The energy contained within a Saint Realm magic crystal core was the concentrated essence of a Saint Realm magical beast's magic power. Completely refining a Saint Realm magic crystal core was an incredibly difficult and time-consuming process. Lin Lei had managed to refine a level-nine magic crystal core from the Spiny Iron-Armored Dragon back in the day thanks to his extraordinary Dragon Blood Warrior bloodline, which had processed the energy on his behalf.
However, even after that level-nine magic crystal core had been refined, the energy it contained simply lay dormant within Lin Lei's body, much like the Dragon Blood Warrior bloodline itself. He had never fully harnessed it.
"Going downstream from here to the central part of the Southwestern Province is easily over three thousand li. At that distance, even with the current carrying us, it'll probably take several days."
Lin Lei gazed at the surging river and thought to himself.
He had no idea whether several days would be enough for Helu to refine that Saint Realm magic crystal core. When it came to a peak level-nine magical beast refining a magic crystal core, Lin Lei had no experience in that area at all.
"Geitz, why are you heading back? The scenery along the Yulan River is beautiful!" The third brother, 'Black Shark,' called out in his booming voice.
Of the five Bak brothers, four were standing by the chain railing, admiring the Yulan River's scenery. Only Geitz had turned around and was heading back into the cabin.
"Third Brother, both the boss and second brother have broken through. They've got the mood to stand around and stare, but I don't have time to waste here. I'm going back to cultivate," Geitz said bluntly.
Black Shark faltered for a moment.
Lin Lei turned his head in surprise to look at Geitz. Among the five brothers, only two had comprehended the principle of 'heavy as light'—Bak and Geitz. Geitz was an extremely competitive person. Lin Lei had known that for a long time.
"Geitz is right," said the fourth brother, 'Boon,' nodding. "I'm going back to train as well."
The third brother, 'Black Shark,' followed after Boon and headed into the cabin. The remaining two, Bak and Anke, exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh.
"Second brother, you'd better step up your game too. If that kid Geitz breaks through before you, he'll surpass you," Bak said to Anke with a grin.
Anke nodded, pulled the long-handled battle axe from his back, and said, "I'll go to the stern deck and do some drills."
"I'll come with you." Bak also drew his long-handled battle axe.
The five Bak brothers' long-handled battle axes were truly terrifying things. One would be hard-pressed to find such fearsome heavy weapons anywhere on the market. At five thousand three hundred jin each, they were perfectly suited for Undying Warriors, the ultimate warriors renowned for their brute strength.
Cesler stroked his white beard and chuckled. "Those five brothers really do train hard. Even this old man feels a bit ashamed."
Despite saying that, Cesler was still content to remain at the bow of the ship, admiring the scenery.
At Cesler's level, what was needed was a moment of enlightenment, not mere grinding cultivation.
Lin Lei stood at the bow with a faint smile. Gradually, he closed his eyes. The wind on a broad river like the Yulan River was fairly strong. The gusts stirred Lin Lei's long robe, and his entire body swayed almost imperceptibly.
Lin Lei had merged completely into the world of wind, feeling the rhythm of the wind elements.
Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye four days had passed. The riverboat had long since entered the borders of the Southwestern Province, and by their calculations, they would reach the planned riverside landing in another two days.
"What is Brother Lin Lei cultivating?" Jenny whispered.
Rebecca and Lena beside her shook their heads, equally clueless.
It was already nighttime, yet Lin Lei still stood on the deck with his eyes closed. Anyone who mistook him for sleeping would be sorely mistaken, because faint purple light continued to flicker around his body at all moments.
Unlike before, Lin Lei was not pursuing speed this time.
When cultivating 'Wind Fluctuation,' countless sword shadows could appear around his body simultaneously. But now, at any given instant, there was only a single streak of purple light flickering.
No one knew what Lin Lei was cultivating.
"Heavy as light, light as heavy—fierce as a hurricane, yet gentle as a spring breeze." After cultivating for so long, Lin Lei had finally gained some insight into the second layer of the Wind Mysteries.
The first layer of the Wind Mysteries—Wind Fluctuation—pursued the ultimate limit of speed.
In truth, when speed reached a terrifying threshold, the resulting attacks became equally horrifying. That was precisely why Lin Lei had been able to shatter McKenzie's defensive shield in a single instant.
And the second layer of the Wind Mysteries that Lin Lei was now creating was a different kind of offensive technique altogether.
One sword strike, and during its arc, the blade would shift between lightning speed and the weight of a mountain. In reality, the strike was extremely fast, yet it gave the illusion of constant fluctuation—speed alternating between fast and slow.
It was 'Sword Intent.'
"The second layer of the Wind Mysteries—Rhythm of the Wind."
A smile appeared on Lin Lei's face as he swung the Purple Blood soft sword through the air. The strike conveyed two distinct sensations simultaneously: one was a fierce, raging hurricane; the other was a spring breeze gently swaying willow branches.
A single move, two entirely different feelings.
"Waves at two extremes, combined together to produce interlocking blades of air." Lin Lei had always pursued the ability to unleash a 'Dimensional Blade' attack through his sword.
'Rhythm of the Wind' was essentially a single-target attack.
Although its power fell far short of the 'Dimensional Blade's' terrifying ability to shatter space, 'Rhythm of the Wind' had already surpassed 'Wind Fluctuation' in sheer destructive force.
Especially in terms of single-target damage.
"This second layer of the Wind Mysteries—'Rhythm of the Wind'—should be enough to threaten peak Saint Realm experts." Lin Lei had fought McKenzie before, so he had a reasonable sense of what peak Saint Realm powerhouses were capable of. "But 'Rhythm of the Wind' is still one of the more elementary profundities I've comprehended from the Wind Elemental Laws."
Lin Lei had to admit it.
'Rhythm of the Wind' might carry tremendous power.
But it was essentially a rudimentary version of the 'Dimensional Blade'—still a physical attack at its core. An opponent's armor and Battle Qi could both be used to defend against it.
In contrast, the vibration waves of the 'Earth Mysteries' were clearly superior in offensive capability. Those vibration waves didn't even need to breach defenses—they could pass straight through into an opponent's body.
"For ordinary Saint Realm experts, the Purple Blood soft sword is more than sufficient," Lin Lei said with a calm smile. "Unless I run into some of the truly formidable existences among peak Saint Realm experts."
Even at the peak of the Saint Realm, strength varied considerably from one practitioner to another.