In Wuling City, at the White Pine Residence.

Sunlight filled the courtyard, slipping through the gaps between the trees and casting patches of golden light across the ground. The trees in the yard towered high as a gentle breeze stirred their leaves, their shadows swaying gracefully over the earth.

Lin Zheyu sat cross-legged in the shade. The wind brushed past him, rustling his robes. His eyes remained closed, and his expression calm as the true origin within his body circulated along the pathways of the Origin Returning Art.

A series of knocks sounded from outside. Lin Zheyu slowly opened his eyes.

"Come in," Lin Zheyu said calmly.

With a creak, the door opened. A tall, sturdy young man in his thirties stepped inside, his features firm and resolute.

"What is it?" Lin Zheyu asked softly, looking at him.

The man was Gu Qing, who had been working under Lin Zheyu these past days. Over ten days ago, the space-time node within the demon god barrier outside the city had been successfully sealed. Even so, the aftermath was severe. Vast numbers of yaos had escaped from the node, and large forces were still needed to hunt them down and clear them out.

None of this concerned Lin Zheyu. Worried that the evil cult still coveted his special destiny, Huang Baizhong had assigned him a task within the city. He was to assist the authorities in capturing cult members or spies who had infiltrated the city.

"Reporting to Martial Uncle, Lu Yu sent word. They've discovered a cult member who infiltrated the city. He's quite strong, so this matter requires your attention. This is the letter." Gu Qing handed it over.

Lin Zheyu opened the letter, glanced through it, and gave a slight nod.

"I understand. Tell Lu Yu I'll head over tonight," Lin Zheyu said.

After Gu Qing left, a blazing red mass of true origin condensed in Lin Zheyu's hand. The letter instantly turned into black ash and scattered into the air.

"Martial Uncle feels more and more powerful..." Gu Qing muttered as he closed the door, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

In front of Lin Zheyu, he always felt an invisible pressure. It was even more pronounced than when facing the Pavilion Master. This was not because Gu Qing's perception surpassed Elder Yang or Huang Baizhong, allowing him to see through Lin Zheyu's strength. Rather, it was the powerful spirit force Lin Zheyu unconsciously emitted during cultivation that affected him, creating this sensation.

***

"It's still not working..."

In the courtyard, Lin Zheyu looked at the data within his consciousness and shook his head slightly.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 22]

[Skills: Phantom Flash Soul-Chasing Steps (Third Stage: 89%), Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art (Second Stage: 100%), Thunder Roaring Purple Cloud Technique (Third Stage: 100%)]

More than ten days had passed, yet Lin Zheyu still had not figured out a technique to condense spiritual sense. He always felt he was close, closer with each attempt, but every time it was like those discount apps from his previous life. Just when it seemed less than 0.1 remained, another 0.01 would suddenly appear. It left him thoroughly disgusted.

"Again!" Lin Zheyu muttered before closing his eyes and resuming his cultivation.

With that, another stretch of more than ten days passed in cultivation.

The night was quiet, with a bright moon and sparse stars. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, scattering specks of light.

Lin Zheyu's eyes suddenly snapped open.

"It's done! Haha, it's finally done!" Lin Zheyu burst into laughter.

Over thirty days. I don't know how I've managed to endure over these thirty days!

Lin Zheyu clenched his fists, excitement surging wildly in his heart.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 30]

[Skills: Origin Returning Technique (Dormancy), Phantom Flash Soul-Chasing Steps (Third Stage: 89%), Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art (Second Stage: 100%), Thunder Roaring Purple Cloud Technique (Third Stage: 100%), Primordial Wuji True Technique (Third Stage: 97%)]

He looked at the data within his consciousness. The Origin Returning Technique had finally appeared. This meant that as long as he cultivated this technique to Perfection, Lin Zheyu would be able to condense spiritual sense.

"That wasn't easy... If I still failed, the Primordial Wuji True Technique would've broken through to the fourth stage before this did," Lin Zheyu muttered under his breath.

He currently lacked a proper concealment technique and mainly relied on the Ninefold Origin Lock Art to seal his true origin, blood qi, and life essence. Each time before reaching his limit, he would release the seal once, then spend 1 unit of Origin Force. While improving the Primordial Wuji True Technique, he would also recover from the side effects caused by the Ninefold Origin Lock Art. After more than thirty days, this technique was already on the verge of a breakthrough.

"Let's begin! After waiting this long, I hope spiritual sense won't disappoint me," Lin Zheyu murmured.

