Gao Wu: If this BOSS isn't nerfed, is it even playable?

Chapter 158: Devouring Source Crystals Again, Extreme Compression!
Pain had long since become a part of Lin Ye's body.

As he frantically and forcefully accelerated the absorption of the Three Talents Elixir, the piercing, bone-chilling sensation not only failed to lessen but intensified.

But Lin Ye had already become numb.

Whenever he saw the increasingly pure primordial Qi within his body, the physical torment seemed insignificant.

He has the ability to recover health after disengaging from combat.

Even if his meridians are damaged by the venomous blood of the viper, or even broken inch by inch, he can repair them completely in ten seconds if he stops for a moment.

Since we won't die, let's train like crazy!
Lin Ye had only one thought left in his mind.

The time it took him to absorb a pool of medicinal liquid gradually decreased from nearly two hours at the beginning to one and a half hours.

Another hour later.

Later on, the staff at Xisuitang became too lazy to run around anymore.

They simply pushed entire carts full of bottles and jars used for preparing the medicine to the entrance of the bathhouse.

As soon as Lin Ye called out, they rushed in and re-injected the already prepared medicine into the pool.

Each time they saw Lin Ye drain the pool of potion completely and then start a new pool of potion with a blank expression, the staff members' faces were filled with incomprehensible horror.

Is this still a fucking human being?
Does he really not feel any pain at all?
It's practically a ferocious beast in human skin!
When Lin Ye discovered that his dantian vortex was able to steadily lock in the newly generated innate qi and no longer needed the Dragon Shedding Incense to help preserve it, he decisively stopped this expense.

As for the resurrection plant extract, he never used it from the beginning.

Time flew by in this daily arduous practice.

Fifteen days later.

Inside the Marrow Cleansing Hall.

Lin Ye slowly opened his eyes.

He stood up and stepped out of the bath.

Behind him, in the bathtub, the water had formed a huge whirlpool, with a rapid current and a splashing sound.

The staff members standing by stared in astonishment, their mouths agape and their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

They had never seen anything like it!

What they didn't know was that the changes within Lin Ye's body were a hundred times more dramatic than what they had witnessed.

At this moment, Lin Ye didn't even need to look inward to clearly see that in his lower abdomen, at his dantian, a terrifying vortex formed by the convergence of incomparably pure innate qi was spinning wildly at an astonishing speed.

It was like an insatiable black hole, greedily devouring everything around it.

Thus, the vast, ocean-like acquired qi and blood within his body finally completed its first complete deletion.

The first step, eliminating the dross and retaining the essence, is complete!
Nineteen days have passed since the training camp opened.

The day after tomorrow will be the third and final assessment.

Lin Ye himself didn't know how many credits he owed, but he estimated it would be an astronomical figure.

If he can't pay back by tomorrow, he'll be kicked out of the training camp by Yin Liulan without any mercy, just like those eliminated trainees.

Lin Ye sensed the power within his body.

If his total blood and qi were previously one hundred, now he probably has less than twenty left.

In pursuit of ultimate purity, he directly cut off the Qi and Blood that were in a state where they could be deleted or not.

It is better to have nothing than to have something of poor quality.

Even so, Lin Ye was still not satisfied.

He could sense that the primordial Qi within his body was still not pure enough.

It has not yet reached the perfect state of "innate purity" described in the "True Explanation of the Two Elements of the Great Void".

The efficacy of the Three Talents Medicine Pool had reached its limit for him.

Continuing to soak it will have minimal effect.

A bold idea sprouted in Lin Ye's mind.

Since he is at the Qi Refining Realm, he can use Source Crystals to refine his Qi and blood.

Now that the primordial Qi has completed the first step of its transformation, what will happen if it is further refined by the source crystal?
To verify this conjecture, Lin Ye no longer hesitated.

He dressed, left the Marrow Cleansing Hall, and headed straight for the Nirvana Pagoda.

As Lin Ye passed by the martial arts hall, he saw that it was full of students sitting cross-legged and practicing diligently.

The anxiety and urgency on their faces were palpable.

Most of them were among those who ranked at the bottom in the previous two assessments, and they wanted to give it their all at the last minute.

Lin Ye sighed softly to himself.

He was no different.

Over the next fifteen days, his strength plummeted.

The three-dimensional attributes on the attribute panel, which had originally exceeded 600, are now only a little over 100, even weaker than when they fought the doctor in the ruined city.

His overall ranking in the training camp also dropped from a solid top-three position to fifteenth.

These days have been really tough.

Watching one's hard-earned power slip away is a feeling that could shatter any martial artist's resolve.

But Lin Ye gritted his teeth and persevered.

He firmly believes that all the forbearance and sacrifices are for the earth-shattering transformation that will follow!

