Chen Mo carefully took the second jade slip, extending his spiritual senses. Instantly, his mind was flooded with knowledge, and his eyes widened in astonishment.

  This was Chapter 2 of the Primordial Body Art. With it, he could advance his body refining beyond the Innate stage, reaching Rank 2 body cultivation—a level comparable to a Foundation Establishment Qi cultivator.

  A grin spread across Chen Mo’s face. This was an immense boon, yet perfectly aligned with the Spatial Dominion Art’s legacy. The jade slip still contained a sealed level, one that could only be accessed by those who had mastered at least the first stage of the Spatial Dominion Art—a challenge Chen Mo knew would come later, but one he now had hope to meet.

  Chen Mo committed the second chapter of the Primordial Body Art to memory. The moment he finished, the Martial Arts Methods column of his panel appeared before his eyes. His body refining method was no longer incomplete; it now displayed:

  Realm: Body Refining Rank 1 (Peak)

  Body Refining Method: Primordial Body Art (2 Chapters)

  Chen Mo smiled faintly, but he knew his next step had to be the Spatial Dominion Art. Without mastering it first, leaving this cave safely was impossible—and he certainly didn’t have enough resources to support a breakthrough to Rank 2 of the Primordial Body Art. His cultivation path was clear, but careful planning was still essential.

  Chen Mo wasted no time. He first caught a fish, ate it to replenish his energy, and then turned his full attention to the Spatial Dominion Art. The first stage of the art centered on honing his spiritual senses, refining his perception until it could sense space itself. He murmured the incantations, regulating his breathing according to the art’s special method. Closing his eyes, he sank into a deep, meditative state, letting the spatial energy of the cave and the lake around him merge with his consciousness. Every breath, every pulse of qi, became a step toward mastering the invisible threads of space itself.

  Chen Mo immersed himself completely in the Spatial Dominion Art, letting everything else fade from his mind. His days became a simple, relentless rhythm: catch a fish, eat, and cultivate. He knew he was not naturally born to master such a technique, but even glimpsing its workings would allow the panel to record it. With that as a foundation, he could grind, practice, and improve systematically. Every breath, every subtle shift in spatial awareness, was another step toward bending space to his will, and Chen Mo embraced the monotony as the only path to survival—and power.

  Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months… with every passing moment, Chen Mo could feel his spiritual senses strengthening. He still couldn’t perceive the flow of space itself, but the enhancement of his perception was unprecedented. From an initial range of roughly 0.03 li (15 zhang), after six months, he could sense nearly 2 li (600 zhang) around him—a terrifying number. For reference, even a peak Qi Condensation master rarely surpassed 1 li (300 zhang), and only when one broke through to Foundation Establishment and opened the Sea of Consciousness could one extend the range drastically, sometimes approaching 6 li (900 zhang). Techniques that amplified spiritual senses were as rare as phoenix feathers; even the grandest sects would guard such methods jealously, keeping them top secrets.

  Hours passed before the pain in Chen Mo’s head finally subsided, leaving only a lingering pressure, like the aftershock of an earthquake. But the effects were undeniable—his spiritual senses had surged far beyond their former limits. Bewildered, he cautiously focused inward, probing his mind as if it were another world.

  What he saw made him gasp. Within his own consciousness, he found himself standing in the center of a vast, boundless expanse. The space stretched infinitely in all directions, glowing faintly with a golden hue—threads of golden qi weaving and pulsing around him. It was dazzling, almost too magnificent to comprehend.

  He realized with shock that this was his Sea of Consciousness itself, now opened and alive, a miniature mirror of his mind, yet vast as a realm. And within it, he was a miniature version of himself—his soul form—standing at the center, surrounded by the flowing tides of consciousness and space. Every movement of his thought sent ripples across this inner world, and even the faintest spark of intention tugged at the fabric of space around him.

  Chen Mo’s mind spun. He had always known the Sea of Consciousness was powerful, but this—this was beyond any cultivation manual or tale. He could feel the subtle energy of space itself, barely perceptible yet brimming with infinite potential. The possibilities of the Dominion Space Art suddenly became terrifyingly real.

  As Chen Mo’s miniature soul moved through the luminous expanse of his Sea of Consciousness, every step seemed to ripple through a boundless yet fragile reality. Gradually, he pressed outward, testing the limits of this inner world, until he reached a faint, shimmering boundary. His heart skipped a beat—this Sea, as vast as it felt, was not limitless. Its edge glimmered like a translucent veil, marking a radius of roughly 5 li.

  Chen Mo’s mind reeled. Such a span—so tightly contained yet so dense with energy—was a trait of early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. The pressure here was immense, a silent weight of soul power pressing down from every direction. He shivered inwardly, realizing that if not for his peak Rank 1 Primordial Body Art, his physical form would likely have shattered under the strain.

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  Even more astonishing was the nature of the energy flowing through this space. The faint golden hue, which had seemed merely ornamental at first, now revealed itself in exquisite detail. Threads of space-attributed qi wove delicately through the Sea, like gossamer filaments that resonated with every flicker of his consciousness. Each thought he made sent subtle vibrations along these threads, as if the very fabric of space were aware of his presence.

