《My Fairy Growth System》 Chapter 1: Crossing Over into a Womans Body "No... It¡¯s really gone!!! Ahhh, Mom, I want to go home..." Inside a shabby wooden hut, Yu Qingtan propped herself up on a washstand with one hand and ced the other underneath her, gazing at her own face of utter despair in the brass mirror as two lines of tears shamefully streamed down. Yu Qingtan swore that if she could do it all over again, she would never agree to the dignity-on-the-line game of solo with her buddy Fang Tao. She had thought that, as a king, pinching a noob like the one she had introduced to the game just a month earlier would be a piece of cake. But then... The Yu Qingtan who lost three to zero could only ept her punishment, donning the female cosy outfit that the other party had prepared for her. This bastard definitely had it nned from the start. If I ever bet again, I¡¯m a dog, a real one. Although the name Yu Qingtan sounded somewhat feminine, and she did look delicate, she was in fact a bona fide male university student. No sooner had she changed clothes ande out of the bathroom than a thunderous boom sounded, and Yu Qingtan lost consciousness. There was a barbecue restaurant under that inte cafe. By the time Yu Qingtan woke up again, a flood of unfamiliar memories had poured into her mind, taking a while to adjust to. Then Yu Qingtan realized she had transmigrated. As a bookworm on a certain site for years, she was not unfamiliar with transmigration. Sometimes, in the quiet of the night, sleep elusive, she even fantasized about transmigrating to another world to lead a vibrant life and establish a legacy. But what Yu Qingtan hadn¡¯t foreseen was the great cost of transmigration¡ªshe had lost her little brother (penis). Yes, the original owner of the body was also named Yu Qingtan, a fourteen-year-old girl and a prospective disciple of the Tianxiang Pavilion. This was a cultivation world, and the original owner had been brought back to be raised by the Tianxiang Pavilion from a mountain vige at infancy because she possessed a Spirit Root. Recently, due to the Pavilion¡¯s assessment selection to determine the fate of the reserve disciples, the original Yu Qingtan was frantically practicing her dance and cultivation techniques, not wanting to end up as an external disciple. Unfortunately, she met an identst night from overexerting herself during the practice, and passed away, allowing a male university student to take over her body. Yu Qingtan, barely epting reality, sat back on the wooden bed. With a thought, a light screen appeared in front of her eyes. [Fairy Development System] This was her¡ªor rather, her¡ªgolden finger. The System, the mostmon type of golden finger. Holy fairy development... Yu Qingtan twitched the corner of her mouth and lightly patted her t chest, soothing herself. Being able to cultivate and having a system were important reasons she could barely ept the new reality. [Name: Yu Qingtan] [Gender: Female] No need to emphasize that again, hey... [Age: 14/87] [Spirit Root: Water 67/100; Wood 52/100; Earth 51/100; Metal 25/100; Fire 3/100 (The less the number of Spirit Roots and the higher thepatibility, the better the talent; 50-59 as lower grade, 60-69 as medium grade, 70-79 as higher grade, 80-89 as premium grade, 90-100 as immortal grade)] [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation firstyer 93/100] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique] ``` [Spell: Cleansing Spell Beginner 63/100] [Skills: Exquisite Dance Beginner 92/100, Zither Art Beginner 66/100] [Charm Points: 0] [Affection Value: 0 (1,000 Charm Points can be exchanged for 1 Affection Value)] [Beginner¡¯s Gift: Mystic Dance Exquisite Costume Set, System Space Slot] "Fang Tao, I curse you to be single for life!" Looking at the picture that was identical to the cosy costume prepared by his best friend, Yu Qingtan had reason to believe that cross-dressing cosy was the direct cause of his transmigration. Unable to find the mysterious force with a wicked sense of humor that made him cross over, he could only curse that particr best friend furiously. [System Mall: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Value), First Stage Cultivation Level Upgrade Card 0/3 (10 Affection Value), First Stage Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (1 Affection Value), First Stage Skill Upgrade Card 0/10 (1 Affection Value)] [Lucky Draw: 10 Charm Points per draw] After looking over his system panel carefully for the second time, Yu Qingtan roughly understood the function of the system: to upgrade through Charm Points and Affection Value and cultivate himself into a fairy. In the Lichuan Cultivation World, the term fairy refers to a True Immortal, the ninth and ultimate realm of cultivation, capable of ascending to the realm of the True Immortals. About a thousand years ago, a female cultivator seeded in her Tribtion Crossing to be an immortal and ascended to the realm of True Immortals, bing a fairy. "But why are my Charm Points zero? That¡¯s too harsh." Yu Qingtan looked in the brass mirror again and muttered to himself. This body was petite, about 152 cm tall and weighing less than 90 pounds, with a melon seed-shaped face, moderately sized eyes, a normal nose and mouth, and long ck hair that reached his waist. Despite the few freckles on his face and an unremarkable chest detracting from the score, he still qualified as a pretty girl. "And what¡¯s this Affection Value? It can be exchanged for 1,000 Charm Points. How do I obtain Charm Points and Affection Value? Could it be..." Thinking of a certain possibility, Yu Qingtan, suppressing the shame, changed out of his pajamas and into the dance skirt he would usually wear for practice, then started to tidy up and dress. "Pretty cute!" After some effort, Yu Qingtan finally managed to tidy himself up, applied light makeup, and tied his hair in a simple bun. Even with the previous inhabitant¡¯s memories, makeup and hair styling remained quite challenging for Qing Tan, though the results were nheless satisfying. Yu Qingtan gave himself a score of seven points in his heart, then opened the system panel to check again. [Charm Points: 0] "What a nt!" "Never mind, let¡¯s get the beginner¡¯s gifts first." Having cross-dressed twice already, and even having switched to a female body, Yu Qingtan was no longer so resistant to the idea of the cosy costume. So he touched his thoughts on the receive button next to the gift. A Mystic Dance Exquisite cosy costume appeared out of nowhere in Yu Qingtan¡¯s hands. It felt much better than the crappy one prepared by that jerk Fang Tao, and it looked rather extraordinary. Yu Qingtan probed it with a bit of spiritual power and found it was actually a lower-grade defensive magic artifact. Magic artifacts are suitable for Qi Cultivation cultivators to use as equipment, and they are quite valuable. A normal lower-grade magic artifact is worth between 100 to 150 Spirit Stones, with defensive ones usually being more expensive. Previously, Yu Qingtan did not possess any magic artifacts. As a preparatory disciple, Yu Qingtan was entitled to receive 10 Spirit Stones in allowance from the Tianxiang Pavilion every year. After deducting expenses, Yu Qingtan had only managed to save up 67 Spirit Stones over the years, which he kept in a tiny box. Yu Qingtan then looked at the newly appeared [System Space Slot]on the system panel. His thoughts reached out to the small square icon next to it and immediately he sensed a ten-sided space. With a thought, the Mystic Dance Exquisite garment disappeared from his hand and appeared in that space. With another thought, it returned to his hand. After repeating this a few times, he left the garment in the space slot. Yu Qingtan¡¯s mood had improved considerably; who as a Blue Star inhabitant wouldn¡¯t love a space equipment? Of course, in the Lichuan Cultivation World, there are many types of space equipment, but even the cheapest storage bag starts at a price of 1,000 Spirit Stones, far beyond what Yu Qingtan, a mere Qi Cultivation level one rookie, could afford. After thinking about it, Yu Qingtan fished out the small box where the original owner had hidden the Spirit Stones, opened it, and found 67 Spirit Stones arranged neatly inside. The Spirit Stones were roughly the same size and shape as the game pieces from his previous life¡¯s board games, jade-like and semi-transparent. Yu Qingtan picked up one and rubbed it for a while, but there was no response from the system panel. "It seems I can¡¯t pay to win!" Yu Qingtan was a bit disappointed and then stored all the Spirit Stones into the System Space. After that, while there was still some time left, Yu Qingtan started practicing Exquisite Dance in his room. Despite having the memories, and being close to proficiency, it was still easy to make mistakes without familiarization, and the consequence of those mistakes was often the whip of the strict instructor ¨C one of the most prominent and frightening memories of his predecessor. Moreover, the day of the assessment selection was only ten days away. "Qing Tan, time for breakfast!" After practicing three times, a crisp voice called from the door. ``` Chapter 2: He Will Be a Man of the Tian Xiang Outer House "Here Ie!" Yu Qingtan recognized it as Shen Wanning¡¯s voice and replied. Even though Yu Qingtan had already grown ustomed to her own voice now, the equally crisp response still made her shiver. This was a cultivation world, and although rare, there were instances of body snatching, which were considered forbidden by the demonic path and not tolerated by the masses. If it were discovered that she had a different soul within her, the consequences were unpredictable. Shen Wanning was the original body¡¯s close friend, admitted to the Tianxiang Pavilion the same year and of the same age as Yu Qingtan. Given that the original body had a somewhat withdrawn personality, Shen Wanning was a rare person shemunicated with more frequently, and she was also the one who knew the original body best, which meant Yu Qingtan couldn¡¯t help but respond carefully. Although she had lost her little brother (penis), the memories of the explosion made Yu Qingtan aware that it was definitely impossible for her to return to her previous life, so she wanted to live well. Cultivation could grant longevity, and moreover, if her realm became high enough, she might be able to find her little brother (penis) or even find a way to return to Blue Star if she became an immortal. Calming her breath, Yu Qingtan opened the door to her room, and towering mountain peaks greeted her sight. A twitch appeared at the corner of Yu Qingtan¡¯s mouth¡ªas girls of the same age, why was there such a big difference between them. Raising her eyes slightly, she saw a delicate oval face with handsome eyes and well-groomed eyebrows, full of expression¡ªit was Shen Wanning. "You¡¯re really slow today~," Shen Wanning said, pouting. "I missed a few moves while practicing the dance for thest time, which held me up," Yu Qingtan exined with a smile. "I know you¡¯re diligent. Let¡¯s go fill our stomachs first, I¡¯m starving!" "What can I do, with my limited talents andprehension, I have to work harder than others." "You can definitely do it! Even if you don¡¯t get selected, just follow me, big sister will cover for you." ¡­ The Lichuan Cultivation World is divided into Nine Domains, with the East, West, South, North, Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, and Northwest Realms forming the Lower Realms, where the maximum cultivation is up to the Divinity Transformation Stage. After Divinity Transformation, cultivators must traverse the Lichuan Inner Sea to reach the Central Domain. The Central Domain belongs to the Upper Realm, where one can cultivate up to the Tribtion Crossing Stage. Sess in Tribtion Crossing signifies a True Immortal, eligible for ascension to the True Immortal Realm. The nine stages of immortality cultivation: Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, Void Refinement, Body Integration, Tribtion Crossing, and True Immortal. The path of cultivation is fraught with difficulty at every stage, filled with arduous challenges and dangers. The Tianxiang Pavilion, where Yu Qingtan resided, is located in the Suichuan Immortal City of the Southeast Region. Suichuan Immortal City lies at the border of the influence of two great Nascent Soul Sects, the Tri-Sun Sect and the Qunfang Pavilion, and it¡¯s next to the Yunhua Mountain Range, where Demonic Beasts roam rampant, making the situation exceptionallyplex. Tianxiang Pavilion is an external power of Tianxiang Valley, which is an external force of the Qunfang Pavilion¡ª a brothel in the Cultivation World. The Tianxiang Pavilion is divided into an outer pavilion and an inner pavilion: Disciples of the outer pavilion need to practice dual cultivation techniques and then entertain guests; the inner pavilion disciples are allowed to sell their arts without selling their bodies, and they even have a slight chance of entering Tianxiang Valley. Like Yu Qingtan, reserve disciples nurtured by the Tianxiang Pavilion since childhood face an assessment at the age of fourteen, which will decide their fate. An assessment score of 90 and above grants direct admission to Tianxiang Valley, 70~90 points for inner pavilion disciples, 50~70 points for outer pavilion disciples, and below 50 points be servants outright. The assessment consists of points for cultivation level, appearance, Dance Artistry, assorted arts (such as zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting), and daily performance. For cultivation level, Qi Cultivation firstyer scores 30 points, secondyer scores 50 points. Those with higher cultivation levels wouldn¡¯t remain in Tianxiang Pavilion with such potential. Appearance scores range from 1 to 10 points, with anyone trained as a reserve in Tianxiang Pavilion scoring no lower than 4. Yu Qingtan estimated she could score 6 points, while Shen Wanning would have at least 8 points. Dance Artistry starts with 10~15 points for beginners, reaching 20 points for slightly more advanced levels. Yu Qingtan was just a little short of that level, whereas Shen Wanning had achieved itst year. Assorted arts range from 1 to 10 points, with Yu Qingtan guaranteeing herself a score of 4, while Shen Wanning, with her well-developed flute artistry, would score at least 8 points. Daily performance can score between 10~20 points, mainly decided by the instructor. With Yu Qingtan¡¯s inward nature and average study performance, she estimated to get around 15 points, while the lively and quick-learning Shen Wanning, who was favored by instructors, could easily score 20. That meant Yu Qingtan¡¯s estimated minimum score was a precarious 65 points. Shen Wanning¡¯s estimated score stood at 86 points¡ªunfortunately, her Spirit Root was even poorer than Yu Qingtan¡¯s, so there was no possibility of breaking through to the secondyer of Qi Cultivation before the assessment. Yu Qingtan, on the other hand, held the potential to break through in cultivation or achieve minor sess in Exquisite Dance before the assessment. Achieving either would securely ce her within the inner pavilion, which is why the person she was before was so assiduously practicing and cultivating. Regrettably, as fate would have it, her former self fell. Now, Yu Qingtan did not want to serve guests in the outer pavilion¡ªshe too must rise up. After finishing breakfast with Shen Wanning, the two went to their respective Dance Artistry sses. The dances they were learning were also different. In ss, Yu Qingtan was exceptionally serious and even thanked Instructor Wen with a smile after the guidance, which made Instructor Wen a bit surprised. Brushing up on goodwill temporarily, perhaps her performance score could be higher on the usual days. Indeed, aside from the first two rounds of movements in her room practice where she made some mistakes, Yu Qingtan¡¯s Exquisite Dance was error-free afterward, and Yu Qingtan even somewhat enjoyed the feeling of dancing. After an hour and a half of Dance Artistry teaching, there was half an hour of Zither Art instruction. The instructor was still Instructor Wen, a middle-aged beautiful woman. Because she was not yet adapted, Yu Qingtan made mistakes on the zither several times at the beginning. "Your zither skills still have a long way to go. Recently, practice the Exquisite Dance more and try to achieve minor aplishments!" Instructor Wen said to Yu Qingtan with some rarity after the lesson had ended. Yu Qingtan naturally responded with a smile. However, Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart was heavy. After Instructor Wen left, taking advantage of the presence of other Reserve Disciples from the same batch around her, she nced at the system panel, confirming that only she could see it, but there was no change in the progress of the Exquisite Dance and Zither Art on the panel. Yu Qingtan nned to return to her own room to practice the Exquisite Dance some more. Lunch was not provided, with only two meals in the morning and evening, but they wererge and filling. Before entering the courtyard where the Reserve Disciples lived, she was stopped by someone. "Qingtan, I¡¯m going to participate in the trial in the Yunhua Mountain Range tomorrow. This is for you!" This was a gray-clothed youth, tall and slender with a handsome and spirited face, but wearing a nervous look. He handed Yu Qingtan a small cloth bag. Based on the previous host¡¯s memory, Yu Qingtan recognized him, Reserve Protecting Disciple Fang Ling. Tianxiang Pavilion also nurtured Protecting Disciples, all of whom were male cultivators and were the important martial force of Tianxiang Pavilion. Most of them were cultivated from a young age, with the primary focus being onbat capability. When Fang Ling first arrived, he was disciplined by older Reserve Protecting Disciples from previous batches because he did not conform and was beaten up, and even had his food stolen. Huddled in a corner, he was encountered by Yu Qingtan, who gave him a pancake and a bottle of externally applied wound medicine. "Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you?" "..." "Your hand is bleeding, take this medicine, and have this as well!" On that day, it was Yu Qingtan¡¯s once-a-year rest day; she had just gone shopping with others in the market, and her mood was very good. That year, Yu Qingtan was ten years old, and Fang Ling was eight. Later on, the two met a few times and could be considered acquainted. But they weren¡¯t close, they both were very busy, and the Protecting Disciples had even greater pressure with their cultivation. After they turned twelve, they had to participate in trials annually, and the usual content was to hunt Demonic Beasts in the Yunhua Mountain Range, which was life-threatening. "Fang Ling, this..." Yu Qingtan was just about to refuse, but Fang Ling turned around and quickly walked away before she could. "Good luck~" Yu Qingtan shouted towards the disappearing figure around the corner. Back in her room, Yu Qingtan opened the small cloth bag. Chapter 3: You, a Fine Lady, Why Turn to Thievery? Inside was an exquisite wooden box that, when carefully opened, contained a translucent little jade bottle. Underneath the bottle, there was also a letter pressed t. "May I be like the stars, you like the moon, our radiant light reflecting each other night after night. With a three-foot green de, I¡¯ll carve a path to immortality, vanquishing demons and evil for your return. ¡ª¡ªLing Jitan" ... ... Yu Qingtan felt as if ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through her heart. "Do kids in the cultivation world mature this early¡­" "I¡¯ve actually been confessed to by a guy¡­" "We¡¯re not even close, a cake and a bottle of medicine and you¡¯ve fallen for me, can my charm really be that high¡­" Charm, Charm Points¡­ With a bad feeling, Yu Qingtan opened the system panel. [Charm Points: 1] [Favorability Value: 1] "Wang Defa¡­" Who am I, where am I¡­ After a long while, Yu Qingtan managed to somewhat calm herplex emotions. She also understood the malicious intent of the Fairy Cultivation System. [Charm Points]should be obtained through others being attracted by one¡¯s charm, [Favorability Value]should be obtained through others having affection for oneself. This "others," ording to the system¡¯s character, was probably restricted to males. "This is making me, a fine young man, y the role of a female Sea King in the cultivation world!" Yu Qingtan was speechless and choked up, but it seemed she could only submit in order to achieve immortality. A beauty by birth, nowpelled to be a bandit. "Sigh¡­" Yu Qingtan picked up the jade bottle again to examine it, it looked like a cultivator¡¯s potion bottle, just a few sizes smaller. Upon opening the bottle, a rich spiritual energy surged out, prompting Yu Qingtan to involuntarily take a breath. ncing inside the bottle, she saw two drops of light blue translucent liquid not mingling with each other, and immediately capped the bottle. "What¡¯s with this kid, a reserve Protecting Disciple, a mere child, to have something like this." Yu Qingtan was astonished in her heart. The liquid in the bottle, she recognized, was Spirit Dew. Spirit Dew forms on the spiritual nts that grow within the Spiritual Spring, but the yield is very low. The first-level Spirit Dew asionally sold in Hundred Treasures Pavilion starts at 150 Spirit Stones per drop. "This gift is too generous, I don¡¯t want to ept, but it¡¯s so tempting!" Yu Qingtan struggled internally, with these two drops of Spirit Dew, she could definitely break through to the secondyer of Qi Cultivation. Qi Cultivation practitioners between the first and secondyers have veins too fragile to consume elixirs to enhance their cultivation level, and elixirs have problems with pill poison and resistance. None of these problems exist with Spirit Dew; its only issue is that it¡¯s expensive, even more so than elixirs. Yu Qingtan recalled the recent meetings between her former self and that boy, where she casually brought up her worries regarding the assessment. He really did put quite an effort into this. "This kid must have his own secrets, but I won¡¯t treat you poorly in the future, as for offering my body in return, sorry but no!" After wrestling with the thought for a while, Yu Qingtan decided to ept everything as is, it would not be difficult to look out for him in the future. Purchase First-Level Skill Upgrade Card. [Favorability Value: 0] Use First-Level Skill Upgrade Card on [Exquisite Dance], sessful use. [Exquisite Dance Minor Achievement 92/200] As the First-Level Skill Upgrade Card was used, Yu Qingtan¡¯s mind seemed to be filled with scenes of herself practicing Exquisite Dance day and night, mastering each movement¡¯s details even more proficiently. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Yu Qingtan began dancing Exquisite Dance in her room involuntarily. Her movements were skillful, her dance graceful. Due to the quick pace at critical points, it even produced an afterimage, as if two were dancing together. This was the primary sign of minor achievement in Exquisite Dance. After the dance, Yu Qingtan let out a long sigh of relief, revealing a smile. The assessment was in the bag. Next, Yu Qingtan continued practicing the Exquisite Dance. For dinner, she made do with the pancakes prepared by her predecessor. Not only did she have to master the Exquisite Dance, but she also needed to show gradual improvement over the next few days, aiming for a semnce of proficiency. Stability is the foundation of a transmigrated individual¡¯s basic quality. It wasn¡¯t untilte at night that Yu Qingtan felt the problem was not significant anymore. "Ah, a mighty male transmigrator practicing dance until midnight, it would certainly be aughingstock if word got out~" She rested for half an hour. Yu Qingtan then cast a Cleansing Spell on herself, as remembered. The Cleansing Spell is the simplest spell, with a short spiritual energy cirction path and low consumption, so it can be learned at the first level of Qi Cultivation, while most other spells are not practiced until reaching the third or fourth level. Because of its simplicity, Yu Qingtan sessfully cast her first spell after transmigration, and all the sweat and dust on her body disappeared. After using it several times and cleaning her room until it was spotless, Yu Qingtan felt her spiritual power waning. So, she sat cross-legged on the wooden bed and began her first session of cultivation after transmigrating. The dantian is located in the lower abdomen, and sensing the dantian seems to be an instinct for Cultivators¡ª Yu Qingtan easily felt her dantian and the few strands of spiritual power within, as thin as hair. ording to the experience summarized by countless Cultivators, the best cultivation effect urs when one¡¯s internal spiritual power is depleted. The Clear Water Technique is a mediocre but stable water-attribute Cultivation Technique, but Yu Qingtan was still extremely careful and slow in guiding the scant spiritual power in her dantian along the prescribed route of the technique, especially given the prior experiences of her original body. As oneplete cycle of cultivation took ce, the surrounding spiritual energy was slowly absorbed, refined through the technique, and turned into Yu Qingtan¡¯s spiritual power. Tianxiang Pavilion was built on top of a spiritual spring, and although the room where Yu Qingtan stayed was far from the spring¡¯s eye and the spiritual energy was sparse, it was enough for the early stages of Qi Cultivation. Many a Loose Cultivator would be envious of such an environment for spiritual energy! With each cycle, the spiritual energy flowed slowly through the meridians, providing Yu Qingtan with afortable tingling sensation. Cultivation was indeed wonderful! It was after ten cycles that Yu Qingtan felt mild pain in her meridians and a bit of dizziness. Yu Qingtan immediately stopped her cultivation, as she might otherwise risk damaging her meridians and soul. Taking advantage of the remaining two hours, Yu Qingtan fell into a deep sleep. As for the Spirit Dew, she nned to use it in a couple of days. First, she wanted to get more ustomed to cultivation, to avoid any mishaps. ... "Don¡¯te over~" The next morning, Yu Qingtan was awakened by a nightmare. In the dream, she was chased by six handsome men in ancient attire, all with the faces of male celebrities from her previous life, who flew on their swords intending to take her back to be theirpanion. "How terrifying!" ... "Qing Tan, it¡¯s time for breakfast!" "Coming!" "Why didn¡¯t youe for dinner yesterday?" "I was busy practicing dance and cultivation." "You¡¯re really going at it, huh!" ... "Yu Qingtan, you¡¯ve improved a lot in your dance today, and you yed the zither better than yesterday. Everyone should learn from her. The assessment isn¡¯t far away," said the Gentle Instructor at the end of the ss. Yu Qingtan was somewhat ttered. ... That day, on the outskirts of the Yunhua Mountain Range, just outside Suichuan Immortal City, on a small hillside. A handsome young man gazed at Suichuan Immortal City not far away. "Qing Tan, wait for my return!" The youth¡¯s face softened with a hint of tenderness. It was Fang Ling. "Heh, little Ling, you¡¯re so fidgety and hesitant, not decisive at all. With the ancestral me and the Universe Light Pearl here, I guarantee you¡¯ll achieve Foundation Establishment within a year. When youe back then, take that girl and, if anyone dares to stop you, just kill them, kekeke~" A seemingly unremarkable ck pearl pendant on Fang Ling¡¯s chest flickered with a faint light, and the voice of a sleazy old man resounded in his mind. Fang Ling ignored the old man¡¯s voice. "Little Ling, hurry on, I¡¯m already impatiently craving the blood of Demonic Beasts, kekeke~" Hearing this, Fang Ling turned and resolutely sprinted towards the direction of the Yunhua Mountain Range. Chapter 4 - 4 Qi Cultivation Level 2: Stabilizing My Heart Tianxiang Pavilion, having just eaten some cakes, Yu Qingtan began her cultivation. "These cakes are quite delicious; no wonder the original owner had hoarded so many in her room." In the past few days, Yu Qingtan had been very diligent, and her Dance Artistry was continuously improving in front of others, earning her anotherpliment from the instructor. [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Stage 1 93/100] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique] [Spells: Cleansing Spell Beginner 64/100] [Skills: Exquisite Dance Intermediate 92/200, Zither Art Beginner 67/100] [Charm Points: 1] [Affection Value: 0] Opening the System Panel, she nced at the Cultivation Level¡¯s progress, which hadn¡¯t budged, and sighed. After using the Cleansing Spell to consume some Spiritual Power, Yu Qingtan adjusted her state and took out the small jade bottle Fang Ling had given her, pouring a drop of Spirit Dew into her mouth and swallowing it. She then hurriedly started to cultivate using the Clear Water Technique. Once the Spirit Dew entered her belly, pure Spiritual Energy emanated and seeped into Yu Qingtan¡¯s body, easily being guided into the cirction of the Cultivation Technique. One cycle. Two cycles. ... Yu Qingtan could feel that each cycle was fast and the efficiency of absorbing and refining the Spiritual Energy was extremely high. After a dozen cycles, Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t feel any difort. Instead, at a certain moment, her Dantian trembled slightly and seemed to have expanded a bit. A previously inactive branch in the cycle of the Cultivation Technique was opened and joined the circtory cycle, specifically the new route for the cirction of energy recorded in the secondyer of the Clear Water Technique. That is to say, the secondyer of the Qi Cultivation Stage was achieved. Yu Qingtan continued to cultivate ording to the new cirction route until her meridians felt slightly sore. At that time, the Spiritual Energy of the Spirit Dew had just about been consumed. [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Stage 2 3/200] "As expected of one of the best auxiliary substances for cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Stage." ... "Have you heard? Today the reserve Protecting Disciples who went to the Yunhua Mountain Range for the trial returned, but sadly only eighty percent made it back." "This batch of reserve Protecting Disciples isn¡¯t up to the mark, eh? In previous years, it seems more than ny-five percent woulde back alive!" In the dining hall, Yu Qingtan was eating dinner with Shen Wanning and happened to hear two young girls at the next table discussing. This was the first time recently that Yu Qingtan hade to the dining hall for dinner. "Is that little brother of yours also participating in the trial?" Shen Wanning asked Yu Qingtan in a soft voice. "What little brother? He¡¯s just a reserve Protecting Disciple I know!" Yu Qingtan¡¯s mood wasplicated, feeling both turbulent emotions and a loss of appetite for her dinner at the thought of the young man. "I¡¯ve seen you giving him cakes, hee hee, don¡¯t you try to deny it." "Hmph, so even such delicious food can¡¯t keep your mouth shut~" Shen Wanning actually thought it probably wasn¡¯t a big deal; after all, the boy was much younger, and there was a significant difference in status between them. A Protecting Disciple is only slightly better off than a servant, and Tianxiang Pavilion wouldn¡¯t allow a Protecting Disciple to behave recklessly. However, Yu Qingtan was indeed a bit worried. After all, just when she had started to think about looking after him, if he was gone just like that... "That kid managed to get Spirit Dew, he mustn¡¯t be simple. The trials shouldn¡¯t be a big problem for him!" Yu Qingtan thought to herself. Before going back to her courtyard, Yu Qingtan deliberately found an excuse to linger outside for a while longer. Unfortunately, no one came looking for her. The next day, Yu Qingtan went specifically to the courtyard where the reserve Protecting Disciples lived to inquire. Then, she heard some bad news. Fang Ling hadn¡¯t returned. On thest day of the trial, Fang Ling¡¯s identifying markers suddenly vanished, and he didn¡¯te back. Yu Qingtan returned to her own room somewhat stunned. "Could it really be that something has happened?" Yu Qingtan took out the small bottle that contained the Spirit Dew, thought for a moment, and then ced it back into the storage space of the System. The next day, just three days from the assessment. Yu Qingtan scored a minor sess with Exquisite Dance during the ss. Even Instructor Wen couldn¡¯t help but smile. "Not bad, not bad, Qingtan, you¡¯ve made rapid progresstely. It must be because of the solid foundation you built earlier and your recent dedicated efforts." "It¡¯s all thanks to the instructor¡¯s excellent guidance." Yu Qingtan replied with a smile, pleasing Instructor Wen even more. Why hadn¡¯t he noticed before that this Yu Qingtan was quite charming? There were sixteen people learning Exquisite Dance along with Yu Qingtan, and four of them had already achieved minor sess. Yu Qingtan was the fifth. At this moment, a round-faced young girl, who had just been praised, watched Yu Qingtan while clenched her right hand tightly inside her sleeve. Her name was Li Fengniang, and she had been the best dancer of Exquisite Dance beside those four. Unfortunately, she was just one step short of minor sess and couldn¡¯t make the leap, so seeing Yu Qingtan overtaking her was something she couldn¡¯t ept. "An ugly hag who doesn¡¯t know whether she¡¯sing or going, hmph~" Unfortunately, she could only curse in her heart. ... "Qingtan, I heard you¡¯ve achieved minor sess in Exquisite Dance; the assessment should be a breeze for you now, congrattions!" The next day, Shen Wanning congratted her. Achieving minor sess was somewhat newsworthy in their circle, and it wasn¡¯t surprising that well-connected Shen Wanning had quickly learned of it. "Thank you! I just reached it yesterday and hadn¡¯t had a chance to tell you." Yu Qingtan also seemed a bit relieved. "No worries. Plus, I just happened to get some papaya powder yesterday, I¡¯ll give it to you tonight as a gift." Shen Wanning said with a smile, her eyes curving into crescent moons. "Papaya powder... okay, thanks!" Shen Wanning wouldn¡¯t need it anyway. "Wonder if it¡¯s actually useful~" Such were the thoughts of a former male college student who, unbeknownst to himself, was behaving more and more like a true woman. "Also, I heard some bigwig from Tianxiang Valley is here in the Pavilion, and they will be involved in the assessment. Who knows if being spotted by someone important could lead to being taken back to Tianxiang Valley to cultivate?" Shen Wanning whispered to Yu Qingtan. "What bigwig?" Yu Qingtan was also curious. "I¡¯m not sure about that, just perform well when the timees." ... Finally, the day of the assessment arrived. Yu Qingtan got up early. She styled her hair into an exquisite cloud bun, applied light makeup, and neatly dressed in her gown. After ten days of limation, Yu Qingtan had almost fully inherited the original body¡¯s memories and basic skills. Looking at her reflection with a red long gown, a pleasant face, and flowing hair, Yu Qingtan was very satisfied. "It¡¯s a shame that freckles can only be covered with makeup, but can¡¯t do anything about padding, would be cheating." "Kinda falling in love with myself, what to do? Hehe~" ... "Wanning, are you ready?" It had always been Shen Wanninging to call her, but Yu Qingtan felt it was not quite right, so she decided to call on her first today. However, they would skip breakfast today. "Yes, ready. You¡¯re up so early today, Qingtan!" The door opened, and there was Shen Wanning with her hair in a "fly fairy" bun, slender eyebrows, red lips, wearing a red, off-shoulder long gown with a sheer shawl, hinting at the deep cleavage beneath. Shen Wanning was studying the Rainbow Robes Dance. "So beautiful~" Yu Qingtan swallowed involuntarily and blurted out. "Heehee, Qingtan, you¡¯re quite adorable too!" The two chatted as they arrived at arge courtyard outside the building, with arge square in the center. This was the exact location of the assessment. One side of the square was the presiding stand, with audience seats on the other three sides and arge round stage in the middle. The structure was very simr to some theaters on Blue Star. In fact, the square was usually used as a performance venue as well. At the moment, dozens of girls were scattered in a corner of the square, looking around. Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning were among them, waiting for the assessment to begin. There were quite a few people sitting in the audience seats too. Assessment day was also an important day for Tianxiang Pavilion when it was closed to the public, and the audience wasprised of Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s internal staff. On the presiding stand sat sixteen elegantly dressed men and women, the judges of the assessment. Chapter 5: The Turbulence of Assessment Rises Again "Qing Tan, look, the person right in the middle of the stage is our Tower Master, and the three to her left are our three main stewards, managing the inner tower, the outer tower, and misceneous affairs respectively. The one to her right might be the big shot rumored to havee from Tianxiang Valley, and the five to his right should be guests invited from several major forces within the city. The remaining eight are our instructors. Wow, the Tower Master is truly as beautiful as a painting~" "Yes, she is indeed very beautiful!" Shen Wanning softly introduced the people on the stage to Yu Qingtan. Although she had seen the people from Tianxiang Pavilion before, she was not familiar with them. Shen Wanning had deduced this based on snippets of information, seating habits, and their appearances and attire. Yu Qingtan looked over and saw that the Tower Master of Tianxiang Pavilion was a beautiful woman who appeared to be in her twenties, dressed in a gorgeous red dress, smiling as she conversed with the handsome gentleman said to be from Tianxiang Valley by her side. Next to this gentleman was also a stunning beauty who looked to be about thirty years old, wearing quite bold attire, asionally chiming in the conversation. The others sat with solemn expressions, waiting for the talent assessment to begin. "Our tower really has so many people~" Yu Qingtan then looked towards the audience seats, where about half were filled with people, probably seven to eight hundred, and the men and women were almost equal in number, clearly divided in the audience seating. "Formal disciples, Protecting Disciples, maidservants, and Servants all add up to so many, not to mention there are still quite a few Reserve Disciples and others who are not allowed toe." "Wonder if anyone will be able to enter Tianxiang Valley this time." "That would be tough!" ¡­ "Silence!" With a loud and authoritative voice, instantly, there was silence across the square. It was the voice of the Tower Master of Tianxiang Pavilion. "The talent assessment begins!" There was no host, no leader¡¯s speech, no exnation of the rules for the talent assessment. The talent assessment began directly. Yu Qingtan silently gave approval in her heart. "Zhao Yi, Qian Fang, Sun Li, Li Wei,e up for your talent assessment," called the main steward of the inner tower, a middle-aged woman with a streak of white hair in her temples. Then four young girls walked up to therge round stage in the center. With that, soft music started ying, and the four began to dance gracefully. The music was emitted by a Sound Recording Artifact ced around the edge of the round stage. Yu Qingtan used it too when she had dance lessons. After the four finished their dance, Servants brought up four tables, each equipped with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. The girls then drew a painting each and disyed them for the judges to see. Soon, the results from the judging panel came out. "Zhao Yi, 74 points, joins the inner tower; Qian Fang, 66 points, joins the outer tower; Sun Li, 82 points, joins the inner tower; Li Wei, 49 points, to serve as a Servant," announced the main steward of the inner tower without any expression. Zhao Yi and Sun Li showed joy, Qian Fang wasposed, while Li Wei turned pale and followed the others off the stage. The talent assessment included categories such as Cultivation Level, appearance, Dance Artistry, one specialty in arts (such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting), along with the usual performance points. Cultivation breakthroughs usually required immediate reporting to the instructors, and since most are at the first level of Qi Cultivation, there was no need to check during the assessment; performance points were instantaneously graded by the instructors, while the judging panel mainly reviewed appearance, Dance Artistry, and the specialty art. Scoring above 90 points in the assessment meant a direct opportunity to enter Tianxiang Valley, 70 to 90 points became inner tower disciples, 50 to 70 points became outer tower disciples, and those with under 50 points automatically became Servants. However, those scoring above 90 needed to participate in another selection round at Tianxiang Valley. If they didn¡¯t pass, they would still join the inner tower. Then, the main steward of the inner tower continued to call names, as Reserve Disciples took turnsing up to the stage to showcase their Dance Artistry and specialty arts for the assessment. Sitting in the waiting area, Yu Qingtan felt uneasy at that moment. Because she noticed that the important figure from Tianxiang Valley, the handsome gentleman, nced her way from time to time. Once, she even met his gaze and quickly looked away to therge round stage in the middle. "Qing Tan, don¡¯t be nervous, with your well-practiced Exquisite Dance, you¡¯re certain to enter Tianxiang Pavilion." Shen Wanning noticed her anxiety and whispered words offort. "Mhm~" "...Shen Wanning, it¡¯s your turn to be assessed on stage!" Just then, it was Shen Wanning¡¯s name that was called. "Good luck!" As Shen Wanning and three others went on stage, Yu Qingtan too suppressed the unease in her heart and watched attentively. On stage, Shen Wanning¡¯s steps were light, her dance ethereal and iparable, floating like clouds and mist. Her wless face and perfect figure outshone the other three, reduced to mere green leaves against her bloom, prompting the men in the audience to swallow hard and the judges to smile, nod, or p in approval. After the Rainbow Robes Dance, Shen Wanning also showcased the haunting melodies of her flute. "Shen Wanning, 89 points, wee to the inner pavilion!" "Too bad her talent for Qi Cultivation is somewhatcking," a young master from Tianxiang Valley casually remarked. "It¡¯s already quite good. She¡¯s worthy of thorough cultivation by our Tianxiang Pavilion, and will surely be one of its mainstays," the Tower Master of the Tianxiang Pavilion added with a lightugh. After stepping down, Shen Wanning went to register and then took her ce in the audience among those who had already been assessed. "What a pity~" Seeing that she fell just one point short of 90, Yu Qingtan felt somewhat sorry for Shen Wanning. The assessment continued. In the meantime, three performers who scored 90 points were all beauties with the secondyer of Qi Cultivation andpetent dance artistry. "...Yu Qingtan, Li Fengniang, it¡¯s your turn to be assessed on stage." Yu Qingtan walked slowly onto the stage, feeling very nervous under the gaze of several hundred people. Her heart thumped uncontrobly. In her previous life, she had only stuttered through recitations in ss. "They¡¯re all potatoes, they¡¯re all potatoes~" Yu Qingtan took a deep breath and kept reminding herself internally. As the familiar music began, the dance moves she knew by muscle memory naturally flowed from her. Gradually, Yu Qingtan calmed down and focused on her dance. Her dress fluttered as if in a dream, almost as if two were dancing together, a delightful sight to behold. By the end of the dance, Yu Qingtan felt entirely at peace. As the servants brought out the zither, Yu Qingtan¡¯s fingers deftly strummed, immersively ying the most familiar tune. Yu Qingtan felt she had given it her all. "...Yu Qingtan, 82 points, wee to the inner pavilion; Li Fengniang, 69 points, to the outer pavilion," announced the person in charge of the inner pavilion¡¯s affairs. Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart steadied. However, just as Yu Qingtan and the others were about to leave the stage, a voice rose from the presiding panel. "Tower Master Gongsun, this young master has a bold request," said the handsome young man who was rumored to be an important figure from Tianxiang Valley. "Please speak, Master Luo. As long as it is within my power, I shall amodate," Tower Master Gongsun had already noticed his asional nces towards Yu Qingtan on the stage and had some suspicions. "Haha, I have fallen in love with Miss Qing Tan at first sight and wish to take her as a concubine. Would Tower Master Gongsun be willing to bless this union?" Luo Xiang spoke, smiling at Yu Qingtan. "Just as I thought, this little lecher," Tower Master Gongsun thought to himself. "It is her fortune that Master Luo has taken a liking to Qing Tan, and I shall not stand in the way. However, there are rules in the pavilion, and it must be with the individual¡¯s consent," Tower Master Gongsun replied, then turned to address Yu Qingtan. "Qing Tan, this is Master Luo Xiang from Tianxiang Valley, a True Disciple of the valley. His mother is an Elder there, and despite his young age, he has already reached the Foundation Establishment level of cultivation. He now wishes to take you as a concubine. Are you willing?" Chapter 6: The Great Years, A Narrow Escape from Becoming a Concubine A bright and splendid day. Air free from pollution. Breezes caressed the face, breathing was refreshing to the mind and heart. But Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart was trembling with anger. "Maimaiti, this beast, I¡¯m still a child." Fuddled by Luo Xiang¡¯s words about taking a concubine, Yu Qingtan had forgotten that in this world, it is perfectly normal for thirteen or fourteen-year-olds to start a family. And as a grown man, if I were to be a concubine after crossing over, I would surely be theughingstock among other transmigrators. Yu Qingtan took a deep breath and said with a voice as calm as possible, "Tower Master, thank you for the affection Lord Luo has mistakenly ced in me, but regrettably, having grown up in the Pavilion, I have deep feelings for this ce and do not wish to leave. I can only disappoint Lord Luo." After finishing, she bowed to the Tower Master and Luo Xiang as a sign of respect. Luo Xiang¡¯s smile faded, not expecting that the young girl would actually reject him. Anyone else, he might have let go, but sadly, her face resembled that person¡¯s too closely. Thus, facing the inquiring look from Gongsun, the Tower Master, Luo Xiang said, "Miss Qingtan, if you agree, I will ensure you be an Inner Sect Disciple of Tianxiang Valley and reach Foundation Establishment before you¡¯re fifty. How about it?" After speaking, Luo Xiang revealed a confident smile, looking at Yu Qingtan. Upon hearing this, the room was filled with sounds of sharp intakes of breath. For people like Yu Qingtan, whose cultivation qualifications didn¡¯t even meet the entry criteria for Tianxiang Valley, they had to struggle to earn Cultivation Resources, and on average, it would take four to six years to break through a single realm. Generally, at the age of ten, one¡¯s body and meridians can withstand the washing of Spiritual Energy, allowing them to begin cultivation. Therefore, without any opportunity, less than half of them could cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation by the age of sixty, and after sixty, with a decline in bodily functions, the prospect of reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage was almost hopeless. Foundation Establishment is the first major hurdle in cultivation, and the Foundation Establishment Pill is both expensive and controlled by powerful factions. Even with the pill, the sess rate of Foundation Establishment is merely two or three out of ten. After Foundation Establishment, one can enjoy a lifespan of two hundred years. Lower level Qi Practitioners all have a dream of Foundation Establishment, yet only a small minority achieves it. Therefore, Luo Xiang¡¯s promise of ensuring Foundation Establishment before the age of fifty if she became his concubine filled many female cultivators with envy. A cultivator¡¯s word cannot be carelessly spoken. If one promises rashly and fails to deliver, at best they will be gued by inner demons, at worst they will face heavenly punishment. After hearing this, Yu Qingtan was also surprised, but her heart felt even heavier. Just what about me does this beast fancy? Can¡¯t I change whatever it is? But at this point, Yu Qingtan could only keep bowing and respond, "I really do not wish to leave the Pavilion; I hope Elder Luo can understand." Once again hearing this rejection, Luo Xiang¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He was angry. Although he wasn¡¯t the type to bully men and oppress women, he couldn¡¯t tolerate being repeatedly refused by a minor preparatory disciple of Tianxiang Pavilion. The atmosphere grew tense. Just as Gongsun, the Tower Master, was about to mediate. "Elder Luo, I have something to report," said Li Fengniang, standing next to Yu Qingtan. "Speak," Luo Xiang said, looking at her, his tone terse and agitated. "Elder Luo, Yu Qingtan ims she cannot bear to leave the Pavilion, but perhaps what she cannot bear to part with is her lover. I¡¯ve seen her entangled with a preparatory Protecting Disciple; they may have an illicit affair. And with her freckled face and t chest, she¡¯s unfit for someone like you, Elder Luo. I consider myself more beautiful than her, and upon seeing you today, I fell in love at first sight. I am willing to be your concubine and serve by your side." Li Fengniang¡¯s skills with the Zither Art were poor, and her arrogant nature made her unpopr in the Pavilion. She scored only 69 in her assessment and was aggrieved. Seeing Yu Qingtan reject the esteemed Luo Xiang made her green with jealousy, so she stood out to nder Yu Qingtan before offering herself. She hadn¡¯tpletely lost her senses; she had indeed seen Yu Qingtan speaking privately with a preparatory Protecting Disciple once, and even if her self-offer failed, she would only lose face. Li Fengniang spoke in a soft, sweet voice but at a slightly quick pace. Finishing her words, she lifted her skirt slightly to perform a courtesy to Luo Xiang, then looked up, sticking out her chest to disy her assets, herrge eyes brimming with tenderness as she gazed at Luo Xiang. "Hmph, I¡¯m not interested in you, however, Miss Qingtan, are you truly unable to part from a lover?" Luo Xiang said, casting a dismissive nce at Li Fengniang, his tone carrying an edge of danger. Gongsun, the Tower Master, also demanded, "Qingtan, what is this about?" The matter could be serious or trivial, for it was clear that Yu Qingtan was untouched, yet it was forbidden for those inside the Pavilion to engage in romantic rtionships. "Tower Master," responded Yu Qingtan, "the affair is entirely unfounded; I merely know a preparatory Protecting Disciple, with whom I¡¯ve spoken a few times, and he has not returned from his trial in the Yunhua Mountain Range. I truly do not wish to leave Tianxiang Pavilion, and I hope Elder Luo allows me to stay here." Yu Qingtan straightened up her back, her head lifted slightly aggrievedly as she spoke, the corners of her eyes damp, with tears threatening to fall any moment. "Master Luo, since this child is unwilling, how about we give face to me and let this matter go." The Tower Master of the Tianxiang Pavilion, seeing Yu Qingtan like this, also spoke up for her since there truly were rted rules at the Tianxiang Pavilion. "Hmph, Tower Master Gongsun, then I¡¯ll give you face, but I want to deduct 20 points from her assessment score, how about that?" This indeed was a right of the chief examiner, and the chief examiners this time were him and Tower Master Gongsun. "Fine." Tower Master Gongsun didn¡¯t want to overly offend Luo Xiang, so he agreed. Luo Xiang¡¯s n was obvious, to get Yu Qingtan¡¯s assessment score below 70, demoting her to the outer building. Once in the outer building, wouldn¡¯t she be at his mercy? As if anyone would dare topete with him for her. Little girl, you can¡¯t escape the palm of this young master. "Yu Qingtan, for talking back to the chief examiner, deduct 20 points, assessment score 62, transferred to the outer building," Tower Master Gongsun told Yu Qingtan. "Tower Master..." "This is the Tower Master¡¯s decision, no objections allowed." "Disciple has no objections, it¡¯s just that the disciple made a breakthrough in her cultivation level yesterday, and I was just reluctant to leave the building, so I didn¡¯t report to my instructor. I now request a retest of my cultivation level," thought Yu Qingtan, who wanted to chop that beast to death, grateful she had kept one hand free. "Hmm?" Tower Master Gongsun¡¯s pretty face showed some astonishment, then her hand swiped across her waist, and a long strip of something appeared in her hand. With a gentle toss, the objectnded steadily in Yu Qingtan¡¯s hand. Yu Qingtan recognized it, it was a Spirit Measuring Ruler. Yu Qingtan infused it with her mana, and immediately, two beads on the Spirit Measuring Ruler radiated blue light. "Indeed, you¡¯ve broken through to the second level of Qi Cultivation, Master Luo, what do you say?" Tower Master Gongsun beckoned, and the Spirit Measuring Ruler returned to her hand. "Hmph~" Luo Xiang snorted coldly and turned his head away from Yu Qingtan. "Yu Qingtan, 82 points, transferred to the inner building. The assessment continues," dered Tower Master Gongsun, putting an end to this little episode. Yu Qingtan finally exhaled in relief and walked towards the stage¡¯s exit. Following behind was Li Fengniang, her face ashen and eyes filled with hatred as she watched Yu Qingtan. "Qing Tan, you really scared me to death~" Shen Wanning said in a frightened whisper. "Me too, but we¡¯ll talk about itter." Yu Qingtan sat down beside Shen Wanning and said. During the assessment period, making noise was also prohibited, and the higher the Cultivator¡¯s cultivation level, the better their hearing and other senses would be. After a long half-day, the assessment finally ended. Only six people scored over 90, and they would follow Luo Xiang to Tianxiang Valley to participate in Tianxiang Valley¡¯s own assessment. Including them, the top ten in their assessment received varying amounts of Spirit Stone rewards, with Shen Wanning earning twenty Spirit Stones for her tied seventh ce, making Yu Qingtan envious. As they left the courtyard where the assessment took ce, Yu Qingtan still felt that gaze upon her. It was Luo Xiang¡¯s gaze. She knew he hadn¡¯t given up. "Damn it, why did that beast set his sights on me~" Chapter 7: The Shadow Clone of the Lucky Draw Divine Skills ``` After the assessment ended, Yu Qingtan followed Shen Wanning to her room. "Qingtan, I didn¡¯t expect you to have broken through to the second level of Qi Cultivation. If it weren¡¯t for that person causing trouble, perhaps you could have entered Tianxiang Valley!" Shen Wanning said somewhat resentfully. "It was just luck! Thank you for your encouragement today. I wasn¡¯t nning to enter Tianxiang Valley anyway. I don¡¯t want to leave the familiar building, nor do I want to leave you. Besides, with our level of talent, even if we went to Tianxiang Valley, we would be at the very bottom, and life would probably be tough. If something like what happened with Young Master Luo were to ur again... sigh," Yu Qingtan said, of course there were more important reasons for her to stay at Tianxiang Pavilion. "There¡¯s no need for thanks between you and me. But you¡¯ve be much more outgoing and confident than before, whichforts me. It¡¯s just that Young Master Luo¡¯s offer was very tempting, and he is also handsome. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re not interested in him." "People always grow, right? I just want to live a rtively free life." Yu Qingtan suddenly felt a surge in her heart, but she kept aposed face as she spoke. "Mhm, that Luo person actually using such means, his character is vile. It¡¯s fortunate you didn¡¯t agree." Shen Wanning said indignantly. "You worried me. Let¡¯s not talk about this; I have to congratte you on securing the seventh ce!" Yu Qingtan said with a smile. "Hehe, you actually scored higher than me, but congrattions to you too for your close call. We¡¯ve entered the inner building together; we need to support each other from now on. When we have a few days off, I¡¯ll treat you to a good meal at the Drunken Fairy Building." "Great! Then I¡¯ll head back first, I¡¯m not eating dinner, I want to go back and cultivate!" "You are really diligent, alright then, I¡¯ll cultivate too. I was actually nning on lying around for a day." ... Returning to her own room, Yu Qingtan changed into casual clothes and sat cross-legged on her wooden bed. The events of the day had deepened her understanding of this strictly hierarchical world. She possessed a free spirit and didn¡¯t want to be confined by it. She needed strength to avoid such a fate. More importantly, she didn¡¯t want to end up abducted as someone¡¯s concubine someday, like Luo Xiang, who apparently hadn¡¯t given up on her. She didn¡¯t want to be theughingstock of other transmigrators. With this thought, she opened the system panel. [Cultivation Level: Yu Qingtan] [Sex: Female] [Age: 14/87] [Spirit Root: Water 67/100; Wood 52/100; Earth 51/100; Metal 25/100; Fire 3/100] [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Second Layer 3/200] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique] [Spell: Cleansing Spell, Elementary 64/100] [Skills: Exquisite Dance, Minor Mastery 92/200, Zither Art, Elementary 67/100] [Charm Points: 34] [Affection Value: 0] [System Space: A set of Exquisite Dance costumes, 67 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, 1 drop of Spirit Dew, 13 Meat Pies, various other items] [System Shop: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Value), First-Tier Cultivation Upgrade Card 0/3 (10 Affection Value), First-Tier Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (1 Affection Value), First-Tier Skill Upgrade Card 1/10 (1 Affection Value)] [Lucky Draw: 10 Charm Points per draw] "Sure enough, the Charm Points have increased a bit!" Yu Qingtan thought of the many male spectators during the assessment and felt a little disappointed. From what she understood, this world¡¯s aesthetic standards for appearances and body shapes were simr to her previous life, but she wasn¡¯t particrly outstanding in either area. "Hope this draw isn¡¯t too rigged!" "Dao Ancestor, bless me!" she mentally recited and pressed the draw button next to the lucky draw with her mind. "Thank you for your patronage!" "A nt." Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart sank, and she couldn¡¯t help but cry out. "Dao Ancestor, have mercy!" "Thank you for your patronage!" Yu Qingtan took a deep breath, "Isn¡¯t there even a beginner¡¯s protection period?" ``` "Dao Ancestor, eternal!" "Innate Divine Skill: Shadow Clone!" It was as if the system heard Yu Qingtan¡¯s cry. The third lottery draw actually yielded something, and it was an innate divine skill. Innate divine skills were one in tens of millions, a rarity gifted to a creature at birth. No cultivator in the entire Southeast Region was known to possess one. It was said that the immortal ascended over a thousand years ago had one as herpanion. "System dad, I love you." Yu Qingtan clicked the collect option next to her, and instantly, information about the divine skill flooded her mind. Just by thinking about it, a silhouette eerily emerged from Yu Qingtan¡¯s shadow and solidified into another person identical to her. The kind that was stark naked. Yu Qingtan couldn¡¯t help but blush. Even though she was very familiar with her own body, seeing it from an outsider¡¯s perspective was still somewhat embarrassing. Yu Qingtan took out a set of clothes and dressed the clone, which had a heartbeat but was motionless and had no consciousness. This clone, too, had a shadow. With another thought from Yu Qingtan, she controlled the clone to move, while her original body became still as if it had lost its soul. She sensed the inside of the clone; it also had a dantian and its spiritual power was at the same second-level Qi Cultivation strength. She tried a Cleansing Spell, and there was no difference from when her original body cast it. This Shadow Clone was an exact physical duplicate, though consciousness could only be controlled individually by the original body or the clone. However, almost any damage done to the clone wouldn¡¯t harm the consciousness of the original body, and if the original body took any damage, the consciousness could instantly return to it, making the clone vanish in an instant. With a thought, the consciousness returned to the original body and the clone vanished, leaving behind the clothes strewn on the ground. "It¡¯s strong, but not ridiculously so." Yu Qingtan evaluated in her heart, very satisfied with her newfound skill. After practicing the use of the divine skill several more times, Yu Qingtan also discovered that it did not cause any extra strain on her mind, nor was there a time limit. It was indeed worthy of being an innate divine skill. It wasn¡¯t until nightfall that Yu Qingtan began her cultivation of the Clear Water Technique. ¡­ The next day, Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning formally registered as inner disciples at the management office of the inner building, and they would now receive fifty Lower Grade Spirit Stones each month as their stipend. Then the two of them moved into arge courtyard where the inner disciples lived. Their rooms were next to each other, making them neighbors. However, the rooms of the inner disciples were much better than the previous shabby wooden huts. There was arge mahogany bed, a big and exquisite dressing table, arge wardrobe, a round table, four round stools, and a qin with its own desk and chairs. The space was also quite spacious and well soundproofed, convenient for practicing dance and ying the qin. After settling into her new room, Yu Qingtan specifically went to thank Elder Wen for her instruction, which made the usually strict Wen smile and offer her further encouragement. Then, Yu Qingtan went to attend a lesson by one of the dance instructors of the inner building. The inner disciples operated on an elective system, where they decided what they wished to learn. Inner disciples worked from evening until midnight¡ªthe hours from Youshi to Choushi¡ªand the ie earned was split nine to one with the pavilion. A regr inner disciple was entitled to choose one servant from among the servant disciples, but not only would they have to bear the servant¡¯s regr stipend and expenses, they also had to pay the pavilion thirty Lower Grade Spirit Stones each month. Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning both opted out; they couldn¡¯t afford it. Cultivation too, the further along one got, the more resources it consumed. The more skills and talents one had, the more outstanding they became, and, naturally, the more earnings one would have. Therefore, Yu Qingtan nned to learn another dance, the Butterfly Dance. In addition, she was prepared to learn to y chess, calligraphy, painting, andposing poetry and lyrics. For this, she borrowed the introductory tutorials from the pavilion¡¯s library and nned to self-study first and then listen to the instruction in her spare time. The games were Go, calligraphy and painting were done with brush and ink. Unfortunately, she had been a test-focused student from a little town in her previous life and didn¡¯t have any skills in these arts. Writing poetry and lyrics could perhaps draw on the famous works from her previous life, but she still had to learn the basics properly, or it would be too easy to give herself away. Thus, Yu Qingtan kept herself extremely busy. Shen Wanning condemned her for her manic involvement, but unfortunately, Yu Qingtan persisted in her ways. Shen Wanning had no choice but to roll up her sleeves and follow suit, lest the gap between them became too vast. Chapter 8: Unforeseen Changes in the Leisure District "A top-grade first-tier Golden Light Saber, only 250 Spirit Stones, just 250 Spirit Stones!" "A top-grade first-tier Godspeed Talisman, a fine-quality Godspeed Talisman, 9 Spirit Stones each,e take a look everyone!" "Ancient Taoist Instrument fragments, just excavated from a relic, selling cheap at 1999 Spirit Stones!" ... The stall owners in the street market of Suichuan Immortal City shouted loudly as they hawked their goods. Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning, with their veils on, were strolling through the market. Even in their simple dresses, they attracted the attention of others. The veil was the semi-transparent type that wrapped tightly around the face but didn¡¯t cause any difort. After bing inner disciples, Yu Qingtan¡¯s days off had be once a season, and they didn¡¯t need to go out together, but they would be followed by two Protecting Disciples for protection. One day off a season, the Tianxiang Pavilion was even more exploitative than the capitalists of my past life. Today was the day off at the end of summer, so the two decided to visit the market. The main body of the market in Suichuan Immortal City was shaped like the character ¡¯·á,¡¯ with smaller shops and numerous temporary stalls scattered amongst therger ones. The Tianxiang Pavilion was located in the northeast area of the market, at the intersection of two main roads, upying a vast space. Yu Qingtan and herpanion had exited through the back door and circled around to the market via a side path. Yu Qingtan looked with interest at the goods on the stalls. This was her first time leaving the Tianxiang Pavilion since she had crossed over to this world. Shen Wanning too was excitedly looking around, left and right. However, both of them were aware that it was easy to get swindled at stalls and had no intention of buying anything. Soon, the two reached the central area of the market, where there stood a luxurious three-story building with ¡¯Hundred Treasures Pavilion¡¯ written on its signboard. They went inside to browse around. "Hundred Herbs Pills, 50 Spirit Stones per bottle!" "A top-grade first-tier Clear Wind Fan, 588 Spirit Stones!" "A mid-grade first-tier Fireball Talisman, 30 Spirit Stones for a dozen!" "A Storage Bag, 1088 Spirit Stones each!" ... Just the dazzling array of goods on the first floor was an eye-opener for Yu Qingtan and herpanion, while the upper floors were reserved for esteemed guests or Cultivators of Foundation Establishment and above. After shopping for a while, they arrived at the Heavenly Garment Pavilion in the southeast area. "A lower-grade first-tier Pursuing Wind Dazzling Skirt for 198 Spirit Stones!" "A top-grade first-tier Dreamy Floral Fragrance Skirt for 899 Spirit Stones!" "A mid-grade first-tier Gloves of Silent Night for 230 Spirit Stones!" ... "They look nice, but it¡¯s true we can¡¯t afford them!" Yu Qingtan sighed, her thoughts turning to the Phantom Dance Brilliant Robe in her System Space. "Hmph, I will definitely work hard to earn Spirit Stones and buy beautiful magic skirts," Shen Wanning said through gritted teeth. With no other option due to their limited funds, they reluctantly bought two pretty dresses from the nearby in Clothing Shop. Unfortunately, without being magic artifacts, theycked that ethereal aura. While trying on the dresses, Shen Wanning wanted to drag Yu Qingtan to a fitting room, but Yu Qingtan firmly refused. "You finally look a little better; it seems the papaya powder I gave you wasn¡¯t a waste. I¡¯ll get you some moreter," Shen Wanning joked as she looked at Yu Qingtan, who had changed into a new dress. Yu Qingtan¡¯s face turned slightly red; indeed, she was almost the color of a steamed egg. ... After a while, the two arrived at a shop called Fortune Pavilion. It was Yu Qingtan who pulled Shen Wanning inside. "Qing Tan, why? Are you interested in this? Let me tell you, the waters here run deep," Shen Wanning whispered in Yu Qingtan¡¯s ear, her warm breath tickling her ear, causing Yu Qingtan¡¯s earlobe to turn slightly red. "No worry, I just feel that my luck has been really goodtely, so I want to try it out," Yu Qingtan exined. "Fellow Daoists, are you here to seek good fortune? I see a red glow on your foreheads; you¡¯re sure to have a good harvest today. Are you here to buy talismans or stones?" Seeing that no other customers were in the shop, the shop assistant immediately came up to warmly greet Yu Qingtan and herpanion upon their entrance. "We¡¯re buying talismans," Yu Qingtan replied, ncing over the rows of talisman papers behind the counter. ``` The so-called Fortune Pavilion was actually a ce that sold blind boxes. The charms were Storage Talismans, one-time storage tools that many Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators needed. When a cultivator passed away from sitting meditation or an ident, Storage Talismans with stored items could end up on the market. Fortune Pavilion specialized in buying these talismans and then packing them in bulk with other Storage Talismans filled with valueless items to sell as blind boxes. As for the stones, they were dug out from ancient relics or tombs and exuded spiritual energy. Due to their age, it was hard to identify what was inside, so they were also sold as blind boxes. Naturally, arge number of man-made ones were also mixed in. Moreover, the stones were very expensive, beyond what Yu Qingtan could afford, so the shop assistant was merely making conversation. Storage Talismans basically looked the same and one couldn¡¯t tell anything just by looking, it all came down to luck. "Just these two," Yu Qingtan picked two low-grade Storage Talismans, clearly priced at 10 Spirit Stones each. "Don¡¯t you want to give it a try?" Yu Qingtan looked at Shen Wanning. "Yeah, you should give it a try, you look like someone with profound luck." The assistant chimed in as well. "Alright, then I¡¯ll also pick two, no, just one." Shen Wanning casually selected one and reluctantly paid with Spirit Stones. Yu Qingtan also felt the pinch, but she needed to find a source for the Illusionary Dance Luminous Robe. Encouraging Shen Wanning to buy was just to make her own actions seem more normal. She wouldpensate herter. The two secured their Storage Talismans and continued to browse the market. ... The two arrived at the Drunken Fairy Building and chose a small private room with curtains next to the main hall, also ordering for a table outside for the four Protecting Disciples. "Steamed Spirit Mandarin Fish!" "Mushroom Spirit Chicken Pot!" "Garlic Spirit Vegetable Hearts!" "Two bowls of Spirit Rice, a pot of Spiritual Tea!" "This table costs 8 Spirit Stones, and the one outside with just a bit of spiritual ingredient still costs 1 Spirit Stone. It really is expensive. If it weren¡¯t for the reward, I¡¯d be hesitant to indulge!" Shen Wanning said, feeling the sting. "Hehe, who made you agree to treat? Thanks, Sister Wanning, I won¡¯t be polite!" Yu Qingtan started eating with her chopsticks right away; she was very happy today. Not having to take photos for social media sure felt good. Soon, the two finished their meal and leisurely began drinking Spiritual Tea, while listening to the chatter of the people in the main hall. "Brother Chen, it¡¯s all thanks to your effort that we were able to sessfully hunt that Two-tailed Leopard this time. A toast to you." "Since I¡¯ve joined the team, I¡¯m bound to contribute. From now on, we are brothers and sisters. Cheers." "Well said, cheers." ... "Daoist Zhou, why has the Enforcement Team been patrolling the city more frequentlytely?" "Daoist Xiao, you¡¯ve just returned and don¡¯t know yet. Last night, a little thief actually sneaked into the Qis¡¯ treasure vault and stole many treasures. The whole city is searching for the thief now." ... "Brother Peng, are you going to Tianxiang Pavilion tonight to have fun? There are a few new faces dressing up today, and they¡¯re said to be quite good." "Little Brother Cheng, I¡¯ve moved past those lower-level pleasures. In a couple of days, there will be new girls making their debut at the Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s inner house. That¡¯s where I¡¯ll be going." "I see, Brother Peng really is at a higher level." ... Having finished their tea leisurely, Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning settled the bill and were ready to continue browsing the market. Just as they reached the door, a short man dining alone at a corner of the hall also stood up, ready to pay and leave. Suddenly, two men at the table next to his abruptly stood up, one flinging a stimted charm from his sleeves. "Immobilize!" It was an Immobilization Talisman. Another man simultaneously pulled out arge from his chest, casting it towards the short man. The short man was only immobilized for a breath¡¯s time before he recovered, and seeing the-like magic artifact closing in, a fierce look shed in his eyes. A bead appeared in his hand and he threw it. "Explode!" With a loud bang, both the-like magic artifact and the two men were blown away, while smoke swirled around the explosion. ``` Chapter 9: The Fish in the Pond Cannot Escape the Calamity of the City Fire When the disturbance urred, the Protecting Disciples immediately protected Yu Qingtan and another person, retreating towards the entrance. Just as they stepped out, they discovered that the Drunken Fairy Building was already surrounded by the Enforcement Team, and at the same time, a man with eagle eyes and a high nose led a few people charging into the Drunken Fairy Building. Yu Qingtan and the others quickly stepped aside. At this time, the smoke near the short man had dispersed, but his figure was already gone. "Tian Leizi, Escape Talisman, hmm, continue the search!" the man with eagle eyes and a high nose scanned the scene, snorted coldly, turned, and left, and the members of the Enforcement Team immediately dispersed to search. "Foundation Establishment Cultivator." Sensing the spiritual power fluctuations of the short man and the man with eagle eyes and a high nose, Yu Qingtan and the others understood the cultivation level of the two men and did not dare to even breathe heavily, silently bing invisible. "That¡¯s Qi Wei from the Qis, one of the chief leaders of the Enforcement Team, a cultivator at the peak of the mid- Foundation Establishment stage. That means the person just now must be the thief fromst night!" "You dare gossip about matters of Foundation Establishment seniors¡ªare you tired of living?" After the members of the Enforcement Team left with two people who were sted to an unknown state of life or death, some people quietly discussed among themselves. "We should hurry back as well. It¡¯s quite dangerous outside!" Yu Qingtan said sincerely. She thought that Suichuan Immortal City would be safe with a Great Array for protection and a Golden Core Realm master in ce, prohibiting private fights¡ªshe did not expect to encounter such an incident just by stepping outside, nearly getting involved. "Mm-hm." Shen Wanning was also somewhat scared and agreed repeatedly. On their way back, the two bought some more daily necessities. ... Yu Qingtan, carrying tworge parcels, returned to her room, which she had only lived in for a few days, and just locked the door. Suddenly, a hand covered her mouth, and a short sword was ced against her neck. "Stay silent if you want to live!" A deep male voice came from behind her. What kind of terrible development was this? Yu Qingtan internally screamed, but as someone who only knew the Cleansing Spell and was a beginner at the secondyer of Qi Cultivation, she conceded very quickly. She nodded slightly to show she understood, careful not to move too much. That sword looked extremely sharp. In her past life, she had killed chickens and fish, but she¡¯d never experienced something like this. Trembling.jpg. The man behind her removed the sword and produced a Soundproof Talisman. He then removed his other hand from Yu Qingtan¡¯s mouth, came around to face her, and handed her a ck pill. "Swallow it." His voice was chilly, and his eyes fixed on Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan hesitated. "I¡¯m only using this ce to heal. When I leave, I will give you the antidote," the man exined. Yu Qingtan had no choice but to take the pill and swallow it. A bitter taste. Yu Qingtan wanted to secretly move the pill into her System Space, but unfortunately, she had tried before and knew that she could only do so if she touched the item with her palm. The man kept watching her, and she found no opportunity to do so. Plus, the pill dissolved as soon as it entered her stomach. "Don¡¯t bring anyone here, don¡¯t think about telling others." The man continued to threaten her, then sat back down on his meditation cushion to continue channeling his spiritual power to heal. Yu Qingtan carefully turned to look, and her heart skipped a beat. This man was the short man she had encountered in the Drunken Fairy Building, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the thief the Qis were chasing. But he was clearly in a terrible state, his face pale and sweating profusely. The man¡¯s facial features were different from when they saw him at the Drunken Fairy Building, but the same clothes and a stature only slightly taller than Yu Qingtan¡¯s made it easy for her to recognize him. Yu Qingtan dared not look further, put down her things, and sat on the bedstead. "He didn¡¯t try to take over my bedstead; instead, he¡¯s sitting on his own meditation cushion. Maybe he isn¡¯t that bad?" "But what if he wants to silence me once he¡¯s healed?" "Even if he doesn¡¯t silence me, what if he turns bestial and does something to me?" "I would surely be theughingstock of other transmigrators!" With thoughts racing through her mind, Yu Qingtan once again deeply felt how helpless one is in the Cultivation World without strength. With this man beside her, Yu Qingtan did not dare to cultivate, so she took out a book she had borrowed from the library and began to read. ``` Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but it was already dark, and her stomach let out a growling sound. She felt a bit embarrassed and nced at the man, noticing that he had also opened his eyes and was looking at her. Yu Qingtan took out the meat pies and pastries she had bought that day and asked the man cautiously, "Senior, would you like some?" "No need, I¡¯ve already undergone fasting." The man¡¯splexion had regained some color, but he still spoke without any expression. "Oh~" So Yu Qingtan ignored him and sat down at the table to start eating. After finishing her meal, Yu Qingtan noticed the man had closed his eyes again. She then took out the two Storage Talismans she had bought that day, infused a wisp of Spiritual Power, and activated one of the Storage Talismans. Then, two Gold Ingots appeared above the Storage Talisman which had turned into scrap paper. In the Cultivation World, Gold Ingots had very little purchasing power, but it was better than nothing. Feeling the fluctuation of Spiritual Power, the shorter man opened his eyes and saw Yu Qingtan activating a Storage Talisman. He sneered inwardly and closed his eyes again. Yu Qingtan noticed this and put away the Gold Ingots, then activated the other Storage Talisman. The moment the items from within the talisman appeared, Yu Qingtan swiftly took them into her System Space and reced them with a set of Illusionary Elegance Garments. Since she was sitting to the side of the shorter man, and he had his eyes closed, Yu Qingtan¡¯s subtle movements went unnoticed. "Wow, it¡¯s actually a Magic Artifact, such a beautiful set of clothes!" Yu Qingtan began to perform. The shorter man opened his eyes again and saw the scene, inwardly sighing at the young girl¡¯s good luck. But he said, "Keep it down, you¡¯re disturbing my healing!" Immediately, Yu Qingtan went silent, then gently ced the clothes in the wardrobe and quietly returned to her bed to continue reading. ¡­ "Qing Tan, Qing Tan!" Yu Qingtan had been dreaming about herself bing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, flying through the sky on a sword, oh so free and easy, when she was awoken by the knocking on the door outside. She had been unable to stay awakest night and had fallen asleep. Coming to her senses, Yu Qingtan suddenly felt anxious, looked down at her intact clothes, and then breathed a sigh of relief. She pulled aside the curtain, meeting the sharp gaze of the shorter man. "Remember not to expose my existence, just carry on as usual." The indifferent voice of the shorter man echoed in her mind through Divine Sensemunication. Yu Qingtan nodded repeatedly. The man had not used Divine Sensemunication yesterday, probably because his injuries were too severe, but today he seemed much better. Seeing that Yu Qingtan understood, the shorter man walked over to the wardrobe and hid himself without making a sound. Yu Qingtan performed a Cleansing Spell on herself, tidied her hair a bit, and then opened the door. It was Shen Wanning who had knocked. "Wanning, you¡¯re early!" It was half an hour earlier than their usual time for breakfast. "I have some good news to share with you, so I came over early!" Shen Wanning¡¯s face was full of smiles, she looked very happy. "What good news?" They locked the door and headed toward the dining hall. Shen Wanning looked around to make sure no one was there and then whispered in Yu Qingtan¡¯s ear, "The Storage Talisman I bought yesterday contained a first-grade superior magic sword. It seems I truly am a person with deep fortune, hehe." Yu Qingtan was also somewhat shocked. The other Storage Talisman she opened yesterday had a piece of Spirit Iron weighing over one jin, one of the mostmon Refinement Materials, where one Spirit Stone could buy a hundred jin. She also whispered, "I have some good news to share with you too. The two Storage Talismans yielded a set of first-grade inferior Magic Clothing for me, hehe!" "Wow, Qing Tan, you¡¯re so lucky, let me have a look!" Shen Wanning¡¯s eyes sparkled, suddenly feeling that her own magic sword wasn¡¯t that exciting anymore. "I¡¯ll show you in your room after we have breakfast, but you have to keep it a secret, I still want to make a ssh the day after tomorrow night!" "Of course, my lips are sealed. When the timees, you might just rank at the top." "With you around, how could I possibly take the top spot." ¡­ ``` Chapter 10 - 10 In the End, a Courtesan of the Brothel "So beautiful,pared to this set, everything in the Spirit Clothing Pavilion pales inparison! And it fits so incredibly well." In Shen Wanning¡¯s room, she looked at Yu Qingtan wearing the Exquisite Dance attire and felt unbearably envious. Yu Qingtan, seeing herself in the mirror, also felt delighted. Shen Wanning wanted to try it on as well, but sadly it was much too small for her. First Stage magic clothing could slightly adjust to fit the body, but the range was limited. This was not an issue by the Second Stage. "Your Qiushui Sword is so beautiful too!" Yu Qingtan looked at the long sword ced on a table nearby, its entire body a deep blue with wave-like patterns on the de, and felt envious as well. Roaming the world with a sword had also been a fantasy of hers. "Qing Tan, with our luck, we should buy some more Storage Talismans next time." "Don¡¯t, such things should be left to fate. Forcing it won¡¯t do any good," Yu Qingtan had once told herself that gambling again would make her a fool. She was only trying to clear Exquisite Dance¡¯s name this time and didn¡¯t want Shen Wanning to fall into it. "Alright!" Shen Wanning had also heard about people who gambled away their fortunes and had been reluctant to buy previously, but now she also calmed down. ... That night, after a day of learning, Yu Qingtan returned to her own room. In the room, a short man was still meditating. Seeing Yu Qingtan enter, he opened his eyes. "Good, you¡¯re smart not to have pulled any tricks." Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart chilled, realizing that this man had other ways to surveil her. She humbly replied, "You jest, Senior. You¡¯re so young yet already a high-ranking Foundation Establishment cultivator, which I greatly admire. Moreover, the Qis¡¯ infamy is well known, and it¡¯s truly satisfying to see you give them trouble. It¡¯s an honor to have you visit my humble abode." Yu Qingtan felt a chill within her soul as she felt it bing less and less pure. "You are indeed very smart." "Senior tters me. If there is anything you wish me to do, I am at your service," she said. "Stop calling me ¡¯Senior¡¯ all the time. You may address me as Mr. Fu. I do have a small favor that requires assistance. I haveposed a piece called ¡¯Purification of Soul,¡¯ which has the effect of calming the soul and repairing damage to one¡¯s Divine Sense. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not versed in music. Seeing that you should be proficient, you might help me with this. In return, you can have this piece." As he spoke, Mr. Fu took a Jade Slip from his Storage Bag and handed it to Yu Qingtan. "Mr. Fu, I dare not im to be a master of Zither Art, but I will do my utmost to assist you," she said. Yu Qingtan felt greatly relieved, thinking that if she had work to do, he was not likely to silence her rashly, which made her efforts at ttering worth it. Upon receiving the Jade Slip, she pressed it against her forehead, and aplete score of ¡¯Purification of Soul¡¯ imprinted itself in her mind. This was her first time using something as sophisticated as a Jade Slip, but she understood how to use it to avoid any embarrassment. After half an hour, barely remembering the score, she sat down at the zither table and began to y. Mr. Fu returned to his meditation cushion and did not disturb her. The zither piece Yu Qingtan had practiced before was called ¡¯Yearning,¡¯ pleasant to listen to and epassing most of the basic finger techniques, therefore perfect as a teaching piece for beginners. Since she had the basics down, Yu Qingtan managed to y ¡¯Purification of Soul¡¯ in its entirety after a few tries, albeit a bit clumsily, and she continued to practice. The music flowed gently, lofty and enduring; Yu Qingtan indeed felt her soul bing tranquil. Mr. Fu, too, closed his eyes to listen, his rxed expression showing he was enjoying it. Yu Qingtan yed for a full two hours, yawning with fatigue, before Mr. Fu allowed her to rest. "Mr. Fu, starting tomorrow evening I¡¯ll be working the first half of the night. How about I y ¡¯Purification of Soul¡¯ for you in the afternoon?" she asked. "Very well!" Yu Qingtan then returned to her bed, drew the curtains around her, and went to sleep. Mr. Fu probably wasn¡¯t the type to cause trouble without reason. The most important thing was that she was powerless to resist. If pushed to the brink, then so be it. She would not let other transmigrators look down on her. ... The next day, Yu Qingtan woke up from a nightmare. "Good morning, Mr. Fu!" Still, she had to maintain a smile. How infuriating. Mr. Fu did not respond to her, continuing to meditate with his eyes closed, seemingly still asleep. Even more infuriating. She got ready and left the room. After having breakfast with Shen Wanning, they each went off to study on their own. In the afternoon, Yu Qingtan returned to her room and yed the Purification of Soul for more than an hour for Mr. Fu. "When is this bastard going to leave? I haven¡¯t been able to cultivate for two days now." Her face wore a happy smile, but her heart was grumbling. ... At midday, Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning, alongside others, were escorted by an inner pavilion manager, Manager Su, to the business area. Manager Su familiarized the group of over twenty neers with the venue and exined some rules and procedures. "...Look over here, there are three stages in total, where three people perform their Dance Artistry simultaneously. The order is determined by drawing lots, with two rounds of performances, meaning each person gets two chances to perform." "Once you¡¯ve drawn your lot, head back to the room you¡¯ve been assigned to prepare." Yu Qingtan drew number three, and Shen Wanning drew number five. Upon arriving at the room named after her, she saw that the room was divided into two areas by a beaded curtain. The outer area had a round table with several chairs and a vase with flowers and a te of fruit on the table. Behind the bead curtain were a table and chairs for cing the zither, a dressing table, and a wardrobe. This would be Yu Qingtan¡¯s "office" for theing period. Yu Qingtan changed into her Exquisite Dance suit, touched up her makeup, and tuned her zither. Then she sat down on a chair and waited. Around the ninth hour, a servant knocked on her door, leading Yu Qingtan towards the stage. As Yu Qingtan emerged, she saw rednterns hanging all around, and the distant mor of voices could be heard. Reaching the stage, she observed that the audience seats on three sides and three levels were filled with people, some talking and some drinking. Above the stage, a disk-shaped Moonlight Stone emitted a glow that illuminated the stage very clearly. "Next up, we have the debut performances of Miss Qing Tan, Miss Rou¡¯er, and Miss Xiaocui. Please enjoy, and do give them your support in the future!" said the hostess Ni Mom, using a sound amplifying artifact, as Yu Qingtan and the other two youngdies slowly entered the stage. Chen Rou¡¯er and Cui Xiaocui were two girls who had learned the Exquisite Dance with Yu Qingtan, but they were still beginners; therefore, Yu Qingtan naturally took the center stage. As soon as she appeared, Yu Qingtan caused a bit of a stir. "Wow, she¡¯s so beautiful, I¡¯m in love with Miss Qing Tan!" "Tianxiang Pavilion is really generous, giving a First Stage magic garment to a neer, but this design is so cute!" "Those rabbit ears are totally cheating, this old man can¡¯t stand it!" "I used to think Miss Sun Li was my type, sigh, I pledged my gold flower too early, no, I have to buy another one!" "Cute is cute, but she needs a bit more development, Rou¡¯er and Xiaocui are looking good." ... Music began to y from a Sound Recording Artifact, and the three youngdies began dancing along with it. Their dance was graceful, with light and swift steps. During the climax, their movements were so fast that they left afterimages. At the end of the dance, Yu Qingtan gave a wink to the audience with her left eye. Since thest assessment, her stage fright had greatly improved. Although she was a bit nervous at the start, she quickly loosened up. Stage fright usually stems from ack of confidence, but with her considerable Dance Artistry and the boost from her Exquisite Dance suit, she was full of confidence. "Ah, I think I¡¯m in love!" "Miss Qing Tan, I love you!" ... Apanied by a round of apuse, bunches of golden flowers were thrown into arge box in front of Yu Qingtan¡¯s stage. In front of the boxes for Chen Rou¡¯er and Cui Xiaocui, there were only a few scattered golden flowers. Both of them felt bitter in their hearts, but there was nothing they could do. Guests who enter the inner pavilion of Tianxiang Pavilion need to pay 1 Spirit Stone for a golden flower. The golden flowers can also be bought separately, at the same price. Golden flowers are used for casting votes on the minor flower rankings, with additional rewards for the top three winners of the day¡¯s rankings. Yu Qingtan and the other two retired from the stage. Then they ran into Manager Su. "Qing Tan, this outfit of yours?" Chapter 11 - 11 Charm Harvesting Truly Fragrant "Manager Su, this was what I acquired from Fortune Pavilion the day before yesterday," Yu Qingtan said with a smile. "You¡¯re indeed blessed with good fortune. You did very well today, keep up the good work. The two of you should learn from Qing Tan, strive hard, and go on!" A first-tier magic artifact was nothing extraordinary in Tianxiang Pavilion, but it still needed to be scrutinized when found on a neer, to ensure it wasn¡¯t obtained through any unsavory means. After saying goodbye to Manager Su, Yu Qingtan returned to her "office." Meanwhile, on the stage outside. "Next is Miss Qing Tan¡¯s debut zither performance. Which esteemed guest would like to enjoy it privately?" Mother Ni asked loudly. "Me, I bid 20 Spirit Stones." "I bid 25 Spirit Stones." "Tch, a poor ghost, I bid 50 Spirit Stones." "My love for Miss Qing Tan is true, I bid 80 Spirit Stones." "200 Spirit Stones, I fell for Miss Qing Tan at first sight. Who dares to vie for her with me?" The crowd suddenly fell silent. "Young Master Qi is generous indeed. Does anyone wish to bid higher?" Mother Ni¡¯s smile blossomed like a chrysanthemum, for 200 Spirit Stones was already a substantial amount. "201 Spirit Stones!" A bid came from a short youth in a corner. "Who, who dares to disrespect me, Qi Hong like this!" "Hmph, others may fear you, ¡¯Qi the Madman¡¯, but I, Song Zhenfeng, am not afraid. What, resorting to threats when you¡¯re out of money? That¡¯s all you¡¯re good for. I simply can¡¯t be bothered topete with you." However, the one who spoke was not the bidder but another elegant young master. Qi Hong red at Song Zhenfeng but didn¡¯t dare to make a scene. The Song family was much stronger than the Qis. "Hmph, who says I have no money, 300 Spirit Stones!" "301 Spirit Stones!" The same voice, but this time it came from the opposite side. "400 Spirit Stones!" Qi Hong took a deep breath and quoted a high price. This time, there was silence. A few breathster, no one else spoke up. "Very well, Young Master Qi truly lives up to the reputation of a noble family¡¯s son. Miss Qing Tan¡¯s debut zither performance is yours!" "Next, who wishes to have a private game of chess with Miss Rou¡¯er?" ¡­ "Find that bastard for me!" Before being led to see Yu Qingtan by a servant, Qi Hong instructed his own servant. ¡­ It wasn¡¯t long after Yu Qingtan took her seat that a servant disciple escorted Qi Hong in. "Miss Qing Tan, I am Young Master Qi Hong. Your dance was exceptional, and I took a great liking to it. I¡¯vee especially to listen to your zither performance. Come, draw back the beaded curtain!" Qi Hong took out 10 Spirit Stones from his storage bag and handed them to a servant nearby. Indeed, the beaded curtain is generally kept down; to draw it back requires extra payment. "Many thanks to Young Master Qi!" The servant pulled back the curtain, and Yu Qingtan gave Qi Hong a sweet smile, then said. Then she began to y "Yearning." Although Yu Qingtan¡¯s zither skills were not yet fully aplished, they were pleasant forymen to hear. After the piece ended. "Hmm, not bad, not bad, I didn¡¯t expect Miss Qing Tan to dance as well as y the zither so beautifully!" "You tter me, Young Master Qi. I still need to work much harder," Qing Tan replied. "Young Master Qi is quite the dashing figure. Might I know which noble family¡¯s son you are?" Yu Qingtan¡¯s next task was to make conversation, so she needed to find a topic. "Haha, I am indeed a scion of the Qi family, one of the three major ns. You should visit our house sometime, Miss Qing Tan!" "Wow, to be a young master of the Qi family, your cultivation level must be very high, right?" Yu Qingtan covered her slightly agape mouth, showing her amazement. Life is like a y, all dependent on acting. "Just so-so, I¡¯ve only just advanced to thete stage of Qi cultivation." "Young Master Qi, to be so young and already in thete stage of Qi cultivation, you¡¯ll be a Foundation Establishment elder in a few years. Please don¡¯t forget about Qing Tan then!" "Haha, certainly not. Miss Qing Tan, why don¡¯t youe a little closer to chat?" "Of course, I felt as if we¡¯ve known each other for a long time. It would be impolite to sit too far away." Thus, she gracefully moved to sit down on another round stool next to the round table. This wasn¡¯t a mandatory service or a chargeable one, but as the first private guest, this was the least she could offer. "Young Master Qi, I¡¯ve heard that the young masters of the big families in the city often go to Yunhua Mountain Range for experience. Tell Qing Tan about it; I haven¡¯t left Suichuan Immortal City yet." "Hey, Miss Qing Tan, you¡¯vee to the right person, just likest year..." Half an hourter. "Miss Qing Tan, I¡¯ve enjoyed our conversation today, I¡¯lle to see you often in the future." "Thank you for your support, Young Master Qi." After seeing off Qi Hong, Yu Qing Tan had a cup of tea and began to rest. Some timeter, it was Yu Qing Tan and her partners¡¯ turn to perform their dance. Now there were more people, and the atmosphere was even livelier. After the dance ended, another guest was brought to Yu Qing Tan. This person was actually someone Yu Qing Tan had seen before¡ª the Cultivator with the surname Peng from the Drunken Fairy Building. They had crossed paths when leaving the Drunken Fairy Building, but Yu Qing Tan was wearing a veil at the time. "Miss Qing Tan, I¡¯m Peng Cheng, your dance was wonderful. I¡¯m so happy to have the honor of hearing you y the zither." Normally, it cost 20 Spirit Stones to meet with Yu Qing Tan, and if there were many people, they would use a drawing lots method to select. Given Yu Qing Tan¡¯s poprity today, Peng Cheng was truly fortunate, especially considering that the previous Qi Hong had spent 400 Spirit Stones. "I¡¯ve seen you before, Brother Peng. I¡¯m afraid I embarrassed myself with my performance!" Peng Cheng had the appearance of a middle-aged uncle, with a scar at the corner of his eye. After the piece ended, Peng Cheng pped enthusiastically. "Well done, truly a pleasure to listen to!" He didn¡¯t know if it was yed well or not, but it was indeed pleasant to the ear. "Brother Peng, where do you reside?" "Heh heh, I¡¯m a Loose Cultivator; I just make a living around the Yunhua Mountain Range!" Yu Qing Tan kept calling him "big brother", which made him very happy inside. "Wow, Qing Tan loves to hear stories of adventures in the Yunhua Mountain Range. You must have had many experiences, Brother Peng?" "Of course, I¡¯m not bragging, but..." After seeing off Brother Peng, Yu Qing Tan could clock out early for the day. All in all, Yu Qing Tan was quite satisfied with her debut. When she returned to her room, Young Master Fu was still meditating on the cushion. Seeing here back, Young Master Fu opened his eyes. "You danced well!" "Thank you for your praise. I hope for Young Master Fu¡¯s continued guidance in the future." Yu Qing Tan replied with a smile, but her heart skipped a beat. "He really is skillful!" You should know that areas of the Tianxiang Pavilion not open to the public were protected by formations. Although the formation in the courtyard of her room wasn¡¯t very strong, it wasn¡¯t a ce just any Foundation Establishment Cultivator could enter at will. Such formations had a recognition function, and she needed to carry her Identity Jade toe and go freely. She had been surprised when Young Master Fu suddenly appeared in her room, but since she heard about the Escape Talisman from Qi Wei, it wasn¡¯t iprehensible. An Escape Talisman was a rare talisman capable of teleporting over a certain distance at random; only some truly powerful forces possessed the method to draw them, and they were rarely seen outside, she wondered how he managed to get one. "But try to limit your interactions with that Qi fellow in the future!" "Ah, oh, sure." Humph, as if I have a choice. Seeing Young Master Fu close his eyes again, Yu Qing Tan also went back to her bed. Then, she opened the system panel. [Name: Yu Qing Tan] [Gender: Female] [Age: 14/87] [Spirit Roots: Water 67/100; Wood 52/100; Earth 51/100; Metal 25/100; Fire 3/100] [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Level Two 3/200] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique] [Spell: Cleansing Spell Beginner 64/100] [Skills: Exquisite Dance Proficient 93/200, Butterfly Dance Beginner 4/100, Zither Art Beginner 68/100, Chess Skill Beginner 2/100, Calligraphy Beginner 1/100, Painting Skill Beginner 1/100] [Charm Points: 409] [Affection Value: 0] [System Space: Lower Grade Spirit Stones 67, Spirit Dew 1 drop, Meat Pies 13, various misceneous items] [System Shop: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Value), Level One Cultivation Upgrade Card 0/3 (10 Affection Value), Level One Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (1 Affection Value), Level One Skill Upgrade Card 1/10 (1 Affection Value)] [Lucky Draw: 10 Charm Points per draw] Chapter 12: Taking the Beauty Enhancement Pill and Bowing the Head "I can¡¯t believe there are no Affection Values!" Yu Qingtan¡¯s mouth twitched. "Mouthing ¡¯I¡¯m in love, I¡¯m in love,¡¯ but probably just lusting after my body, pah~" Yu Qingtan felt somewhat disappointed; she thought she had tried her best. But a Charm Point score of over 400 was still not bad. Resisting the impulse to draw a prize, Yu Qingtan closed the system panel. She nced through the mosquitoting at the direction where Young Master Fu was. "Should I try to make a move to get him?" "No, no, no, Yu Qingtan, you¡¯re supposed to be a male college student. Actively seducing a man, aren¡¯t you afraid of making other transmigrators die ofughter?" Yu Qingtan suppressed the dangerous thought in her mind and calmed her emotions. She decided to start cultivating. Now that Young Master Fu had asked her to do something, he probably wouldn¡¯t harm her, and there was no need for him to take action while she was cultivating anyway. She used the Cleansing Spell a few times as usual and then began her cultivation practice. After one cycle, Yu Qingtan felt the effects of her cultivation were much better than before. The concentration of Spiritual Energy in the amodations for inner disciples was significantly higher than before. Comfortable~ ¡­ "Qing Tan, do you know who topped the little flower rankingst night?" "The answer is written all over your face. It must be our Beauty Shen Wanning, right?" "Hehe, you¡¯re not bad either, ranked third." "Mhm, I¡¯m quite satisfied." After all, her disadvantage was too obvious, heh, a man! "Qing Tan, you¡¯ve changed a lottely, and I¡¯m very happy about it!" "People always grow." ¡­ "Young Master Qi, thank you foring again!" "Haha, I just happen to be free! I had such a pleasant chat with Miss Qingtan yesterday that a day without seeing you felt like an eternity." "Qing Tan thanks Young Master Qi for his deep affection. Would Young Master Qi like Qing Tan to perform a dance?" "Yes, of course. I didn¡¯t get enough of it yesterday." Qi Hong took out 40 Spirit Stones and handed them to a servant nearby, with 10 Spirit Stones for pulling aside the bead curtain and 30 Spirit Stones for the dance performance. "You can leave now," Qi Hong said to the servant who had drawn the bead curtain. The servant then left the room, as there were no more charges to be made, and the guests could ask the servants to leave if they found them obtrusive. Yu Qingtan wasn¡¯t lucky enough to perform on the stage every day; as a neer like her, she could probably get a slot once every seven days. At this moment, Qingtan was performing the "Exquisite Dance" in the "office" for Qi Hong, who hade to see her again. The "office" was also equipped with a Sound Recording Artifact, but the space was limited, and she couldn¡¯t fully demonstrate her skills, yet it was still enough to win Qi Hong¡¯s repeated cheers. After the dance, Qingtan yed "Yearning" again, as showcasing a talent as part of a 20 Spirit Stone package was the basic content. "Young Master Qi, which talent are you proficient in?" "Haha, this young master has some skill in Chess Skill." "Wow, I¡¯ve been learning chess recently. Could Young Master Qi possibly teach Qing Tan?" "Certainly." "I¡¯ll go get the chess set." "There¡¯s no need for that. Here¡¯s a chess set from my collection, the board is made of Warm Jade and the pieces are crafted from Volcanic me Jade. Although they¡¯re trivial items, they can be given to Miss Qing Tan for her humble use." "Then Qing Tan thanks Young Master Qi." The chessboard and pieces were exceptionally exquisite, but Warm Jade and Volcanic me Jade were not considered Spiritual Materials, so indeed they weren¡¯t worth much in Spirit Stones. Also, for guests¡¯ gifts, Tianxiang Pavilion didn¡¯t take a cut. "This chess game should be yed..." ¡­ Another six days passed, and finally, it was Yu Qingtan¡¯s turn to perform on the stage again. This time, it was a solo performance by Qingtan herself. Having gained some reputation in certain circles, the audience that came to watch her performance this time was more than ever before. It was still the "Exquisite Dance," and she received 43 more golden flowers than thest time¡¯s 472. However, after the show, the person who came to Qingtan¡¯s room took her by surprise. She quickly got up to wee them. "Elder Luo, what brings you here?" "What, I can¡¯te?" "Ah, no, I mean¡­" "Hmph, no need to exin. I¡¯m not a flood or a wild beast. Today I¡¯m just a guest at Tianxiang Pavilion!" The visitor was none other than Luo Xiang. With a wave of his hand, Luo Xiang asked the servant who had drawn the bead curtain to leave. As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a guest, he automatically became a VIP. The performance earlier must have taken ce in the VIP box; Yu Qingtan did not see it. "Yes! Elder Luo, thank you for gracing us with your presence." Yu Qingtan felt helpless in her heart. "The dance was quite good. Dance it again!" "Yes, Elder Luo!" Yu Qingtan had no choice but to start the music again and performed the Exquisite Dance. Luo Xiang¡¯s eyes were fixed on Yu Qingtan, giving her the feeling of being stripped bare, sending a shiver through her heart. "Just you wait." In her heart, Yu Qingtan took note of him in her little book. After finishing the dance, Yu Qingtan yed "Yearning". "Hmm, not bad, not bad. Come and sit." Yu Qingtan did as she was told and sat next to him. Then, Luo Xiang actually reached out and touched Yu Qingtan¡¯s cheek. Moreover, Yu Qingtan found she waspletely immobilized and couldn¡¯t make a sound. In fact, there was a Surveince Formation in ce here to prevent guests from misbehaving, but as long as it wasn¡¯t too outrageous, the establishment wouldn¡¯t intervene. "She really does look like~" Luo Xiang¡¯s gaze was slightly dazed. Then, seeing Yu Qingtan¡¯s somewhat terrified expression, Luo Xiang chuckled lightly and said, "I won¡¯t do anything to you, I¡¯m not so vile." After speaking, he let go of her. Yu Qingtan felt that she could move again. "Elder Luo, please conduct yourself with dignity!" Yu Qingtan felt sick to her stomach and wanted nothing more than to cleanse her face with the Cleansing Spell ten times over. "Heh, quite a personality! Forget it, take this Beauty Enhancement Pill aspensation for the fright you experienced." As he spoke, Luo Xiang took out a small jade bottle from his Storage Bag. Hearing about the Beauty Enhancement Pill, Yu Qingtan was taken aback again. This was a Second Stage off-market elixir, priceless and always sold out as soon as it became avable. Its main effect was beautification; it could heal any damage or imperfection on the skin and also had a certain whitening effect. "Elder Luo, this is too precious, I can¡¯t ept it." "The things I give away can¡¯t be taken back. Open your mouth!" Yu Qingtan¡¯s mouth opened involuntarily, and a bean-sized pill flew in and was naturally swallowed by her. Yu Qingtan hurriedly mobilized her Spiritual Power to refine the medicine¡¯s potency. Soon, the medicine was absorbed, and Yu Qingtan felt a slight itch on her facial skin. "Thank you for your generous gift, Elder Luo!" Yu Qingtan could only say so. Luo Xiang rested his chin on his hand and appraised Yu Qingtan¡¯s face, now freckle-free and a bit whiter. "Not bad, really good!" "So, how about it? My previous offer still stands. Do you want toe with me?" After looking her over for a while, Luo Xiang asked again. "Thank you for your kind offer, Elder Luo, but truly, I do not wish to leave Tianxiang Pavilion," Yu Qingtan lowered her brows, putting on a pitiful expression as she voiced her refusal. After all, one was indebted to someone who had treated them with kindness. "Haha, interesting!" Luo Xiang saw her reaction andughed. "Forget it, I can¡¯t be bothered with why you don¡¯t want to leave. This is fine too." "Thank you for your understanding, Elder Luo!" "Alright, I should be going. I¡¯ll pay you a visit when I have the time." Having said that, he did not dawdle and stood up to walk towards the door. "I respectfully see you out, Elder Luo!" ... Not long after, Shen Wanning and Manager Su came to Yu Qingtan¡¯s ce. Seeing that Shen Wanning was unharmed, Yu Qingtan breathed a sigh of relief but still asked, "Qing Tan, are you alright? That man didn¡¯t do anything to you, did he?" "Thank you for your concern. Elder Luo didn¡¯t do anything to me." Yu Qingtan was somewhat touched by Shen Wanning¡¯s concern. "No, wait, Qing Tan, your face?" After Luo Xiang left, Yu Qingtan had cleansed her face many times with the Cleansing Spell. "Elder Luo gave me a Beauty Enhancement Pill, so it turned out like this." "What, a Beauty Enhancement Pill!" Shen Wanning and Manager Su were both very shocked. Once, an ordinary quality Second Stage inferior Beauty Enhancement Pill like the one Yu Qingtan consumed had been auctioned off for the astronomical price of ten thousand Spirit Stones. "Qing Tan, be honest, did you concede to him?" "What nonsense!" After briefly exining the situation, amidst the envious gazes of both individuals, Yu Qingtan was allowed to clock off early. Manager Su agreed to her early departure request. Chapter 13 - 13 The Girl Laughs and Talks for the First Time Back in her room, Yu Qingtan suddenly realized that Mr. Fu was nowhere to be found. After a careful search, she confirmed he was indeed gone, without leaving anything or any message behind. "A nt, where¡¯s the antidote? Didn¡¯t we agree you¡¯d give me the antidote after I recovered from my injury?" Yu Qingtan was furious but felt helpless in her rage. Being weak meant having no rights at all. She sat back down on the toothed bed and opened the System Panel. [Charm Points: 855] [Affection Value: 10] "Hmm?" Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. The Affection Value that was a duck egg yesterday had unexpectedly reached 10. "Could it be that the growth increment for the Foundation Establishment Stage is 10? What about higher realms?" "Could it be Luo Xiang? Has he really fallen for me? Or was it Mr. Fu?" "It seems I¡¯ll have to pay more attention to the System¡¯s changes in the future and find out the patterns." No matter what, an increase in Affection Value was always a good thing. "10 Affection Value points are enough to exchange for a Cultivation Upgrade Card, but it¡¯s a pity that even advancing to the third level of Qi Cultivation would still leave me a newbie, and without a way to conceal my cultivation level, breaking through rashly is too reckless." After considering for a moment, Yu Qingtan decided to spend 1 Affection Value point to exchange for a Skill Upgrade Card, applying it to her Zither Art. [Skills: Exquisite Dance Moderately Proficient 93/200, Butterfly Dance Beginner 15/100, Zither Art Moderately Proficient 68/200, Chess Skill Beginner 3/100, Calligraphy Beginner 1/100, Painting Skill Beginner 1/100] [Affection Value: 9] [System Store: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Value), First-Level Cultivation Upgrade Card 0/3 (10 Affection Value), First-Level Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (1 Affection Value), First-Level Skill Upgrade Card 2/10 (1 Affection Value)] Simrly, memories of her constantly practicing the zither seemed to emerge in her mind, and after a while, Yu Qingtan¡¯s understanding and proficiency in the Zither Art had evidently changed from before. She sat down and yed the tune "Yearning,"pletely immersing herself, with the timing and strength of plucking the strings just right. After finishing, she even had visions of her unrequited love for a schoolmate from her past life and tears streamed down her cheeks. After calming her emotions, she yed "Purification of Soul" once more. During the performance, Yu Qingtan felt her heart growing increasingly calm, and after finishing, she even sensed an enhancement in her soul. "No wonder my Zither Art is moderately proficient! And this ¡¯Purification of Soul¡¯ piece is extraordinary too; if it really does enhance the soul, then I¡¯ve struck it big time!" In her previous life, Yu Qingtan might not have been skilled in arts, but she enjoyed singing, and she knew how to sing some ssic songs. Now with her Zither Art moderately proficient, Yu Qingtan felt she could y them ording to their melodies. Among them, the piece she thought of first for this kind of zither was "Love of Butterfly Lovers." Without hesitation, Yu Qingtan started to hum the melody, then her fingers began to y. And she got it right in one go. After noting down the music, Yu Qingtan continued to practice. ... "Ah, it hurts, it hurts so much!" The next day, Yu Qingtan woke up in pain. She felt intermittent, twisting pains in her lower abdomen, and there was blood everywhere beneath her. Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart was filled with destion. "You deceitful bastard with the surname Fu, you didn¡¯t keep your promise; I won¡¯t let you off even if I be a ghost~" "Ah~ I, the mighty transmigrator, am going to die at the hands of such petty thieves, I can¡¯t ept this~" "System dad, system dad, save me, I don¡¯t want to die yet!" Just then, there was a knock at the door. As if grasping at a lifeline, Yu Qingtan endured the intense pain, supported herself against the wall to move, and opened the door. It was indeed Shen Wanning. "Wanning, I¡¯ve been poisoned, save me!" Yu Qingtan cried out with a sobbing voice. Shen Wanning was shocked as well, but quickly supported Yu Qingtan. "Qing Tan, what¡¯s wrong with you?" "I have this twisting pain in my belly, and I¡¯ve bled a lot; someone has poisoned me, I¡¯ve been poisoned!" Shen Wanning had now entered the room and saw the situation clearly, her expression turning somewhat strange. After helping Yu Qingtan back to her bed, Shen Wanning looked at her best friend clutching her stomach with a pained expression and said, "Qingtan, is it possible that you¡¯re not poisoned but instead it¡¯s your ¡¯Heavenly Mallow¡¯ing? I¡¯ve heard some people experience severe pain when they have their ¡¯Heavenly Mallow¡¯." These words struck Yu Qingtan like a bolt from the blue. Her body stiffened there, and her face, already pale, continued to turn even whiter. "Heavenly Mallow, hehe, Heavenly Mallow..." "Right, I¡¯ve only heard of poisoning involving spitting blood or bleeding from all orifices, never just bleeding from ¡¯down there¡¯~" "Aren¡¯t these symptoms the same as menstrual pain? The original body has no rted memories; this should be the first time, it¡¯s quite normal to have the first one at fourteen years old, isn¡¯t it~" The clearer she thought about it, the more Yu Qingtan wanted to die. If she really died from poisoning now, she would be relieved. Better than dying ofughter from all the other transmigrators. At this time, Shen Wanning had already used a Cleansing Spell to tidy up the scene and had Yu Qingtan lie down, then boiled a pot of water. "Qingtan, bear with it for a bit, I¡¯m going to call for Madam Jia from the Pavilion!" "Mhm~" Yu Qingtan absentmindedly responded. It wasn¡¯t long before Shen Wanning brought an old woman with half-white hair over. "Madam Jia, please take a look at her quickly!" Yu Qingtan was still giving up. Madam Jia¡¯s eyes gleamed as she carefully inspected Yu Qingtan. Then she sniffed. After touching Yu Qingtan¡¯s wrist, she infused a stream of spiritual power to examine her. "Besides abdominal pain, are there any other diforts?" "No," Yu Qingtan, seeing the worried Shen Wanning by her side, finally perked up. "No harm, it¡¯s just the Heavenly Mallow, no poisoning. I¡¯ll prescribe some medicine, and after resting for a few days, she¡¯ll be fine." "Thank you, Madam Jia!" Shen Wanning let out a sigh of relief and said. "Thank you, Madam Jia!" Yu Qingtan also breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Qingtan knew of Madam Jia; she was Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s own medical cultivator, with a Qi Cultivation of the ninthyer and highly skilled in medicine. Madam Jia took out several sachets of medicine, a bundle of cotton cloth, and a red stone the size of a chicken egg from her storage bag. "For the consultation and the medicine, 1 spirit stone will do, the cotton cloth is a gift for you. I also have a Sun me Jade, a first-grade low-level spiritual material that can alleviate pain. It¡¯s 7 spirit stones; youngdy, would you like it?" Yu Qingtan¡¯s mouth twitched and she said, "I¡¯ll take it!" Yu Qingtan, in pain, fumbled in the drawer on the inside of her teeth, actually taking out 8 spirit stones from the System Space and giving them to Madam Jia. After sending off Madam Jia, Shen Wanningined, "That¡¯s really expensive!" Yu Qingtan ced the Sun me Jade on her lower abdomen; warmth spread, and the pain truly eased quite a bit. "As long as it works!" Shen Wanning poured Yu Qingtan a cup of hot water, then went on to brew the medicine for her. The medicine provided was a powder, which Madam Jia instructed to mix with boiling water and drink. After drinking the water, Yu Qingtan took advantage of Shen Wanning brewing the medicine to pull down the curtains and put down the cotton cloth. "What a situation~" After taking the medicine, Yu Qingtan couldn¡¯t help but mutter. "I¡¯m cultivating immortality, so why do I even have such a thing as ¡¯Heavenly Mallow¡¯?" "Who told you that cultivation stops it? But the interval is indeed longer than that of mortals. It¡¯s said that the higher the cultivation level, the longer the interval. Maybe at a high enough state, it disappears," Shen Wanning only had a vague understanding. "Is that so!" Yu Qingtan thought to herself no wonder the higher one¡¯s cultivation level, the harder it is to have offspring. "You get some rest first, I¡¯ll help you get leave with Manager Su tonight." "Okay. Can you help me borrow some zither scores from the library too? I had some insights into my Zither Art yesterday and want to try other pieces." "Sure. But you¡¯re working too hard, don¡¯t wear yourself out." "Mhm!" "Alright, I¡¯m leaving for now, I¡¯ll bring you some porridgeter." "Wanning, thank you!" "Come on, what are friends for~" Chapter 14: Assisted by the System, Entering Level 3 Yu Qingtany in bed for two days. Then she resumed her studies and work. Yu Qingtan¡¯s clients came in all shapes and colors. There were n descendants, gang members, shop assistants, and loose cultivators, most of whom were in the early to mid-Qi Cultivation phase, with a few in thete phase. A monthter. Yu Qingtan had gained a deeper understanding of Suichuan Immortal City and the cultivation world. Yu Qingtan also disyed her budding talent in zither music, to the great pleasure of Manager Su, who adjusted her performance schedule to once every six days, and reced the background music in the sound recording artifact with Yu Qingtan¡¯s own zither ying. Back in her room, Yu Qingtan nced at her system¡¯s attributes panel. [Name: Yu Qingtan] [Gender: Female] [Age: 14/87] [Spirit Root: Water 67/100; Wood 52/100; Earth 51/100; Metal 25/100; Fire 3/100] [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Second Layer 7/200] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique] [Spells: Cleansing Spell Beginner 67/100] [Skills: Exquisite Dance Small Sess 95/200, Butterfly Dance Beginner 45/100, Zither Art Small Sess 71/200, Chess Skill Beginner 5/100, Calligraphy Beginner 3/100, Painting Skill Beginner 3/100] [Charm Points: 3100] [Affection Value: 11] [System Space: ¡¯Phantom Dance Exquisite¡¯ outfit set, 364 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, 1 drop of Spirit Dew, a Clear Heart Ornament, Falling Star Pendant, Sun me Jade, and various other items] [System Shop: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Value), First-Order Cultivation Level Upgrade Card 0/3 (10 Affection Value), First-Order Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (1 Affection Value), First-Order Skill Upgrade Card 2/10 (1 Affection Value)] [Lucky Draw: 10 Charm Points for one draw (with ten consecutive draws avable)] The additional 2 Affection Points came from one loose cultivator and one clerk from Hundred Treasures Pavilion. The loose cultivator was named Hao Can, who used to be a schr in the Mortal Realm. Unfortunately, having failed the imperial examinations twice, his wife could not endure their poverty and divorced him, returning to her parents¡¯ home. Heartbroken and intending to jump off a cliff, Hao Can was saved by a minor sect cultivator and, by a stroke of fate, entered the cultivation world. But within two years, that minor sect was annihted by demonic beasts, and he barely escaped with his life to Suichuan Immortal City, where he became a loose cultivator. In his quest to cultivate, he tried to be a talisman master but ended up in debt without sess. Only after years of mining did he finally pay off his debts and survive by joining adventure groups to search for resources in the Yunhua Mountain Range. After hearing Hao Can¡¯s story, Yu Qingtan fervently dished out life advice, moving Hao Can to tears. Then, a few dayster, he indeed struck it lucky by discovering a small vein of Spirit Iron and made a small fortune. He also became a subordinate of the adventure group¡¯s leader. So, the second time he came to see Yu Qingtan, Hao Can professed to have fallen in love with her and presented her with his only remaining sect heirloom, a Clear Heart Ornament of mid-grade first-order quality. Although it wasn¡¯t much use to him anymore. The clerk from Hundred Treasures Pavilion was named Dong Er, an honest man who took over his father¡¯s position because his father was also a clerk at the pavilion, working there for twenty years. Ten years ago, he married a redeemed disciple from Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s outer branch, who was introduced to him by a matchmaker. At first, his wife was beautiful and they lived happily, and six years ago, she even bore him a big chubby boy, which delighted him. Even as his wife gradually scorned hisck of ability and even gave him "directions" during their intimate moments, he bore it in silence. Until recently, when he realized that his son looked less and less like him, Dong Er secretly bought a magic artifact to conduct a test and, unsurprisingly, confirmed his fears. Broken-hearted, he confided in two close friends who advised him to ept the situation, arguing that biological ties didn¡¯t matter that much. Confused, Dong Er decided to give up, taking out his private savings to visit the hostesses at Tianxiang Pavilion¡ªhe knew his wife harbored resentment for not making it to Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s inner branch, so he insisted on visiting the inner branch. That day, by chance, Yu Qingtan was performing and he was chosen to be her patron. Under Yu Qingtan¡¯s increasingly refined rhetoric and acting skills, Dong Er regarded her as a confidante on the spot, pouring out his inner turmoil to her. As a modern-day male college student in her past life, Yu Qingtan obviously couldn¡¯t stand for Dong Er¡¯s situation and immediately advised him to sever ties with his wife. Then, the very next day, Dong Er decided to break up with his wife. At over fifty years old and only at the fourthyer of Qi Cultivation, he chose to return to the Mortal Realm to enjoy life. Before leaving, he spent almost half his fortune on a pair of mid-grade first-order earrings named Falling Star Pendants, which he gifted to Yu Qingtan. Dong Er knew that his broken heart had been healed by the young girl, and he had fallen for her, but he knew they could not be. He only hoped that yearster, she would still remember him. Yu Qingtan came to the conclusion that in order to gain Affection Value, one not only had to show interest but also present a gift of a certain value. "What a hassle~ And the cut Tianxiang Pavilion takes is seriously steep~" Yu Qingtan had worked hard for a month, earning a total of 3000 Spirit Stones, yet only one-tenth of that made it into her hands. She sighed, used the Cleansing Spell to clean herself, sat cross-legged on the bed, brought her hands together, and prayed silently in her heart. "Dao Ancestor be eternal!" Then her consciousness singled out the "ten consecutive draws" button that just appeared on the system interface when she reached 3000 Charm Points and tapped it. "Thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, try again, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage." Yu Qingtan almost cked out. It really was the beginner¡¯s protectionst time! Taking a deep breath, Yu Qingtan clicked on the single draw (free) again. "One Lower Grade Spirit Stone." Looking at the single Spirit Stone that appeared in her palm, Yu Qingtan was speechless. "Are they trying to shoo away a beggar? I¡¯m not ying this anymore, just a nt." Yu Qingtan suppressed her gloomy feelings; she wasn¡¯t a gambling addict and wouldn¡¯t go on a drawing spree when resources were tight. She put on the Heart-Calming Amulet and the Falling Star Pendant. With a thought, she exchanged 10 Affection Points for a first-level Cultivation Upgrade Card and used it. Yu Qingtan immediately felt spiritual energy rapidly flowing into her body, so she quickly cycled her cultivation technique. Soon, another minor meridian was cleared, and Yu Qingtan advanced to the third level of Qi Cultivation. But it didn¡¯t end there. The spiritual energy continued to pour in, and Yu Qingtan kept absorbing it through her cultivation technique. Untilte at night, Yu Qingtan felt the changes in her Dantian and was satisfied. She nced at the system interface. [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Third Level 107/300] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique] [Charm Points: 3000] [Affection Value: 1] [System Shop: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Points), First-Level Cultivation Upgrade Card 1/3 (10 Affection Points), First-Level Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (1 Affection Point), First-Level Skill Upgrade Card 2/10 (1 Affection Point)] "I actually gained 300 progress points, not bad." Yu Qingtan primarily used the system to break through because she felt that her own strength was too weak and she hoped to enhance it as quickly as possible. After reaching the third level of Qi Cultivation, she could start learning some spells. Althoughst time it was not a case of poisoning, who knew whether one day it might actually happen? She had also considered seeking the help of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, like Tower Master Gongsun, but had an intuitive feeling that it was not a good choice. The instincts of a cultivator should not be mistaken for mere illusions, so she had no choice but to temporarily give up on that idea. Another key point was that a few days ago, Shen Wanning received a spiritual fruit from Song Zhenfeng, which also allowed her to break through to the second level of Qi Cultivation. Yu Qingtan also realized that although the Cultivation World is dangerous, it is also full of opportunities. For instance, some people have breakthroughs in understanding and advance through several realms at once; some find innate spiritual treasures and soar to the heavens in a single bound. Therefore, Yu Qingtan¡¯s sessive breakthroughs to the third level of Qi Cultivation generally wouldn¡¯t attract envy. After stabilizing her cultivation level, Yu Qingtan ate something and went to bed early. The next day, she had an important matter to attend to. Chapter 15: A Mishap Occurs at the Ges Birthday Banquet Autumn had already set in. The sky was not yet fully bright. Bicorn horse carriages sped along the road. Kicking up the dust and fallen leaves. On one of the carriages, Yu Qingtan admired the beauty beside her, yawning while her thoughts wandered. Yu Qingtan and her party¡¯s destination was the Ges¡¯, one of the three major families of Suichuan Immortal City. The grand elder of the Ges, the only cultivator in the family in thete Foundation Establishment stage, Ge Lian¡¯s two-hundredth birthday was today. Yu Qingtan and others were invited to perform at the birthday banquet. The three major families of Suichuan Immortal City, the Qis, the Ges, and the Songs, all had cultivators in thete Foundation Establishment stage. The City Lord¡¯s Mansion was managed by Sunset Gate, and the City Lord was a Golden Core real person elder from Sunset Gate. Sunset Gate was a subsidiary force of the Tri-Sun Sect. Sunset Gate had a bit of a conflict with Tianxiang Valley; the Qis leaned towards the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, while the Ges and the Songs were close to Tianxiang Pavilion. However, due to the pressure of demonic beast forces, the various factions in the city managed to coexist rather harmoniously, at least on the surface. "There shouldn¡¯t be any problems, right?" Yu Qingtan thought about the unpleasant experience she hadst time she visited the market. Little did she know, a g had already been nted behind her. Upon arriving at the Ge household, everyone was led to arge side hall. The lead manager of the internal section went to negotiate with the Ges¡¯ people, and she was also one of the officially invited guests. Once everyone was seated, the Ges¡¯ servants brought breakfast. It turned out to be Spirit Rice porridge and small dishes made with Spirit Vegetables. "This Ge family really lives up to being a great n, so generous. The taste of this Spirit Rice is just so fragrant; I¡¯ve been craving it ever since I had Spirit Rice at Drunken Fairy Buildingst time," said Shen Wanning, eating porridge with the side dishes, chatting with Yu Qingtan. "It is indeed delicious!" Yu Qingtan also praised. The Spirit Rice grown near Suichuan Immortal City was basically White Crystal Rice of the first stage, with a low yield, priced at 1 Spirit Stone per 2 catties. Yu Qingtan could eat half a catty a day, and if she ate it every day, it would cost almost 7 Spirit Stones a month. But remembering the Spirit Stones in her System Space, Yu Qingtan felt she could afford it. Not long after breakfast, Yu Qingtan and the others had to start working. This side hall was not far from where the birthday banquet was held, where arge stage had been set up for the performances. Yu Qingtan, having made some progress in her Zither Art and learning many new pieces recently, was chosen as a member of the musical band. Shen Wanning was part of the Rainbow Robes Dance performance troupe. Yu Qingtan followed the band to take the stage first, ying several rounds of lively and festive music as background music for the arrival of the guests. "The Family Head of the You family congrattes Grand Elder Ge on his two-hundredth birthday, presenting a bottle of Spirit Dew!" "The Gang Leader of the Green Wolf Gang congrattes Grand Elder Ge on his two-hundredth birthday, presenting ten stalks of Second Stage Earth Elm Flowers!" ... "The Deacon Meng from Hundred Treasures Pavilion congrattes Grand Elder Ge on his two-hundredth birthday, presenting ten catties of Second Stage Cold Marrow Iron!" "The Deacon Sun from Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion congrattes Grand Elder Ge on his two-hundredth birthday, presenting a copy of the Sun-Forging Body Technique!" "The Family Head of the Song family congrattes Grand Elder Ge on his two-hundredth birthday, presenting a Foundation Establishment Pill!" "Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s Tower Master Gongsun congrattes Grand Elder Ge on his two-hundredth birthday, presenting a Rejuvenating Beauty Pill!" "The Second Elder of the Qi family congrattes Grand Elder Ge on his two-hundredth birthday, presenting a top-grade Spirit Stone!" "The City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡¯s Manager Kou congrattes Grand Elder Ge on his two-hundredth birthday, presenting a pair of East Sea millennium corals!" Listening to the chant of the gift list, Yu Qingtan, who was ying the zither, couldn¡¯t help feeling envious. She had recently interacted with many cultivators and borrowed many books from the library, broadening her knowledge quite a bit, and she was familiar with many items on the gift list. Spirit Dew, she had used a drop before, but now someone was directly giving a bottle, typically containing about 100 drops, and this was just from a small family¡¯s head. Second Stage Earth Elm Flowers, one of the main ingredients in elixirs to enhance Cultivation Level during the Foundation Establishment stage. Second Stage Cold Marrow Iron, a spiritual material that can be used as a supplementary material in the crafting of Magical Treasures. Rejuvenating Beauty Pill, a second-stage side elixir capable of restoring an aged face back to its appearance before aging. Top-grade Spirit Stone, which even those in the Golden Core Stage could only use asionally. Millennium coral, which can be used as a spiritual material for crafting elixirs to assist in forming a Golden Core. There¡¯s no need to mention the Foundation Establishment Pill. As for the Sun-Forging Body Technique, Yu Qingtan hadn¡¯t heard of it, but since it was given as a congrattory gift, it must surely be extraordinary. The gift-giver, apart from Tower Master Gongsun, included someone Yu Qingtan had met before, Dream Deacon of Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the boldly dressed beautiful female cultivator who sat next to Luo Xiang during her examination. Today, she was still dressed boldly. In Suichuan, female cultivators dressed conservatively, mostly in long dresses, and shoulder-revealing outfits didn¡¯t show too much. Dream Deacon, with her smooth, fragrant shoulders and slender white legs on disy, emanated a holy light, drawing the eyes of many young male cultivators, who couldn¡¯t look away. Unfortunately, although Yu Qingtan was somewhat excited, her body gave no reaction. Her body, "What reaction do you want?" About an hourter, the guest greeting part finally ended, and Yu Qingtan could go to rest. "Thanks to all fellow Daoists foring, I am greatly pleased..." Returning to the side hall, Yu Qingtan sat next to Shen Wanning, who was gesturing her over. From here, the sounds of the Birthday Banquet could be heard. To catch the excitement, everyone fell silent. The speaker must be the protagonist of today¡¯s Birthay Banquet, Ge Lian, the Great Elder of the Ges. After Ge Lian finished speaking, the much-anticipatedpetition among the younger generation began. Soon, the sound of a magical duel emanated from outside. "Song Zhenkai wins!" "Thesepetitions are too boring, why don¡¯t I help them out, as a gift to Elder Ge." Suddenly, a loud and sharp voice unexpectedly rose, interrupting the rhythm of the Birthday Banquet¡¯s host who was about to arrange the next challenge. "You are, Ying Jiukong." "Trial Demon Tower, you¡¯ve got guts~" As an exasperated voice followed, Yu Qingtan suddenly felt a sense of disorientation. Then she found herself on a vast grasnd. There were no people in sight. Yu Qingtan was bewildered; what was this situation? She then remembered the phrase she heard just before her moment of disorientation and a book she had read not long ago about the Demonic Beasts of the Yunhua Mountain Range. The Trial Demon Tower was a legacy treasure of the Skyscraping Ridge, a power of the Demonic Beasts in the Yunhua Mountain Range, and it could be activated once every five years. The Tower would be open for one day, but inside, three days would pass. The Trial Demon Tower was only meant for cultivators at the First Stage, filled with numerous perils but also opportunities and treasures. "A nt, I¡¯m just a noob who can only use the Cleansing Spell, why can¡¯t the viins follow the script?" ... Meanwhile, at the Ge family¡¯s ce. All cultivators below sixty from the Qi Cultivation Stage were forcibly teleported into a five-foot-tall tower-shaped magical treasure suspended in mid-air, known as the Trial Demon Tower. "Ying Jiukong, do you wish to vite the agreement between Skyscraping Ridge and Suichuan Immortal City, stirring up war?" Ge Lian asked with an ashen face. The others also stared at Ying Jiukong with unfriendly expressions. If it weren¡¯t for him being a Third Stage Heavenly Demon, they would have already attacked. "Youngsters, it¡¯s actually me who, wanting to wish Elder Ge a happy birthday, spared no effort in using a directed Escape Talisman to rush over before the entrance to the Trial Demon Tower closed, bringing this opportunity to your juniors. How can you be so ungrateful." Ying Jiukong spoke leisurely. "City Lord Ouyang, right?" A feeling of relief arose in everyone¡¯s hearts; the person they had been waiting for had finally arrived. Indeed, an elder in a green robe appeared before them. It was none other than Ouyang Wenjian, the City Lord of Suichuan Immortal City. "City Lord..." Just as Ge Lian and the others were about to speak, Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s telepathic message had already arrived. "There are two Heavenly Demons outside the city; do not act rashly!" To Ying Jiukong, he added, "Since that¡¯s the case, please take a seat, Fellow Ying." "City Lord Ouyang understands reason." Ying Jiukong sat down right beside a table, as the Trial Demon Tower could not be easily moved once the trial had begun. He had also used the only Second-Stage, high-quality Escape Talisman from his n to teleport the Trial Demon Tower to this ce. Chapter 16: First Enemy Killed in the Trial Demon Tower Inside the Trial Demon Tower. The knee-high grass made it very ufortable for Yu Qingtan in her skirt. But she couldn¡¯t care less at this moment. She looked around to make sure once again that there were no people or demonic beasts nearby. She simplyy down. Hiding in the grass. Discovering that the system panel could indeed be opened, she felt quite relieved. She said a quick prayer to the Dao Ancestor, and rapidly hit the button for a ten-consecutive draw. "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "I am ady, I am ady!" Continuing to click. "One Lower Grade Spirit Stone, thank you for your patronage x9!" "A nt!" Continuing to click. "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "Golden Spear Pill recipe, thank you for your patronage x9!" Yu Qingtan was already too drained to make any sarcastic remarks. Continuing to click. "Water Escape Technique for beginners, thank you for your patronage x9!" Finally, there was a gain, and Yu Qingtan felt a bit teary-eyed. Biting her lip, she continued to click. "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "Bra-making Skill, thank you for your patronage x9!" "..." Yu Qingtan was speechless. "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "One more time, thank you for your patronage x9!" "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "Love¡¯s Protection!" Not quite understanding thisst Love¡¯s Protection she drew, Yu Qingtan clicked on it for details. [Love¡¯s Protection: Spend Spirit Stones to temporarily acquire a devotee¡¯s cultivation level and part of their strength] After the pop-up ended, a new dropdown list appeared next to the affection value. [Devotees: Fang Ling: Qi Cultivation sixth level, 50 Spirit Stones per quarter hour; Luo Xiang: Foundation Establishment initial stage, 1000 Spirit Stones per quarter hour; Hao Can: Qi Cultivation sixth level, 50 Spirit Stones per quarter hour; Dong Er: Qi Cultivation fourth level, 30 Spirit Stones per quarter hour] "Fang Ling is indeed still alive, and he has reached the sixth level of Qi Cultivation!" "It was Luo Xiang who contributed 10 affection valuest time!" Without pausing to be shocked, Yu Qingtan quickly imed the Water Escape Technique for beginners. [Spell: Cleansing Spell for beginners 67/100, Water Escape Technique for beginners 10/100] Suddenly, the path of spiritual power operation for the Water Escape Technique appeared in Yu Qingtan¡¯s mind. She then converted all her remaining 2000 charm points into affection value, along with the remaining one affection value, and directly exchanged them for three first-tier Spell Upgrade Cards, using them on the Water Escape Technique. After iming the other items she drew, Yu Qingtan opened the system panel. [Name: Yu Qingtan] [Gender: Female] [Age: 14/87] [Spirit Root: Water 67/100; Wood 52/100; Earth 51/100; Metal 25/100; Fire 3/100] [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation third level 107/300] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique] [Spells: Cleansing Spell for beginners 67/100, Water Escape Technique major aplishment 10/400] [Skills: Exquisite Dance minor aplishment 95/200, Butterfly Dance for beginners 45/100, Zither Art minor aplishment 71/200, Chess Skill for beginners 5/100, Calligraphy for beginners 3/100, Painting Skill for beginners 3/100] [Charm Points: 0] [Affection Value: 0] [System Space Items: One set of Exquisite Dance outfit, 365 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, 1 drop of Spirit Dew, a Cleansing Pendant, a Falling Star Pendant, a Sun me Jade, and various sundries.] [System Mall: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Points), First Level Cultivation Upgrade Card 1/3 (10 Affection Points), First Level Spell Upgrade Card 3/10 (1 Affection Point), First Level Skill Upgrade Card 2/10 (1 Affection Point).] [Lucky Draw: Draw once for 10 Charm Points (can draw ten times in a row).] With a mastered Water Escape Technique, Yu Qingtan felt that she could make an extremely fast getaway, even relying on the moisture in the air. At this moment, only a short while had passed since Yu Qingtan entered the Trial Demon Tower, and she finally felt a sense of safety. Suddenly, there was some movement in the grass ahead, and then a snake as thick as a forearm shot out, biting at Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan was terrified, but thankfully, her mastered Water Escape Technique enabled her to evade the snake¡¯s bite in the nick of time, moving backward more than ten meters at a speed almost invisible to the naked eye. The snake was a First Level early stage Demonic Beast; it paused, surprised by its own failure, and then continued to pursue her. Yu Qingtan continued to use her Water Escape Technique to flee. Although Yu Qingtan was a blue baby in her past life, she was still afraid of snakes, let alone such arge one. Fortunately, the mastered Water Escape Technique was fast enough that even the snake¡ªa Demonic Beast known for its speed¡ªwas quickly shaken off, and it only consumed one-tenth of her spiritual power. Yu Qingtan ran for a while and found a small depression, then took the Exquisite Dance outfit from the system space and put it on. She didn¡¯t put on the rabbit ears, covered them with her original dress, and wore both the Cleansing Pendant and the Falling Star Pendant. These were her only equipment; she didn¡¯t even have a weapon. Without taking the time to recover her spiritual power, Yu Qingtan continued to explore carefully. She really wanted to hide, but unfortunately, there was no suitable ce to conceal herself. Moreover, she was very worried about Shen Wanning. After walking for a while, Yu Qingtan noticed something rushing towards her from afar. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be arge rabbit. A Grey Rabbit, which looked somewhat cute but emanated the aura of a First Level early stage Deste Beast, revealing sharp teeth as it charged at Yu Qingtan. A Deste Beast, one of the creatures within the Trial Demon Tower. It was said that the core of the Trial Demon Tower was a fragment of a continent from the Deste Era. You could tell at a nce that this Grey Rabbit was not the type to graze on grass. This time, Yu Qingtan decided not to run; she wanted to put her skills to the test. She first used the Water Escape Technique to dodge the attack, then tapped the "use" button next to Dong Er on the system panel. With the disappearance of 30 Spirit Stones from the space, she felt a significant increase in her spiritual power and surprisingly learned three spells: Earth Escape Technique, Earth Wall Technique, and Earth Spike Technique, although they were only at a slightly proficient level. When the Grey Rabbit leaped toward her again, Yu Qingtan waved her hand, and spiritual power circted within her. A wall of earth suddenly rose from the ground, appearing in front of her. The Grey Rabbit, caught off guard, mmed into it. Fortunately, it managed to recoil in time and its head, not as fragile as that of an ordinary rabbit, avoided the fate of certain rabbit ancestors that waited by the tree stump. Sensing danger, it turned to flee. Seeing this, Yu Qingtan released another Earth Spike Technique, five sharp earth spikes emerged from the ground in front of the Grey Rabbit, which narrowly avoided them. However, four sessive Earth Walls hadpletely surrounded it. The Grey Rabbit attempted to leap over to break free, but the walls were too high, and it failed. As itnded, it was greeted by five more earth spikes. Then, Yu Qingtan¡¯s form vanished, and when she reappeared, she was beside the impaled Grey Rabbit. This time, Yu Qingtan had used the Earth Escape Technique. After collecting the Grey Rabbit into the system space, Yu Qingtan found that her spiritual power had hardly been consumed. Thus, she continued to use these three techniques, all with minimal consumption. Soon, a quarter of an hour passed. Yu Qingtan¡¯s spiritual power suddenly decreased, but only to the level consistent with her full strength in her normal state. However, the methods to cast the Earth Escape Technique, Earth Wall Technique, and Earth Spike Technique, as well as the newly developed paths for spiritual power cirction inside her, all disappeared as if they had never existed. "It¡¯s not too outrageous, but it¡¯s still very strong. It¡¯s just very expensive, and you can¡¯t stop to conserve the usage time," Yu Qingtan summarized in her heart. While using the various techniques, Yu Qingtan also found the Grey Rabbit¡¯s den¡ªan underground cave with three exits. Inside, she found six yellow crystal stones the size of fingernails. These were Wastnd Crystals, the main cultivation resource for Deste Beasts, very beneficial for body refinement, and of considerable value. Feeling a bit more confident, Yu Qingtan continued on her journey. After traveling for half an hour, Yu Qingtan heard some noise ahead. After some consideration, she still decided to check it out. Only when she approached did she realize that this was a small pond. By the pond, a pack of wolf-like Demonic Beasts and two human cultivators were locked in battle. Originally, five wolves were attacking the two humans; the ground already had three dead wolves and the bodies of two humans. Sensing someone approaching, one of the wolves spat a fireball towards Yu Qingtan and then lunged at her. This was a First Level mid-stage me Wolf, a type of social Demonic Beast. Yu Qingtan felt nervous, so she first used the Water Escape Technique to move several yards to the side to dodge the me Wolf¡¯s attack. Then she pressed the button next to Hao Can. Chapter 17 - 17 Solitary Demon Tower Seeking Friends Trace The presence of Sixth Layer Qi Cultivation spiritual power within her body, along with the mastery of the fully-realized Water de Technique and the advanced Water Curtain Technique, gave Yu Qingtan a sense of immense power. Yu Qingtan knew that Hao Can also specialized in water-based cultivation techniques and spells, but she didn¡¯t expect his proficiency in spells to be so high, truly worthy of a Loose Cultivator. At that moment, as the me Wolf attacked again, Yu Qingtan raised her hand slightly, and a Water de took shape, shing towards it at a speed that the me Wolf couldn¡¯t dodge, then directly splitting it in two. Instant kill. The scene was a bit bloody. However, Yu Qingtan couldn¡¯t concern herself with these details, as her figure shed, and she was already by the side of the pond. This ce could also be considered the home ground for water attribute spells. With Yu Qingtan¡¯s spiritual power circting, seven Water des shot out almost simultaneously, and under the incredulous gazes of the two surviving cultivators, she once again instantly killed the remaining four me Wolves. That even included ate-stage First Stage me Wolf. It was already greatly weakened, only managing to block one Water de before being cut into three pieces by the remaining two. ording to Yu Qingtan¡¯s observations, the Water de was somewhat simr to the high-pressure water jets of her previous life, but she didn¡¯t know how the Water de Technique produced such an effect. Putting aside her wandering thoughts, Yu Qingtan considered whether she should collect these wolf corpses. The two young cultivators who had finally recovered came forward with their fists cupped and said, "We thank daoist friend for saving our lives." "I am You Xiwang, the young master of the You family!" "I am Ge Wenyu from the Ges!" Yu Qingtan really wanted toment on their names. She remembered You Xiwang, who was indeed one of the attendees apanying the Family Head of the You family to the birthday celebration. She had no impression of Ge Wenyu. You and Ge both had their doubts, wondering how this young girl, dressed in the Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s clothes, could be so powerful, and what was the story behind it. This time Yu Qingtan and the others from the orchestra were dressed in uniform gowns. "Don¡¯t mention it. We were all calcted against by the demonic beasts, so we ought to help each other. What¡¯s the situation here? I am Yu Qingtan, a disciple from within the Tianxiang Pavilion. Have you seen any other people from the Tianxiang Pavilion?" "So it¡¯s Daoist Yu from the Tianxiang Pavilion. It seems that you also know we are inside the Trial Demon Tower. After teleporting in, everyone was mostly scattered about. However, I quickly encountered a n brother, a junior from the Song family, and Daoist You, after which we discovered this pond," "Together, we killed a mid-First Stage Deste Beast old turtle in the pond, obtaining eight Wastnd Crystals and a Deste Lotus Seed, but just as we were collecting them, we were surrounded by this pack of me Wolves. My n brother and Daoist Song from the Song family..." Ge Wenyu¡¯s voice filled with unending sadness as he recounted that his eleven-year-old n brother had perished here. "s, if it weren¡¯t for Daoist Yu, Daoist Ge and I would probably have also fallen prey to the wolves. These Wastnd Crystals and the Deste Lotus Seed should be given to Daoist Yu. If we manage to survive and get out of here alive, we will definitely find a way to repay Daoist Yu," You Xiwang said as he took out eight Wastnd Crystals and a lotus seed from his chest. The Deste Lotus Seed was also a treasure that had miraculous effects on Body Refinement and unlike the Wastnd Crystal, which required the use of Body Refining Techniques for absorption, the Deste Lotus Seed could be directly consumed for absorption. A Deste Lotus could only produce one effective Deste Lotus Seed at a time. