly assailed Ning Que's Spirit Domain, attempting to help but failing to make any difference.

"It's the woman from the sarcophagus; I can't withstand it either."

Ling Jing sighed in resignation and shook his head slightly.

Upon hearing this, a sense of hopelessness washed over Ning Que. He hadn't anticipated the danger to manifest so swiftly and could only watch helplessly as the green light punctured the wakan's barrier and penetrated his Spirit Domain.

In that instant, Ning Que's entire Spirit Domain seemed to seize up; the flow of wakan came to an abrupt halt, followed by an overwhelming force of devouring that targeted the accumulated wakan within his Spirit Domain.

In almost no time at all, the wakan within Ning Que's Spirit Domain was ravaged by the green light. The frenzied consumption didn't cease there; it began to assail the wakan lingering in the meridians throughout Ning Que's body.

This is the end.

Ning Que's thoughts darkened as he witnessed the formidable devouring force traverse his meridians, savagely battering them and leaving a trail of damage. The excruciating pain that radiated from his entire body was a hundredfold more intense than any he had felt before. His mind thundered, and he nearly lost consciousness in a flash.

Ling Jing, standing nearby, approached with concern and examined Ning Que's internal condition, visibly startled by what he found.

"The damage to the meridians is far too severe. Repairing them will be difficult, very difficult indeed."

As the devouring force ceased, a shiver ran through Ling Jing. Such an injury was akin to the ultimate devastation for a cultivator.

With meridians destroyed, no amount of talent could ever reconcile one with the path of cultivation.

Watching over the unconscious Ning Que, Ling Jing couldn't help but shake his head, torn between pity for Ning Que and regret over potentially losing his sole beacon of hope.

The green light had devoured all the wakan within Ning Que, settling contentedly at the heart of the Spirit Domain. It pulsed with a serene glow, then sprouted green, root-like tendrils that slowly snaked along Ning Que's meridians, spreading throughout. In a short time, it had infiltrated all of Ning Que's meridians. With a quiver of green light, an extraordinary force radiated from the tendrils, initiating the gradual healing of the affected meridians.

Ling Jing, intently monitoring the developments within Ning Que, saw his face transform with astonishment as he murmured to himself, "Could this be... the Soulflower?"

As Ning Que emerged from his agonizing stupor, the first thing he noticed was Ling Jing's bewildered and fearful expression.

"Ling Jing, what's happening?"

Feeling the restorative energy from the green tendrils, Ning Que was at a loss but sensed that perhaps the situation wasn't as dire as it seemed.

"Is this a stroke of luck or a disaster in disguise?"

After a moment of contemplation, Ling Jing sighed deeply, "If I'm not mistaken, that green light in your Spirit Domain is likely the seed of the Soulflower."

"The Soulflower?"

Ning Que was taken aback, the name resonating with him. It was an eerie plant that had caught his eye only briefly, yet it had ensnared him in an unyielding pressure, leaving him immobilized. That bizarre sensation was unforgettable.

"This is merely speculation, but it's probably accurate. Possessing the Soulflower could be immensely advantageous for you. However, the peril I spoke of is tied to the woman in the sarcophagus."

Ling Jing elaborated, "By bestowing such a tremendous gift upon you, the ties of karma between you and her will only grow stronger. It's impossible to predict the complications that may arise in the future."

"So, she's aiding me?"

Ning Que scratched his head, feeling as though he was in a dream.

He racked his brain but couldn't understand why the woman in red from the sarcophagus treated him so differently. She had spared him any trouble in the minor realm, and now, during his breakthrough, she had even transferred the Soulflower seed into his body.

"That's one way to put it. But remember, there are no free lunches in this world. I fear you might have to repay this kindness a hundredfold someday."

Ling Jing let out a sigh, his expression slightly uneasy.

He himself had once suffered greatly because of the Soulflower, ending up with nothing but his soul remaining, while his dear friends lost their very lives. Witnessing Ning Que's fortune in acquiring the Soulflower so effortlessly filled him with deep emotion.

"As for the future, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Ling Jing, you surely know a great deal about the Soulflower. Could you share its benefits with me?"

Ning Que harbored some concerns, yet the woman in red had only shown him kindness so far. He couldn't let the fear of future troubles stop him from continuing his cultivation.

