Chapter 43: Chapter 41: Life and Death In the instant Su Chaotang disappeared, Qin Jin did not hesitate for a moment. He raised his right arm, gathering Life Energy to block the front. The next instant... Bang! Arms collided, producing a dull sound. "Teacher Su must have gone easy." "He is intentionally restraining himself, feeding me moves." The gap between the Grandmaster Realm and the Newborn Realm is a real and significant numerical difference. As thoughts flashed through Qin Jin’s mind, his left hand clenched into a fist, emitting a faint light, and he punched toward Su Chaotang’s abdomen. The left fist was blocked. Su Chaotang did not engage in a power struggle with Qin Jin, retreating immediately after contact, and attacked from another direction. Qin Jin was fully focused, perceiving everything around him with Spiritual Perception. Fighting with a person is completely different from battling Fierce Beasts. Fierce Beasts rely on instinct and ferocity in battle. But Martial Arts practitioners have their own moves and routines. With each assault from different directions, sweat appeared on Qin Jin’s forehead. Although he had not used Spiritual Power, he felt mentally exhausted. That was the chain reaction of being fully concentrated without a moment’s relaxation. Another sneak attack came. As fists collided, Qin Jin’s gaze sharpened, and the Life Energy within him erupted violently. Combat Technique: One-Sided Annihilation. Merely defending has never been Qin Jin’s nature. As One-Sided Annihilation operated, the Life Energy within Qin Jin’s physique continuously boiled, and with it, strands of electric arcs surged. He had never stopped deducing this Combat Technique during this period. Constitution, strength, and speed were all amplified simultaneously. After an attack, Su Chaotang still intended to retreat. But at this moment, Qin Jin’s speed surged, his figure followed, and his fist, wrapped in Thunder, launched horizontally. Su Chaotang immediately raised his hand to block. As the fist and palm collided, both figures landed on the ground. The power contained in Qin Jin’s punch disappeared like a stone sinking into the sea. But a look of satisfaction rose on Su Chaotang’s face. "Not bad." He nodded slightly and said bluntly, "If I were also at the Newborn Realm, I would have already lost." "Your Life Energy, in its boiling state, triggered a wondrous reaction, activating Elemental Power." He observed Qin Jin’s state, seemingly thoughtful: "In that case, there is a Combat Technique that should suit you. Perhaps, you have the potential to master it." "I’ll discuss it with the boss to see if he’s willing to invest in you." Qin Jin stood there, curious at the words, and asked, "Teacher Su, what Combat Technique are you referring to?" Su Chaotang looked at him, his voice sounding. "Nine Tribulations True Body." ... The three-hour course passed in a flash. Qin Jin obtained the [Divine Martial Furnace Visualization Map] at the base. This Visualization Image was not in paper format but directly recorded in the Martial Arts Crystal. He received permission to take it directly, with the condition to return it after Condensing Intent. In addition to that. He specially consulted Su Chaotang on the precautions during the Ancient Method of Condensing Intent. Currently, he still has a tribe behind him. The Divine Martial Furnace was established by the Martial God, but being separated by two worlds, the Desolate Human Race clearly cannot visualize this furnace that aids in Condensing Intent. Before he has enough ability to unify and develop a Cultivation System, letting the Desolate Human Race practice Martial Arts is the best means of improvement, so naturally, he must understand everything clearly. In the time that followed, Qin Jin’s life revolved around a three-point routine. The base, Xinyang District, and the Great Wilderness. He studied daily at the base and cultivated in the Great Wilderness, with both Life Energy and Spiritual Power steadily growing. In the Great Wilderness, every day, new tribespeople joined, and after worshipping the Sacrificial Spirit, they could start cultivating the Breathing Technique. A person’s name, a tree’s shadow—the Ancient Relic Species devastated countless nearby tribes, and as the Sacrificial Fire Tribe gradually grew, it attracted more and more people. The tribes in the Great Wilderness were originally formed by humans of different bloodlines banding together for survival. At Qin Jin’s suggestion, the Sacrificial Fire Tribe formed two teams, departing from their tribe. One team was led by Ding Yang, with Qi Ze as support. Their destination was the ruins of other tribes. A sudden raid destroyed countless homes; the relics within each tribe contain untold resources. Now that the Sacrificial Fire Tribe has spare capacity, they naturally won’t let them slip away. Their first target was the Spirit Spring Tribe, to which Ding Yang once belonged. The second team was led by Xia Rock Tiger. Their target was the Three-headed Exotic Python. Using Python Blood to refine their physiques, coupled with enduring the pressure contained in the Python Head, the elite of the Sacrificial Fire Tribe’s Hunting Team had become accustomed to the constantly weakening pressure and were thus dispatched to collect everything related to the Three-headed Exotic Python. Both tasks required a considerable amount of time, but fortunately, time was ample. The current Sacrificial Fire Tribe hadn’t encountered any external crises and needed only to develop gradually. The three strongest members of the tribe were all dispatched, but Qin Jin’s own teleportation point was at the Sacrificial Spirit Hall. With him presiding as the Lord Sacrificial Spirit, the people of the Sacrificial