I Stepped on a Bug, and the System Says I Slayed a Dragon?-Chapter 56: The Bizarre and Timid Soul-devouring Insect, Li Zixuan’s Breakthrough
The cool moonlight fell upon the ancient, mottled bark of a birch tree, its surface covered in grooves.
A transparent insect clung to its surface, looking as if it were a natural part of the roadside tree.
’It doesn’t even have a Star Force fluctuation?’
Qin Yang moved closer to observe it for a moment, feeling a sense of wonder.
’What a sneaky move.’
’This Soul-devouring Insect has no honor, hiding under the birch tree every day to launch sneak attacks.’
If one relied only on the naked eye, it would be impossible to find. Only by using Spiritual Power could it be detected.
’No wonder the Star Martial Police Bureau couldn’t find it after searching for so long!’
Qin Yang had a sudden realization as he carefully observed the Soul-devouring Insect’s movements.
The key now was to understand this insect’s characteristics.
’I’ll start by gracing you with a bit of Sword Qi and see what happens.’
Qin Yang took two steps back, preparing to use his Seven-Star Dragon Roaming Step to flee at a moment’s notice. Only then did he raise two fingers, condensing Sword Qi and launching it at the insect’s body.
SWISH!
A sharp wisp of Sword Qi shot from his fingertips, instantly striking the Soul-devouring Insect’s shell.
However, the scene that followed left Qin Yang stunned.
He watched as the Sword Qi struck the Soul-devouring Insect’s shell, inflicting no damage. It simply passed through its body, like a metal skewer piercing a piece of jelly, and hit the birch bark beneath it.
The attack was ineffective!
’???’
Seeing this, Qin Yang thought, ’Well, I’ll be damned.’
’It’s immune to physical attacks?’
’With such an absurd damage-immunity buff, how am I supposed to fight it?!’
’Let’s try a Star Force attack.’
Qin Yang raised his hand, condensing the True Essence within his body and drawing upon the sky to form a vast tide of Star Force, which he once again directed to cover the surface of the bark.
But the result...
...was still useless!
The surging Star Force rolled and churned across the bark, sweeping over it several times, but it just couldn’t lock onto the Soul-devouring Insect’s position!
It was as if...
...it didn’t belong to this world, but was some kind of lower-dimensional projection of a higher-level existence...
’Hiss... Looks like I’ve run into a tough nut to crack today.’
Qin Yang’s brow furrowed. Both of his methods had been ineffective, leaving only a Spiritual Power attack untested.
At this thought, Qin Yang no longer hesitated. He focused his mind and directed his attention to the Soul-devouring Insect.
BOOM!
A terrifying wave of Spiritual Power descended around the insect’s body and then abruptly contracted, unleashing all its pressure onto the creature’s shell. The force grew from small to large.
It transformed from a gentle spring rain into a raging tempest, like countless fine steel needles piercing into it.
The next moment,
the Soul-devouring Insect’s body trembled slightly. It finally reacted to the attacks, curling into a ball.
’It’s working!’
Seeing the insect’s reaction, Qin Yang was delighted. ’So this little thing is afraid of Spiritual Power attacks.’
Under the fierce Spiritual Power assault, the Soul-devouring Insect writhed in agony on the surface of the bark, immediately waking from its slumber.
But just then,
Suddenly!
A sharp, drilling pain shot through Qin Yang’s mind.
All his Spiritual Power was being stripped from his body, as if it had fallen into the abyss of a black hole and was rapidly draining away!
’This is bad!’
Sensing the situation within his body, Qin Yang was instantly alarmed. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
’This little insect can devour Spiritual Power?’
In that critical moment, the system’s notification sound suddenly rang out.
"Risk warning! The host’s current Spiritual Power is decreasing sharply. Please flee the scene immediately!!!"
"If you maintain this state, there is a probability you will turn into an imbecile in ten seconds!"
The system’s warning echoed repeatedly in his ears.
