As the jade pendant began to glow faintly, an ethereal figure gradually emerged from within it. The outline sharpened until it became clear—it was Liang himself, formed from a projection of consciousness.
He surveyed the battlefield for a brief moment, his gaze calm and distant as if he were observing from another plane. Then he turned toward Yang Wu and said, "Ensure to document everything in detail."
"After this battle, there's no need for shadowing Mi Ling any longer." As his words faded, his figure began to dissipate, scattering into faint motes of light before vanishing completely.
Yang Wu narrowed his eyes as he watched the scene unfold, his thoughts lingering on Liang's command. "Record everything?" he muttered under his breath, a hint of doubt surfacing as he continued, "Given the situation, I wonder if any of them will make it through the day. Judging by his bearing, the monk hasn't even begun to get serious..."
---
Liang's eyes felt heavy as they slowly opened, his awareness returning to his physical body. A trace of solemnity passed through his gaze as he recalled what he had witnessed. "That man... he's already reached the Dao Integration Realm."
He remained still for a moment, letting the realization settle before his expression gradually hardened with resolve. "With the completion of the first refinement," he said quietly, "I should now be more adept at cultivating the Space Rifts."
Closing his eyes once more, he extended his consciousness outward, allowing it to seep into the surrounding space. Gradually, the air around him began to distort, forming a small and unstable rift that constantly shifted in shape and size.
The process was slow, requiring careful control as the distortion wavered repeatedly before stabilizing. After a long moment, the irregular opening finally settled into a consistent form.
Opening his eyes, Liang exhaled lightly, a faint trace of relief appearing on his face. "It took some time to stabilize, but I succeeded."
He rose to his feet and approached the space rift with measured caution, observing its structure carefully. After confirming its stability, he retrieved a small dagger from his space ring and infused a strand of his divine sense into it.
With a flick of his wrist, the dagger shot forward and disappeared into the rift without hesitation. Liang remained still, waiting as he attempted to maintain the connection.
Moments later, his expression changed slightly, and a bitter smile formed. "I should have considered this earlier. My divine sense is not powerful enough to withstand the pressure of space during teleportation."
His hand tightened slightly as frustration surfaced, but it quickly faded as he steadied himself. "This is my oversight… but setbacks are inevitable."
"I need to strengthen my divine sense," he said firmly. "Only then can I fully utilize the power of the Space Rifts."
However, another problem soon surfaced in his mind. He currently lacked any suitable technique or method capable of elevating his divine sense to the level required.
After a brief moment of thought, his gaze shifted slightly. "If I can further refine my bloodline… there may be a chance."
His attention turned inward, focusing on his space ring. A jade container rested within it, quietly preserved.
Without hesitation, he retrieved it and opened the lid, revealing three drops of crimson blood essence suspended within. The energy contained within them pulsed faintly, carrying an unmistakable heat.
"The phoenix blood essence…" he murmured, his gaze deepening.
After a brief pause, his decision was made. "Two drops should be enough."
He lifted the first drop and placed it against his forehead.
The moment it made contact, a surge of heat spread throughout his body, rushing through his veins like wildfire. The energy began merging with his blood, refining it from within.
His entire body reacted, his veins pulsing as the essence integrated into his bloodstream. It felt as though something fundamental within him was being reshaped.
After a short while, he picked up the second drop and placed it over his chest, directly above his heart.
The reaction was even more intense.
His heart pounded violently as energy surged through him, spreading outward in powerful waves. A radiant aura began to form around him as his bloodline responded.
"I can feel it… strengthening."
His divine sense sharpened slightly, and his understanding of the Void Dao deepened as the transformation continued.
As the second drop fully merged, his entire being underwent a profound change.
Then—
A strange sound emerged.
At first, it was faint, almost unnoticeable, like a distant whisper. But within moments, it grew louder, transforming into a series of cracking sounds that seemed to echo from within his very bones.
Liang drew in a deep breath, steadying himself as he focused inward. "Now… the connection."
He reached toward the depths of his bloodline, attempting to establish a link.
For a time, there was nothing.
Only silence.
Then—
A thunderous roar exploded within his consciousness.
It echoed like the collision of celestial bodies, overwhelming and ancient, as if something vast had finally acknowledged his presence.
Liang's expression tightened slightly as the connection formed.
But in the next instant, a wave of pain surged through his mind.
"—!"
It struck like a storm, violent and unrelenting, shaking his consciousness to its core.
Before he could react, a torrent of memories and information flooded into him, rushing through his mind at an uncontrollable pace. It was as if an endless river had burst its banks, pouring everything into him at once.
His entire consciousness was consumed by it.
Yet, he did not retreat.
Instead, he remained steady, anchoring himself as he endured the overwhelming influx. Like an ancient tree standing against a raging storm, he held firm.
"Focus…"
Piece by piece, he absorbed everything, sorting through the chaos as best as he could.
And then—
It appeared.
A single memory, clear and distinct, rising above the rest.
Liang's expression gradually shifted, a faint smile forming on his lips as understanding settled within him.
"So this is it…"
The name surfaced clearly in his mind.
The Void Form Refining Art.