He took out his storage pouch, loosened the tightly bound cord, and pulled out a spirit stone. It was his last one. The few he had left before, along with the spirit liquid he had received from the sect, had all been used up during this period.

I wonder if one spirit stone will be enough. If not, I'll have to use a Divine Power Crystal.

He did not really want to use a Divine Power Crystal. It seemed far more valuable than a spirit stone, and he planned to exchange it for items once he entered an immortal market in the future.

Lin Zheyu let out a breath.

Release!

With a thought, Lin Zheyu instantly released the Ninefold Origin Lock Art. Surging true origin and life essence poured out from his acupoints. Without hesitation, he gripped the spirit stone in his right hand, closed his eyes, and sent out a thought.

Use 2 units of Origin Force to cultivate the Origin Returning Technique.

In an instant, Lin Zheyu's mind wavered and entered the space of consciousness. After more than thirty days of research, he had finally figured out how to condense spiritual sense. Once understood, the method was not particularly difficult. It had only taken him so long because he lacked any foundation in immortal cultivation and knew nothing about it.

A vast and mysterious energy surged from deep within his body, sweeping up the energy contained in the spirit stone and flowing into him, restoring the side effects caused by the Ninefold Origin Lock Art.

At the same time, the true origin within him began to circulate in a wondrous pattern. Using the acupoints in his body as formation nodes, it constructed a mysterious grand formation. This formation stirred his spiritual form within his sea of consciousness, guiding his spirit and soul through a gradual transformation. It was a qualitative change. The previously loose and scattered spiritual form became increasingly solid and powerful.

After a few breaths, Lin Zheyu slowly opened his eyes.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 28]

[Skills: Origin Returning Technique (Competence: 73%), Phantom Flash Soul-Chasing Steps (Third Stage: 89%), Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art (Second Stage: 100%), Thunder Roaring Purple Cloud Technique (Third Stage: 100%), Primordial Wuji True Technique (Third Stage: 97%)]

"The progress is pretty good. Much faster than I expected."

Lin Zheyu looked at the data in his consciousness. With just 2 units of Origin Force, he had already raised the Origin Returning Technique to the Competence stage. Initial Mastery was not far off.

In the cultivation of spiritual sense, the hardest part was its initial condensation. Once successfully formed, it would gradually grow stronger alongside the spirit and soul. However, this growth was extremely slow. For immortal cultivators who did not practice soul-related techniques, their spiritual sense would only see significant improvement upon breakthroughs in realm.

"Let's continue. This spirit stone probably won't last until the end, however." Lin Zheyu glanced at the spirit stone in his hand and shook his head helplessly.

Compared to saving a bit of Divine Power Crystal, he would rather condense spiritual sense as soon as possible. He took out a Divine Power Crystal from his storage pouch. This crystal had been obtained from that young man of the Directorate of Celestial Observation. Although no issues had surfaced after all this time, Lin Zheyu still felt uneasy about it and decided to use it up first.

Holding both the Divine Power Crystal and the spirit stone, he closed his eyes again. This time, Lin Zheyu used 8 units of Origin Force in one go. He estimated that around a dozen units would be enough to bring the Origin Returning Technique to Perfection.

Use 8 units of Origin Force to cultivate the Origin Returning Technique.

The thought was sent out, and a familiar sensation followed.

This is still not enough. I'm just a bit short. I'll have to use 4 more units of Origin Force to cultivate the Origin Returning Technique.

He closed his eyes again and entered the third round of enhancement. Lin Zheyu discovered that the difficulty of condensing spiritual sense had little to do with the strength of his martial cultivation or his spiritual power. It mainly depended on his physique and time. His aptitude for immortal cultivation was poor, so when using ordinary immortal techniques, his speed in condensing spiritual sense could not be considered fast. In the end, he used a total of 14 units of Origin Force to fully cultivate the Origin Returning Technique to Perfection.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 16]

[Skills: Origin Returning Technique (Perfection), Phantom Flash Soul-Chasing Steps (Third Stage: 89%), Sacred Evolution Spirit Nurturing Art (Second Stage: 100%), Thunder Roaring Purple Cloud Technique (Third Stage: 100%), Primordial Wuji True Technique (Third Stage: 97%)]

"Haha, it's done! I've finally succeeded!" Lin Zheyu opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing within them.

An invisible force of spiritual sense extended from his consciousness, spreading outward to a radius of 500 meters.