"Pseudo Realm?" Meng Lin's eyebrows raised, and she quickly brought up her system menu, wondering what was going on.
[Meng Lin]
[Soul Wandering Stage (late~pseudo)]
[Experience Points: 0%]
System Coin: 1080
Immortal Jade: 3
Taoist Gacha Wheel: unavailable
Spiritual Roots: [Water > Fire > Gold > Wood > Earth]
Variant Elemental Qi: [Mud] [Erosion] [Water] [Darkness] [Fire] [Gold 20%]
[Heavenly Dao]
[Death]
[Comprehension 0.06%]
Main Cultivation Method: [Elemental Qi Convergence Method]
Side Cultivation Methods: [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation Method] [Brute Vortex Cultivation Method] [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 5th Layer] [Imperial Water Art]
Techniques: [Celestial Moonlit Sword Art] [Hundred Unity Techniques] [Wrath of Thunder] [Physique Cleansing Sutra] [Vital Essence Exchange]
Secret Techniques: [Stellar Soul Shield]
Skills: [Immortal Flesh]
Ancient Spirit Seal: Crimson Tortoise Dragon
[Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Daily Mission]
Meng Lin looked at her experience in contemplation. After ingesting sixty-three different pills and enduring two days of grueling cultivation and refinements, her progress was both immense and humbling.
Yet, despite everything, her experience points only reached 0% for the late stage, and it was pseudo-late stage at that.
"I guess that's the price for breaking through so rapidly." The pseudo-realm was a state where one was in a false realm; for her to advance, it required gradual refinement to stabilize and solidify her realm. The process usually takes a few months.
"Is that where you come in?" Meng Lin's gaze fell upon the reward panel.
"Accept," she said, raising her hand as a small crystal materialized in her palm.
As Meng Lin examined it, she could feel its potent energy radiating in subtle pulses. It was smooth, translucent, and shimmered faintly with an inner light that seemed to shift between shades of silver and blue.
[Pseudo-Realm Insight Crystal]
A one-time-use treasure specifically crafted for those in the pseudo-late stage of the Soul Wandering Realm. It instantly allows those who have reached the pseudo-realm to stabilize their foundation and break through into the true late stage. This crystal is attuned with the true cultivation insights of the late stage of the Soul Wandering Realm.
Meng Lin read the description, muttering under her breath before a small smile formed on her lips.
Without hesitation, she sat back down in the lotus position, channeling her spiritual energy. She activated the crystal. A soft hum filled the air as the crystal dissolved into a stream of light, surging into her body and directly targeting her dantian.
A surge of chaotic energy flooded her, mirroring the instability of the pseudo-realm. Meng Lin gritted her teeth as the crystal’s energy began reshaping the Qi within her body, stabilizing her realm.
Her spiritual veins filled once more, accommodating the influx of refined Qi. The chaotic currents smoothed out, solidifying into a stable flow of immense power. Her soul resonated with the changes, growing stronger and sharper as the crystal’s essence integrated fully into her being.
Suddenly, a loud boom echoed within her mind, signifying the shattering of the final barrier. The pseudo-realm was no more.
Meng Lin opened her eyes, her aura now steady and immense, however she radiated power that seemed no different from before.
She exhaled deeply, a faint smile on her lips. "So this is the true late stage," she muttered, marveling at the spiritual Qi flowing effortlessly within her; her soul also felt more robust than before.
"Another step closer," she whispered, clenching her fist as her eyes brightened with a slight purple glint.
Her attention returned to the system panel, her gaze focused on the Taoist Gacha Wheel Ticket.
“Now… let's try my luck,” she said, ready to spin the wheel.
1. > Flame Lotus Petal x8
2. > Crimson Soul Pearl
3. Void Spirit Mirror
4. Shapeshifter's Mask
5. > Celestial Heartstone
6. [System Mission]
7. High-Grade System Pack
8. Superior Booze Gift Bag
9. > Heavenly Moon Stone
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
10. Immortal Jades x9
11. Spiritual Healing Pill x3
12. > Golden Silkworm Cocoon
13. > Shadowstep Talisman x2
14. Chaos Mountain
15. Essence Absorbing Insects x30
Meng Lin’s eyes flicked over the items on the Taoist Gacha Wheel. The new items alone sparked her curiosity, but she didn’t overthink it, just going over them one by one.
Flame Lotus Petals. The name alone made her think of fire, perhaps some exotic ingredient. Then there was the Crimson Soul Pearl, a soul-related artifact, or was it another weapon ingredient?
The Celestial Heartstone sounded almost too grand. The Heavenly Moon Stone seemed to be tied to lunar Qi, and the Golden Silkworm Cocoon was probably the cocoon of a golden silkworm, although she had never heard of such a beast.
Finally, the Shadowstep Talisman. A talisman? There were two of them, but the name made her wonder if it was one of those rare talismans that could manipulate shadows.
The items sparked her curiosity, but she wasn’t the type to get too attached to any one of them before seeing them in action.
After weighing her options, she decided to spin the wheel, not knowing exactly what would come her way but trusting that each outcome would aid her in her quest for greater strength.
With a flick of her wrist, the wheel spun. The shimmering lights and images blurred as it spun faster and faster. Her eyes followed each rotation, and when it finally slowed to a halt, it landed on:
Immortal Jades x9
"Nine Immortal Jades... That should be useful," she thought, a slight smile curving her lips. They were far more significant than ordinary system coins, and with them, Meng Lin could access a vast range of things that would accelerate her progress.
She quickly accessed the system market, filtering out the system coins and only leaving the immortal jade items. She began reviewing what was available for purchase.
