Chapter 27 - The Body Refining Pill

After their intense sparring session, Xin Yang, Ye Meng and Yu Yong retired to the dining area to recover their strength. As they heartily devoured roasted beast meat and gulped down spirit tea, the conversation turned to Xin Yang's cultivation issues.

"That battle was enlightening," mused Xin Yang between bites. "Ye Meng, your explosive power and unconventional moves make up for your lack of experience."

Ye Meng grinned and slapped Xin Yang on the back. "And you, brother, have monstrous strength but need more refinement. Not too shabby for a head-on fighter."

Yu Yong smiled wryly as he sipped his tea. "You both possess mighty physiques and power. I rely more on strategy and technique in battle."

Xin Yang's eyes lit up at this statement. He leaned forward, steepling his fingers in thought. "That reminds me, I require a high-level Body Refining Pill to further enhance my physique and withstand the immense amounts of qi generated by my cultivation manual."

Yu Yong frowned, setting down his cup. "Those are extremely scarce and expensive pills. Where do you propose we acquire one?"

"By robbing an alchemist's stash, of course," Xin Yang replied matter-of-factly, as if stating the obvious.

Ye Meng's eyes glinted with excitement at the prospect while Yu Yong looked apprehensive.

Noticing his discomfort, Xin Yang slapped him on the back reassuringly. "Come now, don't make that face. With your brains, Ye Meng's brawn, and my skills, slipping in and out will be child's play."

Though still uneasy at the thought of theft, Yu Yong reluctantly acquiesced. He knew that once Xin Yang decided on something, there was no deterring his one-track mind.

As night fell over the bustling city, the trio made their way stealthily across the rooftops towards the estate of a renowned but reclusive alchemist on the outskirts. Xin Yang took the lead, his steps silent as a prowling panther. Ye Meng followed close behind, surprisingly light-footed for his bulky frame. Yu Yong brought up the rear, shoulders hunched with tension.

Approaching the towering walls surrounding the alchemist's manor, Xin Yang signaled for them to halt. His sharp eyes scanned the perimeter, noting the sophisticated alarm formations etched into the brickwork. Forming a quick hand seal, he sent a pulse of qi to disable a section of the wall alarms.

"Now," he whispered, and they slipped through the opening, melting into the inky shadows blanketing the courtyard. Elaborate statues and fountains dotted the grounds, but the trio paid them no mind, focused on locating the rumored underground vault.

At the main building, Xin Yang froze. His senses had detected a concealed entrance leading below. With a few quick strokes, he picked the complex lock barring their way. The heavy stone door slid open to reveal a dark staircase. Exchanging tense nods, they descended into the earth.

The temperature dropped the deeper they went, their breath pluming. Even Ye Meng seemed affected, rubbing his arms and hunching further. Just when the chill seeped into their very bones, the stairs ended at an archway bathed in red light.

Stepping through, their eyes widened at the treasures spilling from shelves and stacked in overflowing piles. "Jackpot," Xin Yang whispered, his face splitting into a wild, eager grin. He swiftly grabbed several Body Refining Pills along with other valuables catching his eye. Ye Meng filled his pockets greedily while Yu Yong kept anxious watch.

Just as they turned to leave, a bone-chilling voice rang out from the staircase. "Did you despicable rats think you could steal from me and escape unscathed?"

They whirled around to find the alchemist standing at the vault entrance, face twisted in absolute rage, fingers crackling with killing intent.

Reacting instantly, Xin Yang focused his qi and executed the Divine Void Steps, grabbing Ye Meng and Yu Yong's shoulders. The world blurred for a moment as he teleported them out of the vault.

Upstairs, the alchemist howled in fury, unleashing a shockwave of energy that exploded the vault doorway. He raced up the stairs, murderous rage fueling his speed.

Sensing pursuit, Xin Yang pushed his ability to the limits, teleporting in rapid jumps to escape the estate. The strain left him breathless and drained, but his void steps had succeeded.

Safely back in the serene confines of the Void Realm, the trio caught their breath and inspected the spoils. Xin Yang promptly consumed one of the Body Refining Pills, eager for the cultivation breakthrough he anticipated. Ye Meng and Yu Yong followed suit with some minor pills to aid their training.

Meanwhile, the alchemist raged through his ravaged vault, bellowing curses upon finding it completely emptied. His killing intent permeated the night air as he vowed merciless revenge on the mysterious thieves who dared steal from him.

Oblivious to the alchemist's fury, Xin Yang sat immersed in intense cultivation, the Body Refining Pill rapidly catalyzing transformations within him. Soon, a tremendous vortex of qi gathered over Xin Yang before being absorbed into his dantian. His breakthrough had finally arrived - he had reached the coveted Golden Core realm!"

As he familiarized himself with the invigorating rush of the golden core circulating within him, a notification chimed within Xin Yang's mind. His book had unlocked a new spear and spear technique page in recognition of reaching Golden Core.

Focusing his intent, Xin Yang materialized the spear. As it formed in his hands, flickers of a vision crossed his mind - an azure robed man wielding this very spear. From the vision, he understood this was the Fangtian Huaji, an ancient legendary spear said to be capable of piercing the heavens themselves.

Crafted from an unknown divine metal, the Fangtian Huaji thrummed with otherworldly power in his hands. The spear had chosen him as its master, resonating with his surging power.

The accompanying technique, Heaven Shattering Spatial Fangtian Art, aligned flawlessly with his Void Shattering Fists. This art focused on channeling void and spatial power into explosive piercing strikes.

Each thrust or slash unleashed waves of spatial disruption, shredding apart space itself to damage enemies from within. As the technique progressed into more advanced forms, it could collapse space around targets or pierce spatial boundaries.

Its power came not from brute force, but from channeling the profound truths of space into every strike. Together with his Void Shattering Fists, Xin Yang now commanded a fearsome arsenal.

Eager to test his newfound skills, Xin Yang entered the training grounds where Ye Meng was practicing. He took up a starting spear stance, the Fangtian Huaji thrumming with vibrant power. This was just the beginning of the heights he would reach, armed with the book's profound arsenal. All realms quaked before him!