Carefully holding the animal skin with both hands, Xiao Xuan felt a trace of coldness seep into his palm.
As he unfolded it, lines of text appeared before his eyes.
"Age 35, seventh level of Qi Refining. Eastern Wasteland, outside Lanling City. Hunted down Foundation Establishment family disciples. Obtained 100 Spirit Stones and the 'Flame Judgment.'
Age 40, eighth level of Qi Refining..."
Xiao Xuan's eyes flickered with curiosity as he read on. It quickly became clear that this animal skin was the senior's personal diary, chronicling his life experiences and accomplishments.
Suddenly, one particular entry caught Xiao Xuan's attention:
"Age 60, peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining. Faced off against a spirit body disciple at the seventh level of Qi Refining from a sect. Suffered serious injuries and narrowly escaped death."
"Spirit body?" Xiao Xuan muttered, his brows knitting together. "Is a spirit body truly so powerful that it allows the weak to defeat the strong?"
This was the first time he had come across such a term. Not once had he heard anyone in the Xiao family mention the existence of spirit bodies. Even the ancestral scriptures and handbooks contained no reference to them.
Intrigued, he continued flipping through the diary until he found a detailed description.
"It seems Senior Lin Tian was so shaken by the encounter that he went out of his way to gather information about spirit bodies," Xiao Xuan murmured, his voice laced with a mix of awe and skepticism.
"Spirit body: The favored of the Dao, born with an innate, heaven-defying aptitude. Spirit bodies are naturally attuned to the Dao and possess a frightening cultivation speed. They are capable of defying expectations, defeating enemies far stronger than themselves, and even slaying immortals under dire circumstances."
"Hiss!!!"
Xiao Xuan gasped sharply, his eyes wide with disbelief.
The spirit body was far more terrifying than he had imagined. Not only did it grant an unmatched cultivation speed, but its aptitude was also unparalleled. What truly struck him, however, was its unique compatibility with the Dao—a trait that seemed subtle at first but was, in fact, the most crucial of all.
Cultivating immortality was a path against the heavens, and every breakthrough came with immense difficulty. For those who fit the Dao seamlessly, however, advancing through realms became significantly easier.
'Just think about it,' Xiao Xuan mused, his heart racing. 'A person with a spiritual body isn't just faster at cultivation—they're practically in a league of their own.'
A wave of envy surged within him. He had never realized the true extent of a spiritual body's power before. Its natural advantages made it seem as though ordinary cultivators were destined to be left in the dust.
Determined to learn more, Xiao Xuan continued reading, eager to uncover every detail about these mysterious beings.
"Spirit bodies are divided into two types: attribute spirit bodies and regular spirit bodies.
Attribute spirit bodies are linked to various elements. For example, those with an affinity for earth are earth spirit bodies, while those connected to water are water spirit bodies. Similarly, fire spirit bodies, gold spirit bodies, and wood spirit bodies exist, each possessing an unparalleled connection to their respective element.
This affinity makes cultivation incredibly fast and significantly reduces the difficulty of breaking through realms.
Beyond the basic elements, there are also unique attribute spirit bodies, such as ice spirit bodies, thunder spirit bodies, and wind spirit bodies. These are even rarer and more powerful."
Xiao Xuan's mind reeled as he absorbed the information. The more he read, the more his understanding of the world shattered and reformed into something entirely new.
Before now, he had thought achieving Foundation Establishment was the pinnacle of greatness. Beyond that, he had assumed Gold Core powerhouses stood at the apex of existence.
But now, with just a few lines written on an old piece of animal skin, an entirely new door had opened before him. A vast, uncharted realm of power and potential revealed itself—a realm where even Gold Core cultivators seemed insignificant compared to the holders of spirit bodies.
At this moment, Xiao Xuan gripped the animal skin so tightly that it had become warped under the pressure of his hands. He was so engrossed in what he was reading that he didn't even notice.
"Spirit body… Is it truly this powerful?" he murmured, his eyes as sharp as lightning, fixed intently on the ancient script before him.
Unable to tear himself away, Xiao Xuan continued reading, his curiosity pulling him deeper into the revelations.
"Apart from attribute spirit bodies, there exists an even rarer type: the regular spirit body.
This form of spirit body represents the physical manifestation of the Dao's rules on the human body. They are often far more powerful than attribute spirit bodies, embodying concepts like time, space, or celestial forces.
For instance, the legendary Time Spirit, Space Spirit, Moon Spirit, and Sun Spirit are said to have existed only in ancient times, millions of years ago.
Many of these spirit bodies don't directly enhance combat power but instead provide unique supporting abilities. However, these abilities should not be underestimated.
Xiao Xuan's heart pounded as he read the next lines.
"Imagine a spirit body capable of sensing your attack before you even make it. No matter how fast or clever your moves are, they will already know your intentions."
He couldn't help but imagine facing such a foe. It was terrifying—like trying to fight someone who could read your thoughts.
"Then there's the Sword Spirit Body, a type naturally attuned to the way of the sword. Their comprehension of swordsmanship is leagues beyond that of ordinary cultivators. Their insight alone is enough to inspire fear."
Xiao Xuan's breath quickened. He had heard of extraordinary sword cultivators, but to think there were people born with an innate mastery of such a path... It sent a shiver down his spine.
The text continued, listing other unique spirit bodies.
"There's also the Shadow Body, a spirit body that resonates deeply with the element of darkness, granting unparalleled stealth and affinity with the shadows. Each of these spirit bodies is inherently attuned to specific rules, accelerating cultivation and offering abilities that ordinary cultivators could never hope to achieve."
Xiao Xuan stared blankly at the words, his mind overwhelmed. Just as he thought he had grasped the depth of the cultivation world, this knowledge expanded his horizons yet again.
But the next passage hit him like a thunderbolt.
"The Body of Luck, commonly referred to as the illegitimate child of the Heavenly Dao, is another rare existence. Those with this body possess unparalleled fortune, seemingly blessed to stumble upon treasures and opportunities wherever they go. The stronger their cultivation base, the more powerful their luck becomes."
Xiao Xuan froze, his hands trembling.
'This… this sounds too familiar!' he thought, his mind racing.
From as far back as he could remember, he always managed to find things—sometimes insignificant, but often unexpectedly valuable. No matter where he went, there was always some hidden opportunity waiting for him.
The description matched his life to the letter.
Could it be…?