Boom! 

 

The Spiritual Body Analyzer exploded in her hand and Meng Lin jerked backward, crystals clattering to the floor as her connection to it severed. 

 

Her eyes snapped open, breath coming in ragged gasps, her heart hammering against her ribs with an intensity like never before.

 

Xiao Jin chirped in alarm, golden light flaring around his tiny form as he leaped from her lap, circling her head in anxious loops.

 

Meng Lin pressed one hand against her chest, feeling the wild rhythm of her heart beneath her palm. The image of those eyes burned within her mind.

 

She forced her breathing to slow, drawing upon the remaining calm from the Spirit Nourishing Pill. 

 

There was a figure in her Brute Qi—no larger than a grain of sand, 'what was that, could it be the manifestation of the Brute qi itself or the source.'

 

'But it had opened its eyes. Could it have been the voice that talked to me within the void space, but then why did it not talk to her the first time she was in there.'

 

'Was it because of the Narscent Soul Core integrating the Brute qi at the center, is it perhaps alive.'

 

Meng Lin frowned, her mind a mess, her fingers finding once more, it's warmth soothing her. She settled him back into her lap. The little silkworm's luminescence gradually dimmed as he sensed her returning equilibrium.

 

She began to ponder with a calmer mind, coming up with multiple possibilities. First, was she born with it. Second, did someone else plant it within her. Third, if its figure represented an aspect of her own soul—perhaps an entity born from the unique convergence of her Brute qi within her Narscent Soul Core.

 

 She began to think, using the system as a reference. If it was detrimental to her then the system would have noticed it and either write its existence in the system menu or write a recommendation in the system market.

 

The fact that it had not appeared when she first died could mean that it either hadn't formed at that time or it required a longer time within the void space to appear.

 

The first and third hypothesis offered the most comfort, yet felt the least likely. For it to be an aspect of her soul she had to have some kind of connection to it, yet she felt it was completely alien.

 

 The second hypothesis was the most likely. However since she had never once tried to look within her brute qi she couldn't be completely sure.

 

Plus, her master had never mentioned anything similar. Although their physiques differed, there should still be enough similarities that such a thing would have been worth mentioning.

 

So that can only mean someone else put it there.

 

Meng Lin's jaw tightened. If that were true, then it really seems like she was dancing in the palm of Buddha, except she doesn't even know who the budda is at this point.

 

She doesn't know what will happen if she leaves it like that, but she also doesn't know what will happen if she moves forward like that, she either needs to understand her own brute qi or find a backup just in case.

 

Meng Lin slowly exhaled.

 

Speculation was meaningless without evidence.

 

No matter how many conclusions she reached, none of them would change the fact that she currently knew almost nothing about the tiny figure within her Brute Qi.

 

The only thing she could do was prepare, luckily within the system Market there was a bunch of items that can seal or extract foreign spirits or material from the body.

 

Plus there was the Royal Pulse, even though it was sealed, it seemed to be the perfect counter to anything.

 

[Royal Pulse: Domain] (locked)  

 

[While active, a silent domain forms around you. Within this boundary, all external influences—be they spiritual force, elemental Qi, divine will, or spatial interference—are nullified. Nothing from outside can enter, affect, or perceive the space within.]

 

Meng Lin stared at the description for several moments. Then she sighed.

 

A long, suffering sigh. "Why did that guy have to seal it?"

 

The more she looked at the description, the more frustrated she became. It wasn't even some offensive ability, and it wasn't some heaven-defying killing move.

 

It was practically the perfect defensive measure. Something unknown hiding in her Brute Qi? Royal Pulse.

 

Someone trying to possess her? Royal Pulse. Some ancient remnant awakening inside her? Royal Pulse.

 

Some terrifying expert attempting to influence her from across realms? Royal Pulse. The description practically screamed that it existed specifically to deal with situations exactly like the one she currently found herself in.

 

Yet it remained sealed. Mocking her.

 

Worse still, she had barely even used it. The man had acted as though she was some child playing with a loaded crossbow and immediately slapped a seal on it before she could properly understand what it did.

 

Meng Lin rubbed her temples. At the time she had been too weak to resist, and now she was still too weak to break the seal.

 

A truly irritating situation. "If I ever meet him again..."

 

She paused. Then she shook her head.

 

No. She probably wouldn't do anything.

 

The man had clearly not been trying to harm her, however that didn't stop her from being annoyed.

 

Meng Lin frowned. The thought lingered briefly before she pushed it aside.

 

She was falling into speculation again. That path led nowhere.

 

For now, the figure had done nothing. The System had issued no warnings, and her cultivation remained stable.

 

Her Brute Qi remained under control. Everything was functioning normally.

 

As annoying as it was, the correct choice was patience. Eventually she would become strong enough to investigate safely.

 

"System"

 

"Meng Lin]

 

[Nascent Soul Realm (Early)]

 

[Experience Points: 95.9%]

 

[System Coin: 171,830]

 

[Immortal Jade: 106]

 

[Taoist Gacha Wheel: 1]

 

[Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth]]

 

Elemental Qi: [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold 20%] [Wind 2%]

 

[Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Ice 30%] [Lightning] [Shadow]]

 

[Heavenly Dao]

 

[Death]

 

[1.08%]

 

[Void]

 

[20%]

 

[Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method]]

 

[Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art] [Jade Spirit Codex]]

 

[Techniques: [Unnamed Lightning Technique] [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange] [Six Lotus Rebirth Path - 5th Cycle]]

 

[Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield] [Stellar Soul Sword]]

 

[Skills: [Immortal Flesh] [Heavenly Gale Slash] [Dead]]

 

[Bloodline Traits: Brute Core Amplification, Brute Flesh, Royal Pulse (Sealed)]

 

[Ancient Spirit Seal: Crimson Tortoise Dragon]

 

[Market] [Hundred Arts] [Mission]

 

Looking through the menu, Meng Lin calmed down, without the system she wouldn't know what to do but now her options were many even without the royal pulse.

