The I Ching Modified: A Diviner Who Emerged from Sanctuary City!

The flickering light from the campfire cast an uncertain glow on the faces that were either numb, exhausted, or still shrouded in fear.

Xuan Tianyi found himself lying on a relatively dry gravel ground, with a tattered piece of leather thrown over by someone underneath him, barely keeping him from the damp cold of the ground.

Dozens of refugees lay scattered around, some sitting, some lying, most of them wounded and listless, like straw ravaged by a storm.

The air was thick with the stench of sweat, blood, and cheap wound medicine.

Not far away, several soldiers wearing dark red standard leather armor, their armor stained with both fresh and old bloodstains, were working silently and efficiently.

They checked the wounded, distributed small amounts of water and coarse grain biscuits as hard as rocks, or patrolled silently in pairs in the shadows, their vigilant eyes like those of hawks, scanning the deep darkness beyond the firelight.

Their movements were efficient, their expressions were cold and stern, and they exuded a chilling aura of someone who had been through many battles and was used to life and death, which contrasted sharply with the fear and panic of the refugees around them.

On the left breastplate of the leather armor, the emblem of the city and crossed swords gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen in the firelight.

Tianxia City, patrol army.

The memory matches the scene before my eyes.

He must have been brought to this temporary shelter by these patrol soldiers along with other survivors after he lost consciousness.

Xuan Tianyi did not get up or make a sound rashly.

He maintained his original posture, only opening his eyes a crack to observe more carefully.

The intense pain and weakness within his body remained vivid, but deep within his soul, the phantom of the innate Bagua plate was slowly rotating, emanating a faint, almost imperceptible, warm aura, keeping his consciousness unusually clear and calm.

"System... Newbie gift pack..."

Having gained a basic understanding of its own situation and the world context, the body was temporarily freed from the most immediate threat of death.

So, the only thing to do next is to seize every opportunity, at all costs, to make yourself... stronger!

Thoughts sink into the sea of ​​consciousness.

The miniature illusory image of the Primordial Eight Trigrams Plate floated silently, with the central Tai Chi diagram slowly rotating, exuding a profound and mysterious aura reminiscent of the beginning of chaos.

Around the Bagua plate, the laws of the three hundred and eighty-four hexagrams shimmered faintly, like the stars circling the heavens.

"System, use the 'Basic Hexagram Script Unlock' opportunity."

Concentrating his mind on the system interface, he issued clear instructions.

[Command confirmed. Initiating the random unlocking of a hexagram jade token...]

"Buzz—!"

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the 384 lines of light representing different fortunes, misfortunes, regrets, and changes in circumstances suddenly accelerated, flickering, flowing, and transforming!

The speed was so fast that it left countless afterimages, dazzling the eye, as if the river of fate had stirred up miniature waves at this moment.

Finally, all the light and shadow seemed to be gathered together by an invisible force, suddenly converging inward and freezing in place!

A hexagram, as if born from nothingness, rapidly became clear and solid from its vague state, radiating unique fluctuations of law, and emerged brilliantly—

The Zhen hexagram (?)

The hexagram is arranged from bottom to top, with the four lines clearly defined:

At the very bottom, the first line, representing the beginning and the foundation, suddenly lit up with dazzling purple lightning!

The first line of the hexagram!

The corresponding text of the hexagrams is no longer simple information, but seems to have life and spirit, breaking free from the illusory description and drawing upon the mysterious laws of thunder.

It frantically condensed and intertwined on the hexagram position, finally transforming into a palm-sized, ancient jade token wrapped with fine, leaping purple electric snakes!

This jade token is of an ancient and simple shape, neither gold nor jade, and its material is difficult to determine.

The surface is naturally covered with countless mysterious lightning patterns. These patterns are not static, but slowly flow and flicker, as if a miniature world of lightning is sealed inside.

At the center of the jade token, a point of extremely refined purple lightning pulsed slightly like a heart, radiating an awe-inspiring and inviolable divine might, and an extremely yang and powerful aura that swept away all evil, filth, and chaos!

At a deeper level, it contains a strange sense of calm, as if "when thunder strikes, my heart remains undisturbed."

[The spell of the hexagram text has been successfully unlocked!]

[The first line of the Zhen hexagram: Thunder comes with a trembling sound, followed by laughter and cheerful conversation; auspicious. The image says: Thunder comes with a trembling sound, fear may bring good fortune. Laughter and cheerful conversation indicate that there will be a cause later.]

