As the energy output of the core continued to be depleted, it would eventually run dry, inevitably leading to its death here. If the energy core weren't opened, death would come now!
The vampire naturally did not wish to die. Its family had just begun to revive and was counting on its leadership to thrive and expand. How could it allow itself to be killed here by a monster in human guise?
"Stop!" the vampire suddenly shouted. "I surrender!"
But the blade of light that had reached its neck merely paused for a moment before continuing its deadly arc.
"You think this is a duel? You want to surrender as you please?"
A sneer escaped Chu Feng's lips as he watched the opponent's body regrow, expectation gleaming in his eyes. It's close! Almost there... This troublesome vampire creature, having lived so long, it's time for it to die!
In this scene reminiscent of a slaughterhouse, the vampire went from crying and begging for mercy to hysterically cursing and, finally, to despairing murmurs. That long-hidden core finally emerged from the void as its energy was nearly exhausted, dropping into the vampire's chest.
"It's finally come out!"
"It's finally over!"
Two voices rang out almost simultaneously, each carrying a completely different meaning.
Chu Feng's hand flashed with light. A large hole was torn directly through the vampire's chest, revealing a blood-red, oval light orb to the air. Countless blood-red threads stretched out from the orb, densely filling the vampire's chest cavity, pulsing with faint energy. A golden glowing palm instantly grasped the orb. With a fierce tug, all the connected blood-red threads snapped.
He toyed with the oval light orb in his hand. It does look a bit like the inner cores from legends...
The power within the orb touched the golden light on the surface of Chu Feng's hand, emitting a SIZZLING corrosive sound. Trails of pitch-black smoke slowly floated up, prompting Chu Feng to move it further away with discomfort. It stinks a bit.
Chu Feng frowned and squeezed his palm hard. With a CRACK, the orb shattered. The vampire on the ground suddenly let out a scream of despair.
"My kin will avenge me!"
No sooner had the words left its mouth, the vampire's body burst into countless ashes with a BANG. The limbs that Chu Feng had severed also turned into ashes, accompanied by faint sparks.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for killing a vampire. You will receive the following rewards:
1. Strength Attribute 60 points, Physique Attribute 61 points, Mental Attribute 54 points, Spiritual Power Attribute 50 points
2. Lifetime 55 years
3. Special item: 'Vajra Glazed Body Cultivation Technique Abridged Analysis'
Abridged Analysis? Chu Feng's eyes filled with disbelief. Last time it had been the 'Concealment Decision Technique Cultivation'; this time, it was merely an 'Abridged Analysis.' Does that mean I'll have to cultivate on my own next time? he thought, a wave of dismay washing over him. Chu Feng was acutely aware of his own limitations when it came to cultivation. The previous 'Concealment Decision,' even with the system's assistance while he was fleeing for his life, had taken a full eight years to master. If I don't have the system's help in the future, won't I just be stuck, making no progress?
Temporarily suppressing the doubts in his heart, Chu Feng gazed at the stone Buddha emanating a gentle Buddhist light in his mind. He felt a stir within himself and suddenly lost consciousness.
When Chu Feng opened his eyes again, he was startled to find himself in different clothes, his body much younger. Is this me? Have I become a little novice monk? He touched his smoothly shaved scalp, his eyes wide with disbelief. Soul transmigration? But the word "Analyzing" in the upper-right corner of his vision snapped him back to reality. So, it's like last time? A firsthand experience of cultivation?
Never having imagined himself experiencing being a monk, Chu Feng found the coolness on top of his head quite uncomfortable.
"Hui Jue... Hui Jue! Hurry up, we are all waiting for you!"
A sudden call from nearby made Chu Feng point at himself incredulously. "Me, Hui Jue?"
But the person calling him seemed not to hear Chu Feng's question. He simply pulled Chu Feng along, running towards the distance while speaking as if reciting lines from a script, "Today is the day of power transmission, and the abbot should be arriving soon!"
"Transmission of power? What power?" Chu Feng asked, a strange inkling arising as he involuntarily followed the other's footsteps.
However, the other person did not answer. Like a pre-programmed computer routine, he continued to drag Chu Feng until they reached a Zen Room, where he finally released his hands.
Inside the Zen Room, an old monk with a compassionate face, who seemed to have been waiting for a long time, began speaking as soon as Chu Feng and the others were seated. "From today on, I will be imparting our temple's protective cultivation technique, the 'Vajra Glazed Body.' You must study it diligently!"
Having said that, the old monk took a scroll from his robes and hung it in front of everyone. As the scroll unrolled, revealing dense tiny characters and figures in various poses, Chu Feng's mouth twitched involuntarily. Damn it, why do I suddenly have such a bad feeling about this!
The time that followed seemed to confirm Chu Feng's unease. Even with the old monk's detailed, personal explanations for his various questions, it took Chu Feng half a month just to barely understand the meanings of the terms on the scroll. As for actually starting to cultivate the technique, that was still a distant prospect...
In the first year, under the close guidance of the old monk and with various medicinal baths, Chu Feng finally began the formal cultivation of the 'Vajra Glazed Body.'
In the third year, Chu Feng, by now somewhat accustomed to temple life, finally made a true start in cultivating the 'Vajra Glazed Body.' His originally smooth skin began to turn bronze.
In the seventh year, after finishing his daily tasks, Chu Feng lay on his bed, filled with existential doubt. The others who had started cultivating with him had already reached the initial success stage of the 'Vajra Glazed Body' and were progressing towards Great Success, while he still hadn't found the path to a breakthrough.
In the tenth year, perhaps due to heavenly mercy, Chu Feng, still struggling with his cultivation, finally had a flash of inspiration. The Spiritual Power within him surged, breaking through an invisible barrier as naturally as water carves a channel.
'Vajra Glazed Body'—Initial Success!
Ordinary swords in this world could now only leave a faint white mark on Chu Feng's body.
Looking at his skin, now entirely bronze, Chu Feng let out a bitter laugh. If it weren't for the word "Analyzing" still visible in my vision, I might have already forgotten where I came from. Moreover, this Initial Success realm of the 'Vajra Glazed Body' doesn't seem very powerful. With the Attributes from my original panel, I could probably achieve this much. I remember back in my original world, not long after I awakened, ordinary swords were already pretty much useless against me.
In the twenty-fifth year, Chu Feng, having reached the age where one is no longer perplexed by the world, finally broke through to the Great Achievement Realm of the 'Vajra Glazed Body.' His skin, once bronze, returned to its original appearance.