The sun, a blazing orb in the midday sky, beat down upon the forest grounds where Zhen stood, its intense heat radiating through the thin fabric of his white robes.

  At least, he thought, the Sect doesn't skimp on material. It's not silk, but it breathes well enough. He raised his right hand, palm open towards the sky, feeling the warmth on his skin.

  What the Abyssal Harmony Sect doesn't lack is land, he mused, the thought tinged with irony. Acres and acres of it. Mostly barren, though.

  He shook his head slightly. Calling it desolate isn't quite right, though. It teems with life. He squinted at the seemingly vibrant forest surrounding him, a sea of green stretching as far as the eye could see. The Nominal Sect Area is sparsely populated with disciples, but had a wild forest within an hour.

  Walking to a small clearing, he realized the subtle shift in his perspective. Barren… it's not about the physical landscape anymore. It's about the spiritual landscape.

  A gentle breeze whispered through the leaves of the surrounding trees, carrying with it the faintest hint of a hum – the subtle pulse of spiritual energy.

  Zhen closed his eyes, his mind reaching out, stretching towards the surrounding qi like a thirsty traveler towards an oasis. He began to circulate his refinement technique, the nine stars, drawing the ambient energy into his meridians.

  The stars readily absorbed the qi, but the efficiency was… disappointing. The spiritual energy in this area was sparse, a mere trickle compared to the torrents he had used in Qi Gathering Caves. Still, he thought, it should be enough for a practice session. He focused his mind, pushing aside the slight disappointment.

  After focusing mind, he took out the Diamond Skin scroll

  Opening his eyes, Zhen reached into the small pouch at his waist. His fingers brushed against the smooth surface of the scroll within.

  The Diamond Skin Technique, a Profound Grade treasure he had been choosen to study. He unrolled the scroll, his eyes scanning the intricate script.

  The chant was surprisingly descriptive, almost… prosaic. Not at all what he expected from a Profound Grade Technique.

  Diamond Skin, unyielding might,

  Spiritual Qi, burning bright.

  From heavens above, to earthly ground,

  Industrictible form, forever bound.

  Zhen frowned, concentrating on the words. He read them again, slowly, trying to decipher the underlying meaning. Unyielding might… indestructible form… he mused.

  Was it simply a description of the technique's effects, or was there a deeper, more symbolic meaning hidden within the verse? He closed his eyes, visualizing the flow of spiritual energy within his body, trying to imagine it solidifying, hardening, becoming like diamond. Burning bright…

  Did that refer to the intensity of the qi, or perhaps to some inner fire that needed to be ignited?

  He imagined the qi flowing down from the heavens, grounding itself in the earth, and then rising up through his body, transforming him from within. Forever bound… Was this a reference to the permanence of the technique, or perhaps to the commitment required to master it?

  He sighed, a hint of frustration creeping into his thoughts. The words were simple enough, yet their true meaning seemed to elude him.

  If only I had my golden finger… he lamented silently, realizing how hard it is to cultivate a technique.

  Sage’s Daily Scroll of Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Insights.

  Target: 18:37:41

  Another eighteen hours… He pushed the thought aside, focusing his attention inward. No point in complaining. I have to work with what I have.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  After a single practice with the mystic pattern following each syllable in the scroll, Zhen felt a surge of qi coursing through his stars in the acupoints as it flowed in a mystic pattern.

  This technique… it’s clearly a Foundation Establishment technique, he mused. I won’t be able to utilize its full potential just yet. My cultivation base is too shallow.

  Still focusing the flow of qi to a single area should be manageable. He considered his options, finally deciding to concentrate on his right hand.

  He took a deep breath, centering himself. Then, he began to chant, his voice a low resonance that harmonized with the rustling leaves and the chirping of distant birds.

  As he continued his chant, the qi began to seep out from the acupoints in his right hand, manifesting as a faint, golden shimmer that enveloped his skin.

  It spread rapidly, starting from his fingertips and engulfing his entire hand, forming a second skin that pulsed with qi, interwoven with streaks of blue and purple.

  With every exhale, the shimmer intensified, the golden light weaving itself into an intricate pattern.

  But then, just as the pattern seemed to be reaching halfway there, a hairline crack appeared. The crack spread rapidly, spider-webbing across the golden surface until the entire design shattered, dissipating into motes of light that faded into the air.