[Interpretation of the hexagram: A thunderbolt strikes, causing fear and trembling, but one can quickly regain composure and talk and laugh as usual, thus obtaining good fortune.]

The commentary on the hexagram "Xiang" explains: Feeling fear upon hearing thunder indicates an understanding of the profound power of nature, which can serve as a warning and bring blessings. Being able to laugh and talk normally afterward shows that having weathered the storm, one has gained wisdom and understands the principles of dealing with it.

[Modified Spell Manifestation: Jade Token - Summon Heavenly Lightning]

[Modified Highlight: Using "fear" as a guide and "surprise" as an anchor. The essence of this technique is not to recklessly summon thunder and lightning, but to allow the caster to actively accept and even guide their inner "awe" and "fear," using this intense emotional fluctuation and spiritual energy as a "fulcrum" and "beacon" to resonate with and draw upon the immense power of thunder from the outside world.]

Ultimately, one can reach the supreme state of being able to control the might of heaven with one's own mind, creating an "absolute domain" for oneself amidst the wrath of heaven and earth and the turmoil of all things, thus reversing the life-or-death crisis.

[Spell Effect: Summoning Heavenly Thunder: Consumes one's own Qi and Blood, Star Essence, or specific energy to activate the "Thunder Seed" within the Jade Token, which can attract, gather, and summon the power of thunder and lightning between heaven and earth to attack a designated target.]

The power of the attack is directly related to the host's cultivation level, the depth of their understanding of the meaning of the hexagram "A thunderous roar followed by a soft laugh," and the amount and quality of energy consumed.

This newly formed "Thunder Seed Jade Token," imbued with the laws of thunder and the true meaning of the Zhen trigram, trembled slightly under Xuan Tianyi's gaze, emitting a clear and melodious chirp, as pure as the first cry of a fledgling phoenix, a sound that only the soul could perceive.

Immediately, it transformed into a barely perceptible purple lightning bolt, streaking across the void of his sea of ​​consciousness, silently yet firmly merging into the slowly rotating phantom of the Innate Eight Trigrams Plate at the core of his consciousness.

On the Bagua plate, the trigram representing "Zhen" glowed slightly, creating a mysterious resonance and connection with the jade token.

As if it had found its home, the jade token floated quietly beneath the Zhen trigram, slowly rotating, its surface glowing with lightning patterns as if it were breathing.

Although the power it contains at this moment is still very weak, merely a "seed", it contains the true meaning of the laws of thunder generation and destruction of evil spirits.

And the unique concept of using fear to summon thunder and stillness to control movement has already made Xuan Tianyi's soul tremble.

"The first line of the Zhen hexagram...summons heavenly thunder..."

He carefully considered all the information conveyed by the jade token, and a trace of warmth finally rose in his cold heart.

Thunder Magic!

In any world, it is a symbol of the power of heaven and earth, and one of the ultimate forces that are supremely yang and strong, capable of vanquishing evil and warding off all evil!

In this perilous wilderness of Xuanlan Star, teeming with strange beasts, the significance of possessing even the most basic lightning technique is self-evident!

This is not just an attack method, but also a powerful deterrent, a trump card that can turn the tide of life and death in a critical moment!

and……

"This jade token is called 'Thunder Seed'..."

Xuan Tianyi's mind repeatedly pondered those words.

"The key word is 'seed.' It seems... to be more than just a tool for releasing lightning or a spell model..."

A bolder, more unconventional idea, like a spark bursting in the darkness, suddenly illuminated his thoughts.

"Besides ultimate destruction, does lightning also contain a glimmer of... new life, under strict constraint and meticulous guidance?"

In some science fiction concepts and ancient legends from the past, there are many claims about using weak electric currents to stimulate cell activity, promote muscle growth, and even activate brain potential.

In this world, while star energy is indeed miraculous, the mainstream of physical training still relies on hard work to refine one's qi and blood, temper one's muscles, bones, and skin, and combine this with methods such as medicinal baths and weightlifting to slowly and steadily improve the strength of one's physical body.

This method is reliable, but undoubtedly slow.

This was especially inefficient for someone like him who lacked resources, had mediocre talent, and desperately needed to quickly gain the ability to protect himself.

