Chapter 456: Isn’t It Normal for Reality to Be Different from a Game?
Li Ang slept relatively soundly that night. It wasn’t until around seven in the morning that he was awakened by a faint burning sensation.
As soon as he woke up, he felt the “demonic energy” within his body circulating at an unprecedented speed. In just an instant, he had achieved a level of progress that would usually take him an entire night of cultivation.
The feeling was peculiar. If he had to describe it, it was like his usual “demonic energy” circulation was a tiny stream, only able to scour away impurities in his body little by little. But now, it was like a massive gap had been found, the river had changed course, turning into a river and waterfall, with surging demonic energy flowing endlessly.
However, this was not the demonic energy losing control. It was the speed of the “demonic energy’s” circulation that had increased.
Li Ang’s consciousness sank into the state of circulating “demonic energy,” and he tried to use it to impact his inner “demonic eye.” The crucial point, which used to require considerable effort to find, was now vaguely perceived.
Li Ang knew that this was the result of his improved mental power, which allowed him to easily perceive every minute location within his body.
Since this was the case, Li Ang didn’t want to waste this feeling. He gathered his focus, calmed his mind, and fully propelled the surging “demonic energy” within him towards the “demonic eye.”
The “demonic eye” was located in the center of his brow. Although it was just a crucial point, it was the most obscure and difficult part for the “demonic energy” to flow through.
Only by opening the “demonic eye” could cultivators truly break through their realm and enter a brand-new level of cultivation.
As Li Ang fully exerted himself, all the “demonic energy” within him converged towards one point, condensing into a beam of demonic energy that shot straight towards the “demonic eye” like a sharp sword!
“Boom!”
Li Ang seemed to hear a thunderous roar in his mind, and his consciousness briefly scattered.
However, this sensation only lasted for an instant before he regained consciousness again. What’s more, his consciousness felt clearer than ever before!
Following this, an unbearable itch spread throughout his body, as if thousands of ants were gnawing at him from within. The pain was even more unbearable than when the “demonic energy” had entered his body yesterday!
“Ugh…”
Li Ang endured the pain spreading throughout his body. Sweat soaked his bedsheets, and his pained expression was twisted beyond recognition, as if he were enduring suffering in a sea of hellfire.
He knew that his body was undergoing a transformation. Only by enduring the pain could he achieve metamorphosis!
He gritted his teeth tightly, his eyes bloodshot, as the demonic energy within him frantically reshaped his body. The pain radiating from his body and soul almost made Li Ang’s mental will collapse.
At this moment, he didn’t even have the strength to move a finger, and could only passively endure the pain from his body.
He didn’t know how long it lasted before the pain gradually subsided. Li Ang was left gasping for breath, his eyes still tightly closed. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if the pain was real or a dream.
After a while longer, Li Ang struggled to stand up. However, as soon as he stood, he discovered that his body was covered in black, inky dirt.
It turned out that the pain he had just experienced was not false; his body was truly undergoing a transformation from the inside out!
He casually picked up his mobile phone and went to the mirror. Only then did he discover that his face and body were covered in dirt.
At this moment, Li Ang’s body was not only covered in ink-like dirt, but the dirt also emitted a strong, fishy odor. It felt as if he hadn’t bathed in a week.
However, Li Ang didn’t have the leisure to care about this now. He felt the surging demonic energy within him, and his face was filled with excitement.
He had succeeded!
He had opened the “demonic eye” crucial point!
Thinking of this, Li Ang was filled with surprise and joy.
It had only been a day since the “demonic energy” entered his body yesterday, and he had already succeeded in opening the crucial point. This speed was unheard of. Looking back at the geniuses throughout history, none had achieved this in such a short period.
Li Ang suppressed his excited emotions, knowing that now was not the time for sighs of admiration.
He raised his hand and gently waved it towards the air. A mass of energy, like black clouds, immediately condensed in front of him.
This mass of energy was like an extension of his palm, able to change shape at will with the flow of his consciousness.
Li Ang felt the surging power within him and knew that he had now entered the first realm of cultivation – the Qi Refining stage!
The Qi Refining stage refines the self and draws in the energy of heaven and earth – demonic energy.
The Qi Refining stage emphasizes constantly drawing in “demonic energy” from outside the body and then tempering it within oneself.
