39: abyss

Night fell.

There were no stars, no clouds, and no moon in the night sky of the Great Wilderness.

Below, within the Si Huo Tribe, activity buzzed.

Medicine cauldrons were set up, and when their numbers weren't enough, the bones of giant beasts with suitable shapes were directly used as substitutes.

Beneath them, raging flames burned.

Ice blocks containing congealed python blood were placed into the cauldrons, and precious medicines collected by the tribe were also added.

Qin Jin, piloting the Deep Driller, stood by, his current power of vows consumed, transforming into golden light that swept towards both ends.

One end fell into the container, the other plunged into the flames.

The fire, mixed with brilliant golden light, intensified rapidly at a visible speed; the ice blocks in the container melted, and the precious blood, combined with the great medicines, diffused a clear, refreshing fragrance that invigorated the mind.

The youngest children of the tribe became the first batch.

Those with bone ages of sixteen or more could practice the Breathing Method, but now that the Si Huo Tribe was being rebuilt, the children were the future, and naturally, they needed to lay a good foundation in their youth so they could go further and climb higher in the future.

The moment the children were picked up and thrown into the container, frost instantly condensed around their bodies.

However, with the protection of the power of vows Qin Jin had invested, there was no major harm.

Qin Jin's attention was focused on Shi Cang.

In his spiritual perception, Shi Cang, upon entering the medicine cauldron, instinctively began to thrash, and through his continuous thrashing, the power contained within this pot of precious medicine was rapidly absorbed by him.

Such a performance undoubtedly matched his talent.

Moreover.

Soon, under Qin Jin's watchful eye, ice-crystal-like patterns gradually rose on Shi Cang's back.

Awakening a Treasure Technique!

Seeing this, Qin Jin pondered for a moment, then immediately manipulated his power of vows, preparing to interrupt the awakening Treasure Technique without harming him.

As a Ancient Remnant Species, the Three-Headed Strange Python was of an extremely high level, and the Treasure Technique it condensed would undoubtedly be extraordinary.

But...

Qin Jin had already begun to analyze the formation process of Treasure Techniques.

In the future, he intended to explore methods to directly allow Sacrificial Fire Tribe members to learn Treasure Techniques.

If it were just ordinary tribesmen, that would be one thing, but Shi Cang was a prodigy he had discovered within the tribe, and naturally, he needed to be carefully nurtured.

A Treasure Technique, after all, was merely a skill.

The self was the foundation of everything.

He intended to interrupt the Treasure Technique, allowing the power contained within it to lay a solid foundation for Shi Cang.

The power of vows flew out.

With some perception, Qin Jin's movement halted.

In his spiritual perception, the patterns on Shi Cang's back continuously spread, almost covering his entire back, and the Treasure Technique was nearly formed.

But just at this moment...

Silently, the Treasure Technique patterns began to recede, and the power contained within them flowed through Shi Cang's body, finally settling in a certain spot and being gradually absorbed.

Qin Jin followed the traces of power to investigate and found the target.

The final resting place of the power was between Shi Cang's eyebrows.

In his spiritual perception, a deep abyss seemed to exist at this little fellow's glabella, constantly devouring power.

A small portion of the power contained in the precious medicine tempered his physique, while the majority was absorbed into this abyss.

“It looks like something is being nurtured.”

“Is this Shi Cang's talent?”

“Ding Yang possesses a special physique; I wonder what Shi Cang's talent will be.”

Qin Jin's spiritual power remained outside the glabella, ultimately not exploring deeper.

With the protection of the power of vows, he could indeed enter and investigate.

But this was, after all, a child from his own tribe, and highly likely an SSR.

If any accident occurred due to his rash actions, it would be undesirable.

A thought flashed, and Qin Jin contacted Qi Chuan through telepathy, giving a few instructions.

The abyss in Shi Cang's glabella seemed like a glutton.

If it were in the past, with the Si Huo Tribe in ruins, they might not have been able to satisfy him.

But now, with the great gift left by the Horse-bodied Human-faced God, the Three-Headed Strange Python was like a treasure mine, waiting for the Si Huo Tribe to exploit.

Qin Jin was very curious what changes would occur in this little fellow, Shi Cang, the moment the abyss was sated.

Within the tribe, the medicinal baths continued.

After the little ones finished, it was the turn of the tribe's young adults, who used beast blood to refine their physiques.

Qin Jin no longer paid attention, leaving instructions not to disturb him, then returned to his Sacrificial Spirit Hall.

With his increased power of vows reserves, he consumed power of vows to directly set up a restriction around this hall; without his permission, the members of the Si Huo Tribe could not enter.

In the cockpit, Qin Jin's body rose and fell as he began to circulate the Breathing Method.

The enhanced Thunder Beast Breathing Technique could only exert its maximum effect within the Great Wilderness.

Thunder Spiritual Energy gathered, assisting life energy, and he began to cultivate.

During his cultivation, Qin Jin thought of a question.

“The Thunder Beast Breathing Technique clearly has a unique attraction to thunder-attributed spiritual energy.”

“Currently, everyone in the Si Huo Tribe practices this method. If someone like Ding Yang, who possesses a special physique, were to switch to a fire-attributed Breathing Method in the future, would it achieve twice the result with half the effort?”

…

The next day.

Qin Jin headed to the base.

