Journey to the West: A clone sacrifices to the heavens, possessing boundless magical power.

At the bottom of the Liusha River, deep within a hidden cave, the once turbulent vortex of spiritual energy slowly subsided.

The spiritual energy swirling around Fan Yuan was absorbed into his body, just like all rivers flowing into the sea.

As he exhaled his last breath, he slowly opened his eyes.

The initial stage of refining the spirit has been achieved.

With a slight thought, Fan Yuan felt the [Primordial Myriad Manifestations Mirror], visible only to him, slowly unfold in his sea of ​​consciousness. On the ancient mirror surface, the writing had been updated:

[Host: Fan Yuan]

[Cultivation Level: Early Stage of Spirit Refinement]

[Exercise Method: Qi-Guiding Technique]

[Supernatural Power (Prototype): Third Level of "Mountain Collapse Force"]

Lifespan: 250 years remaining

Number of clones that can be created: 3

As his gaze swept over the lifespan section, a hint of barely suppressed joy finally appeared on Fan Yuan's usually placid face.

Two hundred and fifty years!

This breakthrough extended his lifespan by two hundred years. For mortals, this is the length of three lifetimes, and even for cultivators, it represents crossing a tremendous chasm.

In this perilous world of Journey to the West, where powerful beings abound, lifespan is the foundation of everything. With these two hundred and fifty years, he has more time to grow.

"The path to immortality begins with the first step; only today do I realize the truth of this saying."

Fan Yuan muttered to himself, clenched his fist, and felt the surging magical power within his body like a river.

His gaze then fell on the line indicating the number of clones that could be condensed: 3.

As he advances to the next level of Divine Refinement, his divine soul grows stronger, and the number of his clones also increases. This means that he can have three clones at the same time, which is not only an increase in combat power, but also an increase in the efficiency of clone feedback.

He took a deep breath and began to systematically take stock of what he had gained from the trip to Huangfengling.

First, there's cultivation level. At the early stage of Spirit Refinement, the range of perception expands more than five times, and the control over the spiritual energy of heaven and earth becomes more precise and nuanced.

Then came the rudiments of supernatural powers.

The "Mountain Collapse Force" has reached its third level. Now, combined with the magic power of the Refining Spirit stage, a single punch can combine three layers of force, targeting both the physical body and the soul. This is his strongest trump card at present.

The most unexpected gain was that clone.

Fan Yuan turned his head to look at his side, where a sallow-faced clone stood quietly.

However, the aura of this clone was completely different from that of the original body. It did not have the slightest bit of the coldness of the Weak Water, but instead exuded a dry and light feeling.

Deep within the consciousness of that clone, a wisp of earthy yellow wind was slowly rotating. This was the rudimentary form of the Samadhi Divine Wind supernatural power, condensed by the [Primordial Myriad Forms Mirror] after incorporating the residue of the Glazed Lamp Oil.

"Since you have borne the blessings of this wind, you shall use the name Shen Feng when you travel in the future."

The real Fan Yuan looked at the clone and said calmly.

The clone nodded slightly, a smile identical to that of the original appearing on its lips. With a flicker, it transformed into a gentle breeze, instantly disappearing into the shadows of the cave without a sound.

Besides this clone, the main body's magic has also undergone a qualitative change.

Fan Yuan raised his hand, and a black water sphere appeared out of thin air in his palm, quickly enveloping his entire body. However, this water sphere was no longer as lifeless as before; it contained countless fine yellow sand grains, and there was a layer of rapidly flowing air on the surface of the water sphere.

This is an advanced version of Weak Water Protection and Ice Cone Technique.

Infused with the essence of sediment from the bottom of the Liusha River and combined with an understanding of the true meaning of the wind, this shield possesses the deflection and slowing effect of weak water, the suppression and weight of sediment, and the agility and deflection of the wind.

"go!"

He scolded lightly.

The shield covering his entire body instantly lengthened, transforming into a semi-transparent blade that slashed towards a black rock in the corner of the cave.

"laugh!"

A soft sound of tearing silk.

The black stone, as hard as iron, was neatly cut in half, the cut surface as smooth as a mirror, and even still retained traces of the heat from being cut by the wind blades and the charred blackness from being corroded by the weak water.

"The Ice Cone technique is outdated; let's call this technique Wind and Water Blade."

