65: Breaking the neck with one hand, [Qi Yuan Crystal]

"Clang! Clang! Clang!!!"

A dense series of metallic clashing sounds erupted, rapid and sharp.

Whether it was Bai Xuan's Five Elements Wind Blades or the translucent gas projectiles released by the [First Order Virus Apostle], both possessed immense hardness, comparable to—or even far exceeding—steel.

However, the strength of this [First Order Virus Apostle] was ultimately inferior to Bai Xuan's.

Ten Five Elements Wind Blades shattered the translucent gas projectiles.

Seven of the Five Elements Wind Blades dissipated instantly.

The remaining three Five Elements Wind Blades continued to streak toward the [First Order Virus Apostle].

Seeing this, the [First Order Virus Apostle] merely swept its hands, performing a defensive Move very similar to Taiji Fist.

The wisps of translucent gas then transformed into an arc-shaped translucent gas shield.

This arc-shaped translucent gas shield was not static, but dynamic.

The high-speed circulation of the airflow gave it powerful defensive capabilities, allowing it to withstand greater impact forces and dissipate or redirect them.

Sure enough, the remaining three Five Elements Wind Blades could not break through the Defense.

"Clang! Clang!! Clang!!!"

The loud metallic clashing sound caused Bai Xuan to narrow his eyes.

"This monster… is much stronger than I predicted."

"Although its destructive power isn't as great as mine, its abilities are very balanced."

"Speed, attack, Defense… all are outstanding, with no weaknesses."

"Hmm…"

"This doesn't seem to be a bad thing, either."

"It's the perfect opportunity to test my actual combat ability."

"Let's see just how powerful my actual combat ability is with the enhancement of [Essence-Deficient]."

With a thought, Bai Xuan directly mobilized the [Essence-Deficient] that permeated his entire body, connected as one, and vast like an ocean.

He controlled them, surging into his five internal organs.

Processing, transforming, and producing even more powerful [Five Elements Spiritual Energy].

Then, he controlled the [Five Elements Spiritual Energy], surging it into his flesh, blood, and bones, entering the "Five Elements Fusion" state.

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth… his skin, flesh, tendons, bones, five internal organs, six viscera, and all four limbs received powerful transcendent energy, greatly enhancing his physical fitness, human functions, strength, Physique, and Agility… while also gaining the many properties of the Five Elements.

Sharper, tougher, more violent, more energetic, more vibrant…

[Blood Flame Bone Armor]!

With a thought, the blood-colored bone armor suddenly covered his body.

With another thought, blood-colored flames suddenly rose up, covering his entire body.

Bai Xuan never forgot that the synthesis Materials for the [Five Elements Spirit Body] contained numerous Martial Arts.

These Martial Arts had been integrated into his body, becoming muscle memory, conditioned reflexes, and combat instincts.

At this moment, Bai Xuan took a step forward, as if treading on the Big Dipper, walking with the stride of a Dragon and a tiger.

With this single step, Bai Xuan arrived in front of the [First Order Virus Apostle] and threw a punch.

This punch, with power rising from the feet, pushing from the legs, controlled by the waist, and manifested in the hand, integrated the body's strength into one, carrying astonishing kinetic energy as it slammed fiercely toward the monster.

The [First Order Virus Apostle] seemed to have also refined Taiji Fist and Baguazhang into its marrow; its reaction was extremely fast, its movements even faster, as it reflexively defended with a Taiji Fist Move.

However, Bai Xuan understood Taiji Fist far too well. With a change in technique, his palm arrived at the neck of the [First Order Virus Apostle].

With just a forceful pinch and twist, Bai Xuan was confident he could snap its neck.

However, this [First Order Virus Apostle] was ultimately not an ordinary Martial Artist, but a terrifying monster.

The pores at its neck suddenly opened, and wisps of translucent gas, like sharp blades, sliced directly toward Bai Xuan's palm, seemingly wanting to mince it into flesh and bone paste.

However, the [Blood Flame Bone Armor] was not just for show. Even if it couldn't fully resist the [First Order Virus Apostle]'s attack, it could still hold up for a moment.

Just as dozens of cracks appeared, Bai Xuan gripped the monster's neck.

"Snap!!!"

Azure blood flowed out.

"Thud!!!"

The corpse fell to the ground.

"Still useless."

"Weak, too weak…"

"Sigh…"

After a faint sigh, Bai Xuan began to collect the transcendent blood. Once finished, he used the [Devouring Turbid Large Intestine] to consume the corpse.

[Growth Rate +24.12%]

After the growth rate increased by 24.12%, the total growth rate reached 67.32%, causing his digestive ability to increase by 134.46%.

"Next,"

"Let me see what kind of loot this blue orb of light represents."

[Materials: Qi Essence Crystal]

[Tier: First Order]

[Quality: Blue]

[Introduction: After use, completely activate the transcendent energy "Qi Essence"]

"It actually is [Qi Essence Crystal]… It seems my hypothesis was correct."

"So, this trip to Shenyu Mountain might just allow me to collect the [Essence], [Qi Essence], and [Spirit Yuan], and after fusing the three, master the purple-quality transcendent energy [Primordial Qi]."

"Hmm… It's possible."

"Regardless, my gains since arriving at Shenyu Mountain have been very rich: the [Devouring Turbid Large Intestine], [Essence-Deficient], and now this [Qi Essence Crystal]."

"Therefore, I can draw a simple conclusion."

"In certain special locations, the quality of monsters will be higher than in other places."

"For instance, Shenyu Mountain with its many Daoist temples, or famous mountains and rivers with many Buddhist temples… or perhaps Martial Arts schools, sports universities… gyms? Stadiums with many athletes?"

Thinking up to this point, Bai Xuan knew he should go to those places more often in the future to farm monsters and level up.

He then collected his thoughts and used the [Qi Essence Crystal].

What is Qi Essence?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi Essence is "Origin Qi," also known as "Primordial Qi."

It is the most fundamental and important Qi in the human body, originating from the transformation of kidney Essence and relying on the nourishment of Acquired water and grain Essence.

Origin Qi is distributed throughout the body via the Triple Burner and is the driving force of life activities; it promotes growth, development, warms the viscera, and determines the strength of the Physique and the Foundation of health.

In Daoist metaphysics, Qi Essence is the Origin Qi from the beginning of the Universe's birth, the absolute energy state of undifferentiated Yin and Yang, of primordial Chaos.

It is the beginning and end of all things, the "One" from which the Dao gives birth to the One.

Practitioners seek to "return to the Origin," which means refining Acquired Qi to return to this pure state of Innate Primordial Qi.

From a scientific perspective, Qi Essence is close to the initial energy of the Big Bang, or the most fundamental unit of information and energy in a biological System; it is the source of the fundamental negative entropy flow that maintains the order and complexity of the organism.

Summary: All three view "Qi Essence" as an essential, primordial existence; TCM views it as the driving force of life, metaphysics as the Origin of the Universe, and science as the fundamental basis for System order.

It transcends the flowing level of "Qi" and points directly to its most primordial foundational state.

Of course, these definitions exaggerate the power of [Qi Essence].

But as a transcendent energy, [Qi Essence] is indeed very powerful, as can be seen from the combat performance of the [First Order Virus Apostle].

It can be released from within the human body, significantly augmenting the body, making it hard as iron, and can change shape to be used for attack, Defense, and even auxiliary movement…