At the center of the barren, deathly silent jagged hills, a vast lake kept releasing deep, muffled booms. Only after roughly a dozen minutes did the continuous rumbling finally stop.

Bang!

On a rocky outcrop more than ten kilometers from the demonic lake, the solid ground suddenly exploded. A hulking, ferocious figure shot out from the ruptured earth. Immediately after, thick, viscous liquid began to gush up from below. It was a tunnel about two meters in diameter, winding and twisting beneath the surface, connecting to an underground lake dozens of meters below.

"That should do. Eight escape tunnels are enough," Lin Zheyu murmured softly.

He thought it through carefully, checking once more for any omissions. Unfortunately, he did not understand formations or restrictions. Otherwise, when enhancing himself with Origin Force, he could have relied on formation methods for concealment instead of going through all this trouble.

Still, it was barely sufficient. Cultivating deep underground, at a depth of seventy to eighty meters in the subterranean lake, with interconnected tunnels twisting in every direction, would effectively prevent his aura from leaking out. Even if his aura did escape while using Origin Force and attracted powerful yaos or enemies, Lin Zheyu would still have enough time to flee and hide.

After confirming nothing had been overlooked, Lin Zheyu let out a slight breath of relief. His powerful Perception Domain spread outward, and the flesh wings behind him suddenly unfurled. His figure flickered and vanished in an instant. These wings were extremely useful, effectively granting him the ability to fly without relying on spiritual sense to control objects. While flight through spiritual sense was possible, neither its agility nor its speed could compare to flying with wings.

However, the flesh wings could currently only be used in his Yao Transformation state. Once he used Origin Force to return to human form, he could no longer use it. If he wanted to use them while in human form, he would have to wait until the second stage of the Primordial Golden Body reached Perfection and see whether he could condense the movement technique form of the golden body as he had envisioned.

***

Another half an hour passed. After thoroughly inspecting the area and eliminating a few stragglers, Lin Zheyu leaped into the demonic lake. Diving to the bottom, he followed the winding tunnels he had carved out. In moments, the space ahead suddenly opened up. A subterranean lake of over fifty cubic meters appeared before him. This was the place he had prepared to strengthen himself.

Use 3 units of Origin Force to cultivate the Primordial Golden Body.

Lin Zheyu wasted no time as the thought was transmitted.

His spirit wavered for an instant as he entered the consciousness space and began endless cultivation. This time, the excavation had gone quite deep. When the water from the demonic river flowed in, much of the pure demonic qi energy within it seeped into the demon-tainted soil. To prevent insufficient energy when enhancing himself with Origin Force, Lin Zheyu used only 3 units of Origin Force.

A vast, mysterious energy surged from deep within his cells, sweeping up the pure energy from the demonic river and pouring into his body. His massive yao-transformed body rapidly shrank, returning to human size in an instant. Brilliant golden light burst from Lin Zheyu as one golden rune after another condensed into existence.

The totems engraved upon his body became increasingly refined. The demonic pattern rules contained within the golden runes were activated as the totems improved, and the patterns began to change gradually. The once ferocious, yao-like totems and his massive physique began to slim down, taking on a sleek, streamlined perfection.

These were the changes brought about by further enhancing the Primordial Golden Body. The totems constructed from golden runes had taken on new transformations. The totems on his body fused martial cultivation, barbarian totem cultivation methods, the Saha Scripture infused with Immortal Dao techniques, and the demonic patterns of yaos. What changes would occur once the second stage reached Perfection was something even Lin Zheyu could not predict.

The hidden demonic pattern rules within the golden runes were activated through the condensation of the totems, pushing them toward a yao-like transformation. However, this trend seemed to shift again with the advancement of the Primordial Golden Body. Perhaps due to the integration of human-compatible golden runes, Immortal Dao knowledge, martial cultivation, and the likewise human-origin barbarian totem methods, the originally yao-like phantom totems began to show faint signs of reverting toward a human form. They became increasingly aligned with human aesthetics, losing the grotesque and terrifying traits of yaos.

Endless black mist rose from Lin Zheyu's body. The entire subterranean lake churned as if it were boiling. The brilliant golden light was concealed by the black mist and the demonic lake, and buried sixty to seventy meters underground. On the surface, only extremely faint traces of aura leaked out through the few tunnels connected to the subterranean lake.

The demonic qi tides in the air grew increasingly violent, sweeping across in raging surges. The faint aura released by Lin Zheyu's cultivation was instantly swallowed by the turbulent demonic qi. A few breaths later, he slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath of turbid air.

"It's changed again," Lin Zheyu murmured softly, sensing the golden body pattern that had formed on him.

The originally grotesque and terrifying form had become slender and refined, increasingly aligned with human aesthetics. If the dense clusters of fleshy nodules on the golden body pattern were to disappear, it would be even more perfect.

The golden body totem is drifting further and further from the Saha Scripture's totem. As the Primordial Golden Body improves, the totem built on the Saha Scripture is influenced less by the Saha Scripture and more by demonic patterns, Lin Zheyu thought to himself.

From his research, the current Primordial Golden Body pattern was almost entirely constructed on the yao-derived rules activated within the golden runes. Meanwhile, the totemic rules of the Saha Scripture had manifested as the dense clusters of fleshy nodules across his body. These nodules were like powerful air sacs, and the dark openings upon them constantly expelled aura. This was the mystery of the ethereal wind contained within the Saha Scripture.

"In the future, when capturing yaos to study their demonic patterns, I should choose ones that are less grotesque and more aligned with human aesthetics. Otherwise, even in human form, this kind of terrifying golden body form won't be easy to use," Lin Zheyu muttered.