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t put on airs and epted the Wastnd Crystals and the Deste Lotus Seed. However, she realized that You Xiwang probably expected her to apany them, so she said, "I don¡¯t want to hide it from the two daoist friends, but this strength of mine is only due to a fortunate opportunity that has temporarily enhanced me. My actual strength isn¡¯t even as good as the two of you. I need to find the sisters from the Tianxiang Pavilion, so I will take my leave now." Based on the fluctuations in their magical power during their previous battle, Yu Qingtan knew that both were at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and You Xiwang even had a rather impressive defensive treasure that allowed him tost a long time under the wolves¡¯ siege. You Xiwang and Ge Wenyu¡¯s eyes flickered with disappointment when they heard this, as they had no confidence in surviving for three days on their own. If they could apany Yu Qingtan, with thebat power she had just shown, there would have been a much greater hope of survival. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t wait for them to speak further; her figure shed, and she had already disappeared. The quarter-hour was almost up, and she didn¡¯t bother with the wolf corpses. Even though they were worth quite a few Spirit Stones, who could me her for not having a Storage Bag? Based on the description provided by Ge and You, Yu Qingtan surmised that she had been teleported to a more peripheral location of the Trial Demon Tower. The trial grounds of the Trial Demon Tower were roughly circr in shape. Both the sun and the moon were situated directly above the center, though those weren¡¯t the real celestial bodies, but rather effects of a Formation. Yu Qingtan just kept heading towards the center based on the position of the sun. The closer to the center, the more opportunities and treasures there were, so trial participants generally aimed for the central area. That way, the likelihood of finding Shen Wanning would be greater. Not long after leaving the Ges and You Xiwang, Yu Qingtan reverted to the thirdyer of Qi Cultivation, and both the Water de Technique and Water Curtain Technique were no longer avable. "I must learn these two spells," Suddenly, Yu Qingtan discovered a demonic wolf lying ahead, still breathing. Yu Qingtan carefully approached to check and found that the wolf¡¯s hind leg was broken, and it had several w wounds on its body. Interestingly, the wolf did not resemble a wolf but looked more like the ¡¯Erha¡¯ from Yu Qingtan¡¯s previous life, and additionally, itcked a tail. Yu Qingtan used a sliver of spiritual power to probe its body. "As expected, there¡¯s a human race aura, it¡¯s a half-demon," The aura of demonic beasts is entirely different from that of the human race and can be easily distinguished. Demonic beasts can transform into human form at the third stage and can have offspring with human cultivators. These are called half-demons. "Let¡¯s see what fate has in store for you!" With a thought from Yu Qingtan, an ant nearby appeared in the grid of the System Space. Yu Qingtan observed that the ant was still alive but in a state simr to hibernation. Upon releasing it back outside, the ant woke up and continued to crawl forward. "Just as I suspected, the System Space grid can also be used like a Spirit Beast Pouch." The so-called spiritual beasts are, in fact, tamed demonic beasts. This "Erha" looked quite adorable, and after all, it also had human bloodline. So, Yu Qingtan took out her injury medicine to give its wounds a simple treatment before admitting it into her System Space. "It¡¯s a pity there are no spiritual pills or elixirs." She had no other means to treat it further. Half-demons are actually not well-received by either the demonic beasts or human race, as the injuries from the wolf-type demonic beasts on this "Erha" subtly revealed. However, Yu Qingtan held no prejudice against half-demons. In fact, she felt even fonder of the half-demon "Erha" because of a certain Night Yaksha. After that, Yu Qingtan continued on her way. Along the way, she ate the Deste Lotus Seed. Without the need to meditate and refine it, Yu Qingtan¡¯s body was slowly enhanced. It was that convenient. During the journey, she encountered groups of demonic beasts or Deste Beasts three times, all of which she avoided using the Water Escape Technique. Finally, before nightfall, she left the prairie and entered a mountainous forested area. Yu Qingtan found a secluded cave, hid inside, and then disguised the entrance. After eating some cakes, Yu Qingtan began to meditate and rest. Not traveling at night in the wilderness ismon knowledge among lower-level cultivators. "I wonder how Wanning is doing and whether she has had anything to eat..." The next day, Yu Qingtan woke up well-rested from light sleep. By then, the effects of the Deste Lotus Seed had been fully absorbed, and Yu Qingtan felt that the strength of her body had likely increased significantly. She pinched her arm and felt no pain at all. Moreover, she found herself taller, probably about 156 cm now. What was more critical was that she had grown in certain areas. Yu Qingtan felt a mix of emotions once again. Chapter 18: The Wild Butterfly Saves the Cultivators with Her Mouth ``` In the dense jungle, towering trees reached into the heavens. There weren¡¯t many low shrubs on the ground. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, creating a mottled silhouette on the ground. In the mountains and forests, a stream burbled along. A young girl flitted through the forest like a sprite, following the stream. It was Yu Qingtan on the move. To be able to utilize the Water Escape Technique to avoid danger in time, she had found a stream flowing from the central direction as her main travel route. Her Spirit Stones were not plentiful, so she had to be economical with them. Thus, even when she hade across a group of Demonic Beasts surrounding and attacking Human Race cultivators, she had chosen to flee. Because there were two first-stagete phase Demonic Beasts and no Tianxiang Pavilion cultivators present. Approaching noon, Yu Qingtan unexpectedly found a teamposed of more than a dozen cultivators. Among them, there were two Protecting Disciples and three Tianxiang Pavilion inner disciples. "Who goes there?" asked a cultivator on lookout duty, spotting the approaching Yu Qingtan as the group rested. Hearing the sound, others also looked over on alert. Then, seeing that it was a member of the Human Race, they rxed considerably. The two Tianxiang Pavilion disciples stepped forward to greet her. "Qing Tan, it¡¯s really you, it¡¯s great to see you alive!" one of them said with some joy. Yu Qingtan recognized the woman as Qi Yu, skilled at ying the pipa, who had been an inner disciple for several years and was a member of the orchestra that hade to the Ges¡¯. The two had a brief chat and held a favorable impression of each other. The other, Lin Qiushuang, was also a senior disciple, who was originally ted to perform a dance with Shen Wanning and others, appeared rather aloof. Yu Qingtan had not spoken with her before. Now, Lin Qiushuang also spoke, "It¡¯s good that you¡¯re alive." "Thank you both for your concern, I¡¯ve just been lucky. Have you seen Wanning?" Yu Qingtan asked. "No, I¡¯ve asked others too. We¡¯vee across three sisters from our pavilion, but unfortunately... sigh..." At this time, a male cultivator in his forties approached and said to Yu Qingtan, "Fellow Tianxiang Pavilion cultivator, I am Ge Yongcheng, the ninth elder of the Ges. We are deeply ashamed for the disaster that befell at our family¡¯s event. Right now, the only way we can survive is to band together!" "Elder Ge is right. I am Yu Qingtan of the Tianxiang Pavilion. I¡¯ll have to trouble you then!" Yu Qingtan had been nning to join this small group for the time being. In a family like the Ges, to be an elder, one must at least have reached the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation. Introduced by Ge Yongcheng and Qi Yu, Yu Qingtan got to know everyone in the group. Ge Yongcheng also took out some food from his Storage Bag and shared it with Yu Qingtan. The small team had five members of the Ges because Ge Yongcheng possessed a Magic Artifact that could detect Ges disciples within a certain distance. The rest were guests of the Ges. The team had five cultivators at thete phase of Qi Cultivation. Originally, there were more in the small group, but they had encountered a pack of Two-tailed Leopards before and, after a fierce battle in which they lost seven or eight people, they had barely managed to repel the leopards and escape. After resting for a while, the small group continued on their way, also heading towards the center. It wasn¡¯t for the sake of opportunity, but mainly to make it easier to meet up with others. This move by the Demonic Beasts could have been an attempt to eliminate them, to create a gap in the strength of the Human Race in Suichuan Immortal City. Thus, the group avoided Deste Beasts when possible. They encountered Demonic Beasts two more times. A first-stagete phase Demon Tiger, which the group easily surrounded and subdued. Five Demon Apes put up a tough fight, but after a fierce battle, the team killed them all, though they lost one more person from their ranks. Yu Qingtan and her twopanions did not step in; everyone knew they were not good at fighting. The group didn¡¯t dare to travel too fast. Although Qi Yu and Lin Qiushuang were very tired, they clenched their teeth and persevered. Yu Qingtan appeared much more at ease, which surprised everyone, though they didn¡¯t say anything. As the group was passing through a narrow valley, a thin mist began to form in the woods. Soon, the fog thickened, and Yu Qingtan realized she could only see clearly for about two Zhang around her. ``` "Something¡¯s wrong, everyone, gather around me!" It was Ge Yongcheng¡¯s voice. People hurriedly moved towards the source of the voice. Ge Yongcheng nced around and saw no one was missing. But his heart sank deeper with the thickening fog. "Thump~" Someone fell over, the youngest disciple of the Ges, only twelve years old. Ge Yongcheng quickly went over to check and found the kid had fainted. Then, Qi Yu also fell to one side, and Yu Qingtan, with quick reflexes, caught her. Very soft. Yu Qingtan gently ced her on the ground. Because Lin Qiushuang was also on the verge of copsing. The crowd panicked, with several of them shouting loudly. "Ah, I feel so dizzy, someonee save me~" "What the hell is this ce, I want to get out~" "Sure enough, I won¡¯t make it out of the Trial Demon Tower alive, ah~" "Don¡¯t y tricks like this, if you have the guts,e out and fight to the death~" Even one person screamed and rushed into the thick fog. After Lin Qiushuang also fainted clutching her head, Yu Qingtan did not feel any difort. However, she tooy down immediately, closing her eyes and pretending to have fainted. Before long, even Ge Yongcheng, who had the highest cultivation level, had fallen. The entire valley became incredibly silent. After a while, with light pping sounds, a Deste Beast butterfly, three feet long, flew out of the dense fog. It was about tond on Qi Yu, who was lying not far from Yu Qingtan, when¡ª "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh~" Three Water des suddenly appeared and swiftly sliced towards it. Everything happened so suddenly and the distance so close. Even though the butterfly vigorously pped its wings to dodge, the Water des still sliced through its belly, causing it to fall to the ground lifeless. The one who had made the move was naturally Yu Qingtan, who was also using "Love¡¯s Protection" from Hao Can. However, Yu Qingtan had not expected that the Deste Beast, exuding the aura of ate first-stage, would be killed by her in one strike. In fact, this Deste Beast was a Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly, skilled in creating a dense fog with a unique scent that led enemies into illusions. If even those in the early stages of Foundation Establishment did not leave the fog in time, they could be affected. Inside the Trial Demon Tower, the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly was almost invincible, and this valley was also a forbidden zone for Demonic Beasts. Unfortunately, except for itsrge-scale attacks, the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly¡¯s other means of attack and defense were poor. And for some unknown reason, its big move was ineffective against Yu Qingtan, which led to its pitiful death by her hands. With the death of the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly, the dense fog began to slowly dissipate. Taking advantage of the time left with "Love¡¯s Protection," Yu Qingtan searched the valley and indeed found its nest on one of the cliff walls. "Jackpot~" Inside there were over a hundred Wastnd Crystals and a few unrecognizable ores. Additionally, there was a seed as big as a fist. With its shape and some characteristics resembling a fruit pit, Yu Qingtan deduced it was a seed, but she did not recognize it. Yu Qingtan discreetly put these items into her System Space, leaving only four or five Wastnd Crystals behind. Returning to where everyone had fainted, the fog was already thin, but, unfortunately, the others had not woken up yet. After another quarter of an hour, Ge Yongcheng was the first to awake. Sitting up, his first action was to look around warily, and he noticed Yu Qingtan meditating and the body of the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly not far away. Yes, Yu Qingtan had not collected it. "Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly~" Ge Yongcheng obviously recognized this Deste Beast and felt a wave of fear. "Fellow Daoist Yu, was it you who killed this Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly?" Ge Yongcheng looked at Yu Qingtan with astonishment and suspicion. Chapter 19 - 19 Bumpy Journey Ends with Reunion "Elder Ge, so the Deste Beast is called Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly. I had some luck; I wasn¡¯t truly unconscious just now but was waiting tounch a sneak attack when it appeared, and I was fortunate enough to kill it. Elder Ge, are you all unharmed?" "Thank you, Young Friend Yu, for your life-saving grace. You have shown both courage and stratagem beyond your years. I am impressed. We should all be fine; the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly only trapped us in illusions, and they will wake up soon too. But without Young Friend Yu, if it had injected its poison into us, we would likely never have woken up again," Ge Yongcheng said sincerely. As for the opportunity Yu Qingtan mentioned, although he was curious, he did not covet the lifesaver¡¯s reward. In the Cultivation World, nothing was said to be impossible; rather, it was a world filled with miracles. When Yu Qingtan heard the phrase "a woman matching men in fortitude," her eyebrows twitched, and she felt aplex emotion. At that moment, another cultivator woke up. After half an hour ofmotion, everyone had finally woken up. Only the cultivator who had earlier run into the dense fog had been poisoned by the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly and had perished. The others, who were frightened after the fact, learned that it was Yu Qingtan who had saved them all and went forward to express their gratitude. "This Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly carcass is also worth quite a few Spirit Stones. I just happen to have a Storage Bag here to give to Young Friend Yu," Ge Yongcheng offered, handing Yu Qingtan a small pouch that looked like a green sachet. In fact, it belonged to another cultivator in thete stages of Qi Cultivation from the Ges, which Ge Yongcheng had acquired to give to Yu Qingtan. "Then I must thank Elder Ge," Yu Qingtan epted directly. Others also gave gifts to express their gratitude, but apart from more than five hundred Spirit Stones, the most precious was a first-grade superior magic sword. It was a cherry blossom red-styled sword, two and a half feet long, named Cherry Blossom Red. It was given by Song Zhenbo, a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation from the Song family, who was a man of few words but impressive strength. Yu Qingtan had not even noticed this person during the previous birthday feast, and sinceing to this group, the two only exchanged names with each other. The group decided to rest here for a while, and during this time Ge Yongcheng led some people to search the entire valley, finding the nest of the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly. The Wastnd Crystal that Yu Qingtan left behind still ended up in her hands. After all, it was her trophy of war. Ge Yongcheng also dug severalrge caves in appropriate locations. Night was about to fall. The group decided to spend the night here. The night passed without incident. The next day, having fully rested, the group continued cautiously towards the central region. Before long, Ge Yongcheng¡¯s Magic Artifact detected the presence of the Ges¡¯ disciples. Following the discovered direction, they found another small group of about thirty people. Leading them was the seventh elder of the Ges, Ge Yongfeng. The two groups naturally merged, and Ge Yongcheng introduced Yu Qingtan to Ge Yongfeng and the others formally. This introduction led to a round of praise for Yu Qingtan from the crowd. Among these people were two inner Tianxiang Pavilion disciples and four Protecting Disciples, but Yu Qingtan was not acquainted with any of them. "Have you seen Shen Wanning?" Yu Qingtan asked the group, describing Shen Wanning¡¯s features, like her red pce-style long dress and her impressive stature. "No," the Tianxiang Pavilion members said first, knowing that Yu Qingtan was close to Shen Wanning; unfortunately, they had not seen her. Yu Qingtan was somewhat disappointed. At that moment, one of the Ges¡¯ cultivators said, "Fellow Daoist Yu, when I entered here, I happened to cling to a very tall tree at the top of a mountain and saw a disciple from Tianxiang Pavilion wearing a red pce-style long dress falling into a cliff near the mountain where I was. After I came down, I even went to check, and the cliff was especially high, with no sign of the person who fell. Her figure seems to match what you described." Yu Qingtan was rmed and quickly asked, "Fellow Daoist Ge, where is the cliff you mentioned?" "Just go straight in this direction, not too far away. When you see an exceptionally tall mountain, that¡¯s the ce; the cliff is on the shady side of the mountain," The person pointed in a direction perpendicr to the route the group was taking. "Thank you!" "Elder Ge, fellow Daoists, I must go and search for her. I must part ways here!" "Young Friend Yu, should I send a few people with you to assist?" Ge Yongcheng thought to himself, firmly believing that Yu Qingtan would return without sess. After all, there was little hope for a female cultivator, who only knew a Cleansing Spell and was at the early stages of Qi Cultivation, to survive after falling off a cliff. It was a pity that the most important person from the Ges had not been found yet, and he couldn¡¯t let many people go to the cliff side with Yu Qingtan. "Forget it, I¡¯ll go by myself!" "That¡¯s fine, then. We wish Yu our friend smooth travels. We¡¯ll make marks along the way, so you can find us when youe back," Ge Yongcheng, thinking of Yu Qingtan¡¯s method of killing the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly, did not insist. "Hmm, then everyone take care!" Watching Yu Qingtan leave, Ge Yongcheng sighed, "This Yu is truly an extraordinary woman of greatpassion and loyalty!" ¡­ After leaving the others, Yu Qingtan immediately used Hao Can¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection." Then, with the spiritual power of the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, she used the Water Escape Technique to travel, moving very quickly. In less than half an hour, Yu Qingtan saw an exceptionally tall mountain. Climbing the mountain, she found the cliff and looked down to see its bottomless depth. Yu Qingtan then used Dong Er¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection." She used the Earth Escape Skill and started descending along the cliff. After a quarter of an hour, Yu Qingtan finally reached the bottom of the cliff. To her surprise, there was a river at the bottom with a considerable flow. Yu Qingtan observed her surroundings, but found no clues. She switched back to Hao Can¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection" and jumped into the river to search. Then, she found a golden hairpin. It was the one Shen Wanning wore. A pain struck Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart. Holding back her sadness, she continued downstream using the Water Escape Technique to search. About an hourter, the river flowed into a cave and became an underground river. Another two quarters of an hour passed by, and just as Yu Qingtan was about to give up hope, she found traces at a bend in the river. On the edge of the small bay, there were several footprints. The ce was arge cavern, with faint glimmering lights above that brightened the inside of the cavern. Yu Qingtan surmised that it must be the Starlight Stone, which made it easy to see with a cultivator¡¯s vision. Following the direction where the footprints faded, Yu Qingtan soon found Shen Wanning, naked and soaking in a small pool. The water in the small pool was very clear. Because Yu Qingtan had been using the Escape Technique, Shen Wanning, who had her eyes closed, did not notice someone approaching until that moment. She opened her beautiful eyes. Seeing that it was Yu Qingtan, Shen Wanning stood up excitedly. Everything became clearer. "Qing Tan, you¡¯re still alive, and you¡¯re here! Am I dreaming?" Shen Wanning walked out of the pool directly and ran towards Yu Qingtan, pinching her somewhat red face. "It¡¯s me, I was so worried about you!" Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes felt a bit sour. Then she embraced Shen Wanning. So soft! After all, they were just girls. "It really is you, I¡¯m d you¡¯re alive too!" Shen Wanning also hugged Yu Qingtan, sounding a bit choked up. "How did you manage to find this ce?" "I¡¯ve been looking for you. When I heard you had fallen off the cliff, I came looking for you. It¡¯s such a relief that you¡¯re okay." "How did you find me? No, wait, you... you¡¯ve reached the sixth level of Qi Cultivation!" Shen Wanning released Yu Qingtan and looked her over. Chapter 20: The Opportunity to Share Enters Level 5 "I¡¯ve gained some opportunities, and now I¡¯ve used a secret technique and am actually at the third level of Qi Cultivation," Yu Qingtan managed to keep her eyes away from Shen Wanning¡¯s face as she spoke. "Wow, you¡¯re already at the third level of Qi Cultivation? But I¡¯ve reached the fifth level already, heehee," said Shen Wanning, releasing a wave of spiritual energy that indeed confirmed her to be at the fifth level. "When I was teleported to the Trial Demon Tower, I unluckily appeared in mid-air and fell off a cliff. Luckily, there was a river below, and after fainting I was carried by the current to this ce. When I woke up, I found myself in this cave and also discovered something good." Without waiting for Yu Qingtan to ask, Shen Wanning took her by the hand to the edge of a small pool and pointed upwards at arge stctite, from which hung a droplet of milky liquid, teetering on the brink of falling. "Stgmite milk!" Yu Qingtan eximed. Stgmite milk is a treasure formed by stctites absorbing nature¡¯s spiritual energy at an extremely slow rate, being simr to Spirit Dew in its effects on cultivators, but even more precious. Aside from enhancing cultivation level, it can also strengthen the body and even improve one¡¯s Spirit Root aptitude. A single drop of stgmite milk could take at least five thousand years to form. "That one up there will need at least a thousand more years to fall, but there is a drop diluted in this pool. I had absorbed about sixty to seventy percent of it before breaking through to the fifth level of Qi Cultivation," "You¡¯re really lucky!" Yu Qingtan said, feeling a bit jealous. She had worked hard to umte Charm Points and Affection Value, and she had only reached the third level of Qi Cultivation, while Shen Wanning had gone from the second level to the fifth in one go. "Heehee, I also felt that my luck improved a lot after I bought that Storage Talismanst time." "By the way, what day is it now?" "If we start counting from when we entered, it¡¯s just turned the third day." "Ah, then let¡¯s not talk about this now. You should hurry over here and absorb some too." "They say that the absorption is better if you take off your clothes." Looking at the small pool, Yu Qingtan cast aside extraneous thoughts and stripped off her clothes. It was indeed a bit cramped. "Qing Tan, did you get... bigger~" ... After more than seven hours, Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning finally felt that the stgmite milk in the pool had been fully absorbed. Shen Wanning broke through again, reaching the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, close to the seventh level. Yu Qingtan also reached the fifth level of Qi Cultivation. She opened the System Panel. [Spirit Root: Water 72/100; Wood 57/100; Earth 56/100; Metal 30/100; Fire 8/100] [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Fifth Level 307/500] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique] [Spells: Cleansing Spell Beginner 67/100, Water Escape Technique Great Achievement 10/400] [Skills: Exquisite Dance Minor Achievement 95/200, Butterfly Dance Beginner 45/100, Zither Art Minor Achievement 71/200, Chess Skill Beginner 5/100, Calligraphy Beginner 3/100, Painting Skill Beginner 3/100] [Charm Points: 17] [Affection Value: 0] [System Space Slots: Lower Grade Spirit Stone 105 pieces, Cherry Red Sword, 1 drop of Spirit Dew, 126 pieces of Wastnd Crystal, half-demon "Erha", corpse of Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly, mysterious seed, Sun me Jade, various items] Thepatibility values of her Spirit Roots had actually increased by 5, and Wanning¡¯s Spirit Roots must have improved as well, true to be a legendary heaven-sent treasure. Looking at Shen Wanning, she found her getting dressed. "Ahhh, why did I have to cross over as a female~" "Qing Tan, you¡¯ve even grown taller~ Talk to me about your experiences before?" After getting dressed, Yu Qingtan sat on a stone with Shen Wanning, who had pulled her down, and began to talk. Yu Qingtan took out some food from her Storage Bag for her. "Wow, you actually have a storage bag, but I really am starving; I haven¡¯t eaten anything in three days." "It was given to me by Elder Ge Yongcheng of the Ge family. When I was just teleported in..." Yu Qingtan shared her experiences, avoiding any mention of the system or dismissing it with the excuse of chance encounters. Transmigration and the system were her biggest secrets, ones she could never tell anyone. "Wow, Qingtan, you¡¯re amazing!" After listening to the story, Shen Wanning¡¯s eyes were full of little stars. "Wanning, what are your ns from here?" "I was just nning to hunker down here until the trials end. Unlike you, Qingtan, I have the realm but cannot even leave this melt cave. There was no way for me to find you. Now that you¡¯vee, let¡¯s just wait it out here. It won¡¯t be long now." "Okay." "Hmph, wait until I get out, I will learn a few powerful spells." "Do you have spirit stones?" "Well, not much, just enough to buy a Fireball Technique, I guess! Don¡¯t tell me you have some?" "I had some, but the Descending Divine Secret Technique burns through spirit stones like crazy, almost used them all up. I actually wanted to buy some spirit rice to eat, now it¡¯s going to be tough." "I want to eat spirit rice too. But we¡¯ve gained such a big advantage this time, we need to hide our cultivation level." "Right, but we don¡¯t know the Breath-Concealing Technique, though we should hide it for as long as we can. By the way, how much do you feel your physical strength has improved?" "I don¡¯t know; I haven¡¯t fought anyone. But I feel like I could easily lift you with one hand right now." ... As Yu Qingtan and the other chatted idly, a fierce battle was unfolding in the central region of the Trial Demon Tower. There grew a massive Wilderness Zither-Leaf Banyan, which would mature three fruits every five years, coinciding with the opening of the Trial Demon Tower. The fruits of the Zither-Leaf Banyan could greatly increase the chances for ate-stage First Stage demonic beast to advance to the Second Stage, thus they were a major target for the beasts. The fruits were also very effective for human body refinement cultivators, helping their bodies to establish a foundation. At this moment, not far from the Zither-Leaf Banyan, two Sky-Rending Eagles, only a step away from the Second Stage, were leading hundreds of demonic beasts in an assault against over a hundred human cultivators. The human cultivators had set up a formation and were struggling to fend off the relentless attacks of the demonic beasts. The Sky-Rending Eagles¡¯ first task was to kill a person, the second was to bring back two Zither-Leaf Banyan fruits, and the third was to eliminate as many human cultivators as possible. Unfortunately, demonic beasts¡¯ intelligence developed slowly, and the intellect of a peakte First Stage beast wasparable to that of a human child of twelve or thirteen. "Big Brother, what if the trial period ends and we still haven¡¯t broken through because these humans have an array te?" "Little Bro, it¡¯s all because you, you dimwit, said to wait until more of them gathered before striking so we could catch them all in one go. ¡¯Catch them all in one go,¡¯ wasn¡¯t it?" After initiating another round of attacks, the two Sky-Rending Eaglesmunicated in their avian tongue while flying above. "Big Brother, it¡¯s them all in one fell swoop¡¯." Little Bro felt aggrieved inside; earlier, you said that was a brilliant n too. "Hmph, so what do we do now? These idiots are still vying for that Zither-Leaf Banyan fruit." "Big Brother, why don¡¯t we just tell them to hand over that person and then we won¡¯t attack them anymore? Anyway, the elder only asked us to make sure toplete the first two tasks." "Brilliant! I remember you brought a human ve with you this time." "That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking." Having said this, Younger Brother Eagle flew to the back. Soon, Sky-Rending Eagles with wingspans of ten feet brought a human over as effortlessly as one would carry a small chicken. This human ve was reared from a young age on Skyscraping Ridge and understood eagle speech. Carrying the ve, the Sky-Rending Eagle flew just above the human cultivators, and the ve called out, "Attention, those inside! You are surrounded, but my masters are full today. Just hand over Ge Wenxiong, and we won¡¯t attack you any longer. Otherwise, you¡¯re all going to die." Ge Wenxiong was their target because he was a concealed cultivator of the Ges, a cultivator with a superior single Metal Spirit Root, and had the potential to achieve Divinity Transformation. Chapter 21: The Exceptional Spirit Root Provokes Demons Envy ``` In the Human Race¡¯s formation, the hearts of several elders from the Ges trembled upon hearing the words. But, true to their seasoned nature, none of them showed their shock. However, other members of the Ges were surprised, and a few looked towards a stalwart youth who was diligently helping maintain the Minor Five Elements Universe Formation. The youth was sixteen years old, 180cm tall, and was none other than Ge Wenxiong. With a top-tier Metal Spirit Root, secretly showered with the Ges¡¯ resources, his actual Cultivation Level had already reached the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation. But at this moment, he only showed the ability of the fourthyer of Qi Cultivation. The guests of the Ges now realized who the Demon Race outside wanted. "Everyone, do not listen to the demons outside trying to sow discord." After Yu Qingtan left, Ge Yongcheng also arrived with reinforcements and merged with the main forces of the Ges. Seeing some unrest among the crowd, he shouted loudly. However, after the Demonic Beasts finished speaking and waited a few breaths without response, they immediatelyunched a new round of attack. The light screen of the Minor Five Elements Universe Formation shimmered again, pulling at the hearts of everyone within the Formation. "Elder Ge, what¡¯s the situation with young Ge Wenxiong? Why would the Sky-Rending Eagles specifically ask for him?" The speaker was ate-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator from the Qis. "Qi fellow, I¡¯m ashamed to say, Wenxiong identally killed a young Sky-Rending Eagle during his trial, which drew their vengeance. Moreover, none of us believe that giving up Wenxiong would make the Demonic Beasts spare us, do we?" The one who responded was the seventh elder of the Ges, Ge Yongxing, just one step away from Foundation Establishment and had the deepest Cultivation Level present. He also brought the Array te for the Minor Five Elements Universe Formation. However, a human servant on the outside heard the conversation within the formation and, after a discussion with the second Sky-Rending Eagle, called out: "Our master said, we¡¯re capturing Ge Wenxiong because he has a top-tier Metal Spirit Root. As long as someone stops maintaining the Formation, in the name of the esteemed Patriarch of Shattered Space, we swear not to pursue and kill." Actually, this was all the human servant¡¯s own idea. He was somewhat clever and highly valued by the second Sky-Rending Eagle. Inside the Minor Five Elements Universe Formation, the elder faces of the Ges turned ashen, puzzled as to how their utterly secret news had leaked and be known to the Demonic Beasts of Skyscraping Ridge. The guests of the Ges simultaneously looked at Ge Wenxiong in shock, some of them with flickering eyes, clearly harboring a multitude of thoughts. At that moment, Ge Wenxiong remainedposed and said to the crowd: "Since they¡¯re looking for me, I¡¯ll go and meet them so as to not implicate you all." Having said that, without waiting for the Ges¡¯ elder to speak, he dashed out of the Formation at high speed, leaving behind only a golden afterimage. "Qi Cultivation Level Nine, a perfectly mastered Metal Escape Technique," murmured those in the know, astonished. Seeing Ge Wenxiong flee, the two Sky-Rending Eagles immediately gave chase, flying even faster than him. Several Third Stagete-phase flying Demonic Beasts followed after. The rest of the Demonic Beasts stopped attacking the Formation and, except for a few Sky-Rending Eagles, the majority rushed towards the Chessnut Tree topete for thest Chessnut Fruit. But the Chessnut Fruit wasn¡¯t easy to pick; the hundreds of aerial roots from the Chessnut Tree could allunch attacksparable to a Third Stagete-phase level. Most people inside the Formation took a deep breath of relief, quickly sitting down to rest and to recover their nearly exhausted Spiritual Power. Ge Yongxing sighed and didn¡¯t put away the Array te, just in case the Demonic Beasts attacked again. "Wenxiong will surely hold on," Ge Yongcheng reassured. ... Finally, three days passed, and Yu Qingtan felt a moment of dizziness, before abruptly finding himself back in the side hall where he had been originally. Since the Demonic Beasts had entered the Trial Demon Tower first, they had already been teleported to the ces where they first appeared. ``` To enter the Trial Demon Tower, one must be nearby; upon exit, one reappears at the original location of entry. As the Trial Demon Tower shrunk to a foot in size, it was retrieved by Sky-Rending Eagle. All the surviving members of the Human Race returned to the Ges. Yu Qingtan and the others felt a pang of distress upon seeing the greatly diminished number of people from Tianxiang Pavilion. At that moment, a loud shout came from outside, "Sky-Rending Eagle, now that you¡¯vee, don¡¯t even think about leaving!" "Ouyang Wenjian, do you really want to start a fight with me within this city? I might not suffer much, but at least half of this city will be gone." Sky-Rending Eagle looked at Ouyang Wenjian floating in front of him, not showing much panic. Upon hearing this, Yu Qingtan and others quickly left the side hall, and saw two figures confronting each other in the sky not far from the Ges, towards the direction of the city gates. Thete-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators among the Ges also rose into the air on their flying swords, and although they were some distance away, they began to encircle Sky-Rending Eagle. "Sky-Rending Eagle, don¡¯t think I¡¯ve been sitting here idly all day. Even though I don¡¯t know how you avoided the Immortal City¡¯s Great Array and snuck in undetected, and although the main might of the Immortal City¡¯s Great Array is directed outward and not inward, modifying the formation slightly is still within my capabilities." "City Lord Ouyang, don¡¯t waste your words on him. We must capture this beast today," the red-eyed Ge Lian, the Elder, could hardly control her rage as she directly addressed Ouyang Wenjian. However, when she saw Ge Wenxiong, whose Dantian had been pierced by a Sky-Rending Eagle feather, even the Elder of the Ges who was approaching her life¡¯s end struggled to keep herposure. She had a vague suspicion about the sudden disaster that struck the longevity feast, but the realization that their target was indeed Ge Wenxiong, whom she saw as the hope for the Ges¡¯ rise, and that they had seeded, filled her with hatred. "This Immortal City¡¯s Great Array wasid out by a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator; the attack and defense strength inside the city doesn¡¯t even reach the Third Stage, and yet you, a mere early stage Golden Core Cultivator, im you can change it? You think I¡¯m easily frightened." Sky-Rending Eagle bellowed. In fact, when he spotted a formation light barrier covering the buildings below in the Immortal City, he felt somewhat nervous. But Ouyang Wenjian took action directly. Ge Lian¡¯s words might not be pleasant, but she was right. A stamp seal appeared above his head, then erged to a giant stamp two zhang (roughly 20 feet) in length at each side, looming over Sky-Rending Eagle. "Suppress!" Although the stamp was falling slowly rtive to Sky-Rending Eagle¡¯s speed, Sky-Rending Eagle felt a crushing force bearing down on him. Ge Lian, fueled by hatred, made her move. Two golden flying swords appeared before her. She spewed out a mouthful of blood onto the swords, which then dashed out at a high speed. The otherte-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators alsounched their attacks. Though the damage that ordinaryte-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators could inflict on a Third Stage Heavenly Demon was limited, their supportive attacks were nheless effective. They too had lost juniors inside the Trial Demon Tower, and their attacks were relentless. Sky-Rending Eagle, sensing the threat of death, let out a piercing scream and transformed into a giant grey eagle with a wingspan of 4 zhang (approximately 40 feet). Struggling, it pped its wings hard. Dozens of eagle feathers flew out to fend off the attacks from Ge Lian and the others while trying to fly out of the suppression field of the giant stamp. At this moment, the two Heavenly Demons outside the city heard Sky-Rending Eagle¡¯s screech andunched an attack on Suichuan Immortal City. Ouyang Wenjian was forced to activate the entire Great Array of the Immortal City. Seizing the opportunity, Sky-Rending Eagle finally flew out of the suppression field of the giant stamp and headed towards the city¡¯s outskirts. The attacks of thete-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators were mostly blocked by the eagle feathers. Only Ge Lian¡¯s pair of flying swords managed to shoot the feathers aside and continue chasing after Sky-Rending Eagle, s, they were significantly slower than him. However, Ouyang Wenjian just sneered. "Erge!" The stamp then expanded directly to a massive size with a side length of ten zhang (approximately 100 feet), and continued to bear down on Sky-Rending Eagle. Only a few hundred meters away from exiting the city, Sky-Rending Eagle once again fell into the suppression field of the giant stamp. Although the intensity was weaker than before, its speed still decreased several times over. Chapter 22: The Battle Concludes and Fame Arises "Pff~" Ge Lian¡¯s twin flying swords took the opportunity to catch up with Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky, piercing through its left wing. Blood mixed with several eagle feathers scattered in the air. Then, the flying swords turned around and charged at Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky again, aiming only for its eyes. The fierce light in Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky¡¯s eyes shone brightly as it let out another sharp screech, pping its wings and suddenly elevating its body, pping at the iing flying swords with its talons. The sound of metal shing against metal rang out as both flying swords were smacked to the ground, their spiritual light dimming, unable to fly again, and Ge Lian spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, her vitality gging. As Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky folded its wings back down, it immediately spread them against the descending giant seal and shot out two streaks of blue light. The blue light hit the giant seal, causing it to tremor and begin to shrink in size. "Monochrome Divine Light! Innate Divine Ability!" Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s eyes focused intently. The Sky-Rending Eagle possessed a trace of true spirit peacock blood, giving it a not insignificant chance to awaken Monochrome Divine Light as an innate divine ability. Legend had it that the True Spirit Peacock, with its innate divine skills and the Five Colors Divine Light, was said to cleanse anything and everything. At this moment, Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky was about to break free from the suppressive domain of the giant seal. "Heh, can¡¯t let you get away! Rise!" Then, under the terrified gaze of Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky, numerous sharp earthen spikes flew up from the ground, covering an area of thirty zhang square. With its current speed, it couldn¡¯t possibly avoid them. "Pff pff pff pff pff~" Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky did its best to dodge vital points, but its body was still pierced by more than a dozenrge holes, blood spraying across the sky. "Big brother, save me!" Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky cried out in desperation as it plunged downwards. "Even Sky-Rending Eagle Broken Sky, being in thete Third Stage, can¡¯t save you. Daring to cause trouble in Suichuan Immortal City, you must pay the price!" No sooner had Ouyang Wenjian finished his fierce words did his expression suddenly change. A massive w appeared out of nowhere, snatched Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky onto its back, and then an ice spike formed in front of the w, stabbing towards Ouyang Wenjian. "Howling Moon Demon King!" Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s face looked rmed. Facing the seemingly ordinary ice spike attack from the Demon King, he didn¡¯t dare to take it lightly at all. Just as he was preparing to pull out a trump card to defend against it. "Snap~" The ice spike directly exploded into powder, slowly disappearing into the air. "Little wolf, don¡¯t stretch your ws too long, careful I chop them off!" azy voice rang out from nowhere. "Awoo~" Apanied by a faint wolf howl, the w in the air slowly vanished, along with Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky. "Many thanks to Senior Pei for lending a hand!" Ouyang Wenjian bowed with his fists from the air, shouting out loud. Luckily, he felt that there was something odd about the affair at the Trial Demon Tower and ryed a message to his sect immediately. But he received no response. Ouyang Wenjian then transformed into a streak of Escape Light and left the area. With that, the great battle came to an end. After the end of the battle, the Tower Master Gongsun and the people from Tianxiang Pavilion rode back to the Pavilion in a horse-drawn carriage. Inside the carriage, Yu Qingtan was still shocked by the recent battle. "I didn¡¯t expect a Fourth-Grade Demon King and a Nascent Soul elder to take action. It¡¯s a pity that I didn¡¯t get to see the esteemed countenance of the Nascent Soul elder." Qi Yu, who was in the same carriage, said. "I¡¯ve read about it in a book before. That should be Tri-Sun Sect¡¯s Fierce Sun True Lord, Elder Pei. As for the Howling Moon Demon King, I have no clue about it." The usually aloof Lin Qiushuang also joined the conversation. "Tower Master Ouyang¡¯s magical treasure, the Mountain Flipping Seal, is also outrageously strong. That Heavenly Demon, Sky-Rending Eagle Nine Sky, which could easily swallow us whole, was beaten into a hasty retreat. Even using its innate divine ability was futile. It¡¯s a shame it was rescued in the end. So many sisters, ah!" Shen Wanning said as well. "Demonic beasts truly deserve death. The ones who suffered the most in this incident were still the Ges. Nearly half of their Qi Cultivation disciples were lost, and the fate of that legendary top-quality Single Metal Spirit Root genius is uncertain. The Great Elder, alreadycking in lifespan, has been injured as well. The Ges are likely to fall into decline." Yu Qingtan alsomented the cruelty of the Cultivation World. Everyone in the Ges had heard about Ge Wenxiong¡¯s incident since many people had heard the ve¡¯s words at the time, and the Ges did not refute it. "Indeed, a top-grade Single Spiritual Root, such a pity. If he had been sent to a major sect from childhood, he would at least reach the Nascent Soul Stage in the future. You can only say that the Ges¡¯ ambition was too great," Qi Yumented. "I wonder if we will ever be able to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Stage." ¡­ Back in the tower, Tower Master Gongsunforted everyone with a few words before leaving. After parting ways with Shen Wanning, Yu Qingtan found a manager named Liao in charge of the inner tower and asked her to help sell the corpse of the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly and some other things she had obtained in the Trial Demon Tower that she couldn¡¯t use. Then she nned to buy a bottle of mid-grade first stage Healing Pill, two hundred jin of Spirit Rice, and some Demonic Beast meat. Manager Liao was in charge of purchasing for the inner tower and also took on suchmission tasks. The trades were made at the market price, but since Manager Liao was responsible for purchasing, she could get discounts with the merchants, so thesemission jobs were quite lucrative, and she was very willing to take them on. Yu Qingtan briefly introduced herself and then took out the corpse of the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly among other items from the Storage Bag hidden in her sleeve and described to Manager Liao how she had obtained them in the Trial Demon Tower. "Miss Qing Tan, it seems like a blessing in disguise for you to have entered the Trial Demon Tower this time. To be able to kill a fierce creature like the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly, this body alone is worth at least 800 Spirit Stones. Altogether, this should be around 1400 Spirit Stones. Rest assured, I will take care of everything for you tomorrow," After hearing Yu Qingtan¡¯s story, Manager Liao naturally felt that Yu Qingtan had a bright future and was someone worth fostering a good rtionship with; therefore, she said. "Then I¡¯ll leave it in the capable hands of Manager Liao!" The two signed a contract, and Yu Qingtan went back to rest. She wasn¡¯t worried about Manager Liao embezzling her things; there were rules in the tower, and Manager Liao would not risk making a mistake for these Spirit Stones. The next day, Yu Qingtan resumed her normal routine. In the morning, she had breakfast with Shen Wanning, and during the day, she practiced dance, the zither, studied chess, Calligraphy, and painting; at night, she worked. Before work, she rested for an hour. During her rest, Manager Liao sent a Protecting Disciple to deliver 900 Spirit Stones, a bottle of mid-grade first stage Healing Pill, two hundred jin of Spirit Rice, and some Demonic Beast meat. The mid-grade first stage Healing Pill cost 300 Spirit Stones per bottle, each bottle containing 10 pills. Two hundred jin of White Crystal Rice cost 100 Spirit Stones, and 40 jin of early first stage Spotted Pig meat cost 100 Spirit Stones. Today happened to be her turn to perform a dance. Unexpectedly, the venue, which could amodate a thousand people, was packed with not a single vacant seat, and many people were standing. Upon seeing the crowd, Yu Qingtan roughly guessed what was happening. Yu Qingtan saw many familiar faces in the audience. You Xiwang, Song Zhenbo, and some others who had been saved by Yu Qingtan from the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly. Yu Qingtan was no longer unknown; these young masters had only to inquire a little to find out relevant information. Knowing that today was also a day when Yu Qingtan was performing, they called over friends to show their support. Yu Qingtan still wore her Exquisite Dance outfit and performed an Exquisite Dance. "Thank you all for your support!" Yu Qingtan bowed in thanks at the end. As she walked backstage, the sound of golden flowers being thrown into the collection box mixed with some cheering. "Miss Qing Tan, I love you!" "Miss Qing Tan, I am your dog!" "Miss Qing Tan, wait for me, I must win the draw today!" ¡­ You Xiwang, Song Zhenbo, and others who hadn¡¯t been there before were now full of admiration for Yu Qingtan¡¯s dance. "I didn¡¯t expect Miss Qing Tan to be not only beautiful and kind-hearted with strong abilities but also to dance so well!" You Xiwang eximed. "Exactly, even the Foundation Establishment seniors from Tianxiang Valley are captivated by Miss Qing Tan!" another person whispered softly. "Hmph~" Those around who heard the news felt somewhat displeased but dared not say anything. Chapter 23 - 23 Beginning of Body Refinement with Ice-Cold Skin and Jade Bones "Miss Qing Tan, my name is Sun Deren, a clerk at Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion. I owe you my life from our encounter in the Trial Demon Tower, but I had nothing of value on me at that time. Today, I have brought this item to express my gratitude," he said. The first visitor toe in was someone Qing Tan also remembered: he was the man who followed Deacon Sun from the Ges¡¯ birthday banquet, and in the Trial Demon Tower, it was because of her that he escaped the deadly grasp of the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly. Although Sun Deren modestly imed to be a mere clerk of Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, Qing Tan knew that being able to follow behind Deacon Sun likely meant he was a junior member of his family, not an ordinary clerk. "Brother Sun is too kind. As fellow members of the Human Race, it¡¯s only right that we help each other. There¡¯s no need for any gift to thank me," Qing Tan replied. "Miss Qing Tan is noble in spirit, but Sun cannot allow himself to be ungrateful. Moreover, having the pleasure to enjoy Miss Qing Tan¡¯s music today is a great honor for me. I hope you will not refuse my token of appreciation," Sun Deren insisted. "Then I shall humbly ept it," Qing Tan said. Next, the servant brought a Jade Slip into Qing Tan¡¯s hand. Qing Tan received it and instructed the servant to draw back the curtains. She pressed the Jade Slip to her brow, perusing the contents. "Ice Skin Jade Bone Art!" After reviewing the introduction, Qing Tan was surprised. It turned out to be a rare Body Refinement Cultivation Technique. Body Refinement was a path that had be less popr in the Cultivation World due to its great consumption of resources. Now, Body Refinement Cultivators were rarely seen. However, some cultivators who did notck resources would often practice body refinement alongside their other practices; after all, a strong body was beneficial to cultivation as well. The Ice Skin Jade Bone Art was a technique that could be cultivated up to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Due to being a lessmon path, its value was around seven to eight hundred Spirit Stones. "Thank you, Brother Sun. I just recentlyposed a new piece called ¡¯Love of Butterfly Lovers.¡¯ Would you please appreciate it?" Qing Tan proposed, exhibiting no psychological burden as she imed ¡¯Love of Butterfly Lovers¡¯ as her creation. "It¡¯s my fortunate pleasure," said Sun Deren, delighted to see that Qing Tan was quite pleased with his gift. The melody, sinct and elegant, began to y, with a clear and lively rhythm. After the piece concluded, Sun Deren apuded and praised it. "Although I¡¯m no expert in music, I found this tune to be melodious and moving, rich in emotion, truly wonderful! It is unexpected that Miss Qing Tan could create such an exquisite piece; truly the mark of a great family," he said. "It was a story I heard that inspired me to create the piece," Qing Tan remarked. "Miss Qing Tan, may I ask what story it was?" inquired Sun Deren. "It is said that in the Mortal Realm there was a nobledy named Zhu Yingtai, who, loving literature from a young age, disguised herself as a boy and entered an academy, where she met a poor schr named Liang Shanbo¡­" "¡­Just when Yingtai, in despair, sought to dash herself against Shanbo¡¯s tomb, suddenly the grave burst open, and Yingtai leaped within. Before long, two butterflies emerged and flew towards the distant horizon." Qing Tan briefly narrated the story of the Butterfly Lovers to Sun Deren. "That is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful love story," he said. "I wish to share this story with everyone in the Immortal City. Brother Sun, do you have any way to help?" Qing Tan had carefully considered this; she wished to earn more Charm Points and Affection Value, and needed to be famous. She had already made a preliminary n for gaining fame. The story of the Butterfly Lovers was part of that n. "Such a fine story indeed deserves to be shared with more. This is what I¡¯ll do: once I return, I¡¯ll have it written into storybooks and then I¡¯ll contact some friends to distribute them asplimentary goods in the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, and other shops. What do you think of this n, Qing Tan?" Sun Deren suggested after some thought. Qing Tan knew that in Suichuan Immortal City stories were circted through storybooks, but as they offered no benefit to cultivation and could be bought with gold and silver, they had not be a significant industry. "That would be excellent, I thank you, Brother Sun, for your help!" Qing Tan said appreciatively. "Being able to do something for Miss Qing Tan is a great honor for me," Sun Deren expressed. "Brother Sun, I have another question. As my main focus is on water-based Cultivation Techniques, do you have any Spell rmendations for my further studies?" Qing Tan asked. "Asking me about Spells? You¡¯vee to the right person. For water attributes, I rmend the Water Dragon Spell and Water de Technique for offense, the Water Sphere Spell and Water Curtain Technique for defense, and for movement, the Water Wing Spell and Water Escape Technique. Among them, the former are easier to learn while thetter are more effective. The choice will depend on your own circumstances," Sun Deren exined. "I see. How much do these Spells cost?" Qing Tan inquired. "Usual Qi Cultivation Stage Spells cost between 400 and 500 Spirit Stones. Those that are exceptionally good, umon, or special may cost between 800 and 1,000 Spirit Stones," he replied. "I understand. When I have saved up enough Spirit Stones, I wille to you, Brother Sun, to buy them," Qing Tan stated. "Mm-hmm, I¡¯ll definitely give you the best price when the timees," ... The visitors that followed were all neers, whom Yu Qingtan greeted normally with "Yearning". That evening, returning to her own room, Yu Qingtan took out the jade slip, held it to her forehead, and infused a thread of consciousness into it. A surge of information flowed into Yu Qingtan¡¯s mind¡ª it was the content of the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art. Then, the jade slip cracked and lost its luster. Jade slips like these, sold containing cultivation techniques and spells, were specially made for single-use. When consciousness touched upon a certain node inside the jade slip, the content would pour directly into the mind, while also signing one¡¯s name onto a heavenly contract that ensured the content wouldn¡¯t be transmitted elsewhere. The Ice Skin Jade Bone Art was divided into two parts: the upper part mainly refined the skin and flesh, suitable for Qi Cultivation Stage practitioners, while the lower part mainly refined sinews and bones, suitable for Foundation Establishment Stage practitioners. The cultivation technique was quite simple, but it required assistive items for cultivation. Wastnd Crystals were among the items that could assist in cultivating the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art and were quite good ones at that. "It seems Sun Deren put a lot of thought into selecting the gift, such a pity there¡¯s no Affection Value; could it be that his favorability isn¡¯t high enough?" Yu Qingtan muttered to herself. She had checked the system panel, and the Affection Value was still 0. Let¡¯s start cultivating the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art today; there¡¯s also that matter to take care of. Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes were profound. In the System Space, 1000 Spirit Stones disappeared. Foundation Establishment Stage¡¯s Spiritual Power surged through the Dantian and meridians, generating a Divine Sense in the mind. It was Luo Xiang¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection". Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, Decay and Flourish Technique. These were the two new spells that Yu Qingtan knew at the moment. Yu Qingtan swept her body carefully with her Divine Sense. Soon, under the skin of her right shoulder, she discovered a mark of Spiritual Power. "Heh, as expected..." Such marks of Spiritual Power were very secretive, and the master of the mark could sense the position of the mark within a certain distance. Yu Qingtan continued to scan her body. There were no further discoveries. Yu Qingtan scanned her body once more, still finding no toxins or Gu Insects. Yu Qingtan then cast the Decay and Flourish Technique on herself. The Decay and Flourish Technique could harm as well as save. Yu Qingtan felt herself exuding a vibrant vitality, with nothing amiss. "That bastard, actually deceiving people!" Yu Qingtan clenched her teeth, although there was still a chance that Master Fu¡¯s methods were too sophisticated, the likelihood was too low. After all, back then she was just a minor shrimp at the second level of Qi Cultivation. Casually erasing Master Fu¡¯s mark of Spiritual Power, Yu Qingtan took advantage of the protection time still in effect, took out two Wastnd Crystals, and began to cultivate the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art. Body Refinement required stimting and tempering the physical body with Spiritual Power, but the effect of tempering with Chaotic Power was far superior to that of Spiritual Power. However, since ancient times, the concentration of Chaotic Power in the Cultivation World had been diminishing, bing almost too meager to absorb. Wastnd Crystals contained a scant amount of Chaotic Power, barely sufficient for absorption. Following the cirction route of the cultivation technique, Yu Qingtan slowly guided the mysterious essence from the Wastnd Crystals, this Chaotic Power, to temper her physical body, focusing primarily on skin and flesh. Chapter 24 - 24 The Fame of the Butterfly Lovers Melody Spreads Far and Wide Body Refinement Process. One word. Pain. Like needles stinging all over the body. With Divine Sense, although it makes the cultivation route wless, it also makes the feeling of pain much clearer. Yu Qingtan¡¯s body trembled slightly, and tears uncontrobly flowed from the corners of her eyes. But she endured it. Although she was injured, she still tried hard to cultivate. Before the quarter-hour ended, Yu Qingtan paused her cultivation. As Yu Qingtan returned to the fifthyer of Qi Cultivation, she felt that the memories and effects of practicing the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art were still present. Opening the System Panel. [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer 307/500, Body Refinement Second Layer 12/200] [Cultivation Techniques: Clear Water Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] "The progress of Body Refinement is surprisingly fast. Hmm, it must be rted to the previous Deste Lotus Seeds and Stonemarrow Milk as well." "It seems I¡¯ve grown taller, too!" Yu Qingtan used a Cleansing Spell to clean herself and then willed a thought. A dog without a tail appeared on the ground, it was the Half-Demon "Erha". "Erha", still unconscious, came out. Yu Qingtan set its fractured leg straight, made a splint from wood, and firmly tied it with cloth strips. She then took out a Healing Pill, crushed it into water, and poured it into the dog. The process went quite smoothly. Afterwards, Yu Qingtan started to cultivate the Clear Water Technique without paying any further attention to it. After cultivating for an hour, she put "Erha" back into the System Space. ... In the following days, a story called Love of Butterfly Lovers spread throughout Suichuan Immortal City. "Does anyone know where that part of the Mortal Realm is? I want to eliminate that Ma Wencai." "Count me in!" "Xiaoping, I want to cross-dress and go to the academy too!" "Miss, we don¡¯t have an academy here." "Why would Liang Shanbo¡¯s grave open?" "Could it be a coincidence that he became a ghost cultivator?" "Then how did they transform into butterflies?" "Who knows?" "The author of this story is actually Miss Qing Tan. What, you don¡¯t even know Miss Qing Tan?" "Miss Qing Tan is the one who saved many fellow cultivators by killing ate-stage first-order Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly in the Trial Demon Tower. She¡¯s also the remarkable woman who sole-handedly searched for her friend who fell off a cliff, and sessfully reunited, full of affection and righteousness." "What, is this Miss Qing Tan a top Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator?" "Not exactly, Miss Qing Tan is the newly promoted inner disciple of Tianxiang Pavilion, exceptional in both the zither and dance, but she has her own fortune." "Well, I must go and see for myself." "I¡¯ll join you, I¡¯ll join you!" Thus, the number of people wishing to see Yu Qingtan exploded daily. Every visitor felt at home with Yu Qingtan and had the chance to listen to Love of Butterfly Lovers, singing her praises after they left. Seeing this, Manager Su decisively arranged for Yu Qingtan to perform every four days. This time, Yu Qingtan did not dance but yed Love of Butterfly Lovers twice. The audience below listened as if transfixed. "Why do your eyes always carry tears?" "Because I remember the first love I failed to keep." ... That day, in Yu Qingtan¡¯s "office". "Miss Qingtan, I am Yang Zhen. I really like your ¡¯Love of Butterfly Lovers¡¯ story and the music. I want to get to know Miss Qingtan." The beaded curtain had already been opened, and Yu Qingtan looked at the handsome "young master" who was saluting and introducing himself, speechless. Those chest muscles more developed than her own, those tiny holes in the earlobes. Does she really think I¡¯m blind? It was clearly another girl, yet wandering around Tianxiang Pavilion! "Why do I say ¡¯also a girl¡¯ so naturally, as if she¡¯s a kind of nt!" Yu Qingtan suppressed her feelings, stood up and returned the courtesy, saying, "I thank Young Master Yang for his affection." Seeing but not revealing. "How did Miss Qingtan create such a good work like ¡¯Love of Butterfly Lovers¡¯?" "Qingtan also heard such a story from others and was moved to create out of that emotion." "I see, does Miss Qingtan have someone she likes?" "I haven¡¯t met them yet." "Then what kind of person does Miss Qingtan like?" "Well, I like someone whose personality matches mine, and if they¡¯re good-looking and have a high Cultivation Level, that would be even better." A herd of alpacas ran through Yu Qingtan¡¯s mind once again, but she could only deal with the question verbally. Looking at the extraordinary robe she wore and the exquisitely made folding fan nted at her waist, Yu Qingtan judged that she must certainly be a young miss from some family. "Eh, Miss Qingtan and a friend of mine have very simr tastes! That friend of mine likes a senior brother who¡¯s very good-looking, has a high Cultivation Level, and has a personality that suits hers well." Still "a friend", that friend is probably yourself, isn¡¯t it? "Has Young Master Yang¡¯s friend and her senior brother gotten together yet?" Yang Zhen¡¯s face stalled slightly, looking a little unnatural as she said, "Not yet." "Let me guess, has that senior brother ever told your friend that he sees her as a sister?" "Ha, ha, yes. My friend is very troubled and doesn¡¯t know what to do. Miss Qingtan¡¯s guess is so urate, do you have any good strategies?" "It¡¯s not about having any good strategies, but I¡¯ve heard a story: In a Sect, the Sect Leader¡¯s daughter liked the eldest senior brother, but he only saw her as a sister. Later on, the Sect Leader took in another disciple who, although not highly gifted, was steady in character, diligent in cultivation, and quite fortunate. He took great care of his naive and mischievous senior sister, as assigned by the Sect Leader, and eventually won her heart. The eldest senior brother, upon learning this, regretted and hated the mistake, and wanted to kill the disciple, but after being defeated, he defected from the Sect." "Ah, the Sect Leader¡¯s daughter is rather fickle to fall in love so easily." "Cough, cough, that¡¯s not the point. You go tell that story to your friend and let her reflect on it. Now, let me y a piece for Young Master Yang. What would you like to hear?" "Still ¡¯Love of Butterfly Lovers¡¯, please." ... "Young Master Qi, it¡¯s been a long time since yourst visit, I thought you had forgotten about Qingtan." Thest customer turned out to be Qi Hong, and Yu Qingtan said coquettishly. She had long ceased to feel sick about such behavior. "Ha ha, how could that be? I could forget anyone but not Miss Qingtan. To think that after just over a month, Miss Qingtan has be even more beautiful and quite famous. If I hadn¡¯t been lucky, I wouldn¡¯t have seen Miss Qingtan today." "Young Master Qi says so, truly flustering Qingtan. I¡¯ve often thought of Young Master Qi, just wondering which sister kept you away froming to Qingtan¡¯s ce." "Tsk, it¡¯s all because of that thief. A month ago, a brash thief broke into the Qis¡¯ treasure vault. Not only did he steal many treasures, but he also ruthlessly killed the cousin guarding the vault. Despite my uncle¡¯s efforts to severely wound the thief using the Blood Tether Technique, the thief still managed to escape. After some time, the thief healed and audaciously crippled several of the Qis¡¯ Qi Cultivation family members¡¯ Dantians, forcing the Family Head to order us not to go out at will." Qi Hong took a sip of tea and continued with a smile, "Thankfully, our Family Head is unparalleled in wisdom and strategy, first setting up a dra before using bait to capture the thief in one fell swoop. Right now, he¡¯s locked in our family dungeon, paying the price for his actions." A shock went through Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart. She poured Qi Hong another cup of tea, then asked, "Such a detestable thief, getting such an end is indeed reaping what he has sown. But what is this Blood Tracking Technique?" "This Blood Tether Technique, it is a method my Qi family uses to protect our juniors. We cast a Blood Tether on the juniors, so if they are harmed, the Blood Tether will transfer to the perpetrator, and we can then use this to locate their position. Unfortunately, it has distance and time limitations. Otherwise, the thief wouldn¡¯t have escaped the first time. Let¡¯s not talk about these disappointing things now. I haven¡¯t heard Miss Qingtan y ¡¯Love of Butterfly Lovers¡¯ solo yet." "Qingtan will y it for Young Master Qi right now." ... Chapter 25: How could 79 Spirit Stones be considered expensive? Young Master Fu, he actually fell from grace. This was something Yu Qingtan had not anticipated. If it had been before, she would have been troubled, after all Young Master Fu had used some tricks on her. Now, who cares. "But, he did give me the score for ¡¯Purification of Soul¡¯." "He even marked me with a spiritual power imprint!" "After all, the Qi family really does have a bad reputation, but he doesn¡¯t seem like a bad person!" "Qi Hong doesn¡¯t seem like a bad person either!" "A nt is so annoying, I¡¯m going to sleep!" ... "Qing Tan, you¡¯re a sensation right now, you¡¯ll probably make it big soon. When you¡¯re rolling in wealth, don¡¯t forget about me!" "Aren¡¯t you eating what¡¯s mine right now? And you¡¯re popr too. I heard that Song family¡¯s young master has a deep-rooted affection for you, how is it?" Inside Yu Qingtan¡¯s room, Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning were enjoying Spirit Rice porridge. After buying Spirit Rice, Yu Qingtan¡¯s morning and evening meals consisted of Spirit Rice porridge and Spirit Rice meals, sometimes even stir-frying dishes with the meat of the Spotted Pig demonic beasts. Yu Qingtan had known how to cook in her previous life, and although there were fewer spices here, perhaps because of the spiritual energy, even the simplest foods were delicious. High-end ingredients often only require the most basic cooking methods. Shen Wanning naturally came over for meals every day, but she would also bring some spiritual food ingredients. "What else could it be, could I really marry him? I¡¯m afraid I¡¯d end up in a miserable state." "That¡¯s true, anyway, you¡¯re doing quite well in Tianxiang Pavilion." The person pursuing Shen Wannning was Song Zhenfeng of the Song family, who even once offered to buy her freedom and make her his official wife. However, how could the Song family agree to let their talented junior marry a courtesan? Such words were only for listening; anyone who took them seriously was a fool. "But, Qing Tan, the brassiere you gave me is really good. It¡¯sfortable to wear and drives those men wild with desire. A good number of people in the Pavilion are curious about it, but I¡¯ve kept it a secret like you told me to." Yu Qingtan nced at Shen¡¯s deeper cleavage and said, "d you like it!" Yu Qingtan had learned how to make brassieres with the skill she¡¯d won in a raffle, making some for both Shen Wanning and herself. She had no ns to promote them yet, so she told Shen to keep it a secret for now, given that Tianxiang Pavilion was also apetitive ce. Besides, if she became known as the "Mother of Brassieres" in the Cultivation World, it might make other transmigratorsugh to death. It¡¯s a pity that the brassiere greatly enhanced Shen Wanning¡¯s charm, but it only had an average effect on herself. She hadn¡¯t even needed to bind her chest before, and while she had developed a bitter, it was still barely noticeable. ... Han Daniu was the deputy hall master of the Green Wolf Gang¡¯s medicine division, an orphan from a loose cultivator background. Originally, he possessed high-quality dual fire and earth Spirit Roots but missed the best time for cultivation and lost the chance to be recruited by a sect. Unwilling to remain a low-level loose cultivator, he cultivated day and night. After learning about medicinal herbs, he desperately searched for spiritual medicine in the Yunhua Mountain Range. Eventually, in his early forties, he reached the eighth level of Qi Cultivation and became the deputy hall master of the gang¡¯s medicine division. Unfortunately, he had be increasingly uncertain about his future. He was still frantically earning cultivation resources, but they were no longer sufficient for his cultivation needs. He hoped to climb higher within the Green Wolf Gang, but the medicine hall¡¯s master was the protector¡¯s nephew. The Gang Leader and both the first and second protectors of the Green Wolf Gang were Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Today, he went to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to buy a Hundred Herbs Pill for cultivation use. This was his first time purchasing a Hundred Herbs Pill; before this, he had been using a cheaper elixir, but he had developed a severe tolerance to it. "Hundred Herbs Pill, 79 Spirit Stones a bottle, how many would you like?" His usual familiar clerk wasn¡¯t there, and he was attended by a new clerk whom he had never seen before. "That¡¯s expensive!" Han Daniu couldn¡¯t help but exim. "Where is it expensive at 79 Spirit Stones a bottle? Don¡¯t talk nonsense with your eyes wide open. It¡¯s always been this price. The Hundred Herbs Pill is refined from hundreds of medicinal herbs throughplex methods, with over ten types of spiritual herbs involved. Moreover, it requires an alchemist in thetter stages of Foundation Establishment to have a substantial sess rate in making the pills. It¡¯s not easy being an alchemist either. To say that a Hundred Herbs Pill is expensive at 79 Spirit Stones a bottle, perhaps you should look for the reason within yourself. Have you been diligently cultivating these years? Have you properly earned Spirit Stones?" Han Daniu left the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, a mix of shame and anger in his stride after being talked at by the shop assistant. Wandering aimlessly through the market streets, Han Daniu was in deep reflection. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that despite years of hard work earning Spirit Stones, the truth was that he could not afford enough Elixirs for his cultivation. "Do I really have any hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage?" He walked for a long time, and by the time he stopped, night had fallen, and he found himself in front of a brilliantly lit ce. People were asionally entering through the doors, above which hung a signboard inscribed with "Tianxiang Pavilion." After contemting for the duration of three breaths, Han Daniu, who usually kept away from thepany of women, stepped inside. "This brother here, you look unfamiliar. Are you thinking of visiting the outer or inner pavilion? Is there a specific girl you¡¯re looking for?" Upon entering, a warm and enthusiastic madam immediately came to greet him. Although Han Daniu had never indulged in such pleasures, he had heard of Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s ways, so he said, "The inner pavilion, and no, there¡¯s no one in particr I¡¯m looking for." "Alrighty, brother, let me tell you, our girls in the inner pavilion are all beautiful and talented. You can watch our girls perform first, and if you like any of them, you can talk things over in private. If there¡¯s no one to your taste on stage, you can pick from the album introducing our girls." Then, Han Daniu was led by a servant through several long corridors, exchanged one Spirit Stone for a golden flower, and entered a circr hall. In the middle of the hall were three stages¡ªonerge and two small¡ªwith the audience seating taking up three sides, seven to eight-tenths of which was already filled with people. He took a seat in an empty spot. Many in the audience seats were still conversing; although the voices were rtively low, the multitude of conversations still made it rather noisy. People continued to trickle in. