Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 57: The Art of Forging the Soul

Lin Fan, his slightly exhausted body, wandered through the forest for a long time, finally finding a secluded and untouched cave. The entrance was completely obscured by dense foliage, making it difficult to detect without careful inspection. He carefully parted the branches and slipped into the cave.

The cave was dark and damp, permeated with a faint earthy smell. Lin Fan paid no attention to this, hurriedly heading deeper into the cave. Finding a relatively flat spot, he sat cross-legged. Then, anxiously pulling a mid-level spirit stone from his storage bag, he clutched it tightly in his hand. As soon as the spirit stone touched his hand, a rich, pure spiritual energy surged through his palm like a torrent, pouring into his meridians. Like a long drought followed by a downpour, the long-dry sea of ​​spiritual energy instantly began to ripple with revival.

He slowly closed his eyes, completely absorbed in meditation. The spiritual energy within him flowed like a gentle stream, circulating orderly through his meridians. Wherever the spiritual energy passed, fatigue gradually dissipated like a mist, and damaged spiritual energy nodes slowly repaired under the careful nourishment of the mid-level spiritual stone. With each breath, the spiritual energy cycled again and again, and his breath became increasingly steady and long, as if merging with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

At the same time, Lin Fan didn't dare slack off. A wisp of spiritual awareness quietly emerged from his body like a fine thread, slowly spreading around the cave. Wherever his spiritual awareness reached, every blade of grass, every movement in the wind, appeared in his perception like a clear picture scroll. He keenly captured every movement around him, not even a light bird flying by or a sprinting rabbit could escape his perception.

In this perilous world of immortal cultivation, a single misstep could lead to irretrievable doom. He knew that, despite a lucky victory, his whereabouts had been exposed, and perhaps others with ulterior motives were lurking in the shadows, lurking and threatening. Only by maintaining constant vigilance could he maintain his mana while ensuring his own safety. Nourishing his spiritual energy and maintaining a vigilant mind, Lin Fan devoted himself fully to recovery.

Several hours passed by in a flash. Lin Fan slowly opened his eyes, a bright light flashing in them, like the twinkling stars in the night sky. At this moment, his spiritual energy flowed abundantly, and a powerful aura emanated from his body. He had fully recovered to his peak state.

He stood up and gently brushed off the dust. His eyes stumbled upon the storage bags of the Mengs, and a flicker of anticipation welled up in his heart. He reached out and picked up the two bags, inserting his spiritual sense into one. In an instant, a surprising small treasure trove unfolded before his eyes.

The first thing that caught his eye was a neatly stacked pile of low-level spirit stones, well over a hundred in number. These low-level stones shone dimly, their spiritual patterns sparse and slightly blurred, and their spiritual energy fluctuations relatively weak. However, the dozen or so mid-level spirit stones stood out, each radiating a rich and mellow spiritual energy. Their patterns were exceptionally clear, and their radiance shone even brighter and more dazzling, like the glittering stars in the night sky. Besides the spirit stones, there were several small jade bottles, intricately engraved with intricate runes, as if touting the extraordinary contents within. Lin Fan gently opened one of the bottles, and a rich, mellow medicinal aroma filled his nostrils. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it was the healing elixir, the Rejuvenating Pill. This medicine is extremely effective in repairing meridians and recovering from injuries, making it a must-have for cultivators after battle. In addition, there is the black spear of the Meng couple. The spear body is shiny black, and it faintly reveals a gloomy and murderous aura. Although the runes on it are worn, people can still feel its former extraordinary and powerfulness.

Continuing to search, a simple and heavy manual of martial arts techniques appeared in his spiritual sense. Lin Fan couldn't wait to take it out. On the cover were three ancient and powerful characters: "Spirit Forging Technique".

Lin Fan's fingertips gently brushed against the ancient book. Though it felt rough to the touch, he could feel the weight of time. The three characters "Spirit Tempering Technique" written on the cover were written with sharp brushstrokes, as if carrying a tremendous force that could pierce through the ages. His heart trembled violently. With uncontrollable excitement, he slowly flipped open the book. The unique scent of aged paper washed over him, as if telling of the long history of this technique.

After carefully studying it, Lin Fan was astonished. This was actually a supreme technique for cultivating spiritual consciousness. It consisted of seven levels, each containing a hidden secret. Mastering the first level would solidify one's spiritual consciousness, much like dropping a stone into a calm lake, creating a clear ripple. Not only would the range of spiritual consciousness be expanded, but its accuracy would also be significantly enhanced.

Advancing to the second level presents a sudden increase in difficulty, but the rewards are also immense. The power of spiritual awareness will rapidly increase, expanding by another two levels, like ripples spreading across a lake. Not only will the impact spread over a wider area, but the ability to detect subtle auras in the surrounding environment will also become more acute and precise, allowing even the slightest change to be clearly perceived.

With each subsequent level, the difficulty of cultivation increases exponentially, yet the rewards are equally astonishing. By the seventh level, when the technique reaches its peak, Lin Fan's spiritual power will surge like a wild horse unbridled, a surging tide, increasing by nearly tenfold. This will be an unimaginably powerful perception, enough to allow him to "see in all directions and hear in all directions." Even movements at greater distances and with greater subtlety will be impossible to escape his detection.

