Chapter 379 - 280: Awakening

For nearly a year, Zhao Xuanqi had been using his will to repeatedly temper, weave, and compress the Primordial Qi within his body.

It was an exceedingly long and meticulous process, one that required a vast amount of Primordial Qi to replenish what was consumed.

Primordial Qi is drawn from the world, from the space between heaven and earth. But to be truly used, it must be refined and integrated until it becomes a part of the body. It is, in essence, inextricably linked to one’s physical form, and during this refinement process, the body itself also undergoes a transformation.

Ultimately, Primordial Qi is a consumable, not truly different from physical strength—more like an evolution and extension of it. Physical strength can be exhausted, but it will recover with rest as long as the body’s foundation remains. Primordial Qi is no different. The body and the will are the true foundation of everything.

It’s like a cup that can constantly absorb moisture from the air and condense it into water. The so-called Body Exchange realm, the initial stage of a Divine General, is essentially about expanding the cup’s capacity, allowing it to gather external moisture faster and hold more water.

The Condensing Yuan realm, however, is about changing the very nature of the cup. While it still absorbs the same moisture from the outside, what forms inside is no longer water, but a gel-like substance, or perhaps even a solid.

Manipulating the Primordial Qi in one’s body, compressing it, is merely the outward appearance of the process. The true purpose is to temper the body’s fundamental nature through the constant repetition and superposition of this act, using quantitative change to trigger a qualitative transformation.

And now, Zhao Xuanqi had reached that very state.

A year of continuous Primordial Qi compression, of being tempered by the Black Flame, had finally brought about a complete change in the fundamental nature of his body.

He could feel it. The very essence of life and the structure of his body, down to the most minute level, seemed to have undergone a profound, unseen change, breaking through some kind of barrier.

BOOM!

The Primordial Qi inside Zhao Xuanqi’s body surged, transforming on its own.

Within the Primordial Qi his body had converted from the outside world, a silver thread appeared, so condensed it seemed almost solid.

He didn’t need to concentrate all his attention to painstakingly control and manipulate it; this was a power his body now generated naturally.

This silver thread within his human Primordial Qi was "True Essence"!

’Finally... I succeeded...’

Zhao Xuanqi thought to himself, unable to suppress a feeling of joy.

A full two years. This was, without a doubt, the longest he had spent in secluded cultivation since coming to this world.

The days of meteoric progress from his initial "re-cultivation" were over, and it had taken him some time to get used to this slower pace.

The next moment, he abruptly stirred the Primordial Qi in his body.

BOOM!

Silver light flooded his body, expelling every last bit of foreign energy.

WHOOSH!

On the other hand, the Black Flame inside him suddenly erupted. Perhaps the surge of Primordial Qi had provided it with more fuel, or perhaps it had instinctively sensed a crisis.

This time, however, the Black Flame was unable to display its former might.

Though there was only a single, thread-like strand of True Essence, it was as if Zhao Xuanqi’s Primordial Qi had suddenly grown a spine.

The instant Zhao Xuanqi exerted his power, this wisp of True Essence spread out and merged with the ordinary Primordial Qi, instantly raising its density by more than a single level.

The Black Flame latched onto it but was surprisingly unable to set it alight. As the silver-infused Primordial Qi spread, the flame was beaten back, forced into a steady retreat.

From his bones to his muscles, and then to his skin.

Finally, the Black Flame seeped out through his pores, forcibly expelled from his body.

From the outside...

WHOOSH!

To an outside observer, a raging Black Flame suddenly erupted across Zhao Xuanqi’s body, engulfing him completely. The sight was utterly terrifying.

More than ten meters from the medicinal pool stood a small wooden house, where an Elder of the Cyan Dragon Sect was currently on watch.

Ever since the pool had been constructed and Zhao Xuanqi moved into it, a guard post had been established nearby. For two years, members of the Cyan Dragon Sect had manned it twenty-four hours a day, constantly monitoring Zhao Xuanqi’s condition.

In truth, given the rarity of the medicines and materials in the pool, the Cyan Dragon Sect’s reserves alone were not enough to sustain it for two continuous years. Most of the materials had to be sourced from outside the Secret Land.

The outside world was now ravaged by war, and the situation was deteriorating. The last resistance forces in the Divine Land were scattered and hiding, their every step fraught with difficulty. Yet, no matter how scarce resources became, the supply of materials for the pool was always guaranteed.

Even now, two years later, Zhao Xuanqi was still regarded as the great hope of the Divine Land’s resistance.

It seemed that as long as he lived, the path of the Martial Arts Divine General was not a dead end.

There was no other choice. The reality of their situation was simply too bleak. If people didn’t hold on to some sliver of hope, some reason to keep fighting, many of them would have already given up.

This was true even though no one could say for certain if Zhao Xuanqi would ever wake up.

At this very moment, the Cyan Dragon Sect Elder on duty in the guard post was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed. It was impossible to tell whether he was deep in meditation or simply napping.

The instant the Black Flame erupted on Zhao Xuanqi’s body, the Elder’s eyes snapped open. In a flash, he shot out of the guard post and arrived at the edge of the medicinal pool’s Array. When he saw Zhao Xuanqi’s state, his face fell, assuming the young man’s condition had taken a sudden turn for the worse.

Engulfed in Black Flame, his body seemingly burning—the scene was so horrific, it was an easy mistake to make.

He immediately put two fingers in his mouth and blew a sharp whistle.

FWEET!!

In an instant, the piercing sound echoed throughout the small settlement, causing an immediate commotion. Figures burst from their houses, arriving by the medicinal pool in a matter of moments.