Li Shang advanced in silence, gliding between moss-covered cliffs and ancient roots. The distant sound of a stream echoed, mixing with the constant rustling of leaves. The place was far beyond known routes, hidden by natural seals and dense energy fields that distorted even the flow of the wind.
With each step he took, the Tenseigan pulsed softly — as if the world around him reacted to his presence. Soon the path opened, revealing a colossal mountain rising before him, enveloped by lush vegetation. The trees were so ancient that their trunks looked like columns of living stone, and their roots intertwined through the soil like veins carrying energy.
Li Shang stopped, admiring the sight for an instant.
"So… this is where Haido wanted to go," he murmured, fully activating the Tenseigan.
His silver-blue eyes shone intensely, and the world transformed. The ground was no longer just earth — now he saw energy flows running beneath the surface, rivers of light crossing the subsoil towards the heart of the mountain. Layers upon layers of spiritual crystals stretched as far as his vision could reach. But what caught his attention was not the crystals… it was what was at the center.
His gaze fixed on a deep point, where spiritual light swirled.
'It can't be…'
That glow was not solid — it was fluid, alive, pulsating. "Liquid Yuan Qi…?" He took a step forward, his incredulous tone turning into euphoria. "This is unbelievable… no, this is perfect."
Li Shang smiled, a mixture of fascination and genuine emotion. When the concentration of spiritual energy reached an extreme point and came into contact with ancient spiritual roots, the result was rare — a natural liquefaction of Yuan Qi. It was something that even the great masters of his old world could not artificially recreate. Only a handful of ancient records spoke of such a thing, and all mentioned the same: the places where liquid Yuan Qi existed were considered direct blessings from Heaven itself.
"So this was what Haido was looking for, and he didn't even know what he had found…"
He slowly descended the slope, feeling the air grow denser and more vibrant. The simple act of breathing seemed to strengthen his meridians — his skin tingled, his blood flowed vigorously, and every cell in his body reacted as if absorbing pure power.
"This place is a paradise for any cultivator." He laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Liquid Yuan Qi, ancient spiritual roots, crystals in abundance…"
For an instant, his gaze was lost on the horizon. The wind blew against his face, carrying the fresh scent of spiritual flowers and the living energy of the mountain.
'I… who was born into a miserable life,' he thought. 'I was sold as a slave, used as a guinea pig, hunted, humiliated, and killed like a monster…'
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, feeling the energy of the place intertwine with his soul.
'…and now destiny rewards me with this. Perhaps Heaven is not as cruel as I imagined.'
A slight smile formed on his lips. "It seems that, after all, this life decided to give me a real second chance."
The Tenseigan shone once more, reflecting the sea of liquid energy moving within the mountain. It was a hypnotic sight — a dance of ancient and pure power, awaiting someone capable of controlling it.
Li Shang slowly closed his hands, determined. "Let's see how far this luck can take me."
He entered the mountain like a living shadow. The air grew denser with each step, vibrating with a raw and ancient energy that made his bones tremble. He placed his hand on the wall — he felt the flow of Yuan Qi pass through the ground, roaring beneath like a river of thunder.
"Excellent…" he murmured.
Then, he formed a hand seal and dozens of clones appeared around him, each taking shape amidst waves of blue chakra.
"Mine as much as possible! Focus on the purest colored crystals, we don't have much time!"
"Understood!" the clones responded in unison, spreading through the tunnels and detonating the interior of the mountain with precise blows. The metallic sound of rocks breaking echoed throughout the cave as blocks of spiritual crystals were torn from the walls.
Meanwhile, Li Shang continued descending. The spiritual pressure increased. The heat rose. The ground became molten glass from the absurd concentration of energy. And then, he reached the heart of the mountain.
The lake of liquid Yuan Qi awaited him — a silvery, luminous surface, emanating a serene and divine glow. Each ripple created waves of power that distorted the air.
Li Shang stood motionless for a few seconds, hypnotized. "Yuan Qi… in liquid state. A blessing."
Without hesitation, he jumped. The impact was soft, like diving into warm silk. The liquid instantly mixed with his chakra, penetrating his meridians like celestial fire.
Time lost its meaning. He felt every fiber of his body being refined, every cell vibrating in harmony with the pure energy.
When he finally emerged, the lake shone brighter, and the surrounding pressure dissipated like mist. He took a deep breath, spiritual vapor escaping from his mouth like bluish smoke.
"Just… dive…" he murmured, surprised by what he felt within himself. "I broke through… to the Sixth Stage."
A low laugh escaped his lips.
He walked to the shore and, opening his storage ring, began to pull out several wine barrels — all luxurious, with golden seals and preservation runes.
"These barrels cost me a fortune…" He sighed, watching the spiritual liquid bubble before him. Then he smiled. "Heh… it would be petty to care about wine in the face of this."
Without thinking twice, he opened the first barrel and submerged it until full. The liquid Yuan Qi flowed in with an intense glow, and soon several barrels floated around him, sealed one by one and stored inside the ring.
Finally, he looked at the lake once more. The desire grew within him like a flame. "Just one sip…"
He bent down and took a large gulp.
The taste was indescribable — sweet, heavy, electric. For an instant, he felt the power of the entire world flowing through his veins. But then came the pain.
"Arghhhhhh!"
Li Shang's body began to pulse violently. Veins bulged under his skin, meridian lines expanded like rivers about to burst. Blood began to trickle from his eyes, ears, and nose.
'Reckless…! Liquid Yuan Qi… is too concentrated, not for my cultivation level!'
He fell to his knees, the ground cracking under the pressure. The energy inside him roared, crushing his organs, burning his muscles, and tearing the spiritual tissue of his dantian. The Celestial Devourer Heart seal activated by instinct — sucking and refining the power — but it was like trying to contain a storm with bare hands.
"AAAAARGHHH!"
The scream echoed through the mountain, and the clones instantly disappeared, dissipated by the wave of energy that Li Shang's body emanated.
He fell sideways, his gaze hazy, blood trickling in thin streams. 'So this is it… after so much, to die like this… swallowed by greed. What a bad joke.'
His consciousness began to fade. His heart beat irregularly. The entire lake began to react, bubbling violently — as if the mountain itself responded to his presence.
But then…
An intense blue glow appeared in his eyes. The Tenseigan, once serene, began to pulse. The maddened energy within his body concentrated, converging towards his head, swirling in spirals.
The veins that were about to burst began to calm, absorbing the flow of energy as if they had found an adequate channel. The uncontrolled power of the liquid Yuan Qi began to be sucked into the meridians connected behind his eyes.
The Tenseigan spun like a stellar vortex. The glow increased until the entire cave was bathed in a celestial blue light.
Li Shang gasped, feeling the pain replaced by something new — a state of absolute purity. The energy flowed in harmony, being refined by the Tenseigan itself, which pulsed like an additional heart, alive and conscious.
He slowly stood up, his body covered by a translucent aura. The lake was now silent, as if it recognized the new balance.
Li Shang wiped the blood from his face and looked at his reflection in the water. His eyes were no longer just blue — constellations swirled within them, as if the entire night sky had been imprisoned there.
"So this is it…" he murmured, with an exhausted but satisfied smile. "Greed… sometimes it's just another word for evolution."
He gave one last look at the lake, put away the remaining barrels, and began to climb the mountain. Behind him, the liquid Yuan Qi shone softly again — silent, eternal, as if it had recognized him as its new master.