Chapter Forty-Seven: Breaking Through the Realm

[Reward Settlement: Damaged Demon Core]

A trust level of twenty points meant that all simulation rewards for the character Xiao Bao would always be drawn from the highest tier. Normally, this was certainly a good thing, but this time, an unexpected situation had occurred.

Xiao Bao had obtained this opportunity by swallowing it...

Lin Ze felt the intense burning sensation in his chest, his eyes tightly shut, his expression somewhat gloomy.

Qin Hongxiu performed a magical incantation for him, likely to dispel the demonic energy, leaving only the purest spiritual energy, then sealing it within the body to slowly absorb. Yet the simulator had not copied this incantation along with it.

All these factors combined resulted in demonic energy invading his body.

Lin Ze immediately activated his innate art, sensing the spiritual energy contained in the demon core. It did not amount to that of the Golden Core stage—only about the level of a perfected Foundation Establishment. But even so, it was not something he could simply swallow in one go.

After a brief consideration, he decisively began to expel the spiritual energy from his body.

He would not leave even a trace behind; he would never allow himself to be corrupted by demonic energy or be destroyed on the spot.

Fortunately, his innate art, as a spiritual-grade cultivation method, was profound beyond words.

In an instant, he gathered a surge of upright and harmonious intent, beginning to drive out those filthy, chaotic energies from within.

At this moment, Lin Ze seemed to transform into a humanoid spiritual stone, vast amounts of demonic energy, entwined with spiritual power, dissipated from his form. Yet his cultivation realm continued to soar; if he opened his eyes, he would see a blood-red sheen gradually emerging atop his dark pupils.

The entire process lasted three full hours.

He kept his lips tightly shut, feeling his canine teeth slowly elongating, a chill creeping into his heart.

Suddenly, he felt an urge to drag Qin Hongxiu out and give her a good beating.

How could she dare to give someone such a thing to eat?!

Well... she had backup plans, while he had suffered a calamity for no reason.

His Dao foundation suddenly trembled.

The aura of the mid-Foundation Establishment realm spread around him.

Yet the rise showed no signs of stopping.

Lin Ze helplessly realized that even running his innate art at full strength could only expel less than half the demonic energy.

If he allowed it to continue boiling inside him, he could probably break through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, but the outcome would be to become a full-fledged demonic cultivator.

The kind with pointed ears and fangs.

He opened his eyes, revealing a pair of crimson pupils, adding a touch of demonic charm to his handsome face.

Luckily, this was Little Green Mountain; anywhere else, he would already be surrounded by a swarm of cultivators with swords, shouting slogans to slay demons and crush evil, hurling magical weapons at him.

"Better leave now."

He did not panic. Realizing the situation was irreparable, Lin Ze immediately got up and began to search for Xiao Bao.

Just then, the black flame tattoo on his arm suddenly glowed.

This was something he himself had nearly forgotten.

It originated from the black cloud red dog demon he encountered in Xiao Family Village.

Dormant for a long time, it was awakened by the abnormality within him and began to seek food.

Like a puppy biting into a juicy piece of meat.

Tearing!

Tearing!

The vast demonic energy was devoured in a panic.

The red gleam in Lin Ze’s eyes faded, his canine teeth returned to normal, and he looked at his arm in slight astonishment.

He saw the flame tattoo, as if imbued with life, flowing like water into his skin, converging toward his fingertips.

Puff!

The ink-like black flame flickered gently, appearing to have no temperature, yet distorting its surroundings with scorching heat.

Demonic energy surged!

His realm halted just at the threshold of late Foundation Establishment, never crossing over.

Lin Ze waved away the black flame and lay back on the bamboo chair.

He never dreamed that one day he would be grateful his cultivation had stalled.

In less than a month, he had advanced from the peak of Qi Refining to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, just half a step away from breaking through to the late stage.

For ordinary cultivators, this would be an insurmountable chasm in a lifetime.

He appeared calm, lying there, but his whole body was drenched in sweat. Lin Ze planned to let the mountain breeze dry him before rising again.

All in all, it had been a close call, but he had gained something.

Not only had his cultivation advanced, but he had also acquired a strange Dao art. That black flame was clearly no ordinary thing, its power undoubtedly formidable.

It was just that the demonic aura when summoned could easily cause misunderstandings—a detail he found displeasing.

"Also, the legendary character card should not be used recklessly." Lin Ze looked at the dazzling golden card on his panel, restraining the urge to put it into the simulator again. He had to exercise self-control.

"Only one draw a day... two... Hmm, maybe three."

Three years for Wang Yao or Yang Mu would at most hone a low-grade cultivation method to perfection, but for Xiao Bao it was different.

He had only just entered the early Qi Refining stage, yet in a few days had reached this point.

Setting aside aptitude, the opportunity was astonishing; had he not exited the simulation early, who knows what surprises might have awaited him.

Thinking of Xiao Bao, Lin Ze paused, the image of that fox flashing through his mind.

The Golden Core demon would die at Qin Hongxiu's hands, but leave behind a cub born at the initial Foundation Establishment stage.

If, as in the simulator, the little fox remembered Xiao Bao's appearance, Lin Ze would not hesitate to eliminate it. But for now... as long as Xiao Bao stayed put, he had no reason to interfere.

There were plenty of demons outside; it was hardly possible to wipe them all out.

As he pondered this, Yang Mu walked over carrying a bowl of plain noodle soup. Lin Ze took it, absentmindedly taking a bite as he thought.

...

The salty bitterness assaulted his palate. He barely suppressed the urge to spit it out, turning to glance at the young man.

Yang Mu gave an awkward smile. "Senior Brother Wang Yao isn’t here, but I really did my best."

Lin Ze’s expression changed slightly. "Where did he go?"

"Because of the Zhang Family Forest incident, that fellow... cough... he wanted to earn some merit to repay Huayang Peak’s spirit stones early," Yang Mu shrugged.

"Oh, Senior Brother went with him too. But don’t worry, Wang Yao knows what he’s doing—he won’t let him get into danger. He’ll probably just sort books, sweep the floor, and accompany Senior Brother around the sect."

...

Hearing this, Lin Ze silently gazed toward the horizon.

A cold gleam flashed in his eyes.

He truly did not wish to undertake certain things.

But preventing disaster was better than regretting tragedies that could not be undone.

"If only people would die quietly, why bother lingering for another glance?"

He sighed, set down the bowl, and walked toward the foot of the mountain.

He bore no grudge against the young fox.

But the white fox had nothing to do with Xiao Bao either, yet it still wrapped its tail around the little fellow’s neck.

Had the dark heavy sword not descended from the heavens, who would he have reasoned with?

As the cub remembered Xiao Bao’s face, Lin Ze also remembered its appearance.

"Master?" Yang Mu was at a loss.

"Practice your sword well, don’t slack off." The Daoist strode up the stone steps, his figure slowly vanishing into the mountains.