Because of the yao-derived rules contained within the golden runes, the golden body totem had unexpectedly gained the ability to evolve and transform on its own. As long as the golden runes were continuously refined, the totem would transform along with them. However, this was not entirely beneficial.

If he were careless, the yao-derived rules within newly formed golden runes might conflict with the existing golden body totem, potentially leading to unpredictable danger. Of course, this was only Lin Zheyu's speculation. So far, he had not discovered any signs of conflict between the newly formed runes and the totem. The adaptability of yaos was even stronger than he had imagined. No matter what kind of yao rules were integrated, the golden body totem seemed able to absorb and accommodate them, then transform in unforeseen ways.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 20]

[Skills: Primordial Concealment Technique (Perfection), Primordial Golden Body (Second Stage: 88%)]

Lin Zheyu looked at the data within his consciousness.

Almost there. A few more attempts, and the second stage of the Primordial Golden Body will reach Perfection.

"With just 3 units of Origin Force, the demonic qi energy in the subterranean lake is nearly exhausted. This method is rather troublesome. Drawing the demonic river into the subterranean lake wastes too much energy. Still, it's much safer."

Lin Zheyu shook his head and had no choice but to stop cultivating for now. His figure moved, and he swiftly returned to the surface of the demonic lake through the winding tunnels. With a thought, the pure demonic qi energy within the lake surged into his body under his control.

After absorbing a large amount of demonic qi energy, many of the golden runes instantly transformed into purple-black runes. The moment the golden body totem was completely assimilated by the purple-black energy, Lin Zheyu's body trembled and rapidly expanded, transforming toward the yao form of the golden body totem. In less than ten seconds, a towering yao, over five meters tall, appeared in the demonic lake, its form sleek and upright, covered in dense, fleshy nodules.

With a soft burst, a pair of massive black flesh wings tore free from the writhing flesh on his back, spreading wide like the wings of a dark angel. Operating so close to a space-time node, he could encounter powerful yaos at any moment. To be safe, Lin Zheyu immediately entered his Yao Transformation. In any case, when he later used Origin Force to enhance himself, its powerful restorative effect would return him to human form.

From the bottom of the demonic lake, deep rumbling sounds rose once more. Replenishing the nearly depleted subterranean lake with fresh water was far more difficult than excavating a new one. It was simpler to dig another beside the original. If danger arose, he could forcibly connect them with Origin Force and escape through the original lake's tunnels.

***

Within the boundless darkness, violent fluctuations of battle energy erupted abruptly. As the demonic qi tides grew increasingly frenzied, the impact of the merging laws of the two worlds drew ever closer. Nearly all experts at the Golden Core realm and above had already withdrawn in advance. Even the yaos had retreated toward the vicinity of the space-time rift. This caused the fighting within the demon god barrier to grow increasingly intense.

Roar!

Suddenly, a massive phantom condensed out of the darkness and let out a thunderous roar toward the sky.

A savage roar rang out as the enormous totem phantom swung its fur-covered arm and clawed into the darkness. "Hehehe. Ji Ziyang, die!"

Clang!

A crisp blade chime rang out from the darkness. A dazzling slash shot skyward and cleaved toward the totem phantom.

The demonic qi tides surged, howling through the air. Across the lifeless land, sand and stones were whipped into the air. The energy shockwaves spilling from the battle stood out starkly amid the raging demonic qi. Though it was merely a clash between two Foundation Establishment realm cultivators, the energy they unleashed made the hidden experts nearby click their tongues in amazement.

"Ji Ziyang of the Ji Family... what terrifying strength," a woman in the darkness muttered, her brow twitching as she clicked her tongue.

"Ji Ziyang is said to be the most outstanding genius of the Ji Family in centuries. His strength is no surprise. What I'm curious about is the barbarian warrior fighting him. To stand against Ji Ziyang without falling behind..." said the woman in green dao robes beside her. Her gaze seemed to pierce the pitch-black darkness, observing the two combatants within.

"Hehe. Give me a Divine Power Crystal, and I'll tell you!"

Suddenly, a charming, seductive laugh echoed out. A graceful, alluring figure swayed forward from the darkness, her waist moving as if boneless.

"Hu Xuefei!" the woman snapped in a low voice, watching the approaching figure warily.

The seductive woman named Hu Xuefei did not even glance at her, instead fixing her gaze on the woman wearing a Daoist robe.

"Yao Shuang, didn't your brother come?" Hu Xuefei asked with a coquettish smile.

At the mention of her brother, Yao Shuang snorted coldly, "Hmph!"

Her gaze sharpened as she tightened her grip on her sword, her expression icy as she said, "What does it have to do with you?"

"Hehe, I almost became your sister-in-law. How could it not concern me?" Hu Xuefei replied with a sweet laugh.

As she laughed, her chest swayed enticingly, her pale skin faintly visible. Several snowy-white tails suddenly emerged behind her, gently swaying.

"Senior Sister!" the woman beside Yao Shuang called out, about to step forward and fight, but Yao Shuang quickly stopped her.

"We'll meet again. The next time you meet my brother will be your death day," Yao Shuang said coldly.

"So scary!" Hu Xuefei patted her ample chest, showing not the slightest fear. She glanced toward the darkness on the left and said, "More people are coming. How lively. So many old friends."

"Haha, you're still as tempting as ever. Since Yao Changfeng isn't here, you can come to me. I guarantee you'll be thrilled!" A rough laugh rang out as a burly figure strode forward, his gaze roaming boldly over Hu Xuefei's alluring figure.

"You? Heh... No chance." Hu Xuefei cast an amused glance at the man's lower body, then suddenly burst into laughter, her tone full of disdain.