Lin Fan's gaze fell on the storage bag again. The miscellaneous items inside were of little use, so he casually set them aside. Then, he picked up another storage bag and, with a flick of his wrist, dumped the contents onto the ground. With a clatter, the various items scattered across the floor. The first thing that caught his eye was once again a pile of spirit stones. There were over a hundred low-level spirit stones, each emitting a faint yet pure pulse of spiritual energy, like twinkling stars in the night sky. Above this pile of low-level spirit stones, ten mid-level spirit stones stood out. Their spiritual energy was far richer than that of the lower-level stones, emitting a brighter and more dazzling light. The spiritual patterns on their surfaces were remarkably clear, as if displaying their extraordinary qualities.

Besides the spirit stones, there were several jade slips radiating a strange luster. Their surfaces were intricately engraved with intricate runes. Listening closely, one could almost hear faint whispers, as if they were revealing the secrets held within. Presumably, they contained precious knowledge of immortal cultivation or secret techniques. Nearby lay several uniquely shaped magical instruments. A small flying knife, its blade gleaming with a cold light, its edge pulsing with spiritual energy. Its sharpness was evident, as if it could easily pierce the void. There was also a palm-sized bronze mirror, its surface faintly aura-filled, its magical properties hidden within unknown, as if waiting to be discovered by its owner. Furthermore, there were a variety of spiritual herbs, some with dewdrops rolling on their leaves, reflecting a multicolored glow in the light, embodying vibrant vitality; others exuding a unique, fragrant aroma. Each of these herbs was highly valued in the market, making them excellent ingredients for refining elixirs.

Lin Fan carefully counted these items, his heart filled with the joy of his harvest. These gains not only greatly enriched his storage bag, but also gave him a lot of confidence on the road to immortal cultivation. The rejuvenation pill could help him quickly recover from injuries in critical moments, allowing him to return to peak form more quickly after battle; the "Spirit Forging Technique" was expected to greatly enhance his spiritual awareness, giving him a greater advantage in perception; and the spirit stones, magic tools, and spirit herbs, whether used for cultivation, trading, or refining elixirs, were of immeasurable value. At this moment, he knew that every battle and exploration was a step forward in his arduous journey to immortal cultivation, and these gains were undoubtedly a solid support for his continued progress.

Lin Fan picked up the jade slips again. They felt warm in his hand, and a strange luster flowed through his fingertips, as if tempting him to explore the secrets within. He carefully inserted his consciousness into one of the jade slips, and instantly, a vast amount of information flooded into his mind like a tidal wave.

This jade slip records a spell called "Green Wood Spirit Control Technique," which primarily teaches how to skillfully manipulate wood-attributed spiritual energy. When this technique is used, one can summon resilient vines to bind foes or create sharp wooden thorns to attack, offering extraordinary flexibility and versatility in combat. Furthermore, the gentle and pliant nature of wood-attributed spiritual energy allows for its integration with other spells, unleashing even greater power.

Lin Fan continued to examine the second jade slip, which contained insights into cultivating spiritual plants. From their growth habits and the spiritual energy environment they required to the interplay between different plants, it provided a detailed and in-depth explanation. This was undoubtedly a timely help for Lin Fan, who was cultivating a medicinal field in his cave abode, helping him better cultivate those precious spiritual herbs and ensure the plants in his field thrive.

The third jade slip contained a supremely sophisticated concealment spell—the "Spirit Hiding Technique." This spell was truly miraculous. Once cast, it perfectly concealed the fluctuations of one's spiritual energy, blending seamlessly into the surroundings like a touch of color. Furthermore, it cleverly obscured one's own aura, so that even cultivators several levels above Lin Fan would be unable to detect his presence without careful observation. This provided him with an excellent means of survival in the perilous world of cultivation.

Lin Fan quickly gathered up the scattered items, carefully placing them into his storage bag. The spiritual stones, jade slips, magical instruments, spiritual herbs, and the manual containing the "Spirit Forging Technique"—each one of them carried the harvest of his battle and was a precious treasure on his path to immortality.

After finishing his work, he slowly stood up and brushed off the dust on his body. Although the dust in the cave wasn't very thick, after meditating and sorting things, some dust was inevitable.

Then, with steady steps, he walked out of the cave. Outside, sunlight filtered through the lush branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows like a dreamlike painting. The fresh air, carrying the unique aroma of the forest's vegetation, formed a stark contrast to the darkness and dampness within the cave, leaving one feeling refreshed and refreshed.

Lin Fan stood still, extended his hand, and with a flash of light, a flying sword instantly appeared before him. The sword was slender and radiated a chilling cold light. It was the Star-Breaking Sword he normally wielded. He leaped lightly, landing steadily on the flying sword. As soon as his feet touched the sword's spine, he activated his spiritual energy.

In an instant, the flying sword soared into the air, streaking like a streak of light towards the Yellow Maple Valley cave abode. The scenery along the way whizzed by like a phantom, the wind whistling in his ears. Lin Fan stared resolutely ahead, already pondering how to best utilize these gains upon returning to the cave abode to enhance his own strength. In this vast and perilous world of immortal cultivation, every step of growth was crucial, and he was steadily advancing towards a higher realm.

(End of this chapter)