Once the meridians in the body are tempered to a certain extent, the “demonic eye” crucial point will appear. Only by opening the crucial point can one officially enter the Qi Refining stage.
The Qi Refining stage is actually divided into early, middle, and late stages.
At this moment, Li Ang could already condense demonic energy, which indicated that he had reached the early stage of Qi Refining.
Li Ang felt the strength in his body. He found that his mental power was stronger than yesterday, and many of his muscles were more solid than before.
This feeling from the inside out gave Li Ang an unprecedented sense of confidence.
Even though his body was still covered in dirt, he didn’t care.
He took out his mobile phone and dialed yesterday’s mysterious number.
“You succeeded?”
A slightly lazy female voice came from the other end of the phone.
“Yes.”
Li Ang nodded and then asked, “What should I do?”
“Demonic energy cleansed your marrow and opened your crucial point. You are now in the early stage of Qi Refining. You should have black dirt on your body, right?”
“Yes.”
Hearing the voice from the other end, Li Ang was even more surprised.
“You…”
“Hush, don’t ask. Just remember that you are a cultivator.”
The voice on the other end continued, “The Qi Refining stage is just a starting point. To learn what you want to know, you need to keep moving forward.”
“What should I do?”
“Put on the clothes prepared in your closet, take a bath, and I will arrange the next step for you.”
Li Ang was filled with confusion.
The clothes in the closet?
However, upon hearing this, Li Ang couldn’t help but sigh at the mysterious organization. It seemed they had already set up a net around him, closely monitoring his every move.
He didn’t ask further and hung up the phone.
Then, as he had been told, he went to his closet, opened it, and indeed found a set of clothes he had never worn before.
The outfit was a black trench coat, with a plain white shirt underneath and black casual pants.
Li Ang took out the clothes and placed them aside. It wasn’t until he picked up the clothes again, preparing to change, that he suddenly realized this outfit fit him better than if it had been tailor-made.
He hadn’t even tried it on, and it fit so perfectly, which made him even more convinced that the organization’s power was beyond his imagination!
Li Ang shook his head, stopped thinking about it, placed the clothes aside, and then went into the bathroom to take a hot shower.
As the hot water continuously washed over his body, streams of dirt flowed to the ground along with the water.
When Li Ang finished bathing and looked in the mirror again, he found that his appearance had changed slightly. Although it was still the same face, a faint black mark had appeared in the center of his brow.
This black mark was very faint; if one didn’t look closely, they wouldn’t notice it at all.
Li Ang knew that this was the mark left behind after the “demonic eye” crucial point had been opened.
He put on the black trench coat from the closet. The circulation of “demonic energy” made him constantly feel the power surging through his body.
When the “demonic energy” circulated, it caused the trench coat to flutter in the wind, giving Li Ang the illusion of being a protagonist.
Just as he was feeling rather cool, his phone received another notification.
Li Ang casually opened his mobile phone. The familiar mysterious number had sent a text message.
The content of the message was only four words:
“Wait where you are.”
Li Ang didn’t ask further and sat on the sofa, waiting quietly.
He didn’t know how long it had been before his phone vibrated again.
Li Ang opened his phone. The familiar mysterious number had sent another text message.
“Come downstairs.”
“Come downstairs?”
Li Ang frowned, then followed the instructions in the text message and walked downstairs.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs and opened the dormitory door, he saw a beautiful girl in black standing at the entrance.
“Are you… from that organization?”
Li Ang looked at the girl standing before him, his face full of shock.
The girl was beautiful, exuding an elegant and noble aura. Her black eyes were like stars in the night, flashing with astonishing brilliance.
The girl was wearing a tight leather outfit that accentuated her voluptuous figure. She also wore a very short miniskirt, her fair, shapely legs exposed straight before Li Ang.
This sudden sight made Li Ang involuntarily gulp.
“My name is Lin Wei.”
The beautiful girl looked at Li Ang, her expressionless face belying the pleasant sound of her voice, which was like a trickling stream.
“You are Li Ang?”
“Yes.”
Li Ang nodded, his heart filled with confusion.
“Was it you who called me yesterday?”
Li Ang couldn’t help but ask.
“No.”
Lin Wei shook her head.
“Lead the way.”
Li Ang didn’t ask further, merely pointed downstairs, and then walked towards the exit.
