C20 Divine Pearl Technique

Meng Fann sprang to his feet and quickly helped Xinlan to stand. He examined her closely and noticed her body exuded an icy chill, her Cold Qi seemingly heavier than before.

"Why has it worsened again?" he asked.

Xinlan lifted her head, offering a weak smile tinged with a trace of blood. "It's nothing serious. I've probably just worn myself out gathering herbs lately," she said softly.

Meng Fann paused, then it dawned on him that he had been neglectful. While he was engrossed in his rigorous training, Xinlan had been tirelessly collecting herbs near Yanlang Mountain to trade for gold coins. Her early departures and late returns must have been exhausting.

A Rank 2 Spirit Herb might temporarily alleviate Xinlan's injuries, but the Cold Qi had lingered in her body for too long, seeping into her very marrow. Only a true Spirit Herb could relieve her ongoing struggle with the cold affliction.

With this realization, Meng Fann clenched his jaw and declared with conviction, "Rest assured, I'll secure the blood stone by winning first place in the Clans Tournament. I promise you, I'll get it."

Seeing the resolute expression on Meng Fann's youthful face, Xinlan offered words of comfort, "I'm eager to see you shine."

Despite her doubts, what parent doesn't yearn for their child's success? Meng Fann's pledge alone brought joy to Xinlan's heart.

After escorting Xinlan to her room, Meng Fann retreated to his own. He was acutely aware of the weight of his responsibilities and the daunting prospect of standing out in the Clans Tournament, let alone surpassing everyone. His progress had been significant, yet formidable opponents like Lei Hu and Lei Bao, both at Body Refining Level 7, loomed large in the competition.

And then there was Gu Qing, the prodigy of Wu Town, with her formidable strength.

Mulling over these challenges, Meng Fann couldn't help but chuckle ruefully. His odds of claiming victory were slim. He took out the black bead, intent on healing his body. As his palm shifted, he froze. Bathed in moonlight, the bead, as inert as stone, suddenly revealed a concentrated glow at its core, a light that refused to scatter.

Meng Fann furrowed his brow, eyeing the black bead with a mix of curiosity and confusion. The origins and true nature of the bead had always eluded him. Gently, he grasped the bead, channeling his Vitality to probe its inner mysteries.

As Vitality swirled around the bead, Meng Fann's expression shifted dramatically, as though he had been struck. A surge of enigmatic energy flowed into his mind, the pain so intense he nearly lost consciousness.

His face contorted with the agony, and it took some time before Meng Fann regained his composure. He massaged his eyes, the echoes of a voice still resonating in his thoughts.

The previous ordeal made Meng Fann hesitant to interact with the bead again. Yet, as he held it, a distinct mark made itself known in his mind, accompanied by a voice that seemed to emanate from within.

"Young master, save me. I can only speak to you this once with the energy I have left. You will be able to converse with me only once you have formed the Sea of Consciousness. This mark is my gift to you; keep it, and it will serve you well."

The voice belonged to a woman, melodious yet intermittent, as if fading in and out of existence. Meng Fann began to doubt whether the encounter was real or merely a figment of his imagination.

The black bead had spoken.

When Meng Fann tried to connect with the bead using his Vitality once more, he found the communication severed.

Pondering deeply, Meng Fann considered the possibilities. If it had been a mere illusion, why did his head still throb with pain? But if it was real, then the bead must hold a secret, perhaps even harboring a living presence within.

The realization dawned on him that his inability to sense the bead was simply a matter of his own insufficient strength. As the voice had indicated, only those with true mental energy, who had entered the Qi Refining Stage, could establish a connection.

Mental energy was not foreign to ordinary people, but even for a Body Refining vitality cultivator, it was just the beginning. To wield mental energy effectively, one must reach the Qi Refining Stage and form the Sea of Consciousness, crossing the threshold into the realm of mental power.

Meng Fann knew that the continent was home to many who had honed their Vitality into formidable strength, yet those truly adept in the arts of mental energy were a rare breed indeed.

Upon breaking through the Body Refining realm, one would unlock a Sea of Consciousness within their mind, enabling the storage of faint mental energy. This marked the distinction between the Body Refining and Qi Refining stages.

With the Sea of Consciousness established, one could sense all changes within a hundred meters, greatly aiding both cultivation and combat.

Meng Fann, intent on communicating with the voice inside the black bead, knew he had to advance to the Qi Refining Stage. Lost in contemplation, he suddenly furrowed his brow; it felt as though an extra presence had emerged in his mind—a mark left by the black bead.

Stifling his astonishment, Meng Fann concentrated on the mental imprint. It was like a seed that, upon contact with his Sea of Consciousness, sent a jolt through his body as a flood of information merged with his mind.

The mark on Meng Fann's back, a mere symbol, was more than his mental energy could fully embrace. Yet, the mere glimpse of its effect instilled in him a profound reverence. Before this mark, he felt insignificant, less than an ant, and in a flash, his mental energy was repelled.

Opening his eyes, Meng Fann realized he was drenched in a cold sweat that soaked his clothes. With a frown, the knowledge within his mind began to unfold before his eyes.

The art of Body Refining, Refined Pattern Steel.