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a voice came from behind the stage. "Thank you, honored guests, foring here tonight." The audience instantly quieted down. "Without further ado, the first to take the stage will be our Qing Tan. Today, she will be performing a guqin piece sheposed herself, ¡¯Love of Butterfly Lovers,¡¯ and the dance ¡¯Butterfly Dance,¡¯ which she is performing for the first time. Please, enjoy." "Qing Tan! Qing Tan!" Yu Qingtan, dressed in a pink costume with butterfly wings, slowly made her way onto the stage. Walking to the center of the stage, the auditorium again fell silent. A guqin was already set up on the stage, and without a word, Yu Qingtan took a seat and began ying "Love of Butterfly Lovers." After she finished, the guqin and the furniture sank beneath the stage. Yu Qingtan started her performance of the ¡¯Butterfly Dance,¡¯ which she finally mastered to a minor level. With the story of ¡¯Butterfly Lovers¡¯ ending with the characters turning into butterflies, the ¡¯Butterfly Dance¡¯ fit perfectly, and the manager, Su, approved her request tobine her two appearances into one. Listening to the pleasant sound of the guqin and watching the graceful dance, Han Daniu¡¯s mood became much calmer. Who wouldn¡¯t like such a lovely girl? Even Han Daniu, who focused on cultivation and remained single to this day. After Yu Qingtan bowed and exited the stage, Madam Ni¡¯s voice rang out once more. "You¡¯ve all witnessed the exceptional guqin and dance of Qing Tan. Those who wish to meet Qing Tan alone, please press the button next to your seat. We will decide the lucky individual by drawing lots. The button next to the chosen seat will sh a red light, and the number of shes will indicate the order for the meeting." Without any hesitation, Han Daniu pressed the button. After a moment, the button shed red four times. Han Daniu never thought he would be so lucky, and his gloomy mood improved further. Envious looks appeared on the faces of those around him; one person even attempted to offer him fifty Spirit Stones for his spot, which he promptly refused without a second thought. Han Daniu sat waiting in his seat as beautiful girls continued to perform on stage, but in his eyes at that moment, "My opinion is that nonepares to Qing Tan." Chapter 26 - 26 Urgent Needs Make Guests Feel at Home ``` Time passed quickly. When the servant led him to meet Yu Qingtan, he introduced the fee and the charging items, and Han Daniu happily paid with spirit stones. The servant entered, pulled aside the bead curtains, and then retreated. "Miss Qing Tan, I am Han Daniu from the Green Wolf Gang. Initially, I was in a bad mood today, but after listening to your music and watching your dance, I feel much more at peace. I¡¯m very grateful." "If I¡¯ve managed to bring peace to Brother Han¡¯s mind, Qing Tan is very happy. Please take a seat, and I¡¯ll y ¡¯Small River¡¯ for Brother Han," replied Qing Tan. ¡¯Small River¡¯ was a zither piece Qing Tan learned from the library, with a gentle melody. After speaking, she began to y. After listening to it, Han Daniu indeed felt thest bit of displeasure evaporate. "Miss Qing Tan¡¯s zither art is unparalleled, I admire it greatly!" he eximed. "Brother Han tters me too much. May I ask why you were feeling down today?" she inquired. "It¡¯s all because of that new clerk at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion... I miss the previous Dong brother." "Oh? That¡¯s quite unexpected. To earn Brother Han¡¯s spirit stones and yet mock you, I don¡¯t think that clerk willst long. But Brother Han, is this Dong brother known as Dong Er?" "Yes, Dong brother is a good man. Speaking of which, miss, do you also know him?" "Dong brother had visited me here before. However, Iter heard he nned to return to the Mortal Realm to enjoy life." "I see. Dong brother is someone who can make a decision. Cultivation is not easy, but it¡¯s also not easy to give up the slimmer hope of Foundation Establishment. I¡¯ve been cultivating for over twenty years... Lately, the number of demonic beasts in the periphery of the Yunhua Mountain Range has greatly increased, which has led to very poor profits for our medicine hall. Consequently, the spirit stones I receive are much fewer, to the point that buying an elixir is, ah..." "It seems Brother Han has had quite a difficult journey," she said sympathetically. "Here, I have a way to earn spirit stones and was looking for someone to coborate with. Would Brother Han be interested?" she proposed. "What method would that be?" asked Han Daniu, a bit surprised, yet curious. "I happened upon a herb recipe that¡¯s very close to an elixir, but the method of preparation is very simple, and I believe it will have a great market. Just now, Brother Han mentioned that most of your medicine hall¡¯s herbs are sold to the Song family. With this recipe, you¡¯ll surely earn more than before," Qing Tan assured. "Miss Qing Tan has such a remarkable recipe? May I ask what it is? And how would you like to cooperate?" he asked. Yu Qingtan took out a piece of paper and exined, "As for the coboration, I will provide the recipe and will need to receive twenty percent of the profit. Furthermore, the business must not be disclosed as rted to me, and I need Brother Han to make a Heavenly Oath to ensure this." "Hmm, may I first know what effects the recipe has?" Han Daniu asked after some thought. "Golden Spear Pill," Yu Qingtan slowly uttered the three words. In the past, she had won the recipe for the Golden Spear Pill in a lottery. Although she didn¡¯t need it, she still learned it and found the preparation method to be incredibly simple. And Qing Tan had found out that there were no simr products in Suichuan Immortal City. Han Daniu instantly understood, looking at Yu Qingtan somewhat peculiarly. But Qing Tan merely smiled. After pondering for a few moments, Han Daniu finally agreed to the coboration and took a Heavenly Oath. Yu Qingtan stepped forward and handed the piece of paper to Han Daniu. "Brother Han, then here¡¯s to a pleasant partnership!" she eximed. ... "Miss Qing Tan, I apologize to our leader, wuwuwu!" One evening, Yu Qingtan received another acquaintance, Hao Can. At that moment, Hao Can looked sorrow-stricken and began crying on the table. It turned out that, recently, Hao Can¡¯s Adventure Group was searching for cultivation resources in the periphery of Yunhua Mountain Range as usual, but they encountered two ck Wind Tigers; one of which was a rare Second Stage demonic beast that seldom appeared on the outskirts. ``` The two sides shed fiercely, and the Adventure Group suffered heavy losses, losing more than half of their members before they could escape back to Suichuan Immortal City. The leader of the Adventure Group also sumbed to his severe injuries and passed away after returning to the city. One of the leader¡¯s fatal wounds was incurred while providing cover for Hao Can to escape. With the leader gone, the Adventure Group quickly fell apart. Hao Can was overwhelmed with grief, wracked with self-me, and utterly lost. He even considered abandoning cultivation and returning to the Mortal Realm. But remembering the girl who had encouraged him, he decided he wanted to see her one more time. Therefore, after several days at Tianxiang Pavilion, he finally got the opportunity to meet with Yu Qingtan. "Brother Hao, please ept my condolences. Qing Tan once heard a great sage say that before Heaven ces a great responsibility on a person, it will first frustrate their spirit and exhaust their body... to strengthen what they cannot. Brother Hao, you must stand strong. Do you really want the leader to see you in such a despondent and evasive state?" Seeing such a man crying, Yu Qingtan couldn¡¯t bear it and thus encouraged him. Hearing her words, Hao Can indeed stopped crying, raised his head, wiped away his tears, and said, "You¡¯re right, I can¡¯t be like this; I can¡¯t let the leader¡¯s life-saving grace be in vain; he left behind his wife and children with no one to rely on, I have to stand strong." Despite feeling a bit like making a sarcasticment, Yu Qingtan continued to encourage him, "This is the Brother Hao I know, who never gives up." "Miss Qing Tan, thank you. It¡¯s you who have awoken me again; I¡¯ll go and cultivate with all my might, striving to earn Spirit Stones." ... That night, after finishing her practice of the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art and the Clear Water Technique, Yu Qingtan, as usual, took "Er Ha" out from the System Space, preparing to feed it a Healing Pill. Just as she crushed the Elixir into water and was about to pour it down, "Er Ha" moved slightly. Initially, Yu Qingtan did not know if the Healing Pill would be effective on "Er Ha." Since she had no medical skills and it wasn¡¯t convenient to take it for treatment, she could only try the Healing Pill, also keeping some for herself. But after using the Healing Pill, Yu Qingtan found that its injuries had noticeably improved. After administering two more pills, the w wounds had already scabbed over, and the severe swelling at the broken leg had also mostly subsided. As she poured the Elixir in, "Er Ha" opened its eyes. Immediately, its body shrank back, eyes wary, baring its teeth towards what was in front of it. "I¡¯m giving you medicine to heal your wounds," said Yu Qingtan, lifting the bowl with her right hand. Yu Qingtan had probed with her Spiritual Power and found that "Er Ha" was at thetter phase of the First Stage. Before the Fourth Stage, half-demons usually have higher intelligence than demonic beasts of the same level. She judged that it should be able to roughly understand her. Indeed, "Er Ha" ceased its snarling, turned its head to check its scabbed w wounds and the splinted back leg. Turning back, the apprehension in its eyes had also vanished. "Ao, ao!" It called out twice, resembling a wolf¡¯s howl but without any vigor¡ªprobably its way of saying thank you. "Then drink this up, and have something to eat afterward." Yu Qingtan ced the medicine bowl in front of "Er Ha" and took out another bowl filled with cooked Spotted Pig meat. Before this, Yu Qingtan had also fed it minced meat soup twice. "Er Ha" sniffed at it and obediently finished the medicine and then the meat. "Ao, ao, ao ao ao!" "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying to say, but go rest over there; I need to cultivate." "Er Ha" sat down on the spot, eyes following Yu Qingtan, one could only wonder what was going through its mind. Chapter 27 - 27 Moving to a New Home Half-Demon Gets Named "Lady Qing Tan, it truly hasn¡¯t been easy, I finally get to see you again." This person was none other than the young master of the You family, You Xiwang. "The debt of gratitude for saving my life is something You will never forget. Lady Qing Tan¡¯s elegance is also something I greatly admire. Here is a modest gift You has prepared, hoping it will be to your liking." The You family was a small n in Suichuan Immortal City, with only the family head, You Xiantong, being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The scene of Yu Qingtan instantly killing a me Wolf in the Trial Demon Tower made You Xiwang believe she was extraordinary. After returning home, You Xiwang and You Xiantong discussed this matter, and You Xiantong also agreed with You Xiwang¡¯s judgment. Both decided unanimously to befriend Yu Qingtan. After watching Yu Qingtan¡¯s performanceter on and learning more about her, You Xiwang felt that even taking her as a wife wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. Unfortunately, the redemption price for a disciple inside Tianxiang Pavilion was no small sum, and Yu Qingtan might not be willing. After all, it was said that she had even refused the proposal of a marital engagement from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator of Tianxiang Valley. Yu Qingtan took the items presented by the servant. ncing at them, Yu Qingtan was quite surprised. It was actually a real estate deed made of spiritual materials and a key. There were many residential areas in Suichuan Immortal City, with prices varying greatly depending on location, concentration of spiritual energy, strength of protective formation, and interior decoration. Behind Tianxiang Pavilion, there was a small residential area that belonged to upper-ss housing. Many of Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s senior and veteran inner disciples resided there. And this real estate deed was for a 60-square-foot house in that residential area, which if purchased, would start at 6,000 spirit stones for a 100-year property right. "This, this is too valuable, Young Master You, please take it back." Yu Qingtan had already received many gifts, but this one was certainly too precious. What did this mean? "Lady Qing Tan, I am the young master of the You family, and I am my father¡¯s only son. You saved me, and this is a gift especially prepared for you by me and my father. Please do not refuse it. If I take this back home, my father would beat me." "Then Qing Tan will ept it with gratitude," Yu Qingtan said, her heart certainly wanting it. "That¡¯s more like it. And Lady Qing Tan is always wee to visit our home." "I will visit when there¡¯s a chance. Young Master You, do you want to watch a dance or listen to music today?" "Haha, I¡¯ll listen to ¡¯Love of Butterfly Lovers¡¯; I can never tire of hearing Lady Qing Tan y this piece." "Then Qing Tan will humbly perform." ¡­ "What, you received a set of rooms!" "Ahhhh, I want it too, I¡¯m so jealous!!" The next day, when Shen Wanning came over for a meal, she heard the news and was filled with envy. "You want it, go ask your brother from the Song family!" Yu Qingtan teased. "Hmmph, maybe that young master of the You family is entertaining the same thought." "Maybe. Anyway, he said it was to repay the life-saving favor, so I¡¯ll take it as genuine." "Have you checked it out yet?" "Not yet." "Then take me to see it!" "Finish your breakfast first." After breakfast, Yu Qingtan took Shen Wanning to see one of the managers from the inner building, and was granted a jade token for entering and exiting Tianxiang Pavilion through the back door. "Even though the distance is short, and there are Protecting Disciples patrolling nearby, still pay attention to your safety. Especially at night, try not to travel alone between the Pavilion and the residential area," the manager instructed. Then Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning left through the back door. After about half a teacup¡¯s time, they found the house. The house was a one-story tile-roofed house with a bedroombined with a cultivation room, a living room, and a kitchen. The house had a protective formation that could soundproof, and also withstand three strikes from an early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. "It¡¯s so small, and there¡¯s no furniture at all, but I¡¯m still so envious!" "I¡¯ll ask Manager Liao to buy some furnitureter. Go back to studying, and you¡¯ll have one too someday." "You just want to work us to death, hmph!" Although Yu Qingtan had found amodation outside, she could only stay there from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day. The hour of si was drawing near. ... When she returned to the pavilion, Yu Qingtan found Manager Liao and asked her to help buy some furniture. She wanted furnishings simr to those in the room she was staying in; Tianxiang Pavilion was not stingy with its internal disciples and provided only the best. Manager Liao indicated that she could get it done that day, and someone would be waiting at the door when Yu Qingtan returned that evening. In the evening, after finishing work, Yu Qingtan went to her new home. Indeed, there were servants and shop assistants waiting at the door to move the furniture. It was quickly settled, and upon closing the door, Yu Qingtan let out "Erha." When "Erha" had been put into the System Space earlier, Yu Qingtan told it that it was being put into a Spirit Beast Pouch, and "Erha" did not resist. Aftering out, "Erha" didn¡¯t see anything resembling a Spirit Beast Pouch on Yu Qingtan, but seeing the bowl filled with meat, it didn¡¯t think much about it and limped over to eat the meat. "It seems you¡¯re not an ungrateful white-eyed wolf who can¡¯t be domesticated; let¡¯s give you a name. Let me think... How about Xiao Tao?" Thinking of someone who even now made her want to gnash her teeth, Yu Qingtan came up with such a name. "Aoow~" Xiao Tao called out, apparently having no objections. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t invite Shen Wanning to live with her, and Shen Wanning didn¡¯t bring it up either, mainly because cultivators typically maintain quite strong personal boundaries. There are many couples and Daopanions who do not live together. Before starting her cultivation, Yu Qingtan opened the system panel. [Spirit Roots: Water 72/100; Wood 57/100; Earth 56/100; Metal 30/100; Fire 8/100] [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer 311/500, Body Refinement Third Layer 123/300] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] [Spells: Cleansing Spell Beginner 73/100, Water Escape Technique Great Completion 10/400] [Skills: Exquisite Dance Minor Completion 99/200, Butterfly Dance Minor Completion 5/200, Zither Art Minor Completion 76/200, Chess Skill Beginner 16/100, Calligraphy Beginner 12/100, Painting Skill Beginner 9/100] [Charm Points: 2733] [Affection Value: 2] [System Space Slots: Five Lower Grade Spirit Stones, Cherry Red Sword, 31 Wastnd Crystals, Mysterious Seed, 1 drop of Spirit Dew] [System Shop: Primary Spirit Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Value), First-Rank Cultivation Upgrade Card 1/3 (10 Affection Value), First-Rank Spell Upgrade Card 3/10 (1 Affection Value), First-Rank Skill Upgrade Card 2/10 (1 Affection Value)] [Lucky Draw: 10 Charm Points for one draw (can do ten consecutive draws)] Among these, there were two new devotees: You Xiwang, Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer. Song Zhenbo, Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer. With the help of Wastnd Crystals, Yu Qingtan¡¯s Body Refinement Cultivation Level was increasing rapidly, but sadly the crystals were being consumed just as quickly. While her Qi Cultivation Level was growing very slowly, it was already much better than before. The concentration of Spiritual Energy here was also much higher than that in her room in Tianxiang Pavilion, so her cultivation speed should be faster. She put some misceneous items into her Storage Bag, which she had sewn into the lining of her sleeve. After exchanging 1000 Spirit Stones for Foundation Establishment Cultivation Level thest time, Yu Qingtan¡¯s stock of Spirit Stones was almost depleted. She still wanted to try cultivating with Elixirs. "Fortunately, it won¡¯t be long before the monthly distribution of Spirit Stones from the pavilion." Given the number of patrons she had this month, she could expect an ie of close to 500 Spirit Stones. "I wonder how Han Daniu is doing over there." Chapter 28: A Ruthless Attack and Killing the Enemy Yu Qingtan was unaware that, recently outside the Tianxiang Pavilion, every night someone had been selling Golden Spear Pills. The Golden Spear Pill only had one main medicinal herb, Ling Qi, that was a spiritual medicine; the rest were more than a dozen adjuvantmon medicines. The method to refine it was just a pot to simmer, rolling into pills, which a regr alchemy apprentice could handle. After receiving the prescription, Han Daniu had his confidants prepare a batch of medicinal materials and secretly hired a loose cultivator who had studied alchemy to refine it. It was easily turned into hundreds of pills. They had some people try them out, and the results were very good. Those in the middle phase of Qi cultivation doubled their directbat power straight away, and those in theter phases also saw an increase inbat power by two or three tenths. Apart from feeling drained for a couple of days, there were no other side effects. Thus, following the small marketing trick added by Yu Qingtan to the prescription, Han Daniu started by giving away a batch for free, then found a few agents to sell them at the entrances of various brothels and pleasure quarters throughout Suichuan Immortal City. Han Daniu, seeing the daily ie of hundreds of spirit stones, and with the amount still increasing, grew somewhat nervous. ¡­ "Young Master Qi, how much has Qingtan¡¯s chess skill improved?" One day, Qi Hong came to look for Yu Qingtan again. Yu Qingtan suspected he had used money to secure his ability, after all, she was now considered a star of the Tianxiang Pavilion, and it was very hard to draw her name. "Ha, Miss Qingtan is really naturally clever, your Chess Skill is advancing by leaps and bounds," he said somewhat embarrassedly after having lost to Yu Qingtan the first time. Actually, it wasn¡¯t so much that Yu Qingtan was impressive, but rather that Qi Hong¡¯s Chess Skill was quite mediocre, only enough to give beginners a hard time. "Another round, this young master must avenge his earlier disgrace." "This time I¡¯ll go first." "I have no objections." Yu Qingtan made her move and chatted with Qi Hong as they yed. "I heard that recently there has been a significant increase in the number of demonic beasts in the Yunhua Mountain Range, is that true?" "Indeed it is, but this happens every few years. It¡¯s because demonic beasts breed quickly. However, there¡¯s no need to worry. Only loose cultivators jump at shadows. Suichuan Immortal City is as secure as a fortified wall. There¡¯s no need for concern, Miss Qingtan." "I see. By the way, did you execute the thief you caughtst time?" "Hey, we wouldn¡¯t let him off that easily. He¡¯s stillnguishing in the dungeon, leading a life of desperation, and we still don¡¯t know where he¡¯s hidden the things he stole." "Don¡¯t you have something like the Soul Search Spell?" "That¡¯s a secret technique of the Demonic Path, how does Miss Qingtan know about it?" "I read about it in a book." "Miss Qingtan, it¡¯s better to read less of those haphazard books. Still, Orthodoxy does have interrogation spells like the True Word Spell, but unfortunately, they are side-door spells and seldom circted." "I see, Young Master Qi is indeed widely informed. Ah, don¡¯t ce there¡ª" Yu Qingtan used her hand to stop Qi Hong¡¯s hand, which was about to make a move. If Qi Hong ced his piece there, Yu Qingtan would lose. As Qi Hong¡¯s hand touched Yu Qingtan¡¯s, he gently held it andughed, "Miss Qingtan, you can¡¯t cheat, now can you?" Blushing, Yu Qingtan gently withdrew her hand and said, "Young Master Qi, please go easy on Qingtan¡ª" "I can¡¯t do that; if this young master loses two rounds in a row, how would I save face? Besides, I see Miss Qingtan¡¯s wrist is bare. Let me gift this ¡¯Stars and Moon in Harmony¡¯ bracelet to Miss Qingtan." "Although it¡¯s just a first-grade low-level magic artifact, it¡¯s exquisitely crafted. Does Miss Qingtan like it?" "As long as it¡¯s from Young Master Qi, Qingtan likes it," Yu Qingtan shyly said. She felt her standards were getting lower and lower. "Then let me put it on for you." "Mm-hmm!" "It looks beautiful, thank you, Young Master Qi." ¡­ After Qi Hong left, Yu Qingtan nced at the system panel and sure enough, the Affection Value went up by 1, Devotee, Qi Hong, Qi Cultivation seventhyer. "Little guy, got you." Yu Qingtan felt that Qi Hong had beening around many times, yet to bestow any Affection Value, which was aplete waste. This time, through some little tricks, she finally achieved her goal. After finishing work, Yu Qingtan walked out of the back door of Yun Xiang and headed in the direction of her home. Halfway there, as she rounded a corner where neither passersby behind nor ahead could see, something happened. A series of three silver needles shot out from the shadows of the corner, targeting Qing Tan¡¯s face, heart, and the dantian in her lower abdomen respectively. They were almost soundless. Truly the epitome of maliciousness. By the time Qing Tan noticed the silver needles, they were less than ten feet away from her. Even using the Water Escape Technique would be toote. At the critical moment, Qing Tan¡¯s mind shifted, and an identical figure to Qing Tan instantly appeared in front of her. Only, it was unclothed. It was Qing Tan¡¯s shadow clone. "Puff, puff, puff~" The faint sounds of the needles piercing flesh arose. With just a thought, the shadow clone vanished, and the three silver needles with a faint glow dropped to the ground. At the same time, Qing Tan had already used the Water Escape Technique to move towards the direction from which the needles had been fired. On her way, Qing Tan also activated Hao Can¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection." Thankfully, she had been issuedst month¡¯s spirit stones from the pavilion two days prior. Judging by the strength of the needle attack, Qing Tan estimated that her attacker hadn¡¯t reached thete stages of Qi Cultivation. As expected, a ck-d person wearing a bamboo hat appeared in front of Qing Tan. The attacker was slightly stupefied, his confidence in his stealth assault was full. The silver needles were part of a set of middle-grade first-tier magic artifacts, also treated with potent poison. The attacker, at his cultivation of the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, had used them to secretly kill several cultivators in theter stages of Qi Cultivation before. Dealing with a young girl in the initial stages of Qi Cultivation should be easy and enjoyable. If he hadn¡¯t always been cautious, always exerting full force even in hunting a rabbit, he would have thought there was no need to use this trump card. However, just as he saw his silver needles about to seed, a bare figure took the hit with its back, and then suddenly disappeared. "Could it be a puppet? But she shouldn¡¯t have had the time to bring out a puppet!" The ck-d person was still puzzled, preparing to strike again, when his expression suddenly changed. The opponent was closing the distance rapidly, and at the same time, three water des wereunched at even faster speed than his move. The spiritual power fluctuations from the water des were unmistakably at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation. The ck-d person immediately took out an oval ck shield and tried to dodge as well using his movement technique. The water des were sessfully blocked by the shield, merely forcing the attacker to retreat several steps. At that moment, the attacker cursed the person who had provided him with intel, as this was clearly not some novice only capable of the Cleansing Spell and at the initial stage of Qi Cultivation. The attacker started to think about retreating. But Qing Tan was not about to let him go. Yet another three water des were flung. By this time, Qing Tan had closed the distance, and then a water curtain appeared, blocking the attacker¡¯s retreat. The ck-d person only had time to release an amulet for protection before quickly using his shield to defend against the water de attack. "What kind of monster is this, not even considering the consumption of spiritual power when using spells?" the attacker raged inwardly. With such rapid use of Escape Technique, in addition to the sessive six Water de Techniques, and then casting such a wide Water Curtain Technique, his spiritual power at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation should¡¯ve been exhausted by now. Yet, in the increasingly panic-stricken eyes of the attacker, six more water des were rapidly shot at him. The ck-d person frantically channeled spiritual power into his shield while pushing his movement technique to the limit, dodging left and right, barely managing to block three of the water des and evading the other three. By this point, the attacker was running low on spiritual power, but he didn¡¯t even have the time to take a Spirit Revitalizing Pill, and he was cornered between the water curtain and a wall. "Fellow Daoist, spare my life~" However, the response he got was another three water des. The ck-d person used the shield to block one, another broke through his protective light barrier, and thest water de sliced into his body from his right shoulder to his left chest. Only then did Qing Tan breathe a sigh of relief, leaning against a wall while panting heavily. And it was then that the Enforcement Team and the people from Tianxiang Pavilion arrived on the scene, btedly. Chapter 29: Outstanding trees in the forest are prone to be destroyed by the wind ``` "Qing Tan, are you alright? What¡¯s the situation here?" Manager Su, along with a team of Protecting Disciples, approached Yu Qingtan, swept a nce over the scene, and asked. It turned out that although the sh between Yu Qingtan and the man in ck was brief, it caused quite amotion, which was spotted from a distance by a disciple returning home to the same residential area, who then quickly reported back to the Misty Rain Tower. Manager Su received the news and rushed over immediately. "Manager Su, I¡¯m fine. I was attacked by a man in ck on my way home, but I managed to kill him in self-defense," said Yu Qingtan, still leaning against the wall for support. This was Yu Qingtan¡¯s first time killing a person. Despite being mentally prepared and having killed Demonic Beasts and Deste Beasts before, the thought of almost cleaving her attacker in two and the resulting blood stter still made her feel nauseous. "It¡¯s actually Miss Qing Tan, to have a thief dare to attack someone in the city, it is apse of duty on our Enforcement Team¡¯s part," said the leader of the Enforcement Team after arriving and expressing mild surprise upon seeing Yu Qingtan. At that moment, a member of the Enforcement Team ran over and reported, "Commander, we have confirmed that the deceased was a Misty Rain Tower assassin known as Poison Needle. Based on the scene, it truly appears that Poison Needle, a sixth-level Qi Cultivation practitioner, attacked thisdy and was then killed by her in retaliation." The member of the Enforcement Team looked at Yu Qingtan with a hint of admiration. Misty Rain Tower was an underground assassin organization with a far-reaching influence, and the official stance was to issue warrants for their assassins. "Miss Qing Tan actually has such strength. I am Ouyang Wulong, the captain of the first big team and third small team of the Enforcement Team. I had the fortune to witness Miss Qing Tan¡¯s performance once," he said. "Yes, who would have thought that you could actually kill a sixth-level Qi Cultivation assassin," Manager Su added. "Thank you, Manager Su, Captain Ouyang. Qing Tan only had a small opportunity in the Trial Demon Tower to temporarily boost my strength. Captain Ouyang, I won¡¯t face any trouble for acting in self-defense in the city, will I?" asked Yu Qingtan. "No, the attacker struck first. You were acting in legitimate self-defense, and since the assant is a wanted cultivator, you¡¯ll even receive a reward of five hundred Spirit Stones. I¡¯ll send someone to deliver it to youter. Also, these spoils of battle are all yours," Ouyang Wulong said, as he handed over three Silver Needles, a shield, and a Storage Bag that another team member had collected to Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan managed to take them, cing the Silver Needles and shield back into her sleeve¡¯s Storage Bag before putting this new Storage Bag into another sleeve. One cannot ce a Storage Bag inside another Storage Bag, nor even into the System Space. "Captain Ouyang, I see that Qing Tan is feeling unwell. I¡¯d better take her back now. We¡¯ll leave the rest to you," said Manager Su. "Yes, my apologies. Manager Su, please take Miss Qing Tan to rest, and I will handle the rest," responded Ouyang Wulong. At that moment, several figures came running from the direction of the Tianxiang Pavilion. "Qing Tan, how are you?" The neer was Shen Wanning, who had nned to rest, but was alerted by themotion in the pavilion. She found out after inquiring that someone had been attacked on their way back to their residence. Later news revealed the victim was Yu Qingtan, who apparently was unharmed. Still, she couldn¡¯t rest easy, so after exining the situation to a manager and obtaining permission, she brought two Protecting Disciples to find Yu Qingtan. "Wanning, I¡¯m okay," Yu Qingtan responded, hearing Shen Wanning¡¯s voice. The Enforcement Disciples stopped Shen Wanning, but upon realizing they knew each other, they allowed her through. Relieved to see that Yu Qingtan was indeed intact, Shen Wanning finally rxed. Manager Su and Shen Wanning then bid farewell to Ouyang Wulong and took Yu Qingtan back to her new residence. Before leaving, Ouyang Wulong asked Yu Qingtan if she had any enemies, to which she gave a negative answer. "Wanning, stay with me tonight!" Yu Qingtan suddenly said after a brief conversation, and just when Manager Su and Shen Wanning were preparing to leave so she could rest properly. "That sounds good, Wanning, stay with Qing Tan. She must have been frightened today," said Manager Su. Shen Wanning readily agreed. "Wanning, who do you think would hire an assassin to kill me? The only person I¡¯m in conflict with is Li Fengniang, and she barely counts, but right now, she¡¯s in the outer pavilion and shouldn¡¯t have enough Spirit Stones to hire an assassin, right?" Yu Qingtan pondered over potential suspects as the others left, finally calming down from the disquiet of her first kill, since the "Love¡¯s Protection" period had passed. "Qing Tan, you are too focused on your studies and might not have noticed some things," Wanning replied. ``` Shen Wanning poured a cup of tea for each of them before sitting down and saying, "What¡¯s the matter?" "Your recent rise to fame has made many neers envious and resentful, while the veterans feel you¡¯re stealing their clients, threatening their status within the pavilion. However, I never imagined someone would be so cruel and deranged. I reckon that nine times out of ten, it was the work of the veterans, considering they have the savings," she said. "I see!" Yu Qingtan also realized what was happening. No wonder she felt that despite her disinterest in proactively socializing with others in the pavilion, very few had approached her on their own initiative. "After all, this isn¡¯t the legally governed society of my previous life, so I need to be even more careful from now on," Yu Qingtan thought to herself. "Not to mention your house, Qingtan, so many in the pavilion are green with envy. Tsk tsk, such a nice ce. I¡¯m jealous myself!" Shen Wanning said with a coveredugh. "Isn¡¯t that why I let you stay here?" "Haha, it¡¯s not like I could live here every day. What a pity I¡¯m not a man, or I¡¯d definitely marry you," Shen Wanning joked. Thement caused Yu Qingtan¡¯s mouth to twitch lightly, not knowing how to respond. "Alright, the main reason I wanted you to stay today was to give you a storage bag," said Yu Qingtan, producing the storage bag that contained the poison needles. "Ah, Qingtan, how can you be so good to me!" Shen Wanning excitedly got up and hugged Yu Qingtan. How soft, hey. "Stop it; the marrow milk fromst time is worth God knows how many storage bags. Come help me see what¡¯s inside," Yu Qingtan said, believing Shen Wanning to be a lucky star and asking for her help to open the storage bag. Shen Wanning released Yu Qingtan, picked up the storage bag, and was visibly thrilled. This was far more exciting than opening a storage talisman. "Watch me." In less than the time it took to burn through a pot of tea, Shen Wanning used her spiritual power to erase the spiritual signature from the poison needles. After all, she was at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation. Then she took out all the items inside the storage bag. Shen Wanning felt somewhat embarrassed. The most noticeable items were a bunch of clothes, including a few sets for men and over a dozen sets for women¡ªof the very revealing variety. Yu Qingtan, worldly in her past life, was rather unimpressed. Is that all? Yu Qingtan set aside the clothes and various trifles, then counted the valuable items. 1,123 spirit stones, four bottles of Spirit-Condensing Pills, one bottle of Spirit Revitalizing Pill, one bottle of Healing Pill, one bottle of Detoxification Pill, three amulets, ten Communication Talismans, one bottle of unidentified poison, one Uninscribed Token. "Wow, who knew this assassin was so wealthy!" Shen Wanning said, even more excited. "You may have two bottles of Spirit-Condensing Pills, one amulet, and five Communication Talismans," Yu Qingtan replied, pleased with the loot. She put some of the items back into the storage bag, including one Communication Talisman inscribed with her own spiritual signature, then handed it to Shen Wanning. Communication Talismans are used to contact others within a certain distance, and the contact¡¯s spiritual signature must be recorded in advance. Each cultivator¡¯s spiritual signature is unique. Shen Wanning, not one for pretense, dly epted and held onto the storage bag lovingly. She also took out a Communication Talisman from the ones left by Yu Qingtan and imprinted it with her spiritual signature. Chapter 30 - 30 Body Refinement and Qi Cultivation Breakthrough Together In the morning, Yu Qingtan awoke from a light sleep. Next to her, Shen Wanning was still asleep. Last night, the two of them didn¡¯t cultivate but talked for a long time, frolicked a while, and then fell asleep in each other¡¯s arms. As Yu Qingtan got out of bed, Shen Wanning also woke up. She saidzily, "Qing Tan, from now on I¡¯m your person, you have to take responsibility." A vein popped on Yu Qingtan¡¯s forehead as she replied irritably, "Stop joking around,e help." Yu Qingtan was preparing breakfast and dinner. In recent days, Yu Qingtan had been preparing meals and cing them in her storage bag to eat together with Shen Wanning at Tianxiang Pavilion. The preservation effect of the spatial equipment was iparable even to the fridges of her previous life. ¡­ "Miss Qing Tan, I never expected this business to earn so many spirit stones, Han is very grateful to Miss Qing Tan for giving him this opportunity," Han Daniu said as he once again visited her office, dismissing the servants before handing over 613 spirit stones to Yu Qingtan. These were the dividends from the Golden Spear Pill business. Yu Qingtan had recently heard about the poprity of Golden Spear Pills in the outer floors, and it indeed seemed that even in the Cultivation World, such items had a market. "It¡¯s also thanks to Brother Han¡¯s good management," Yu Qingtan said as she epted the spirit stones andplimented him. "It¡¯s all due to Miss Qing Tan¡¯s clever strategy. But now that the business is getting hotter, Han is actually worried about attracting covetous eyes." Han Daniu had indeed been feeling nervoustely, and although he tried to keep it secret, it was uncertain how long such matters could remain hidden. "We indeed need to n ahead for such things, and the best solution is to find a backer to share enough benefits, binding their interests with ours." Han Daniu felt a pang at the thought, but he also knew that if he didn¡¯t make a significant sacrifice, he wouldn¡¯t be able to keep the business. Following Miss Qing Tan¡¯s advice, Han didn¡¯t know if she had anyone to rmend as a backer," Han Daniu inquired. "Brother Han must be joking. Qing Tan spends her days inside this pavilion, where would she find anyone to rmend? This will depend on Brother Han¡¯s means, which Qing Tan believes in. Let Qing Tan y the zither for Brother Han instead," Yu Qingtan offered. "Haha, Han does have some considerations. However, I have missed Miss Qing Tan¡¯s zither music for many days, longing to hear it again. Today, I will finally have my wish fulfilled," Han Daniuughed heartily. ¡­ At night, Yu Qingtan let Xiao Tao out, fed him some meat, and then began to cultivate the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art. Xiao Tao had recovered from his injuries and had grown ustomed toing out for air while Yu Qingtan cultivated, behaving quietly without causing any disturbances. Holding two Wastnd Crystals in her hands, Yu Qingtan followed the cultivation route to temper her physical body. She had gotten used to enduring the pain of body refinement without breaking into a cold sweat, but now she was attempting to break through to the fourthyer of body refinement, which brought pain several times more intense than usual. Finally, under the tempering of a faint Chaotic Power, ayer of dead skin appeared on the surface of Yu Qingtan¡¯s skin, some starting to peel off as if she were reborn from a cocoon. She reached the fourthyer of body refinement. After a Cleansing Spell, the dead skin fell away, and the newly formed skin was smoother, finer, and fairer. Yu Qingtan knew that the defense of thisyer of skin was now tough enough that ordinary mid-phase Qi Cultivation attacks could hardly break through it. The breakthroughs in spiritual cultivation level also tempered the physical body, but their intensity was nowhere near that of body refinement. Yu Qingtan¡¯s physical strength now wasparable to an ordinary cultivator at the peak of Qi Cultivation who had not practiced body refinement. Her height had increased slightly, and her weight had gained even more, but this was due to the increased density of her body after tempering; Yu Qingtan still maintained a slender figure. As for strength, Yu Qingtan felt that uprooting willows should be quite easy for her to do now. After adjusting for a while, Yu Qingtan then took out a Spirit-Condensing Pill and swallowed it, beginning to cultivate the Clear Water Technique. The Spirit-Condensing Pill came from the assassin¡¯s Poison Needle, an elixir suitable for mid-stage Qi Cultivators to enhance their Cultivation Level, with a market price of 60 Spirit Stones per bottle, containing 10 pills each. With Yu Qingtan currently possessing three Spirit Roots in water, wood, and earth, and the Water Spirit Root reaching a high-quality level,bined with the rtively high concentration of Spiritual Energy in her residence and supplemented by the Spirit-Condensing Pills, Yu Qingtan was able to increase her Cultivation Progress by eleven or twelve points each day. Very smoothly, after running her energy through severalplete cycles, she felt the familiar sensation of a breakthrough and reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation. She continued to practice for a while longer to stabilize her realm, then Yu Qingtan exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened up the System Panel. [Spirit Root: Water 72/100; Wood 57/100; Earth 56/100; Metal 30/100; Fire 8/100] [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer 2/600, Body Refinement Fourth Layer 3/400] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] [Spells: Cleansing Spell Beginner 79/100, Water Escape Technique Grand Mastery 11/400, Water de Technique Beginner 23/100, Water Curtain Technique Beginner 9/100, Object Controlling Technique Beginner 2/100] [Skills: Exquisite Dance Minor Mastery 106/200, Butterfly Dance Minor Mastery 11/200, Zither Art Minor Mastery 79/200, Chess Skill Beginner 26/100, Calligraphy Beginner 20/100, Painting Skill Beginner 15/100] [Charm Points: 5342] [Affection Value: 4] [System Space: Lower Grade Spirit Stones 1005 pieces, Cherry Red Sword, 4 Wastnd Crystals, Mysterious Seed, Uninscribed Token, 1 drop of Spirit Dew, 3 Shadowless Needles, Xuan Turtle Shield] [System Store: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Value), First Order Cultivation Upgrade Card 1/3 (10 Affection Value), First Order Spell Upgrade Card 3/10 (1 Affection Value), First Order Skill Upgrade Card 2/10 (1 Affection Value)] [Lucky Draw: 10 Charm Points for one draw (possible to do ten consecutive draws)] After thest assassination attempt, Ouyang Wulong personally came to see Yu Qingtan, handing over the bounty for the assassin¡¯s Poison Needle to her, but they still hadn¡¯t found the Misty Rain Tower¡¯s stronghold in Suichuan Immortal City, hence they weren¡¯t able to track down the mastermind behind the attack. Therefore, at the price of ten Spirit Stones per month, Yu Qingtan hired twote-stage Qi Cultivation Protecting Disciples to escort her to and from work. The price was so cheap mainly because the Protecting Disciples¡¯ duties inherently included protecting Tianxiang Pavilion and its personnel, and more importantly, it didn¡¯t take much of their time. Yu Qingtan also asked Steward Liao to go to Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion and buy Jade Slips of three Spells for her¡ªWater de Technique, Water Curtain Technique, and Object Controlling Technique from Sun Deren. Even with the most favorable price from Sun Deren, it still cost 1700 Spirit Stones, using up all the Spirit Stones she had obtained from the assassin¡¯s Poison Needle and even requiring her to add some of her own. Whether it was due to muscle memory or something simr, Water de Technique and Water Curtain Technique were easier to learn than Object Controlling Technique. With Yu Qingtan dedicating an hour each morning to practice these three Spells, she had managed to enter the beginner level for all of them. In addition, the set of mid-grade First Order Magic Artifacts Shadowless Needles and the high-grade First Order defensive Magic Artifact Xuan Turtle Shield, which also came from the assassin¡¯s Poison Needle, had been consecrated by Yu Qingtan. The Xuan Turtle Shield, crafted primarily from the shell of a turtle on the verge of breaking through to the Second Stage after three hundred years, was a fine product among high-grade Magic Artifacts. Yu Qingtan¡¯s multiple Water de attacks only managed to leave some marks on it. As for the two additional Affection Points, they came from a Loose Cultivator and a junior from a small family, both at the early stage of Qi Cultivation. "Today I made a breakthrough in Cultivation, it¡¯s time to draw some prizes to celebrate. Dao Ancestor be eternal! Ten consecutive draws!" "Invisibility Technique Beginner, thank you for your patronage x9." Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes lit up, the draw was indeed fortuitous today, as Invisibility Technique was a rare and valuable Spell not for sale even in Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion. "Blessings from the Dao Ancestor! Let¡¯s draw again!" "Thank you for your patronage x10." "No matter, I¡¯ve already made a profit. Immortal Dao Ancestor, draw again!" "Master Tailoring Skills, thank you for your patronage x9." "Something came out again, this round is not a loss," Yu Qingtan said happily as she collected her prizes, then stopped the drawing. Learning self-restraint is also an essential lesson on bing a strong individual. After entering the beginner level of Invisibility Technique, Yu Qingtan spent 1 Affection Point to get a Spell Upgrade Card, bringing it to Minor Mastery. Since getting the Bra Making Skillst time, Yu Qingtan had some basics in tailoring. With the Master Tailoring Skills she obtained this time, Yu Qingtan felt as if she could create any garment in the world with her own hands. Chapter 31: Testing Spells to Save Young Master Fu The following day, Yu Qingtan went to the library to borrow some books on tailoring and sought advice from a mentor in Tianxiang Pavilion who possessed the Spiritual Tailoring Skill. This mentor¡¯s surname was Yun, and she taught painting. Yu Qingtan sometimes attended her sses. Mentor Yun once mentioned that she had a fortunate opportunity in her early years and became a first-order Spirit Tailor. Now, many of the clothes in Tianxiang Pavilion were designed and created by her. Upon hearing that Yu Qingtan was also interested in tailoring, Mentor Yun immediately agreed to teach her some basic knowledge. After all, there were very few within Tianxiang Pavilion who were willing to learn tailoring, and she had only taught a handful of people, but unfortunately, none had any ir for it. Once Yu Qingtan revealed a glimpse of her talent in tailoring before Mentor Yun, the mentor was thrilled and requested that Yu Qingtan set aside time to learn from her every day. With her master-level tailoring skills and the wealth of knowledge from her previous life, Yu Qingtan was also able to inspire Mentor Yun. Soon, Yu Qingtan had new clothes to wear every few days. Her poprity skyrocketed, inciting envy from others, including Shen Wanning. Yu Qingtan had no choice but to make new clothes for Shen Wanning as well. One evening, as Yu Qingtan was checking the system panel, she discovered that among her Devotees, Fang Ling had unexpectedly advanced to the seventh level of Qi Cultivation. "Fang Ling must have had a great opportunity." Therefore, Yu Qingtan spent sixty Spirit Stones to use Fang Ling¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection." The Spiritual Power of Qi Cultivation¡¯s seventh level surged through her meridians, and three Spells emerged in Yu Qingtan¡¯s mind. Turtle Breathing Technique, Blood Control Technique, Blood Puppet Technique. "She¡¯s actually cultivating the Blood Dao." The Blood Dao was not considered part of the Demonic Path. In the Cultivation World, the distinction between the righteous and demonic primarily depended on one¡¯s actions. It¡¯s just that those cultivating the Blood Dao or Soul Dao were more prone to killing the innocent and harming living beings in pursuit of cultivation, which led some radicals to categorize them directly as of the Demonic Path. However, such people were not in the majority. "A fully achieved Turtle Breathing Technique,bined with Invisibility Technique, should be undetectable even to those at the Foundation Establishment Stage, right?" Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes lit up. Whether a Cultivator can simultaneously use multiple Spells depends on the instantaneous Spiritual Power consumption of the Spells and the instantaneous Spiritual Power output of the Cultivator. Spells like the Water de Technique and Water Curtain Technique, given Yu Qingtan¡¯s current Spiritual Cultivation Level, would be difficult to use at the same time. However, the Water Curtain Technique is a sustained Spell, and once activated, its maintenance greatly reduces the amount of Spiritual Power needed, making it possible to employ the Water de Technique afterward. The Water Escape Technique also requires a high consumption of Spiritual Power at the moment of activation, but very little afterward. Both the Invisibility Technique and Turtle Breathing Technique have low activation and maintenance Spiritual Power requirements, making it entirely possible to use them simultaneously. With a thought from Yu Qingtan, a Shadow Clone appeared, and then her consciousness transferred to the clone. Indeed, the effects of "Love¡¯s Protection" were present in the clone as well, and the system panel was also usable. "This is fantastic!" Thinking the sixty Spirit Stones should not be wasted, Yu Qingtan decided to go out for a walk and test these Spells. ordingly, Yu Qingtan had the clone dress in ck clothes and put on a mask before stepping out. The second half of the night in Suichuan Immortal City was rtively quiet. Yu Qingtan found a rat in a corner and used the Blood Control Technique on it. Immediately, the rat¡¯s blood stopped flowing, and it quickly lost its life. Yu Qingtan then employed the Blood Puppet Technique and, within a few breaths, refined the rat into a Blood Marite. The rat miraculously began to move again and could even use its teeth to bite and attack. "It¡¯s a pity there¡¯s no cultivation technique, and the Blood Dao does not suit me or my environment. No wonder Fang Ling chose to cultivate in the Yunhua Mountain Range." The effectiveness of the Blood Control Technique and Blood Puppet Technique was mainly due to the rat being much weaker than Yu Qingtan. If it had been a person or Demonic Beasts ofparable strength, employing the Blood Control Technique and Blood Puppet Technique wouldn¡¯t have been so effortless. Furthermore, the Blood Control Technique required one to be as close as possible to the target, which was not very friendly for those who practice magic. "But it¡¯s also a very nice spell," Yu Qingtan thought, temporarily putting the rat into the System Space, and then continued on her way. Even at night, there were still people moving about in Suichuan Immortal City, and the main roads were lit with Moonlight Stonemps. asionally, the Enforcement Team would patrol. "You two, show your entry proofs." A few members of the Enforcement Team approached two shabbily dressed people cowering in the shadows of a corner wall. The two people timidly presented something resembling a booklet each. Then they tried to take it back, but an Enforcement Team officer snatched one away and opened it to look. "Humph, just as I thought, it¡¯s already been expired for three days," "Get out of the city quickly." "Please have mercy, sir, I don¡¯t want to leave the city, I don¡¯t!" Unfortunately, no matter how much the two people pleaded, the Enforcement Team didn¡¯t care and took them away, preparing to send them out of the city. These were Loose Cultivators from the shantytowns outside Suichuan Immortal City, who would try every means to stay in the city to avoid dangers outside or because they craved the richer Spiritual Energy inside. However, this was clearly not allowed, and there were many restrictions. Not far away, the invisible Yu Qingtan witnessed this scene, but she didn¡¯t intervene, and after the Enforcement Team left, she continued on her way. She herself was still a struggling low-level figure, powerless to change the status quo. In the Cultivation World, the hierarchy was extremely strict, with the lower ss being the oppressed, that¡¯s why Yu Qingtan needed to diligently cultivate. With higher Cultivation Level, one¡¯s situation would naturally improve significantly. Soon, a drunken man appeared within Yu Qingtan¡¯s sight, helped by a servant; there was no one else around. The invisible Yu Qingtan quietly walked up to the two, who didn¡¯t notice her at all. She even made a ghost face at them. "Invisibility Technique and Turtle Breathing Technique are really useful!" Feeling braver, Yu Qingtan dared to pass in front of a few Enforcement Team members, and still, she wasn¡¯t detected. But as a quarter of an hour had already passed, Yu Qingtan prepared to hurry back. As she passed a corner, a shadow fell from a wall not far in front of her with a metallic sound, startling Yu Qingtan. Using the faint light, Yu Qingtan made out the figure of the shadow. A familiar small stature. Moved by curiosity, Yu Qingtan drew closer for a look, and it was indeed Young Master Fu. At the moment, Young Master Fu¡¯s hands and feet were in chains, and his face and body were a bloody mess. He was also in an unconscious state. His appearance was pitiful. From a distance, faint shadows were moving in this direction. It seemed that Young Master Fu¡¯s skills were indeed remarkable, to have escaped once more from the dragon¡¯s den-like Qi residence. But it was clear he was at the end of his rope, if it weren¡¯t for meeting Yu Qingtan. "Tsk, tsk, so you have your days too, well, you happened to fall in front of me while I was out for a stroll, that must be some fate, and who am I to go against it, being such a good person?" Yu Qingtan thought, took out a Healing Pill, crushed it, and forced it with water into Young Master Fu¡¯s mouth, then took Young Master Fu into the System Space and immediately left the area, heading straight back to her own home. She didn¡¯t let Young Master Fu out but instead went straight to sleep. Chapter 32 - 32 The Art of Choosing Death by Xue the Fatty The next day, Yu Qingtan had a visitor who surprised her. Ge Wenxiong, a top-tier genius of the Ges with a pure metal spirit root. Unfortunately, he was targeted by the demon race, pursued by several Sky-Rending Eagles in Trial Demon Tower, and emerged from the tower with a feather of a Sky-Rending Eagle stuck in his dantian. Yu Qingtanter heard that Ge Wenxiong had barely saved his life, but, regretfully, his dantian was shattered and he lost all his cultivation. Moreover, with Elder Ge, who had fully invested in his cultivation, injured and in seclusion, Ge Wenxiong got a full taste of the world¡¯s coldness. The rtives who once were close to him now mostly kept their distance, with the exception of Ge Wenyu who still showed concern for him. Seeing him in low spirits all the time, Ge Wenyu brought him to Tianxiang Pavilion today to rx and watch Miss Qing Tan¡¯s performance. After the show, Ge Wenxiong felt that Miss Qing Tan truly had graceful dance moves, her outfit was different from those of ordinary female cultivators and had character, and her beauty was top-notch. "No wonder cousin Wenyu often talks about her." As Ge Wenxiong thought this, he noticed a sh of red light beside his seat, which made Ge Wenyu beside him quite envious. Putting his thoughts aside, Ge Wenxiong spoke to Yu Qingtan behind the bead curtain, "Miss Qing Tan, hello, I am Ge Wenxiong of the Ge family. I want to thank you for the help you extended to my family in Trial Demon Tower previously. My cousin Ge Wenyu also asked me to greet you on his behalf and said he would personally return the favor for your lifesaving grace next time." Yu Qingtan responded with surprise, "You¡¯re the genius with the pure metal spirit root of the Ge family? Oh, I apologize." As soon as she spoke, Yu Qingtan regretted her words, not knowing how to make amends. As expected, Ge Wenxiong looked mncholic, his voice heavy with self-mockery, "That¡¯s all in the past now. I¡¯m just a cripple who can¡¯t cultivate anymore." Yu Qingtan felt even more guilty upon hearing this, wondering why she couldn¡¯t control her mouth today. After a few moments of consideration, and in an increasingly silent atmosphere, Yu Qingtan said, "Big Brother Ge, Qing Tan once heard a story. On a magical Fighting Spirit Continent, there were no cultivators, only the pinnacle of fighting spirit. There was a young man... and eventually, he defeated Nn Yanran." Yu Qingtan told a ssic story from a previous life, and Ge Wenxiong became increasingly captivated as he listened. When half an hour was nearly up, even though Yu Qingtan had condensed a lot, she had only gotten to the first climax of the story. Yu Qingtan stopped her narrative, and Ge Wenxiong, realizing that time was almost up, said, "That¡¯s a great story, thank you Miss Qing Tan. I¡¯ve learned a lot, and I wille another day to hear the rest of the story." After Ge Wenxiong left, Yu Qingtan breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that he would be able to pick himself up again. What Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t know was that Ge Wenxiong indeed had his own pride and ambition. Unfortunately, the blow he received shattered all his pride and ambition. He had even thought of ending his life. But today, after hearing Yu Qingtan¡¯s story, he had an awakening. "Thirty years in the east and thirty years in the west, never bully the young and poor!" Yes, he was still a young man! As long as he worked hard, a fallen genius might rise again. Even if he failed, it didn¡¯t matter. Now, he wasn¡¯t afraid of death, let alone failure. ... Late that night, Yu Qingtan still let her clone leave the house using the Invisibility Technique, arriving at a secluded and uninhabited corner of the city, then took out Young Master Fu from the System Space. She first cleaned him up with a Cleansing Spell, then smeared crushed Healing Pill powder on his external injuries. Tried to use a Water de to cut the chains on Young Master Fu¡¯s hands and feet, but couldn¡¯t even leave a mark, so she promptly gave up. Yu Qingtan acted swiftly, putting Young Master Fu back into System Space immediately after she finished. Then she hurried to another corner nearby, using both the Invisibility Technique and the Turtle Breathing Technique. Indeed, before long, two figures flew in on their swords and scrutinized the spot where Yu Qingtan had just been. They expanded their search area considerably but still came up empty-handed. They had to leave in disappointment. Once the two men appeared, confirming her suspicions, Yu Qingtan left the scene promptly. The Qi family had some means of tracking Young Master Fu, which made thingsplicated. "Forget it, he won¡¯t die in a short time anyway!" ... The next day, Yu Qingtan began to feel ufortable in her stomach again. Her period hade to visit her once more. Luckily, it had been over two months since thest, rather than monthly. More importantly, it wasn¡¯t as painful. "Perhaps it¡¯s because of the body refinement, what a pity the wastnd crystal has run out." In the evening, Yu Qingtan continued her business. The third customer was a middle-aged, fat cultivator named Xue Gui, who began to sweet-talk after watching Yu Qingtan¡¯s dance. "Miss Qing Tan, your dance is indeed extraordinary,e sit with me and have a drink!" Xue Gui brought his own pot of spiritual wine and poured a cup for Yu Qingtan. "Elder Xue, Qing Tan doesn¡¯t drink alcohol, may I continue to y the zither to entertain you?" Yu Qingtan, having no fondness for Xue Gui, who kept ogling her with lustful eyes, politely declined. "Humph, Miss Qing Tan, you¡¯re really not giving this old man face. I¡¯ve spent 60 spirit stones, and this is spiritual wine, a rarity for most to taste! You wouldn¡¯t want me to give you a bad review, would you?" Xue Gui said somewhat angrily. "Please calm down, Elder Xue, I truly be unwell with even a sip of alcohol. How about I apany you with tea instead?" Left with no choice, Yu Qingtan reluctantly sat down at the table, picked up a cup of tea, and spoke with a hint of grievance. Tianxiang Pavilion had a policy rted to customer reviews. Receiving a bad review meant a deduction of spirit stones. Furthermore, among the lower ranks of cultivators in the cultivation world, some had allergic reactions to alcohol. Seeing Yu Qingtan sit down, Xue Gui grudgingly epted her excuse. "Alright then, let¡¯s drink to that." After a drink, Xue Gui said, "Miss Qing Tan, I really fancy you. Ever since I saw your dancest time, I haven¡¯t been able to stop thinking about you. It¡¯s unfortunate I didn¡¯t draw the lot that day, but today I did. It¡¯s fate that brings us together!" As he spoke, his hand dishonestly reached out to grab Yu Qingtan¡¯s hand. Yu Qingtan really wanted to smack him on the head with a teacup. It wasn¡¯t her first time dealing with verbal harassment, but this was the first time someone acted so inappropriately. "I¡¯ll endure!" Yu Qingtan gritted her teeth inwardly. She calmly pulled her hand back and poured another cup of wine for Xue Gui. "Thank you for your kindness, Elder Xue. Let me offer you another toast!" As she spoke, she poured herself another cup of tea. "Good, good!" Xue Gui said with a smile, but his hand took the opportunity to grope Yu Qingtan¡¯s buttocks while she was pouring the tea. Yu Qingtan stiffened her body, unable to hold back any longer. "Bang~" The teapot was mmed back onto the table with force. Yu Qingtan stepped back and eximed, "Cultivator Xue, please conduct yourself with dignity!" She then headed straight for the zither chair. "Bang~" Unexpectedly, Xue Gui hit the table with even greater force. He cursed, "Girl, why the pretense of purity? Do you know who I am? I¡¯m gracing you by asking you to drink with me, don¡¯t be ungrateful! Get back here!" Yu Qingtan was fuming, so she reflexively sent a water de shing back at him. Xue Gui hadn¡¯t expected Yu Qingtan to actually strike, and he only managed to react instinctively by dodging a little. The water de cut a gash in his right arm. If he hadn¡¯t dodged quickly, the arm he had just slicked with oil might have been severed. "Murder! Someone at Tianxiang Pavilion ismitting murder!" Xue Gui pped out an amulet and Chapter 33 - 33 Forced Reflection Reveals Conspiracy "Young Master Xue, I am Su Xiang, the manager of Tianxiang Pavilion, and I deeply apologize for this incident. We will treat your injuries immediately, and offer you a satisfactorypensation!" Due to the Surveince Formation, the servant in charge noticed something was amiss when Yu Qingtan smashed the teapot and immediately reported it to Manager Su. "Manager Su, is it? Your Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s people actually attacked a guest. If not for my quick reaction, I would have lost my life today. Don¡¯t bother with your insincere treatment for me; just tell me how you n to deal with this wretch." When Xue Gui saw the manager of Tianxiang Pavilion appear, he pped a Hemostasis Talisman on himself and then shouted. "Young Master Xue, please calm down. It¡¯s our fault for failing to manage properly. We will definitely punish her severelyter on. Bring her here, take her away." Upon Manager Su¡¯s words, two Protecting Disciples prepared toe forward and subdue Yu Qingtan. "Hold on, you say you will punish her severely, but who knows what happens behind closed doors? Either disable this wretch now or hand her over to me for punishment. Otherwise, be aware that my Xue family will not be bullied by anyone." Xue Gui was relentless, while Yu Qingtan stood by with a cold gaze, as if she was an outsider. Manager Su also felt troubled. While Xue Gui¡¯s family was indeed a minor one, with only its patriarch being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the patriarch¡¯s sister was a concubine to City Lord Ouyang Wenjian. "Hmph, Young Master Xue, do you think Tianxiang Pavilion is an easy target for bullying? You should know that we have a Surveince Formation here, I am fully aware that you were the one who harassed Qingtan first and insulted her afterward. It was only after she couldn¡¯t stand the humiliation that she fought back, merely injuring your arm. Although she was wrong, our Pavilion has its own rules. She will be confined to the Reflection Room for a month as punishment and you will bepensated with 1,000 Spirit Stones. Do you ept?" As the voice spoke, a figure walked in, exuding the aura of a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator¡ªit was Wei Jie, the Chief Manager of Tianxiang Pavilion. "We have seen the Chief Manager." Manager Su, Yu Qingtan, and the others promptly paid their respects. Seeing that a Foundation Establishment Cultivator had arrived, Xue Gui no longer dared to be arrogant, but he didn¡¯t lose his nerve either, saying, "Since the Chief Manager has spoken, I will reluctantly ept." Wei Jie looked at Yu Qingtan with an imposing gaze and said, "Do you ept the punishment?" What else could Yu Qingtan do but lower her head and respond, "Disciple epts the punishment." Wei Jie then produced a Storage Talisman, and with a flick, it floated toward Xue Gui, stating, "Here are 1,000 Spirit Stones. Our Tianxiang Pavilion has always been kindhearted, and I hope Young Master Xue understands this." Xue Gui received the Storage Talisman and said, "Then I shall take my leave." After finishing, he bowed to Wei Jie and left directly. Wei Jie turned her gaze back to Yu Qingtan, her eyes softened significantly as she spoke, "Qingtan, from the beginning of the assessment, you¡¯ve made a deep impression on me, and I¡¯ve been quite satisfied with your performance these days. However, regarding today¡¯s incident, you indeed acted too impulsively. Your punishment cannot be changed, but you are fortunate. In such a short time, you¡¯ve raised your Cultivation Level to Qi Cultivation¡¯s sixthyer. How about I rmend you to Tianxiang Valley after a month?" Yu Qingtan replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Chief Manager, but I am reluctant to leave the Pavilion, and besides, there¡¯s Young Master Luo at Tianxiang Valley." Wei Jie, recalling this point, said, "That¡¯s true, forget it then. You should take some time to temper your temperament." "Thank you, Chief Manager." After that, the Chief Manager left. Manager Su said, "Qingtan, don¡¯t me the Pavilion. We can¡¯t afford to tarnish our reputation by appearing to bully our customers; we must give an exnation to the public. Let¡¯s go." Yu Qingtan replied, "I understand, I will pack up." "We will wait for you outside." Soon after, Yu Qingtan exited the "office." Manager Su then led Yu Qingtan toward the Reflection Room. As soon as they stepped out the door, they saw Shen Wanning running over. "Qingtan, how are you?" "Wanning, I¡¯m fine." "We have seen Manager Su. Manager Su, does Qingtan really have to be sent to the Reflection Room for a month?" Shen Wanning asked Manager Su. Manager Su sighed deeply. "That despicable jerk." Shen Wanning stepped forward and hugged Yu Qingtan. "Wanning, don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just a month in the Seclusion Room," "Mhm, I wille to see you every day," Shen Wanning and a group of people apanied Yu Qingtan to the Seclusion Room at Tianxiang Pavilion. The Seclusion Room was apletely enclosed space with only one small window that could be opened to pass in food. Constructed from Spirit-Sealing Stones, the Seclusion Room rendered Spiritual Power unusable and was also equipped with a Soundproof Formation. In the isting and lonely environment, it was very difficult for a person to endure for a long period. Some had gone mad ormitted suicide within Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s Seclusion Room, though those cases involved confinement of over six months. Still, even a month would surely be no easy ordeal. "Bang¡ª" With the sound of the stone door closing, Yu Qingtan was locked into the pitch-ck Seclusion Room under Shen Wanning¡¯s worried gaze. Inside the Seclusion Room, darkness pervaded, and even with Yu Qingtan¡¯s current degree of vision, she could barely make out the silhouettes of a few objects. There was only a stone bed and a chamber pot inside the room. After testing, indeed, she couldn¡¯t use her Spiritual Power, which meant she couldn¡¯t ess her Storage Bag either. However, with a thought from Yu Qingtan, a Moonlight Stone appeared in her hand. Earlier, when she had imed she needed to tidy up, in reality, she had moved most of the items from her Storage Bag into the System Space. The System Panel and System Space were unaffected by the Spirit-Sealing Stone. Moonlight Stones weren¡¯t particrly expensive; Yu Qingtan had bought several before, never imagining they would actuallye in handy. Feeling the difort in her belly, Yu Qingtan took out the Sun me Jade, ced it on her lower abdomen, and then sat cross-legged on the stone bed. Regarding this incident, Yu Qingtan could only describe her feelings with one word, frustration. "Indeed, my strength is still too weak. If I had the power of the Foundation Establishment Stage, even if I had pped that fatso Xue Gui to death, it wouldn¡¯t matter." "Tianxiang Pavilion too, even though it was they who were bullied first, they still make me reflect on myself. They take away ny percent of the Spirit Stones I earn but fail to protect their own people." The more Yu Qingtan thought about it, the more infuriated she felt; unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t much she could do but endure it. ... At a certain tavern in Suichuan Immortal City. Xue Gui sat by a table, a satisfied look on his face. Sitting opposite him was a veileddy in a white dress. "This Golden Spear Pill really is a great thing! Lady Su, I did well this time, didn¡¯t I?" Xue Gui gazed lustfully at the gracefully seated woman across from him and said. "Indeed, the oue was even better than I had expected. I¡¯ve given you the maid as a reward, haven¡¯t I? But if you can¡¯t help redeem me and marry me, then stop harboring thoughts about me," thedy in the white dress said with a lightugh. "s, I don¡¯t have that many Spirit Stones! Pity, pity!" "If you have some Spirit Stones, you¡¯re off spending them on pleasure. It would be strange if you could save any. Were you not bewitched by that little girl today?" "How could that be? You know me, I don¡¯t like the ones without substance. I only like ones like you, Lady Su." "Ah, your words are always empty, too bad they can¡¯t deceive me." "I haven¡¯t deceived you, I¡¯m sincere and devoted," he imed. "Hehe~ Don¡¯t forget to bring me the stuff in a couple of days." "I could forget everything else but never Lady Su¡¯s instructions." Chapter 34 - 34 Tianxiang Pavilion the Qis Search for Someone On the other side, in the Qi residence, the Family Head of the Qis, Qi Zhe, looked at the Blood Tracking te in his hand that was showing no response and silently made a decision. Two days ago, that little thief had once again escaped from the heavily-guarded Qi family dungeons, even though his cultivation level had been sealed and he was shackled in chains. This came as both a shock and a rage to Qi Zhe. It had not been easy to capture that detestable thief. He had nned to slowly torment him, first by forcing out the details of the inheritance stolen previously, and then subduing him to be a dog of the Qi family. But the duck that was ready to be served had flown away, how could he not be furious? Immediately, he punished the n members who were responsible for the watch that night, sending them to the mines tobor. Fortunately, on the day the thief was captured, Qi Zhe had used an enhanced version of the Blood Tether on him, which wouldst a month without dissipating and had a greater sensing distance. Moreover, the Blood Tracking te, this special spiritual artifact, used inbination with the Blood Tracking Technique, resulted in an even better searching effect. Unfortunately, the discovery was made toote, and by the time they followed the sensation from the Blood Tracking te to pursue and kill, the sensation suddenly disappeared. This gave Qi Zhe another shock. Thankfully, on the following day, the Blood Tracking te sensed the target again, but they missed again, confirming that the thief had somehow blocked the Blood Tracking te¡¯s sensation. "You can¡¯t escape!" Qi Zhe took out an ancient-looking talisman, reluctantly chanting and injecting spiritual power into it to activate. The talisman shone brightly with a green light, projecting a phantom image, with the main subject being eight enclosed stone rooms. Recognizing the architectural style outside the stone rooms, Qi Zhe identified it as Tianxiang Pavilion. The stone rooms were the reflection rooms. This talisman was the Heavenly Mystery Talisman, a Third Stage talisman Qi Zhe had acquired by chance. Originally there were three, two of which had already been used; this was thest one. However, the inheritance that the little thief had stolen was too important, so Qi Zhe gritted his teeth and used thest remaining Heavenly Mystery Talisman. After obtaining the results, he immediately called upon the chief elder Qi Yong and third elder Qi Wei, and after some preparations, he sent Qi Wei with two teams of Enforcement Team members, along with himself and Qi Yong, straight to Tianxiang Pavilion. It was already nightfall, and Tianxiang Pavilion was brightly lit