After this.

  Xia Li and Lin Ge walked side by side on the road back to the sect plaza.

  Along the way, Lin Ge kept trying to find topics of conversation, and quite forced ones at that, making even Xia Li feel somewhat awkward.

  Still, Xia Li suppressed the awkwardness and managed through it, then secretly quickened his pace to reach the sect plaza. Only then did Lin Ge finally part with him reluctantly.

  Returning to his territory through the teleportation array, Xia Li didn't immediately go back to his house to rest.

  As a cultivator now, his body could absorb and circulate spiritual energy—naturally he no longer needed sleep like mortals.

  So Xia Li simply sat by the lake, admiring the great lake that was like a mirror under the moonlight. So much had happened in just one day.

  Especially his relationship with Lin Ge, which had gone from complete strangers to unusually close.

  "Most of her interest in me comes from my similarity to her mother."

  "Just a thirty percent resemblance was enough to make her lose her composure..."

  Xia Li took out a Heaven Chip from his storage ring.

  A pale blue, semi-transparent beautiful crystal chip. He began reading the information within again.

  Of course, this time the purpose was to modify some things.

  "Change owner name from Alpha-247 to Ning Ge."

  Within this Heaven Chip, the record of the owner was a code number, not a complete name.

  Just like he once was.

  He too had once lost his name, being called Number 327.

  "As a tombstone, having no past information is too bare. I'll fill it in for you—write a complete epitaph for you."

  Xia Li spoke to the Heaven Chip in his hand. He and Ning Ge were truly kindred spirits in suffering—after all, they were fellow patients.

  So Xia Li cared deeply about Ning Ge's fate.

  After modifying the owner name, Xia Li took out Ning Ge's Spirit Core to examine.

  【Unknown Spirit Core detected. No built-in ID code. Perform scan?】

  "Scan."

  After approximately several minutes, Heaven Chip provided the function data.

  【Realm ceiling: Golden Core】

  【All following data based on standard Golden Core strength】

  【Capacity: 0.6】

  【Output efficiency: 0.6】

  【Conversion efficiency: 0.4】

  【Elemental affinity: None】

  【Control precision: 3.4】

  This Spirit Core's other functions all fell short of the standard value of 1, meaning weaker than standard Golden Core. But in control precision, it far exceeded the other functions.

  Earth's standard Golden Core strength was probably equivalent to sect disciples in this world—not something rogue Golden Core cultivators could compare to.

  The standard strength for each realm was set by the Heavenly Dao Computer—a measuring standard that was neither weak nor strong.

  "Control precision over three times standard Golden Core—this Spirit Core was definitely custom-made!"

  Perhaps related to Mech-Corpse modification. Whether spiritual energy could be precisely controlled might be key to suppressing the constitution.

  "Does the Spirit Core contain built-in cultivation techniques? Or special spiritual energy circulation routes?"

  【Data encrypted】

  "Tsk..."

  Xia Li furrowed his brows. If he could obtain that technique for Lin Ge, perhaps it could suppress her constitution problem. Unfortunately, the data was encrypted.

  Earth placed extreme importance on data security. To crack the encrypted data in this Spirit Core, he'd probably have to go back and find the organization for a solution.

  Putting away the Spirit Core and Heaven Chip.

  Xia Li temporarily set aside Ning Ge's matters—after all, he'd need to return to Earth to obtain further information.

  He took out the jade slip Lin Ge had given him earlier and began studying it.

  【Technique detected. Recording, please wait...】

  After approximately half an hour.

  【Shadow Kill Art: Concealment Chapter, recording complete】

  【This technique is a defensive method specifically targeting divine sense probing. Its function against long-range probing is inferior to Divine Sense Intrusion: Defense Chapter】

  【However, it has unique countermeasures against close-range probing. Recommend separately extracting this countermeasure, simplifying the execution process, and restructuring the technique logic】

  "Extract and restructure."

