Lin Yuan sat cross-legged in the quiet inn room, his expression calm but his mind sharp. The events of the past days had stirred the underworld of Brightcloud City. The Black Serpent Gang's failed ambush and his clash with the demonic cultivator were enough to make any cautious person uneasy.
But Lin Yuan's focus was elsewhere. In his hands was an old, weathered book—its cover plain and nondescript, but the faint traces of ancient runes hinted at its true value. He had looted this book from the demonic cultivator, a relic that seemed unremarkable at first, until his orb stirred faintly at its touch.
"A formation manual," Lin Yuan murmured, his fingers tracing the faint runes. Yet, as he had tried to open it, he discovered most of the pages were sealed by an invisible force. Only the first few were legible.
The first formation was called the 'Lightning Purification Array.' A basic formation by its design, but with a unique twist—it harnessed lightning essence to cleanse impurities, making it perfect for his cultivation.
Without hesitation, Lin Yuan drew a circle around himself on the floor, inscribing the lightning runes as instructed. He placed a few low-grade spirit stones at the corners, their faint glow signaling their activation.
As he activated the formation, thin arcs of lightning crackled to life around him, dancing in the air like living serpents. A faint pressure pressed against him, and he felt a tingling sensation in his body.
"Good." Lin Yuan's eyes flashed with determination.
Closing his eyes, he guided his qi, drawing it into the formation's influence. Instantly, he felt the difference. The lightning essence seeped into his body, washing over his meridians, burning away impurities, and refining his qi.
His orb stirred, drawing energy from the formation and refining it further.
[Lightning Essence absorbed. Qi refined.] [Foundation Establishment - Mid Stage achieved.]
Lin Yuan's lips curled slightly. His method of cultivation was unique. Each encounter, each battle, and even the treasures he found were nothing more than resources to be absorbed and refined.
Yet his journey didn't end here. The lightning in his body wasn't just for attack—it was a refining tool. He began another round of cultivation, directing the lightning essence into his muscles, bones, and meridians. Each pulse burned away impurities, but it also strengthened his body.
He felt his flesh grow tougher, his senses sharper. His body glowed faintly, arcs of lightning dancing across his skin.
[Heavenly Lightning Body Refinement - Enhanced.]
Sweat drenched his robes, but Lin Yuan's focus never wavered. His orb glowed in his dantian, absorbing stray lightning energy and feeding it back to him in a purified form.
Another hour passed, then two. By dawn, his skin shimmered faintly with a silver hue, his eyes glinting with hidden power.
As the formation dimmed, he reached out, touching the book again. A faint light shimmered across the sealed pages, and one of them seemed to shift, a rune glowing before fading. Another page had unlocked.
Lin Yuan's eyes brightened. "So, this book grows with my strength… or perhaps it's tied to my understanding of formations."
The newly unlocked page detailed a 'Thunder Ward Formation,' a defensive array that utilized lightning essence to form a protective barrier. Another perfect match for him.
He didn't hesitate, memorizing the inscriptions. Standing, he practiced tracing the formation's structure in the air, his fingers leaving faint blue trails. His understanding deepened with each attempt.
As he practiced, his thoughts sharpened. The formation manual was no ordinary book. It was a treasure that would grow with him, and in his hands, it was a weapon.
But it was also a challenge. Each new formation would demand more from him—more knowledge, more qi, and a deeper understanding of lightning.
By morning, Lin Yuan's aura had become even more refined, a faint spark of lightning lingering in his eyes.
He stood, stretching slightly. His gaze moved to the quiet city outside his window. His journey was just beginning, and the more he grew, the more he realized how vast the world truly was.
But no matter how far he walked, one thing remained constant—he would continue to grow, absorbing, refining, and conquering each challenge in his path.
His gaze shifted to the still-locked pages of the formation manual. "I'll unlock you all soon."
.....
Lin Yuan stepped out of the inn, the fresh morning air brushing against his face. The bustling streets of Brightcloud City were beginning to stir with life, but his destination lay beyond its bustling alleys. He adjusted the hood of his robe, his figure blending into the early crowd.
The events of recent days had made him realize a crucial truth—his strength was still insufficient. He had encountered demon cultivators and triumphed, but he had also felt the limitations of his current power. Even with his Foundation Establishment and his enhanced Heavenly Lightning Body, he was aware of his own fragility.
Leaving the city, he ventured toward the rolling mountains to the south. His goal was simple—find a place to cultivate in peace, away from prying eyes. As he traveled, the orb within him pulsed gently, a silent reminder of its ever-present hunger. Resources, treasures, essence—it devoured them all, refining and enhancing his strength.
Within an hour, he reached a dense forest. The air here was moist and fresh, and the cries of distant spirit beasts echoed faintly. Lin Yuan found a quiet, shaded clearing and sat cross-legged, his mind focusing inward.
"Let's see what else I can uncover from this manual." He took out the formation book, his fingers tracing its aged cover. More pages had unlocked since his last breakthrough. His eyes skimmed through them, absorbing the knowledge.
A 'Storm Gathering Formation' caught his eye. It was a high-tier formation that could draw natural lightning from the sky, purifying the user's qi even further. But it required a strong understanding of both formations and lightning control.
Lin Yuan's lips curled into a faint smile. "Perfect."
He spent the next few hours inscribing the formation around him, the runes precise and intricate. At its core, he placed several spirit stones, their radiant energy a necessary fuel for the array.
When the final rune was complete, he activated it. The air grew heavy, dark clouds swirling above his position. Lightning crackled within the sky, a faint rumble of thunder following.
Lin Yuan's orb stirred, greedily absorbing the first faint arcs that descended. His qi surged, refined once more by the storm's essence. But this time, he didn't just absorb. He guided the energy through his meridians, letting it temper his bones, muscles, and even his soul.
The process was painful, a searing heat coursing through him, but Lin Yuan's expression remained calm. He was long accustomed to agony.
As the storm continued, his body shone faintly, arcs of lightning dancing across his skin. His spiritual sense grew sharper, his perception expanding.
[Storm Essence absorbed. Qi refined.] [Foundation Establishment - Late Stage achieved.]
Lin Yuan exhaled slowly, his breath carrying a faint silver mist. The forest around him had grown quiet, the natural beasts sensing the terrifying aura that briefly radiated from him.
Standing, he withdrew the formation stones and stored the manual. His gaze swept the forest, calm and calculating. He was stronger now, but strength alone was not his only pursuit.
His eyes turned south. Rumors of ancient ruins had reached his ears during his time in the city—places filled with treasures, legacies, and dangers.
He smiled faintly. "A perfect opportunity."
With a flick of his sleeve, he stepped deeper into the wilderness, his figure blending into the misty trees. The world was vast, and his journey was only beginning.