215: Activation and Cultivation

The Quiet Room at the deepest part of Bamboo Rhyme Residence was shrouded in layers of Formations and Restrictions, isolating all external prying and interference. In the center of the room, the giant dark-gold egg, covered in lava-like patterns, was placed in a simple Spirit-Gathering Array made of Warm Jade and fire Yao stone.

Qin Feng, Xiaochun, Xia Ya, and Ji Ruxue sat around it, their expressions solemn but filled with uncontrollable expectation.

Qin Feng carefully took out the Ten-thousand-year Warm Jade Bottle. The moment he opened the silver Seal, an indescribable fresh scent permeated the air, seemingly containing life's most primal call. He focused his mind and tilted the jade bottle slightly—a drop of dew, clear as nothingness yet seemingly containing a seven-colored galaxy and emitting a warm white glow, slowly fell, landing precisely on the core grey-white crack at the top of the giant egg.

xuantian creation dew!

The moment the dew touched the eggshell, it didn't roll off but instantly seeped into the crack as if it were alive! Immediately after, the entire giant egg trembled slightly. On the dim surface of the shell, all the natural lava patterns simultaneously lit up with an extremely faint, heartbeat-like pulsing red light! A faint but incredibly pure scorching aura, seemingly from ancient times, vaguely seeped out.

"There's a reaction!" Xia Ya whispered.

But the light and pulsation only lasted for a few breaths before quickly dimming. The aura also withdrew, as if it were just an unconscious turn of a sleeping giant beast. The shell remained cold, and the cracks were still there, unhealed.

"As expected, it's not that simple..." Qin Feng said in a deep voice. "Relying solely on the Innate vitality of the xuantian creation dew, I'm afraid we can only awaken a trace of the Origin mark that was nearly dissipated in its depths. To truly reverse life and death, we need continuous, compatible vitality nourishment."

Xiaochun took a deep breath, already prepared. She sat cross-legged in front of the egg, forming hand Seals as her Myriad Medicine Body operated at full power, her body glowing with pure emerald light. She tapped her heart lightly with her fingertip, forcing out three drops of crystal-clear Essence Blood that contained majestic life essence. As the Essence Blood left her body, her face instantly turned a few shades paler.

She evenly dripped the three drops of Essence Blood onto the three main cracks of the eggshell. The Essence Blood seemed to possess spirituality and quickly seeped in. This time, the vibration of the giant egg was more obvious. From inside the shell, there seemed to be an extremely faint, almost illusory "gurgling" sound, as if a dried-up riverbed had finally welcomed its first trickle of water. The pulsing red light on the shell's surface appeared again. Although still faint, it lasted longer than before, and the light was slightly more stable.

"It worked!" Xiaochun said weakly but joyfully. "I can feel that in the deepest part of the egg, an extremely faint 'spark' of life has been reignited! But it's too weak. It needs long-term nourishment using my Essence Blood and the vitality of the Myriad Medicine Body to slowly grow until it hatches..."

Qin Feng stepped forward to support Xiaochun, feeding her a Medicinal Pill to replenish her Qi and blood, and carefully observed the giant egg. Under the dual effect of the xuantian creation dew and the Myriad Medicine Essence Blood, this dead egg had indeed regained a glimmer of life. However, just as Xiaochun said, this was a process of slow nourishment that required time and patience; it couldn't be rushed.

"Take it slow; this is a good sign." Qin Feng breathed a sigh of relief. At least the biggest hurdle—awakening the life force—had been overcome. He carefully repositioned the giant egg in the center of the Spirit-Gathering Array. The Formation would slowly gather gentle Fire Spirit Qi to assist in the nourishment.

The first step in reviving the mysterious egg was a success, and a weight was lifted from everyone's hearts. Next, they would use this precious time in Medicine King Valley to fully improve their own strength.

As newly appointed Guest Elders, they immediately enjoyed an enviable benefit: every year, they could use their tokens to exchange for a rare Medicinal Pill unique to Medicine King Valley at a highly discounted internal contribution point rate. And the "king breaking pill" was one of the most sought-after! This pill could greatly increase the success rate of a Peak Grand Martial Master or Half-Step Martial King breaking through to the Martial King Realm, stabilize the Foundation, and reduce Heart Demons. In the outside world, it was priceless and hard to find.

The four of them did not hesitate and used up this year's exchange quota, obtaining four jade-like king breaking pills with faint pill patterns.

Once the pills were in hand, Qin Feng and Ji Ruxue made the same choice.

"Xiaochun, Xia Ya, here are your pills." Qin Feng pushed his king breaking pill, along with the one Ji Ruxue silently handed over, in front of Xiaochun and Xia Ya.

"Brother Feng! Sister Xue! This won't do!" Xiaochun waved her hands hurriedly.

Xia Ya also widened her eyes: "Young Master Qin, Ruxue, this is too precious! Keep them for yourselves!"

