Lían swung.
**SHING!**
The Third Stage Iron Wolf immediately twisted its body.
The blade passed dangerously close to its side.
But—
this time—
Lían's sword wasn't the only thing that moved.
**BOOOOM!**
A violent burst of lightning erupted from Thunder Vein.
A razor-sharp streak of white lightning shot from the blade.
The Iron Wolf's remaining eye widened.
It tried to dodge.
Too late.
**ZZZT—!**
The lightning tore across its body.
**CRACK!**
The wolf was thrown backward.
**GRAAAAAH!**
It crashed heavily into the ground.
Its massive body trembled violently.
Tiny sparks of lightning continued crawling across its iron-like fur.
Blood slowly dripped from the fresh wound.
The wolf struggled to rise.
Its remaining eye remained locked onto Lían.
But—
Lían had already turned away.
He crouched beside one of the dead wolves.
His palm rested against its body.
The reconstructed art activated.
Dark crimson energy slowly emerged beneath his hand.
The remaining blood essence and life force within the wolf began flowing into Lían.
The corpse gradually dried beneath his palm.
Lían's eyes narrowed.
*...Interesting.*
He had noticed something during his previous battles.
Every time he absorbed the essence of a demon beast—
he didn't merely become stronger.
His spiritual energy also recovered.
*So the technique doesn't just increase my cultivation.*
*It replenishes my spiritual energy as well.*
A faint smile appeared on his face.
*If that's the case...*
*I don't need to worry about running out of spiritual energy as much.*
The crimson energy continued flowing into his body.
Lían remained completely still.
His exhausted meridians gradually filled once more.
The emptiness within his spiritual sea slowly disappeared.
His breathing became steadier.
Then—
the final trace of energy disappeared into his body.
The wolf's corpse became completely dry.
Lían slowly withdrew his hand.
He stood.
Across the battlefield—
the Iron Wolf had witnessed everything.
Its body trembled slightly.
Its remaining eye shifted toward the dried corpse.
Then—
back toward Lían.
For the first time—
fear appeared within its gaze.
Lían raised Thunder Vein.
"Let's continue."
The Iron Wolf didn't wait.
**WHOOSH!**
It suddenly turned and fled.
**AOOOO!**
Its howl echoed through the forest.
The remaining two wolves immediately followed.
Lían blinked.
"...They're running?"
He immediately stepped forward.
But—
one of the wolves was already within his reach.
**SHING!**
Thunder Vein descended.
**SHHK!**
Its head was cleanly severed.
Blood sprayed across the forest floor.
Lían glanced at the blade.
"...My sword really is sharp."
He tightened his grip.
"And once spiritual energy is infused into it..."
His eyes shifted toward the faint lightning crawling across the blade.
"...It's even sharper."
The final wolf attempted to flee.
Lían's body shot forward.
**WHOOSH!**
Thunder Vein flashed.
**ZZZT!**
A streak of lightning followed the blade.
The wolf's body suddenly froze.
A moment later—
**THUD.**
It collapsed.
Lían slowly lowered his sword.
His eyes shifted toward the direction the leader had fled.
*That Third Stage Iron Wolf...*
*It escaped.*
Lían frowned.
*If I chase it now...*
He looked down at Thunder Vein.
*I probably won't catch it.*
He already knew that.
*It's too fast.*
The difference in speed had been obvious.
Even while injured, the leader had been considerably faster than him.
And—
his spiritual energy wasn't unlimited.
Lían slowly shook his head.
"...Forget it."
"There's no point chasing something I can't catch."
He turned his attention back toward the battlefield.
*Besides...*
*I still have plenty to do.*
The corpses of the wolves.
The massive dark-stone reptilian beast.
The scattered pieces of iron-like armor.
His eyes slowly brightened.
"...I can't leave all of this behind."
He looked over the dead beasts.
*There's still plenty of blood essence.*
*And their materials are valuable.*
Lían tightened his grip around Thunder Vein.
"...Time to clean this place up."
But—
his gaze suddenly stopped.
Lizarius hovered above one of the corpses.
His jaws were slightly open.
A faint dark aura surrounded his body.
The soul of the dead demon beast slowly emerged from its corpse.
Then—
it was pulled directly into Lizarius' mouth.
Lían froze.
He stared.
*...He's doing it again.*
When he had first witnessed Lizarius devouring a soul—
he had been completely shocked.
Even now—
watching it still made his skin crawl.
Lían slowly looked away.
*I don't think I'll ever get used to that.*
He stepped toward another corpse.
Then—
he crouched down.
"There isn't time to waste."
His palm pressed against the dead beast.
The reconstructed art activated.
Crimson energy immediately began flowing into his body.
The corpse gradually dried beneath his hand.
Lían's breathing remained steady as he absorbed its remaining essence.
Across the battlefield—
Lizarius quietly observed him.
Within his mind—
he analyzed Lían's progress.
*The reconstructed art is functioning exactly as expected.*
*His cultivation is increasing steadily.*
*If he continues at this rate...*
*He should reach the Third Stage of Spirit Refining soon.*
Lizarius' gaze shifted toward another corpse.
His jaws opened.
The soul of another beast immediately emerged.
**WHOOSH!**
It was swallowed into his mouth.
Lizarius calmly absorbed it.
His golden eyes returned to Lían.
The young cultivator remained focused on absorbing the remaining life force from the corpse.
Yet—
Lizarius' thoughts returned to the battle that had just taken place.
*...The Water Elemental Physique.*
His gaze shifted toward the crimson water still lingering around Lían.
*He has already discovered a way to combine his water control with blood.*
*Interesting.*
Lizarius remained silent for several moments.
*Blood already contains water.*
*If that is the case...*
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
*Then controlling water should, in theory, allow him to influence the water contained within blood.*
He had never considered such a possibility before.
Lían had discovered it naturally during battle.
*Though controlling water outside the body is completely different from controlling the water within blood.*
*The latter should be far more difficult.*
A faint spark of curiosity surfaced within Lizarius' mind.
*Still...*
*If his physique continues to grow stronger...*
*His perception of water should also improve.*
*Eventually, he may be able to sense the water contained within blood.*
*And if he can sense it...*
*Perhaps he can control it.*
Lizarius' golden eyes settled upon Lían once more.
The young cultivator remained focused on absorbing the demon beast's life force.
*That would make his Water Elemental Physique considerably more dangerous.*
A brief pause followed.
*I should have him attempt it eventually.*
*Though not now.*
*His current control is still too weak.*
Lizarius' thoughts shifted.
*The Water Elemental Physique...*
*It is a special physique.*
*Something one is born with.*
*Or something that can manifest when the necessary conditions are fulfilled.*
He quietly considered the matter.
*Such physiques alter the body itself.*
*They influence how spiritual energy is perceived, absorbed, and controlled.*
*In Lían's case...*
*Water is naturally closer to him than it would be to an ordinary cultivator.*
His golden gaze remained fixed upon the crimson water.
*If his physique continues developing...*
*The limits of what he can control may change as well.*
Lizarius remained silent.
Then—
another thought surfaced.
*Perhaps this battle was more useful than I initially expected.*
His gaze shifted back toward Lían.
*He didn't merely test the reconstructed art.*
*He discovered a new application of his physique.*
*And that...*
*May become far more important than the technique itself.*