Hearing this, Qin Yang made a snap decision. He stopped his Spiritual Power attack and severed his connection with the Soul-devouring Insect.
HUM!
In an instant, the severe pain in his head vanished.
The next moment, the Soul-devouring Insect on the bark also changed. Its form grew even more transparent, and it sank directly into the bark, vanishing from right under Qin Yang’s nose.
’Hm?’
Seeing this, Qin Yang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
’This thing is way too timid.’
The area around the birch tree was now quiet, and the Soul-devouring Insect’s presence could no longer be found.
’How boring. It already ran off.’
After checking and confirming that the Soul-devouring Insect had truly disappeared, Qin Yang picked up his grocery bag and turned to leave.
He wasn’t in a hurry anyway.
’The Soul-devouring Insect might have escaped today, but it can’t run forever.’
By now, devouring souls had become a habit for it, an irresistible biological instinct.
He estimated that it wouldn’t be long before hunger drove it to come out and cause trouble again.
In the meantime, all he had to do was keep an eye on the matter, wait and see, and swing by to check after work.
He was sure he would be able to find it again.
As for now...
’Nothing to be done here. Time to go home!’
........
「At the same time, in Li Zixuan’s home.」
The snow-white curtains swayed with the wind as soft moonlight streamed through the glass window.
Li Zixuan sat cross-legged on her bed. Her skin, smooth as fine cream, shone like white jade in the moonlight. With long, thick eyebrows, she was as tranquil and beautiful as a narcissus under the moon.
And in front of her,
lay a dark, unremarkable stone.
The surface of the stone was engraved with a pattern forming the character for "Quiet," masterfully unadorned in its simplicity.
Wisps of Spiritual Power emanated from the pattern, effortlessly stabilizing her mind.
’The token Teacher gave me is truly powerful. My thoughts have become so much clearer.’
As Li Zixuan felt that Spiritual Power and immersed her thoughts in it, her entire body softened and relaxed.
With the stone’s help, her mind became completely clear and empty.
Her worries were released, and no troubling thoughts remained.
It was as if she had entered a state of sudden enlightenment from the Buddhist sutras, all three thousand worldly cares dissipating completely.
In an instant, all distracting thoughts were extinguished, allowing her to see her true self.
Li Zixuan closed her eyes and focused her mind. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, her breath as fragrant as an orchid.
Time flowed by slowly, like clear water.
Then, she slowly opened her eyes. A new change had occurred within her body.
At this moment, True Essence flowed languidly through her meridians. Star Force was contained within it, forging a stellar path far wider than before.
’Huh?’
Li Zixuan perceived the state of her body with astonishment, and a flash of pleasant surprise crossed her pretty face.
’The Postnatal Ninth Realm?’
’I actually... broke through?!’
’Was it that simple?’
Li Zixuan found it hard to believe. She couldn’t quite accept what had happened, but the flow of True Essence in her body could not be faked.
The True Essence flowed, and the Star Force was immense—a hundred times stronger than she was before!
This was the state of the Postnatal Ninth Realm!
’I broke through just by sitting here?’
’No, that’s not right. It’s all thanks to my teacher’s help.’
Li Zixuan looked up, gazing gratefully at the Quiet Pattern Stone before her, her heart filling with ever-deeper reverence.
’An Immortal’s touch on the crown of one’s head grants eternal life.’
’A single stone from my teacher can help me achieve enlightenment and ascend to the Postnatal Ninth Layer.’
’So what unfathomable height must his true Realm have reached?’
’Can I really keep up with my teacher’s pace?’
At this thought, a resolute glint flashed in Li Zixuan’s beautiful eyes. She closed them again to comprehend the Sword Intent from the stone inscription.
Now, with the help of this stone,
her comprehension of One Sword Opens the Celestial Gate was growing ever deeper.
If she continued to progress at this speed, it wouldn’t be long before she could practice One Sword Opens the Celestial Gate to the Great Success Realm!
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