Qin Feng shook his head, his tone brooking no argument: "I have only recently broken through to the Mid-stage Martial King Realm. What I need is to stabilize my Realm and accumulate power; I don't need the king breaking pill for now. I presume Miss Ji is the same." He looked at Ji Ruxue, who nodded slightly in agreement.

Qin Feng continued: "Xiaochun, you are already at the Peak of the Late-stage Grand Martial Master Realm, and your Myriad Medicine Body has huge potential, but breaking through to Martial King is a critical threshold. With this pill's help, your chances are better and your Foundation will be firmer. Xia Ya, you've been stuck at the Peak of Half-Step Martial King for a long time, only one step away from becoming a true Martial King. This pill is exactly what you need. The four of us are one; our strength improvements need to be prioritized. Your Breakthroughs right now will provide the greatest boost to our team's overall combat power."

Ji Ruxue added succinctly: "I have no use for it."

Seeing the two still wanting to refuse, Qin Feng smiled: "Take it. Would Miss Ji and I let ourselves be at a disadvantage? When there are better pills in the future, you can just 'repay the debt' then."

Having reached this point, Xiaochun and Xia Ya were both moved and excited, finally accepting the pills. Xiaochun's eyes reddened slightly as she held the two king breaking pills, while Xia Ya slapped Qin Feng's shoulder heavily: "Good brother! If there's a fight in the future, I'll be the first one in!"

Ji Ruxue no longer participated in the discussion. Her figure quietly vanished as she began her rigorous and efficient Cultivation. As her Moon Shadow Divine Art operated, she became like a shadow merging into the moonlight, moving through the mountain forests, waterfalls, and even some special cultivation sites near Bamboo Rhyme Residence that Guest Elders were allowed to use, sensing and honing herself. Her Early Stage Martial King Peak Realm became increasingly solid under her hard work, steadily advancing towards the Middle Stage.

Xiaochun and Xia Ya began their closed-door Breakthrough attempts. Xiaochun first spent several days initially comprehending the Returning Origin Guiding Heart Art bestowed by the Valley Master. This manual was indeed profound and perfectly compatible with her Myriad Medicine Body. It not only helped her more effectively conceal her Physique's aura but also allowed her to control her life force with extreme precision, making her Origin increasingly condensed and solid. After adjusting her state to its best, she took the king breaking pill and began her Breakthrough.

Xia Ya's approach was much more direct. She already had a solid Foundation; what she lacked was an opportunity and a push. After taking the king breaking pill, the majestic medicinal power dissolved. Combined with the steadiness of her Thick Earth Art and her insights from days of life-and-death combat, heavy True Qi fluctuations soon came from the closed-door room, indicating smooth progress.

Qin Feng made another arrangement. He knew that although the intelligence System could provide shortcuts, his own Foundation and comprehensive abilities were equally important. The art of Alchemy was crucial for fighting enemies, healing, assisting Cultivation, and obtaining resources in the future. As the leader of the world's medical and Alchemy paths, Medicine King Valley was the perfect Holy Land to learn this Dao.

Relying on his status as a Guest Elder, he was able to enter the Alchemy Hall to listen and observe, and even receive some guidance when some senior Deacons or mild-tempered Elders were refining pills. He asked for advice humbly, starting from the most basic identification of medicinal materials and the principles of medicinal compatibility to fire control techniques and pill-forming methods, learning step by step. With his past-life logical thinking and the [White] or [Yellow] intel occasionally provided by the System regarding certain pill-refining secrets as "flashes of inspiration" for verification, his progress speed amazed even some of the Deacons teaching the classes, who felt this youth had extremely high Comprehension Ability and understood everything instantly.

Of course, he didn't waste the daily refreshed intelligence. Besides monitoring the egg's status, movements within the valley, and news from the border, he also looked out for information about the appearance of rare medicinal herbs, Alchemists needing special assistants, or even small amounts of Advanced medicinal dregs left in abandoned pill rooms that could be refined into something good. These scattered resources added up, subsidizing his learning and Cultivation costs.

Time flew by in focus and fulfillment.

The nourishment to revive the giant egg continued daily. Xiaochun's Essence Blood and vitality were like a trickling stream, nourishing that faint spark of life; the change was slow but steady.

Ji Ruxue's figure became increasingly ethereal and unpredictable.

The auras from the rooms where Xiaochun and Xia Ya were in seclusion were sometimes surging and sometimes calm, clearly reaching a critical moment.

Qin Feng's Alchemy techniques became more proficient by the day. His control over heat and medicinal properties was now worlds apart from when he first entered the valley. His cultivation was also steadily consolidating, and his use of Mid-stage Martial King power became increasingly adept.

Unknowingly, the two-week period agreed upon for Great Master Ouyang Lie to forge their weapons was about to expire.

On this day, just as Qin Feng finished a successful batch of "Hundred Herbs Body Tempering Liquid" in the Alchemy Hall, the Guest Elder token in his bosom suddenly grew slightly warm, transmitting a short message:

"The weapons are finished. Come to the Fire Refining Hall immediately."

Qin Feng's spirits rose, and a look of expectation flashed in his eyes.