  Zhen frowned. He took another deep breath and began the chant anew, focusing his will, trying to guide the qi with more precision. The golden shimmer reappeared, slowly reforming the intricate pattern. Again, it reached a point of near completion, only to fracture and crumble, the fragile design unable to hold the surging qi.

  He repeated the process, again and again, each attempt ending in the same frustrating failure. Halfway there… he thought, observing the pattern forming, then breaking, forming again.

  Despite the repeated setbacks, he remained focused. He knew that mastering this technique would require patience and persistence. Finally, after numerous attempts, the pattern began to hold. The golden shimmer intensified, the intricate design solidifying, becoming more resilient with each passing second.

  Seventy percent… he estimated, seeing the pattern almost stable. He could feel the qi within him responding, flowing, strengthening. The pattern pulsed with power, nearly complete, but still fragile. He pushed more qi into the forming skin, feeling the strain, but also the growing strength. Eighty percent… almost there…

  After hours of practice, Zhen finally achieved the breakthrough he had been striving for. The intricate pattern on his right hand solidified, the golden lines glowing with a steady, powerful light.

  Zhen focused his eyes, marveling at the transformation. It was far more complex, more intricate than the simple qi manipulation he had used during his fight with Wang Bo. He tentatively touched his right hand with his left. The surface felt… different. Smooth, yet firm. He flexed his fingers, feeling the strange new sensation of the enhanced skin moving with him.

  It was as if his hand had become encased in a flexible, yet incredibly strong, gauntlet. He continued to supply qi to the forming skin, feeling the power thrumming beneath the surface. The sensation was exhilarating, a tangible manifestation of his growing strength.

  He lowered his hand, his gaze falling upon the hard-packed earth of the forest ground. An idea sparked within him.

  He drew in a deep breath, his muscles coiling like a spring, preparing to unleash the power he had cultivated. With a sharp exhale, he thrust his right fist towards the ground, channeling approximately half of his current strength into the strike.

  A resounding crack echoed through the air as his fist connected with the earth. Dust erupted from the point of impact, obscuring his hand in a momentary cloud.

  Zhen held his breath, anticipating a surge of pain. But to his astonishment, the pain was minimal, a dull ache that quickly subsided. He cautiously examined his hand, rotating it, flexing his fingers, searching for any sign of injury.

  There was nothing.

  His skin remained unblemished, the intricate golden pattern still vibrant and strong, a testament to the power of the Diamond Skin Technique.

  Emboldened by this initial success, Zhen decided to push the limits further. He gathered his qi once more, feeling the energy thrumming through his veins, a potent force eager to be unleashed. With a roar, he unleashed another punch, this time channeling the full force of his burgeoning power.

  The impact was explosive. The ground shattered beneath his fist, a spiderweb of cracks radiating outwards from the point of impact, a testament to the raw power he had just unleashed. A sharp pain lanced through his hand, a searing jolt that momentarily stole his breath. But it was fleeting, quickly replaced by a throbbing sensation that pulsed rhythmically in his palm.

  He instinctively cradled his hand, his brow furrowed in concentration as he assessed the damage. The throbbing slowly subsided, but a lingering ache remained. As the pain receded, he noticed a subtle shift in the flow of his qi.

  A small amount of energy had been dissipated during the punch, a necessary sacrifice, but the intricate pattern on his skin seemed slightly disarrayed. The golden lines, once so sharp and defined, were now blurred and less distinct, a visual representation of the strain his body had endured.

  I pushed too hard, he thought, a pang of disappointment settling in his stomach. I haven't truly mastered the technique yet. He realized, with a touch of self-reproach, that he had relied too much on brute force, on the raw power of his strike.

  He had neglected the delicate balance between his physical strength and the protective layer of Qi, pushing his body beyond its current limits. It’s not just about power, he mused. It’s about control. It’s about understanding the flow of qi, learning to harmonize it with my movements, to use it as a skin, not just a hammer.

  Zhen looked around, surveying the damage his punch had wrought. The earth was scarred, a clear testament to the force he had unleashed. He glanced up at the sky, noting the position of the sun.

  Five hours… five hours have passed since midday, he thought, a flicker of surprise registering in his mind. Time really flies when you're busy practicing cultivation techniques.

  https://www.patreon.com/Mythrnl

  Read 5 Chapter Ahead at $2.99!