Chapter 18: The Rat King

South Slope, within the courtyard, Jiang Chen was immersed in cultivation. His body moved like willow fluff in the breeze, attracting the gathering of spiritual energy from the heavens and earth.

“The tempering of my torso is complete.”

At a certain moment, as if inspired, Jiang Chen halted his movements.

“Upon reflection, I’ve been in this world for two months now. Today, at last, I’ve made new progress.”

Clenching his fist, feeling the changes within himself, a faint smile appeared on Jiang Chen’s face.

With his torso refined, his physical strength had become even greater—among the first-rate, he now stood out as one of the best. Only those with extraordinary gifts of the flesh could suppress him. Yet for a cultivator, the strengthening of the body through spiritual refinement was merely a side benefit.

“Now that my torso is fully tempered, I sense a growing intimacy with the world’s spiritual energy. This should make casting talismans far more effortless. Perhaps I can even attempt again that flaying technique which has long eluded me.”

His thoughts shifted, and Jiang Chen’s understanding of the Spirit Sense Realm deepened.

This stage of cultivation was not meant to increase a cultivator’s direct strength, but rather to enhance their affinity with the world’s spiritual energy—transforming their mundane flesh into a spiritual vessel and laying a solid foundation for future advancement.

“In a sense, cultivation in the Spirit Sense Realm already enhances a practitioner’s innate potential, giving them the chance to go further. Judging by this alone, the cultivation system of this world is anything but simple.”

Having glimpsed just a fragment, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

“Next, I must swiftly complete the tempering of my head and advance to the Qi Refining stage. With the aid of the Spirit Spring Stone and this advantageous location, I shouldn’t be hindered in this step.”

He glanced at the well in the courtyard, quite satisfied. This serendipitous acquisition of a spiritual artifact had greatly aided his cultivation. Without the Spirit Spring Stone, it would have taken him far longer to complete the tempering of his torso.

The reason Jiang Wang, his predecessor, had been stuck at this stage was not only due to his own limitations, but also because of the external environment.

“According to the cultivation knowledge Jiang Wang left behind, there exist things called spiritual veins in this world. Where they take root, spiritual energy flourishes, making it a paradise for cultivation. Sadly, spiritual veins are rare, and it seems none exist in all of Qinghe County.”

His thoughts drifting, Jiang Chen frowned as he pondered the matter of spiritual veins.

His predecessor had come to Muyu Island in search of possible treasures mentioned by his teacher, Daoist Baihe, and had hidden in a bandit’s lair. He had also made inquiries about spiritual veins, but found nothing.

“Jiang Wang’s teacher, Daoist Baihe, once hinted that this land seemed to have suffered some calamity, making it unsuitable for cultivation. He advised Jiang Wang to wait for an opportune time.”

Recalling fragments from Jiang Wang’s memory, Jiang Chen’s frown deepened. Just then, two low growls drew his attention.

“Have they gone mad?”

He turned his gaze toward a wooden cage nearby, watching as two rats frantically hurled themselves against the bars. Jiang Chen’s expression shifted slightly.

Compared to before, these two rats had changed drastically. Their fur was now black with a reddish tinge, and their bodies had grown much larger—less like rats, more like fully grown cats.

At this moment, their eyes were blood-red, their behavior nearly deranged as they crashed into the wooden cage, desperate to escape.

“They’ve reached their limit? But something seems off.”

Jiang Chen observed the rats’ transformation, not rushing to intervene.

Back on Muyu Island, the presence of many spies made certain actions inconvenient. But here in Golden Sand Valley, there were no such constraints. As a result, these rats had led a good life recently, replenishing their vitality with blood each day.

Of course, only one of these two was among the original three; the other had been added later. All the rest—dozens of rats—had died off during this period. Fortunately, rats were plentiful in Golden Sand Valley.

In this sense, these two could be considered the elite of their kind—lucky as well, or they could not have endured so long. But now, it seemed, they too had reached their limit.

A low growl issued from their throats. As if provoked, the two rats trapped in the cage took a deep breath, their bodies swelling rapidly. If before they were the size of kittens, now they were as large as calves.

With a snap, their immense strength burst forth, shattering the cage door in an instant.

Yet after breaking free, the two rats did not immediately flee. Instead, their eyes locked onto Jiang Chen, their now grotesquely transformed faces filled with ferocity and bloodlust, clearly regarding him as prey.

With threatening hisses, one rat drooled and, unable to hold back, gathered its strength and lunged at Jiang Chen like a tiger, intent on devouring him. The other seemed tempted as well, but the red light in its eyes flickered uncertainly, as if struggling, hesitating.

Facing the charging rat, Jiang Chen’s expression held no fear—only regret.

“My physical body hasn’t reached its peak, yet their minds have already collapsed. Who would have thought that absorbing foreign blood would harbor such dangers? It seems the Bloodflame Technique does not refine the blood to perfection. Then again, it is only the lowest grade of talismanic art.”

With a single thought, Jiang Chen pointed casually.

In the next instant, with a heavy thud, the frenzied rat fell to the ground, lifeless. This was the Profound Killing Finger.

Having finished, Jiang Chen turned his gaze to the other rat—a familiar one, as it was one of the original trio, and the very one that had been frightened into urinating itself by the Profound Killing Finger.

Now, meeting Jiang Chen’s eyes and sensing that familiar killing intent, the slumbering terror in the rat’s heart awakened—as though doused in icy water, the madness left it at once. The red glow faded from its eyes, returning to normal.

It whimpered, and in that instant of clarity, seemed to realize something. It immediately retracted its claws and fangs, adopting no further aggressive posture.

Jiang Chen remained unmoved, expressionless as he regarded the rat.

After a glance at its fallen companion, the now-clear-headed rat gritted its teeth, walked back into the cage of its own accord, and, with a flick of its tail, closed the door behind it.

Having done so, it released the transformation of its body, crouched within the cage, and looked at Jiang Chen with a pair of beady black eyes, full of innocence and obedience.

Seeing this, a hint of curiosity finally appeared on Jiang Chen’s face.

“Has it awakened spiritual intelligence and is about to become a demon? Its wits are truly unexpected.”

“In that case, the crazed one was only a false prodigy; you are the true champion among rats.”

Carefully observing, Jiang Chen formed some guesses about this rat’s condition.