Just as Lin Ye silently walked past the entrance of the military academy.

Inside the hall, a sudden and unexpected event occurred!
"What's going on? Source energy... I can't sense source energy anymore!"

A student who was practicing suddenly opened his eyes, his face filled with terror.

"what's the situation!"

"Holy crap, I'm suffocating! It feels like all the energy around us has been drained!"

For a moment, the entire military academy was in chaos.

Everyone was jolted awake from their meditative state and looked around in horror.

Then they saw Lin Ye's somewhat thin figure walking slowly past the door.

The Martial Arts Hall is located at the core of the entire training camp's energy-gathering array, making it the area with the most abundant energy source.

But just a moment ago, they felt as if they had been thrown into an absolute energy vacuum!

This situation had only occurred once before, when monsters like Lin Ye, Dongfang Zhen, and Zhang Daoxuan gathered together.

At this moment, Lin Ye was all alone.

And he didn't actually choose to activate the technique, yet it still produced such a terrifying effect.

Unbeknownst to those inside the military academy, the terrifying vortex within Lin Ye's body was like a moving eye of a typhoon.

Wherever it goes, all the free-floating energy particles in the world are uncontrollably swept up into it.

Its size is more than three times that of the terrifying vortex that Dongfang Zhen created before!
Long after Lin Ye left, the concentration of energy in the military academy slowly returned to normal.

The riot subsided, but everyone's expressions as they looked in the direction Lin Ye had left became increasingly awe-inspiring.

What Lin Ye didn't know was that he was just passing by today.

A new nickname, "Humanoid Self-Propelled Energy Vacuum Field," quickly spread among the trainees.

……

Beneath the Nirvana Pagoda.

Even in the daytime, this entirely black stone tower still exudes a chilling aura.

The tightly closed stone door was now open, and a team of six elite instructors, their expressions solemn, stood guard at the entrance.

Lin Ye stepped forward.

The lead instructor reached out and stopped him.

"Student, you need to pay 200 credits to enter the Nirvana Tower."

200 credits?

Lin Ye was somewhat surprised; the price was ridiculously high.

"Instructor, what exactly is going on inside the Nirvana Tower?"

The instructor seemed to have anticipated his question and patiently explained.

"The Nirvana Tower before you is, in essence, a fragment of a secondary celestial rift."

"Decades ago, a powerful martial god senior used unparalleled means to forcibly intercept it from the real Tianyuan Battlefield and seal it here."

"The purpose is to provide you younger generations with a relatively safe place for practical training."

"Compared to the real Abyss Rift, this fragment, although incomplete, is much less dangerous and more controllable."

Lin Ye understood instantly.

This is a complete "Occupied Zone Plus" version.

It was more dangerous than the occupied areas.

However, at the same time, there should be far more opportunities than in the occupied areas.

Inside, there must be a large number of Tianyuan aliens, and... the source crystals he needs most right now!

Lin Ye opened his personal terminal and glanced at his credit balance.

203 points.

Although it hurts, it's practically his only option right now.

Lin Ye crossed out the last 200 credits.

The instructor nodded and stepped aside to make way.

As soon as you step through the stone gate, the scenery before your eyes changes dramatically.

Lin Ye discovered that he had arrived at an incredibly huge underground plaza.

The square's dome is so high that its top is invisible, and it is surrounded by cold metal walls.

Countless instructors in training camp uniforms stood ready here, creating a tense and imposing atmosphere.

In the very center of the plaza, a distorted spatial rift, radiating an eerie purple light, was slowly rotating.

Several enormous machines, unlike anything Lin Ye had ever seen before, were projecting energy beams from all directions, stabilizing the rift.

Lin Ye was all too familiar with the dangerous aura emanating from that crack.

Just like the huge rift in the sky that almost swallowed him up during the final battle in the ruined city!

As Lin Ye approached the spatial rift radiating an ominous purple light, he was stopped by an instructor with a deep and imposing aura.

"First time here?"

The instructor's voice was calm and even, without any extra emotion. Lin Ye nodded.

There are some things I need to tell you in advance.

“The interior of the Nirvana Tower is very large due to the folding of space, so you won’t feel like you’re climbing inside the tower.”

"The entire Tianyuan Rift is filled with source crystals, and the environment is extremely complex. It is mainly divided into three areas. If you go in now, you will appear on the outermost edge."

"In the outer and middle layers, there are mainly two types of alien races from the Heavenly Abyss: the Stone Ghost Clan and the Eight-Armed Clan, who are constantly at war with each other."

"The last level, which is the area closest to the core volcano, is the territory of the Molten Demon Clan, and it is the most dangerous."

