Chapter 71: The Second Layer of Nine Spirits

Wu Yuan retreated to his fortress deep within the ore vein, the [Purple Jade Marrow] clutched tightly in his paw.

His treehouse was a sanctuary of shadows, enveloped by the gnarled, tangled roots of the Blood-Binding Spirit Mulberry. Only the faint, rhythmic flicker of spiritual light from the ceiling prevented total darkness.

He climbed into his nest—a decadent throne built of raw Spirit Stones and lined with soft Moon Spirit Grass—and pulled the treasure from his chest fur.

The Purple Jade Marrow was small, no larger than his palm, but it pulsed with a heavy, regal power. A soft violet luminescence spilled from the stone, washing over the dim room like liquid twilight.

Wu Yuan gazed at it, mesmerized.

“Incredible,” he whispered. “The Earth Qi is dense, yet perfectly stabilized by a strand of pure Purple Qi. This might be classified as a Middle Grade material, but its rarity rivals High Grade treasures.”

He extended a claw, sharp as a scalpel, and gently scraped the surface of the stone. A fine purple powder drifted down. He caught it with his tongue.

Since awakening his stomach’s potential, Wu Yuan’s method of absorbing resources had become primal: he ate them. But after the indigestion caused by his heavy Spirit Copper diet, he had learned caution.

He waited, analyzing the sensation.

“It retains the toughness of rock, but the texture is… smooth. Mellow.”

He smacked his lips. “Much better than the spicy, cold crunch of Spirit Copper. It actually tastes a bit like fresh grass. An acquired taste, perhaps, but pleasant.”

The powder hit his stomach and dissolved instantly.

Wu Yuan closed his eyes, his internal senses scanning his vitals. “The quantity of Qi isn’t overwhelming, but the purity is terrifying. It’s far safer to digest than metal.”

Perfect.

He activated the second layer of the [Nine Spirits Seizing Origin] technique.

The Earth Qi in his gut surged, drawn by the technique into his Demon Power. It didn’t clash with his existing power; instead, it merged effortlessly.

“The Earth Qi is tempering my Demon Power,” Wu Yuan realized with delight. “It’s neutralizing the sharp, metallic brittleness left over from the copper. My power is becoming heavy. Dense.”

A satisfied grin stretched across his face.

“Bottoms up.”

He tossed the rest of the Purple Jade Marrow into his mouth and swallowed it whole.

BOOM.

Yellow light erupted from his belly.

The Spirit Runes lining his stomach flared to life, acting like a hydraulic press. They crushed the stone, extracting a tidal wave of Earth Qi that flooded his meridians.

The energy was so potent, so heavy, that parts of his stomach wall began to turn gray and stiff—petrification.

Wu Yuan didn’t even flinch.

Minor tissue damage, he dismissed calmly. If it solidifies, I’ll just cut out the petrified flesh and regenerate it with Creation Power later.

He ignored the pain and poured his focus into the [Nine Spirits Seizing Origin], forcing every scrap of that heavy Earth Qi into his reserves.

Inside the treehouse, violet and yellow lights danced in a hypnotic rhythm, casting long shadows against the walls. Wu Yuan sat at the center of the storm, his jade-like body glowing with solemn majesty.

The process was slow. Deep.

Time lost its meaning. The world outside ceased to exist.

Wu Yuan sat in silence for three months.

Three months later.

Wu Yuan exhaled a long breath, and his eyelids slowly fluttered open. A faint, golden light swirled deep within his pupils, weighty and profound.

He was surrounded by a small mountain of gray dust and crumbled rock—the husks of hundreds of Spirit Stones he had drained dry to fuel his transformation.

He checked his internal state.

Eighty-five strands of Demon Power coiled within him like sleeping dragons.

He opened his mouth and expelled a puff of turbid yellow gas—the last impurities of the stone and metal he had consumed. It dissipated into the air, leaving his body pristine.

“Only seven new strands of Demon Power in three months,” Wu Yuan rumbled, his voice dropping an octave, resonating with the solidity of a boulder. “But the time was not wasted.”

“I have completely restructured my foundation.”

He clenched his fist, feeling the power hum beneath his fur. “The excessive Metal Qi has been ground away. My Demon Power is no longer just sharp; it is heavy. It has the unstoppable momentum of the Earth.”

Excitement lit up his face. “But the real prize…”

He looked down at his belly.

“After consuming dozens of Purple Jade Marrows and over 30,000 catties of Spirit Copper, the evolution is finally complete.”

He looked inward, peering into the biological furnace of his own body.

The Spirit Runes covering his stomach had transformed. They were no longer simple lines; they looked like overlapping mountain ranges, glowing with a steady, terrestrial yellow light.

The [Stomach]—one of the Six Bowels—was perfected.

“I have gained a new innate talent,” Wu Yuan whispered, reading the data in his bloodline.

[Talent: Stomach Spirit Storage]

The Stomach governs reception and containment.

Effect 1: Gluttony. The user possesses a bottomless appetite, capable of digesting high-grade spirit materials and converting them directly into Qi, Blood, and Demon Power.

Effect 2: The Battery. Excess Spiritual Qi can be compressed and stored within the stomach lining. In combat, this reserve can be instantly ignited, restoring Demon Power or temporarily boosting output.

“A biological Spiritual Qi battery,” Wu Yuan mused. “My endurance just tripled.”

“And the physical side effects…”

He flexed his claws. The air whistled.

“My flesh has been tempered by the Earth itself. My defense and raw strength are on a completely different level.”

He reached out and grabbed a chunk of raw Spirit Copper from his snack pile.

It was First Rank Low Grade metal—hard enough that a normal Qi Condensation cultivator would need a hammer to dent it.

Wu Yuan didn’t use a technique. He didn’t circulate Qi. He just squeezed.

Creak.

The metal groaned. Like a piece of stiff clay, it yielded to his grip.

Wu Yuan rolled it between his fingers. The hard metal warped, flattened, and finally crumbled into glittering dust.

He stared at the metallic powder coating his fingertips, a savage grin spreading across his face.

“Thinking back to that Goat Demon…” Wu Yuan scoffed. “If I had this strength back then?”

He mimed a casual backhand swipe.

“I wouldn’t have needed a plan. I could have peeled his skull open like a melon with one claw.”