and open for business. Arriving at the entrance of Tianxiang Pavilion, Qi Wei instructed one team of Enforcement Team members to spread out around Tianxiang Pavilion with Qi Yong, subtly encircling it. Seeing the group emitting an imposing aura and clearly up to no good, a mama-san approached, waving her handkerchief and smilingly said, "Greetings to the seniors and the honorable members of the Enforcement Team. I was wondering why there were magpies chirping this morning, turns out we have honored guests. Pleasee inside." "Today we¡¯re not here for thedies, we have an escaped fugitive, and there is sufficient evidence that he is hiding inside Tianxiang Pavilion right now. We are here to search for this individual, please grant us passage. This is the Enforcement Team¡¯s search warrant." Qi Wei spoke expressionlessly, while producing a paper warrant. Tianxiang Pavilion was not to be trifled with, and the preparations made by Qi Zhe were mainly for this purpose, to have an official reason. "Such grandeur from Family Head Qi and Captain Qi, surrounding Tianxiang Pavilion immediately upon arriving, and using us of harboring a fugitive. Tianxiang Pavilion certainly does not dare to bear such an infamy of harboring criminals. May I know which fugitive it is? And what evidence proves that this person is within our Tianxiang Pavilion?" A middle-aged beautiful matron, apanied by eight Protecting Disciples, stepped out of Tianxiang Pavilion and asked sharply. "It turns out to be Steward Liu. Please don¡¯t misunderstand, Steward Liu. We are only preventing the suspect from escaping. You must have heard, too, how a thief broke into the Qi family¡¯s treasure trove not long ago, brutally killing many of our Qi family members and stealing many of our precious collections, resulting in his being wanted by the Enforcement Team. We have just received a tipoff that someone saw this thief hiding in Tianxiang Pavilion, and that is why we havee to search." Qi Wei looked at the middle-aged woman in front of him with some apprehension, patiently exining the situation. This woman was none other than the head manager of the misceneous affairs at Tianxiang Pavilion, Liu Sandao. To others, the position of head manager of misceneous affairs might not seem very important, but in reality, she not only managed the misceneous matters but also had authority over the Protecting Disciples of Tianxiang Pavilion. She was also the only cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage, apart from Tower Master Gongsun. "How is it that I¡¯ve heard the thief has already been captured by you? Why are you here at Tianxiang Pavilion searching for someone now?" Liu Sandao asked yfully. Qi Wei¡¯s face darkened, uncertain of how to reply. The Qis certainly wouldn¡¯t publicize the fact that the young master Fu had escaped again. At this moment, Qi Zhe stepped forward and said, "Manager Liu, my respects. To be frank, we did capture him, but unfortunately, the thief was cunning and managed to escape. We are hoping for your assistance, Manager Liu. The Qis would be endlessly grateful." Liu Sandao was somewhat surprised to hear this, surprised that someone who had been captured could still escape, and even more surprised that Qi Zhe would openly admit such a thing without concern for losing face. She gained more respect for Qi Zhe, but she responded, "I cannot ept the Qis¡¯ gratitude. However, you may search. What if you find him, and what if you don¡¯t?" Qi Zhe said, "We have taken the liberty of bothering you this time, and for that we are truly sorry. Here are two high-quality Second Stage Heavenly Thunder Talismans aspensation for our intrusion; would that be eptable?" He then took out two exquisitely crafted talismans from his Storage Bag, having prepared for this eventuality. Liu Sandao epted the Heavenly Thunder Talismans and for the first time, a smile appeared on her face, "In that case, we will extend this courtesy to the Qis¡¯ Family Head." She then stepped aside to open the path leading inside. Qi Zhe and Qi Wei, along with a team from the Enforcement Team, entered Tianxiang Pavilion and headed straight toward the direction of the Punishment Room. Soon, the group arrived at their destination. With a curious expression, Liu Sandao looked at the Punishment Room being examined by Qi Zhe and asked, "Family Head Qi, do you suspect the person you¡¯re looking for is inside here?" "Yes, please grant us this convenience, Manager Liu." Without further ado, Liu Sandao instructed one of the Protecting Disciples to take the keys to the Punishment Room from the hands of the servants guarding it and then opened the stone doors one by one. Out of eight Punishment Rooms, five were empty, and the remaining three had disciples reflecting on their actions therein; one of them was naturally Yu Qingtan. The moment Yu Qingtan heard a faint noise from the heavy stone door, she quickly retrieved the Moonlight Stone and Sun me Jade back into her System Space. As the stone door opened, Qi Zhe¡¯s Divine Sense quickly scanned the inside of the stone room, finding it entirely empty. Qi Zhe¡¯s heart sank. He personally walked into each stone chamber and conducted a thorough search, then used his Divine Sense to meticulously scan the small courtyard, including the underground area. He found nothing, and his expression turned as dark as water, as he looked at the Tianxiang Pavilion disciplesing out of the Punishment Room. "Family Head Qi, you¡¯re not suggesting one of these Tianxiang Pavilion girls is the wanted criminal you¡¯re looking for, are you? They¡¯ve been raised by Tianxiang Pavilion since they were little, and their cultivation is all at the Qi Cultivation Stage," said Liu Sandao. "Of course not, Manager Liu. You misunderstand. Let¡¯s continue our search elsewhere," Qi Zhe said, suppressing his thoughts. "You are free to search open areas and other non-critical ces, of course, but locations such as the library and the Tower Master¡¯s personal chambers are off-limits." "Naturally." Qi Zhe didn¡¯t hold much hope but decided to try onest time regardless. Chapter 35: Xiaotaos Meritorious Service in Poisonous Meal Ultimately, Qi Zhe and his party returned as expected, having achieved nothing, and Yu Qingtan was once again locked in the reflection room. Yu Qingtan took out several pieces of clothing to pad the stone bed before she drifted off to light sleep. The next day, feeling that her body had mostly recovered, Yu Qingtan began to practice her Chess Skill, Calligraphy, and Painting Skill within the confines of the reflection room. She yed chess against her left hand with her right hand; when she grew tired, she would practice calligraphy or paint. Time, indeed, seemed to pass quickly. As evening approached, Yu Qingtan heard a noise at the small window and quickly put everything back into her System Space. The small window opened, admitting a beam of dim light into the reflection room, while Shen Wanning¡¯s voice came from outside. "Qingtan, how are you?" At the same time, a food box was lowered into the room through the small window with a rope. "Wanning, I¡¯m fine!" "Hang in there; I¡¯m waiting for you outside." "I will, don¡¯t worry." Yu Qingtan took out the food from the box, which was quickly pulled away, and then the small window closed again. Those in the reflection room were provided with only one meal per day, which was still the fare from the dining hall. However, having grown used to Spirit Food, Yu Qingtan had lost interest in these meals that she used to find tasty. Unfortunately, though the Spirit Rice was now in her System Space, she didn¡¯t know any fire-type spells, nor did she have any cooking utensils with her. Having no other choice, Yu Qingtan could only eat the meals provided by the building. Before eating, Yu Qingtan let out Xiao Tao and shared a small portion with it, cutting a small piece of Spotted Pig meat for it as well. Xiao Tao was not picky, eating the evening meal together with Yu Qingtan. Afterward, Yu Qingtan continued to hone her skills while letting Xiao Tao out for some fresh air. After more than twenty days passed, Yu Qingtan felt her Chess Skill, Calligraphy, and Painting Skill had significantly improved. Shen Wanning woulde every day, taking the opportunity during the servant¡¯s dinner delivery to chat briefly with Yu Qingtan. This evening, however, Shen Wanning did note. As it happened, it was their quarterly day off, and Shen Wanning, along with some fellow disciples from the inner floors of Tianxiang Pavilion, had made ns to stroll through the market and dine together at the Drunken Fairy Building. This was something Shen Wanning had mentioned to Yu Qingtan the day before. However, as Yu Qingtan was about to eat her evening meal that day, Xiao Tao suddenly began howling at the food. "Ao ao, ao ao, ao ao ao ao ao ao!" "Ao ao, ao ao, ao ao ao ao ao ao!" After days ofpanionship, the rtionship between Xiao Tao and Yu Qingtan had grown much closer. Although Xiao Tao could not speak, it could roughly understand Yu Qingtan¡¯s words, so sometimes the two of them could have a chat¡ªa human and a wolf. This had alleviated much of the loneliness Yu Qingtan felt in this enclosed environment. At this moment, Xiao Tao¡¯s howling quickly made Yu Qingtan realize there was something wrong with the food being delivered. This realization made Yu Qingtan shudder¡ªshe had been far too careless, knowing that Tianxiang Pavilion might still harbor the person behind the attempt on her life. "Thank you, Xiao Tao!" Since there was something wrong with the food, of course, Yu Qingtan dared not eat it, so she bagged it up and stashed it in her System Space. Then she cut another piece of Spotted Pig meat for Xiao Tao. Yu Qingtan considered for a moment and decided she couldn¡¯t bring herself to eat raw Spotted Pig meat, so she took out a grain of Spirit Rice and threw it into her mouth. Crunch. There was a faint scent of rice. It wasn¡¯t exactly delicious, but it wasn¡¯t bad either. Yu Qingtan then ate another one. One more. ¡­ The next day, Shen Wanning came to see Yu Qingtan again. "Qingtan, you cane out in four days. That Spirit Food from Drunken Fairy Building yesterday was really good, and it was Sister Xiao Yan who treated us." "When I get out, I¡¯ll make you something delicious to eat." That day, Xiao Tao no longerined about the food delivered by the Servant, but Yu Qingtan still decided not to eat it. Eating Spirit Rice was fine too. ¡­ Four dayster, Yu Qingtan was finally released. Shen Wanning naturally came to pick her up the moment she could. The two returned to Yu Qingtan¡¯s home and made a table full of sumptuous Spirit Food, enjoying a good meal. "Qingtan, your cooking skills are getting better and better, soon you¡¯ll be able to match the head chef of Drunken Fairy Building. I¡¯ve almost vomited from eating the food at the canteen this past month!" "I also feel like vomiting. But don¡¯t just tter me; the Drunken Fairy Building has a genuine Spirit Chef." "Hehe, if my Qingtan is willing to learn, she can definitely be an outstanding Spirit Chef." "Hmmph, and then be your personal chef, right? I¡¯m already nning on bing a Spirit Tailor, and you¡¯re still not satisfied?" "The capable shouldbor more. But speaking of Spirit Tailor, Teacher Yun came looking for you; remember to go see her tomorrow." "Hmm, yes!" Yu Qingtan naturally didn¡¯t hide the fact that she was learning tailoring from Teacher Yun. "By the way, Tianxiang Pavilion announced you were closing for a month. Quite a few people came with high hopes but had to leave disappointed." "Really?" Yu Qingtan narrowed her eyes; she had lost a lot of Charm Points, Affection Value, and Spirit Stones this month. "Yep, but recently something big happened in the city, and even the business at the pavilion has been quite ck." "What happened?" "Lately, the number of Demonic Beasts outside the city has clearly increased, making life very hard for the Loose Cultivators living in the shantytowns. So not long ago, a group of them gathered at the City Lord¡¯s Mansion to petition, hoping they could temporarilye into the city or that the rent for housing within the city could be temporarily reduced. There were several thousand of them, but their requests were rejected. They even encountered eviction from the Enforcement Team, and shes broke out, resulting in a great number of casualties." "I didn¡¯t expect that even in cultivation, one would fight so hard for a ce to live." Yu Qingtan felt emotional after hearing this. "I heard you say that there are more than three hundred thousand Loose Cultivators in the shantytowns, almost half the poption of Cultivators in the city. If they all came into the city, could it amodate them?" "Heh, of course, it can. When Suichuan Immortal City was at its most prosperous, it had over one and a half million Cultivators living here. You have no idea how many houses in the city are empty now. You see the rent is just over a dozen Spirit Stones a month, but they rent by the year, and those poor Loose Cultivators can¡¯t afford it." "Do these houses all belong to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, the three big families, and other powers?" "Exactly. Even Tianxiang Pavilion owns quite a few properties, like this whole area we¡¯re in now; it actually belongs to Tianxiang Pavilion." "Ah, I had no idea!" Yu Qingtan hadn¡¯t realized that her own house was also a property of Tianxiang Pavilion. "Sigh, it¡¯s just a pity for those shantytown Loose Cultivators who died or got injured. They just wanted to avoid the danger of Demonic Beasts for a while, but they were persecuted to this extent by their own Human Race." "Sigh, it¡¯s a pity we are only small fry ourselves and can¡¯t help them." Yu Qingtan also remembered the scene when she went to Qi¡¯s house to save people and saw the Enforcement Team driving away Loose Cultivators who lingered. Loose Cultivators without a residence in Suichuan Immortal City can only stay in the city for up to three days, and generally only enter the city twice a month. "But it¡¯s said that this year the number of Demonic Beasts outside the city is indeed abnormally high, and there¡¯s even the potential for a beast tide to form," Shen Wanning said with a somewhat worried expression. "A once in a hundred years beast tide, it has indeed been over eighty years since thest one." Yu Qingtan also recalled the information about beast tides she had read in the relevant records. Chapter 36: 36 Soft Jade and Warm Fragrance Lead Astray the Mind "Indeed, at the height of its prosperity, Suichuan Immortal City suffered a massive beast tide, which directly halved its poption. After suppressing the petition, the City Lord¡¯s Mansion also issued a notice, calling for strategies to prevent beast tides and to solve the problems of the loose cultivators in the slum area." "Can¡¯t they just agree to the requests of those slum area loose cultivators? Their demands don¡¯t seem too excessive." "Ha, how could they let that group of loose cultivators share the spiritual energy of the city¡¯s spirit veins at such a low cost." Yu Qingtan was speechless. In any world, most people are self-centered, and those who already have benefits naturally do not want to share their piece of the cake with others. ... In the same tavern, Lady Yan¡¯s face was cold as she questioned Xue Gui across from her, "Xue Gui, the thing you gave me was fake, right? That bitch didn¡¯t suffer any consequences after eating it, and she¡¯s alreadye out." Xue Gui said, "How could it be fake? That was the Frenzy Demon Lifeshortening Pill that I got for more than a hundred spirit stones. Are you sure she took the elixir?" "Hmph, are you questioning my methods? I deliberately ground it into powder and added it to a strongly vored Spirit Meal. The utensils she took out were also empty; she must have eaten it all." Lady Yan expressed her discontent, not aware that those meals had been stowed away by Yu Qingtan into her System Space. "Damn it, did that person dare to deceive me? I¡¯m going to settle the score with him right away." Xue Gui also began to doubt whether he had been sold a fake product. "Leave settling scores forter. The n failed now, and I have to activate the backup n. Listen closely," Lady Yan said. As she slowly revealed her sinister backup n, a shiver ran down Xue Gui¡¯s spine. "Indeed, a woman¡¯s heart is the most poisonous." ... The next day, Yu Qingtan, holding a soft and fragrant beauty, felt a little reluctant to get out of bed. Shen Wanning had stayed overnight at Yu Qingtan¡¯s ce; the two chatted untilte before falling asleep, leg to leg. In the end, she steadied her heart for cultivation and got up to make breakfast. After all, without any tools at hand, holding a beauty was just a torment and regret. "But really, so soft, so big! This morning, let¡¯s make buns," Yu Qingtan daydreamed. After breakfast, Yu Qingtan went to meet with Master Yun in the morning to continue her learning. Master Yun also sympathized with Yu Qingtan¡¯s experience, but her position in Tianxiang Pavilion wasn¡¯t high enough to be of much help. "From today, I will teach you the way of Spirit Tailoring. Spirit Tailoring is a branch of artifact crafting, but it¡¯s much simpler than artifact crafting. Here is an introductory book on Spirit Tailoring. It records some basic knowledge of Spirit Tailoring and the most fundamental three Artifact Bans. You should study it by yourself first, and ask me whenever you have questions." Considering the talent and good attitude Yu Qingtan showed, Master Yun decided to teach her the way of Spirit Tailoring. "Thank you, Master Yun!" Yu Qingtan expressed her gratitude. After learning from Master Yun, Yu Qingtan went to the library to return the books she had borrowed before and took out some new ones. Besides studying, she also cultivated in her room at Tianxiang Pavilion for an hour. As her cultivation level increased, she needed even more time to cultivate every day. Afterpleting her cultivation, Yu Qingtan opened her system panel. [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation, Sixth Layer 136/600, Body Refinement, Fourth Layer 37/400] [Cultivation Techniques: Clear Water Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] [Spells: Cleansing Spell Beginner 82/100, Water Escape Technique Major Achievement 13/400, Invisibility Technique Minor Achievement 10/200, Water de Technique Minor Achievement 19/200, Water Curtain Technique Minor Achievement 4/200, Object Controlling Technique Beginner 15/100] [Skills: Exquisite Dance Minor Achievement 121/200, Butterfly Dance Minor Achievement 22/200, Zither Art Minor Achievement 83/200, Chess Skill Minor Achievement 23/200, Calligraphy Minor Achievement 11/200, Painting Skill Minor Achievement 5/200, Spiritual Tailoring Skill Beginner 3/100] ``` [Charm Points: 6158] [Affection Value: 6] [System Space: 765 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, Cherry Red Sword, mysterious seed, Uninscribed Token, 1 drop of Spirit Dew, 3 Shadowless Needles, Xuan Turtle Shield, Xiao Tao, Master Fu, Spirit-Condensing Pills and other elixirs, Amulets, and other talismans] [System Shop: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Value), First Stage Cultivation Upgrade Card 1/3 (10 Affection Value), First Stage Spell Upgrade Card 4/10 (1 Affection Value), First Stage Skill Upgrade Card 2/10 (1 Affection Value)] [Lucky Draw: 10 Charm Points for 1 draw (can draw ten consecutively)] Among them, the Devotees¡¯ information is: [Fang Ling: Qi Cultivation Seventh Level, 60 Spirit Stones per quarter hour; Luo Xiang: Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, 1000 Spirit Stones per quarter hour; Hao Can: Qi Cultivation Seventh Level, 60 Spirit Stones per quarter hour; Dong Er: Qi Cultivation Fourth Level, 30 Spirit Stones per quarter hour; You Xiwang: Qi Cultivation Sixth Level, 50 Spirit Stones per quarter hour; Song Zhenbo: Qi Cultivation Eighth Level, 70 Spirit Stones per quarter hour; Qi Hong: Qi Cultivation Seventh Level, 60 Spirit Stones per quarter hour; ...] Among them, Qingtan had particrly good sess in cultivating the Water de Technique and Water Curtain Technique. She had already reached a low level of mastery before entering the meditation cell. After spending a month in the meditation cell, she finally raised her Chess Skill, Calligraphy, and Painting Skill to a low level of mastery. It must be said, after improving one¡¯s Cultivation Level, cultivators learn things much faster. These misceneous skills previously took years to achieve a low level of mastery, but now she had done so in just a few months. As Cultivation Level increases, it is also apanied by the enhancement of one¡¯s physical body and spirit strength. Additionally, the spirit strength of Qingtan, who had crossed over from another world, was likely much stronger than other people of the same level. After reaching a low level of mastery, Qingtan¡¯s memories rted to her previous life also became clearer, such as "Exquisite Chess Formations," "Slender Gold Calligraphy Style," "Eighteen Brushwork Painting Skills," and so on. Qingtan felt that after reaching a low level of mastery, her learning progress was even faster. Because she had a foundation in Exquisite Dance, her progress in learning Butterfly Dance was also rapid, with insights from one skill aiding the learning of another. "Hao Can has actually reached the Seventh Level of Qi Cultivation!" Qingtan also noticed an interesting change. "¡¯Love¡¯s Protection¡¯ is useful indeed, but it consumes so many Spirit Stones. s, the Wastnd Crystals are gone, and the Spirit-Condensing Pills won¡¯tst much longer!" "Wealth is thepanion ofw, andw is thepanion of wealth. Indeed, no matter what, wealth is the foundation of cultivation!" Qingtanmented, and then she went out to continue her business. Thest customer of the evening was yet another acquaintance. The phony Young Master Yang Zhen. Qingtan now also understood the power structure of Suichuan Immortal City, and there was no influential family with the surname Yang. The answer was quite clear: it was from the Ouyang family of City Lord Ouyang Wenjian. "Miss Qingtan, I have finally seen you again. I¡¯ve been looking for you twice, but I was told that you were temporarily closed each time," Yang Zhen said to Qingtan with a joyful face. "I had some matters to deal with the previous month. I thank Young Master Yang for still remembering me. Today, seeing Young Master Yang so happy, could there be some good news?" Qingtan asked with a smile. "Hehe, after hearing Miss Qingtan¡¯s storyst time, I pondered for a long time until I had an epiphany. Then I asked my friend to act very intimate with her childhood sweetheart in front of her Senior Brother. Her Senior Brother¡¯s expression indeed seemed a bit off, and he stayed a few more days. Before returning to his sect, he also gifted her a small flying boat. Miss Qingtan, do you think her Senior Brother truly has feelings for her? Could that flying boat be considered a token ofmitment?" ``` Chapter 37 - 37 Luring the Snake out of Its Hole by Strolling Through the Marketplace "Flying Boat!" Yu Qingtan was inwardly shocked. What concept was a flying boat? Owning a flying boat in the Qi Cultivation Stage was almost like owning a private ne in her previous life. Indeed, it was no wonder there was a Golden Core Cultivator in the family. "Then it should be quite settled, your friend¡¯s senior brother must have feelings for her. After all, things too easily obtained are often not cherished; only in loss do we feel the pain. However?" "However, what?" Yang Zhen felt increasingly that this Miss Yu Qingtan made a lot of sense as he listened. "From what you¡¯re saying, this senior brother isn¡¯t often by your friend¡¯s side. There¡¯s a chance someone closer may usurp his ce by the proverbial pond. Moreover, this kind of testing method can only be done once and not again, so you need to seize the opportunity quickly." "Mm-hmm, Miss Qing Tan, then how should one seize the opportunity?" "You can advise your friend to directly express her feelings next time." "Ah, but how could one be so forward!" Yang Zhen was somewhat startled, his heart pounding. "Young Master Yang, there¡¯s a saying that goes well: happiness must be fought for," Yu Qingtan continued in her role as a master of love advice. "Mm, okay, I¡¯ll persuade her." "However, there is another saying: the tears a girl sheds after marriage are the result of the water that entered her brain when choosing her partner. You should advise her to be discerning and confirm whether that senior brother is a good man!" "Mm-hmm, I will talk to her about it!" Yang Zhen blushed at the mention of "after marriage," but he managed to remain calm and respond. "Let me y the Qin for Young Master Yang." "Mm-hmm, sure!" ... The next day, Han Daniu, the deputy head of the Green Wolf Gang¡¯s medicine hall, came again. He brought a profit of 820 Spirit Stones. "Miss Qing Tan, I couldn¡¯t find you when I came a few days ago. I heard you got your own ce; how about we exchange Communication Talismans? That way, I can contact you in advance and directly deliver the profits to your home. How does that sound?" "Big Brother Han, exchanging Communication Talismans is fine, but no need to deliver to my home. Just find a secluded ce to leave the profits, notify me, and I will find time to collect them," Yu Qingtan considered and then said. "Alright." The two then exchanged Communication Talismans imbued with their own spiritual power. "Miss Qing Tan, a few days ago the head of the medicine hall indeed suspected that it was me conducting the Golden Spear Pill business and wanted a slice of the pie. Fortunately, I¡¯d already found a backer. After I pulled that out, he didn¡¯t dare to push the matter, though he still shamelessly tried to get a share, which I refused. I feel I will soon break through to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, and by then my cultivation will be higher than his and the profit I bring to the medicine hall will surpass him. Let¡¯s see how he has the nerve to remain in his position as head." Han Daniu spoke with a bit of triumph in his voice. Although Yu Qingtan¡¯s office had a Surveince Formation, it didn¡¯t record sound, so she dared to discuss such matters with Han Daniu here confidently. "Then congrattions, Big Brother Han! May I ask, who is this powerful backer you found?" "All thanks to Miss Qing Tan¡¯s blessings, I found Ouyang Wuqing, the captain of the first squadron of the Enforcement Team, a senior in thete stages of Foundation Establishment," Han Daniu whispered. "Wow, Big Brother Han really has such connections!" Yu Qingtan was genuinely surprised. "Hehe, it was out of luck that I found a piece of Spirit Ore that Senior Ouyang urgently needed, and given that the Green Wolf Gang¡¯s backing is the Enforcement Team itself, that¡¯s how I had the chance to connect with Senior Ouyang. I¡¯ve handed over 40 percent of the profits," Han Daniu said somewhat reluctantly. "Big Brother Han, don¡¯t feel bad; having a backer is how you make a businessst," Qing Tan reassured. "What Miss Qing Tan says is true." "Big Brother Han, let me y a new musical piece for you," Qing Tan offered. "Hehe, sure!" ... And so, a few dayster, Yu Qingtan requested a makeup rest day from Manager Su, and Manager Su agreed. ``` Dressed in simple attire and wearing a veil, Qing Tan followed two Protecting Disciples out of the building and strolled through the marketce of the Immortal City. First, she went to buy some daily necessities and additionally purchased some Spirit Rice and spirit food ingredients. Then she arrived at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. By chance, there was a sparse crowd gathered at the entrance of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, as if there was some excitement to witness. Qing Tan peered through the gaps in the crowd and saw a person dressed as a Hundred Treasures Pavilion attendant kneeling on the ground in front of the pavilion¡¯s door, pping his own face. Inside the door of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the bold-dressed Dream Deacon was politely interacting with an unassuming grey-robed cultivator. "Brother, what is going on here?" Qing Tan quietly asked a middle-aged cultivator standing to her front and side. The middle-aged cultivator was initially annoyed at being disturbed from watching the spectacle, but when he turned his head and saw it was a girl, he immediately smiled and whispered back, "Heh, it¡¯s just that this new attendant of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion has always been arrogant and condescending. Reportedly, because he has the backing of a higher-up in the pavilion, the Dream Deacon couldn¡¯t directly rece him. However, he didn¡¯t expect to encounter a Foundation Establishment senior today who¡¯s been concealing his cultivation level. When the attendant saw the senior¡¯s in clothes, he ridiculed him, and now he¡¯s hit a snag. The Dream Deacon is negotiating with that senior." "I see, thank you, brother, for clearing up my confusion." "Heh heh, you¡¯re wee, you¡¯re wee!" At this moment, the grey-robed cultivator at thetter stage of Foundation Establishment showed a satisfied look and walked towards the staircase leading to the second floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. The Dream Deacon then spoke to the outside crowd, "Everyone, I am very sorry for the poor shopping experience he has caused. The negligence is my fault, rest assured, he will receive the punishment he deserves and he will not appear before you again! Aspensation, all goods on the first floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion will be offered at a 10% discount today!" With the cheers of the crowd, the pale-faced attendant was taken away. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but someone quickly gagged him with cloth. Then, the Dream Deacon also made her way to the second floor. Her retreating figure sent ripples through the hearts of the onlooking crowd. "That attendant must be the same one Han Daniu mentioned who mocked him, no wonder he didn¡¯t end up well!" Qing Tan thought. She then followed the crowd into the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. She bought 5 bottles of Spirit-Condensing Pills, 5 bottles of Hundred Herbs Pills, 1 bottle of a first-grade high-quality Healing Pill, and 2 pieces of Fireball Talismans. She initially wanted to buy Spirit Dew or Wastnd Crystal, but unfortunately they were out of stock. She had only a little more than two hundred Spirit Stones left. "It really doesn¡¯tst long." After leaving the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Qing Tan continued to browse the marketce. Suddenly, a voice appeared behind Qing Tan. "Qing Tan?" Qing Tan instinctively turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a white robe looking at her. The man had a clear brow and handsome features, aplexion fair as jade, a well-shaped nose, and was apanied by an attendant. Qing Tan recognized this pretty-faced man as a customer from a few days ago who called himself Liang Liang, a seventhyer Qi Cultivation stage practitioner from a cultivator family outside of Suichuan Immortal City. He was deeply attracted by Qing Tan¡¯s introduction and even more smitten upon meeting her. However, Qing Tan didn¡¯t believe a word he said, as she checked the system panel afterward and found no change in her Charm Points or Affection Value. "Young Master Liang?" "Qing Tan, it really is you, I thought it looked like you from the back!" "Young Master Liang, I just happen to have a day off today and decided to have a look around the marketce. It¡¯s such a coincidence to run into you." "Qing Tan, indeed it is a coincidence, and it shows that we are fated. May I have the honor of apanying you around the marketce?" "Having Young Master Liang¡¯spany would be an honor too!" ``` Chapter 38: The Extremely Delicious Spiritual Chicken Soup The heavens were unkind. The weather, though clear earlier, began to drizzle as it neared noon. Stallholders in the Suichuan Immortal City market area hastily packed up their stalls. Liang Liang held up arge umbre, sheltering himself and Yu Qingtan from the rain. "Qingtan, let¡¯s go to Extreme vor Pavilion, I¡¯ll treat you to a feast," he said. "As Young Master Liang suggests," Yu Qingtan replied with a slight nod and a soft voice. "Haha, let¡¯s go." The group arrived at the Extreme vor Pavilion, a restaurant somewhat inferior to the Drunken Fairy Building. Liang Liang ordered a private room for himself and Yu Qingtan and arranged for his attendants and the Protecting Disciples following Yu Qingtan to be seated in the adjacent private room. Liang Liang ordered arge table full of spiritual delicacies. Soon, all the dishes were served. "Qingtan, the spiritual chicken soup is here! This is the spiritual chicken I prepared; I had the kitchen stew it for us." A pot of chicken soup was brought over, and after the waiter left, Liang Liang introduced the dish, promptly pouring a bowl for Yu Qingtan. "This is genuine Xishan free-range chicken. The soup is fresh and the meat vorful. Here, have a taste." "Young Master Liang, as for this chicken soup, I dare not drink it!" Yu Qingtan said with what seemed like a smile. "Qingtan must be joking. It seems you don¡¯t trust me. Surely, here in the Immortal City¡¯s restaurant, I, Liang, couldn¡¯t possibly poison you," Liang Liang said, his expression turning somewhat unpleasant. Yu Qingtan simply looked at Liang Liang without speaking. "Haha, so be it, I¡¯ll drink a bowl first." With that, Liang Liang served himself a bowl of the chicken soup and drank it down. "Ah, drinking spiritual chicken soup, a delightful affair indeed." "Not too salty, not too nd, the vor is indeed wonderful. Come on, Qingtan, you drink some too." Yu Qingtan continued to sit still, quietly watching Liang Liang. An extremely awkward silence settled over them. "Drink, why won¡¯t you drink?" Liang Liang¡¯s expression reddened slightly, as if he was resisting something. "Young Master Liang, it may not be convenient to poison someone in this restaurant, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t slip in something else, like an aphrodisiac." Seeing Liang Liang¡¯s state, Yu Qingtan guessed his intention, smiled brightly, and said. Already feeling hot and bothered, Liang Liang¡¯s eyes reddened further at her smile. He tooughed and said, "Haha, since Qingtan has already discovered it, then just submit to me!" Having said this, he pped down a Soundproof Talisman and an Immobilization Talisman. Yu Qingtan was immediately immobilized by the talisman, and Liang Liang moved forward to seal her Dantian with his spiritual power. That would make Yu Qingtan like a littlemb at his disposal. Just as Liang Liang¡¯s finger was about to touch Yu Qingtan¡¯s lower abdomen, where her Dantian was, she suddenly kicked out, hitting him right in the crotch. Liang Liang immediately curled up like a cooked shrimp, hands cupping his groin, letting out agonized howls from his mouth. "Ahhh¡ª" Seizing the opportunity, Yu Qingtan rushed forward, cing a finger on Liang Liang¡¯s Dantian, and taking control over him. There were two crucial nodes where spiritual power entered and exited the Dantian, easily blocked by someone else¡¯s spiritual power, hence sealing the cultivation level. Almost all cultivation techniques included this trick, and touching one¡¯s Dantian was also one of the taboos among cultivators. Moreover, it was easier for those with a higher cultivation level to do this to those with a lower level, and much harder the other way around. The Immobilization Talisman was simr. The one used by Liang Liang was barely at thete first stage, capable of immobilizing someone at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation for five breaths, at the seventh level for a single breath, and was almost ineffective for those above the eighth level. Yet now, the spiritual power that Yu Qingtan emitted when she moved was unmistakably from the eighth level of Qi Cultivation. This was, of course, because she had used Song Zhenbo¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection." Speaking of which, Song Zhenbo hadn¡¯t evene to find Yu Qingtan alone yet, he really self-sabotaged. At this moment, three new spells had formed in Yu Qingtan¡¯s mind. "Wood Escape Technique, Wooden Shield Technique, Green Wood Sword Technique." The Five Elements Spells are indeed the most widely spread spells. "You... you are actually at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation!" At this moment, Liang Liang, still covering his lower area and somewhat flushed, looked at Yu Qingtan incredulously. Suddenly, Liang Liang¡¯s eyes bulged, blood flowing from his mouth, his face showing even greater disbelief. "You... you sly woman... actually deceived... me!" Then he fell forward, dead. Yu Qingtan was also full of astonishment. From Liang Liang¡¯s words, it seemed he had been deceived as well. "As I thought, someone is really after my life." Yu Qingtan¡¯s expression turned cold. Stepping forward to retrieve the spiritual power sealed in his dantian, Yu Qingtan considered how to deal with the situation. "Bang bang¨C" At that moment, a rough knocking sound arose. Yu Qingtan quickly collected the now ineffective Immobilization Talisman, concealing her own aura of spiritual power, and messed up her hair and clothes before squeezing out two lines of tears. "Bang bang¨C" The knocking from outside grew more impatient. Yu Qingtan went forward and opened the private room door, which had been locked by Liang Liang. The ones knocking turned out to be two members of the Enforcement Team and a shop attendant. "Why did it take so long to open the door, it¡¯s just a routine check, hey, what happened to you, miss?" The Enforcement Team member, who began scolding loudly, softened his voice considerably upon seeing a girl with disheveled clothes and tearful eyes opening the door. "Sir, you must stand up for me!" Yu Qingtan¡¯s voice was somewhat hoarse, her acting at full throttle. At this time, the Enforcement Team members also saw the scene inside the room; one of them immediately went in to check the person on the floor. He was already cold. "Someone¡¯s dead!" Saying this, he drew his long sword, watching Yu Qingtan warily. The person at the door, hearing these words, did the same and shouted to the outside. "Captain, there¡¯s a situation here!" Yu Qingtan just lowered her head, sobbing. Soon, several more members of the Enforcement Team arrived. The person leading them was Ouyang Wulong. Ouyang Wulong also recognized Yu Qingtan at a nce, surveyed the situation, and approached her to ask, "Miss Qing Tan, we meet again. What has happened here?" Yu Qingtan also recognized Ouyang Wulong, slightly lifting her head to speak, "I have seen Captain Ouyang. I was taking a leisure day to visit the market when I encountered this young master Liang Liang whom I had met before. Young master Liang invited me here for a meal. He tried to drug me with an aphrodisiac, so I insisted he eat first. After eating, he attempted to force himself on me. I resisted with all my might, but to my surprise, he suddenly fell down dead." As she spoke, the tears flowed down again. Ouyang Wulong, seeing Liang Liang still holding his lower area and blood at the corner of his mouth, had the corners of his mouth twitch slightly, then ordered his subordinates to investigate. "It¡¯s just like the girl who could turn the tables on a poison needle; we can¡¯t be deceived by her fragile and pitiable appearance," Ouyang Wulong thought to himself. At that moment, an officer stepped forward and said, "Captain, upon investigation, we found Yin Yang Joy Powder and Five Poisons Powder in the chicken soup, and there was a used Soundproof Talisman in the room." Another officer came in from outside and said to Ouyang Wulong, "Captain, after inquiring, the attendants of Liang Liang said they were unaware of the situation in the private room. Liang Liang had only instructed him to take good care of thedy¡¯s guard. Additionally, the shop attendant mentioned that Liang Liang ordered a table full of spiritual food and had brought his own chicken for the kitchen to make into soup. After they served the dishes, he told the attendant not to disturb them during their meal." After hearing his subordinates¡¯ reports, Ouyang Wulong said, "Earlier, I received a tip-off that a suspected wanted demon cultivator was sighted at Wei Ji Xuan, so I brought my men here to search. We didn¡¯t find the demon cultivator, but this incident urred instead. It seems this was a trap set for Miss Qing Tan, but it appears that Liang Liang was probably a pawn as well." Chapter 39: 39th Chapter: Law Enforcement Hall Offers Mortgage Strategy Yu Qingtan also joined the conversation, "Captain Ouyang, right before Liang Liang died, he yelled ¡¯You actually deceived me!¡¯" "Indeed, Miss Qingtan, it seems someone wants you dead. Do you have any clue who might be behind this?" "Not at all, I implore you, Captain Ouyang, please help me!" Yu Qingtan put on an appearance of being suddenly enlightened and fearful as she spoke. "How about this, Miss Qingtan, I will first take you back to the Law Enforcement Hall. On one hand, to protect you, and on the other, to investigate this matter further to see if we can uncover some clues," Ouyang Wulong considered for a moment, then said. "That would be very kind of you, Captain Ouyang," Yu Qingtan replied. Then, Ouyang Wulong quietly gave a few orders to several of his subordinates and took the rest, along with Yu Qingtan and the attendant of Liang Liang, back to the Law Enforcement Hall. The two Protecting Disciples who followed Qingtan were told to return to Tianxiang Pavilion to report the incident. The Law Enforcement Hall was situated not far from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Upon arrival, Ouyang Wulong arranged for Yu Qingtan to rest in a side chamber. Yu Qingtan had no objections. About an hourter, Ouyang Wulong came back to find Yu Qingtan and said, "ording to our investigation, those two, Liang Liang, arrived in Suichuan Immortal City half a year ago, with unknown origins. However, they were generous with their money, bought a property to settle down in the city, and additionally, he often visited Tianxiang Pavilion. Although today¡¯s informer hid his identity, my men still managed to find him, eventually discovering that he entered the Xue family¡¯s residence." "The Xue family!" Yu Qingtan thought to herself that it was just as expected. "What is it, Miss Qingtan? Do you have a lead?" Yu Qingtan hesitated for a moment; she also heard about the rtionship between the Xue family and the Ouyang family from Manager Su. "It¡¯s like this, a month ago, there was a guest named Xue Gui... however, I heard that the Ouyang family has a deep rtionship with the Xue family." "Haha, Miss Qingtan, you needn¡¯t worry. It¡¯s true that the Xue family has some connection to my Ouyang family, but if someone from the Xue familymits evil deeds, my Ouyang family won¡¯t tolerate it and let them tarnish the reputation of the Ouyang family," Ouyang Wulong said with augh after hearing those words. In fact, the blood rtion between Ouyang Wulong and Ouyang Wenjian had drifted beyond the fifth degree of kinship, but because of his remarkable talent, he was held in high regard within the great Ouyang n. "However, we haven¡¯t found any more useful clues. It seems Liang Liang didn¡¯t have any particrly special rtions with thedies at Tianxiang Pavilion, nor any dealings with the Xue family. What do you think, Miss Qingtan?" "Thank you for your diligence, Captain Ouyang. I won¡¯t trouble you further. Nevertheless, I have heard that the City Lord¡¯s Mansion is currently soliciting effective ns for defending against the beast tide and resolving the issues of Loose Cultivators in the slum areas," said Qingtan. "Indeed, that¡¯s the case. Recently, my Enforcement Team has been run ragged by matters rted to these Loose Cultivators. Does Miss Qingtan perhaps have some effective strategies?" Ouyang Wulong said with a mix of surprise, skepticism, and anticipation. "Whether it¡¯s an effective strategy or not, I¡¯m not sure, but I do have some thoughts. Since I havee to the Law Enforcement Hall today, I would like to share my ideas with you, Captain Ouyang. The core conflict concerning the Loose Cultivators in the slum area lies in the potential threat of the beast tide, which endangers their lives, yet they don¡¯t possess enough Spirit Stones to buy or rent houses within the city to survive this perilous period." "At this time, we can introduce mortgage loans, that is, lending Spirit Stones to them so that they may rent or even buy houses within the city, and then make monthly repayments. In this way, we not only earn substantial interest, but also mobilize these Loose Cultivators to fight against the Demonic Beasts." "After all, unable to venture to Yunhua Mountain Range to seek resources due to the monthly mortgage payments, these Loose Cultivators would have no choice but to desperately hunt Demonic Beasts to procure their materials," said Qingtan. "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!" Ouyang Wulong pped his hands with delight. "However, there is one issue. What if a Loose Cultivator who takes out a mortgage loan perishes?" "That would certainly mean one person takes the loan, the whole family pays it back. Should the whole family unfortunately perish, the bought property will be reimed, and in the case of rented property, we¡¯d implement short-term leases. Even if the tenant suffers a misfortune, the loss wouldn¡¯t be significant." "Outstanding, truly outstanding. I didn¡¯t expect Miss Qingtan toe up with such a brilliant idea." "You tter me, Captain Ouyang. However, I have one more request." Yu Qingtan stood up, deeply bowed to Ouyang Wulong, and said. "Miss Qingtan, there is no need for such formalities, please speak," With a raise of his hand, Ouyang Wulong made Yu Qingtan feel as though a force had steadied her back to an upright position. "If the mortgage proposal can be implemented, Qingtan does not wish for the reward for proposing the strategy. Instead, she sincerely requests that the City Lord¡¯s Mansion set a rule that the mortgage interest rate shall not exceed one," Ouyang Wulong was startled, then responded, "Miss Qingtan is indeed benevolent and righteous. I will present this strategy to the City Lord now, and I believe the City Lord will agree to Miss Qingtan¡¯s request. Please wait here in the meantime," "Thank you, Captain Ouyang." Ouyang Wulong didn¡¯t dawdle and swiftly left to find the City Lord, Ouyang Wenjian. It was not until nightfall that Ouyang Wulong returned. During this time, members of the Enforcement Team had brought Yu Qingtan her evening meal, which she ate directly. "Miss Qingtan, the City Lord indeed highly appreciates your mortgage strategy and has also agreed to your request. The City Lord¡¯s Mansion needs to make some preparations, but it will be officially implemented in three days. Before that, Miss Qingtan must not divulge anything," Ouyang Wulong said, beaming with joy. "Thank you, Lord City Lord, thank you, Captain Ouyang. Qingtan understands the importance and will not speak carelessly," "You are too courteous, Miss Qingtan. Oh, and the City Lord also said that since Miss Qingtan offered such a good strategy and the request was for the good of the entire Immortal City, you must be rewarded. These two items are the City Lord¡¯s reward to you," As he spoke, Ouyang Wulong took two items out of his Storage Bag and ced them on the coffee table. A delicate little jade bottle and an exquisite jade hairpin. Seeing the little jade bottle, Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. "This is a bottle of Spirit Dew. You probably know its value, so I won¡¯t borate much. This jade hairpin is called the Magpie Branch Hairpin. It is a Second Stage low-grade Spiritual Artifact. Although you cannot use it now, the City Lord has sealed within it three protective charms. By infusing a trace of Spiritual Power, you can activate one, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a mid-Foundation Establishment Cultivator," "A Spiritual Artifact!" Already pleasantly surprised by the Spirit Dew and having guessed it correctly, Yu Qingtan was even more shocked at the mention of a Spiritual Artifact, her mouth gone dry. It was not that Yu Qingtanckedposure; it was simply because a Spiritual Artifact was too precious for her at this moment. "Thank you for the City Lord¡¯s generous gift, and thank you, Captain Ouyang." Yu Qingtan stood up and once again expressed her gratitude with a bow. "Miss Qingtan, you are too polite. This is what you deserve. Please take them," Actually, Ouyang Wulong was quite envious. He had only used Spirit Dew once, and he did not possess a Spiritual Artifact himself. However, he would not dare reach for a reward bestowed by Ouyang Wenjian, nor was he the kind of person to do so. Yu Qingtan put the Spirit Dew and the Magpie Branch Hairpin into her sleeve. Afterward, she bid farewell to Ouyang Wulong and, escorted by two Enforcement Team members, returned to her residence. After locking the door behind her, Yu Qingtan walked toward the bed. The bed curtains were drawn down, and there was a figure on the bed, faintly visible. Chapter 40: Investigating Xues Residence to Find the Culprit Suddenly. The figure of Yu Qingtan heading towards the bedside disappeared. Clothes and essories scattered on the ground. Inside the bed, however, Yu Qingtan, who was sitting cross-legged, opened her eyes. It turned out that it had always been Yu Qingtan¡¯s shadow clone that had gone out today. Ever since she encountered idents twice while browsing the markets, Yu Qingtan had be vignt towards the outside world. Therefore, for this break¡¯s n to lure the snake out of the hole, Yu Qingtan decided to let the shadow clone carry it out. Sure enough, the n was a sess. "Xue family, Xue Gui." Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes squinted. Then she came out to have some spirit food. One drawback of the shadow clone was that although it could eat, the feeling of fullness did not transfer to the main body. Moreover, it could not cultivate, as the cultivation effects would not transfer to the main body either. However, things like learning knowledge that existed in consciousness and the mind were possible. After eating, Yu Qingtan took out the Moonlit Magpie Hairpin. The hairpin was made of jade, with the head naturally shaped like branches, and carved with a full moon and a magpie on it; it was extremely beautiful altogether, making Yu Qingtan very fond of it. After cultivating with spiritual power for a while, she had imed ownership of this spiritual artifact, though she could not fully activate it yet, but it was easy to discover the method left by the City Lord and understand how to use it. "What a great item. It seems that Ouyang Wulong mentioned someone was trying to harm me, and the City Lord specially left this behind, truly a generous person!" After toying with it for a while, Yu Qingtan then put it into the storage space. She adjusted her state, practiced the Water de Technique and Water Curtain Technique several times, until her spiritual power was exhausted, and then took out a bottle of Spirit Dew. She poured out one drop, took it, and began to sit and cultivate with the Clear Water Technique. "Using Spirit Dew for cultivation is just great! In less than a month, this bottle of Spirit Dew should be fully refined, and by then I should be close to the eighth level of Qi Cultivation." Seeing the cultivation progress on the system panel had increased by dozens of points, Yu Qingtan felt satisfied. ... The next day, Yu Qingtan proactively gave a rough exnation about yesterday¡¯s events to Shen Wanning to prevent her from worrying. In the afternoon, Yu Qingtan took a nap in advance. At night, after she finished cultivating, Yu Qingtan again controlled the shadow clone to leave home. Still wearing ck clothes and a mask. Using the Invisibility Technique, she made her way to her destination along the secluded roads. The Xue Mansion. It had been raining frequentlytely, and the moon was often covered by dark clouds; tonight was no different. She hid in the shadows, patiently waiting for a long time. Two figures slowly approached, bathed in the cold light emitted by the Moonlight Stone streetlights. "What a coincidence indeed!" Yu Qingtan sneered coldly. As it happened, the two people were none other than Xue Gui and hisckey. Xue Gui was in a very bad mood. Today, he had been scolded by Miss Xiao Yan again. "That damn woman, sooner orter, I¡¯ll make you submit under me in all kinds of ways." He cursed inwardly, but there was nothing he could do, for she had something on him, and he truly did fancy that woman. Enraged, Xue Gui made a fuss outside the Tianxiang Pavilion for most of the night before heading home. Staying overnight at the Tianxiang Pavilion was not a good look for a scion of a major family like him. Yu Qingtan observed and saw that Xue Gui was not carrying the Identity Jade, likely kept in his storage bag, but theckey had an identity token hanging at his waist. Yu Qingtan silently snatched it away. This sort of thing is easier after the first time. "Useless, losing even the jade token..." Amidst Xue Gui¡¯s scolding, Yu Qingtan, who had both the Invisibility Technique and Turtle Breathing Technique activated, followed Xue Gui into the Xue Mansion. After arriving home, Xue Gui went straight to his room and fell onto the bed to sleep; he was exhausted from the day and needed to recuperate thoroughly. Yu Qingtan followed Xue Gui inside and, while he was asleep, she deftly stole his storage bag. "First, I¡¯ll collect some interest." The scolded subordinate returned to his small room, preparing to rest early since he had much to do tomorrow. Just as he was getting ready to sleep after tidying up a bit, a pair of hands wearing ck gloves mped over his mouth and gripped his throat. "Want to live? Don¡¯t make a sound!" Yu Qingtan said in a hoarse whisper. The subordinate trembled with fear; after all, he was only a small fry at the second level of Qi Cultivation¡ªhow could he have stumbled into this situation? He nodded vigorously, signifying he understood. Yu Qingtan released his throat and pressed a spot on his dantian, sealing his cultivation. Then she pried open his mouth and fed him a pill she had concocted from some random ingredients. "You¡¯ve just swallowed my Leopard Fetus Muscle Changing Pill. If you want the antidote, you¡¯d better obey, understand?" The subordinate, looking at the menacing figure before him d in ck and wearing a ck mask, yet shorter than himself, didn¡¯t dare resist and said softly, "I understand, I¡¯ll be obedient." "Tell me, what has Xue Gui been up to for the past two months?" The subordinate wasn¡¯t surprised to be questioned about Xue Gui and cautiously recounted what he knew. As it turned out, Xue Gui was still on duty at the tax department of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, spending most of his day there loafing around, and strangely, he spent most nights earnestly cultivating, with only the asional outing for dining and merrymaking with friends. The ce he frequented the most was Tianxiang Pavilion, unsurprisingly. He visited both the outer and inner pavilions. In the inner pavilion, he had seen many girls, among whom Xiao Yan was his favorite, and he had repeatedly hosted banquets for her at the pavilion. "Xiao Yan!" Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she emitted a dangerous glint. She was, of course, familiar with this person. One of the leading figures of Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s inner pavilion. She had been there for over a decade with a cultivation at theter stages of Qi Cultivation. The disciples of Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s inner pavilion, if they performed exceptionally well, would be quite popr for the first five or ten years, but then they would gradually fade into obscurity. After all, once customers got too used to them, they grew bored. At this point, the women had several options, such as moving to the outer pavilion, bing instructors, striving to go to Tianxiang Valley, or finding someone to marry, among other paths. If the flow of guests decreased, their worth would plummet, and the price to buy their freedom would decrease significantly. Xiao Yan, however, was one of those who remained very popr even after a decade because she was top-notch in both figure and looks, and she had mastered both Dance Artistry and Zither Art, as well as the extremely difficult to master Illusion Dance Technique spell. "As for today¡¯s events, pretend they never happened, do you understand?" Yu Qingtan took out another pill. "I understand, I won¡¯t hesitate," the subordinate responded promptly, having no intent to divulge anything. If his master found out he had leaked so much information about Xue Gui to such a dangerous person, he was sure to be beaten to death. Yu Qingtan nodded in satisfaction and flicked the pill to the subordinate. The subordinate immediately swallowed it. Yu Qingtan then left the area, reactivating her Invisibility Technique and began to search the Xue residence. Soon, she found a room that was unupied and where no one was nearby; she stealthily entered. She canceled her Invisibility Technique and Turtle Breathing Technique, and then took out Master Fu from the System Space. Master Fu¡¯splexion had already improved significantly. Yu Qingtan took out a first-grade, superior-quality Healing Pill and administered it to Master Fu. Then she waited. At the same time, she took the opportunity to erase the spiritual power imprint from Xue Gui¡¯s storage bag. After a little over an hour had passed. Master Fu furrowed his brow, his still somewhat pale face showing signs of pain. "Pfft¡ª" he spat out a mouthful of clotted blood, and Master Fu slowly opened his eyes. Greeting his sight was a face wearing a mask. A pair of eyes shone brightly next to a tiny Moonlight Stone¡¯s glow. Chapter 41: A Night of Revenge under the Dark Moon and Black Wind Young Master Fu¡¯s eyes shed with alertness, then it vanished as he eximed in surprise, "It¡¯s you!" At the same time, his gaze swept over the surrounding environment. The wooden hut he had never visited before, and the umted dust suggested it hadn¡¯t been inhabited for a long time. "It is I, Young Master Fu, you haven¡¯t given me the antidote yet!" Yu Qingtan sneered. "Ha, that was just a replenishing pill from the Mortal Realm, non-toxic." Young Master Fu replied somewhat awkwardly. Yu Qingtan showed an expression as if to say, I knew it would be so. "Heh, it seems I misjudged, I thank Miss Qing Tan for saving my life. Where is this ce?" "This is a house owned by the Xue family. Your location could be tracked by the Qi family, so I hid you in a Spirit Beast Pouch. I could only let you out in a suitable ce. You don¡¯t mind, do you?" Though a Spirit Beast Pouch could actually hold a cultivator, almost no one would do this, as it was quite a loss of face. A cultivator should not be treated the same as spiritual beasts. "No matter, the Qi family nted a powerful Blood Tether on me, but it has dissipated now. These kinds of Blood Tethers fade over time. How long have I been away from the Qi¡¯s estate?" "Over a month now. How are you feeling at the moment, Young Master Fu?" Yu Qingtan felt a tinge of disappointment in her heart, for she had wanted to lure the Qi family to the Xue household. "The external injuries on my body are inconsequential. However, they fed me a Spirit Dispersal Pill, so it will take some time for my cultivation level to recover. Also, this chain is made from Second Stage Xuan iron. Although not a Spiritual Artifact, it is exceptionally sturdy; even a high-grade Second Stage Spiritual Artifact would struggle to cut through it, and it has a certain spirit-suppressing effect. With this chain on, even if my cultivation level recovers, I can only exert eighty percent of my strength." Young Master Fu did not hide these details. "Since Young Master Fu¡¯s Blood Tether has dissipated, I should get you out of here. Do you have a ce to go?" Yu Qingtan asked, her n to attract the Qi¡¯s attention having fallen through, she could only consider other options. "I find this spot quite nice. The Xue family has only one Foundation Establishment Cultivator with limited life span who often secludes himself. I¡¯m pretty safe here." Young Master Fu said, still minding the fact that he had been put into a Spirit Beast Pouch, though previously he had had no choice. "That¡¯s fine, then I¡¯ll be leaving first." Hearing this, Yu Qingtan prepared to leave. "Wait, that is¡­" Young Master Fu¡¯s face showed embarrassment, and under Yu Qingtan¡¯s puzzled gaze, he continued, "My name is Fu Nian." Yu Qingtan chuckled to herself upon hearing this. "I understand, Young Master Fu." She then left the ce, activated her Invisibility Technique, and departed from the Xue estate. Since the Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Xue family was often in seclusion, there was no need to use the Turtle Breathing Technique. Her spirit stones were indeed running low. In the following days, Yu Qingtan shifted her cultivation time to the afternoon, and then every night after work, she would turn invisible and stake out the entrance to Xiao Yan¡¯s home. Xiao Yan also owned property in Suichuan Immortal City and lived in the same residential area as Yu Qingtan. On the second night of staking out, she made a discovery. Xiao Yan, dressed in a ck robe that enveloped her entirely and a ck veil covering her face, stealthily left her house. Disciples of Tianxiang Pavilion who lived outside were, in principle, not allowed to leave at night mainly due to safety considerations, as the nights in Suichuan Immortal City weren¡¯t very safe. If anything were to happen, the losses for Tianxiang Pavilion would be substantial. Naturally, Yu Qingtan followed Xiao Yan closely. On her way, Xiao Yan was very cautious, choosing paths that were almost deserted. After wandering around the city for nearly half an hour, she finally arrived at a secluded alley. In the alley was a small tavern that had already closed for the night. Xiao Yan approached the front of the small tavern and gently tapped on the door in a specific rhythm, seven or eight times. The door of the small tavern opened halfway, and Xiao Yan entered. A waiter poked his head out, looked left and right, then closed the door again. Little did he know, Yu Qingtan had just followed Xiao Yan into the small tavern. Xiao Yan followed the waiter to the back hall of the tavern, where four people were dressed as the shopkeeper, ountant, chef, and waiter respectively. Candles were lit in the back hall, casting irregr shadows behind the people. "Oh, another customer hase calling." The burly man dressed as a chef, munching on a pig¡¯s trotter, saw Xiao Yan entering and said. Xiao Yan paid him no mind, instead taking out a wooden token and a piece of paper and handing them to the old man dressed as the shopkeeper. The old man nced at them, his expression slightly changing. "So it¡¯s you, even though you are a distinguished guest of Misty Rain Tower,st time the information you provided was wrong, and we lost a valuable member because of it. You still want to take down the same target, but I¡¯m afraid the price you¡¯re offering isn¡¯t enough," the old man said. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan¡¯s brow furrowed, and just as she was about to raise her offer, "Woof woof~ woof woof~" Sounds of a dog barking rang out. "So you¡¯ve brought a tail with you, your Invisibility Technique isn¡¯t badly practiced. If it weren¡¯t for my precious daughter¡¯s keen sense of smell, I wouldn¡¯t have detected you at all," said the middle-aged schr dressed as an ountant, stroking a ck Spirit Dog, his expression wary. At his words, the others were startled. The shopkeeper immediately cast a spell, activating the Protective Array in the area. The rest of them also prepared themselves with their own methods. The shopkeeper¡¯s eyes shone with faint light as he used a pupil technique. Then, he saw a figure in ck, also wearing a veil. It was Yu Qingtan. When Yu Qingtan heard the name "Misty Rain Tower," she too was shocked. This was the big fish she had found. And from the shopkeeper¡¯s words, Yu Qingtan understood that the previous assassination attempt with the Poison Needle was also Xiao Yan¡¯s doing. After that it was Xue Gui, then Liang Liang, and today she came back to Misty Rain Tower again. She was determined to have a fight to the death with her. "I never offended her, did I~?" Yu Qingtan thought to herself. Because Yu Qingtan was now very confident, in order to save Spirit Stones, she did not use the Turtle Breathing Technique and didn¡¯t expect to be discovered by a Spirit Dog. The shopkeeper again used a pupil technique that counteracted the Invisibility Technique. Yu Qingtan simply deactivated her Invisibility Technique. "Yu Qingtan, it¡¯s you!" Even with her face covered by a veil, Xiao Yan recognized this person she eagerly wanted to eliminate at first nce, based merely on her figure and eyes. "Yes, Sister Xiao, it¡¯s me. I really didn¡¯t expect that the person repeatedly trying to kill me was you. We haven¡¯t even exchanged more than a few words, have we?" Yu Qingtan said with a coldugh. "Hmph, you¡¯re just a wild girl from the mountains, with no talent or looks, and somehow you used some bewitching trick to catch Young Master Luo¡¯s eye. And you even refused him. Still, he sent you a precious gift like a Beauty Enhancement Pill, why does it belong to you?" Xiao Yan said, somewhat agitated. It turns out that when Luo Xiang came to Tianxiang Pavilion previously, she was one of the reception staff; she naturally wanted to attach herself to this distinguished and promising young master. Unfortunately, he never gave her a second look. And seeing Yu Qingtan¡¯s rapid rise recently, with the possibility of surpassing her position soon, her desire to kill grew even stronger. "Oh, so you¡¯re just a scorned dog that can¡¯t get what it wants~" Yu Qingtan taunted. "You little wretch, enjoy your brief triumph with words. You dare toe here today; it seems you¡¯re not dying fast enough. I¡¯ll double the price I offered just now, kill this wretch quickly!" Xiao Yan, so angry her face was twisted, shouted at the assassins around her. Chapter 42: Murder and Arson to Avenge Hatred Against Heaven As they spoke, the innkeeper¡¯s expression turned solemn, the ountant continued to smile as he stroked his beloved dog, and the others looked on expressionlessly at Yu Qingtan, their eyes sharp and ready to burst into action at any moment. Hearing Xiao Yan¡¯s words, the innkeeper¡¯s eyes flickered, ready to signal everyone to make their move. Yu Qingtan quickly said, "All you big brothers of Misty Rain Tower, aren¡¯t you just after money? If you kill her, I¡¯ll double her price." "Hahahaha, do you know how much I offered earlier? 5000 Spirit Stones, double is 10,000, and another double is 20,000. I think even selling you wouldn¡¯t fetch that many Spirit Stones." Xiao Yan said with a sneer. "Do it!" The innkeeper did not want to drag this out any longer. The fact that this girl could infiltrate this ce so quietly, and that he could see through her Qi Cultivation sixth stage with his pupil technique, made him feel a trace of unease, so he decided it was best to take her out quickly. As the innkeeper¡¯smand sounded, the cook was in front of Yu Qingtan in the blink of an eye, with a kitchen knife gleaming with cold light appearing in his right hand, swinging it towards Yu Qingtan¡¯s forehead, intending to split her head in two. The cook, known as Butcher de, with a Qi Cultivation eighth stage, has took countless cultivators¡¯ souls with just a kitchen knife. As the Butcher de made his move, Xiao Yan retreated to the side of the wall, a satisfied smile on his face. Two helpers eachunched a spell, Fire Rocket Technique and Ice Rocket Technique. A fiery arrow and an ice-cold arrow formed instantly, shooting at blistering speed towards Yu Qingtan¡¯s back. Both helpers had a cultivation level of only Qi Cultivation fifth stage, but if their arrows hit, even someone at the sixth stage would meet their demise. Facing such a perilous situation, Yu Qingtan¡¯s expression did not change. As the knife swung down, a pink longsword appeared in her hands¡ª the Cherry Red Sword. Yu Qingtan held the Cherry Red Sword, spinning her body around, the longsword swung three times, sending out three sword qi. Butcher de seeing that things were not good, timely changed his knife blow into a p, the sword qi swept across the knife¡¯s de, the immense Power Dao directly knocking him away along with his knife, crashing into a table. A deep dent appeared on the face of the high-quality first-tier Magic Artifact knife, and Butcher de barely stood up, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. The other two sword qi split the fire and ice rockets in half, scattering into the air, and with their momentum unabated, they cut the two helpers in astonishment at the waist. "Foundation Establishment Stage!" The innkeeper and ountant went rigid, their lips dry. Xiao Yan¡¯s eyes bulged out, his hand trembling as he pointed at Yu Qingtan. "You, you, you..." He could not utter another word. It turned out that Yu Qingtan had once again used Luo Xiang¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection." She was lucky previously to have gotten a Storage Bag from Xue Gui, which raised her count of Spirit Stones to over 2000, allowing her to use this trump card. That was the reason for Yu Qingtan¡¯s strong confidence. The move Yu Qingtan had just used was the second form of the Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, Sweeping the Eight Destions. After striking sessfully, Yu Qingtan did not stop, her body bent slightly, and she pushed the Cherry Red Sword out in front, the de trembling slightly. A burst of sharp sword qi shot out, targeting Butcher de who had just managed to stand up. In a panic, Butcher de took out an Amulet and a small green shield from his Storage Bag. However, it was to no avail, the sword qi pierced right through the shield formed by the small shield and Amulet, stabbing into Butcher de¡¯s Dantian. Butcher de fell straight backwards. The first form of the Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, Silver Toad Spitting Water. Then, Yu Qingtan put away the Cherry Red Sword, looking towards the innkeeper and the ountant. The Cherry Red Sword was, after all, only a high-quality first-tier Magic Artifact, which could possibly get damaged if used to continue performing Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art at the Foundation Establishment level. However, this state of swinging a sword and letting sword qi dominate, instantly disintegrating enemies, was indeed intoxicating. At this moment, the innkeeper and the ountant also had ayer of protective shield formed by Amulets, and in front of them were protective Magic Artifacts, one bowl-shaped and one penholder-shaped, respectively. Seeing Yu Qingtan putting away the Cherry Red Sword, the two felt slightly relieved. The power of the sword energy had put immense pressure on them. Facing Yu Qingtan¡¯s cold gaze, the two exchanged a nce. "Let¡¯s go all out!" Both understood the meaning in each other¡¯s eyes. Each took out an elixir, tossing it into their mouths. Their nicknames were Fortune-Telling Weng and Schrly Dog, and they were the heads of a branch of Misty Rain Tower, with cultivation levels at the ninth and eighthyers of Qi Cultivation respectively. Usually, they killed countless people; naturally, at this moment, they would fight desperately. Seeing the two popping pills, Yu Qingtan wasn¡¯t about to just watch. She took out three Silver Needles and, driven by the Foundation Establishment Stage¡¯s Object Controlling Technique, shot them towards the two men. One was aimed at the Schrly Dog, who was at the eighthyer of Qi Cultivation, while the other two were aimed at the shopkeeper, Fortune-Telling Weng, at the ninthyer. Having taken the drugs, both of them steadily rose in vitality, seeing Yu Qingtan¡¯s attacking¡ªthe attack¡¯s intensity was clearly not as strong as the previous sword energy. A vicious look shed in Schrly Dog¡¯s eyes. His beloved dog leapt forward, rushing in front of him. Meanwhile, he retreated several steps and threw a writing brush at the path of the two Shadowless Needles aimed at the shopkeeper. "Pfft~" The Shadowless Needle pierced right through the dog¡¯s body and was then blocked by the brush pot Magic Artifact, yet the Schrly Dog was still shaken back several steps. Elsewhere, because the writing brush Magic Artifact interfered, Yu Qingtan could only control it to avoid them with the Object Controlling Technique, but its direction and speed were affected, and in the end, it was blocked by the shopkeeper¡¯s bowl-shaped Magic Artifact. However, by this point, Yu Qingtan had already closed in to five feet in front of the Schrly Dog, and extended a gloved hand, pointing a finger. A ripple of profound energy ignored the defense and reached Schrly Dog. He began to visibly age, his vitality weakening as well. "Decay and Flourish Technique!" Schrly Dog was frightened and confused, despairingly looking at his hands that were now spotted with age spots, not even able to continue defending against Yu Qingtan¡¯s attacks. But Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t bother with him anymore. On the other side, Fortune-Telling Weng¡¯s vitality had climbed to the peak, almost reaching the limit of Qi Cultivation Stage. Then, he spat a mouthful of essence blood onto his abacus. Under his control, the abacus hurtled towards Yu Qingtan. This was a first-grade top-quality Magic Artifact level abacus; the power of this strike was nearlyparable to the prowess of the Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, Silver Toad Spitting Water, that Yu Qingtan had just performed. In Fortune-Telling Weng¡¯s eyes, Yu Qingtan had used some formidable secret technique to briefly gain the strength of the Foundation Establishment Stage. He knew Yu Qingtan¡¯s age; a fourteen-year-old girl couldn¡¯t possibly be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If the secret technique enabled her to have an attack power of the Foundation Establishment Stage, it couldn¡¯t possibly have granted her a defensive power of the same stage, could it? Having taken the Frenzy Demon Lifeshortening Pill and exhausted most of his essence blood,bined with a first-grade top-quality Magic Artifact, he was sure to kill her in one fell swoop. Regrettably, just as the abacus was about to smash into Yu Qingtan¡¯s head, A hairpin appeared in Yu Qingtan¡¯s hand. A shield formed instantly, stopping the abacus three inches from Yu Qingtan¡¯s forehead. Seeing this, Fortune-Telling Weng¡¯s eyes nearly split with rage, he spat out another mouthful of fresh blood as his vitality began to falter. Yu Qingtan took the opportunity to close in and delivered another Decay and Flourish Technique. "Misty Rain Tower will not let you off~" Chapter 43: Reaping a Bountiful Harvest Without Original Investment In just a dozen or so breaths of time, the fortune teller and the schrly dog had breathed theirst. With chicken skin and crane hair, they looked as though they died peacefully in their sleep. "Don¡¯te any closer~" Yu Qingtan took steps towards Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan slumped to the ground, slowly scooting backward, shouting as she did. Unfortunately, buildings in the Cultivation World are generally well-soundproofed, especially a subdivision of the Misty Rain Tower. At that moment, in her eyes, Yu Qingtan looked like a devil. Although Xiao Yan was at theter stages of Qi Cultivation, her strength was very weak. Yu Qingtan looked at her with disgust and pointed a finger. Decay and Flourish Technique. Xiao Yan watched as her hand slowly aged. "Ahh~" She was going insane. Fortunately, the agony didn¡¯tst long. Yu Qingtan collected the Storage Bags and any valuable items from the bodies, and also found the Formation Chessboard that controlled the Protective Array of the ce, unapologetically taking it. She then dragged the bodies together, sprinkled oil over the scene, and threw a Fireball Talisman on the corpses. With Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Power, she executed an Invisibility Technique and left the alley. Home. "I¡¯ve struck it rich, struck it rich!" In Yu Qingtan¡¯s home, the floor was littered with items. "Indeed, a horse doesn¡¯t get fat without grazing at night, and a person doesn¡¯t get rich without windfalls," Yu Qingtanughed, eyes curving into crescent moons. The thrill of eliminating a major threat and acquiring six Storage Bags made Yu Qingtan feel little difort about the bloodshed this time. Perhaps that¡¯s just how the Cultivation World is; most Cultivators aiming for higher realms can hardly avoid having blood on their hands. Putting aside these thoughts, Yu Qingtan once again counted the Spirit Stones. 