"Don't assume that the outer areas are safe. Even within the Eight-Armed Clan and the Stone Ghost Clan, powerful individuals far surpassing their peers may emerge."

"We must not underestimate our opponent."

After he finished speaking, the instructor handed him a black metal bracelet.

"If you encounter a danger that you cannot handle, press the red button on the side of the bracelet, and it will immediately fold up the space around you and forcibly teleport you out."

Lin Ye became increasingly alarmed as he listened.

A stone tower was used to seal a fragment of the entire Heavenly Abyss Rift, and the interior contained such a precise division of areas and spatial teleportation technology.

Just what kind of extraordinary skill did that martial god who built this tower possess!
Thinking about this, Lin Ye suddenly felt that those 200 credits were not a bad deal at all.

"I must remind you that even with the space to fold the bracelet, unexpected accidents still occur every year, and the mortality rate for entering the rift remains around 10% year after year."

"If you are really sure you want to go in, then sign this waiver and disclaimer."

Lin Ye barely hesitated. He had a one-second invincibility during the phase transition. During this one-second invincibility, he activated the bracelet and triggered spatial folding, making it difficult for him to die even if he wanted to.

He picked up the electronic pen beside him and decisively signed his name on the waiver and liability agreement.

However, just as he was about to step into the crevice...

In the distorted purple light ahead, several blurry figures staggered out and crashed heavily to the ground.

Those were four trainees, covered in blood and their armor shattered.

His face still bore the lingering fear, and he was breathing heavily, as if he had just crawled out of hell.

Following closely behind them, a familiar figure slowly walked out.

Yin Liulan.

She glanced at the four disheveled men on the ground, her face full of undisguised disgust and impatience.

She didn't even bother to offer a comment, simply waving her hand impatiently.

"Go back and reflect on your actions."

The four men, as if granted a pardon, scrambled away.

Only at this moment did Lin Ye finally understand what this bishop was responsible for.

She was actually a combat instructor who led her students through the Nirvana Tower, teaching them how to fight against alien races and how to survive in this fragment of the abyss!

Seemingly noticing Lin Ye's arrival, Yin Liulan looked in his direction.

When she saw Lin Ye, a glint of light finally flashed in her languid eyes.

"It seems you've finally made the first step toward a breakthrough."

Before Lin Ye could reply.

Yin Liulan suddenly took a step closer and softly hummed in response.

The questioning tone at the end of her sentence came unconsciously when she clearly sensed the vortex within Lin Ye's dantian.

Although Yin Liulan's expression remained unchanged, she was somewhat shocked inside.

What terrifying vortex mass!

The level of concentration, the suction force...

If he really breaks through, the primordial aura born within his body will probably far surpass that of most martial artists who have just entered the Condensation Realm!
But she quickly suppressed her surprise.

"You now owe me a total of 2467 credits."

"There's one day left. If you still can't finish by the assessment day after tomorrow..."

"Sorry, I mean what I say, I really will get you kicked out of my training camp."

Lin Ye nodded: "I will pay it back, not a penny less."

"That's good."

Yin Liulan seemed satisfied with his reaction. She gestured towards a light screen not far away and said, "Also, let me remind you of something."

Even if you still have to complete your credits, it's basically impossible to catch up with the people ahead of you.

Lin Ye looked in the direction she indicated.

It was a huge kill leaderboard, listing all the students' achievements in the Nirvana Tower.

Unsurprisingly, the name at the top of the list is extremely familiar.

[First Place: Dongfang Zhen]

[Killed: 546 regular Stone Golems, 94 elite Stone Golems]

[Killed: 477 regular Eight-Armed Clan members, 76 elite Eight-Armed Clan members]

[Sold: 12 Normal Molten Demons]

[Cumulative Hunting Credits: 8463!]

Lin Ye's breath hitched slightly.

More than 8,000 credits!
During this time, Dongfang Zhen actually earned so many credits in the tower.

No wonder Dongfang Zhen gave himself credits back then.

He believed that once he entered the Nirvana Tower, repaying his debts would be no problem at all.

Moving the gaze downwards, the names of Zhang Daoxuan and others were also prominently displayed on the list. Although not as exaggerated as Dongfang Zhen's, each of them had a significantly higher number of credits.

Lin Ye withdrew his gaze and did not say another word.

He stepped into the twisted purple rift.

It felt as if I had passed through a cold, sticky film.

Lin Ye felt his body being pulled and squeezed by an invisible force, and all his senses became incredibly dull and alienated in that instant.

The feeling of weightlessness and dizziness, with the world spinning around them, were intertwined.

This strange feeling lasted for less than a second.

The next moment, I felt my feet firmly on the ground.

A strong, pungent smell of sulfur, mixed with the scorched earth, rushed into his nostrils.

