In that final month, the 206th Golden Rune shifted from a blurry stain of golden ink to a fully fused, permanent part of Zhangting's skeletal structure. When Tiandang's fist stopped just an inch from his chest, the resulting shockwave—a literal "gust of punch"—dissipated the last of the surface light, locking the energy deep within his marrow.
Status: Innate Secret Method — Major Achievement
Physicality: His blood is no longer a mere fluid; it has become thick, viscous, and "heavy," like liquid gold. He possesses total, effortless control over every vessel and fiber in his body.
The Power Gap: While he has reached the same Realm as his teacher, Makino, he is a young lion compared to a century-old dragon. Makino's physique is at the Major Achievement Peak, seasoned by a hundred years of battle.
The Next Leap: With his body now a divine vessel, the Level 50 bottleneck has dissolved. The plan is clear: evolve Iks to the 100,000-year mark and ride that momentum straight toward the Level 60 Spirit Emperor realm.
Chapter 49: The Abyssal Descent (Spirit Ascension Platform)
After a final, nutrient-rich meal with the Yuanen family—securing the heart of Yehui and the respect of her father—Zhangting entered the hibernation pod. He didn't just choose the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform; he chose it during a Riot Period.
The Mental Giant
Zhangting's greatest advantage isn't his body or his staff—it's his mind. Having lived two lives, his mental strength has reached the Spirit Abyss Realm, surpassing even his teacher Han Tianyi.
Connection: Like a bridge between two worlds, his consciousness plunged into a virtual recreation of the Star Dou Great Forest's Mixed Zone.
The Bloodbath in the Mixed Zone
The Riot Period is a meat grinder. The forest is a frenzy of thousands of Spirit Beasts—millennium and ten-thousand-year-olds—tearing at each other in a primal madness.
The Entry: Zhangting didn't hide. He landed with the Coiling Dragon Cudgel in hand, the Evil-Breaking Dragon coiling around the staff with a roar.
The Tactic: Using his Wood Element attribute, he turned the lush forest into a weapon, forcing the very vines and trees to join his "dance of madness."
The Hunt: He isn't here for millennium beasts. He is a predator looking for the kings of the forest. By slaughtering the rioting "trash," he harvested the spiritual energy needed to fuel his march into the territories of the Ten-Thousand-Year Sovereigns.
The Law of the Jungle
In the Intermediate platform, the hierarchy is absolute. While the weaker beasts riot, the true ten-thousand-year lords remain in their territories, unmoved by the chaos, waiting for a worthy challenger.
Zhangting, his eyes glowing with the five-elemental light of Iks, stood at the border of a dark, oppressive grove. He could feel the spiritual pressure of a beast that had ruled this virtual patch of land for millennia.
"Iks," Zhangting whispered, the Golden Runes under his skin beginning to pulse with the rhythm of his gold-thick blood. "It's time to eat."
Next Chapter: The Five-Element Evolution — Iks vs. The Sovereign of the Mixed Zone.
Expert Guide: To reach the 100,000-year mark, Iks needs to devour the soul essence of a specific type of beast. Should Zhangting hunt a Darkness-type Spirit Beast to balance his elemental quintet, or should he target a Spatial-type beast to enhance the Evil Eye Tyrant's natural teleportation and mental-shock abilities?