Startled, Noah circled around the phoenix's body from a distance, only to come upon a pile of gleaming crystals a little behind it.
"What's that...?"
`[They're pure crystals, used to recover Qi more quickly.]`
He sighed and said,
— I thought it would be something more impressive...
`[They also serve as the currency in this world.]`
"What?! Damn! Why didn't you mention that before?"
He quickly crouched down after exclaiming, fearing the creature's retaliation. Nothing happened.
"You're not going to tell me..." Noah opened his eyes after a few moments of silence, "This phoenix is dead too..?"
`[Affirmative!]`
`[Actually, it's been over 100 millennia.]`
"What, then... is everything here really mine?!"
Smiling, he dashed toward the crystals. The heat emanating from the beast's body prevented him from getting too close immediately, requiring a greater effort than he expected.
"I'm rich! Ha ha ha, rich! Look at all this! I always knew my second life couldn't be as bad as the first—otherwise, it'd be a huge injustice, seriously."
He thought about jumping onto the crystals, but on second thought, the layer of blood and disgusting impurities covering him made him discard that idea.
"Cough! Cough...!" he cleared his throat, but couldn't take his eyes off his new heap of riches. "Stash them in my inventory, please... Quickly!"
Noah sighed and murmured,
— Before I lose control...
Sadly.
"Now, about this here..." he turned toward the phoenix thoughtfully. "I wonder why that serpent didn't eat this phoenix—could that have allowed it to evolve into a real dragon, right?"
`[Certainly!]`
`[Although young, as a phoenix it would be very useful for an evolving creature.]`
"So, what... did they know each other? Or did the serpent never even come across this place?"
Noah considered for a moment and then shook his head, dismissing his earlier assumption.
"No, she lived here—it can't be that," he said.
`[There are no traces of the semi-dragon having passed through this area!]`
"What? So she really never came here at any point? I know this place spans over 50,000 kilometers, but... seriously? This was still her home, wasn't it?"
`[The presence of the phoenix is just as terrifying to the other creatures as the semi-dragon's presence was to you.]`
`[It's only natural for living beings to fear a creature incomparably stronger than themselves. That's what keeps them alive.]`
"Hmm, come to think of it, that other monster never came here—even after leaving the serpent on the brink of death. Could that be why? Does he fear this phoenix too?"
`[Affirmative!]`
`[A Demon Lion King can't be compared to a phoenix. And his flames—his greatest asset—are useless against them.]`
"I see... So the serpent was being clever after all. I suppose this must be the only safe place where she could stay with her child without being attacked by other beings. Even in fear, she used the phoenix to her advantage."
Noah scrutinized the creature's body more closely—the flames danced around it as if alive. Yet on its back, something caught his attention: a dark spot that stood out from the rest.
'...What's that...?'
He circled the creature, walking until he could clearly see the object—a dark hilt that appeared to be part of a sword.
"Could it be that this is what killed her...? There don't seem to be any other wounds."
Noah approached carefully—each step, the heat pushed him back more intensely. He placed his hands on the hilt, and instantly, it felt as if his skin were melting.
"Damn..!"
He quickly let go and checked to be sure—nothing had happened. Sighing, Noah grabbed the hilt again. He knew he had to be quick; the heat was far too intense for him to stay in that spot much longer—his sweat wasn't even forming, so hot was it that it evaporated before he could notice.
"Argh! Come on... damn...!" he pulled with all his might, but the result was minimal. "Just a little more... get out, damn it...!"
"...Damnation..!"
The sword came free, and he fell to the ground from the force. It was long, bigger than he'd imagined—and also far more beautiful. Its blade shone as if absorbing the remaining phoenix blood that clung to it.
"Oh my...! A vampire sword...? Does it get stronger as it absorbs the blood of other beings?"
`[Affirmative!]`
Noah glanced at the cut on the creature's body, then, setting the sword aside for a moment, he ran to stand where the blood would fall. He waited, but nothing happened.
"...Maybe it already absorbed everything it had inside?"
A drop dripped onto his back, making him scream:
— Aaaaaaahh!
It felt as if scalding water were being poured over his body; everything heated up.
His vision began to flash with bursts of light, while his mind could no longer focus on the chant of either the first or even the second mantra. The pain was unbearable.
There was no need to absorb it, for as if it had a life of its own, the surging Qi coursed throughout his entire being, leaving deep marks – transformations.