Fan Yuan nodded in satisfaction. This technique combines physical cutting with magical corrosion, and it is silent and stealthy, making it a perfect tool for murder, robbery, and sneak attacks.

Finally, he took out the few grayish-white bone fragments from his pocket.

These are fragments of the skulls of the previous nine pilgrims who went on pilgrimages.

There was no earth-shattering magical fluctuation on this bone fragment, only a warm and smooth feel like jade.

Holding it in his hand, Fan Yuan could feel his soul being immersed in a hot spring. His divine sense, which had been slightly agitated due to the breakthrough, quickly became calm and condensed.

"It nourishes the soul and stabilizes the Dao heart. Although it has no killing power, it is still a rare auxiliary treasure."

Fan Yuan carefully put it away. This thing was of special significance; it was both a resource and a cause and effect, and it might be of great use in the future.

After taking inventory, he subconsciously thought of the mountain of spirit stones and medicinal herbs in Huangfeng Cave.

"What a pity."

He shook his head, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes. The situation was critical at the time, and he simply didn't have time to loot the warehouse.

Now that the fragments of the glass lamp have been stolen, they have likely caught the attention of Bodhisattva Lingji, and Huangfeng Ridge is no longer a viable return destination.

"Don't bite off more than you can chew; contentment leads to longevity."

Fan Yuan suppressed his greed and started moving around.

He had been hiding at the bottom of the quicksand river for too long; it was time for him to leave.

With a thought, Fan Yuan allowed the incredibly heavy Weak Water Shield, now upgraded, to envelop his entire body.

In the past, the pressure of the Flowing Sand River would have made it difficult for him to move, but now, his Refining Spirit stage physique combined with his understanding of the power of water has made him much faster at the bottom of the river.

"Walk!"

The main body and the clone walked side by side, like two fish swimming, quietly rising to the surface with the current.

About half an hour later.

"Splash!"

On the banks of the Liusha River, the calm water surface suddenly broke apart.

A tall, slender figure soared into the sky, splashing water everywhere, and landed steadily on the rocks on the shore.

Fan Yuan took a deep breath of the slightly dry air outside, and the long-awaited sunshine shone on him, bringing a touch of warmth.

He turned around and looked back.

Behind them, the Liusha River stretched for eight hundred miles, its waves surging, while in the distance, the majestic and precipitous Huangfeng Ridge remained shrouded in the endless yellow sand, and the howling of the wind could still be faintly heard.

In just a short time, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

He stole lamp oil residue, endured pursuit and a life-or-death battle, and ultimately rose from the ashes to attain enlightenment.

The journey has been fraught with peril; the slightest misstep could have led to utter ruin.

Although the naivety and the cautiousness of someone who had just arrived still remained in Fan Yuan's eyes, a depth as profound as an abyss had been added to the depths of his pupils.

He was no longer a simple transmigrator who just wanted to find a hole to hide in and eke out a living.

He was a true seeker of the Way who, amidst all the gods and Buddhas, fought for a chance to survive and forged his own path.

"There's no escaping this world if you want to."

Looking at the rolling river flowing eastward, Fan Yuan understood.

Even if you don't fight, calamity will still come for you. Only by holding enough power in your hands, and by calculating more deeply and further than others, can you step out of the chessboard and become the one who moves the pieces in this game of Journey to the West.

He turned around and looked westward.

There, the mountains rise and fall, shrouded in mist and clouds.

Following the original story, after crossing the Liusha River, you will reach the Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain.

There is Zhen Yuanzi, the ancestor of earth immortals, the ginseng fruit, the spiritual root of heaven and earth, and the great supernatural power of "the universe within one's sleeve".

This is an even greater opportunity.

"Only by hunting the wind and gathering sand can one find one's true self."

Fan Yuan murmured to himself, a carefree smile curving his lips. In that smile, there was both farewell to the past and ambition for the future.

"According to Journey to the West, just smelling the ginseng fruit can extend one's life by 360 years, and eating one can grant 47,000 years of life. It is a divine product for immortality, but I wonder if it's true or not!"

A breeze rose, causing his clothes to flutter and rustle.

The next moment, his and Shen Feng's figures gradually faded away and disappeared into the vast wilderness, leaving only the Liusha River still flowing endlessly.