If... the power of thunder triggered by this "Thunder Seed Jade Token" can be controlled at an extremely subtle critical point that the physical body can withstand and produce a "benign stress";

It is used to stimulate muscle fibers throughout the body, vibrate deep within the bone marrow, open up those subtle acupoints that are difficult to reach with traditional body training methods, and temper impurities hidden deeper within the body's qi, blood, tendons, and bones...

Will the effect bring about a qualitative change?

The Zhen trigram, in the Earlier Heaven Bagua, symbolizes "thunder," representing movement, rise, and striving. In the Later Heaven Bagua, it corresponds to "wood," symbolizing growth, vitality, and breakthrough.

In the human body, it corresponds to the liver, which is responsible for regulating the flow of qi and blood and is closely related to metabolism.

As the seasons turn, it corresponds to spring. The first clap of thunder in spring awakens hibernating insects and brings forth all things, which is the new life after destruction and the burgeoning after dormancy!

"Using the barely perceptible life force of thunder to replace the slow, pervasive influence of stellar energy, stimulating the most primal vitality deep within the body? Using the vibrational and penetrating properties of thunder to replace clumsy external force, forging muscles and bones more deeply and transforming bone marrow more easily?"

The more Xuan Tianyi thought about it, the more he felt that this line of thinking might actually be feasible!

The development potential of this "Thunder Seed Jade Token" may be far more than just an attack skill; it could become the core of a unique, efficient, and even somewhat dangerous "Thunder Body Tempering Technique"!

It was the key to him rapidly solidifying and even surpassing the limits of physical training in this cruel world, and to catching up with and even surpassing those privileged individuals who possessed resources and heritage!

"However... the risks are also extremely high."

After the initial excitement came a chilling calm, like being doused with ice water.

"The power of thunder is violent and unruly. If you are not careful and lose control, it will not be a body tempering exercise, but self-immolation. You will be electrocuted into charcoal in an instant."

"In my current weakened state, where I can barely even mobilize my qi and blood, let alone draw lightning to temper my body, even normally activating the jade token for external attacks would be too much for me; I can't afford the strain."

"Moreover, this concept of using fear to attract thunder and stillness to control movement, while seemingly simple, is actually profound. How to grasp the delicate balance between fear and composure, and how to transform the fluctuations of the mind into an 'anchor point' to attract heavenly thunder, all require a great deal of understanding and practice, and cannot be achieved overnight."

"One must take things one step at a time. Right now, this 'Thunder Seed Jade Token' is primarily my trump card for survival. As for its deeper potential for body tempering..."

We need to plan this carefully. At the very least, we should wait until I've recovered somewhat and have a basic grasp of the power of thunder before we can make any initial attempts.

Suppressing the turbulent thoughts in his mind, Xuan Tianyi shifted his attention away from the "Thunder Seed Jade Token" and refocused on the system interface.

The newbie gift pack has one last item left, which is also the one he is most looking forward to and believes will bring the biggest change—a one-time Supreme Deduction opportunity.

"Techniques are the foundation of cultivation and the path to power. The original owner only knew the common 'Basic Body Forging Techniques' and a few rudimentary fist and foot techniques."

"Using this precious, one-time, supreme deduction opportunity to optimize this overused and commonplace technique?"

Xuan Tianyi almost immediately rejected the idea.

This feels like using the Imperial Seal of the State to crack walnuts, or using rare black iron to forge a hoe—it's an utter waste and foolishness.

The term "modification" in the system implies infinite possibilities of turning the rotten into the magical, and even creating something from nothing. It should never stop at simply patching up the garbage.

"But without the 'Basic Body Tempering Technique,' what can I use as a foundation or blueprint for deduction? I have nothing of value now except this system..."

He fell into deep thought, his mind involuntarily drifting back to the innate Bagua plate suspended at the core of his consciousness, then back to the moment the system was activated—the soul-stirring, world-creating, grand spectacle he witnessed.

The boundless chaotic sea, that one mysterious point of light from which all things are born, the Tai Chi symbol establishes the foundation, the Eight Trigrams arise...

That scene was a manifestation of the system's power, a kind of manifestation of the fundamental principles of the I Ching, and a supreme realm that transcended his current understanding.

"What if... instead of using any existing cultivation method as a blueprint, we take... the scene and artistic conception of the chaotic sea of ​​profound light evolving and the Tai Chi Bagua as the foundation and core of our deduction?"