"The Soulflower is not only a rare bloom that can elevate a cultivator's rank, but it also refines the wakan within, purifying it. As a result, your Spirit Domain can hold even more spiritual power," Ling Jing explained softly. "For instance, without it, your wakan might deplete in half an hour, but with the Soulflower, you could sustain the same level of power for a full hour."

"Moreover, this refined wakan will accelerate the tempering of your physical body."

"If your peers have less wakan and weaker bodies compared to yours, wouldn't you say that's an extraordinary advantage?"

Ning Que was speechless for a moment, then his face lit up with a wild joy.

"Hahaha, fantastic! I thought I was a goner, but it turns out I've stumbled upon an incredible stroke of luck."

Ning Que couldn't contain his laughter, filling the room with his joyous outburst, his heart swelling with elation.

"You sure are an optimist."

Ling Jing, observing Ning Que's demeanor, gently shook his head, his mood lifted by the infectious cheerfulness, and decided not to dwell on it any further.

Fortune and misfortune are two sides of the same coin. To seize a great opportunity, one must be willing to face the risks that come with it.

"However, within your Spirit Domain, there's still only a seed. If you're aiming for the advantages I mentioned earlier, you'll need to intensify your training. Only with sufficient wakan can the Soulflower grow, and that's no small feat."

Ning Que nodded in agreement, taking a moment to assess his condition. He found that his already robust meridians had become even more resilient and expansive, a discovery that once again filled him with immense joy.

As the wakan was absorbed, the circulation within his meridians reestablished itself, with the Soulflower seed now at its core. Thankfully, this time the Soulflower seed hadn't consumed all the wakan, leaving some to ensure the circulation remained stable.

"To reach the level of a one-star Soul Apprentice, many spend years in cultivation. You've done exceptionally well."

Ling Jing, watching Ning Que's delighted face, offered his commendation. Even with his vast experience, Ning Que's extraordinary pace of cultivation impressed him deeply.

Hearing this, Ning Que's grip tightened into fists, his excitement palpable.

Having finally achieved the one-star Soul Apprentice status, he felt a renewed surge of confidence in his path ahead.

"Ling Jing, it's about time you revealed that advanced cultivation technique you mentioned."

To grow stronger, both talent and dedication are essential, but they alone are not enough. Possessing an advanced cultivation technique is crucial to truly smooth the path of one's training.

"I expected you'd bring that up, and I've come prepared."

Ling Jing's lips curved into a slight smile, and with a flick of his wrist, two ancient jade slips materialized in his hand.

"As I've mentioned before, I've prepared two techniques for you. One is the 'Thrusting Wave Technique', an intermediate Earth-rank technique that I've mastered myself. Should you choose it, you'll undoubtedly be able to advance to the Soul Emperor realm with ease."

"What about the other option?"

Ning Que inquired, understanding the significance of choosing the right cultivation technique.

"The other is an intermediate Yellow-rank cultivation technique called 'Ocean's Embrace'," Ling Jing replied, somewhat reluctantly and in a subdued tone.

"Just Yellow-rank?"

Ning Que was incredulous. Was Ling Jing pulling his leg? With one technique being Earth-rank and the other Yellow-rank, it was obvious which one any sensible person would choose.

"Don't rush to judgment. 'Ocean's Embrace,' while only an intermediate Yellow-rank technique, is in some ways superior to my 'Thrusting Wave Technique'."

"How so?"

Ning Que's interest was piqued. A Yellow-rank technique being compared to an Earth-rank one must certainly have unique qualities.

"The exceptional aspect of this technique is that it can be advanced," Ling Jing explained earnestly. "Typically, the rank of a technique is static, but 'Ocean's Embrace' can ascend in rank by absorbing water-type spiritual things, and there's no ceiling to its potential."

"Hiss..."

Ning Que gasped. This technique was not merely unique; it was extraordinary.

A technique that could advance in rank without limit was a formidable concept.

Did that mean, with enough water-type spiritual things, this technique could rise to Earth Grade, Heaven Grade, or even surpass Heaven Grade?

Ning Que dared not contemplate further. If word of this technique were to spread, it would surely ignite a fierce battle among the elite powers of the Aetheria Continent, unleashing chaos and bloodshed.