Cultivation through Skin Making

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Mirage Creek, the remnants of the Formless Ancient Race...

Above the icy pool, the white mirage transformed into countless lifelike forms, dispersing upon touch, and coming together again, real or illusionary, like dreams and shadows.

This place where mirage demons gather truly embodies the word "Formless."

At this moment, it has been about ten years since the Formless Ancient Race escaped here, from initial despair to rising again and exploring, eventually discovering a Spiritual Spring at the bottom of Mirage Creek.

The Profound Qi here all comes from the Spiritual Spring, and the cliffs at the bottom of the creek are engraved with an Ancient Cultivation Method, invisible to mortals, only perceived with Divine Sense.

This technique explains Illusion Techniques and the methods to tame mirage demons.

For the Formless Race, this was indeed a blessing in disguise.

Originally needing to constantly fight against the mirage demons, they turned to taming them, truly transforming this secret realm into a place of attack and retreat.

Having experienced rises and falls, the Formless Race once again found hope, beginning to breed the idea of exploring outward. But just days ago, this hope was completely shattered.

At this time...

In front of an icy pool, the Divine Maiden in green sat kneeling, lost and disheartened.

These years, she had never been discouraged, even fleeing like a stray dog to this Mirage Creek, yet her heart was firm, forging a new path, leading the tribe to create a new road.

But now, just as things were improving, she incredulously perceived the thought in her mind completely shattered.

The thought left by the Primordial Ancestor in her mind would shatter under only one circumstance.

That is... death!

The Primordial Ancestor is dead?

How is it possible?

Impossible!

These voices echoed repeatedly in her mind.

And at this moment, a young voice suddenly came from behind her, it was Tang Xiaokong.

"Ancestor Ningxin, what happened?"

"Nothing..." The usually composed Tang Ningxin was on the verge of collapse, but she still had to pretend to be calm for the sake of the tribe.

Tang Xiaokong said, "Ancestor, no matter what, now all the tribespeople here are shouldering it together with you. We... stand with you. So, if there's any difficulty, please let us know."

Tang Ningxin turned her head slightly, only to see many people slowly walking out from behind Tang Xiaokong.

Tang Xiongjia, Princess Xi, Tang Yi, Tang Shen, Tang Yanfen, Huo Lanxin, and so on...

One figure after another stood beside Tang Xiaokong, looking at her steadfastly.

Tang Xiaokong smiled and said, "Ancestor, we have all made every preparation. We have lived so many years, even if we haven't seen the fall of an ancient race, we've heard of it. Didn't you pick up that little girl, Princess Xi, from the ruins? Her Dragon Elephant Ancient Race has long been extinct."

Princess Xi took a step forward, chuckling, "Ancestor, you have been so kind to me. I was born here and grew up here, at worst, I die here, and it'll be a return to my roots."

Tang Yi raised his head, boldly saying, "Right, at worst, it's just a matter of death, what is there to fear?"

Everyone spoke in agreement.

For the first time in thousands of years, Tang Ningxin felt a surge of emotion, stemming from the support of her tribe.

Even if it is an end, why be sorrowful?

Only death, what is there to fear?

She closed her eyes slightly, quickly adjusted her state, then pointed to a few elite members to stay, waiting for the tribespeople to disperse, she then recounted the events of the Primordial Ancestor's return over these years, and the possible death and dissipation of his spirit now.

In the end, the Divine Maiden in green slightly lifted her snowy neck, looking towards the mirage-enshrouded clouds, where the ever-shifting clouds seemed to coalesce into a giant hand, whose fingers were poised to pluck the entire Formless Ancient Race as pawns, and place them in a place devoid of life.

"There are still about five hundred years left until the calamity of three thousand years, but that's under usual circumstances. Now that heaven and earth are about to fall, everything... might come sooner."

Tang Ningxin slowly retracted her gaze, scanning the surroundings, "The only solution is that before that day, a new Primordial Ancestor must emerge from the Formless Ancient Race."

A moment of silence descended.

Tang Ningxin suddenly said, "Xiaokong, from now on you will sit here. I... must leave."

She looked into the distance, saying, "From now on, wherever there is a Soul Threshold, I must contend. When the time comes, regardless of success or failure, I will cross the Sea of Suffering. Either I perish there, or... lead my Formless Ancient Race to be reborn in fire."

Tang Yi suddenly asked, "Ancestor, you said the Primordial Ancestor has fallen, then... who killed the Primordial Ancestor?"

Thoughts of contemplation appeared in Tang Ningxin's eyes, though a name had already surfaced in her heart.

However, she deeply glanced at Tang Yi, Tang Xiaokong, and that Princess Xi, and said, "There are countless strong men in this world, blades and spears without eyes, a single wrong move and one may fall, which is common."

As she was speaking, her expression suddenly changed, and then she stood up, looking coldly at the entrance of Mirage Creek.

The mist at the entrance was dispersing.

With a figure strolling in, the mist quickly split to both sides like a servant to a king.

A handsome young man with a trace of wickedness stepped in, his steps not touching the mirage mist.

Tang Ningxin saw the young man.

Soon, Tang Xiaokong, Princess Xi, and others also saw him.

Everyone wore a look of astonishment.

Tang Ningxin swept her green sleeve, spinning over, standing at the end of that young man's path, raising her head to ask, "Tang Yanzhang, what are you doing here? And how did you know about this place?"

This young man was the one who defected from the Formless Ancient Race that day and went to the Sword Alliance to practice Dugu Jin's "Nine Heavens Mad Sword Technique."

Tang Yanzhang said, "I also didn't expect the old thing to die so quickly."

With that, he raised his head and laughed loudly, causing the surrounding mirage mist to swirl chaotically.