When he reached the bottom of the building, he saw a sleek black sedan parked there.
And sitting inside the car was an old man with white hair.
The old man looked to be around seventy years old, but his spirit was quite good, his eyes bright and flashing with amazing brilliance.
“Elder, hello.”
Li Ang approached the old man and respectfully greeted him.
The old man looked at Li Ang, smiled kindly, and then said, “Young man, congratulations on successfully entering the Qi Refining stage.”
“Thank you.”
Li Ang was also filled with excitement.
“Please get in.”
The old man gestured to the seat inside the car.
Li Ang nodded and sat in the back seat.
Lin Wei also sat in the back seat, but maintained a certain distance from Li Ang.
The interior of the car was spacious; it could comfortably seat five people.
“May I ask who you are, Elder?”
Li Ang asked the old man.
“I am your guide.”
The old man smiled and said, “You can call me ‘Elder Wang’ now.”
“Elder Wang…”
Li Ang nodded and then asked, “Elder Wang, where are we going?”
“To a place where you can understand all the truth.”
The old man said.
“The truth?”
Li Ang was filled with confusion.
“Do you think this world is very peaceful?”
The old man asked.
“Isn’t it?”
Li Ang was very surprised.
“Of course not.”
The old man shook his head. “The truth of this world is often cruel.”
“Cruel?”
Li Ang frowned. “Can I know what the truth of this world is?”
The old man pondered for a moment, then shook his head and replied, “You don’t need to know for now. When you can break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, I will tell you.”
“Foundation Establishment stage?”
Li Ang was filled with confusion at this.
“The Qi Refining stage is merely the first step of cultivation, and the most crucial step. Only by successfully refining the body and reaching the Foundation Establishment stage can one possess true, powerful strength.”
The old man said, “The Qi Refining stage can at most be considered an entrance level. Only by breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage can one truly possess superpowers.”
A glint flashed in Li Ang’s eyes.
“Superpowers!”
He looked at the old man and then asked, “Elder Wang, what is your realm?”
“Me?”
The old man smiled slightly. “I am also only in the Foundation Establishment stage.”
“Foundation Establishment stage…”
Li Ang nodded thoughtfully.
“Elder Wang, I’d like to ask, what is the name of our organization?”
“Us?”
The old man was taken aback, and then said, “We are not an organization.”
“Not an organization?”
Li Ang was quite surprised.
“In this world, all cultivators are collectively referred to as ‘cultivators’.”
The old man said, “And we…”
The old man pondered for a moment, then said, “We should be called ‘Guardians’.”
Guardians?
“Guardians of what?”
“Guardians of this world’s peace.”
The old man said, “In this world, it’s not just us cultivators who exist. There are also many… things that shouldn’t exist in this world.”
“Things that shouldn’t exist in this world?”
Li Ang’s heart was filled with confusion.
“Ghouls, demons, devils – these legendary beings are not false.”
The old man said, “Your ‘demonic energy’ is one type of demon.”
“Demonic energy…”
Li Ang felt the surging “demonic energy” within him – power.
“Elder Wang, may I ask, are there many cultivators in this world?”
Li Ang asked.
“Not many, of course.”
The old man shook his head. “Cultivating requires extremely high talent, and it’s also easy to be eroded by demonic energy. Once one’s will is not firm, they will go mad.”
“And the consequence of going mad is being consumed by demonic energy and turning into a monster that only knows how to kill.”
“Monsters…”
Li Ang was filled with horror at this.
“Therefore, cultivators are very few in this world, and we also need to hide our identities and live as civilians.”
The old man said, “Do you know why?”
“Why?”
Li Ang thought for a moment and said, “To avoid causing panic?”
“That’s only one reason.”
The old man shook his head. “There is another, more important reason, which is that once our identities are discovered by civilians, it will attract the world’s sanctions and purges.”
(PS: Everyone has noticed, hasn’t the, since Li Ang gained “demonic energy,” he has become much more gloomy and his personality has changed. This is the erosion of “demonic energy,” not a ruined character arc. Don’t say I’ve ruined the character arc, or you’ll cry. This is a foreshadowing! Foreshadowing! Foreshadowing! Three times for important things! If you think the character arc is ruined, then there’s a #BUG#.)