 

Since she doesn't know what it was, she would wait and see when she finally gets strong enough to interact with it, for now she would focus on the things she could control.

 

"Rename the nameless lighting technique to Thunder Teleportation",  Meng Lin said.

 

The familiar system panel appeared before her.

 

[Designation Updated.]

 

[Unnamed Lightning Technique → Thunder Teleportation.]

 

Meng Lin nodded, a proper technique deserved a proper name, although it wasn't as simple as lighting teleportation, it works.

 

Her attention shifted back to what she had been thinking about at first, the personality problem.

 

She quickly found an answer, the Soul Heart Pill.

 

She had taken it before.

 

While its effects weren't as powerful as the Spirit Nourishing Pill when it came to strengthening the soul, it excelled in clarity.

 

The Soul Heart Pill calmed the mind, stabilized emotions, and allowed one to distinguish their true thoughts from distractions and impulses.

 

For her current situation, it was not the best but it was better than nothing.

 

If she ever comes across anything that could help remove the effects of the dead skill state then she wouldn't have to take this pill anymore.

 

A jade bottle materialized within her hand and she immediately withdrew a pill.

 

The pill was pale blue with faint silver patterns running across its surface like flowing rivers.

 

Popping it in her mouth, she felt a cool sensation spread throughout her body before reaching her mind.

 

Its effect on her qi was non-existent but it still had the mind clarity effect.

 

That was enough for now.

 

After confirming that it would work, she stored the pill bottle, taking out a few more pill bottle from within her inventory.

 

They were the Scarlet Bond Tempering Pills as well as the Ancient Beast Blood Pills.

 

"Mistress" 

 

the mark on her arm glowed with a bright crimson light, and the air grew heavy with a powerful ancient energy.

 

The mark on her arm erupted with crimson light and the air itself seemed to thicken as a serpentine figure emerged from the glowing seal, scales gleaming like molten rubies.

 

Chirp!

 

Xiao Jin nearly jumped out of his skin.

 

The little golden silkworm shot behind Meng Lin, peeking out from the safety behind her robe, while staring suspiciously at the newcomer.

 

The Crimson Tortoise Dragon ignored him completely.

 

The moment it appeared, its eyes locked onto the items resting on the table.

 

More specifically— The Ancient Beast Blood Pills.

 

****

 

Meanwhile, several thousand miles away, the fabric of space suddenly split apart. Golden radiance poured from the crack as four figures stepped out, protected by a shimmering barrier of spiritual light.

 

The moment they emerged, the barrier dispersed into countless motes that vanished into the wind. At the front of the group stood a middle-aged man holding a crystal orb, his brows immediately furrowing as he noticed the glowing orb rapidly dimmed.

 

A trace of irritation flashed across his face. "Are you certain the Immortal Lotus truly exists? You know full well that I do not appreciate having my time wasted."

 

"Senior Lu Qian, this junior would never dare deceive you." The lone woman among them hurriedly lowered her head. "I am absolutely certain of its existence."

 

The woman was none other than Senior Sister Liu.

 

"Hmph."

 

Lu Qian let out a cold snort, causing the surrounding spiritual energy to tremble faintly. Though he suppressed his aura almost immediately, the pressure from an Ensoulment Realm cultivator still lingered in the air.

 

"Then stop wasting time and lead the way." One of the two remaining young men spoke with open disdain. His eyes swept over Senior Sister Liu as though she were little more than a servant.

 

Senior Sister Liu clenched her fists beneath her sleeves. A flicker of killing intent surged within her heart before she forcibly suppressed it.

 

'These bastards.'

 

Had she not urgently needed the jade box, she would never have lowered herself to seek help from people like them. Their arrogant attitudes alone made her wish she could tear their mouths apart.

 

Ever since entering the Upper Post Heaven Realm five years ago, she had worked tirelessly and finally stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm.

 

Back then, she thought reaching such a realm would place her among the true experts.

 

Reality quickly shattered those illusions.

 

Within the Upper Post Heaven Realm, Nascent Soul cultivators were only slightly respected, no more than ordinary inner sect disciples in powerful factions.

 

Even Ensoulment Realm cultivators possessed little authority.

 

Only after interacting with the Lu Family did she truly understand the terrifying gap between ordinary cultivators and ancient families.

 

The Lu Family ruled the entire Yin Region.

 

Countless sects, including the Soul Shattering Sect, paid tribute to the family, they also depended on their favor for survival.

 

A single order from the Lu Family could determine whether a sect prospered or disappeared overnight.

 

Senior Sister Liu lowered her head slightly.

 

The humiliation burned within her heart, yet she endured it.

 

Everything would be worth it once she obtained the jade box.

 

Bringing out her sect token, she formed a series of hand seals, spiritual light flowed into the token and countless runes appeared across its surface.

 

The token trembled slightly before a faint azure thread emerged from its center.

 

The thread stretched into the distance, extending toward the horizon like an invisible road.

Senior Sister Liu's eyes immediately brightened.

 

"It's there."

 

Lu Qian glanced at the thread and narrowed his eyes, he extended a finger and lightly touched the golden thread, the thread immediately brightened, revealing a clearer direction.

 

"Let's go."

 

With a wave of his sleeve, spiritual energy surged outward.

The surrounding space distorted and the four figures shot toward the horizon, disappearing into the distance like streaks of golden lightning.