With the Sacrificial Spirit Hall surrounded by a restriction of power of vows, the tribesmen were unaware of the situation inside, and he effectively served as a temporary transfer point, directly treating it as such.

Upon arriving at the base, along the way, base personnel, upon seeing Qin Jin, all nodded in greeting and said hello.

Over several days, the personnel within the base had all come to understand that Qin Jin was a genius highly valued by their boss.

“Jing Ge.”

Not far away, a call rang out.

Yu Sheng quickly ran over.

His expression was natural; the initial complex emotions had dissipated.

“How have you been feeling these past few days?”

Qin Jin asked.

“The intensity is getting greater and greater.”

Yu Sheng pushed up his glasses: “But I can still hold on.”

“Jing Ge, you were right. Even if I'm eliminated in the end, the gains this time are not small.”

Qin Jin looked at him.

He could sense a vibrant aura around Yu Sheng, indicating a state nearing the Newborn Realm.

“Keep up the good work.”

“Yu Sheng, if you can secure one of the final spots to work for Teacher Chu, there are immense benefits. The opportunity to establish a connection with a Spiritual Energy User is hard to come by.”

“I can participate in the decision for the final candidates.”

“If you can persist until only five people remain and you're still here, I will designate you to be among them.”

Leaving these words, Qin Jin walked towards the deeper parts of the base.

If you have power, you should use it.

There were three spots in total. If Yu Sheng could truly persevere to the end, he would naturally lend a hand.

After all, this was a good friend with whom he had a good relationship and knew well, more trustworthy than others.

In terms of strength, he was confident he could suppress others brought by Chu Tianyi, but facing the nascent Star God and opponents from other forces, no one knew what might happen, so trustworthy teammates were essential.

In front of a special building, Qin Jin knocked on the door, then pushed it open.

The moment he stepped inside, a heavy sensation came over his body, and an invisible pressure spread.

This was a gravity training room, approximately a hundred meters long and wide.

At a glance, Su Chaozong stood with his hands behind his back in the center, waiting.

“Su Teacher.”

Qin Jin greeted him.

In the Great Wilderness, he was a revered Sacrificial Spirit, but on the Mining Star, he was still just a Martial Artist in the Newborn Realm. He needed to maintain the heart of an apprentice to continually progress.

Su Chaozong nodded, then said in a deep voice: “Qin Jin, today, we will conduct combat training.”

“The growth of a Martial Artist is permeated by the 'martial' character. Besides cultivation, one must also temper oneself in battle.”

“Being skilled in combat is a talent in itself.”

“Special environments like gravity amplification might also be something you encounter in the future.”

“Today, we'll be here. I'll be your opponent. After an hour of practical combat, we'll begin learning Combat Methods.”

Hearing his words, Qin Jin's eyes lit up slightly.

He did not lack combat experience; in the Great Wilderness, facing fierce beasts was true life-and-death struggle.

However...

He had almost no experience fighting humans, or other Martial Artists.

Having a Grandmaster spar with him was undoubtedly the best opportunity to improve himself.

Taking a few steps forward, Qin Jin familiarized himself with the gravity in the room while speaking: “Su Teacher, before we spar, there's something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“What should I pay attention to when condensing Divine Intent?”

At the front.

Su Chaozong's hands were clenched into fists, constantly rotating, warming up his body.

Hearing this, his movements suddenly paused, and he looked at Qin Jin.

“Your spiritual index is already sufficient? Are you going to start Intent Condensation?”

“Almost, but I think it's time to understand it.”

Qin Jin replied.

“Tsk.”

Su Chaozong rarely clicked his tongue.

“Boss Chu really found a treasure.”

He seemed to recall something, his tone filled with emotion, and his eyes dimmed for a moment.

Immediately after.

He returned to normal, saying seriously: “The Ningyi Realm is the second major realm for Martial Artists.”

“From ancient times to the present, the cultivation of each Martial Artist realm has been continuously improved, from difficult to easy, from crude to refined.”

“In ancient times, to condense Divine Intent required a vast amount of time to temper one's will and consolidate one's spirit, yet it might ultimately yield no results.”

“However, in the present age, contemporary Martial Artists who wish to condense Divine Intent must first visualize the Divine Martial Furnace!”

…

Mining Star.

Qingling District.

One of the Five Major Survival Zones.

At this moment, above the sky encircling the Qingling District, a large starship, protected by a defensive field, hovered.

Inside the starship, in the conference room.

More than ten people were seated on either side of the conference table.

Chu Tianyi was prominently among them, occupying the first seat on the left.

The conference table's surface was a super-large technological screen, displaying a dynamic overhead view of Planet JK4176.

Looking at it.

The Five Major Survival Zones were scattered across the planet, vaguely forming the five points of a pentagram in the dynamic map.

And at the center were dense, thick thunderclouds.

Beside the conference table, someone waved a hand, parting the thunderclouds on the screen.

When the thunderclouds were parted, revealing what lay beneath...

It was a Thunder God Tree, entirely composed of lightning, radiating brilliant light, connecting heaven and earth!

It looked like the World Tree from myths and legends.

It had no roots, no branches or leaves, suspended above the ground, standing tall between heaven and earth, but the rampant lightning across the entire planet was its very Context!

This was precisely where the Star God was nurtured within Mining Star JK4176.

This Thunder God Tree.

It was the egg that nurtured the Star God!