A bold, crazy, and almost blasphemous idea, like a thunderbolt ripped across the sky in the darkness, suddenly struck Xuan Tianyi's mind!

It instantly made his soul tremble, yet it also burst forth with an indescribable, intense light!

The thought made his heart stop.

That primordial chaos involves the origin of the universe and the root of the Great Dao. To use it as a basis to deduce cultivation methods is no different from an ant trying to depict the workings of the heavens or a summer insect trying to understand the true meaning of ice.

The risks, uncertainties, and even the possibility of failed deductions, backlash, or obtaining a "heavenly book" that is impossible to cultivate are immeasurably high.

But the returns... are equally immeasurable!

What level of potential, upper limit, and compatibility with the system will a truly tailor-made fundamental practice that directly targets the core of the I Ching system and is based on the supreme concepts of chaos, Tai Chi, and Bagua reach?

How could something like the "Basic Body Strengthening Techniques" possibly compare to it?

"Since the system is named 'Modified,' I will carry out the act of modification! The system is based on the I Ching, so I will take the images of the I Ching as my foundation! Wealth and honor are sought amidst danger, and the path to the right is fought for with a single thread!"

Now that I, Xuan Tianyi, have obtained this heaven-defying system, if I don't even have the courage to take risks and forge a new path, how can I talk about stealing lives and fortunes, altering cause and effect? ​​How can I carve a bloody path in this dog-eat-dog world?!

"Moreover, that chaotic scene is of the same origin as the system. Using it as a basis for deduction, the possibility of success may be greater than randomly finding a trashy cultivation technique!"

Even if the derived cultivation method is incomplete, difficult, and mysterious, its lofty purpose is enough to lay an unparalleled foundation for my cultivation, with unlimited potential for future growth!

I'm taking the gamble!

We have to take this gamble!

Intense desire, icy rationality, and disdain for the mediocre path ultimately blended into a resolute determination to burn one's bridges.

Instead of routinely optimizing waste, why not take a risk and peek into a corner of that supreme path!

Even if you only get a scale or a claw, it will be enough to last a lifetime!

"system!"

Xuan Tianyi gathered all his will, beliefs, and thirst for power since his transmigration, like the most devout believer praying to a god, or the most reckless gambler betting his entire life, issuing a desperate command to the system core:

"Use a one-time, maximum simulation opportunity!"

"The foundation and core imagery of the deduction are anchored in the chaotic, undeveloped state that appears when the system awakens, a single point of mysterious light gives rise to Tai Chi, establishes the Bagua, and exhausts the supreme Daoist image of change!"

[Command confirmed... Deduction request detected... Deduction foundation anchored... Supreme imagery of "Chaos, Mysterious Light, Tai Chi, Bagua"...]

[WARNING: The foundation of this deduction is too grand, obscure, and profound, touching upon the level of fundamental laws, far exceeding the host's current life level and comprehension. The deduction process will involve extremely high uncertainty, uncontrollability, and unknown risks.]

The deduction may result in the following situations: 1. Complete failure with no gains; 2. Gaining incomplete, distorted, incomprehensible, or uncultivable "forbidden knowledge";

3. Triggers unknown backlash, damaging the host's soul or foundation; 4. Acquires a mutated cultivation technique beyond conventional understanding, with unknown difficulty and risks in cultivation.

[To confirm again, is the ultimate deduction based on the imagery of "Chaos, Mysterious Light, Tai Chi, and Bagua"?]

The system's warning was cold and clear, like death whispering in your ear, listing all sorts of terrible consequences.

Xuan Tianyi's heart pounded wildly in his chest, and his soul trembled slightly with instinctive fear.

But the next moment, Uncle Lin's back as he stood in front of the corpse dog, the last gaze in his parents' memories, the cold touch of brushing past death...

All the images intertwined, becoming fuel that made the flames in his eyes burn even more fiercely and wildly!

Uncertainty is always better than being destined for mediocrity!

Unknown risks are better than despair where you can see the end from the beginning!

"confirm!"

He practically roared those two words from the depths of his soul.

[The instruction has been finalized.]

[Beginning to activate the system's core fundamental laws...simulating the supreme Dao phenomena of "Chaos, Profound Light, Tai Chi, and Bagua"...]

[Deduction...Initiated!]