Chapter 73: Invasion of the Mind

At the mention of Ruo Xue, Cheng Lingyu’s face twisted with anguish—she remained his life’s greatest regret, an indelible wound.

Miao Sanxu patted his shoulder. “Don’t drown in grief. The dead can’t return. Ruo Xue wouldn’t want you trapped in sorrow. By avenging her, you’ve honored her memory. Now live fully—carry her spirit forward.”

Qu Wei chimed in, “The past is gone. Focus on the present. Miss Caiyun shines brightly. Prove yourself worthy of her.”

Jin Miaoyi and Fang Zhuqing nodded, urging him to pursue Caiyun.

Cheng Lingyu gave a hollow laugh. His time in Yunyang City had deepened his bond with Senior Sister, subtly reshaping him.

After the gathering, Cheng Lingyu visited his father Cheng Yun, now a Soul Martial Realm cultivator.

Cheng Yun beamed with pride. “I’ve heard of your deeds. Miss Caiyun is remarkable—and so are you. Thanks to that spiritual herb, I’ve perfected Thousand Layers of Snow’s True Martial Sixth Level – Meeting the Sea Stage. Progress may slow now, but my future achievements will soar.”

“I’ll visit Shiyang Town soon,” Cheng Lingyu said. “To pay respects to Ruo Xue… and face Teacher.”

Cheng Yun sighed. “It’s right to go. I’ll join you.”

“After this, I’ll dedicate myself to cultivation. Perhaps even leave Yunyang City for resources.” His freakish constitution defied ordinary training methods.

“I’ll stand by you,” Cheng Yun affirmed. “For now, let’s handle what’s before us.”

After supper, Cheng Lingyu returned to the chess academy. Caiyun’s absence left the halls eerily quiet.

In the secret chamber, Senior Sister’s empty space hinted at deeper seclusion for training. He retrieved Ji Yaozu’s Spiritual Essence Pills, intent on using them.

Mastering the Heavenly Spirit Diagram’s first six layers had expanded his insights, yet his weak cultivation limited their application.

“The Gathering Lake Stage demands five True Essence Lakes. Most stop there, but Thousand Layers of Snow requires more—forging True Essence vortices and pyramids within each lake. The pinnacle of this stage.”

He’d already built one pyramid in his dantian, consuming months and herbs. To reach perfection, he needed five such structures—a grind that would halt his progress indefinitely.

“This three-layered gathering formation barely helps. Senior Sister warned a five-layered one would draw unwanted attention. Ji Family’s Spiritual Essence Pills might bridge the gap. Their ancestors unearthed true spiritual essence—these pills are legendary in Tianyang Empire.”

The bottle held twelve pills. Ji Yaozu’s rage had made him abandon the entire stash—Cheng Lingyu’s gain.

Their mesmerizing aroma promised strength. Meant for Soul Martial cultivators, the pill’s potency could shred a True Martial body. Yet Cheng Lingyu swallowed it, channeling the erupting true essence to carve his second True Essence Lake.

Spiritual energy flooded the chamber. The pill’s power accelerated his cultivation—the second lake swelled rapidly.

This was a continuous process. With the aid of Spiritual Essence Pills, Cheng Lingyu spent three days and nights consuming three pills before finally expanding his second True Essence Lake to its limit.

Cheng Lingyu felt satisfied—the pills’ potency rivaled spiritual herbs.

Leaving the secret chamber, he searched but found no trace of Senior Sister, realizing she remained in cultivation. Unhurried, he returned to continue practicing. After another three days and three more pills, his third True Essence Lake reached maximum capacity.

Six days passed. Having consumed all pills, Cheng Lingyu successfully forged five True Essence Lakes corresponding to his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Each lake held five times the capacity of his meridian points, totaling twenty-fivefold expansion—a staggering improvement.

Within twelve days, he advanced from early to late Gathering Lake Stage entirely through the pills’ power.

“Had I known their worth, I’d have gambled harder,” he mused regretfully. His true essence reserves and overall strength had skyrocketed, while the Magic Eyes’ third layer, Invasion of the Mind, now took preliminary form.

The Magic Eyes’ nine layers progressed ominously: the first layer, Insight, enhanced perception; the second, Locking the Soul and Fixing the Spirit, immobilized souls temporarily. The third layer marked entry into spiritual attacks—a domain typically exclusive to Soul Martial Realm cultivators, far beyond True Martial Realm practitioners’ capabilities.

Cheng Lingyu’s rapid mastery stemmed from the technique of origins and Dreamless Technique. Previously, comprehending the Heavenly Spirit Diagram had drained his mental power to extremes. Through rebound effects, the technique of origins, and Dreamless Technique’s refinements, his mental prowess surged.

Though merely at True Martial Fifth Level, his mental achievements eclipsed Soul Martial experts—a prerequisite for cultivating Magic Eyes.

Rising, he stretched and glanced at the secret chamber with a faint smile. Flicking his fingers, he unraveled the triple-layered gathering formation like unthreading needles. He aimed to rebuild it as a quadruple-layered array, boosting spiritual energy density.

Formations demanded precision. After construction, sealing preserved permanence; neglected, formations decayed over time. To upgrade, one must dismantle and rebuild. Cheng Lingyu did precisely this—testing his skills while enhancing cultivation conditions.

Within an incense stick’s burning time, he completed the quadruple formation, tripling energy-gathering efficiency.

Stretching again, he floated mid-air, closed his eyes, and sank into deep sleep. Thick spiritual energy swirled around him, forming orderly spiritual patterns that seeped into his body. Half became true essence stored in specialized spaces; half transformed into mental power absorbed by a sprout in his sea of consciousness.

The sprout had changed—its two leaves now bore spiritual patterns resembling the Heavenly Spirit Diagram. These continuously absorbed mental energy, emitting a purifying glow that filtered impurities.

Dreaming, Cheng Lingyu saw Fang Tian Bao Yin’s figure. Of its six-faced spiritual diagrams, one grew distinct while others stayed blurred. This diagram hinted at sealed powers now loosening—a consequence of his fourth star forming a pyramid in the mysterious space, mastery of technique of origins, Heavenly Spirit Diagram comprehension, and Magic Eyes’ third layer.

Amid eternal darkness, the luminous pyramid cradled a faintly growing presence. All things originated from nothingness. Practicing technique of origins in sleep, Cheng Lingyu melded with unfathomable mysteries. The silent Dreamless Technique and generative technique of origins gradually merged.

He awoke three days later to find Caiyun smiling beside him.

“Senior Sister.” He stood, clasping her hand.

Her heart fluttered as she admired him. “Your cultivation leaps forward.”

“You’ve grown stronger and more enigmatic too,” he replied. Indeed, her aura now restrained yet holy, profound as deep waters.

“Fifteen days of cultivation—time for fresh air.” She led him to the garden.

“Senior Sister, I wish to visit Shiyang Town. Cheng Zhaolong’s head shall honor Ruo Xue’s memory.”

“Alone?” she inquired.