Lin Ye opened his eyes, and the scene before him made him feel as if he had entered another world.

The sky was an eerie dark red, cloudless, with two enormous celestial bodies suspended above the sun, occupying half of the sky.

In addition, a fragmented star ring also appeared in the sky.

Lin Ye gazed into the distance and could even see the edge of the world.

It was a pitch-black void.

And occupying the other side of the sky.

It is a huge active volcano, so tall that its height is unknown.

The volcano's summit was continuously spewing out columns of black smoke and dark red lava, which flowed down the mountainside to the earth, creating a truly magnificent sight.

The ground beneath his feet was a vast black wasteland, covered with obsidian formed from the heat of magma.

In the distance, you can see vast stretches of twisted forests covered in volcanic ash, as well as rift valleys and hot springs with white steam rising from the geothermal heat.

This is the interior of the Nirvana Tower, a real and cruel world of alien races!

Lin Ye immediately understood the three areas the instructor had mentioned earlier.

The closer you get to the central volcano, the harsher the environment becomes, the higher the temperature, and the stronger the alien races that inhabit it naturally become.

The Molten Demon Lord he needs to kill in the third phase of his mission must be located in the core area of ​​that volcano.

As he was observing his surroundings, his gaze was drawn to a bubbling, scalding hot spring not far away.

At the edge of the hot spring and on the surrounding mountain cliffs, clusters of crystal-clear source crystals, radiating an alluring glow, are quietly growing there!
Lin Ye scanned his surroundings and confirmed that there were no living creatures around.

But he did not forget that at this moment, his strength was at an unprecedented low.

He immediately lowered his body, using a huge rock as cover, and cautiously approached the hot spring while keeping a wary eye on his surroundings.

He clutched the escape bracelet, which could activate spatial folding at any time, tightly in his hand.

This is not a virtual reality; if you die here, you really die!

A dozen minutes later, Lin Ye arrived at his destination without any major incident.

Fortunately, there seems to be no trace of the Tianyuan alien race in this area.

Unable to contain his eagerness any longer, he reached out and forcefully broke off a fist-sized piece of source crystal.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stuffed it into his mouth!

The next moment, a spicy and violent flavor far exceeding any of the source crystals he had swallowed before exploded in his throat and esophagus!

The burning sensation made him feel as if he had returned to the night in the ruined city when he first tried to swallow the source crystal.

hiss……

Lin Ye gasped in shock at the heat.

Then a surge of excitement and a thrilling tremor ran through his body.

As expected of goods from Tianyuan itself!
It tastes so good!
Soooooo beautiful!
Immediately afterwards, the source crystal transformed into a primal and violent torrent of source energy, violently surging into Lin Ye's nearly dried-up meridians.

In an instant, Lin Ye felt as if his meridians were about to be burst by this surging energy!

But before he could react, the dormant vortex within his dantian suddenly erupted with a terrifying suction force!
The torrent of source energy that was rampaging through his meridians seemed to have found an outlet and was completely sucked into the vortex!
At that very moment, Lin Ye clearly felt the vortex in his dantian suddenly shrink inward!
Its size shrank by almost half in an instant!
Lin Ye's heart skipped a beat, realizing something was wrong.

Could it be that this source energy was too violent, thus damaging the innate Qi that he had painstakingly refined?
But when he immediately looked inward, he was shocked to find that the reality was completely the opposite of what he had imagined!
It wasn't that the source energy damaged the innate Qi within his body.

But...

This pure source energy from Tianyuan is actively helping him to undergo even more extreme purification!
It was like the sharpest carving knife, ruthlessly removing the most minute impurities that Lin Ye himself could not even distinguish from the innate Qi that he thought was already pure enough!
His already meager amount of innate Qi was reduced by half again during this purification process!
After a brief moment of shock, an uncontrollable surge of joy appeared on Lin Ye's face!

This is not a bad thing at all!
This is such a great thing!
He was certain that before this, absolutely no martial artist had ever been able to achieve such an extreme and abnormal "removal of impurities and preservation of essence" of their internal energy and blood before officially breaking through to the Condensation Realm!
At the same time, Lin Ye was pleasantly surprised to discover...

This pure source energy did not dissipate after it was purified.

It is spontaneously compressing the primordial Qi that has been purified to the extreme, according to the method of "True Explanation of the Two Elements of the Great Void"!
When others break through to the second step, they need to painstakingly practice their cultivation techniques, drawing upon the free-floating source energy in the world and compressing it bit by bit.

And he was able to complete this step directly by consuming the Source Crystal!
Lin Ye raised his head and looked at the source crystals that were shimmering with an alluring light in the sulfurous mist. His expression changed completely.

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(End of this chapter)