  【Please wait...】

  After another nearly half hour, Heaven Chip completed the operation.

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  【Restructuring successful. Please name the new technique.】

  "First introduce the technique's characteristics."

  【This technique can deceive soul-force that probes into the body. While completing deception with false information, it quietly attaches a soul seed to the opponent's soul-force】

  【When the opponent withdraws, can detonate the soul seed at an opportune moment, causing massive soul damage】

  After Heaven Chip finished the introduction, Xia Li quickly thought of how to name this technique specifically designed to prevent others from being impolite.

  "Call it Soul Reversal."

  Like probing people?

  I'll blow your head right off!

  After learning Soul Reversal, Xia Li began practicing the Ethereal Spirit Dharma Body, condensing a spiritual energy phantom behind him to coordinate with Heaven Chip.

  The phantom's attack strength could be higher than his, or lower—all depending on how much spiritual energy he was willing to invest in that strike.

  Strengthen, stack, change moves!

  The Ethereal Spirit Dharma Body was exceptionally flexible, with nearly terrifying possibilities.

  Hence why it had been classified as "unranked."

  Having a grade but no rank meant that while this technique was unique and profound, its upper and lower limits had very large variance. In unsuitable hands, it probably couldn't even display the capabilities befitting a Heaven-grade technique.

  But in suitable hands...

  It could be upper Heaven-grade, even peak Heaven-grade.

  As everyone knew, securing the lower limit easily lost the upper limit, while pursuing the upper limit lost the lower limit—just a natural balance. The previous practitioners of Ethereal Spirit Dharma Body apparently had completely missed the key.

  Xia Li's subsequent life thus settled into a three-point routine.

  Practice Ethereal Spirit Dharma Body, use spirit stones and pills to deepen his realm, and rest when tired.

  In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

  Today, Xia Li suddenly received a visitor request. An Inner Sect disciple had come to visit him.

  Xia Li didn't recognize the person but still allowed entry. He needed to see what they wanted—after all, territorial disputes sometimes erupted between Inner Sect disciples.

  Lingxu Cave Heaven's rule of allocating territory to Inner Sect disciples was quite interesting. What mindset it was cultivating in disciples needed no elaboration.

  Menial disciples could become retainers of Outer Sect disciples, while Outer Sect disciples could attach themselves to Inner Sect disciples for early opportunities to cultivate in the Inner Sect.

  Inner Sect disciples could also rely on True Transmission disciples.

  These rules created numerous factions within Lingxu Cave Heaven, with territorial disputes and land annexation constantly unfolding around various regions, just like secular nations.

  Disciples who emerged outstanding in such an environment, upon becoming sect higher-ups, couldn't possibly be fools who only knew cultivation and nothing of social dynamics.

  Before long.

  A graceful young man came flying on his sword, even hovering directly above Xia Li's head before slowly descending.

  "Greetings, Junior Brother Xia."

  "Mm. So what's the matter? Please speak directly."

  Xia Li didn't like beating around the bush.

  "I've come on orders from True Transmission Disciple Zhao Yunji. He wants me to warn Junior Brother not to get too close to True Transmission Disciple Lin Ge, otherwise..."

  "Oh, alright."

  Xia Li nodded. He'd thought it was something serious, but it turned out to be the classic jealousy scenario. He'd actually experienced this before.

  During university, because he had a decent relationship with a senior sister, a brain-dead senior had viewed him as an enemy and caused trouble everywhere.

  Such people had existed since ancient times, existed before, and wouldn't disappear in the future. This was savagery imprinted in genes, growing stronger as personal power increased.

  But Xia Li couldn't be bothered dealing with him. Back then he'd simply told the counselor about it, and the guy had been summoned for a scolding.

  Same this time—first find Lin Ge to handle it. If Lin Ge couldn't, find the Third Elder.

  If even the Third Elder couldn't handle it...

  Then it depended on the other party's attitude. If acceptable, ignore it. If hostile—then don't blame him for striking from the shadows.