NOVEL WEB Chapter 16: Spirit Awakening
The air grew heavy as Xiao Ning stepped into the valley. The smell of iron and decay clung to his robes, a grim reminder of the violence that had taken place here. Sunlight struggled to break through the thick mist, casting the area in a dim, reddish glow—like dried blood staining the rocks. Jagged stones jutted from the ground, their surfaces marked by ancient scars left by countless battles.
The silence was complete, broken only by the soft whisper of the wind moving through the canyons.
Perfect.
Xiao Ning sat cross-legged at the center of the valley, where the Yin Qi—the cold, dark energy—was strongest. He took a deep breath, pulling this energy into his lungs. It felt like inhaling sharp needles, but he welcomed the pain.
"Time to begin," he whispered, activating the Paradox Meridians.
His cultivation began to fade, like water draining from a basin. The warm, familiar flow of spiritual energy inside him disappeared, replaced by an empty, chilling void. For all intents and purposes, he now seemed like an ordinary mortal—a blank slate ready to start again.
To sense the Asura Qi, however, would require more than just preparation. Unlike other forms of energy, Asura Qi was unique and hidden from most people. Even most most experienced cultivators couldn't see or detect it easily, and Xiao Ning was no exception. To uncover it, he needed to carve the Asura Rune into his dantian, the core of his spiritual energy.
Closing his eyes, Xiao Ning began to guide the Yin Qi through his body. It moved slowly, resisting his control like a wild animal trapped in a cage. This resistance was the first challenge—he had to make this chaotic energy obey him.
With every breath, he pushed harder, forcing the Yin Qi to shape the intricate lines of the Asura Rune within his dantian. The process was painful. The Yin Qi felt like shards of ice scraping against his meridians, sending waves of agony through his body. But Xiao Ning stayed still, his face pale and covered in sweat, his body trembling from the strain.
He gritted his teeth, refusing to give up.
Pain was just another test, a way to strengthen his resolve.
Hours turned into days as he worked tirelessly, each stroke of the rune bringing more pain. Yet his determination never wavered.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the last line of the rune was complete. It glowed faintly with a crimson light, standing out against the silvery surface of his dantian.
In that moment, a surge of energy rushed through Xiao Ning's body. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt before—dark, powerful, and filled with primal intensity.
This was Asura Qi.
His eyes snapped open, and for the first time, he could sense the Asura Qi around him, invisible to others but clear to him now.
A small smile crossed his face. With the Asura Rune inscribed, the next step was to create the Asura Veins—special channels that would carry the Asura Qi throughout his body. This was where the real transformation would begin.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Ning reached out with his senses, feeling the Asura Qi swirling around him. Crimson threads of energy wrapped around his arms and legs, responding to his commands. His dantian pulsed steadily, sending waves of corrosive energy through his meridians.
This wasn't the gentle flow of traditional cultivation methods; the Asura Scripture demanded destruction before creation.
Guiding the ravenous Asura Qi through his meridians, Xiao Ning became like a blacksmith shaping molten metal. His right arm's meridian network dissolved under the pressure, breaking apart over three long days and nights. Phantom chains appeared in the valley as Xiao Ning screamed in pain, his voice raw and strained. But through the torment, the Asura Qi rebuilt his pathways—not as simple channels, but as greedy pits that consumed even more energy from the air.
His vertebrae cracked and healed seventeen times, each cycle leaving baleful runes etched into his bones.
Then suddenly, his heart stopped.
For nine breaths, death's icy grip held him.
But then, with a thunderous beat, his heart restarted, awakening as if from a long sleep. The Asura Qi surged once more, flowing through his body like fire. His senses expanded, feeling the valley tremble beneath him, its centuries of anger and sorrow seeping into his dantian.
"Nine breaths," Xiao Ning said softly. "I walked between life and death—and crossed it."
Though not fully complete, the foundation for his transformation was laid. With the Asura Veins partially formed, Xiao Ning focused on strengthening them further, absorbing more Asura Qi from the valley. Years of bloodshed and despair had made this place rich with dark energy, which he eagerly absorbed. The veins solidified, turning from shadowy forms into strong channels capable of carrying the Asura Qi efficiently, embedding it deeper into his being.
Releasing his hold on the Paradox Meridians allowed his suppressed cultivation to return, rising quickly to the peak of the Spirit Awakening Realm. Surprisingly, combining his old cultivation with the new was much easier than expected. His body, cleansed of any traces of past techniques, adapted smoothly to the changes.
At the peak of the Spirit Awakening Realm, Xiao Ning prepared for the next phase: breaking through to the Spirit Palace Realm using the Asura Scripture. Focusing deeply, he tapped into the vast reservoir of Asura Qi within him.
With the Asura Rune embedded in his dantian and the Asura Veins nearly complete, Xiao Ning turned his attention to building the Spirit Palace.
According to the scripture, this wouldn't be easy. To construct the palace, he needed fragments of souls from those who had died violently. The Blood Meridian Valley, soaked in centuries of blood and suffering, was perfect for this task.
"Alright," Xiao Ning muttered quietly. "Let's get started."
He began circulating the Asura Qi through his veins, drawing in the dark energy from the valley. Slowly, ghostly whispers filled the air, rising from the ground like smoke curling from embers. Shadows flickered at the edges of his vision—fragments of souls emerging from their eternal rest. Some cried out in pain, others sobbed silently, while a few lashed out in anger. Each carried a piece of the valley's endless hatred and sorrow.
Xiao Ning reached out with his mind, carefully capturing these soul fragments one by one. The work was slow and delicate. One mistake could send them scattering back into nothingness. Sweat dripped down his face, his jaw tight, but he kept going. The atmosphere grew heavier with each fragment he collected, frost spreading over the jagged rocks as the valley echoed with tormented cries.
Once he had enough soul fragments, it was time to build the Spirit Palace. This was the final step toward mastering the Asura Scripture.