  Chen Mo’s breath caught. He could feel the texture of space itself, thin yet infinitely intricate, responding to his intent. It was as though he could sense not only the positions of objects in the material world but also the hidden contours of the void, the underlying grid of reality itself. The Dominion Space Art was no longer a distant legend—here, in his own Sea of Consciousness, it was tangible, waiting to be shaped by his will.

  Yet he also understood the challenge. This was only the beginning. The Sea’s edge pressed limits on him, the subtle currents of space-attributed qi were delicate and fickle, and even a momentary lapse could snap the fragile harmony he had just discovered. He swallowed hard, feeling a mix of awe and exhilaration: this was a power few could ever dream to wield, and he now held its first key in his own hands.

  Chen Mo blinked, still struggling to process what had just happened. He had opened his Sea of Consciousness—a feat that should have been impossible for someone only at the 4th level of Qi Condensation. His clothes were tattered, hair unkempt, and a thin beard clung to his chin; he looked every bit the part of a beggar. Yet none of that mattered.

  He stood slowly, feeling the weight of his own consciousness pressing against his body. The power was intoxicating, but the strain was real. Every heartbeat seemed to echo within his chest, every breath carrying the subtle tremors of his soul. The next step was clear: he needed to breakthrough to Rank 2 of the Primordial Body Art. Only by doing so could he balance this new, overwhelming power with his physical vessel.

  Theoretically, the breakthrough wasn’t difficult. But rashness could be fatal. Without a source of energy or a spiritual treasure nearby, a forced advancement might drain him of Qi and blood, leaving him at the mercy of death in this wilderness.

  Chen Mo’s gaze drifted to the lake, its surface calm and unassuming. Slowly, he extended his newly awakened consciousness, letting it ripple outward to its full 5 li range. The subtle threads of the space fabric shimmered faintly in response, and Chen Mo’s awareness plunged downward, diving into the lake itself.

  For the first time, he could see through the water as though he were standing on the lakebed itself. Rocks, plants, even the tiniest movements of the fish became crystal clear. His spiritual senses had not just increased—they had become a window into the hidden layers of reality, letting him perceive both the material and the spatial energies intertwined beneath the surface.

  A shiver ran down his spine. The Dominion Space Art was no longer abstract; it was tangible, responsive, and terrifyingly precise. And Chen Mo was just beginning to understand the scope of what he had awakened.

  Chen Mo’s eyes narrowed as he observed the giant scaled python slumbering on the lakebed. Every detail of its massive form was crystal clear—the patterned scales, the subtle rise and fall of its breathing, the faint ripple of spiritual energy around it. Using his newly awakened Sea of Consciousness, he boldly probed through its layers, letting his awareness pass through the beast as if it were part of the surrounding space itself.

  To his astonishment, the python didn’t stir. Not a twitch, not a ripple in its aura. Chen Mo realized the full potential of the Spatial Dominion Art: he could now probe, observe, and sense through objects and beings without being detected, a feat impossible for ordinary cultivators. Normally, even a half-step second-rank demonic beast like this python would have sensed an intruding consciousness instantly.

  Satisfied, he retracted his spiritual senses, letting them settle back into his body. Sitting cross-legged on the cave floor, he let out a deep breath and began contemplating what he had just discovered. The Spatial Dominion Art wasn’t just about movement—it was a complete fusion of perception and stealth, bending space itself to his will.

  Slowly, he opened the panel to review his current status:

  Name: Chen Mo

  Age: 17

  Realm: 4th Level Qi Condensation 10/400

  Body Refining: First Rank (Peak)

  Skills:

  Threaded Movement: Perfect

  Archery: Perfect

  Spatial Dominion Art: First Stage 5/200

  A faint smile curved his lips. With the Spatial Dominion Art steadily growing and his Sea of Consciousness expanding, Chen Mo felt a confidence he had never known before. The wilderness, the beasts, even the sect’s bounty hunters—all of it seemed slightly less threatening now.

  He sat back, letting his thoughts drift, imagining the possibilities of this new power, knowing that with patience and strategy, even the most formidable obstacles might now be overcome… quietly, unseen, and untouchable.

  Chen Mo closed the panel, his thoughts settling into clarity. The path ahead was no longer uncertain.

  First, continue strengthening the Spatial Dominion Art.

  Second, prepare for the breakthrough to Rank 2 of the Primordial Body Art.

  There would be no reckless moves. No impulsive risks. He had survived this long by patience and calculation, and he would continue the same way.

  And so, life returned to monotony.

  He caught fish.

  He ate.

  He cultivated.

  Again.

  And again.

  And again.

  Each fish nourished his qi and blood. Each meditation deepened his resonance with space. Inside his Sea of Consciousness, the golden threads of space-attributed qi grew denser, clearer, more obedient. His miniature soul sat at the center of that vast white expanse, quietly refining, quietly observing, quietly pushing against the boundaries of perception.

  The lake remained calm. The scaled python slept unaware. The cave glowed with its faint blue light.

  Days passed without incident.

  Chen Mo did not seek excitement. He sought accumulation.

  His life became a silent forge, hammering at the invisible fabric of space itself.