Chapter 338 - 126: I am Lynch, and I’ve Become Stronger

Chapter 338: Chapter 126: I am Lynch, and I’ve Become Stronger

However...

The "generous" rent Senior Brother Raymond paid for the banshees just so happened to be in the form of mid-grade Negative Energy Crystals.

A few days ago, a messenger from Red Ridge Castle delivered the first batch of twenty-four crystals, which now lay quietly in his Space Ring.

He had originally planned to keep these Negative Energy Crystals as a strategic reserve to strengthen his High Tier Undead Units later on.

But it seemed they now had a more important use.

’Ah, Senior Brother Raymond... your rent payment couldn’t have come at a better time.’ A gratified smile spread across Lynch’s face.

This windfall was just what he needed to begin his path of Body Refinement!

He got to work immediately.

Following the method recorded in the [Profound Yin Body Refining Spell], Lynch immediately carved out and reinforced a private chamber next to the Sleeping Tomb beneath the garrison.

Then, he began his first attempt.

The purification and refinement process was far more difficult and tedious than he had imagined.

The only part of a Negative Energy Crystal that could truly be used to purify Profound Yin Qi was the most refined "Source Yin Energy." Not only was its content minuscule, but it also existed only within the crystal’s energy core, making it extremely difficult to extract.

This required him to have extremely fine control over his Spiritual Power. The entire process demanded the utmost caution; a single mistake could cause the Negative Energy Crystal to disintegrate from its structure being compromised.

After a great deal of effort, Lynch finally managed to capture that wisp of "Source Yin Energy," which was subtly different in nature from ordinary Negative Energy.

Afterward, using the unique soul-vibration frequency described in the Spell, he began to convert and purify it. It took another tremendous effort before he finally obtained a single sliver of Profound Yin Qi.

A standard mid-grade Negative Energy Crystal was quite valuable, yet after spending hours and exhausting his mental fortitude, Lynch could only refine a negligible speck of Profound Yin Qi from it.

Of course, the other, impure Negative Energy within the crystal wasn’t wasted. After the Negative Energy Crystal collapsed, this energy would dissipate into the air, only to be captured by the Array in the adjacent Sleeping Tomb, becoming nourishment to spawn and strengthen zombies.

The process of refining Profound Yin Qi was purely a matter of grinding effort, a true test of the limits of his Spiritual Power’s precision and his patience.

Fortunately, after his mentor’s "Hell training," Lynch’s control over his Spiritual Power had improved dramatically, allowing him to barely manage this task.

Had it been the old him, he probably wouldn’t have even been able to complete the first step.

But after that, there was still the second step.

Lynch drew this sliver of Profound Yin Qi into his body. He carefully used his Spiritual Power to guide it along a specific meridian path for a full cycle, finally succeeding in absorbing it into his Qi Sea.

’Whew~ I finally succeeded.’

Lynch let out a long breath, his tense heart finally relaxing.

[You have successfully used [Profound Yin Body Refining Spell] LV0. EXP +3. Current skill level: LV0 (0003/1000)]

Suddenly, a familiar panel notification popped up.

Lynch was a little surprised, but not entirely.

’It seems the Profound Yin Body Refining Spell is also considered a skill. I wonder what effect leveling it up will have. Will it increase the efficiency of refining Profound Yin Qi, or will it enhance the skill’s effects?’

’Whatever. No point thinking about it. Continuing my training is what’s important.’

Tossing aside the grayish-white powder in his hand, Lynch took out another mid-grade Negative Energy Crystal and began the refining process anew.

One, two, three... Time flowed by silently in the private chamber.

Lynch was completely immersed in the tedious and arduous process of refinement. When he got hungry, Sea Song would bring him food at regular intervals, and when he got tired, he would Meditate to recover.

Esther and Dragon Flame also seemed to realize he was doing something important and rarely disturbed him, only occasionally peering in curiously from the chamber doorway.

Lost in his training, forgoing food and sleep, time flew by. In the blink of an eye, a month and a half had passed.

Finally, the twenty-fourth mid-grade Negative Energy Crystal completely turned to grayish-white powder in Lynch’s hand.

He carefully drew a bone-chilling wisp of energy into his body.

Under his control, this wisp of energy slowly circulated for one full cycle along a specific meridian path. Then, his body, which had been stagnant for so long, finally underwent a qualitative change.

In the private chamber, Lynch sat cross-legged.

An extremely faint, jade-colored halo suddenly appeared on the surface of Lynch’s skin, giving his entire being a gentle, gem-like luster. His muscle definition also seemed to have become tighter, giving off an impression of restrained toughness.

Profound Yin Body Refining Spell, Step One—Initial Body Tempering, complete!

At the same time, within his Qi Sea, a strand of pure Profound Yin Qi was slowly circling, emitting a cold and refined aura.

This was the very first strand of his natal Profound Yin Qi, which he had accumulated by consuming twenty-four mid-grade Negative Energy Crystals.

Lynch opened his bright, dark eyes and exhaled a long, turbid breath. The breath condensed into a cloud of white mist in the private chamber that lingered for a long time.

He stood up and stretched his limbs, and his bones immediately let out a series of crisp CRACKLE-POP sounds, like the clashing of gold and jade. His whole body was filled with an unprecedented sense of power and Lightness.

’Is this the effect of Body Tempering?’ Lynch clenched his fists, feeling the surging power of his qi and blood and the significant increase in his physical strength. A sense of accomplishment filled him.

He could feel that although his physical strength was still a far cry from that of a Warrior of the same tier, he was already much stronger than he used to be.