Dark energy surged through my body like liquid fire. My meridians expanded painfully as they accommodated the tremendous power flowing through the founder's mark. Three days had passed since my encounter with the ancient spirit, and I hadn't wasted a single moment.
"More," I whispered to myself, drawing deeper from the wellspring of dark energy.
The mark on my divine sense pulsed angrily, as if the founder suspected my true intentions. But it was too late. The connection was established, and I was draining his power like a leech.
My body trembled as another wave of cultivation breakthrough washed over me. The Foundation Establishment Stage fifth layer—reached in just three days. The speed of my advancement was unprecedented, even for those with extraordinary talent.
I opened my eyes, ending my meditation. Sweat drenched my robes, and my breathing came in ragged gasps. Yet beneath the exhaustion burned an intoxicating sense of power.