"Like a tranquil mirror, I reflect the perfect duality of the universe..." he said, attempting to recite the first mantra aloud.
"Wherein every opposite holds the path to balance.
Thus, I breathe in tranquility,
I vibrate with the harmony of contrasts,
And I renew myself with every moment.
With each new breath, I dance where barriers embrace the light and the light softens the shadows.
Within the sacred circle, I find the eternal flow
That unites calm and action, peace and movement."
As the heat faded away, his mind became calm, yet the final word needed to be spoken:
— Balance...
He uttered, and with that, his agony came to an end.
`[The pure blood of legendary creatures is far too potent to be absorbed directly by humans – especially by those with a low level of cultivation.]`
`[It is recommended that you use it in the creation of pills, combining it with other materials to reduce its potency and destructive capacity.]`
*Cough! Cough! Cough...!*
"Ah... thanks for the warning."
`[You're welcome.]`
"Man, I really hope this damn stuff was worth it—that it doesn't just end up being some stupid improvement in my vision."
`[Why don't you test it? After you recover, of course.]`
"And after a bath." Noah picked up the sword and used it as a crutch to keep himself upright. "Store this in my inventory too, and let's wrap this up quickly so I can get out of here."
`[There is a small spring in this area.]`
"...And is it close?" he asked hesitantly, not thrilled at the thought of having to walk any further in this place.
`[...Yes...]`
Noah wasn't convinced by the system's words.
`[It is also near the location where the semi-dragon's child is located.]`
"...Alright, fine... now tell me the way."
What was once inconsequential – a treacherous, uneven terrain – had become a much bigger headache than Noah had expected. Jumping to get out of that pit required a tremendous sacrifice; it took more than three attempts and hours of rest.
"Are you sure this spring is nearby...? I feel like I've been walking for hours and nothing's happening."
`[...Yes, just a few more steps – it's on the next corner to the left.]`
"Next? Then..."
`[No... on the next one.]`
The long path stretched out before him, and, clicking his tongue, Noah regretted having decided to listen to the system.
`[There's no need to rush; besides, you won't be able to leave this place right now.]`
"Not... able? Why?"
`[There are two exits from this area – the hole you came in from and another one that lies a few hundred kilometers to the north – you are currently unable to reach either.]`
Noah continued walking, deep in thought. He hadn't even realized he was nearing the location mentioned by the system, and then he asked:
— ...Is there any way to heal faster?
Even though there were only a few steps left to reach his destination.
`[A healing pill.]`
"...I mean, something practical." he said, doubting the possibility of having access to such a thing.
`[A healing pill...?]`
With just one step left to the spring, Noah halted—a small light appeared before him. From it, a tiny green pill with five clouds drawn on it materialized.
"Seriously...?! Where did that come from? Did you create it?"
`[No!]`
`[There were several among the pile of crystals.]`
Noah brought that little sphere close to his face—the mere sweet scent, mixed with herbs, was enough to make most of the pain in his body vanish, or at least lessen its intensity.
He then prepared to put it in his mouth.
`[Warning!]`
`[It is not recommended to use pills for healing in these cases!]`
"What...? Why not?"
`[Your body is under immense stress for multiple reasons. Using a pill of such low level to bypass this will damage your already fragile foundation.]`
"...Could I use it at least to ease the pain...?" he asked as he stowed the sword into his inventory. "And what exactly are those reasons you're referring to?"
`[Yes, it's possible to use it, if only to suppress the pain.]`
`[As for your body's stress, it is due both to your rapid and sudden advancement through Body Refinement and the excessive amount of Qi you interacted with during your first meditation, as well as, most importantly, due to your attempt to also absorb phoenix blood even after all that.]`
"...Which was more dangerous: this sequence of errors or falling from that hole down here...?"
`[You should have died as soon as the phoenix blood touched you – that didn't happen only because your body was fortified using a massive amount of blood from a creature halfway to a semi-dragon.]`
"I understand..."
Noah felt a chill run down his spine. He lost all remaining will to consume that pill.
`[But don't worry. Normally, it would take months for someone to recover from something like this – in your case, just a few days. Three, to be exact.]`
`[During that period, you can use meditation to stabilize your current cultivation.]`
"Yes... knowing that is encouraging. Thank you..."
`[You're welcome!]`