Chapter 141: Dance of Rebirth [1]

After reviewing his skills, Yu Xuan turned his attention to the spells. He began with [Light Orb], only for a system prompt to appear.

[Light Core not detected. Unable to cast Light Orb (E).]

"As expected, not everything works out," he muttered, slightly disappointed. Testing [Minor Healing Spell] and [Shadow Veil] yielded the same message — failure.

It seemed his physique alone wasn’t enough. These [Magic Arts] required more than affinity; they demanded a proper core. He would have to wait until he stepped into the Core Formation Realm.

He believed it would have worked, if not for his all elemental affinity. In his fight with Lan Hao who used fist intent with which was influenced by his fire affinity.

He had multiple affinities, so maybe that’s why it was not working.

Shaking his head, Yu Xuan considered testing the Qi Replenishing Potion, but quickly dismissed the idea. His reserves were already recovering steadily thanks to his breathing method, [Primordial Breath Technique]. That much, at least, never disappointed him.

Instead, his thoughts shifted to the cultivation technique itself — or more specifically, the new revelation he had unlocked upon reaching the perfected twelfth stage of Qi Condensation: the [Dance of Rebirth].

The name was simple, but the meaning behind it was anything but. The technique demanded he destroy his current self to give rise to something new. Each stance in the dance was designed to exert crushing pressure on the body, forcing it to break and rebuild. Only by completing the entire sequence without collapsing could true rebirth be achieved.

The instructions had etched themselves into his mind in vivid detail. Today, he decided, was the day to attempt it.

Yu Xuan stood, stepping away from the multicolored tree, and slowly prepared his stance. His first [Dance of Rebirth] was about to begin.

***

The [Dance of Rebirth] unfolded in Yu Xuan’s mind like an ancient scripture, nine stances carved in rhythm between destruction and creation.

It was no ordinary technique — it demanded the body and qi move as one, pushing the cultivator to the edge of collapse to rebuild them stronger.

He began with the First Stance: Breaking of Flesh.

He stamped down, qi surging outward through his meridians. His muscles tightened under the pressure, skin prickling as if pierced by invisible needles. The weight bore down, but his body held firm.

Then came the Second Stance: Twisting of Spine.

He arched and rotated his body unnaturally, guiding qi up the central channel. His back resisted, tendons stretching until they burned, while his qi forced itself upward like carp climbing a waterfall.

His breath came harsh, but beneath the pain, a thread of clarity emerged — his qi circulation had grown smoother, it was slight, but the progress was made.

The Third Stance: Kneel of the Mortal bent him low on one knee, one hand raised high.

His qi coiled tightly, spiraling between dantian and limbs. The ground beneath him cracked faintly, hairline fractures forming under the pressure. His balance wavered, yet he endured, his consciousness sharpening under the strain.

The Fourth Stance: Opening of Ribs.

He thrust his chest outward, arms spread wide. His lungs fought for air as qi expanded violently, compressing against his ribcage before bursting outward.

Pain rippled across his channels as though his very blood was scalding. He exhaled deliberately, stabilizing the flow, sweat dripping freely down his jaw.

He stepped into the beginning of the Fifth Stance: Burden of Heaven.

Both arms rose skyward, his knees bent slightly as though holding up an invisible weight. Instantly, his qi flooded upward, condensing at his crown before spilling down again in torrents. His vision dimmed at the edges, the weight pressing against him doubled, and his arms trembled faintly.

He paused.

Though his body had not yet collapsed, the mounting pressure warned him clearly. His qi was turbulent, his muscles screamed for rest. Forcing his way forward would only leave hidden injuries — foolishness that could cripple his foundation.

Slowly, Yu Xuan released the stance, guiding his qi back into calm rotation with steady breaths. Mist rose faintly from his skin, his robe plastered against his body, soaked with sweat. His legs wobbled slightly before he steadied himself.

"This much... is enough."

He had completed four full stances and touched the fifth. Already, he felt his qi circulation denser, his body tempered as though reforged under a hammer. And yet, four more stances remained — each surely fiercer than the last.

The names lingered in his mind like challenges yet to be claimed:

Sixth: Shattering of Meridians.

Seventh: Collapse of Mind.

Eighth: Ashes of the Self.

Ninth: Rebirth.

Soon, he would endure them all. But for now he stopped, strength built on patience was still strength.

Yu Xuan sat cross-legged beneath the elemental tree, steadying his breath. The [Dance of Rebirth] had only just begun to reveal its terror — and its promise.

During the [Dance of Rebirth], Yu Xuan’s body twisted into strange, unnatural stances. His Qi no longer followed its usual circulation but instead surged along forced, distorted pathways.

Each shift in posture made his meridians ache, and faint jolts of pain ran through his muscles. Though the pain was negligible for him.

Yet, amid the discomfort, he realized something — this dance wasn’t meaningless torture. The chaotic flow was tempering him, polishing the very foundation he had built so far. If he endured, his base would become sturdier than ever.

After a short rest, Yu Xuan stood again. Sweat dampened his robes, but his eyes were calm. This time, he wasn’t going to rely only on raw will.

He activated his skill, [Ultra Instinct].

Immediately, his perception sharpened. Every hair on his body stood on end as if even the air itself whispered to him.

His awareness stretched outward, catching every fluctuation of spiritual energy in the surroundings — and inward, mapping the slightest tremor within his flesh and meridians. His body grew lighter, his reactions faster, and his control absolute.

In this heightened state, Yu Xuan once more began the [Dance of Rebirth].