Fire Tribe maintained stable mindsets. ... The Great Wilderness. Spirit Spring Tribe. Ruins and debris, corpses strewn everywhere. This was the sight that greeted Ding Yang and his fellows upon their arrival. The Spirit Spring Tribe was somewhat inferior to the Sacrificial Fire Tribe, but at its peak, it had over ten thousand people, with a vast occupied area. But now... The former homeland of humanity, after being ravaged by Ancient Relic Species, now left with "carrion," has attracted many fierce beasts, becoming a land rampant with beasts. Ding Yang’s expression was complex. This place was once his tribe. But now it has fallen into such a state. Even though the Ancient Relic Species that caused this scene has perished, everything is beyond recovery. The team he led, including himself, totaled twenty-three, all elite tribe members who cultivated the Breathing Technique. Although Ding Yang had just begun cultivating the Breathing Technique, his inherent talent was exceptional, and after activating his Treasure Skill, his combat power was fierce. Along the way, they would bypass the fierce beasts when possible; if unavoidable, they would hunt them, gradually advancing into the Spirit Spring Tribe. "Ahead is the location of the Spirit Spring." Ding Yang glanced up at the sky and then whispered to Qi Ze beside him, "The Spirit Spring is a treasure of the tribe, usually accessible only to the chief and a few priests." "I’m not sure if the Spirit Spring is due to the special nature of the area or if it arose for other reasons." "When we get there, we’ll investigate carefully to see if we can bring it back." Qi Ze nodded. The group continued forward. The Spirit Spring Tribe, a large tribe of over ten thousand people, had a settlement that began to resemble a "city." The Spirit Spring was at the central area. They pressed on. From a distance, the largest and most magnificent building in the city had already collapsed, and beside the ruins, a clear spring about seven or eight meters wide lay; at its center, the rippling water seemed to spring forth endlessly. This was indeed the most precious Spirit Spring within the Spirit Spring Tribe. Upon seeing the target, Ding Yang and the others did not act immediately. Because... At this moment, beside the Spirit Spring, there was a panther-like fierce beast, its claws showing a metallic sheen, with three tails behind it, drinking water with its head lowered. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢 The moment they saw it. Ding Yang’s body trembled slightly. "What’s wrong?" Qi Ze keenly noticed this and placed a hand on Ding Yang’s shoulder, asking in a low voice. "That creature." Ding Yang’s voice had a noticeable tremor, "That is the Sacrificial Spirit of the Spirit Spring Tribe, Sanxuan." "When the Ancient Relic Species attacked, it did not resist at all, and at the cost of potential Wish Power backlash, it abandoned the tribe and fled on its own." Sacrificial Spirit. A ripple flashed in Qi Ze’s eyes. He thought of the former Stone Saint of the Sacrificial Fire Tribe. Also a Sacrificial Spirit, the Stone Saint stood against the Exotic Python, ultimately mutilated, but buying time for the tribespeople of the Sacrificial Fire Tribe to escape. The different choices of the two Sacrificial Spirits led to divergent fates of life and death. "Let’s observe for a while." Although Qi Ze felt waves of emotion, his voice remained calm and cautious, "To become a Sacrificial Spirit, even with injuries from a Wish Power backlash, it’s still probably stronger than ordinary fierce beasts." "Let’s see if it’s just passing by or intends to stay long-term." "If it plans to stay, we’ll inform Lord Sacrificial Spirit and discuss further plans." Ding Yang nodded solemnly. His fists clenched, and his heart wasn’t calm. But he was extremely responsible; otherwise, he wouldn’t have led his tribesmen to seek out the Sacrificial Fire Tribe, nor would he allow his mindset to affect the others now. The group quietly waited. After a considerable drink from the Spirit Spring, under the gaze of Ding Yang and the others, Sanxuan rapidly departed on one side, soon disappearing from sight. ... Outside Xinyang District, within the base. Qin Jin sat cross-legged inside a cultivation chamber. The incense’s soothing aroma filled the room, invading the nostrils and calming one’s spirit. With a heart as pristine as ice, undisturbed even if the sky falls. In front of him. The profession panel emerged, displaying information. [Spiritual Index: 40.1] With fortune on his side and a diligent daily cultivation without slacking, his Spiritual Index finally reached its threshold! Qin Jin chose to attempt a breakthrough at the base. After all, in terms of environment and preparation, everything here was ideal. Even taking the worst-case scenario, should the breakthrough be unsuccessful, the base was sufficiently equipped to protect him and facilitate a quick retry. With a composed mind devoid of ripples, Qin Jin looked at the Martial Arts Crystal in his hands. [Divine Martial Furnace Visualization Map] This was a square crystal, distinctly different from those inscribed with Thunder Elephant Visualization Technique, emitting a fiery red radiance, even somewhat dazzling. In the next moment. Qin Jin’s Spiritual Power safeguarded his intent, surging into it. The instant he entered, an overwhelming heat sensation washed over. Qin Jin instinctively observed his surroundings. Vast and empty. High above, there was an incomparable, blazing star spanning the sky, suspended in the firmament, and at a glance, evoking a sense of grandeur and self-awareness of one’s insignificance. Qin Jin’s Spiritual Will remained stationary, gazing intently at that star. As if facing the great sun directly.