After searching for things related to her spiritual consciousness, she finally found what she wanted to buy.
Spiritual Body Analyzer.
The description caught her eye immediately.
Spiritual Body Analyzer
A high-grade spiritual item that allows the user to delve into their spiritual body with precision. It enables in-depth analysis of one’s spiritual veins, soul structure, and the flow of spiritual energy within, as well as their spiritual consciousness and mind palace.
System Coins: 8 Immortal Jades
Meng Lin’s eyes gleamed with interest. 'This is exactly what I need', she thought. The analyzer didn’t just offer a view into her spiritual consciousness; it would allow her to understand everything about her body, even her soul.
She realized that just gaining more insights about her soul would undoubtedly increase her cultivation base.
Without hesitation, she exchanged 8 Immortal Jades to acquire the Spiritual Body Analyzer.
As she bought it, a crescent-shaped item quickly materialized in Meng Lin's hand. The smooth crystal on its body pulsed with a gentle light.
It felt cool to the touch, and as Meng Lin activated it, the crescent crystal began to hum with energy, casting a faint glow around her.
As Meng Lin injected more Qi into the Spiritual Body Analyzer, the world around her seemed to blur, and her perception shifted.
A feeling of deep clarity flooded her senses, as if a curtain had been drawn aside, revealing her inner self in minute detail.
Her eyes closed momentarily, and when she opened them again, her vision had transformed. She could see herself sitting cross-legged. Not just her physical body, but an intricate network of spiritual energy and structures within her body.
The flow of her blood appeared as a radiant river of crimson, winding through her body like a pathway of life. Each pulse, each movement, was visible to her.
The spiritual veins that ran through her were illuminated, robust yet delicate and powerful, shimmering like threads of light through her form.
The most fascinating sight, however, was her bones. She saw her bones glow like jade, their almost translucent surfaces shimmering with an ethereal light.
'Is this the result of the divine bone strengthening pill?' she wondered.
She had taken it long ago and only assumed that it had just made her bones stronger; however, each bone was shimmering slightly, enhancing the flow of spiritual energy throughout her body.
Shifting her focus from her bones, she turned to her soul, which resided within her dantian. Within a glowing sphere of energy nestled a small delicate figure of pure white light, her soul.
The soul itself had its eyes closed; its size had doubled since the last time she saw it, and the soul core had gotten bigger to accommodate its size.
Meng Lin shook her focus from her soul to another ball of energy within her dantian—the chaotic Brute Qi.
The Brute Qi in her dantian was a swirling mass of raw, untamed chaotic energy, distinctly different from the harmonious flow of her other spiritual energy.
Meng Lin frowned. "No wonder controlling it has always been such a challenge." She concentrated, circulating her Brute Vortex Cultivation Method.
Watching it travel through her spiritual veins, she focused as it began to flow through her spiritual veins. However contrary to her expectations, the untamed energy moved smoothly, adapting to the pathways with surprising ease.
Unlike its usual chaotic presence in her dantian, it now seemed subdued, as if the structured flow of her veins were the perfect passage for it.
There was no resistance, no instability—only an unyielding energy that seemed perfectly at home within her spiritual veins.
"So it can circulate without causing problems," Meng Lin murmured to herself, her brow relaxing. 'This has to be because of the Brute Qi physique; it seems my body is somewhat different,' she concluded.
Satisfied, she guided the energy back to her dantian, where it resumed its usual chaotic swirling.
She shifted her focus away from her body, focusing more intently on her head, where a separate realm revealed itself.
It appeared as a vast ocean, swirling in shades of deep blue and purple. Within this ocean, a small palace floated, ethereal and radiant.
The palace was surrounded by ripples of spiritual energy, glowing faintly with an inner light. It was a calm, protected space within her mind—her mind palace. The palace felt alive, humming softly as though it was a part of her, yet detached, representing something higher.
The ethereal palace shimmered with hues of gold and silver, its form both delicate and imposing. Around it, the vast ocean of her spiritual consciousness pulsed rhythmically, mirroring the calm yet boundless depth of the palace.
She observed as the consciousness flowed within the ocean, noting how they ebbed and swirled, uniting with the palace in a harmonious way.
The palace radiated a faint glow that seemed to reach every corner of the ocean, creating a protective barrier that kept the currents from going further.
"This is the core of my spiritual consciousness," Meng Lin whispered. Her voice echoed softly in her mind, resonating with the palace. "To master the Void Reflection Technique, I need to understand every detail of this place."
Taking a deep breath, Meng Lin went deeper into her spiritual consciousness. As she focused, she felt herself being drawn closer to the palace. Its gates, towering and engraved with intricate runes, seemed to not exist as the Spiritual Body Analyzer passed right through it.
Inside, the palace was vast and seemingly endless. Each room and corridor was entirely different from each other, arranged with meticulous precision.
As she wandered through, she encountered shimmering orbs of light floating in the air—each one containing a fragment of her understanding, knowledge, and cultivation insights.
One orb caught her attention. It hovered in a side chamber, glowing faintly with a dark purple hue. Meng Lin extended the Spiritual Body Analyzer toward it, and the orb unraveled, revealing its contents—a memory of her battle with the Golden Fang Bandits.
"So even my memories are recorded here," Meng Lin mused.
As she ventured deeper, Meng Lin encountered a barrier, a translucent wall of energy that blocked access to further sections of the palace. The barrier shimmered, etched with runes that she hadn't seen before.
Her eyes narrowed. "This must be the limit of the Spiritual Body Analyzer; after all, a high-grade item can only do so much, but I wonder what's ahead." She muttered to herself.