12,324 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, 27 Medium Grade Spirit Stones. Medium Grade Spirit Stones are the same size as Lower Grade ones, but with a more transparent texture and containing more and purer Spiritual Energy. The exchange ratio between different grades of Spirit Stones is one hundred to one, but it¡¯s difficult to get higher-grade Spirit Stones with this ratio using lower-grade ones. Medium Grade and above Spirit Stones can be used directly for cultivation and recovering Spiritual Power, but Lower Grade Spirit Stones cannot; they need to be utilized in methods such as a Spirit Gathering Array. Including Xue Gui¡¯s bag, the seven Storage Bags had the most Spirit Stones in Xiao Yan¡¯s, with over eight thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones and thirteen Medium Grade Spirit Stones. The other Medium Grade Spirit Stones came from Xue Gui and the fortune teller. Besides Spirit Stones, there were also a vast amount of Elixirs, Talismans, Magic Artifacts, Spiritual Medicines, Spiritual Materials, Spirit Ores, and so on. The most precious Magic Artifact was a top-tier First-Stage abacus from the fortune teller. A so-called top-tier First-Stage Magic Artifact is generally a failed Second-Stage Spiritual Artifact; though they don¡¯t reach the standards of a Spiritual Artifact, they are much more powerful than a top-grade First-Stage Magic Artifact. The fortune teller¡¯s bowl-shaped Magic Artifact, the schrly dog¡¯s brush and holder, and the Butcher de¡¯s kitchen knife were all top-grade First-Stage Magic Artifacts. There were also some middle and lower-grade First-Stage Magic Artifacts, among them a mask as thin as cicada wings, a top-tier First-Stage Magic Artifact capable of altering the wearer¡¯s appearance without leaving any fluctuation of Spiritual Power; Yu Qingtan thought it mighte in handy. The most precious Elixir was an Ascension Pill, which could increase the chances of Foundation Establishment by half. Though not as valuable as a Foundation Establishment Pill, it was still precious. There were also somemonly used Qi Cultivation Stage Elixirs like Spirit-Condensing Pills, Hundred Herbs Pills, Healing Pills, and Spirit Revitalizing Pills. The most valuable Talisman was a top-grade First-Stage Immobilization Talisman, as well as others like Amulets, Fireball Talismans, Ice Arrow Talismans, Godspeed Talismans, and Purifying Heart Talismans. In Spiritual Medicines, the most valuable was a Second-Stage Jade Marrow Ganoderma, a key ingredient for concocting Foundation Establishment Pills; there were also over a dozen Demon Blood Fruits, useful in assisting Body Refinement. The most valuable Spiritual Material was a full two catties of Snow Silkworm Thread, a top-tier First-Stage material, perfect for making Magical Robes. In Spirit Ores, the most valuable was a piece of Deep Sea Blue Crystal, a lower-tier Second-Stage Spirit Ore, usable in the forging of Spiritual Artifacts. Both the Ascension Pill and Jade Marrow Ganoderma, which are helpful for Foundation Establishment, came from the fortune teller. Despite appearing to be of age, he was a Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator who also aspired to glimpse the world of Foundation Establishment. There were also some records of immortal cultivation in books and Jade Slips, but, unfortunately, there were no cultivation techniques or spells. However, Yu Qingtan was already very satisfied. She organized these items, putting the ones useful to her into the System Space or one of the three Storage Bags she had prepared for her use, and the others into different Storage Bags. Then she went to sleep contentedly. The next day, a major event happened in Suichuan Immortal City. The City Lord¡¯s Mansion issued a notice that, to help the vast number of Loose Cultivators solve their housing issues, a Housing Guarantee Hall would be established, and a housing loan policy would be implemented. Loose Cultivators could borrow Spirit Stones from the Housing Guarantee Hall to rent or even buy houses within the city, with an interest rate of only 0.8 percent. As soon as the news came out, the whole city was buzzing. "The City Lord is actually being so merciful, willing to lend Spirit Stones to those poor Loose Cultivators; could it be that their petitionst time pressured the City Lord?" "Unlikely, the City Lord is a dignified Golden Core Real Person; that group of Loose Cultivators gathered together wouldn¡¯t even rival the power of one of the City Lord¡¯s seals." "Then it really must be that the City Lord is kindhearted and couldn¡¯t bear to see them tormented by Demonic Beasts." These were the discussions among the ordinary citizens of the city. "What is the City Lord¡¯s Mansion thinking, lending Spirit Stones with such low interest to those shantytown Loose Cultivators, isn¡¯t that just throwing money away?" "Hey, didn¡¯t you read the notice? When borrowing money for rent, you can only borrow a year¡¯s worth, and if buying a house, it has to be one owned by the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, and with one person borrowing, the whole family must repay. It¡¯s not that easy to have the money go to waste. But the interest is indeed low; if it were higher, my family could go into this business too." "Isn¡¯t that the truth? The City Lord¡¯s Mansion even banned the rise of rents and house prices; the well-fed don¡¯t know the plight of the starving!" "Ah, it¡¯s good enough that those vacant houses can be rented out." "These fools, do they not know how many Loose Cultivators there are in the shantytowns outside the city? Order down, our family will also introduce housing loans." These were the discussions among the members of the major forces within the city. "The City Lord is unparalleled in kindness; our family finally doesn¡¯t have to stay outside the city anymore!" "Thank you, City Lord, for the grace of saving our lives! Come on, let¡¯s go borrow Spirit Stones to rent a house from the Housing Guarantee Hall right now." "Hubby, should we go for a housing loan and buy a small house? With just a down payment of ten percent, and with your skills, we could pay it off in twenty years!" "Sure, let¡¯s do as you say!" These were the discussions among the Loose Cultivators from the shantytowns outside the city and some tenants from within the city. Soon, the Housing Guarantee Hall was packed with Loose Cultivatorsing to take out housing loans. The vast majority were for renting. In order to maintain order, it became necessary to arrange two teams from the Enforcement Team toe over. Therefore, those who came to borrow housing loans formed a long queue. There was also somemotion inside Tianxiang Pavilion. The reason, of course, was that Miss Xiao Yan had gone missing. Even as a pir of Tianxiang Pavilion, Xiao Yan was expected toe to the Pavilion punctually every day. But today, she had not appeared. Steward Su sent people to look for her at her residence, but there was no response. Sending her a Communication Talisman led to the talisman not being sent out at all. Therefore, it was essentially confirmed that Xiao Yan was missing, and an investigation wasunched within the Pavilion, but unfortunately, they only learned from her maidservant that she asionally went out at night. More people were dispatched to some of the ces she frequented, but she was nowhere to be found. Elsewhere, after the fire at Misty Rain Tower, the Enforcement Team also arrived quickly, but unfortunately, after extinguishing the fire, they only found some ashes, and the case was dropped. The power of a Fireball Talisman is notparable to ordinary fire, so naturally, Tianxiang Pavilion couldn¡¯t track down where Xiao Yan had really gone. "It¡¯s a pity about Sister Yan; she was a good person. Last time she even treated us to a Spirit Meal," Shen Wanningmented. With Xiao Yan¡¯s situation, her disappearance was more than likely to end in misfortune. "Yes, it is a pity!" Yu Qingtan agreed, her gaze profound. Chapter 44 - 44 Fame Breaks Through the Latter Stage The next evening, Yu Qingtan sent Han Daniu a Communication Talisman. Thus, over the next few days, rumors spread throughout the city that the mortgage policy of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion was the brainchild of Miss Qingtan from Tianxiang Pavilion. When some people asked the City Lord¡¯s Mansion for confirmation, they admitted it. This was also a small request that Yu Qingtan had previously mentioned to Ouyang Wulong. As a result, Yu Qingtan¡¯s fame naturally soared. Although those Loose Cultivators from the slums couldn¡¯t afford to visit the inner floors of Tianxiang Pavilion, many other people came due to her growing reputation. Steward Su was also on top of things, directly adjusting Yu Qingtan¡¯s performance frequency to once every three days, and every other time, she could perform both Love of Butterfly Lovers and Butterfly Dance together. "Qingtan, I didn¡¯t expect you toe up with the mortgage policy. How are you so brilliant? I don¡¯t even feel like trying anymore~" Shen Wanning said with a smile as she drank the Spirit Rice porridge made by Yu Qingtan. "Fine then,e be my servant, and I¡¯ll take care of you. You just need to massage my shoulders and warm my bed every day," Yu Qingtan joked, her hands now full of significant funds. "Dream on, I, such a young prodigy in theter stages of Qi Cultivation, be your servant? Where would my pride be?" Indeed, Shen Wanning had recently made a breakthrough to the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, bing ate-stage Qi Cultivator. Shen Wanning originally had three Lower Grade Spirit Roots of water, metal, and fire, and had absorbed most of the Jade Marrow Ganoderma. Now her Spirit Roots were probably Upper Grade Water, Upper Grade Metal, and Medium Grade Fire. And her main cultivation technique was the Clear Water Technique. "Yes, yes, our Wanning is a genius, but I wonder how many Spells have you learned by now?" Yu Qingtan asked with a covered smile. "Water de Technique~" Shen Wanning said somewhat embarrassedly. "It¡¯s all because that Magic Skirt was so pretty. If only you had be a qualified Spirit Tailor earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have wasted that money." "Yes, yes, it¡¯s my fault for not trying hard enough, okay? Here, take these three~" As Yu Qingtan spoke, she took out three Jade Slips from her Storage Bag and tossed them to Shen Wanning. Shen Wanning caught them with curiosity and inspected each one by cing them against her forehead. "Water Escape Technique, Water Curtain Technique, Breath-Concealing Technique!" Shen Wanning¡¯s eyes grew brighter and brighter. "Qingtan, I love you to death~" After reading the introductions on the Jade Slips, Shen Wanning excitedly rushed over, hugged Yu Qingtan, and nted a kiss on her face. "Stop being so cheesy~" Yu Qingtan¡¯s face flushed slightly as she pushed Shen Wanning away. "Qingtan, howe you¡¯re so wealthy?" "It¡¯s the reward for offering the policy suggestion." Of course, it wasn¡¯t really a reward, but rather Sun Deren from Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion who hade to her again. Having juste into a windfall, she asked him to purchase several Spells for her, including the Breath-Concealing Technique, Wood Escape Technique, Wooden Shield Technique, Earth Wall Technique, Earth Spike Technique, Earth Escape Skill, and Rejuvenation Spell. Apart from the Breath-Concealing Technique and Rejuvenation Spell, the other Spells werepatible with her Spirit Root and using "Love¡¯s Protection" had familiarized her with them, so she would pick them up quickly. Unfortunately, the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion didn¡¯t sell the superior Turtle Breathing Technique, only the slightly inferior Breath-Concealing Technique. Then, Yu Qingtan also purchased the Water Escape Technique, Water Curtain Technique, and Breath-Concealing Technique for Shen Wanning, knowing that Shen Wanning had previously bought the Water de Technique. That night, Yu Qingtan sat cross-legged on the bed, cultivating the Clear Water Technique. Little Tao, whose injuries had already healed,y not far away on the floor, gnawing on a chunk of Demonic Beast meat. Suddenly, the Spiritual Energy around Yu Qingtan surged and then sped up entering her body. After several cycles, Yu Qingtan exhaled a breath and opened her eyes. Joy was evident in her gaze. Qi Cultivation at the seventhyer, breakthrough sessful. Opening the System Interface and seeing over five hundred loose Charm Points, Yu Qingtan decided to take her chance at the draw. A joyous event like this called for a celebration. "Eternal blessings from Dao Ancestor!" She went straight for five ten-draws. "Thank you for your patronage x10." "Thank you for your patronage x10." By now, Yu Qingtan had be quite unflustered by theck of items appearing. "Stocking crafting skill, thank you for your patronage x9." "Ah, this is a good thing~" "Thank you for your patronage x10." "Thank you for your patronage x10." The drop rate for this lottery seemed a bit low, but it didn¡¯t matter anymore. After acquiring the stocking crafting skill, Yu Qingtan exchanged 10,000 charm points for affection points, and then used those affection points to exchange for two first-level skill upgrade cards and one first-level spell upgrade card. These were used to enhance the Exquisite Dance, Spiritual Tailoring Skill, and the Breath-Concealing Technique, respectively. Suddenly, Yu Qingtan felt her understanding of the Exquisite Dance and Spiritual Tailoring Skill climb to a new level. She couldn¡¯t help but perform the Exquisite Dance once more, her movements even smoother and more fluid, with the key parts as if three people were dancing together¡ªa sign of the Exquisite Dance being perfected. In terms of Spiritual Tailoring, she previously couldn¡¯t grasp the three basic Artifact Bans recorded in the introductory book Cloud Sect had given her, but now she understood thempletely and could inscribe them with spiritual power. Yu Qingtan then operated the Breath-Concealing Technique, and the fluctuations of spiritual power on her body became nearly undetectable. Even a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage, without carefully examining with divine sense, would find it difficult to discern Yu Qingtan¡¯s current cultivation realm. Generally, one could tell another¡¯s cultivation level at a nce if they were in a realm significantly higher. In her heart, Yu Qingtan felt content. The current state of the system panel: [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation seventhyer 6/700, Body Refinement fourthyer 45/400] [Cultivation Techniques: Clear Water Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] [Spells: Cleansing Spell basic 85/100, Water Escape Technique expert 17/400, Invisibility Technique intermediate 12/200, Breath-Concealing Technique intermediate 3/200, Water de Technique intermediate 21/200, Water Curtain Technique intermediate 9/200, Object Controlling Technique basic 24/100, Wood Escape Technique basic 10/100, Wooden Shield Technique basic 7/100, Earth Wall Technique basic 3/100, Earth Spike Technique basic 6/100, Earth Escape Skill basic 8/100, Rejuvenation Spell basic 1/100] [Skills: Exquisite Dance expert 31/400, Butterfly Dance intermediate 42/200, Zither Art intermediate 85/200, Chess Skill intermediate 24/200, Calligraphy intermediate 12/200, Painting Skill intermediate 6/200, Spiritual Tailoring Skill intermediate 6/200] [Charm Points: 3042] [Affection Points: 19] [System Space Slots: Medium Grade Spirit Stones 27 pieces, Lower Grade Spirit Stones 6212 pieces, Startled Magpies Hairpin, Cherry Red Sword, Mysterious Seed, Uninscribed Token, Spirit Dew 56 drops, Shadowless Needles and Xuan Turtle Shield among other magic artifacts, Ascension Pill and Spirit-Condensing Pill among other elixirs, Immobilization Talisman and Amulet among other talismans, Jade Marrow Ganoderma among other spiritual medicines, Snow Silkworm Thread among other spiritual materials, Deep Sea Blue Crystal and Sun me Jade among other spirit ores] [System Shop: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 affection points), First-Level Cultivation Upgrade Card 1/3 (10 affection points), First-Level Spell Upgrade Card 5/10 (1 affection point), First-Level Skill Upgrade Card 4/10 (1 affection point)] [Lucky Draw: 10 charm points for one draw (or ten consecutive draws)] ... The next day, Yu Qingtan¡¯s fourth customer was Fu Nian. Fu Nian had disguised himself as a dark-faced man with a scar on his face, appearing like a fierce-looking loose cultivator. "Miss Qing Tan, it has been a long time." After sending away the servant, Fu Nian said. "It¡¯s you, Young Master Fu." As soon as she heard the voice,bined with this person¡¯s height, Yu Qingtan immediately recognized him. "It¡¯s me. I am grateful to Miss Qing Tan for the rescue." "Hmph, well, you left without giving me the antidote," Yu Qingtan turned away and said. She had almost wasted 1,000 spirit stones due to this, andter, she had put a lot of effort into rescuing him. As for why she saved him, Yu Qingtan herself was not entirely sure. Perhaps it was simply because he had stumbled in front of her, and besides, the Qis really did have a bad reputation. Chapter 45: The Omen of Fu Nian Making Amends Appears The three major families of Suichuan Immortal City: the Songs mainly managed the elixir business, the Ges specialized in the selling of magic artifacts, and the Qis dominated the talisman trade. However, unlike the Songs and the Ges, the Qis aggressively monopolized the talisman market, consistently suppressing the talisman businesses of loose cultivators and small families. Originally, talisman crafting was a rtively easy cultivation skill to learn, but due to the overt and covert actions of the Qis, there were very few cultivators selling talismans in the Suichuan Immortal City market, and those who did mostly offered unconventional talismans. Only the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was able topete with the Qi family¡¯s shops to some degree, albeit the prices of the talismans in the pavilion were not verypetitive. This caused the Qi family¡¯s reputation among the lower tier cultivators to be rather poor. "It¡¯s all Fu Nian¡¯s fault." Fu Nian also felt a bit embarrassed; he had forgotten all about the poison when he left. "Never mind, how are you now? Are your injuries healed?" Yu Qingtan couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue further. "They¡¯re healed. I hid some things before I took action. After I regained about 60-70% of my strength at the Xue family, I went to retrieve them. It was quite an effort to remove those chains." Fu Nian wiped his storage bag at his waist, took out a talisman and a jade slip, and ced them on the zither table. "Here is a Second Stage low-quality Escape Talisman and a Soul Cleansing Technique spell, as an apology to the youngdy. Ten years ago, my Fu family identally obtained a legacy of the Talisman Dao, along with this Soul Cleansing Technique and the Purification of Soul. Unfortunately, the news leaked, my Fu family was attacked and destroyed by the Qis, and I was the only one who escaped." Fu Nian spoke very calmly, but his tightly clenched hands revealed that he was anything but calm inside. "I see." Yu Qingtan epted the Escape Talisman and the jade slip with the Soul Cleansing Technique. Generally, heritage cultivation techniques and spells do not have restrictions such as being able to be taught only to one person or not to be spread, and they can be imprinted. However, imprinted copies would inherit these restrictions. This jade slip with the Soul Cleansing Technique was likely imprinted from the heritage jade slip. "You must also understand the Escape Talisman. This Soul Cleansing Technique is a rare Soul Dao spell; one needs to possess Divine Sense to cultivate it, and the difficulty of cultivation is extremely high. I have yet to even grasp the basics. However, the Purification of Soul can aid in cultivating the Soul Cleansing Technique and, when mastered to higher proficiency, can slowly strengthen the Divine Sense. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not versed in music, so I hope it will be useful in the hands of Miss Qing Tan." Fu Nian sat back down next to the table and said. "Then I thank you, Young Master Fu." Yu Qingtan was also very interested in the Soul Cleansing Technique. "May I ask what are Young Master Fu¡¯s ns going forward?" "The vendetta of n destruction cannot go unavenged! However, considering the strength of the Qi family, I n toy low for a while, improve my strength, and wait for the right opportunity." Fu Nian gripped the teacup tightly, finished speaking, and then downed his drink in one gulp. After listening, Yu Qingtan said, "Then Qing Tan shall y the ¡¯Purification of Soul¡¯ for Young Master Fu!" She had intended to advise Fu Nian not to be blinded by hatred to the point of recklessness, but it seemed unnecessary now. Upon finishing, her fingers lightly plucked the strings, and the melody wafted through the air. Fu Nian closed his eyes. And listened in silence. ... Outside the Suichuan Immortal City, within a certain mountain valley, a small sect was situated. Right now, outside the valley, it was densely surrounded by demonic beasts. There were Two-tailed Leopards with bodies filled with ck spots. There were me Wolves with grey coats and a tuft of red fur on their foreheads. There were nine-foot-tall, muscr Strong Apes. There were Saber-Toothed Tigers with ¡¯king¡¯ shaped markings on their foreheads and protruding fangs. And there were Sky-Rending Eagles soaring through the sky, with wings sharp like des and talons like hooks. There were also many types of demonic beasts, such as Spotted Pigs, Long-horned Deer, and Rogue Rabbits. These demonic beasts, some of which should have beenpetitors or even predator and prey, were not engaging in any significant conflicts with each other at this time. Instead, they were attacking the protective formation of the valley in an orderly manner. Inside the valley, the sect leader¡¯s face was filled with bitterness as he watched the formation on the verge of copse. "Sect Leader, I can¡¯t hold on much longer. Has the reinforcement from the Immortal City arrived yet?" A disciple, while injecting spiritual power into the formation, shouted to the sect leader who was also operating the formation. "Hold on a little longer, the reinforcement will arrive soon," the sect leader said with a resolute expression, loudly encouraging the disciple. But in his heart, he didn¡¯t hold much hope. The demonic beasts hade too quickly, catching him off guard. They were just a small sect with only him and the great elder as foundation establishment cultivators, upying a minor spirit vein for cultivation. Today, the demonic beasts suddenlyunched a major assault, with no less than ten major demons of the second stage. Before they werepletely surrounded, he had just enough time to use the only escape talisman he had to allow the most talented disciple to flee and to send for help from Suichuan Immortal City. "They came too fast. Could it be that the beast tide is upon us?" the sect leader sighed inwardly. It was doubtful they could hold out until the reinforcements arrived. "I regret harboring any hope for luck!" the sect leadermented in his heart. Previously, when the number of demonic beasts near the sect increased, the Immortal City had indeed predicted the possibility of a beast tide and advised cultivators near the Immortal City to move closer to it as much as possible. Unfortunately, the sect leader couldn¡¯t let go of the sect¡¯s hard-earned foundation and had not made a firm decision in time. By the time he thought of leaving, it was already toote. With a "Boom" sound, the formation¡¯s light screen shattered. The sect¡¯s protective formation, capable of withstanding attacks fromte-stage foundation establishment cultivators, was finally breached under the intensive assault of the demonic beasts. "Kill!" Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, the sect leader drew a precious sword and several talismans, shouted loudly, and charged at the demonic beasts. Seeing this, the other disciples also showed determination, using their skills to attack the demonic beasts. In such a situation, the human race could not hope to surrender for a chance of survival. Demonic beasts¡¯ flesh was beneficial to the cultivation of humans, and the same was true vice-versa. For most cultivators, stepping onto the path of cultivation meant being prepared to meet their demise someday. We cultivators, why spare a battle. "Kill!" Unfortunately, they were ultimately too few against the masses. The hundred cultivators who charged for battle were swiftly engulfed by the horde of demonic beasts. A streak of blood in the sky marked the normally tranquil valley with a tinge of destion. Simr incidents were unfolding in various markets, small family ns, and other areas where cultivators gathered near Suichuan Immortal City. Fortunately, the Immortal City had issued an early warning, and approximately seventy to eighty percent of these cultivators had already temporarily moved into Suichuan Immortal City. Some cultivators who managed to escape also brought the ominous news back to Suichuan Immortal City. The loose cultivators living in the shantytowns outside the city, a small portion of whom had not yet rented housing within the city with borrowed money. Now they also rushed into the city in droves. As for the calls for help from the smaller forces, Suichuan Immortal City did not pay any attention. ording to the findings of the investigatory cultivators sent out by the city, the scale of this beast tide had already exceeded expectations, and it was uncertain whether the city itself could withstand it, let alone spare any forces to rescue them. Even Ouyang Wenjian, upon receiving the investigative results, immediately dispatched emissaries to Sunset Gate and Tianxiang Valley for aid. He then fully activated the city¡¯s protective formation and imposed a temporary control order within the city. Chapter 46: The Temporary Alliance Enters the Medical Department City Lord¡¯s Mansion Decree. "Starting today, entry and exit from Suichuan Immortal City are prohibited, and a curfew is imposed within the city!" Inside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, the council hall. City Lord Ouyang Wenjian sits at the head. Seated below him are officials such as Feng Zhongming, the Master of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡¯s Merit Department; Ouyang Wuqing, the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall and also the Captain of the First Law Enforcement Brigade; and others. Further below sat representatives from variousrge and small forces within the city, including Song Guisheng, the Family Head of the Song family; Song Guihe, the Great Elder of the Song family; Qi Zhe, the Family Head of the Qis; Qi Yong, the Great Elder of the Qis; Ge Yongshou, the Family Head of the Ges; Ge Lian, the Great Elder of the Ges; Gongsun Yurong, the Tower Master of Tianxiang Pavilion; Liu Sandao, the Chief of misceneous affairs in Tianxiang Pavilion; Ji Qing, the Gang Leader of the Green Wolf Gang; Xue Shun, the Family Head of the Xue family; You Xiantong, the Family Head of the You family; Sun Zihai, the Deacon of Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion; Meng Xiyao, the Deacon of Hundred Treasures Pavilion; and so forth. Among them, Feng Zhongming, the Master of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡¯s Merit Department, was a legendary figure. Born a loose cultivator in the slums of Suichuan Immortal City with mediocre innate talent, he had encountered numerous fortunate opportunities. Foundation Establishment at thirty, and by the age of one hundred twenty, he had reached thete Foundation Establishment stage. However, the bottleneck of the Golden Core stage had halted his progress for fifty years in thete Foundation Establishment stage. Eventually, he joined the City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡¯s Merit Department and, with the support of the Mansion, he used a Third Stage Heavenly Demon¡¯s demon core to achieve a Pseudo-Core, bing the Master of the Merit Department. The so-called Pseudo-Core Technique, also known as the External Pill Technique, involves using a demon core or other spiritual treasures in ce of a golden core in one¡¯s cultivation. The strength one possesses is influenced by the quality of the Pseudo-Core, but it¡¯s still far beyond what cultivators of the Foundation Establishment stage can match. Moreover, the life span increase is only twenty to fifty percent of what one would gain from genuinely reaching the Golden Core stage, with almost no possibility of further advancement. Despite this, a Pseudo-Core remained an unattainable goal for many cultivators, and Feng Zhongming was seen as an idol by numerous loose cultivators in Suichuan Immortal City. "Just now, ording to the cultivators sent to scout, the beast tide will reach the Immortal City by early tomorrow. The scale of the beast tide has reached five million, categorized as a fairlyrge-scale tide, with nearly three hundred Major Demons of the Second Stage already spotted, and an unknown number of Third Stage Heavenly Demons. Judging by the types of Demonic Beasts, it is spected that this tide is led by Skyscraping Ridge and the deeper Shanjun Valley." At this point, City Lord Ouyang spoke, his expression still calm. Upon hearing this, there was some restlessness among the people seated below, and some even showed panic on their faces. However, as they were almost all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the hall immediately returned to silence after Ouyang Wenjian gestured with his hands. "The beast tide is fierce; does anyone have any good strategies?" Ouyang Wenjian asked. "City Lord, with the scale of this beast tide, relying solely on the Protective City Formation is absolutely insufficient. We must refer to previous methods, relying on the Great Array as a base forunching proactive attacks," said the head of a small family. "That is certainly a must. However, given the ferocity of this incursion of Demonic Beasts, we also need to implement military management, efficiently utilizing every bit of power within the city to safeguard the Immortal City and minimize losses as much as possible," Qi Zhe, the Family Head of the Qis, added. "Good," affirmed Ouyang Wenjian. "Moreover, City Lord, since you¡¯ve implemented the housing loan policy, the majority of the loose cultivators outside the city have already moved in. Hence, they can be stimted to contribute more by allowing them to use Merit Points to repay their housing loans at a certain preferential rate," Qi Zhe continued. "Good." "City Lord, do we know when reinforcements will arrive?" inquired You Xiantong, the Family Head of the You family. "ording to those who went to ask for aid, this beast tide is on arge scale. Sunset Gate and Tianxiang Valley are also under great pressure; we estimate that no substantial reinforcements wille," responded the City Lord. Hearing this, You Xiantong appeared somewhat disappointed, but not surprised. Demonic Beasts typicallyunch aprehensive beast tide; otherwise, the Human Race could easily eliminate a localized tide by concentrating their forces. Seeing no one else speaking, Ouyang Wenjian proceeded to discuss detailed issues with everyone, such as the specific military management scheme, defensive arrangements, wartime Merit Points, and other matters. ¡­ Within Tianxiang Pavilion. At this time, Tianxiang Pavilion had already closed for business. "Qing Tan, I... I can¡¯t... make it," gasped Shen Wanning, her wordsing in fits and starts. "You take a rest first," Yu Qingtan waved her hand, and a Water Curtain disappeared, then she cast a Cleansing Spell on Shen Wanning. It took a moment for Shen Wanning to catch her breath and said, "Qingtan, practicing spells is really exhausting, how did you improve so fast with your spell practice?" Shen Wanning¡¯s face bore a look of grievance. The news of an impending beast tide had already spread, and the city was shrouded in fear. Naturally, there were hardly any visitors to the Tianxiang Pavilion, so Shen Wanning proposed that Yu Qingtan practice spells like the Water de Technique, Water Escape Technique, and Water Curtain Technique with her and offer guidance. Yu Qingtan also felt that with the beast tide imminent, it was indeed necessary for Shen Wanning to improve her strength, and thus she agreed with pleasure, taking on the role of a strict instructor. The Tianxiang Pavilion had a special room for spell practice, but it was not free. As long as they didn¡¯t damage the building, no one cared if they practiced inside. "Do you know what is called ¡¯innate talent¡¯?" Yu Qingtan slightly tilted her chin, admiring the scenery before her, and said. At this time, Shen Wanning was dressed quite coolly. "Ah, true geniuses are the most annoying!" Shen Wanning raged in frustration. "Alright, get up and recover your spiritual power. You¡¯ve already got the basics of the Water de Technique and Water Escape Technique. Strive to also master the Water Curtain Technique before the beast tide," Yu Qingtan continued, not indulging Shen Wanning, who was turning into quite the drama queen, and pulled her up, feeding her a Spirit Revitalizing Pill. ... In the evening, Tower Master Gongsun returned from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion with deployments discussed by the City Lord and other officials. "Effective immediately, Suichuan Immortal City will enforce military control. All city residents mustply with the orders of the temporary alliance formed to fight the beast tide!" "Tianxiang Pavilion will be incorporated into the medical department, responsible for assisting in the rescue ofbat personnel." Soon, the internal arrangements within Tianxiang Pavilion were alsomunicated. To counter this beast tide, Suichuan Immortal City established a temporary alliance, acting as the headquarters, with the alliance leader being City Lord Ouyang Wenjian himself. Additionally, there were departments such asbat, reconnaissance, logistics, medical, and merit points. "Lin Qiushuang, Qi Yu, Yu Qingtan, Shen Wanning, Zhao Yi... form one team, with Lin Qiushuang as the team leader," came the announcement. In the same courtyard where Yu Qingtan and others had taken part in the assessment, most of the personnel of the Tianxiang Pavilion had already gathered. The main steward of the inner building, Wei Jie, announced the team assignments. Yu Qingtan and the others formed one team with five outer building disciples, and another five Protecting Disciples were responsible for ensuring the team¡¯s safety. Among them, Lin Qiushuang¡¯s apparent cultivation level was the seventhyer of Qi Cultivation, hence she was named the team leader. Qi Yu and Yu Qingtan¡¯s apparent cultivation level was the sixthyer of Qi Cultivation, Shen Wanning¡¯s was the fourth, and Zhao Yi¡¯s was the third. Those below the thirdyer of Qi Cultivation stayed inside the building, rushing to prepare medical supplies like gauze. The five Protecting Disciples also included one at thete stage of Qi Cultivation and four at the middle stage. "Everyone go back and prepare. We will set out early tomorrow morning to report," said Wei Jie at the end of the meeting. Yu Qingtan and the others exchanged a look, got acquainted for a bit, and then each went off to prepare. Yu Qingtan and the other four inner building disciples already knew each other, even quite well, so they mainly got acquainted with the five outer building disciples and the five Protecting Disciples. Chapter 47: Whose Home is Touched by the Melancholy of Autumn The season had reached thete autumn. The red sun rose slowly from the white belly of the eastern sky, and the warm sunlight scattered across the earth with the breeze. Yet Suichuan Immortal City was enveloped in an air of grim resolve. There were no pedestrians wandering the streets, only teams of cultivators hurrying on their way. The entire city was shrouded in a faint white light barrier. This was the glow of the Protective City Formation, ensuring the safety of nearly a million cultivators within the city. On the city wall, thirty feet high and twenty-one feet wide, Spirit Stone Cannons were aligned in rows. Both below and atop the city walls, teams of cultivators looked towards the distant rising dust with solemn expressions. Finally, a row of Demonic Beasts came into view. Then came a surging horde of Demonic Beasts. They surged forth like a tide. The name ¡¯Monster Beast Tide¡¯ was indeed deserved. The Demonic Beasts had eyes filled with bloodthirsty light, bared their sharp fangs and ws, and charged toward the cultivators below the city. "Fire!" At themand, the muzzles of the Spirit Stone Cannons shed with white light, and then beams of light shot out, targeting the dense horde of Demonic Beasts. Immediately, explosions rang out, and blood and flesh were scattered. The advantage of these Spirit Stone Cannons was their great power. The downside was the high consumption of Spirit Stones, and the speed and uracy were average. However, when facing a dense crowd of Demonic Beasts, thetter shoring was negligible, making it a constant defensive weapon in the Cultivation World. But the number of Demonic Beasts was too great. While the Spirit Stone Cannons did inflict considerable casualties, it only incited the ferocity of the Demonic Beasts, who continued to charge forward with ¡¯roars¡¯. On the ground, teams of cultivators also tightened their grip on the Magic Artifacts and Talismans in their hands. The battle was about to erupt. The Demonic Beasts were fearless in their attacks, charging forward without any strategy and then attacking the enemy in front of them. Cultivators, on the other hand, operated in small units with orderly offense and defense, and some even formed rudimentary arrays. The battlefield zed with spiritual light and flew with flesh and blood; as soon as both sides made contact, it ignited into a brutal fight. Inside the city, not far from the city wall, in a certain courtyard. Yu Qingtan and herpanions, wearing masks and simple white dresses, had followed Manager Su on a Bicorn Horse carriage to this ce to report for duty before dawn. Yu Qingtan¡¯s team was responsible for coordinating with the Ges¡¯ Alchemist and two Medical Cultivator. Medical Cultivators were cultivators with certain healing abilities, such as Yu Qingtan¡¯s Rejuvenation Spell, which barely qualified her as a Medical Cultivator. And elixirs often provided the best healing effects, like Healing Pills, so Alchemists with considerable skills often served as Medical Cultivators as well. Yu Qingtan had also met this Alchemist from the Ges. Song Zhenkai, with a cultivation level at the seventh stage of Qi Cultivation, was also a top-tier Third Stage Alchemist. He had participated in the first contest at the Ges¡¯ birthday banquet and had emerged victorious. The two other Medical Cultivators came from a small family named Xu; they were Xu Zhu and Xu He, siblings with a cultivation level of the sixth stage of Qi Cultivation. After Manager Su and Song Zhenkai exchanged information, Manager Su left the ce. After getting acquainted with each other, Song Zhenkai gave Yu Qingtan and the others a booklet containing some basic knowledge about treating the wounded. All of them were cultivators and quickly finished reading and roughly learned the contents. Before long, amid a mor, some people carried in three injured individuals into the courtyard. One had lost an arm and was bleeding profusely. Another had a ckened face and was delirious, apparently poisoned. The third had a deep gash in the chest, with the bone visible. ``` Song Zhenkai pped a Hemostasis Talisman on an amputee¡¯s stump, then took out a small packet of medicinal powder and handed it to Lin Qiushuang, saying, "Lin Qiushuang, you and someone else clean him up with the Cleansing Spell, then sprinkle the hemostatic powder on the wound, and bandage it properly!" He then fed a Detoxification Pill to someone poisoned, and added, "He has been poisoned by a Red-Training Snake. Fortunately, the poisoning isn¡¯t deep, which is why he¡¯s still alive. For his follow-up treatment, he¡¯ll need the spiritual medicine Half-Sided Lotus boiled with Southern Star and Ghost Needle Grass and taken as a medicine for three days, and he should recover. Xu Zhu, Qi Yu, you handle this." Elixirs are valuable, so Song Zhenkai wouldn¡¯t use Healing Pills or Detoxification Pills unless absolutely necessary. Simrly, for another casualty with a chest injury, he ced a Hemostasis Talisman and a packet of medicinal powder into Yu Qingtan¡¯s hands, instructing, "Yu Qingtan, after cleansing his wound with the Cleansing Spell, apply the hemostatic powder and bandage him." No sooner had he finished speaking, than another injured person was brought to the doorway. Doing as instructed, Yu Qingtan cast the Cleansing Spell on the man with the chest wound, then sprinkled on the medicinal powder and, along with an outer chamber disciple, bandaged up his wound. Although the man winced in pain, he made no sound of wailing. Following the bandaging method she had just learnt from a pamphlet, though not perfectly, Yu Qingtan¡¯s effort was passable. After treating the wound, the rugged male cultivator gazed steadily at Yu Qingtan and asked, "Thank you, youngdy. May I ask if you are Yu Qingtan from the Tianxiang Pavilion who proposed the mortgage n?" He had just heard Song Zhenkai address her by name. "That¡¯s me," Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t deny it as it was part of her n to gain renown. "Truly Ms. Qingtan, I¡¯m Fei Yang. Thank you for your strategy. Otherwise, my whole family might have been buried in the bellies of demonic beasts... Ouch..." Fei Yang was a little emotional, trying to get up to bow to Yu Qingtan, but this movement pulled at his wound. "Yu Qingtan," Song Zhenkai¡¯s voice reached her. "There¡¯s no need for formalities. You should rest up; I need to get back to work," Yu Qingtan said, then walked over to where Song Zhenkai was. The wounded were brought in one after another, keeping everyone on their toes. Even though Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning demonstrated the fluctuations of spiritual power characteristic of the seventhyer of Qi Cultivation, they only drew sidelong nces, but no one said anything. Because of this, Song Zhenkai increased their workload even more. Despite everyone¡¯s best efforts, asionally wounded would arrive at this ce with such severe injuries that they would pass away without treatment. No one had the luxury to sulk; the body would be carted off and they would move on to the next person needing aid. It wasn¡¯t until evening that the wounded stopped being brought in. ording to those transporting the wounded, the demonic beasts hadunched threerge-scale attacks that day, but they had all been repelled by the cultivators. About eight thousand cultivators fell in battle outright, and over twenty thousand were wounded, with more than two hundred being treated in the courtyard where Yu Qingtan was. The demonic beasts, however, suffered losses reaching the hundreds of thousands. They temporarily retreated beyond twenty miles away from the city. Come night, in the small back courtyard of the residence, Yu Qingtan and others each rested in their own room. Yu Qingtan looked at her Charm Points that had increased by over a hundred. Despite her physical exhaustion, she felt exceedingly satisfied. Although Yu Qingtan was already quite famous in Suichuan Immortal City, her Charm Points had only increased by just over two thousand. After all, most people had not seen Yu Qingtan. Given that hearing is not as good as seeing, it¡¯s only after truly seeing her that most people would contribute their approval, thus increasing Yu Qingtan¡¯s Charm Points. "This beast tide is also an opportunity for me," she mused. "But ultimately, cultivation level and strength are what matter most." With that thought, Yu Qingtan took out some Spirit Dew, ingested a drop, and began to practice the Clear Water Technique. ... Outside the Immortal City on a certain hillside, a cultivator hid up in arge tree, gazing distantly at Suichuan Immortal City. "Little Ling, are you worrying about that young girl again? It¡¯s alright. Although crudelyid out, this Protective City Formation has reached the pinnacle of the Third Stage. That little hawk and the young tiger won¡¯t be able to break through it," he said. "Wild cranes rest on top of the deste hill amidst tall trees, and the silent dew moistens the osmanthus flowers. Tonight the moon is bright, everyone looks up, I wonder in whose home falls the thoughts of autumn?" Fang Ling softly recited. "Sour to death, alright, alright, old ancestor, I will apany you on one more journey," he continued. ``` Chapter 48 - 48 City Lords Mighty Surprise Change ``` The next day, the demonic beasts continued their assault on Suichuan Immortal City. Under the lead of more than two hundred Second Stage Major Demons, the demonic beasts forced the cultivator army inside the city. The beast tide kept pounding at the Protective City Formation. At the same time, four Third Stage Heavenly Demons also began to attack the Protective City Formation. "Eagle ShatterVoid, Eagle StrikeVoid, Hu Juanshan, Hu Geshan." In the city¡¯s high skies, Ouyang Wenjian watched the four Heavenly Demons assaulting the Great Array, his brow furrowed. Eagle ShatterVoid and Eagle StrikeVoid were the boss and second boss of Skyscraping Ridge, while Hu Juanshan and Hu Geshan were the second and third bosses of Shanjun Valley. Eagle ShatterVoid was at thete phase of the Third Stage, Hu Juanshan was at the middle phase, while Eagle StrikeVoid and Hu Geshan were at the early phase. Although Ouyang Wenjian did not fear these four Heavenly Demons, and their attacks couldn¡¯t breach the Protective City Formation, the consumption of Spiritual Energy for the Great Array was immense, immense enough to make Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s heart ache. After pondering for a long while, Ouyang Wenjian said to Feng Zhongming and Ouyang Wuqing who weren¡¯t far away, "This won¡¯t do, I¡¯ll draw those beasts away; the defense of the city will be left to you." "City Lord, this..." Ouyang Wuqing wanted to dissuade him, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by a wave of Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s hand. "No need for more words!" With that, he transformed into a beam of Escape Light and shot out of the city. "Eagle ShatterVoid, Eagle StrikeVoid, Hu Juanshan, Hu Geshan,e and fight." "Arrogant! Daring to leave the city to fight one against four, Ouyang Wenjian, today shall be your end," said Eagle ShatterVoid. After speaking, with a piercing screech, it chased after Ouyang Wenjian. The other three Heavenly Demons closely followed suit. Inside the city, as Ouyang Wuqing watched the direction in which one man and four beasts disappeared, his face was filled with worry. "Wuqing, there¡¯s no need for concern, just a few Heavenly Demons. You must have confidence in your great-uncle¡¯s strength," said Feng Zhongming,forting Ouyang Wuqing. He knew a little about Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s strength. Though he appeared to be at the early phase of the Golden Core stage, if anyone truly regarded him as such, they would be a fool. With the Heavenly Demons removed from pressing the fight, the cultivators inside the city led by numerous Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators charged outside once again. After another day of fierce battling, as night fell, the demonic beasts retreated again. Ouyang Wenjian also returned to the city. "Eagle StrikeVoid and Hu Juanshan have been gravely injured by me," Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s voice spread throughout the city. "The City Lord is mighty," cheered the people within the city. Eagle ShatterVoid and Hu Juanshan took the heavily injured Eagle StrikeVoid and Hu Geshan back to the group of demonic beasts, and the beasts retreated another ten miles. Since the cultivators had retreated into the city in time, there were far fewer injured cultivators that day. But Yu Qingtan and the others were not much relieved, as most of the casualties from the previous day were still under treatment and needed attention. Yu Qingtan also demonstrated her rudimentary Rejuvenation Spell. For the next three days, the demonic beasts onlyunched probing attacks. Thus, Yu Qingtan and herpanions were considerably less busy. Many of the lightly wounded also returned to their respective teams, and news of Yu Qingtan¡¯s presence in this courtyard spread far and wide. "Qingtan, look at those rough men, they get injured and sent here, yet theye out smiling happily, saying things like ¡¯Just to see Miss Qingtan, what¡¯s this injury worth,¡¯ tsk tsk tsk~" During the noon break, Shen Wanning teased Yu Qingtan, imitating those injured men¡¯s words and gestures precisely. "Who can me them? Our Qingtan is beautiful and kind-hearted and has done them a great favor," added Qi Yu. "Qingtan, you are truly a role model for us all!" Zhao Yi said earnestly. "Yes, and not only that, but your cultivation level is rising rapidly and your talent for learning spells is high. I think you should be the one to be our squad leader," Lin Qiushuang, always so reserved, couldn¡¯t help but join in. "You all tter me," said Yu Qingtan, somewhat embarrassed by the praise. As for her talent in learning spells, it was due to Yu Qingtan having exchanged another 1st-stage Spell Upgrade Card and used it on the Rejuvenation Spell. Consequently, over these few days, Yu Qingtan had been using the Rejuvenation Spell with increasing skill, eliciting admiration even from Song Zhenkai. However, it was Song Zhenkai who was truly the most exhausted, and both he and Xu Zhu and Xu He went to lie down and rest. ``` As for the five outer court disciples, they could never really integrate into the small circle of Yu Qingtan and the others, so they simply stopped bothering to try. "When the beast tide is over..." Shen Wanning was about to suggest that Yu Qingtan invite everyone for a Spirit Meal afterward. "Stop!" Yu Qingtan immediately interrupted her from making this kind of jinxing statement. "Alright, everyone rest up well, we¡¯ve still got more to handleter," said Yu Qingtan. Everyone took her advice without objection and leaned back on their chairs to rest with their eyes closed. Although Lin Qiushuang¡¯s words were a jest, given her typically aloof and hands-off nature, Yu Qingtan had indeed be the core of their team. And they had indeed been exhausted from the past couple of days, the stress of bloodshed and death pushed to the back of their minds. Now that they had a rare moment of respite, they needed to seize the opportunity to rest. Deep into the night, afterpleting her cultivation practice, Yu Qingtan had settled down to rest. "Dong, dong, dong~" Three loud drum beats sounded. Yu Qingtan immediately woke up, got dressed, and went outside. Three drum beats signified an attack by the Cultivator Army. The others quickly gathered in the front courtyard as well. "We just received word that the demonic beasts haveunched a surprise attack, but the cultivators within the city were prepared and have already gone to meet the battle. Let¡¯s get ready quickly; the injured will soon be brought here," said Song Zhenkai hurriedly. "Yes." Actually, it was rather strange that the demonic beasts had not attacked at night over the past few days, considering that many preferred nocturnal activity. Perhaps it was because the moonlight had been bright in the previous days, but tonight the moonlight was obscured by thick clouds. However, the cultivators inside the city clearly hadn¡¯t let down their guard. True to expectations, a group of injured were soon brought over, and Yu Qingtan and the others busied themselves under the glow of the Moonlight Stones. Half an hourter, the battle was at a stalemate, and even the City Lord Ouyang Wenjian went out of the city once again to fight alongside Ying Poxiao and Hu Juanshan. Suddenly, chaos erupted in four or five areas within the city and quickly spread. "Ah, how could demonic beasts be inside the city!" "Help, help, please don¡¯t eat me!" "Ah, you monsters, I¡¯ll fight you with all I¡¯ve got!" Above Suichuan Immortal City, Feng Zhongming looked down at the city now plunged into chaos with the sudden appearance of demonic beasts, his face ashen. "Hall Master Feng, five nodes of the formation beneath the Immortal City have been sabotaged. Those demonic beasts entered the city through these formation nodes, and the Protective City Formation has greatly weakened as a result, making it hard to draw power to deal with the demonic beasts within without risking the entire formation being simultaneously attacked and breached from inside and outside," reported an Array Master from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion to Feng Zhongming. "Hall Master Feng, I have dispatched the elite of the Enforcement Team and the Cultivator Reserves to suppress them; we will surely retake control of the formation nodes," added Ouyang Wuqing, who stood nearby. "Hmm, I need to oversee here in case the outside battlefield changes. You go personally, and call those old family heads within the city; we must quickly eliminate the demonic beasts within," ordered Feng Zhongming. "Yes!" ... Yu Qingtan and the others naturally heard the turmoil within the city, and upon inquiring, they learned of the situation. "How can there be demonic beasts inside the city if the Protective City Formation is still active?" Zhao Yi asked in a panic. The five outer court disciples also showed fear on their faces. "Everyone, don¡¯t panic, with the City Lord and the Protective City Formation, we¡¯ll be fine!" Song Zhenkai said loudly. The five Protecting Disciples, the four guards from the Song family, and some of the lightly injured also shouted, "Ladies, don¡¯t panic, we will protect you!" The group felt somewhat reassured and continued their healing work. However, it wasn¡¯t long before... "Ahh~" With a scream, a Song family Qi Cultivationte-stage guard who was standing watch at the entrance of the courtyard had vanished. Chapter 49: The Day Hell Ride the Sword and Ascend the Clouds in Future Years Everyone could only vaguely see a dark shadow disappearing around the corner of the wall. "Be careful," a grey-haired elderly cultivator with his shoulder wrapped in bandages cried out as he tossed a flying-knife-shaped magic artifact with his left hand. This man was named Zuo Hong and was the only Qi Cultivation Ninth Stage cultivator present. He had suffered a bloody hole in his right shoulder while battling demonic beasts earlier. "Ah," Another scream rang out as a Tianxiang Pavilion protecting disciple had lost an arm. Zuo Hong¡¯s flying knife magic artifact did not hit its target, but if it weren¡¯t for the flying knife, the Tianxiang Pavilion disciple¡¯s injuries might have been more than just a lost limb. "Shadow Leopard!" A few cultivators in theter stages of Qi Cultivation finally saw the figure of the attacker, and Song Zhenkai said in a deep voice. Only the back residence yard of the area was protected by a formation, while the front yard was not. The Shadow Leopard was a kind of demonic beast that loved to be active at night and was good at speed and strength; after striking, it would immediately hide in the shadows. "Everyone, stay alert and move towards me," Song Zhenkai called as he took out a huge Moonlight Stone, rushed to the middle of the courtyard, and propped it up with a column. Upon hearing this, everyone quickly moved towards the center of the courtyard. At that time, there were still over two hundred wounded in the courtyard; thankfully, less than twenty percent of them were so severely injured that they had to lie down. With help from others, they were quickly gathered in the center of the courtyard. However, during the movement, the Shadow Leopardunched two more attacks. One was repelled by thebined efforts of the group, and the other dragged away a heavily injured Qi Cultivation early-stage cultivator. The sound of gnawing from the shadows sent shivers down everyone¡¯s spines. Yu Qingtan shielded Shen Wanning as they retreated into the crowd, holding her slightly trembling soft hands and whisperedfortingly, "Don¡¯t be afraid, Wanning! I¡¯m here!" Fortunately, the courtyard was big enough that even with over two hundred people, it didn¡¯t feel crowded. The severely wounded and early-stage Qi Cultivators were in the innermost part, the mid-stage Qi Cultivators in the middle, and thete-stage Qi Cultivators, along with guards and protecting disciples, on the outside. "Bang¡ªBang¡ªBang¡ª" Threete-stage first-order Shadow Leopards attacked at the same time, repelled by the cultivators on the outside using spells. Unfortunately, the speed of the Shadow Leopards was too fast, making it difficult for everyone to inflict effective damage on them. "Ah," Another round of attacks came, and a chest of a mid-stage Qi Cultivation protecting disciple was hit by a w, sending him crashing into the crowd. "We are too passive like this. If someone can help me hold off the other two Shadow Leopards for just half an hour, I can kill one," Song Zhenkai shouted loudly. Although there was another Eighth Stage Qi Cultivation guard among his guards, he knew that he was no match for the Shadow Leopards. "Count me in," Zuo Hong said in a deep voice, having taken a Healing Pill which had made his injuries much less severe. "Count me in as well," Yu Qingtan said. "Qingtan, don¡¯t do anything foolish," Shen Wanning said anxiously. "Don¡¯t worry, I know my limits. I have a way to deal with a Shadow Leopard," Yu Qingtan exined to Shen Wanning, as well as to the others. She then let go of Shen Wanning¡¯s hand and activated the Water Escape Technique, rushing towards the shadows by the courtyard wall to meet a pair of eyes glowing faintly. She flung three Water des at the Shadow Leopard. Seeing this, Song Zhenkai and Zuo Hong naturally couldn¡¯t let a youngdy face the danger alone and also charged from the crowd. Each confronted a Shadow Leopard. Although the Shadow Leopards were very fast, the three of them had their own methods to deal with them. The Shadow Leopards, upon seeing cultivatorsing out to face them one-on-one, also boldly engaged in the fight. After sessfully enraging a Shadow Leopard with her Water de Technique, Yu Qingtan started to use the Water Escape Technique to dodge its attacks, and when she couldn¡¯t avoid them, she defended herself with the Xuan Turtle Shield. At the same time, she lured it towards the outside of the courtyard. Before long, Yu Qingtan had disappeared from the sight of Shen Wanning and the others. At this moment, being at the Seventh Stage of Qi Cultivation, Yu Qingtan found it somewhat difficult to cope with the Shadow Leopard and could only barely defend herself. Below the Third Stage, cultivators of the same level generally had an advantage in battles against demonic beasts. This advantage was mainly due to the intelligence gap, which would diminish as the demonic beasts¡¯ ranks increased. By the Fourth Stage, the two sides were almost on par in this respect. Even so, the strength of this Shadow Leopard was equivalent to a Human Race early Ninth Stage cultivator, making it quite remarkable that Yu Qingtan could barely fend it off. She was preparing to use Song Zhenbo¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection," taking advantage of wood and water-spell techniques and minimal spiritual power consumption to find an opportunity to kill the Shadow Leopard. Just as Yu Qingtan was sent reeling by a swipe from the Shadow Leopard and was preparing for a major counterattack, two Carapace Wolves charged out from an oblique angle. Yu Qingtan was taken aback and immediately retreated to prepare his defense. Unexpectedly, the two Carapace Wolves charged straight at the Shadow Leopard, which was also caught off guard and took a hit. The two Carapace Wolves were also in thete stages of the First Stage, skilled in both speed and strength, and they continued their assault on the Shadow Leopard, gaining the upper hand. At this moment, Yu Qingtan noticed a tall, ck-d cultivator standing on the roof above at an angle. This person was forming a spell with his hands, and five blood-red arrows rapidly took shape, shooting toward the overpowered Shadow Leopard. Despite the dim light and the distance, Yu Qingtan still guessed the person¡¯s identity. "Fang Ling!" The Shadow Leopard too sensed a life-or-death crisis but, unfortunately, had no way out. All paths for evasion were sealed off by the bloody arrows. "Pfft~" Blood blossomed. The Shadow Leopard¡¯s head was pierced through. Fang Ling leaped forward and after a few bounds, arrived in front of Yu Qingtan. "Qing Tan, long time no see," Fang Ling said as he touched his nose with his right hand. "Fang Ling, long time no see," Yu Qingtan said with a smile as he looked at the youth with thick eyebrows, a high nose, and profound eyes. Then, the two fell silent. "Cackle cackle cackle~ Little Ling, seeing the little girl you¡¯ve been thinking about all this time, why have you gone mute? Why not let this old ancestor take over your body? I guarantee I¡¯ll help you win her over in minutes." "Shut up." After a few moments, seeing that Fang Ling remained silent, Yu Qingtan was the one to break the somewhat awkward silence first. "Fang Ling, I heard you went missing, but I always believed you were alright. I¡¯ve finally seen you again today. Thank you for your gift." "As long as you like it." At this time, the two Carapace Wolves came over to Fang Ling¡¯s side, carrying the corpse of the Shadow Leopard. "Are these your spiritual beasts?" Yu Qingtan asked. "Sort of," Fang Ling replied. After saying this, Fang Ling collected the two Carapace Wolves along with the corpse of the Shadow Leopard. Yu Qingtan guessed these must be Fang Ling¡¯s Blood Marites, but given that this straightforward man obviously wasn¡¯t one for small talk, Yu Qingtan had to find another topic. "Fang Ling, I didn¡¯t expect you to have be so powerful. There¡¯s still danger for Shen Wanning and the others, so I need to rush back. Are youing back with me?" she asked, thinking of Shen Wanning. "I won¡¯t be going back. Qing Tan, would you like to leave Tianxiang Pavilion with me?" Fang Ling took a deep breath and asked. "Hee hee, I can¡¯t bear to leave the Pavilion," Yu Qingtan said with augh. Fang Ling felt a bit dejected at her response. "Then I¡¯ll be going back first. Take care!" Yu Qingtan said those words and then hurried back. She knew that Fang Ling must have had a great opportunity and a path of his own to follow; she just couldn¡¯t respond to his feelings. "Tsk tsk tsk~ It¡¯s really making this old ancestor¡¯s teeth ache to watch. The person has already left; stop looking. Little Ling, if you really don¡¯t want me to take over your body, then go back and cultivate properly. Look, the little girl is already at the Seventh Stage of Qi Cultivation. As if she¡¯d be willing to follow you if you¡¯re at the same stage." "I¡¯ll go back after this beast tide is over," Fang Ling replied, this time not refuting the old ancestor¡¯s words. "One day, when Imand the sword to soar through the clouds, a phoenix carriage and dragon steeds will lead you back," Fang Ling clenched his fist and thought to himself. Chapter 50: Support from Many Sides and a Wide Network ``` Yu Qingtan returned to the courtyard, Song Zhenkai and Zuo Hong had already dealt with the other two Shadow Leopards and were about to go look for Yu Qingtan. "Miss Qingtan, thank goodness, you are safe and back, the Shadow Leopard?" Song Zhenkai asked. "I have not shamed us, that Shadow Leopard is dead," Yu Qingtan said. "Young friend Yu is truly extraordinary, this old man admires you," Zuo Hong said. Being originally a Loose Cultivator from the shanty area, although he had long rented a house in the city, he held quite a fondness for Yu Qingtan. He himself could only manage to hold off the Shadow Leopard without defeat, relying on Song Zhenkai¡¯s reinforcements to finally y it. He had not expected that Yu Qingtan would be able to kill a Shadow Leopard on her own. "Qingtan, you had me worried to death!" At this moment, Shen Wanning rushed out and hugged Yu Qingtan tightly. "I¡¯m alright; you should have confidence in me," Yu Qingtan said gently, stroking her back. "Mm-hmm," Shen Wanning replied, releasing Yu Qingtan with an affirmative response. "Brother Song, what¡¯s the situation now?" Yu Qingtan inquired. "For the time being, no more Demonic Beasts are attacking here, but the demonic turmoil in the city is still expanding, and the great battle outside continues. The situation is not looking optimistic." At that moment, a group of Cultivators arrived outside the courtyard. "May I ask if Miss Yu Qingtan from Tianxiang Pavilion is here?" The person leading asked. Hearing that they were looking for her, Yu Qingtan stepped forward and replied, "I am Yu Qingtan, what business do you fellow Cultivators have with me?" Upon hearing her, the person bowed with hands sped and said, "I¡¯ve seen Miss Qingtan. I am Huang Jin, a retainer of the You family. Our young master heard that Miss Qingtan was here amidst the demonic chaos. Regrettably, he must oversee our n, so he sent me with men to protect thedy." "Thank you, Retainer Huang, and thank you, Young Master You." It turned out to be people sent by You Xiwang. Just then, almost simultaneously, two other groups of Cultivators arrived. "Seventh Brother, you¡¯ve arrived." Song Zhenkai walked up to the leader of one group of Cultivators and said. This person was none other than Song Zhenbo. "The demonic chaos is rampant in the city, and the n sent me to protect you," Song Zhenbo said, yet his gaze drifted towards Yu Qingtan, who was standing aside with a mask on. Song Zhenbo specialized inbat and was not much of a talker. "Haha, Brother Song is not only here to protect his cousin but also seems to havee for the purpose of protecting Miss Qingtan," the leader of the other group of Cultivators remarked. Upon hearing this, Song Zhenbo didn¡¯t argue but instead nodded slightly. "Miss Qingtan, the Ges heard that you were here. Elder Nine has sent me with men to protect you," said the person, who was Ge Wenyu. Although he himself was only at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, he was apanied by a Ges retainer who was at the ninth level. "Thank you to the Ges and Cultivator Ge, and thank you to Cultivator Song," Yu Qingtan said. What else could Yu Qingtan do but first express her gratitude? The others in the courtyard were all clicking their tongues in wonder. Qi Yu quietly said to Shen Wanning, "Your Qingtan truly lives up to being the strongest neer of Tianxiang Pavilion. To protect her, two of the three major families havee. Such connections are simply incredible." Puffing up her chest proudly, Shen Wanning responded softly with pride, "Of course, my Qingtan is the best!" However, just as Yu Qingtan finished her words of thanks, two more groups of Cultivators arrived, one of which was from the Enforcement Team. "Miss Qingtan, the Captain has sent me with men to protect you," the leading member of the Enforcement Team said as he approached Yu Qingtan. This was Zeng Jie, the deputy of Ouyang Wulong, someone Yu Qingtan also recognized. "Thank you, Captain Ouyang, thank you, Cultivator Zeng." ``` Actually, Ouyang Wulong hadn¡¯t thought abouting to protect Yu Qingtan. He was already swamped with work, but after someone found him and asked him to do so, he sent people over. "Qing Tan, this young master was worried about you, so I brought people over to check on you. I did not expect this ce to be so lively," he said. Another group of cultivators arrived, led by none other than Qi Hong. "Many thanks to Young Master Qi." Yu Qingtan continued to express her gratitude with a bow. "Haha, it seems everyone is here for Miss Qing Tan, but you¡¯re all a step toote. A Shadow Leopard just attacked, and Miss Qing Tan has single-handedly dealt with ate-stage, first-rank Shadow Leopard," said Song Zhenkai, who also found the situation quite novel. Upon hearing this, everyone who had just arrived was surprised and turned to look at Yu Qingtan. "Miss Qing Tan is truly extraordinary," thought Huang Jin, an enforcer from the You family, while Ge Wenyu said it out loud. "To have such strength, Qing Tan might already be stronger than me," said Qi Hong, looking at Yu Qingtan in amazement. These descendants of major families typically had ess to the finest cultivation techniques and spells, apanied by an array of treasures and methods, giving them strength far beyond that of average loose cultivators of the same rank. Like Song Zhenkai, who was only at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation and not specialized inbat, was still able to y ate-stage, first-rank Shadow Leopard. Qi Hong, who was also at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, was even stronger. "Heh, at least you¡¯re aware of your limitations. Now go back and don¡¯t add to the chaos," Song Zhenkai said with a lightugh after hearing this. He and Song Zhenfeng were brothers from the same parents. Song Zhenfeng always had issues with Qi Hong, and although Song Zhenkai usually kept a low profile, he did not mind confronting him. After all, his n brother Song Zhenbo next to him looked quite displeased by Qi Hong¡¯s conversation with Yu Qingtan, the annoyance nearly written on his face. "Hmph, Song brat, do you dare to fight me to decide the winner?" Qi Hong was immediately angered and pointed his folding fan toward Song Zhenkai. Before Song Zhenkai could respond, Song Zhenbo had already drawn his longsword, holding the hilt and staring at Qi Hong. The onlookers in the courtyard were all stunned; not only had members from the three great families gathered, but the Enforcement Team had arrived as well. And then there was the Qis and the Songs, their swords drawn and crossbows pulled. This must be a rivalry fueled by jealousy! The gossip was juicy and enticing. "Young Master Qi, Brother Song, everyone, please calm down. If you act like this, you will be doing Qing Tan a disservice," said Yu Qingtan, quickly stepping forward to mediate. "Moreover, there are Demonic Beasts wreaking havoc in the city. Countless cultivators are suffering at this very moment. Since you all came to protect Qing Tan, and there¡¯s limited space here, may I suggest that we join forces to eliminate the nearby Demonic Beasts?" "Qing Tan is clear-headed and recognizes the greater good," said Qi Hong, quickly taking the chance to back down, putting away his fan. He couldn¡¯t beat Song Zhenbo. "We will follow Miss Qing Tan¡¯s arrangements," Huang Jin was the first to express his agreement. "Miss Qing Tan is just and righteous, this is the best course of action," agreed Ge Wenyu and Zeng Jie as well. "Miss Qing Tan, feel free to go. I will exin the situation to our superiors," said Song Zhenkai. "Many thanks to Brother Song. Then, I shall leave this ce in the care of the two of you," Yu Qingtan said, bowing to Song Zhenkai and Song Zhenbo. With Song Zhenkai¡¯s permission, she wasn¡¯t abandoning her post. Song Zhenbo wanted to apany her, but since he was sent by his family to protect Song Zhenkai and the others, he reluctantly stayed behind. "Wanning, wait for me here," Yu Qingtan said to Shen Wanning and the others, and then she left the courtyard. At this time, injured people were still being brought into the yard. Among those who came with Song Zhenbo was an alchemist, providing him with a chance to have a brief exchange of words with Qi Hong. Shen Wanning and the others had to continue their work. Huang Jin, Ge Wenyu, Zeng Jie, and Qi Hong led theirbined forces of over twenty people and followed. Chapter 51: The Great Array of Immortal City Reveals its Fierce Power Under the pitch-ck night sky, Suichuan Immortal City was anything but tranquil. Outside the city were the fierce sounds ofbat, while inside, fires soared to the sky, with the noise of battle ceaseless. "Bang~ Bang~ Bang~" In an alleyway, Qi Hong put his right index and middle finger in front of his mouth, blew a breath, and turned to look at Yu Qingtan, whose mask was already removed. "Qingtan, my Fire Bullet Technique is quite powerful, right? A mere Second Stagete-phase Red-Training Snake dares to strut around here. It went down directly with three fire bullets." "Young Master Qi is valiant and spirited, I admire that," Yu Qingtan said. "You directly used a First Stage top-quality magic artifact, the Demon-Binding Net, to trap this Red-Training Snake. Could it not be hit directly by your Fire Bullet Technique and fall?" Yu Qingtan thought to herself with a silent retort. "Thank you, several seniors, for the grace of saving our lives." At this time, five or six cultivators nearby deeply bowed their thanks. If it weren¡¯t for Yu Qingtan and others arriving, these Qi Cultivation Stage early-phase cultivators would¡¯ve already been buried in the snake¡¯s belly. "If you want to thank someone, thank Miss Yu Qingtan from the Tianxiang Pavilion," Qi Hong said, pointing to Yu Qingtan by his side. "It¡¯s Miss Yu Qingtan, thank you, Miss Qingtan." A few of them were also Loose Cultivators from the original slum areas, having heard of Yu Qingtan, and bowed again in thanks to her. "There¡¯s no need for such courtesy. We still have to go and ughter Demonic Beasts, so we¡¯ll take our leave now." By this time, Yu Qingtan and her group had already encountered four or five waves of Demonic Beasts, some in clusters of three to five, while others acted alone. Moreover, the majority were surprisingly at the Second Stagete-phase, with only a few at the Second Stage mid-phase. Inside the city, most ordinary cultivators were at the Qi Cultivation Stage early phase, and moreover, mostmon residences only had the most basic Protective Arrays, which could only withstand a few hits from Second Stagete-phase Demonic Beasts. Therefore, along the way, wherever Yu Qingtan and her group encountered Demonic Beasts, there was almost always heavy casualties. But they had also saved many cultivators, and Yu Qingtan let Qi Hong inform these people of her identity, and Qi Hong was happy to do so. After vanquishing several more waves of Demonic Beasts, the group felt the tremors of a fierce battle not far away. "That must be the location of one of the Protective City Formation¡¯s nodes. The Family Head said that it was precisely because several formation nodes were sabotaged that the Demonic Beasts were able to sneak into the city underground without a sound, catching us off guard. Many of the city¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators are at the formation nodes to repel Major Demons of the Second Stage. The ones we¡¯ve dealt with are just some that slipped through the." Qi Hong said with a heavy expression as he looked towards the direction of the turmoil. "Yes, the main force of the Enforcement Team has also gone to suppress the location of the formation nodes," Zeng Jie added. "Our Family Head has also joined the battle, but that area is a Second-Stage battlefield. Should we still head over there?" Huang Jin inquired. "Let¡¯s not go over there, we should continue to search for Demonic Beasts in other parts of the city," Yu Qingtan said without hesitation. She would certainly not dare to rashly intervene in a battle of the Second Stage. As the group was about to change direction and proceed, a loud voice rose above the Immortal City. "Dare to invade Suichuan Immortal City, die!" It was the voice of the City Lord, Ouyang Wenjian. As soon as his words fell, white pirs of light shot down from the sky, and the tragic howls of various Demonic Beasts were heard in session. After a dozen or so breaths, the pirs of light ceased shooting down. The cries of the Demonic Beasts were reced by the cheering of the cultivators. "This is the power of the Great Five Elements Qiankun Formation, terrifying indeed!" Qi Hong eximed. Yu Qingtan was also profoundly shocked. The Protective City Formation of Suichuan Immortal City was known as the Great Five Elements Qiankun Formation, a truly top-tier Third Stage pinnacle formation. Although primarily defensive and its main power directed outwards, the Five Elements Extinction Divine Light that had just been shot down still easily dealt with a group of First and Second Stage Demonic Beasts. After the chaos within the Immortal City caused by the demons had been suppressed, the Demonic Beasts outside also retreated. Yu Qingtan and others returned to the courtyard where Song Zhenkai was located. Soon, everyone received news. "This Demonic Beast night attack and the luring away of City Lord Ouyang to infiltrate the city and cause trouble were all part of the Demonic Beasts¡¯ cunning plot. Moreover, Hu Kaishan, the boss of Shanjun Valley, had hidden in an attempt tounch a surprise attack on City Lord Ouyang. But City Lord Ouyang anticipated the enemy¡¯s ns, pretended to be injured, and waited for them to lower their guard. Suddenly striking back, he seriously injured Hu Juanshan instead and single-handedly and effortlessly fought against Hu Kaishan and Ying Poku, the two Third Stagete-phase Heavenly Demons, forcing them to retreat," Qi Hong was full of admiration as he spoke of the news he had received. Everyone listened, hearts racing with longing. As Cultivators, we should all aspire to such heights. "With the return of City Lord Ouyang to the Immortal City, the Demonic Beasts¡¯ schemes immediately crumbled to dust. The City Lord is truly a role model for our generation." "Were it not for City Lord Ouyang, the Immortal City would have been in peril! In the battle outside the city, more than seven thousand Cultivators fell, and due to the inner chaos caused by demons, another three thousand-plus Cultivators were killed. Since the onset of the beast tide, our Immortal City has lost eighteen Foundation Establishment Cultivators." Song Zhenkai spoke with a hint of sorrow in his voice. "It is said that the disruption of the formation nodes was the work of a traitor," Huang Jin said. "Nothing is more despicable than a traitor. If we find out who it is, we must crush their bones and scatter their ashes." Qi Hong spoke angrily, with everyone else equally indignant. ... Early the next morning, Qi Hong, Ge Wenyu, Huang Jin, Zeng Jie, and Song Zhenbo all took their men and left. But soon, Huang Jin came back alone. "Miss Qing Tan, my Young Master has instructed me to continue protecting you until the beast tide is over." "Thanks to Young Master You and Steward Huang." After that, the Demonic Beasts quieted down again for four days. Watching her Charm Points grow by thousands each day, Yu Qingtan felt joy in her heart. Five dayster, at night, the Demonic Beasts began arge-scale offensive once more. The Immortal City immediately organized a Cultivator Army to meet the attack. However, after the two sides engaged in battle, a strange sound, like the wailing of infants, suddenly echoed across the battlefield. The Cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Stage fighting immediately felt dizzy and disoriented, unable to properly use their spells and magic artifacts, while the Demonic Beasts werepletely unaffected, and the human side suffered heavy casualties as a result. Luckily, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators were not affected. Themanding Foundation Establishment Cultivators immediately signaled to retreat, and the Cultivators hurriedly withdrew into the city, relying on the Protective City Formation to fend off the Demonic Beast attack. Yet, even under the protection of the Protective City Formation, that strange crying sound still affected the Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators. Sealing off their hearing did not help. Although the effect inside the formation was less than a third of that outside, it still greatly reduced the Cultivators¡¯ ability to counterattack, causing a sharp increase in the consumption of the Protective City Formation. "City Lord, what is that sound?" Atop the city wall, within one of the towers, was the headquarters directing the defense against the beast tide. Family Head Song Guisheng of the Song family asked. The others also looked towards Ouyang Wenjian at the head of the table. At this moment, everyone¡¯s reverence for Ouyang Wenjian intensified; those experienced Foundation Establishment Cultivators in particr knew just how powerful the City Lord had proven himself to be these past days. "That is a type of Demonic Beast that lives deep in the Yunhua Mountain Range. It resembles an eagle, has the face of a monkey, and its cry is like the wail of an infant; it¡¯s called a Monkey-faced Eagle. They rarely show themselves before people, so it¡¯s normal that you don¡¯t know about them. Their cries have a Soul Attack effect, which is one of their Innate Divine Abilities. I didn¡¯t expect Hu Kaishan and Ying Poku to have enlisted their help." Ouyang Wenjian indeed answered everyone¡¯s questions. "So that¡¯s what it is. Since the City Lord is aware of this type of Demonic Beast, is there a way to deal with it?" Patriarch Ge Yongshou of the Ges asked. "The Innate Divine Ability of the Monkey-faced Eagle is not third-stage, so its power is actually quite average. The ones that came are probably just one second-stage and several first-stage. Things like the Purifying Heart Talisman, Heart Cleansing Pill, Calming Incense, and such can all be used to defend against them. But..." Chapter 52: Qing Tan Volunteering at Zhen Yingti Ouyang Wenjian did not finish his words, but everyone understood. Purifying Heart Talismans, Heart Cleansing Pills, Calming Incense, and the like were not cheap and their production was not high; it was impossible to supply them to several hundreds of thousands of cultivators. "City Lord, how about implementing a targeted ying of these Monkey-faced Eagles?" Family Head of the Qis, Qi Zhe, suggested. "The Monkey-faced Eagles have some origins with that monkey from the Yunhua Mountain Range, so it¡¯s not convenient for me to make a move. Furthermore, they like hiding at the very back, making it difficult to seed if you were to take action," the City Lord responded. Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent. "s, let¡¯s defend with the Protective City Formation first. The Monkey-faced Eagles can¡¯t use their innate abilities continuously. In addition, the Qis will rush to produce a new batch of Calming Talismans. When the timees, we¡¯ll distribute them to the cultivators going out to fight, to avoid being caught off guard like today." "That¡¯s all we can do," they agreed. ... In the courtyard where Yu Qingtan was located. Because of the appearance of the Monkey-faced Eagles, the number of injured had surged today. People were frantically busy. Fortunately, the cultivators retreated into the city in time, but there were still Qi Cultivation early stage cultivators falling unconscious under the influence of the crying sounds, even with the protection of the Great Array. "This should be a type of soul attack. Although its strength is average, the souls of those at the Qi Cultivation stage are very weak, especially those at the initial stage," Song Zhenkai said after reviewing the situation of the rted injured andbining the intelligence sent from the frontlines. "Fetch the Heart Cleansing Pills, grind them to powder and then mix with water for them to drink. However, use them sparingly; we don¡¯t have many Heart Cleansing Pills left," he instructed. Yu Qingtan and others acted ordingly. However, the Heart Cleansing Pills quickly ran out. And yet, the unconscious continued to be brought in from time to time. "Ah, fortunately, they will wake up on their own in three to ten days at most, even without treatment," Song Zhenkai said somewhat helplessly. At that moment, Yu Qingtan thought of a method that might be useful and said, "Song Daoist Friend, I have casually learned a piece called ¡¯Purification of Soul,¡¯ which is quite beneficial to the soul. I want to try to see if it could be effective for them." Song Zhenkai¡¯s eyes lit up and he said, "Yu Daoist Friend, we¡¯ll know if you try." So the two went into arge room where the unconscious were kept. Yu Qingtan took out a zither from her Storage Bag, ced it on the round table and directly started to y ¡¯Purification of Soul.¡¯ The sound of the zither was melodious and lingering, like a breeze over the grasnds, yet also like a mountain stream, naturally bringing peace to the listener¡¯s mind. Once the piece concluded. Two cultivators at the thirdyer of Qi Cultivation opened their eyes, sat up by themselves, and looked around in a daze. "It¡¯s indeed effective," Song Zhenkai rejoiced, and Yu Qingtan also felt greatly relieved. "Yu Daoist Friend is truly capable," Song Zhenkai praised, then went forward to check on the two that had awakened, found that they were indeed all right, and had someone take them out first. Yu Qingtan continued ying ¡¯Purification of Soul.¡¯ One after another, those who were unconscious began to awaken. Song Zhenkai then had Shen Wanning assist Yu Qingtan by timely arranging for the awakened to be taken out. He also thoughtfully brought over a set of a zither table and chair for Yu Qingtan. The Demonic Beasts attacked the Protective City Formation for an entire night, and although the Formation was as solid as a rock, its consumption was too great. Yu Qingtan also sessfully used ¡¯Purification of Soul¡¯ to awaken all the rted unconscious that had been brought to the courtyard. "You¡¯ve worked hard, Miss Qing Tan," Song Zhenkai said to Qing Tan. Yu Qingtan was enjoying the shoulder massage service from Shen Wanning. "It¡¯s what I should do, but I¡¯ve only awakened a small portion of the people. I hope that Song Daoist can help report to the higher-ups so that we can gather all those who areatose due to the crying sound. I will heal them all together. Also, I want to try going to the front line to see if my zither music can suppress the influence of the crying sound." Like the healing courtyard where Yu Qingtan was, Immortal City had established two hundred. Upon hearing that Yu Qingtan wanted to go to the frontline, Shen Wanning¡¯s hand tightened and she said, "Qing Tan, the frontline is too dangerous, don¡¯t go." Song Zhenkai also said, "Daoist Yu, there will certainly be no problem with treating theatose, but going to the frontline is indeed too risky and, it¡¯s said that the source of this sound has a Second Stage Major Demon, your zither music may find it difficult to suppress." "Wanning, Daoist Song, I know my own limits. I feel my Zither Art is about to make a breakthrough, and there will definitely be people protecting me on the frontline. Whether it works or not, I have to try," Qing Tan insisted. "Alright," Song Zhenkai could only agree. During the day, the Demonic Beasts did not attack again. Yu Qingtan rested briefly for one hour and was then led by Song Zhenkai to a building simr to a sports stadium from her previous life, packed with cultivators lying densely inside. "Daoist Yu, this is the great elder of the Song family, responsible for coordinating the medical department of the entire alliance," Song Zhenkai introduced a cultivator with half-white hair but a ruddyplexion. "Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s Yu Qingtan offers greetings to Elder Song," she said. "No need for such formalities, I am Song Guihe. My boy Zhenkai has praised you very much. Indeed, upon seeing you, you truly stand out from the ordinary." "Elder Song overpraises me," she replied modestly. "Do not be modest, Daoist Yu, these six thousand plus cultivators are relying on you for healing. Look, this is a zither called Quan Ning I¡¯ve specially found for you. Though it¡¯s only a first-rate Magic Artifact of the First Stage, it has an excellent tone and can adjust volume. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll like it," the elder said. Yu Qingtan also fell in love with this Quan Ning zither, which was ck throughout with hints of dark green, at first sight. "I will humbly ept the generous gift; thank you, Elder Song." Yu Qingtan saluted Song Guihe once again, then approached the zither table, tried out the sound, adjusted the volume, and then began to y "Purification of Soul." Beforeing here, Yu Qingtan spent two Affection Value Points to buy two First Stage Skill Upgrade Cards, enhancing her Zither Art to the Great Aplishment. The sound of the zither drifted through the air, calming even Song Guihe, who was at thete stages of Foundation Establishment. When the piece ended, more than half of the cultivators in the venue had awakened. However, those who had awoken did not speak or disturb the tranquility but continued to listen in silence. This was not only because the zither music brought peace, but also because the walls of the building had arge "Silence" character on the left side, "No Noise Allowed" on the right side, and right under the stage where Yu Qingtan yed the zither, there hung arge banner. "Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s Yu Qingtan uses the zither music to relieve everyone from the influence of the Demonic Beasts¡¯ crying sound. Please keep quiet!" This was naturally Yu Qingtan¡¯s suggestion; although a bit awkward, if she wasn¡¯t embarrassed, then the others would feel embarrassed. Moreover, to rue Charm Points, she had to ensure her good deeds were well-recognized. After three repetitions of "Purification of Soul," all the cultivators had awakened. Song Guihe was full of praise for this, leaving Song Zhenkai to handle the follow-up matters while he took Yu Qingtan to meet the City Lord Ouyang. "Is that Qing Tan? She¡¯s indeed as beautiful as I had imagined¡«" "Miss Qing Tan¡¯s zither music is so delightful. Is this something I can listen to without spending Spirit Stones?" "Miss Qing Tan has saved me twice now, from now on I am her loyal hound." "I never thought I, Leng Mou, would fall after so many years of rigorous cultivation." "I¡¯m sorry, but today I realized that I don¡¯t love you, let¡¯s get a divorce." "Divorce your head, how could you even think you¡¯re worthy of carrying shoes for someone like Miss Qing Tan, stop your delusions." Chapter 53: Purifying Soul Achieves Merit and Fame Again Song Guihe led Yu Qingtan to the city tower that served as themand center. "City Lord, Yu Qingtan has been brought here," Song Guihe said as he paid his respects to Ouyang Wenjian. "Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s Yu Qingtan, greets the City Lord," Yu Qingtan bowed deeply as she greeted him. "Youngdy, there¡¯s no need for such formalities." Upon hearing this, Yu Qingtan straightened her body and looked towards City Lord Ouyang Wenjian ahead of her. Fortunately, this was the Cultivation World, where not too many cumbersome rites were required. The seat of City Lord Ouyang Wenjian was only raised by one step, allowing Yu Qingtan to see him without the need to look up. This was the first time Yu Qingtan had seen Ouyang Wenjian up close. He had a square face, slightly darkplexion, furrowed brow, and hair showing strands of white. Far from the imposing aura of a powerful figure one might expect, he seemed more like an ordinary old man. Only his bright, piercing eyes prevented Yu Qingtan from making eye contact for too long. "Youngdy, your idea of using music scores has been excellent. I intended to meet you originally, and you¡¯ve surprised me once again. I heard you¡¯ve awakened those who were unconscious, and you did very well. How confident are you about suppressing the cries of the Monkey-faced Eagles as you mentioned?" Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s tone was gentle,cking the booming authority Yu Qingtan had heard previously, which gave her a feeling of being unexpectedly favored. "Reporting to the City Lord, Qing Tan dares not im any certainty; she can only do her best." "Youngdy, this is a matter concerning the life and death of many cultivators; how can you say you don¡¯t have any certainty? Perhaps you could present your music score and let the zither masters of the Foundation Establishment Stage take care of this matter." "Qi Zhe, it seems you¡¯re prepared to lose all face. Even targeting a youngdy¡¯s possessions, why don¡¯t you offer your family¡¯s inheritance of the Purifying Heart Talisman to address this matter?" "Song Guisheng, you¡¯re causing a scene over nothing. If others listen to the zither music several times, they might be able to write down the score. Can one simply replicate the Purifying Heart Talisman just by looking at it a few times? Moreover, I didn¡¯t say I wouldn¡¯tpensate Miss Yu." "Hmph, it seems you¡¯re the one twisting words into logic." "Alright, enough quarreling, we don¡¯t want the younger generation tough at us. Youngdy, Qi Zhe has a point. Fortunately, your Tower Master is here as well; she is a grandmaster of the zither. How about you y for us here?" "Qing Tan has no objections. Greeting the Tower Master, Qing Tan will now humbly perform." Yu Qingtan responded, then turned to Gongsun, the Tower Master, beside her and gave a bow. She took out her Spirit Dew Zither, sat down at the zither table prepared earlier, and began to y "Purification of Soul." In the Cultivation World, music scores actually did have copyrights, mostly on a moral level, such as "Love of Butterfly Lovers." Since it wasn¡¯t publicly licensed, only Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning from Tianxiang Pavilion yed it. Although Yu Qingtan felt slightly perturbed at that moment, she had anticipated such a situation. After finishing her performance, Yu Qingtan put away the zither, stood up, and bowed to Ouyang Wenjian and the others. "Your zither art has indeed greatly improved; it seems I have taken advantage of you. This half-bottle of Spirit Dew is for yourpensation," Gongsun, the Tower Master, said with a smile as she took out a small jade bottle and sent it through the air to Yu Qingtan. "Thank you, Tower Master!" Then Gongsun, the Tower Master, approached the zither table, took out a beautifully crafted zither, and gently began to y. The melody was identical to Yu Qingtan¡¯s. However, soon Gongsun and everyone else in the room furrowed their brows. Even though the tune was the same, when Yu Qingtan yed there was a sense of tranquility and harmony emanating from her soul, which was absent when Gongsun yed. It wasn¡¯t long before Gongsun finished ying as well. "It seems this piece is quite extraordinary; it requires specific inheritance to exert its special effects," Gongsun said as she stood up. Such restrictions are often rted to a Heavenly Oath, so the crowd was not surprised. "As such, we must trouble you, youngdy. You need not feel too much pressure; we shall make all necessary preparations. Even if it doesn¡¯t seed, the consequences won¡¯t be as severe as Qi Zhe suggested. You should go and rest now," City Lord Ouyang said, even offering Yu Qingtan some reassurance. "Qing Tan takes her leave." ``` Aftering out, Yu Qingtan took a deep breath, feeling great pressure in thepany of a group of influential figures. Then Yu Qingtan was arranged to rest in a small courtyard very close to the city wall. Yu Qingtan seized the time to cultivate. As night fell, the demonic beasts began their assault. "Boom~ Boom~ Boom~" The sound of the drums rose, and cultivators went out of the city to meet the enemy. At the same time, on a high tform on the city wall, Yu Qingtan began to y "Purification of Soul". The sound of the zither was transmitted to the battlefield through a sound-amplifying formation. Around Yu Qingtan were a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a team of Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators for protection. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator was none other than the Family Head of the You family, You Xiantong. He had volunteered for this task. Naturally, his purpose was to forge a good rtionship with Yu Qingtan. On the battlefield outside the city, the conflict between the two sides had not been raging for long before a series of sounds resembling the cries of infants came from behind the demonic beasts. The leading Foundation Establishment Cultivator immediately took out a Purifying Heart Talisman and got ready. However, under the cover of Yu Qingtan¡¯s zither music, the Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators fought more calmly and clearly, and the cry of the monkey-faced eagles had no effect on them whatsoever. The cultivators rejoiced at once, their morale soaring. "Kill!" "Charge, take down these beasts." Seeing this, the cultivators on the city wall also went all out with the Spirit Stone Cannons, suppressing the oing demonic beasts from behind. After two hours of fierce fighting, the horde of demonic beasts finally retreated. After the battle ended, Song Guihe, the great elder of the Song family, came together with Gongsun Yurong, the Tower Master of Tianxiang Pavilion. "Qingtan, well done," praised Gongsun, the Tower Master. "This time, young Yu has made a great contribution," Song Guihe also found Yu Qingtan more and more agreeable. "Resisting the beast tide is everyone¡¯s duty; these are all things Qingtan ought to do." "Modest and unflustered, I¡¯m even thinking of stealing you away from Gongsun, the Tower Master." "Hehe, our Tianxiang Pavilion has always allowed the redemption of disciples within the pavilion, as long as there¡¯s mutual consent, Tianxiang Pavilion will not hinder it," Tower Master Gongsun replied with augh. "We¡¯ll talk about that in the future!" Song Guihe changed the subject. "You may not hinder it, but the price is up to you. I don¡¯t know what astronomical figure you¡¯ll set for someone like Qingtan," thought Song Guihe. Then he said to Yu Qingtan, "Originally, the Merit Department nned to issue credits after the battle, but since you¡¯re now on this side, you¡¯re also half part of thebat division. With the battle this time and your previous work in the medical department, the Merit Department has awarded you thirteen hundred Merit Points. Here is a list of materials that can be exchanged for merit points, take a look and see if there¡¯s anything you need, you can go to the Merit Department to exchange at any time." Yu Qingtan took the Jade Slip that was passed to her. Tower Master Gongsun also passed a Jade Token, saying, "This is the identity jade of a core disciple within Tianxiang Pavilion, from now on you¡¯re a core disciple of our pavilion, enjoying the highest disciple benefits, and you can enter Tianxiang Valley to be an Inner Sect Disciple whenever you wish." "Thank you, Tower Master, and thank you Elder Song!" After the two gave their gifts, they left, and Yu Qingtan went back to report her safety to Shen Wanning with Huang Jin apanying her, before returning to the small courtyard. This small courtyard was also protected by a formation. Huang Jin lived in the neighboring small courtyard. Back in the room, Yu Qingtan took out the Jade Slip with the list of materials. ``` Chapter 54: Seriously Injured by a Cunning Attack "Foundation Establishment Pill, 3000 Merit Points; Purple Spirit Jade, 800 Merit Points; Ascension Pill, 400 Merit Points; First Stage High-grade Spirit Gathering Array, 200 Merit Points; First Stage High-grade Minor Five Elements Universe Formation, 150 Merit Points; First Stage Superior Magic Artifact, Crimson Sun Sword, 100 Merit Points; Second Stage Inferior Lightning Attraction Talisman, 100 Merit Points each; First Stage High-grade Magical Robe, 70 Merit Points each; First Stage Thunder Seed, 50 Merit Points each; Spirit Dew, 20 Merit Points a drop; Wastnd Crystal, 10 Merit Points a piece; Medium Grade Spirit Stone, 10 Merit Points each; First Stage High-grade Purifying Heart Talisman, 10 Merit Points a set; 100 Spirit Stone mortgage loan, 8 Merit Points; ... Looking at the densely packed list of materials on the Jade Slip, Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes shone with eagerness. However, Merit Points were not so easy toe by. Previously, Yu Qingtan and the others earned about 1 Merit Point for rescuing each of the 100 people, and Song Zhenkai even more. On the battlefield, killing 2 First Stage Demonic Beasts brought only 1 Merit Point, a mid-stage First Stage Demonic Beast 2 Merit Points, and ate-stage First Stage Demonic Beast 10 Merit Points. Yu Qingtan had also earned 1300 Merit Points because she used ¡¯Purification of Soul¡¯ to awaken several thousand cultivators who had been knocked unconscious by the Monkey-faced Eagles, and she had suppressed the screeching of the Monkey-faced Eagles on the battlefield. After considering for a while, Yu Qingtan decided not to exchange her points immediately to see if she could save up enough to get a Foundation Establishment Pill for 3000 Merit Points. Although she had a system, she felt she might not need a Foundation Establishment Pill to achieve Foundation Establishment, but it¡¯s always good to be prepared. Even if she didn¡¯t end up using it herself, Shen Wanning would need it. After making her decision, Yu Qingtan peacefully returned to her cultivation. As for the core disciple status given by Tower Master Gongsun, it allowed Yu Qingtan¡¯s monthly stipend to increase to 200 Spirit Stones and gave her the choice to learn a unique spell from Tianxiang Pavilion. In addition, she was scheduled to perform once a day, but could choose whether she wanted to perform. However, the revenue was still split 90 to the house and 10 to her. ... At night, the Demonic Beasts continued their assault. Yu Qingtan still yed ¡¯Purification of Soul¡¯ on the high tform. This time the cries of the Monkey-faced Eagles did not emerge. However, the cultivators discovered that Yu Qingtan¡¯s music had a calming and focusing effect, somewhat like a mild buff for the Cultivator Army, so the higher-ups decided that regardless of whether the Monkey-faced Eagles appeared, Yu Qingtan should stay at her post. Yu Qingtan was naturally happy with this arrangement. Days passed like this, with the Demonic Beasts attacking daily, sometimes during the day and sometimes at night. The cries of the Monkey-faced Eagles also sporadically appeared on the battlefield. However, due to Yu Qingtan¡¯s presence, they had no significant impact. ... In the center of the Demonic Beast Army. Hu Kaishan, Hu Juanshan, Hu Geshan, Eagle Break Sky, and Eagle Strike Sky, five Heavenly Demons in human form, were discussing matters inside arge tent. "How are your wounds?" Hu Kaishan asked Hu Juanshan, Hu Geshan, and Eagle Strike Sky. "They are no longer a serious issue," said Hu Juanshan and Eagle Strike Sky. "I still need some time to recuperate. If I had more Second Stage Human Race flesh and blood, I could fully recover in three days," Hu Geshan said, grinning with bits of flesh and bone stuck between his teeth. "With Ouyang Wenjian, that old traitor there, the Second Stage Humans can only be hunted by our children. Where would we get so much for you to eat!" Hu Kaishan red at him as he spoke. When Ouyang Wenjian was mentioned, Hu Geshan shrank his neck and did not speak further. "Eagle Break Sky, you went to great lengths to enlist those Monkey-faced Eagles this time, but they don¡¯t seem to have been very effective," Hu Kaishan turned to Eagle Break Sky and said. "I have received news that it¡¯s because a Human kid has mastered a strange piece of music that happens to counter the Monkey-faced Eagles. I have already made arrangements, and that girl will be eliminated soon," Eagle Break Sky said. "That¡¯s good to hear!" said Hu Kaishan. "Big brother, since we can¡¯t break through the Protective City Formation, why do we keep attacking? We have suffered heavy losses recently!" Hu Geshan asked at this moment. "Idiot, why do you think they started the beast tide above us? Isn¡¯t it because the mountains can¡¯t sustain so many anymore? And haven¡¯t you been enjoying the demonic beast meat these past few days?" Hu Kaishan cursed. "Besides, who says we definitely can¡¯t break through the Protective City Formation of that Immortal City." Hu Kaishan and Eagle Break Sky exchanged a nce and both burst intoughter. ... "Miss Qing Tan!" "Miss Qing Tan!" "Greetings to Miss Qing Tan!" "Miss Qing Tan, we¡¯re counting on you again today." It was the eve of another great battle, and Yu Qingtan, apanied by Huang Jin, was heading from the small courtyard to the high tform on the city wall. Along the way, the cultivators who saw this beautiful and respectable youngdy all greeted her. Yu Qingtan also smiled and waved back. Just then, a cultivator in tattered clothes approached Yu Qingtan. "Miss Qing Tan, Miss Qing Tan!" he continued shouting. "Stop right there!" Huang Jin, seeing him continue to advance, called out to stop him. "Miss Qing Tan saved the lives of my whole family; I must thank her in person!" The cultivator shouted, not stopping his steps. Huang Jin felt something was amiss and stepped forward to intercept. Suddenly, the cultivator¡¯s speed surged. In the instant Huang Jin came into contact with him. "Bang~Bang~Bang!" Three loud explosions rang out, sending smoke billowing at the scene. The turn of events happened so abruptly. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t have time to react. She was flipped backward by the violent shockwave of the explosion. At the same time, she lost consciousness. The scene was in chaos. A few breathster, Song Guihe flew in on his sword to the spot. He found Yu Qingtan, who had lost consciousness and was barely breathing. His face turned ashen. Just as he was about to take out a Healing Elixir, his vision blurred, and Ouyang Wenjian appeared beside Yu Qingtan lying on the ground. With a flick of his finger, a pill fell into Yu Qingtan¡¯s mouth, followed by a thread of liquid that poured in, pushing the pill down her throat. Then, a nket was ced over Yu Qingtan¡¯s body. "Second Stage high-grade Creation Pill, Heavenly Star Spiritual Liquid!" Song Guihe eximed. Creation Pills, sacred medicine for healing. Heavenly Star Spiritual Liquid, a Second Stage Spiritual Material, a treasured medicine for Body Refinement, mild in nature. Then, with a series of whooshing sounds, almost all the high-ranking members of the alliance arrived on the scene. "A Second Stage low-grade Thunder Seed and two First Stage high-grade Thunder Seeds, a suicide attack. If the youngdy didn¡¯t have a notable Body Refinement skill, she might have perished instantly just like Huang Jin," Ouyang Wenjian said somberly. "I¡¯ve already treated her, and she should wake up in about ten days. Tower Master Gongsun, please take her to rest for now. Keep her protected and don¡¯t let this kind of thing happen again." Ouyang Wenjian continued. "Yes!" Gongsun Yurong replied, took out a Flying Boat, and left the area with Yu Qingtan. "We will notunch an attack today. Rely on the Great Array for defense. Go! The reconnaissance department has failed this time; they must make up for their negligence as soon as possible!" Ouyang Wenjian continued to issue orders. "Yes!" Everyone answered in unison and then flew off on their swords. It was obvious that Ouyang Wenjian was not pleased, and no one dared to provoke him. As the head of the reconnaissance department from the Qis, Family Head Qi Zhe was under immense pressure. The Protective City Formation¡¯s nodes had been damagedst time clearly due to internal betrayal, but they hadn¡¯t found any clues. They were already in a disadvantageous position and now this incident had urred. "Damn traitor!" Qi Zhe thought angrily to himself. Chapter 55 - 55 Immortal Citys Final Trump Card Revealed In the following days, the frequency and scale of the Demonic Beast siege on the city intensified. Due to the influence of the Monkey-faced Eagles, the Human Race relied on the Protective City Formation for defense. While the Demonic Beasts suffered tremendous losses, the number of Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators who fell unconscious each day still reached four to five thousand, and that was after using arge number of Purifying Heart Talismans, Heart Cleansing Pills, and Calming Incense. The expenditure of Spiritual Energy by the Protective City Formation was what troubled Ouyang Wenjian the most. On the evening of the sixth day, the Demonic Beastsunched theirrgest-scale attack. Including the healed Eagle Jiu Kong, all six Heavenly Demons appeared to battle Ouyang Wenjian once again. Two hundred and sixty Second Stage Major Demons led a dense horde of First Stage Demonic Beasts to attack the Protective City Formation from all directions simultaneously. There were approximately one hundred and sixty Foundation Establishment Cultivators in Suichuan Immortal City; after ounting for those who had perished and others who could not participate in battle, around one hundred twenty were fighting on the city walls. Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators took turns joining the battle in batches. While the fierce battle raged on, a certain cave underground near the City Lord¡¯s Mansion in Suichuan Immortal City. This was where the main channel that supplied Spiritual Energy from the city¡¯s Spirit Vein to the Protective City Formation was located. At that moment, extremely rich Spiritual Energy was continuously gushing from arge Spiritual Spring, which had been nurtured by the Spirit Vein, into arge Array te above. Next to the Spiritual Spring, a grey-haired elderly cultivator sat cross-legged. It was the cultivator assigned by the City Lord¡¯s Mansion to guard this ce. "Immobilize!" Suddenly, a voice echoed in the cave, and immediately a ck-d masked cultivator emerged from one side of the cave wall. Apanying him was a golden, hiltless, small sword that hurtled toward the elderly cultivator at high speed. The sword pierced through his skull under his horrified gaze, then circled back and stabbed through his Dantian from the back. These were a high-grade Second Stage Immobilization Talisman and a Charm Treasure. The elderly cultivator at thete stage of Foundation Establishment fell directly under the sneak attack of these two means. Then, the ck-d masked cultivator ced severalrge stones over the Spiritual Spring. Spirit-Sealing Stones. Instantly, the transmission of Spiritual Energy from this vein to the Protective City Formation was almost cut off. Outside on the battlefield. The bodies of the Demonic Beasts already piled up to two-thirds of the city wall¡¯s height, and the Spirit Stone Cannons atop the wall were temporarily unusable due to overload. The Spiritual Power of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators was depleted by more than half, and the Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators had already been rotated three times. Suddenly, the light membrane formed by the Protective City Formation darkened abruptly, and some attacks from Second Stage Major Demons directly breached it, striking the cultivators on the city wall. Seeing this turn of events, the Demonic Beasts became wildly excited and attacked even more vigorously, while many of the cultivators were greatly frightened, sparking chaos. "The Protective City Formation has actually been breached!" "Ah, the Demonic Beasts are going to break in, run for it!" "Everyone hold steady, don¡¯t panic!" At this moment, Feng Zhongming appeared in the sky above the Immortal City, emitting the pressure of the Golden Core Stage as he bellowed. Foundation Establishment Cultivators nearing the end of their stage, such as Song Guihe, Song Guisheng, Qi Zhe, Qi Yong, Ge Yongshou, Ge Lian, Ouyang Wuqing, Gongsun Yurong, and Liu Sandao, also erupted with their full strength at various points on the city wall to stabilize the situation. Even so, several sections of the city wall were breached by Demonic Beasts, which then swarmed into the city. Not far from the Immortal City, Ouyang Wenjian was surrounded by the six Heavenly Demons in the sky, but his defense was imprable, and he even managed to counterattack asionally. When the Protective City Formation encountered trouble, both sides immediately felt it. Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s expression changed, and suddenly, he exerted his strength, broke free from the encirclement, and prepared to return to the Immortal City. But the Heavenly Demons wouldn¡¯t let him have his way, they all went all out, forcing Ouyang Wenjian to turn back and defend. A sh of fierce light appeared in Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s eyes, but in the end, he didn¡¯t use his strongest trump card and continued to engage with the six major Heavenly Demons. Meanwhile, inside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, in Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s Cultivation Room, a figure opened his eyes and then disappeared into the ground. Soon, this person also emerged from the stone walls of the Spiritual Spring cave. With a sweep of his Divine Sense, his anger was hard to suppress. Without wasting words, he took action, forming a small golden sword that pierced towards the ck-robed, masked Cultivator who was arranging the Formation. Golden Sword Technique. The ck-robed, masked Cultivator was shocked and said, "Golden Core Cultivator, who are you?" At the same time, a small silver shield appeared in his hand, into which he poured Spiritual Power, and the shield quickly grew to the size of a person, blocking the attack of the small golden sword and shattering it into spiritual light. "Pseudo Golden Core Cultivator, Ancient Treasure." The Golden Core male Cultivator said, with a golden flying sword appearing in his hand. The flying sword soared into the air, glittering with light, and struck at the ck-robed, masked Cultivator. The ck-robed, masked Cultivator was extremely rmed, as the previous attack from the Golden Sword Technique only had the power of the early Golden Core stage, but the Spiritual Power fluctuations from this Magical Treasure flying sword had actually reached the Late Stage of the Golden Core. He frantically poured Spiritual Power into the shield, while another hand produced a Talisman. The golden flying sword struck down, cutting the Ancient Treasure shield in two, but the figure of the ck-robed, masked Cultivator disappeared just before being struck. "Little Teleportation Talisman, huh, I think I know who you are now." The Golden Core male Cultivator sneered, swung his right hand, and the flying sword swept across, turning the Spirit-Sealing Stone b covering the Spiritual Spring into dust. The channel for transmitting Spiritual Power was restored to normal, and the Protective City Formation¡¯s membrane began to recover. But there were already several hundred thousand Demonic Beasts rampaging inside the city. Outside a dpidated courtyard, a pack of Thornwood Jackals was attacking the Cultivation Technique, and a weak Second Stage medium-quality Formation was breached within three breaths. The pack of Thornwood Jackals stormed into the courtyard, and an old Cultivator, who had lost all his teeth, activated a Fireball Talisman before positioning himself in front of the door with arge saber. He was determined to protect his two-year-old beloved granddaughter. However, after the Fireball Talisman killed an early First Stage Thornwood Jackal, the enraged pack exuded blue light, and dense thorns shot towards the old man. He blocked with his saber for a breath before ultimately falling in despair. In a small alley, a team from the Enforcement Team was cornered by a group of Yellow-Crown Spined Pigs. The tenfold numerical difference did not frighten the members of the Enforcement Team; they shouted loudly. One used arge shield to block the assault of the Yellow-Crown Spined Pigs¡¯ spikes, while the others attacked the pig pack with Spells. s, the torrent of spikes kepting, quickly covering therge shield, crushing the Cultivator behind it, and exposing everyone to the rain of arrows. Outside a building decorated in pink, thousands of grey, red-eyed rabbits surrounded the ce. The lead three even emitted the aura of Second Stage Major Demons. These were Rogue Rabbits, herbivores with a taste for flesh, attacking a brothel that provided services to low-level Loose Cultivators at the moment. Inside, there was only one Cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment stage who was not good at fighting, and the Protective Array was only a First Stage top-grade, which was soon breached under the attack of thousands of Rogue Rabbits. The building reverberated with piercing screams of agony. Within Tianxiang Pavilion, Yu Qingtan was in deep recuperation. She too was under attack by tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts. Above was a group of Cloud Cranes and Bald Pigeons; below were Rogue Rabbits and Leopard-Patterned Pythons, with a pack of Yellow Weasels underground. Fortunately, Wei Jie, the main manager of Tianxiang Pavilion, was in charge, protected by a Second Stage Great Array, preventing the Demonic Beasts from invading for the time being. However, Wei Jie was extremely anxious, as most of the disciples of Tianxiang Pavilion were still outside. Chapter 56: What Purpose Does the Morning Sun Shine on the City of Sorrow? The situation in the courtyard where Shen Wanning and the others were located was indeed extremely dire. The moment demonic beasts entered the city, Song Guisheng immediately dispatched the Song family elites and all the reserve cultivators he could mobilize to protect the medical members. Liu Sandao also led the Protecting Disciples back to the city to protect the Tianxiang Pavilion disciples in the medical department. They were very close to the city wall. When they arrived, several courtyards had already been breached. A few days ago, when Shen Wanning heard that Yu Qingtan was seriously injured, she wanted to find her, but her request was denied. Fortunately, she also received news that Yu Qingtan had already been treated by the City Lord, so she had to continue working. The first wave to reach the courtyard where Shen Wanning was located was a group of long-armed Demon Apes. They climbed up the surrounding walls with great agility and jumped into the courtyard tounch their attack. The first to suffer were the Qi Cultivation novices lying on the ground, unconscious due to the influence of the Monkey-faced Eagles. The long-armed Demon Apes smashed their fists on the heads of these cultivators, then reached in and stuffed the blood-mingled brain matter into their mouths. The girls screamed in terror at the horrifying scene, but no one paid any attention tofort them. Song Zhenkai, along with the guards and lightly wounded, was engaged in a fierce battle with the long-armed Demon Apes. Song Zhenkai held a green cauldron-shaped magic artifact, both offensive and defensive, from which he could also shoot fireballs. However, fighting alone against twote-stage First Stage long-armed Demon Apes, he was just managing to hold his ground. Shen Wanning bit her silver teeth tightly, holding the Qiushui Sword, ready to attack at any moment. At that moment, a long-armed Demon Ape leapt down from a tree and charged straight at Shen Wanning. Just as Shen Wanning was about to cast a spell and use her sword to attack, the long-armed Demon Ape suddenly had a cramp in its hind leg, then fell straight to the ground. Its head faced downward, and it happened to hit the most vulnerable part of its skull, the back of its head, on the edge of a step. It convulsed twice and theny still. Qi Yu, Lin Qiushuang, and others on guard were also stunned. That worked? Fortunately, at that moment, a streak of green sword light appeared and sliced into the group of long-armed Demon Apes. It was Song Zhenbo leading a dozen or so Song family cultivators to the rescue. With the addition of this fresh force, the long-armed Demon Apes were quickly ughtered to thest. After all, they were numerous but only had two at thete First Stage. However, just after the long-armed Demon Apes were eradicated, a swarm of Green-Waisted Demon Bees arrived at the courtyard. The buzzing of nearly a thousand Demon Bees made everyone in the courtyard tremble in soul and spirit, and the leading Green-Waisted Demon Bee, as thick as a man¡¯s thigh and emanating a Second Stage aura, also made Song Zhenbo¡¯s heart sink. Taking a deep breath, Song Zhenbo took out an elixir, ready to swallow it and fight desperately. At that moment, red shes appeared in the sky, and drops of fiery light rained down upon the swarm of Green-Waisted Demon Bees. Second Stage Rain of Fire Technique. The figure from the outside courtyard, perched in arge tree, was none other than Fu Nian. It turned out that after the chaos with the beasts in the city on a previous day, Fu Nian had secretly sought out Yu Qingtan, nning to covertly protect her through the beast tide to repay the debt of being saved. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t refuse, but when she volunteered to deal with the Monkey-faced Eagles, she asked him to look after Shen Wanning, given that there were many Foundation Establishment Cultivators where she was going, and it wouldn¡¯t be convenient for Fu Nian to follow. After Yu Qingtan was injured, he learned that she had been taken into Tianxiang Pavilion and continued to stay on guard here. When the Green-Waisted Demon Bees came into contact with the fiery light, their bodies burst into intense mes and quickly turned to ash. That Second Stage Green-Waisted Demon Bee, beingrger in size, got hit with many fiery lights despite trying to dodge, and immediately shrieked, a green mist appearing around it in an attempt to stop the fire from burning. Song Zhenbo would not miss such a golden opportunity. With a sh of his figure, the green long sword in his hand erupted with light as he made nting cuts to the left and right, attacking the Second Stage Green-Waisted Demon Bee. Wood Escape Technique, Green Wood Sword Technique. The Second Stage Demon Bee had no choice but to p its wings to dodge, but the mes that couldn¡¯t be suppressed on its body severely affected its strength and speed. After two rounds, the Green-Waisted Demon Bee could no longer evade, so it shot out a pitch-ck stinger, aiming at Song Zhenbo who had leaped up with his sword, striking down from mid-air. Song Zhenbo¡¯s offensive remained unchanged, his left hand pping out a talisman while a green shield took form simultaneously. "Pfft~" Song Zhenbo¡¯s long sword chopped halfway into the head of the Green-Waisted Demon Bee, and he too was knocked to the ground by the impact of the stinger. Fortunately, with the triple protection of the Wooden Shield Technique, an amulet, and his magical robe, Song Zhenbo was not seriously harmed. "Thank you, senior, for lending a hand!" Fu Nian did not respond. Song Zhenbo then led his people to eradicate the remnant Green-Waisted Demon Bees. At this moment, the third wave of demonic beasts also arrived at this ce. Five Saber-Toothed Tigers, two of which were at the Second Stage, and the other three were in thete First Stage. Amidst the roars of the tigers, Song Zhenbo and everyone inside the courtyard couldn¡¯t help trembling, with some people pinning their hopes on the Foundation Establishment senior who had just made a move. Yet even Fu Nian appeared solemn, as facing top-tier demonic beasts like Saber-Toothed Tigers, he too found it difficult to take on two at once. Just as the Saber-Toothed Demon Tigers were about to burst into the courtyard, five white beams of varying thickness suddenly descended from the sky, each striking the heads of the five Saber-Toothed Tigers. "Roar~ Awooo~" Amidst the screams, the fiverge Saber-Toothed Tigers fell to the ground, their heads spilling blood mixed with white substance from therge holes. At the same time, across various locations in Suichuan Immortal City, beams of white light fell, breaking the dark night sky, like a dazzling light show. Some demonic beasts were about to bite down on the defenseless, unconscious cultivators on the ground, some were carrying out beastly acts on female cultivators who were not particrly beautiful, and some wereunching fierce attacks on the buildings¡¯ protective arrays... But the moment the Five Elements Extinction Divine Light descended, all demonic beasts were unable to dodge, hitting their vital spots with precision, even the fastest Sky-Rending Eagle. They might be fast, but not faster than light. Soon, the howls of the demonic beasts gradually subsided. However, what followed was not the cheers of victory from the cultivators, but voices of pain and mourning. In the courtyard where Shen Wanning was, everyone also felt a surge of joy for surviving the ordeal, then deep sorrow ensued. Apart from the corpses of the demonic beasts, more than a hundred cultivators lost their lives to the two waves of the beast¡¯s assault in the courtyard. Once the demonic beasts broke through the defenses, they immediatelyunched a heavy attack on the nodes of the array, and by the time the array was restored, about ten percent of the nodes had been damaged. However, the Great Five Elements Qiankun Formation had more than three hundred nodes, with its own mysteries, and the damaged nodes only caused its power to decrease by about twenty percent. Even as the formation was restored, demonic beasts continued to flood into the city from the breaches in the defenses. Some Major Demons of the Second Stage sensed something was wrong, but it was toote to stop it. The nearly five hundred thousand demonic beasts that poured into the city were caught in a situation akin to locking the door to beat the dogs, and a dense rain of Five Elements Extinction Divine Light descended, annihting these beasts. Hu Kaishan and other Heavenly Demons, noticing such changes in the battlefield, gave the order to retreat with grim expressions, also halting their attack on Ouyang Wenjian. They couldn¡¯t understand why, despite having tied up Ouyang Wenjian, the formation was still able to recover, and moreover, someone else was able to control the formation and unleash the deadly move of the Five Elements Extinction Divine Light. To their knowledge, the only controller of the Protective City Formation was the City Lord, Ouyang Wenjian. In this battle, the demonic beasts suffered losses of more than eight hundred thousand, but Suichuan Immortal City also suffered heavy damages after being ravaged by the beasts, with over a hundred thousand cultivators dead and countless injured. As dawn approached, the morning sun shone over Suichuan Immortal City, now filled with ruins and rubble, while the cultivators were immersed in the agony of losing their family and friends. Chapter 57: The Villain Is Exposed, Qing Tan Awakens Over the next few days, the demonic beasts did not continue their attacks. Meanwhile, Suichuan Immortal City was busy repairing the damaged formation nodes. At the same time, a major event urred. The Qis were arrested as a n. City Lord Ouyang Wenjian personally intervened, and Qi Zhe ordered no resistance, resulting in the whole n surrendering without a fight. Three dayster, the City Lord¡¯s Mansion issued an announcement. The former head of the Qis, Qi Rui, used the "Golden Cicada Shedding" scheme, falsely iming to have passed away through ¡¯sitting in meditation¡¯ when in fact, he defected to the Demon Race. With this, he achieved a falsified state of ¡¯pill transformation¡¯ and covertly performed acts of treachery within the city. For the two incidents of chaos caused by demons inside the city, Qi Rui bore the primary responsibility, and so a citywide manhunt for Qi Rui began that day. As for the members of the Qis, they had been kept in the dark by Qi Rui. However, the Cultivation World is not a ce where one is held ountable for one¡¯s own actions alone. The Qis members were punished by having to forfeit half of their family wealth, each cultivator had to swear a Heavenly Oath never to betray the Human Race, and within one year they had to kill ten demonic beasts of the same rank; those under eighteen could have their family members do this on their behalf, and those who failed toplete the task would prepare to be sent to the mines. Only then were they released. Despite this, the reputation of the Qis in Suichuan Immortal City was utterly ruined, and some radicals even petitioned the City Lord¡¯s Mansion to execute all of the Qis¡¯ cultivators. The members of the Qis had no choice but to remain behind closed doors. On the fourth day, Yu Qingtan finally awoke. During these days, she felt as if she was in a warm ocean, sofortable it was intoxicating. Not until this day did she feel like she had drifted ashore. She opened her eyes and blinked. She found herself in a strange but luxurious bed, dressed in a beige nightgown. Sitting up, she recalled the scene before she had passed out. "I¡¯m not dead, that¡¯s really~" "If I had been killed by someone I don¡¯t even know in such a way, I¡¯m afraid I would be aughingstock among other transmigrators." "Miss Qing Tan, you¡¯re awake!" At this moment, a crisp female voice entered her ears. Turning her head, she saw a charming young girl enter from the outer room, noticing that she was sitting on the bed. "Where am I? Who are you?" Yu Qingtan asked. "This is Tianxiang Pavilion, I am the maid of the Tower Master. The Tower Master brought you back here and asked me to take care of you," she replied. "Thank you, Tower Master, and thank you, miss. I¡¯m fine now!" Yu Qingtan said. She had roughly assessed her physical condition and felt very good. "Hehe, of course, the City Lord even used a Second Stage top-grade Creation Pill and Heavenly Star Spiritual Liquid on you, Miss Qing Tan. You could say you¡¯ve turned misfortune into a blessing," the young maid said with a smile. "I see," Yu Qingtan realized, and couldn¡¯t help but admire the City Lord¡¯s generosity. Then she remembered seeing Huang Jin, who was blown to pieces before she lost consciousness, and her heart was filled with guilt and sorrow. If it weren¡¯t for him taking the brunt of it upfront, she probably would have died on the spot. "I¡¯ll fetch some food for you, Miss," said the young maid, seeing that Yu Qingtan was in low spirits; she then went out. After calming her emotions, Yu Qingtan opened her system panel. [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer 532/700, Body Refinement Sixth Layer 112/600] [Cultivation Techniques: Clear Water Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] [Spells: Beginner Cleansing Spell 88/100, Advanced Water Escape Technique 21/400, Minor Invisibility Technique 15/200, Minor Breath-Concealing Technique 5/200, Minor Water de Technique 36/200, Minor Water Curtain Technique 21/200, Beginner Object Controlling Technique 33/100, Beginner Wood Escape Technique 31/100, Beginner Wooden Shield Technique 17/100, Beginner Earth Wall Technique 12/100, Beginner Earth Spike Technique 11/100, Beginner Earth Escape Skill 15/100, Minor Rejuvenation Spell 56/200] [Skills: Advanced Exquisite Dance 35/400, Minor Butterfly Dance 46/200, Advanced Zither Art 90/400, Minor Chess Skill 25/200, Minor Calligraphy 13/200, Minor Painting Skill 7/200, Minor Spiritual Tailoring Skill 8/200] [Charm Points: 72085] [Affection Value: 25] [System Space Inventory: 27 Medium Grade Spirit Stones, 6212 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, Moon Branch Magpie Hairpin, Cherry Red Sword, Mysterious Seed, Uninscribed Token, 73 drops of Spirit Dew, Shadowless Needle and Xuan Turtle Shield and other magical artifacts, Ascension Pill and Spirit-Condensing Pill and other elixirs, Second Stage Escape Talisman, Immobilization Talisman and Amulet and other talismans, Jade Marrow Ganoderma and other spiritual medicines, Snow Silkworm Thread and other spiritual materials, Deep Sea Blue Crystal and Sun me Jade and other spirit ores] [System Shop: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Value), First Stage Cultivation Upgrade Card 1/3 (10 Affection Value), First Stage Spell Upgrade Card 6/10 (1 Affection Value), First Stage Skill Upgrade Card 6/10 (1 Affection Value)] [Lucky Draw: Draw once for 10 Charm Points (ten consecutive draws avable)] "My Qi Cultivation has improved a lot, and my Body Refinement has even reached the sixthyer directly; my physical strength should now be about the same as an average early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, right?" "I¡¯ve grown a bit taller again!" "I¡¯ve already umted over seventy thousand Charm Points, all my hard work hasn¡¯t been in vain, though I almost lost my life in the process." Yu Qingtan reflected deeply, feeling that although she needed to earn Charm Points and couldn¡¯t always y it safe, she still wasn¡¯t cautious enough. The increase in Affection Value also came from some bold cultivators who wrote love letters to Yu Qingtan and sent gifts. However, none were delivered personally; some were entrusted to Huang Jin for delivery, while others were left directly at the doorstep of the small courtyard where she lived. But that was too little; she would still need to find a way in the future. At that moment, a little girl came in with a bowl of Spirit Rice porridge and a te of pastries made from Spiritual Materials. Yu Qingtan was indeed hungry. She thanked her and started eating right away. At the same time, she inquired about the recent battles from the young girl. Upon hearing that the city¡¯s Protective Formation had been temporarily broken and Demonic Beasts rampaged through the Immortal City, Yu Qingtan immediately became anxious. "How are Wan Ning and the others?" "They¡¯re fine. The day before yesterday, she even took leave to visit you. But the Tower did suffer severe losses; it¡¯s said that nearly ten percent of our personnel were lost in this beast chaos, and tens of thousands died in the city." Upon hearing this number, Yu Qingtan gained a clearer understanding of the brutality of war. When she heard of the misfortune that befell the Qis, Yu Qingtan couldn¡¯t help but sigh. She had no good feelings towards the Qis, and she loathed traitors like Qi Rui. However, Qi Hong was an acquaintance after all, and he had been quite nice to her. As the two were talking, there was a sound of the door being pushed open from outside. Then the Tower Master, Gongsun Yurong, d in a red dress, walked in. Yu Qingtan and the young girl hurriedly got to their feet to pay their respects. "We¡¯ve seen the Tower Master." "No need for such formality. How are you doing, Qing Tan?" "Thanks to the Tower Master¡¯s concern, Qing Tan is fine now." "It¡¯s good that you¡¯re fine. We were negligent this time for not being able to keep you safe," Gongsun Yurong said as she pulled Yu Qingtan to sit down. "It¡¯s the enemy¡¯s cunning that¡¯s to me, it¡¯s a pity about Elder Huang..." "Hmm, we¡¯ve already discovered the traitor Qi Rui; it must have been him who nned this against you, and we¡¯ll definitely drag him out." "But Qing Tan, why didn¡¯t you share this wonderful item with us?" Tower Master Gongsun asked as she took something from her Storage Bag. A slightly damaged brassiere, the one Yu Qingtan was wearing when she got injured. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Yu Qingtan said, "Tower Master, this was just something I came up with on a whim, thinking I still needed to test it to see if it¡¯s genuinely useful." "Useful? I¡¯m sure it¡¯s definitely useful, you don¡¯t mind if I replicate a few, right?" Gongsun Yurong said. Of course, she had already replicated them and had put one on herself already. "Of course, I don¡¯t mind. I was actually nning to publicly release it soon." "Here¡¯s what I¡¯ll do then: I¡¯ll open a store at Tianxiang Pavilion and we¡¯ll split the profits twenty-eighty. Don¡¯t think it¡¯s too little; it¡¯s not easy for me either, there are so many people to support in the Pavilion! But what is this called?" Gongsun Yurong¡¯s beautiful face was filled with shrewd calction. "It¡¯s all up to the Tower Master to arrange. This is called a brassiere." "Then let¡¯s call it the Qing Tan Brassiere to promote the fact that you created it," Gongsun Yuroong said, having heard that Yu Qingtan somewhat liked fame, and thus she suggested. A chill ran through Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart. Determined not to be aughing stock among those who had traveled through time, she decisively refused with righteous indignation. "Tower Master, there¡¯s no need for that. I invented this simply to make it easier for female cultivators, not for any vain glory!" "Really? I think the name sounds quite nice." "Really, it¡¯s definitely true." "Well, alright then." Chapter 58: Xue Someone Dies a Worthy Death "However, now that you are healed, you still need to go to the frontline, as there¡¯s no telling when the Demonic Beasts might attack again. Rest assured, there will be two Foundation Establishment Cultivators protecting you at all times, and your Merit Points will be increased from 100 Merit Points an hour to 150 Merit Points an hour. Any questions?" Gongsun Yurong said. "No problem!" Yu Qingtan replied. So, Yu Qingtan was once again taken back to the small courtyard near the city wall where she had been staying by Gongsun Yurong. For the first time in her conscious state, Yu Qingtan took a ride on a Flying Boat. Even having taken an airne in her previous life, the sensation of flying in an open-top vessel was still particrly novel. Although it was open-top flying, in reality, there was a protective Formation barrier. Shortly after arriving at the small courtyard, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators arrived, and Gongsun Yurong left. "I have seen Patriarch You and Elder Ge! I will be in your care from now on!" Yu Qingtan saluted the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The two were none other than Patriarch You Xiantong of the You family and the fifth elder of the Ges, Ge Yongnian. Yu Qingtan was already familiar with the former and had also encountered thetter, so she recognized him. "Miss Qing Tan, there is no need for such formalities," they replied. "Patriarch You, I am deeply sorry for what happened to Elder Huang!" Yu Qingtan then gave a deep bow to You Xiantong. "Ah, Miss Qing Tan, there is no need for self-reproach. It was his duty, and his unfortunate encounter was caused by the Demonic Beasts and human traitors. We have already provided amplepensation and care for his family," You Xiantong sighed, showing his grief at the loss of a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer protector. Upon hearing this, Yu Qingtan felt somewhat relieved. Afterward, Yu Qingtan visited Shen Wanning and others, then returned to the small courtyard to cultivate. ... Elsewhere, Fang Ling hid in the shadows, looking towards arge residence not far away. "The Qis!" Fang Ling¡¯s eyes glinted with cold light. He had been observing from a distance using a special eye technique when Yu Qingtan was previously attacked in a suicide manner. Seeing the person he cherished being blown away, he was filled with rage and rushed to help. But just as he was about to reach her, City Lord Ouyang Wenjian had already arrived, and he heard Song Guihe¡¯s shocked cries of "Second Stage top-grade Creation Pill, Tian Xiang Spiritual Liquid." Knowing that Yu Qingtan was alive and had received treatment, he calmed down and did not proceed further. He then decided to track down the assant. Using some secret techniques provided by his ancestor, he spent quite some time finally finding out that the attacker was also a Loose Cultivator from the slums, with an eight-year-old son. But not long before, his son was suddenly kidnapped. The kidnappers were from the Qis. "Hehehe, young Ling, the Qis even have a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Do you want your ancestor to take action? Not a chicken or dog will be left alive! My spear is itching for a good fight~," the sleazy old man¡¯s voice resonated in his mind. Fang Ling ignored it and continued to lie in wait silently. It was said that the Qi family¡¯s ancestor was in closed-door death seclusion and did not emerge even during the beast tide. As night fell, a corpulent Cultivator, apanied by an attendant, appeared in Fang Ling¡¯s line of sight. Suddenly, a pool of blood-red spread before their eyes before everything turned ck, and they lost consciousness. ... In a dark and gloomy woodshed, Xue Gui opened his eyes. He then discovered that his cultivation had been sealed, his body tied, and his mouth gagged. "Mmmmmm~" Xue Gui tried to express his shock and fear. Although he was furious and rmed when his Storage Bag mysteriously disappeared not long ago, he had been assigned to the Merit Department since the beast tide started, making a fortune which made his days quite enjoyable; during both beast upheavals, he just happened to be in an area protected by the army. He had not expected to be kidnapped. "If you want to live, you better confess everything clearly, understand?" From behind, a sinister voice sounded. At the same time, a short knife was ced against his throat from the back. Xue Gui nodded vigorously. The cloth in his mouth was pulled out. "Name, age, cultivation level, status?" "Xue Gui, 38, Qi Cultivation seventhyer, Third Young Master of the Xue family. Hero, spare my life, I can give you whatever you want, be it Spirit Stones or something else." "Cut the nonsense. Do you know Xue Pan?" "I do, he¡¯s one of my nsmen." "He recently kidnapped a boy, are you aware of that?" "I know a bit." "Why did he kidnap the child? Where is the child?" Xue Gui hesitated, cursing Xue Pan half to death in his heart. "Speak!" The knife edged closer to his throat. "I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk, the child might be hidden in his courtyard." The knife drew even closer, fresh blood beginning to seep out, flowing onto Xue Gui¡¯s chest. Xue Gui broke into a cold sweat and pleaded, "Hero, spare my life, as long as you spare me, I will definitely capture that bastard Xue Pan and personally deliver him to you." "Hmph, do you know about Xue Pan¡¯s collusion with the Demon Race?" "I don¡¯t know anything about that!" Xue Gui became even more frantic upon hearing this. "You really don¡¯t know?" "I really don¡¯t know!" "Hehehe, little Lingzi, it seems this boy is unwilling to cooperate, shall the ancestor take action? Under the Soul Search Technique, we¡¯ll guarantee he¡¯ll disclose everything, even what position he uses on which day." "Fine!" Fang Ling did not reject the suggestion. Then, a ck bead on his chest emitted a puff of green smoke that enveloped Xue Gui¡¯s head. "Ahh~" Xue Gui screamed miserably. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the green smoke retracted back into the ck bead, and Xue Gui copsed on the ground, having fainted. "Hehehe, little Lingzi, he indeed doesn¡¯t know whether Xue Pan or even the Xue family has colluded with the Demon Race. However, there are two pieces of information you might find interesting." "Don¡¯t beat around the bush!" "One thing, the family ancestor, Foundation Establishment Cultivator Xue Wuheng, is too lucky. He was supposed to have reached the end of his lifespan and entered meditation to die thirty years ago, but he twice ventured into the Yunhua Mountain Range seeking opportunities, each time returning with gains that helped him break through to the mid Foundation Establishment stage. And Xue Pan, originally just a side branch member with average aptitude, has in recent years been favored by Xue Wuheng. There¡¯s definitely something fishy about that." "The other thing, this Xue Gui once conspired with Xiao Yan from Tianxiang Pavilion against the little girl you¡¯re fond of... But then Xiao Yan suddenly disappeared. Hehehe, and Xue Gui has touched the little girl¡¯s buttocks, something not even you, little Lingzi, have done, hehehe~" "Whoosh~" The sheathed dagger flew out, and a thin line of blood appeared on the throat of the unconscious Xue Gui. "Phwoosh~" A fireball materialized and fell upon Xue Gui¡¯s body. Fireball Technique, an essential skill for killing people, setting fires, and destroying corpses. The Xue family was just a small n, without methods like the Blood Tracking Technique. "Hehehe, little Lingzi, well done. A Cultivator should be decisive in killing. How about it, shall I, the ancestor, make a move and wipe out this Xue family?" "There¡¯s no need." ... "Whizz~" In the silent alley, an arrow tore through the quiet, pinning itself to the Qi family¡¯s main gate. The gatekeeper was shocked, waiting a while to see that there were no further attacks before cautiously looking around. There was nothing unusual in the direction from which the arrow hade. Looking at the arrow, there seemed to be a piece of paper tied to it. A gatekeeper removed the arrow, took off the paper, and his expression changed drastically at a nce. Hurrying into the house. Qi Zhe¡¯s face turned solemn when he saw the contents of the paper. "Qi Rui suspected to be hiding in Xue residence!" The first line, bold and erged, made it impossible for the Qi family to not treat the matter with caution. Chapter 59: Immortals Compete in the Ephemeral Regatta "The attack on Ms. Qing Tan from Tianxiang Pavilion was nned by Xue Pan of the Xues, and the Heavenly Thunder might have been conjured by Xue Wuheng. Xue Wuheng has repeatedly gained opportunities in the Yunhua Mountain Range and is suspected of allying with the Demon Race. Qi Rui might be his aplice." After reading the contents of the letter, Qi Zhe passed it to the third Elder, Qi Wei. "Could this be another conspiracy against our Qi family?" Qi Wei asked after reading it. "It¡¯s hard to say, but no matter what, we must take action. Like this, you should go to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion right now¡­" Former Qi family head Qi Rui was Qi Zhe¡¯s uncle. Qi Rui could be considered a hero of the Qi family, having developed it from a minor n into one of the three major families within Suichuan Immortal City. At this moment, Qi Rui was also the sinner of the Qi family. It was foreseeable that after this wave of Demonic Beasts, the Qis would suffer significant losses in strength. This was uneptable for the ambitious Qi Zhe. "Uncle, for the family, you should truly pass away." Qi Zhe¡¯s eyes became resolute. ... The following day. The Demonic Beasts, after resting for several days, once again began their assault. The Cultivator Army, filled with hatred, marched out of the city to meet the battle. Yu Qingtan once again ascended the high tform to y "Purification of Soul". This time, she wore the Magpie Crest Diadem made of Lunar Twigs. So that it could be activated at a moment¡¯s notice. In this battle, most of the Qi family¡¯s cultivators, including the family head Qi Zhe, personally took to the field, fighting with fearless ferocity. That was one of the conditions City Lord Ouyang Wenjian had set for their release. Although the Qis had a tarnished reputation at present, seeing them y Demonic Beasts so fiercely, the cultivators felt their spirits lift. It¡¯s worth noting that of the cultivators from the three major families who fought like this before, there was only one. Ge Wenxiong of the Ges, that once peerless prodigy with a single Metal Spirit Root. Now, he had turned to Body Cultivation, adopting a Body Refinement method that harnessed the aura of battle to aid in his training. During this onught of Demonic Beasts, the six Heavenly Demons did not join the fight. After a half-day of fierce battle, the Demonic Beasts retreated. ... Moments before the two armies shed, Ouyang Wuqing led his men to surround the Xue residence. The Xue family¡¯s senior Elder came out to meet them in a nervous hurry. "Captain Ouyang, what is this about?" the Elder approached with a forced smile and asked. The sister of Xue Wuheng, the family head of the Xues, was a concubine to City Lord Ouyang Wenjian; he was Xue Wuheng¡¯s brother and Ouyang Wuqing was Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s nephew. He was considered Ouyang Wuqing¡¯s elder, and being much older than Ouyang Wuqing, he dared not presume upon his age, especially since his own cultivation level was merely at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation. "Senior Elder Xue, the Enforcement Team has received a report that Xue residence is harboring Demon Race spies, so I¡¯vee to investigate," Ouyang Wuqing said without any particr fondness for the Xue family, and he was here on orders from the City Lord. "Captain Ouyang, could there be some misunderstanding? Our Xue family has ties to the City Lord; how could we possibly harbor Demon Race spies?" the senior Elder of the Xue family said anxiously. Thinking of the previously found unconscious attendant of Xue Gui and the missing Xue Gui himself, he felt that his family was being targeted. "Whether there¡¯s a misunderstanding or not is not for you to say, Senior Elder Xue. Will you deactivate the formation yourself or should we do it?" Ouyang Wuqing said sternly. "We will open it ourselves, pleasee in, Captain Ouyang," the senior Elder from the Xue family said, not daring to confront Ouyang Wuqing. "Search inside!" Leaving a team to surround the Xue residence, Ouyang Wuqing led his men inside. Soon, several members of the Enforcement Team escorted a person before Ouyang Wuqing. It was none other than Xue Pan. "Captain, Xue Pan has been arrested. In his room, a secret basement was found with nine boys aged between eight and twelve." The Enforcement Team member reported. "You demon spawn!" The family elder of the Xues trembled with rage as he cursed. "I didn¡¯t vite any of the Immortal City¡¯s prohibitions," Xue Pan defended himself weakly, trembling all over. "Hmph, now that your deeds have been uncovered, do you recognize Cai Wu?" At the mention of that name, Xue Pan shuddered even more violently and stammered, "I... I don¡¯t know him." Cai Wu was the very person who had used the Lightning Child to attack Yu Qingtan. With the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator emanating from him, Ouyang Wuqing spoke ominously, "It seems you are still not willing to confess truthfully. Have you heard of the ant punishment? It involves cing your hand into a box filled with soul-devouring ants, letting them bite off small pieces at a time, first one hand, then the other, followed by the feet." "Stop, I confess, I confess, it was all the Family Head¡¯s doing. He gave me the Lightning Child, and he also conspired with demonic beasts..." Xue Pan copsed to the ground, clutching his head and shouting loudly, and then suddenly, blood flowed from all seven orifices, and he died. "It¡¯s over, our Xue family is finished, big brother, how could you be so foolish!" The family elder of the Xues yelled, copsing backward, fainting on the spot. At that moment, Ouyang Wuqing abruptly turned his head. From a side door, a purple-robed old man approached with white hair, eyebrows, and beard, and a face lined with wrinkles, his expression filled with sorrow. "Wuqing, I once held you when you were a child, do you really have to be so heartless?" The old man was the Family Head of the Xues and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Xue Wuheng. "Consorting with demons, a crime unforgivable." "Oh Wuqing, you¡¯re not at that age yet. When you start aging year by year, and breaking through seems hopeless, you too would grasp at any straw. Wuqing, I just wanted to live. Why couldn¡¯t you all grant me this small wish? If that¡¯s the case, then you go to your death!" By the end, Xue Wuheng¡¯s face twisted fiercely as he conjured a charm paper, and above it, a phantom dagger appeared, shooting towards Ouyang Wuqing with rming speed and force. "Charm Treasure!" Confronted with the Charm Treasure, Ouyang Wuqing did not panic; he did not even attempt to defend himself. "Swish!" Suddenly, a wall of earth appeared before Ouyang Wuqing. The phantom dagger collided with it and disintegrated into spiritual light. At the same time, a figure appeared mid-air. "Ouyang Wenjian!" Xue Wuheng¡¯s face showed despair. "Take your own life. In consideration of Qing Tan, I won¡¯t harm the innocent people of the Xue family." Ouyang Wenjian spoke indifferently; Qing Tan was Xue Wuheng¡¯s sister and his concubine. "Hahaha, how I hate! But Ouyang Wenjian, one day you too will find yourself unable to advance, forced to watch yourself age until your life ends. Hahaha, I¡¯ll be waiting for you down there¡ªugh!" Xue Wuhengughed maniacally, then severed his own heart meridian. He knew that in front of Ouyang Wenjian, death was inevitable. Ouyang Wenjian remained silent. Then, he called out towards another direction within the Xue residence, "Come out now. There¡¯s no need to hide since I¡¯vee." Upon hearing this, a figure soared into the sky on a flying sword, appearing mid-air. The figure was d in ck, unmasked. With simrly white hair, eyebrows, and beard, but seemingly in good spirits. "Qi Rui, you are quite the schemer, faking your own death and deceiving everyone, even using the demons to be a false Dan Cultivator." "I¡¯m not as deeply hidden as City Lord Ouyang. I just wanted to live a few more years." "The path of cultivation is fraught with hardship, eternal life elusive. We are but fellow voyagers." "Indeed!" "However, allying with demons cannot be forgiven. Will you surrender without a fight, or meet your end with dignity like Xue Wuheng, or will you fight to the death?" "Haha, City Lord Ouyang, I certainly won¡¯t be hitting a stone with an egg, but I¡¯ve foreseen this day and prepared for twenty years. If today I cannot escape Suichuan Immortal City, at least two hundred thousand cultivators in the Immortal City will be joining me in death." Qi Ruiughed. Chapter 60 - 60 Foundation Establishment Pill and Protective Spirit Formation Qi Rui had just finished speaking when bursts of explosions erupted in the distance, followed by mes skyrocketing into the sky. "Such petty tricks, I¡¯ve set up countless of them within the city, and even a Soul Search wouldn¡¯t be able to extract information about these methods from me. City Lord Ouyang, as long as you let me go, I will destroy these tricks and ensure that I will not act against Suichuan Immortal City anymore," Ouyang Wenjian¡¯splexion turned ugly upon hearing this; Qi Rui indeed had a grip on his Achilles¡¯ heel. "All you need to do is surrender and destroy these methods, I can assure you that I won¡¯t kill you, I¡¯ll only detain you, and moreover, I will lift the punishment on the Qis." Ouyang Wenjian stated his terms. "City Lord Ouyang, from the moment I faked my death, the Qis have had nothing to do with me. Even if you killed them all, I wouldn¡¯t even frown. City Lord Ouyang, in fact, you won¡¯t suffer any loss by releasing me, right?" Ouyang Wenjian remained silent, and Qi Rui did not rush him. After more than a dozen breaths, Ouyang Wenjian finally spoke. "I agree to your terms!" ... Demonic Beasts attacked the Immortal City every day. It seemed they attacked for the sake of attacking. That day, after the Demonic Beasts retreated, Yu Qingtan too prepared to return. She had barely descended from the high tform when a woman in a goose-yellow dress blocked her path. The woman had a melon-seed face, long eyshes, big eyes, fair skin, and was very beautiful with a well-proportioned figure. The woman¡¯s eyes were fixed straight on Yu Qingtan, a yful smile on her face, but there was a deep chill in her eyes. Before You Xiantong and hispanion could step forward to ask, the woman had already turned and floated away. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t pay attention to the woman who had bizarrely appeared and went straight to the Hall of Merit. Her Merit Points had reached 3100. Having just finished a battle, there weren¡¯t many people in the Hall of Merit yet. Yu Qingtan walked up to a counter, verified her identity, and spent 3000 Merit Points to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. The staff of the Hall of Merit were all required to take a Heavenly Oath not to leak information about the exchanges, and since You Xiantong and the other person did not follow her inside, the fact that Yu Qingtan exchanged for a Foundation Establishment Pill was unlikely to be known by anyone and was rtively safe. Afterward, Yu Qingtan made another trip to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, handling a batch of belongings she had acquired from the Misty Rain Tower assassin, the fortune-telling old man, and others, primarily those she could not use and which didn¡¯t have a way to identify the user. She obtained over eight thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones, then invested an additional three thousand-plus stones, spending a total of fourteen thousand Spirit Stones to buy a set of Second Stage high-quality Protective Array. This formation was called the Vajra Protective Spirit Array, which evente-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not break through, and it could withstand a blow from an early-stage Golden Core Cultivator. This powerful Protective Array was so affordable because it covered a small area and was difficult to move. This kind of array was generally used to protect rare Spiritual Medicines and was justrge enough to cover an adult. After thest assassination attempt, Yu Qingtan also considered using her doppelganger to act on her behalf, but on the one hand, she was worried about her real body encountering a sudden explosive attack, and on the other, she was concerned about her doppelganger dying or getting seriously injured, which could expose her Divine Skills. However, if one¡¯s life is already lost, there¡¯s no concern about exposure anyway. Besides, she had recently learned that doppelgangers, though rare in the Cultivation World, still exist in many forms and wouldn¡¯t necessarily be recognized as innate Divine Skills. So, she came to buy this Vajra Protective Spirit Array, which she had seen on a previous visit. Upon returning to her residence, she ced a cushion on the floor of her room, hammered four array pirs into the ground around the cushion, then ced four Medium Grade Spirit Stones on top of the pirs, and activated the Vajra Protective Spirit Array through the Array te in her hand. There was a sh of spiritual light, and a golden protective shield formed. Its color slowly faded until it disappeared from sight, and with it, the four pirs disappeared as well, even the marks on the ground where they had been nailed in. Yu Qingtan released a Water de which caused barely visible ripples on the shield, and the Water de dissipated into spiritual light. Yu Qingtan¡¯s face showed satisfaction. "Although I have to rece the four Medium Grade Spirit Stones every two months, it is worth it." Yu Qingtan took out the jade bottle containing the Foundation Establishment Pills and opened the stopper. A refreshing fragrance greeted his nose, and he nced inside to see a crystal-clear pill the size of a broad bean lying peacefully within. He capped the bottle and ced it into the System Space. The Foundation Establishment Pill, although only a Lower Grade Second Stage Elixir, was always in scarce supply. He had not expected to secure one for himself. After consuming some spiritual food to satisfy his hunger, Yu Qingtan stepped into the Vajra Protective Spirit Array and began to cultivate. ... A few dayster, when the Demonic Beasts attacked again, the City Lord Ouyang Wenjian led the charge out of the city to invite battle against the six Major Heavenly Demons. "Hu Kaishan, Hu Juanshan, Hu Geshan, Eagle Breaks the Void, Eagle Strikes the Void, Eagle Nine Void, this City Lord has just perfected a powerful killing technique,e and meet your death." "Hmph, as if we¡¯re afraid of you!" Since the beginning of the battle, the six Major Heavenly Demons indeed had no way to deal with Ouyang Wenjian, but six against one, they were not about to cower. The Cultivators of the Immortal City could only hear the thunderous rumbling in the sky not far away, apanied by the ceaseless roars of tigers and cries of eagles. "The City Lord is invincible!" Reinvigorated by the thought, the cultivators cheered, and Yu Qingtan, who was on the high tform, couldn¡¯t help but be captivated. Gradually, Ouyang Wenjian and the Heavenly Demons moved farther and farther apart in their battle, eventually disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight. "Boom~ Boom~ Boom~ Boom~ Boom~ Boom~" Six drum beats sounded. All cultivators capable ofbat in Suichuan Immortal City emerged to join the battle. This included the upper echelons of the city¡¯s major powers. A giant azure sword shadow swept across, and Demonic Beasts fell like wheat under the scythe. This was the Family Head of the Song family, Song Guisheng, casting the Green Wood Sword Technique with a top-grade Spiritual Artifact. Two golden flying swords darted back and forth in the sky, like a pair of golden dragons dancing, hunting specifically for the Sky-Rending Eagles. This was the Ges¡¯ Great Elder, Ge Lian, striking with resentment. A series of mini tornadoes were triggered by the flick of a folding fan, trapping four Second Stagete-phase Demonic Beasts within, roaring with metallic nging sounds in the wind. This was the Family Head of the Qis, Qi Zhe, taking on four foes alone in a blood battle for his n. One strike split the earth, the second cleaved mountains, the third shattered the void, and under the crisscrossing sword Qi, Demonic Beasts were torn asunder. This was Liu Sandao from Tianxiang Pavilion, performing the Three Swords of Inquiry. With light lotus steps and a fluttering red dress, she danced so elegantly that groups of demons grew infatuated, turning on one another in a frenzy to the death. This was Gongsun Yurong, the Tower Master of Tianxiang Pavilion, executing the Tian Xiang Illusory Dance. An unadorned red oil-paper umbre, expanded to ten feet across. As it spun, fireballs the size of heads poured down. Evente-phase Second Stage Demonic Beasts did everything they could to avoid them. This was Feng Zhongming, the Hall Master of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡¯s Hall of Merit, disying an Ancient Treasure¡ªthe demon-burning umbre, which was said to be modeled after the Immortal Artifact, the World Burning Ancient Umbre. A six-sided flying mat Spiritual Artifact supported six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, each positioned at a vertex. Below the mat, a pink light radiated, rendering any Demonic Beast it touched weak and inming their desires with burning red eyes. This was the battle formation Spiritual Artifact of Tianxiang Valley, the Insatiable Craving Mat. A handsome young cultivator in white floated on a flying sword, with three fist-sized white spheres rotating around him. Emitting a sharp aura, the spheres asionally whizzed out, punching bloody holes in the bodies of the Second Stage Major Demons. This was Qi Zhe, a pure Foundation Establishmentter-stage Sword Cultivator from Sunset Gate, showcasing his Sword Pills. Chapter 61: The Foundation of the Spirit Root Immortal Grade Dao That¡¯s right, reinforcements from Sunset Gate and Tianxiang Valley have arrived. Although Sunset Gate only sent one Zhuge Jian, and Tianxiang Valley only sent six Foundation Establishment cultivators, both parties possess strength not weaker than that of the pseudo-Dan cultivator Feng Zhongming. Thus, Ouyang Wenjian finalized the battle n. He personally took on the task of diverting the six Heavenly Demons, and then the entire city would pour forth to eliminate as many demonic beasts as possible. Clearly, the n was sessful. Under the full counterattack of the cultivators, the demonic beasts¡¯ decline became apparent, and finally, after nearly an hour of fierce fighting, the beasts began to retreat. The cultivators pursued the fleeing beasts, chasing them up to a hundred li outside Suichuan Immortal City. Ouyang Wenjian returned with a tiger¡¯s w from Hu Geshan and ordered the cultivators to return to the city. The six Heavenly Demons also returned to the Yunhua Mountain Range with their tails between their legs, along with the rest of the demonic beasts. With this, the monster invasion came to an end. The demonic beasts suffered losses of over two million, whereas the human cultivators had over two hundred and seventy thousand casualties. The spirit fields, medicinal gardens, and ore mines near the Immortal City were ravaged by the beasts, resulting in severe losses. The cultivators returned to the Immortal City in high spirits, sharing the spoils of war with each other and the joy of having survived the cmity. At this moment, however, Yu Qingtan¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t as beautiful because she saw among the six people on the hexagonal flying carpet, one was Luo Xiang, and another was the beautiful female cultivator in the goose-yellow dress. Yu Qingtan did not recognize the other two men and two women, but she also learned that these were people from Tianxiang Valley. As the group flew into the Immortal City, the female cultivator stared at Yu Qingtan on the high tform of the city wall, prompting the other four to also look at her, while Luo Xiang gave her an apologetic smile. Taking a deep breath, Yu Qingtan chose not to dwell on this and returned to her small courtyard. She began a brief period of seclusion. She was about to make another breakthrough. These days, whenever she had a moment, she practiced with Spirit Dew to cultivate, and her Cultivation Level had reached the threshold of the eighthyer of Qi Cultivation. Opening the system panel, he Charm Points had already increased to over seventy-eight thousand, and Yu Qingtan exchanged for 78 Affection Value, adding to the original 25 Affection Value, making a total of 103 Affection Value. Yu Qingtan exchanged for a Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card, and when she wanted to use it, a window popped up, "Select the Spiritual Root you wish to upgrade." Yu Qingtan directly chose her Water Spirit Root. As a result, Yu Qingtan¡¯s Water Spirit Root directly increased by 20 points, reaching the level of a Celestial-grade Spirit Root. Instantly, Yu Qingtan felt her understanding of water-affiliated techniques like the Clear Water Technique, Water de Technique, Water Curtain Technique, Water Escape Technique, and other water element Cultivation Techniques and Spells be incredibly profound. Releasing a small wave, she used the Water de Technique against the Vajra Protective Spirit Array. Yu Qingtan found that the speed of casting, the power, and the consumption of Spiritual Power of this Spell greatly improved. After testing other Spells, indeed, only water-affiliated Spells had this effect. Feeling her Spiritual Power was faltering, Yu Qingtan drank a drop of Spirit Dew and began cultivating the Clear Water Technique. As expected, the cirction speed of the Clear Water Technique and the efficiency of absorbing Spiritual Power had changed qualitatively. In just a quarter of an hour, the Spirit Power from a drop of Spirit Dew had been fully absorbed, increasing her Cultivation Level progress by 15 points. Truly a Cultivation talent one in a trillion, as long as she doesn¡¯t fall, she is definitely qualified to cultivate to the peak of the Nascent Soul. Such horror of a Celestial-grade Spirit Root. Suppressing the excitement in her heart, Yu Qingtan continued to cultivate. Two hourster, with the pration of yet another coteral meridian, Yu Qingtan sessfully broke through to the eighth level of Qi Cultivation. After consolidating her Cultivation Level, she stopped cultivating. She opened the system panel. [Name: Yu Qingtan] [Gender: Female] [Age: 14/108] [Spirit Root: Water 92/100; Wood 57/100; Earth 56/100; Metal 30/100; Fire 8/100] [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation eighthyer 12/800, Body Refinement sixthyer 119/600] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] [Spells: Cleansing Spell beginner 89/100, Water Escape Technique major aplishment 51/400, Invisibility Technique minor aplishment 16/200, Breath-Concealing Technique minor aplishment 6/200, Water de Technique minor aplishment 66/200, Water Curtain Technique minor aplishment 51/200, Object Controlling Technique beginner 35/100, Wood Escape Technique beginner 33/100, Wooden Shield Technique beginner 19/100, Earth Wall Technique beginner 14/100, Earth Spike Technique beginner 13/100, Earth Escape Skill beginner 17/100, Rejuvenation Spell minor aplishment 57/200] [Skills: Exquisite Dance major aplishment 37/400, Butterfly Dance minor aplishment 47/200, Zither Art major aplishment 112/400, Chess Skill minor aplishment 26/200, Calligraphy minor aplishment 14/200, Painting Skill minor aplishment 8/200, Spiritual Tailoring Skill minor aplishment 9/200] [Charm Points: 122] [Affection Value: 3] [System Space: 23 Medium Grade Spirit Stones, 3209 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, Cherry Red Sword, Mysterious Seed, Uninscribed Token, 40 drops of Spirit Dew, Magic Artifacts such as Shadowless Needle and Xuan Turtle Shield, Elixirs like Foundation Establishment Pill, Ascension Pill and Spirit-Condensing Pill, Talismans like Second Stage Escape Talisman, Spiritual Medicines like Jade Marrow Ganoderma, Spiritual Materials like Snow Silkworm Thread, Spirit Ores like Deep Sea Blue Crystal and Sun me Jade] [System Shop: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 1/1 (100 Affection Value), First Stage Cultivation Upgrade Card 1/3 (10 Affection Value), First Stage Spell Upgrade Card 6/10 (1 Affection Value), First Stage Skill Upgrade Card 6/10 (1 Affection Value)] [Lucky Draw: Draw once for 10 Charm Points (can draw ten consecutive times)] "It¡¯s a pity that I only have a little over a hundred Charm Points, otherwise I¡¯d celebrate with a lucky draw!" "The path to greatness seems promising!" ¡­ "I announce that this beast tide has officially ended! Thank you all for your contributions to protecting the Immortal City. Please use up your Merit Points within ten days; after that, the temporary alliance formed to resist the beast tide will be dissolved." The next morning, Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s resonant voice echoed above the Immortal City. The cultivators cheered. "Thank you, Patriarch You and Elder Ge, for your protection in recent days. Qing Tan is deeply grateful." "Miss Qing Tan is too kind. Feel free to visit the Ges whenever you have time!" Ge Yongnian said with a stroked beard and a smile. "Right, right. My boy has been missing Miss Qing Tan a lot," You Xiantong also said with augh. "Certainly, certainly!" "Haha, then we¡¯ll take our leave first!" "I respectfully see off the two seniors!" Yu Qingtan went to the Hall of Merit and exchanged all her remaining 900 Merit Points for Wastnd Crystals, then returned to her residence outside the Tianxiang Pavilion. Patriarch You and Ge Yongnian could have left early in the morning, but they insisted on escorting her to the door. After returning to her residence, Yu Qingtan reset the Vajra Protective Spirit Array, then her true body entered it, while her clone left the residence. Arriving at the back door of the Tianxiang Pavilion, she saw a female cultivator in goose yellow clothes leaning against the door. The gentle sunshine illuminated her bright face, making her more radiant than ever. However, the Protecting Disciples who should have been there were absent, and no other figures were in the alley. "Oh, if it isn¡¯t the Miss Qing Tan who yed such a significant role. Tsk, tsk. With such a face, no wonder you¡¯ve bewitched my junior brother Luo to the point where he can¡¯t get enough of you. But you should be aware of your status. Even if you use a Beauty Enhancement Pill, a sparrow can¡¯t turn into a phoenix." "Such a beautiful girl, if only she didn¡¯t speak." Yu Qingtan muttered to herself, and without a hint of expression on her face, she said, "Senior is right to teach me. I am young and ignorant; I will reflect on this back at home." The female cultivator in goose yellow clothes heard Yu Qingtan¡¯s sarcasm about her age and was inwardly fuming. She then said, "Humph, since you¡¯re so ignorant, you need to be taught a lesson, lest you get killed by someone someday." As she finished speaking, a long whip appeared in her hand. Taking two steps forward, she flicked the whip in her hand towards Yu Qingtan¡¯s face. Chapter 62 - 62 Ancestor Blood Xi and the Farce At the same time, a series of vines suddenly sprouted beneath Yu Qingtan¡¯s feet, coiling around her legs. This was the Entangling Technique used by cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, its formation so swift that the unprepared Yu Qingtan had no chance to dodge. Her legs were bound painfully tight, but Yu Qingtan could no longer pay attention to that, as the whip from the woman in a goose-yellow dress was alreadyshing towards her. Yu Qingtan leaned back, but still, the tail of the whip struck her, leaving a bloody mark on her left cheek. Although the woman in the goose-yellow dress had held back, ensuring not tosh Yu Qingtan to death, a solid hit would definitely have torn flesh away. After onesh, another was whipped towards her. Feeling the burning pain on her face, Yu Qingtan got angry. "A kind of nt, you think this olddy is easy to bully, huh!" Cursing in her heart, Yu Qingtan decisively used Luo Xiang¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection." With the Water Escape Technique, she broke free from the Entangling Technique¡¯s restraint and simultaneously avoided the second whip of the woman in the goose-yellow dress. However, a bloody red sword qi and an egg-sized fire bullet came from both sides, targeting the looming whip. The whip, merely a first-grade superior Magic Artifact, was instantly severed into three parts. Even if Yu Qingtan hadn¡¯t dodged, the secondsh wouldn¡¯t have reached her. Seeing this, Yu Qingtan was somewhat astonished, but as the spiritual power flowed through the spell circuits within her body, she shot out three Water des simultaneously at the woman in the goose-yellow dress. After her Water Spirit Root reached the immortal grade, she could instantly cast the Water de Technique and release three des at once. On the other side, another bloody red sword qi quickly pierced towards the woman in the goose-yellow dress. The power of the sword qi had evidently reached thete stage of Foundation Establishment. The woman in the goose-yellow dress looked displeased, as she was only at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. Luckily, a bracelet set with gems on her right wrist shone brightly, forming a protective barrier. It blocked both the three Water des and the bloody red sword qi. "Hehehe, an Ancient Treasure, the little girl has quite a few good items, but it¡¯s a pity you¡¯re only at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. How long can you activate the Ancient Treasure for? Try to withstand this old ancestor¡¯s ¡¯Hundred Swords to Origin¡¯ technique," said the ancestor, controlling Fang Ling¡¯s body, to him internally. On one side, over a hundred bloody red sword qi appeared with swift, blurry sword strokes, stabbing towards the woman in the goose-yellow dress. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t make another move. Though d in ck and wearing a mask, from the figure and the bloody sword qi used, Yu Qingtan guessed the figure that appeared to be Fang Ling. And she guessed that the one who used the Fire Bullet Technique to attack, appearing for a moment before vanishing, was Fu Nian. Still, this was the back door of Tianxiang Pavilion. An intense and domineering wave of gigantic de qi descended from the surrounding wall, scattering the hundred sword qi with a single strike. The one who made the move was Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s chief steward in charge of external affairs, Liu Sandao. At the same time, Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s Tower Master Gongsun Yurong, the chief steward in charge of internal affairs, Wei Jie, the chief steward in charge of external affairs, Qu Fuxiang, five Tianxiang Pavilion Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, Tianxiang Valley¡¯s Luo Xiang, and three other Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators all appeared midair. "Not bad swordsmanship for a young girl!" an elderly voice emerged from Fang Ling¡¯s mouth. "Who are you, and why are you bullying my junior with such overpowering force?" The first to speak was ate-Foundation Establishment female cultivator from Tianxiang Valley named Li Xingruo. The other two cultivators from Tianxiang Valley, one male and one female, named Lin Fengmian and Wen Jin respectively, were both at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Thedy in the goose-yellow dress was named Yan Xi. "I, Ancestor Blood Xi, clearly saw that this little girl first bullied the younger and attacked this little girl. I have some connections with her ancestors, so naturally, I couldn¡¯t just stand by." Seeing the scars on Yu Qingtan¡¯s face and the broken whip on the ground, the crowd naturally understood that Ancestor Blood Xi was telling the truth. However, they had felt the fluctuations of spiritual power from four Foundation Establishment cultivators. "Senior Sister, this little wench actually dared to join forces with two Foundation Establishment cultivators to attack me. She must have cultivated Demonic Path techniques to have Foundation Establishment strength herself. Act quickly and suppress them all!" At this moment, thedy in the goose-yellow dress, Yan Xi, shouted to Li Xingruo. She had just forcibly activated an ancient treasure, and her spiritual power was greatly depleted, giving her a somewhat paleplexion. "Heh-heh-heh, one can eat without care, but words must not be carelessly spoken. They could kill," Ancestor Blood Xi sneered sinisterly. His eyes under the mask were blood-red, emitting a dangerous glow. At the same time, the aura of spiritual power on his body swiftly intensified, reaching the level of the Golden Core Stage. The expressions of Li Xingruo and the others became grave, realizing he was a true Golden Core cultivator. Tianxiang Pavilion Tower Master Gongsun Yurong said, "Ancestor Blood Xi, there might be some misunderstanding here. Qing Tan, what exactly is going on?" "Responding to the Tower Master, I, Qing Tan, had just returned to the pavilion from the battlefield today when I was obstructed and attacked by this senior from Tianxiang Valley. I do not recognize Ancestor Blood Xi or the other senior who took action. As for my strength, it is a bloodline inheritance secret technique that I awakened, which can temporarily enhance my strength." Yu Qingtan exined, letting the fresh blood seep from the wounds on her face without tending to them. The crowd was taken aback upon hearing this, even Ancestor Blood Xi turned his gaze towards her. Bloodline inheritance secret techniques were typically only possible if one¡¯s ancestors included a cultivator of the Body Integration Realm. Although the history of the Lichuan Cultivation World was recorded in vague terms, dating back several million years, and many ancestors of the Human Race hade and gone, the probability of an ordinary person autonomously awakening a bloodline inheritance secret technique was not higher than that of a rare celestial-grade Spirit Root appearing. After all, the closer one is to the mighty ancestors by blood, the higher the probability of awakening it. However, this was the best exnation Qing Tan coulde up with, especially since bloodline inheritance secret techniques are challenging to verify and cannot be stripped away. "It seems that we need to thoroughly investigate the ancestors of Yu Qingtan, with her iming a bloodline inheritance secret technique and with a Golden Core cultivator iming to have a connection with her." Both Tianxiang Pavilion Tower Master Gongsun Yurong and Tianxiang Valley¡¯s Li Xingruo thought this to themselves. Even though they didn¡¯t expect much could be uncovered about Qing Tan¡¯s origins, given that she came from a mountain vige without even a n registry. Gongsun Yurong looked at Li Xingruo, who caught her meaning and said, "Junior Sister, you¡¯re being unreasonable. Won¡¯t you apologize to Miss Qing Tan?" Upon hearing this, Yan Xi became anxious, turning her head with her neck stiffened and retorted, "Hmph, Senior Sister, that little wench seduced my fianc¨¦, and I disciplined her a bit, so why should I apologize? She¡¯s just a Golden Core cultivator. My mother, maternal grandmother, and maternal grandfather are all Golden Core cultivators, and this is still Suichuan Immortal City. With City Lord Ouyang here, he wouldn¡¯t dare kill us, right?" Hearing this, Luo Xiang, who was standing to the side, could no longer y the ostrich. He said, "Xi¡¯er, stop being unreasonable. She did not seduce me, and our rtionship is not what you think it is." Yan Xi, hearing this, grew even more enraged and yelled at Luo Xiang, "You still have the nerve to speak? After taking in three concubines at the sect, you still ran to Tianxiang Pavilion wanting to take another, and after being rejected, you shamelessly kept pursuing her and even offered a Beauty Enhancement Pill. Isn¡¯t it just because she resembles your pale moonlight, the gentle Fairy by seven to eight points? It sickens me. If it weren¡¯t for my mother and the others holding me back, I would have called off the engagement long ago." Luo Xiang¡¯s face turned red with anger, and he retorted loudly, "Shut up! Do you think I don¡¯t want to call off the engagement? I¡¯ve had enough of your jealousy." "Fine, fine, fine. As you said, may thunder strike down whoever doesn¡¯t call it off." The expressions of Li Xingruo and the others changed once again, but before they could speak... "Good, may thunder strike down whomever doesn¡¯t call it off. Let¡¯s go back to Tianxiang Valley right now and settle this matter." Luo Xiang continued to shout loudly and then flew away on his sword. He hadpletely lost face today and didn¡¯t want to stay here a moment longer. Yan Xi also took out a flying boat and followed, leaving the ce. Chapter 63: Is the Orchid Fragrant for the Sake of Man? Li Xingruo sighed and said to Lin Fengmian, "Junior Brother Lin, please follow them and don¡¯t let anything happen." Lin Fengmianplied and left on his flying sword as well. Li Xingruo then turned to Yu Qingtan and said, "Miss Qingtan, the junior brothers and sisters were thoughtless and have hurt you. I apologize on their behalf. Here¡¯s an ointment for healing injuries that should cure the wound on your face and guarantee no scarring. Just now, Tower Master Gongsun was praising you and hopes that you would consider cultivating in Tianxiang Valley." Dressed in a light blue gown, Li Xingruo¡¯splexion was as smooth as goose fat, her lips like cherry blossoms, eyebrows like ink paintings, and eyes as clear as autumn waters. Her tone was gentle, like that of an older sister. Yu Qingtan warmed to her immediately and epted the ointment offered, saying, "Elder, you are too kind. I just hope that you can tell them to stop bothering me. I will not be going to Tianxiang Valley; I am quite happy here." By now, she felt not an ounce of goodwill towards Luo Xiang, even a hint of disgust, and she only wanted to repay Yan Xi with a whipping someday. Li Xingruo sighed softly and turned in the direction of Fang Ling, "Elder Xue Xi, since the misunderstanding has been cleared up, what do you think?" "It¡¯s pleasant to hear a youngdy speak, so I should take my leave now, or City Lord Ouyang might personallye to have a chat with me." He had alreadymunicated secretly with Ouyang Wenjian while watching the spectacle unfold. "Thank you for your help, Elder. May I ask how my old acquaintance is doing?" Yu Qingtan asked him. She recognized that this was Fang Ling¡¯s body and guessed that it might be a remnant soul or an Artifact Spirit speaking. After all, it was normal for a person of great fortune to have an old grandfather at their side, right? "Normal my foot, such things should be with a transmigrator like me, shouldn¡¯t they?" Grumbling inwardly, Yu Qingtan still probed the safety of Fang Ling indirectly. Not all old grandfathers have good intentions; what if he was possessed? "Hee hee hee, he¡¯s quite well. Alright, this old man will take his leave." Having said that, he transformed into a streak of Escape Light and departed. If he didn¡¯t leave now, he would soon lose even the ability to depart using Escape Light. Cultivators at the Golden Core Stage could fly through the sky, but he couldn¡¯t reveal his true state at thest moment. "Qingtan,e inside first to treat your wound and thene find me," said Tower Master Gongsun. "Yes!" Yu Qingtan entered Tianxiang Pavilion, and Tower Master Gongsun and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators left. In the crowd that had been watching from afar, Shen Wanning rushed to Yu Qingtan and grabbed her hand. "Qingtan, how are you?" "I¡¯m fine, just a little wound on my face. Let¡¯s go back to our room first." Once back in the room, Yu Qingtan cast a Rejuvenation Spell on the wound on her face, then had Shen Wanning help apply the ointment that Li Xingruo had given her. "Qingtan, what happened just now? The Tower Master and the others came over," Shen Wanning asked. Yu Qingtan told her what had happened at the back door. Read new chapters at m_v-l¡¯e|m,p| y- r "That woman was making a fuss over nothing, and that Luo Xiang is certainly no good." "It¡¯s enough that you know about it; don¡¯t spread it around. After all, they are our seniors." "Of course, but do you know that Golden Core Elder?" Shen Wanning asked curiously. "Sort of, but it¡¯s not convenient to talk about it." "Alright, but Qingtan, you¡¯ve even awakened a bloodline secret technique! From now on, I¡¯ll be counting on you, Sister," Shen Wanning said with augh. "It¡¯s the Divine Descent Secret Technique I mentioned before, not that impressive, but still enough to look after you. Alright, I have to go see the Tower Master now!" Yu Qingtan looked at her reflection in the mirror, examining her face. The ointment was transparent and worked well; by now, there was only a red mark left. As she stepped out, she saw the Tower Master¡¯s handmaiden who had taken care of her waiting, so she apanied her to Gongsun Yurong¡¯s room. The room wasrge, predominantly decorated in red. At that moment, Tower Master Gongsun Yurong, head steward Wei Jie, Li Xingruo from Tianxiang Valley, and Wen Jin were seated around arge round table. "Qing Tan pays respect to the Tower Master, the steward, and the two seniors from Tianxiang Valley." "Qing Tan is here,e, take a seat!" Tower Master Gongsun Yurong said, pointing to an empty round stool. "Thank you, Tower Master!" Yu Qingtan expressed her gratitude and then also took a seat. "Qing Tan, let me introduce you. These two are true disciples Li Xingruo and Wen Jin from Tianxiang Valley," Gongsun Yurong introduced. Wen Jin, true to her name, was a quiet young girl with a somewhat youthful face, dressed in a pale green gown. Yu Qingtan rose to her feet once more. "I have seen Senior Li, Senior Wen. Thank you for the ointment, Senior Li." "Giggle, sit down. What a polite young girl," Gongsun Yurongughed. "Qing Tan, since you aren¡¯t willing to go to Tianxiang Valley, Tianxiang Pavilion will be your home from now on. The main reason for calling you here is to discuss the lingerie shop. I¡¯ve also talked to Xing Ruo and her about this; they too hope to get involved. We n to open shops in the Sect Gate and other cities and markets, with five percent of the profits going to you. What do you think?" As Gongsun Yurong spoke, Li Xingruo and Wen Jin blushed slightly and looked at Yu Qingtan. They had just received two sets of lingerie from Gongsun Yurong and were now wearing them. "Qing Tan has no objections," Yu Qingtan naturally would not raise any objections. She was just a Qi cultivator, while the others were three Foundation Establishment experts. Were they really here to discuss things with her? "Qing Tan, we¡¯re not trying to take advantage of you. The expenditures of opening shops in the Sect Gate and other ces are substantial. We hope you can understand. I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re interested in the art of Spirit Tailoring. I happen to have an inheritance of Spirit Tailor, which I will now pass on to you," Li Xingruo said, handing a Jade Slip to Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan took it and said, "Qing Tan understandspletely. A five percent share is very generous; thank you for the gift, Senior Li." "Giggle, Qing Tan, the division of profits for the shop in Suichuan Immortal City will still be the same as what I told you before, a seventy-thirty split. However, what should we name the shop?" Gongsun Yurong said with a smile. "How about Yurong Pavilion?" Li Xingruo suggested. Gongsun Yurong¡¯s face stiffened upon hearing this and, realizing how Qing Tan must have felt when she proposed the name ¡¯Qing Tan Lingerie,¡¯ she said, "I think Xingruo Pavilion sounds nicer, and Wen Jin Pavilion isn¡¯t too bad either." Yu Qingtan felt as if ck lines were filling her head as she listened. Realizing the conversation had shifted towards herself, Wen Jin spoke up quietly, "¡¯Zhi and Lan¡¯ are not for the fragrance to court the mortal nose, but for the rity amid the chaos to secretly hold. How about Zhi Lan Pavilion?" Gongsun Yurong and Li Xingruo¡¯s eyes brightened and they eximed, "Good!" Yu Qingtan also thought the name was quite clever and so she added, "A very ingenious name." After deciding on the shop name, they discussed further details about opening the shop. ... Outside Suichuan Immortal City, on a small hill. "Elder, how are you feeling?" "Cough cough, this time I had to feign Golden Core Stage strength and put on a bit of a show; the consumption was a bit much. Thankfully, there was no real fight afterwards, but I must rest for a while now. Little Ling, are you really set on challenging that Secret Realm?" "Yes, Elder, you¡¯re right. Relying solely on the Universe Light Pearl¡¯s time eleration, my power enhancement is still too slow. I must go!" Fang Ling said resolutely. "Heh heh heh, worthy of the one chosen by the Universe Light Pearl, I have high hopes for you!" "I¡¯m going to rest now. Hopefully, when I awaken, you will have already reached the Foundation Establishment Stage." ... Chapter 64 - 64 The Unashamed Wei Martial Spirit The next day, Tianxiang Pavilion reopened for business. Yu Qingtan also began working again. However, possibly because the beast tide had just ended, business within the inner pavilion was rather bleak. In contrast, the outer pavilion¡¯s business was booming. Perhaps cultivators who had experienced life-and-death crises needed to let off steam. After bing a core disciple, Yu Qingtan gained more freedom and simply chose not to perform dances during these days. Hermute was spent squeezing in time to study and learn the Spiritual Tailoring Skill legacy that Li Xingruo had given her. This was a ratherplete legacy of first-stage Spirit Tailoring, including the foundational twenty-seven Artifact Bans, while Wen Jin had only learned nine of them. The minimum number of Artifact Bans for low, medium, and high-grade first-stage garments were nine, eighteen, and twenty-seven respectively. Yu Qingtan, who had reached a minor level of proficiency in Spiritual Tailoring Skill under the guidance of Wen Jin, quickly mastered the nine Artifact Bans she knew and then began attempting to create Magic Artifact garments. With the materials purchased by Steward Liao, Yu Qingtan, after more than ten attempts, finally made her first piece of low-grade first-stage Magic Artifact clothing using the Shadowless Needle. A brassiere. After all, she had the skill to make brassieres. This was her fourth day back at work, which coincided with the grand opening of Zhi Lan Pavilion in Suichuan Immortal City. Wen Jin was appointed by Tower Master Gongsun Yurong as the manager of the Zhi Lan Pavilion. At the same time, Gongsun Yurong designated a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator from Tianxiang Pavilion, who was also a first-stage high-grade Spirit Tailor, as the technical director of Zhi Lan Pavilion. On its opening day, Zhi Lan Pavilion was extremely popr, with prepared merchandise selling out by midday. This was because Gongsun Yurong directly invited the City Lord¡¯s wife, the wives of the heads of the three major families, and Meng Xiyao, the deacon of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, to the opening ceremony. Thanks to the Magic Artifact-grade brassieres given as gifts, all invitees arrived. With such a turnout, how could it not be popr? Unfortunately, Yu Qingtan was unable to attend. Nevertheless, she received a Communication Talisman from Han Daniu of the Green Wolf Gang, informing her that the profits from Golden Spear Pill had been ced in a certain residence. Furthermore, with the Green Wolf Gang¡¯s Hall Master of the Medicinal Hall perishing in the beast tide and his advancement to the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation, he became the new Hall Master of the Medicinal Hall within the Green Wolf Gang. That evening, Yu Qingtan quietly left her home using the Invisibility Technique and the Breath-Concealing Technique, made her way to that residence, retrieved a Storage Talisman, and left behind a new Communication Talisman. Indeed, Communication Talismans could only be used once, so they were not widely utilized. The second-stage Message-Transmitting Flying Sword, on the other hand, could be used repeatedly because it would fly back after delivering a message, though generally only Foundation Establishment cultivators could afford them. Once back home, she opened the Storage Talisman and found ten Medium Grade Spirit Stones, a Communication Talisman, and a letter inside. The letter expressed gratitude and admiration for Qingtan. The profits from Golden Spear Pill were not that substantial; Han Daniu had added some himself, rounded it up, and even specifically converted it into Medium Grade Spirit Stones. Yu Qingtan smiled wryly. Upon opening the system panel, she indeed saw Affection Value +1, and the list of Devotees gained an additional line. Your next read is at m v|l-e¡¯m,p| y- r [Han Daniu, Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, 80 Spirit Stones for a quarter of an hour] ¡­ The following day, another major event urred in Suichuan Immortal City. Sunset Gate and Tianxiang Valley were hosting arge-scale disciple recruitment event. Li Xingruo and Wen Jin were still in Suichuan Immortal City, also due to this matter. The disciple recruitment was held once every five years, targeting children aged five to ten. However, due to this year¡¯s beast tide, Sunset Gate and Tianxiang Valley suffered numerous losses among their cultivators, so they significantly lowered the recruitment standards and also took in a certain number of young Loose Cultivators. The news had already spread throughout the Immortal City days ago, with many cultivators full of anticipation. Even if the parents are cultivators, the chances of children having a Spirit Root may only be slightly higher, but the quality of the Spirit Root is entirely random. Therefore, many loose cultivators who have no hope in their own cultivation pin their hopes on their children having an exceptional Spirit Root. Early in the morning, Hao Can and a woman brought a little boy to a huge square on the west side of the Immortal City. The woman, d in in robes, exuded a charming grace, and although she wore a veil, herrge, captivating eyes could hook one¡¯s soul. She was none other than the widow of the former leader of the Adventure Group that Hao Can used to belong to, Jiang Jinyue. The little round-faced boy beside her was her nine-year-old son, Shen Tinn. Although they arrived early, there were already quite a few people in the square. The three of them went to the registration desk to register Shen Tinn, and then they waited. "Can Brother, do you think Tinn will have a good Spirit Root?" Jiang Jinyue stroked her son¡¯s head, her eyes filled with concern. "Sister-inw, Tinn will surely have an exceptional Spirit Root and will definitely be able to join Sunset Gate!" Hao Canforted her, but in truth, he was unsure, as Spirit Roots could only be detected with special magic artifacts or formations. Ever since he had started to take care of thete group leader¡¯s wife and child, he had encountered many opportunities and resolved many troubles. Some friends had advised him to take Jiang Jinyue as his woman, and she might not have refused. However, his savior¡¯s body was not yet cold, and it would be a shameless act for him, Hao Can, to do such a thing. "Mother, I don¡¯t want to join Sunset Gate, I want to join Tianxiang Valley." At that moment, Shen Tinn looked toward the high stage in front and spoke out loud. On the stage, to the left, a g bearing the name Sunset Gate pped in the wind in front of a white-d young man who sat with his eyes closed, while on the right, a g bearing the name Tianxiang Valley stood in front of two lovely women in conversation. They were Sunset Gate¡¯s sword cultivator Zhuge Jian and Tianxiang Valley¡¯s true disciples Li Xingruo and Wen Jin. "Hey, this kid has good taste; I also wish for my son to join Tianxiang Valley. The trouble is, Tianxiang Valley mainly recruits female disciples, and boys have a chance only if they have exceptional talent." A young male cultivator standing next to them said upon hearing Shen Tinn¡¯s words, his eyes, however, drifting towards Jiang Jinyue. Without changing his expression, Hao Can stepped in front of Jiang Jinyue and said, "Tinn, indeed, it is harder to get into Tianxiang Valley. Let¡¯s consider Sunset Gate instead." "No, I want to go to Tianxiang Valley." "Pfft, that¡¯sughable. You think you¡¯re picking cabbages? Don¡¯t end up with such poor aptitude that no one wants you," another chubby woman sneered. "You..." "Hao Brother, let it go," Jiang Jinyue said, holding back Hao Can, who was about to erupt in anger. By this time, the crowd in the square had swelled to over ten thousand, and more cultivators kept arriving. "Silence, the apprentice-eptance ceremony begins now!" A loud voice rang out, belonging to the leader of the first Enforcement Team of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, Ouyang Wuqing. The apprentice-eptance ceremony was presided over by him. After he spoke, various colored spiritual lights appeared on the reserved empty ground, forming intricate patterns before gradually fading away, leaving behind ten equidistant circles. This was the Spirit Testing Formation. A member of the Enforcement Team loudly called out ten names. Then, ten children, guided by another member of the Enforcement Team, walked to the centers of the ten circles. After standing in position for three breaths, the circles emitted gold, green, blue, red, and brownish-yellow lights, upying different areas of the five sectors. These represented the five types of Spirit Roots¡ªmetal, wood, water, fire, earth¡ªand their respective affinity values. Among the ten children, three possessed affinity values below fifty for all five types of Spirit Roots, indicating almost no aptitude for cultivation, and were termed as having false Spirit Roots. There were two with inferior quad-Spirit Roots, two with inferior triple-Spirit Roots, one with an inferior dual-Spirit Root, one with a medium and two inferior triple-Spirit Roots, and one with two medium and one inferior triple-Spirit Roots. The fewer the Spirit Roots with high affinity values, the better the cultivation aptitude¡ªtake for example Ge Wenxiong¡¯s exceptional single Metal Spirit Root. "None of these children have remarkable Spirit Roots," Shen Wanning said to Qing Tan. Chapter 65: Superior Aptitude Causes Dispute Suichuan Immortal City, disciple recruitment assembly in progress. Discover more stories at m,v l¡¯e|m-p| y r Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning hade to assist Li Xingruo and Wen Jin in recruiting disciples. Since they had not brought any Qi Cultivation Stage disciples with them and couldn¡¯t possibly take care of everything personally, they enlisted several "volunteers" at Tianxiang Pavilion. Zhuge Jian from Sunset Gate had the help of the Enforcement Team, as the City Lord Ouyang Wenjian was also an Elder of Sunset Gate. Shen Wanning then took Yu Qingtan to sign up. Exhausted from the beast tide thatsted over a month, Shen Wanning was naturally intrigued by interesting events like this one and wanted to experience it for herself. Hearing Shen Wanning¡¯s words, Yu Qingtan chuckled and said, "After all, those with good Spirit Root talents are a minority; both Sunset Gate and Tianxiang Valley naturally aren¡¯t interested in these. But as long as the Spirit Roots are passable, there will always be forces within the city that are interested. We also have people from Tianxiang Pavilion over there scouting for Reserve Disciples." Indeed, the family members of those three children with fake Spirit Roots and two with Four Elements Spirit Roots were asked to take their children and leave the za first, while the other five were taken to a reserved open space where staff from various major powers in the city were waiting to negotiate with any that caught their eye. For example, Green Wolf Gang needed to train reserve gang members, Hundred Treasures Pavilion needed to train reserve shop assistants and servants, and the Cultivator Families needed to train guards. However, the Qis did not send anyone this time, and even if they had, they would not have been able to recruit anyone, given their now sullied reputation. In the beast tide, the Qis had fought valiantly, losing twenty percent of their manpower. Because they failed to achieve the punishment goal of killing ten Demonic Beasts of the same rank, another twenty percent of their n members were penalized to mine in the mines of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. At this point, the Qis¡¯ vitality was greatly damaged, and they had fallen out of the ranking of the top three families in Suichuan Immortal City. On the za, another ten children entered the Spirit Testing Formation, but still, no one with better Spirit Root qualifications emerged. It wasn¡¯t until the fifth batch that a six-year-old girl was tested and found to have superior Metal and Water Spirit Roots. Under the gesture from Li Xingruo, Yu Qingtan stepped forward to inquire about her and her elder¡¯s intentions. Coming from a background of Loose Cultivators in the slum district, they had no reason to refuse the opportunity to enter Tianxiang Valley. Under Yu Qingtan¡¯s registration, Tianxiang Valley received its first disciple from this recruitment assembly. After about thirty more rounds. Both Sunset Gate and Tianxiang Valley had recruited several disciples, among whom the one with the best qualifications was a boy with a mid-grade Single Earth Spirit Root, who was taken as a disciple by Sunset Gate. However, Yu Qingtan always felt that one of the Enforcement Team members who was helping Sunset Gate to register disciples looked very familiar, but she couldn¡¯t quite recall who it was. At that moment, a striking off-white light appeared in the Spirit Testing Formation, drawing everyone¡¯s eyes. "It¡¯s actually a superior Thunder Spiritual Root," said Ouyang Wuqing as he stood up. Among the Five Elements Spirit Roots, there¡¯s a very low probability of mutation that produces new Spirit Roots between the mutually generating elements. Metal generates water, Metal and Water Spirit Roots mutate to produce Thunder Spirit Roots; water generates wood, Water and Wood Spirit Roots mutate to produce Ice Spirit Roots; wood generates fire, Wood and Fire Spirit Roots mutate to produce Wind Spirit Roots; fire generates earth, Fire and Earth Spirit Roots mutate to produce Light Spirit Roots; earth generates metal, Earth and Metal Spirit Roots mutate to produce Dark Spirit Roots. If such a mutation urs, the affinity values of the other three types of Spirit Roots are extremely low, which is why mutated Spirit Roots are almost always Single Spiritual Roots. "Shua¡ª" Zhuge Jian, who had been sitting steadily, suddenly appeared with extreme speed in front of the little boy with the chubby face who had been detected as having a superior Thunder Spiritual Root. With a rare smile squeezing onto his normally expressionless face, he said, "Little fellow, would you be willing to enter Sunset Gate and cultivate the supreme Sword Dao?" The little boy shrank his neck and said, "But, I want to join Tianxiang Valley." The little boy was none other than Shen Tinn. Hearing this, Zhuge Jian¡¯s face stiffened, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Why?" "Because Tianxiang Valley has pretty sisters." Shen Tinn said with her big, somewhat cute eyes. There was silence all around. Three breathster, Hao Can from the crowd rushed to the edge of the Spirit Testing Formation and quickly said, "I beg your pardon, elder, my child is naive, and we wish to join Sunset Gate." The little boy Shen Tinn still wanted to speak but was fiercely silenced by a stern look from Hao Can. "That¡¯s not quite right. The child isn¡¯t that small anymore, and when we take disciples, we should first consider the child¡¯s opinion." At this moment, Li Xingruo spoke up and also approached Shen Tinn. "Li, my friend, he is a boy, you from Tianxiang Valley want topete for him?" Zhuge Jian turned his head and asked. "It¡¯s not that we do not ept male disciples, we just ept fewer of them. Little brother, Tianxiang Valley has pretty sisters everywhere." Li Xingruo had already walked in front of Shen Tinn and said. "Hmph, as far as I know, your Tianxiang Valley doesn¡¯t have any Thunder attribute cultivation techniques, right? Don¡¯t let a perfectly good talent be wasted." Zhuge Jian said, ncing at Hao Can and Jiang Jinyue who hade to Hao Can¡¯s side. "It¡¯s true that Tianxiang Valley doesn¡¯t have Thunder attribute cultivation techniques, but that doesn¡¯t mean Qunfang Pavilion doesn¡¯t. When the timees, we can exchange for one. Besides, after reaching Foundation Establishment, he can directly join Qunfang Pavilion, which has even more pretty sisters." Li Xingruo said, and seeing Shen Tinn¡¯s eyes light up even brighter, she added. "Also, you two are his parents, right? As long as he joins Tianxiang Valley, I can make it so that you can enter as well." "Hmph, if he joins Sunset Gate, after reaching Foundation Establishment, he can also join Tri-Sun Sect and practice the Nine Heavens Yang Thunder Sword Manual, which is certainly not something any ordinary Thunder attribute cultivation techniques in Qunfang Pavilion canpare to." Zhuge Jian said. "Elders, I am only the child¡¯s adoptive father, but I too hope that he can join Sunset Gate." "Wuwu, I want to go to Tianxiang Valley, not Sunset Gate." Upon hearing this, Shen Tinn immediately began to cry in distress. At this point, Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning had also arrived, and since they recognized acquaintances, Yu Qingtan also said a word. "Big Brother Hao, you have to consider the child¡¯s opinion too!" "Qingtan girl, this... Sister-inw, what do you think?" Hao Can, seeing Yu Qingtan, scratched his head uncertainly, not knowing how to respond, so he kicked the issue over to Jiang Jinyue. "I think thisdy makes sense. If the child isn¡¯t happy, he certainly won¡¯t learn well. Maybe..." Jiang Jinyue, holding her crying son, said. But before she could finish, an Enforcement Team member who had already arrived took off her helmet, wiped her face with her hand to reveal a beautiful, refined face, squatted down in front of Shen Tinn, and said, "Little brother, though Tianxiang Valley has many pretty sisters, Sunset Gate also has many pretty sisters, you see, I am from Sunset Gate. And there are many of my female senior and junior disciples in the sect. Would you like toe to our Sunset Gate? Please, sister is begging you!" Yu Qingtan, seeing this, realized this was the oddly familiar Enforcement Team member she had seen earlier. Now, up close and hearing her voice, Despite it being a woman¡¯s voice, Yu Qingtan still recognized her as her previous guest, the faux-gentleman Yang Zhen. She saw that this top-quality Thunder Spiritual Root child was about to join Tianxiang Valley and that her own senior brother didn¡¯t know how topete any further. All she could do was stand there with a cold expression, watching. She decided to enter the fray herself, to try swaying the decision once more. Shen Tinn, seeing the pretty sister in front of her, immediately stopped crying. Chapter 66 - 66 Coveting the Fortune Cultivation Body Shen Tinn stopped crying, nced at Yang Zhen who was dressed in the Enforcement Team uniform, and then looked at Li Xingruo, Wen Jin, Yu Qingtan, and Shen Wanning, who were all d in skirts. "I still want to enter Tianxiang Valley!" Your next journey awaits at mvl Shen Tinn¡¯s words made Yang Zhen¡¯s face stiffen. "Zhen¡¯er, forget it. If it¡¯s like this, then he is simply not fated to be with us and Sunset Gate." Zhuge Jian said in an emotionless voice before returning to his seat. He too was a proud man and could not let the person he took a liking to fight over a disciple like this. Yang Zhen, in actuality Ouyang Zhen, upon hearing this, could only stand up and follow him back. After noticing Yu Qingtan¡¯s gaze, she even winked at Qing Tan. Thus, Shen Tinn was sessfully admitted into Tianxiang Valley, with Hao Can and Jiang Jinyue apanying him as attendants. Byte morning, all the children who hade to test their Spirit Roots had been tested. No child with better aptitude than Shen Tinn appeared, but Tianxiang Valley still epted more than ten disciples, while Sunset Gate took in nearly thirty. Then came the recruitment of young Loose Cultivators. Selection was bybat on a fighting stage, with the criteria being middle stage Qi Cultivation before the age of thirty, andte-stage Qi Cultivation before the age of forty. Those with Immortal cultivation techniques were given priority consideration. Having witnessed the ughter on the beast tide battlefield, Yu Qingtan found these contests rather uninteresting, while Shen Wanning watched with relish. The disciple recruitment event proceeded orderly until it ended in thete afternoon. Li Xingruo and Wen Jin took Shen Tinn and the other two on a small Flying Boat back to Tianxiang Pavilion first. Yu Qingtan, Shen Wanning, and the other "volunteers" as well as some Protecting Disciples had to walk back on their own. "When will I also be able to ride on a Flying Boat?" Shen Wanning, looking at the departing Flying Boat, said enviously. "There will be a day for that," Yu Qingtan said with a determined gaze. The group had just left the square. A ragged Taoist suddenly appeared in front of Yu Qingtan and Shen Wanning. "Hahaha~ Hahaha~ Truly a Fortune Cultivation Body! The great Dao of this old ancestor may finally have hope!" Yu Qingtan and the others were on alert the moment they saw this strange old Taoist suddenly appear. The unfashionable old Taoist, with piercing eyes, said to Shen Wanning, "Little girl,e with this old ancestor, and I assure you Core Formation." Shen Wanning, somewhat frightened, clung onto Yu Qingtan¡¯s arm, and Qing Tan asked, "Senior, who are you? Why do you want Wanning to go with you?" "Hahaha~ This old man is the True Monarch of Cmity Transcendence. Little girl,ing with me is your good fortune. Come here," the ragged Taoist said to Wanning, ignoring Yu Qingtan¡¯s question. Yu Qingtan, Shen Wanning, and the people nearby were all shocked upon hearing this. To have a Nascent Soul True Monarch right before them. Many Cultivators had already prostrated themselves in respect. "Senior, may I refuse?" Wanning asked trembling in fear, yet braved the question. "Hmph, this old ancestor is in a good mood today, but don¡¯t you make me unhappy," the True Monarch of Cmity Transcendence snorted coldly, releasing a powerful pressure toward Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan was pressed to the ground as if a thousand-pound b wasid on her back. Yu Qingtan cursed internally, but she couldn¡¯t even let out a sound. Seeing this, Shen Wanning tried to pull Qingtan up by pulling on her hand that had slipped from her grasp, but it was to no avail. "What are you doing to Qingtan?" Wanning red up at the True Monarch of Cmity Transcendence, demanding sharply. "Hahaha, I¡¯m not doing much, but if you continue to displease me, she will end up ttened," he replied. "Alright, I¡¯ll go with you, just let her go," Wanning said with tears flowing, as she walked towards the True Monarch of Cmity Transcendence. The True Lord of Crossing Cmity stroked his whiskers contently, his dark, round face revealing a look of satisfaction. Yu Qingtan felt the pressure on her body dissipate and struggled to stand up. At that moment, a streak of escape light sped forth, and Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s figure appeared in mid-air beforending on the ground. "Is it the True Lord of Crossing Cmity from the Extreme Path Demon Sect before us?" With sped hands, Ouyang Wenjian greeted and inquired. "The junior has a bit of insight. Indeed, I am Crossing Cmity, and I¡¯ve onlye to take this little girl. You wouldn¡¯t have any objections, would you?" The True Lord of Crossing Cmity said, casting a sidelong nce at Ouyang Wenjian. "Please, do as you wish, senior!" The hand of the True Lord of Crossing Cmitynded on Shen Wanning¡¯s shoulder, then both of their figures disappeared. The speed of their escape was so swift it nearly resembled teleportation. "Wanning, wait for me!" Yu Qingtan shouted loudly. There was no response. "No need to shout, they have already left Immortal City." "Qingtan has seen the City Lord. City Lord, who is this True Lord of Crossing Cmity? Why did he take Wanning away?" "The True Lord of Crossing Cmity is a Nascent Soul True Lord from the Extreme Path Demon Sect. As for why he took that girl, it is unknown." Ouyang Wenjian actually patiently answered Yu Qingtan¡¯s question. "Demon Sect!" Yu Qingtan eximed in shock. "Yes, the Demon Sect." "Right, when True Lord of Crossing Cmity arrived, he mentioned something about a Fortune Cultivation Body, saying that there was hope for the great Dao, and that he would ensure Wanning¡¯s Core Formation." "Fortune Cultivation Body!" Ouyang Wenjian¡¯s gaze became sharp, shooting out a brilliant light towards the direction where the True Lord of Crossing Cmity and Shen Wanning departed. But he quickly regained hisposure and did nothing. "Daoist Body, possessing many magical characteristics beneficial for cultivation. Above Daoist Body, there are said to be ten major Immortal Bodies. The Fortune Cultivation Body makes a cultivator¡¯s luck very good, with continuous chances and opportunities. It¡¯s a pity she is still too weak." Ouyang Wenjian said, a hint of envy in his eyes. "In the Extreme Path Demon Sect, all cultivators are focused on one single Dao. The True Lord of Crossing Cmity cultivates the Dao of Cmity. By abducting this girl with the Fortune Cultivation Body, he probably ns to use her as a cauldron, taking advantage of her luck to further his own Dao of Cmity." "Cauldron!" Upon hearing this, Yu Qingtan¡¯splexion turned pale, her fists clenched tightly. "s, she should be fine before her Core Formation. The True Lord of Crossing Cmity will even help her towards it. What a pity, a Daoist Body, if not allowed to grow, is just another type of aptitude for cultivation after all!" Ouyang Wenjian also sighed, then turned into a streak of escape light, leaving the area. "Golden Core Stage, Wanning, wait for me!" Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes became resolute. By this time, Gongsun Yurong, the Master of Tianxiang Pavilion, had also arrived at the scene. "Qing Tan, what happened here? I heard from those returning to report that a True Lord appeared and took Wanning away?" Gongsun Yurong came before Yu Qingtan and asked. As it turned out, while Ouyang Wenjian and Yu Qingtan exchanged words, he had casually set up an Istion Formation; people around them could neither see them nor hear their voices. Thus, one of the Protecting Disciples had returned to report the matter to Tianxiang Pavilion. "I¡¯ve seen the Master. It is indeed so. The City Lord, Ouyang, said it was because Wanning has the Fortune Cultivation Body, that¡¯s why she was abducted by the True Lord of Crossing Cmity from the Extreme Path Demon Sect." Yu Qingtan spoke bitterly, mentally noting True Lord of Crossing Cmity in her little notebook. "Fortune Cultivation Body! Extreme Path Demon Sect! Oh my¡ª" Gongsun Yurong was both surprised and regretful. "Qing Tan, don¡¯t worry. I will immediately pass on the message so that Qunfang Pavilion can negotiate with the Extreme Path Demon Sect." Chapter 67: The Most Affectionate Are Those Who Drink Alone ``` The next day, Li Xingruo and Wen Jin took Shen Tinn and other newly recruited disciples back to Tianxiang Valley. A few dayster, Li Xingruo sent word that negotiations between Qunfang Pavilion and Extreme Path Demon Sect had been fruitless. Yu Qingtan and Gongsun Yurong were not surprised at all. For the Extreme Path Demon Sect had elders in the Divinity Transformation Stage. Yu Qingtan appeared no different from usual, but she practiced even more assiduously, performing dances every day and working hard. One day, among Yu Qingtan¡¯s guests were two familiar faces. Ouyang Wulong, the captain of the first battalion, third squad, from the Enforcement Team of City Lord¡¯s Mansion. "y ¡¯Purification of Soul¡¯ for me," ordered Ouyang Wulong as he entered and dismissed the servants, addressing Yu Qingtan. He then took out a sk of Spiritual Wine and a cup, drinking by himself. Yu Qingtan yed "Purification of Soul" as he requested. By the time the piece concluded, Ouyang Wulong had finished the wine in his sk, his face flushing red. "Did you know? I grew up with her, more than twenty years together, childhood sweethearts, innocent of the world," continued Ouyang Wulong after taking out another sk of wine, pouring a cup, and drinking it down in one gulp. Yu Qingtan did not continue ying; she knew that her role now was simply to listen. "I am just a branch of a branch from the Ouyang family. Detected at age five to have top-grade gold and earth Spirit Roots, I was taken to be nurtured at the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and trained alongside her, the City Lord¡¯s youngest daughter, Ouyang Zhen." Upon hearing this, Yu Qingtan¡¯s expression turned somewhat peculiar. "She always loved to y with me, and that was the happiest time of my life," he said, continuing to drink and speak. "Until we were twelve, when she went to Sunset Gate and stayed for a year. When she returned, she wasn¡¯t as close to me anymore." "But she was still kind to me, bringing me tasty food and sharing things that helped with cultivation. In my heart, I swore to diligently practice and be a strong Cultivator to protect her." "By the time I was not even twenty, I¡¯d reached the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation, gained the favor of the City Lord, and became a captain in the Enforcement Team." "But I felt she was drifting further away from me. Before the onught of Demonic Beasts, she suddenly started to visit me every day, bringing me food, making me feel as if she was still the same person she used to be." "Sadly, those days didn¡¯tst long before they ended." Yu Qingtan listened with a twinge of guilt; this was a scheme she had advised Ouyang Zhen on, not expecting Ouyang Wulong to be the victim. "I decided to reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible, then propose marriage to the City Lord. During the beast tide, I fought fiercely against the Demonic Beasts, risking my life multiple times, and finally umted enough Merit Points to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill." Read exclusive adventures at mvl "Once my injuries healed and my condition stabilized, I prepared to enter seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. That¡¯s when the man, Zhuge Jian, arrived." "On the very first day Zhuge Jian arrived, Zhen¡¯er publicly professed her love for him, and Zhuge Jian reciprocated her feelings. Standing there together, they looked like a match made in heaven." "All I could do was silently watch from a corner, wishing them happiness." By this point in the story, Ouyang Wulong¡¯s face was streaked with tears. Feeling a faint sense of guilt, Yu Qingtan could only offer: "The deepest feelings are often those of the lone drinker, as swords and spears break hearts but spare the beloved. The path to immortality is long and filled with worries; at the foot of the heavenlydder, all is but drifting duckweed." "At the foot of the heavenlydder, all is but drifting duckweed, haha, haha, wonderful!" Another cup went down. ... Ouyang Wulong was carried back by his subordinates. As a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, it was hard for ordinary Spiritual Wine to intoxicate him. Unfortunately, it¡¯s not the wine that intoxicates, but the person themselves. The guest following Ouyang Wulong, after many days, was the long-absent Fu Nian. "Young Master Fu, it has been many days since west met, I hope all is well with you. Qing Tan must thank you for your care previously," ``` Thinking of Shen Wanning whom he had entrusted to protect, Yu Qingtan¡¯s gaze darkened. Unexpectedly, Fu Nian also waved his hand to dismiss the servants, took out a pot of wine, poured himself a cup, and drained it in one gulp. "What¡¯s with everyone today," Yu Qingtan thought to herself speechlessly. "Qing Tan, do you think a short and ugly guy like me doesn¡¯t deserve to be loved?" A vein popped on Yu Qingtan¡¯s forehead. "Sure enough, it¡¯s another case of lovesickness." "How could that be, Young Master Fu has an exceptional bearing, and at such a young age, you¡¯ve broken through to the Foundation Establishment. As for height, haven¡¯t you heard that a man with ambition is a true man, no matter where he stands?" Yu Qingtan said. Fu Nian¡¯s eyes lit up, but then he hung his head and poured himself another pot of wine. "s, although my great vengeance has not yet been avenged, the Qis have suffered huge losses, which eases the hatred in my heart somewhat. I intended to return to my sect and cultivate in seclusion for a few more years while meanwhile, expressing my feelings to my senior sister. Since I joined the sect, my senior sister has always been very kind to me, and I thought she liked me too. But, but, she said I was a good person, but we¡¯re just not suitable for each other." "I didn¡¯t expect that the Cultivation World also had the ¡¯just-a-good-friend¡¯ card." Watching Fu Nian drink cup after cup, Yu Qingtan silently criticized in her heart. "Heh, I understand, my senior sister just looks down on me. Ashamed to stay in the sect, I came back here first." "Young Master Fu, there¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea, unrequited love only leads to annoyance. I¡¯ll drink with you to forget our sorrows." After saying that, Yu Qingtan also poured herself a cup of wine into her teacup, and drained it in one gulp. It was Spiritual Wine suitable for those at the Foundation Establishment Stage; it was strong and rich in Spiritual Energy. Fortunately, Yu Qingtan had already reached the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, and she wasn¡¯t required to immediately sit down and assimte the Spiritual Energy into her body. "¡¯There¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea, unrequited love only leads to annoyance.¡¯ Well said, let¡¯s drink up!" Fu Nian poured another cup for both himself and Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan clinked her cup with his. Both of them drained their sses. "Young Master Fu, my dear friend Shen Wanning, was abducted by the people of the Extreme Path Demon Sect to be used as a cauldron. I must save her and take down that old ghost." Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she spoke the ferocious words in a low and fierce tone. Ever since Shen Wanning was captured, Yu Qingtan had been extremely upset, and now she took this opportunity to let out some of her emotions through the alcohol. "You must be referring to the cmity-transcending True Lord that appeared a few days ago. I have heard about this person¡¯s emergence, but I never imagined he would do such a thing. Still, that is a Nascent Soul cultivator from a Sect Gate at the Divinity Transformation Stage." Hearing Yu Qingtan¡¯s words sobered up Fu Nian a bit. "So what if he¡¯s a Nascent Soul cultivator? When you were at the Qi Cultivation Stage, would you have given up on your revenge just because the Qis were too powerful?" "You¡¯re right, let¡¯s keep drinking." Fu Nian refilled their cups once again. After several rounds of drinking, Yu Qingtan still couldn¡¯t hold out and eventually slumped down, fainting on the table. Fu Nian smiled helplessly, called over a few servant disciples, and had them carry Yu Qingtan back to her room at Tianxiang Pavilion. He left Tianxiang Pavilion after that. ... The next morning, Yu Qingtan woke up with a headache that still hurt a bit, remembering what happened the night before. She also felt some regret. The Cultivation World was no ce for kindness; fainting drunk could be very dangerous. Besides, she was still on duty. After using a Cleansing Spell on herself, Yu Qingtan went to admit her mistake to Manager Su. Fortunately, Fu Nian hade in disguise with a cultivation level of Qi Cultivation, and since he didn¡¯t leave a bad review, Manager Su let it slide easily. She simply asked Manager Su for a day off. After bing a core disciple, she was entitled to one day off per month, plus ten days of annual leave. Chapter 68 - 68 Visit the You Family to Discuss Cooperation After tidying up a bit in her own residence, Yu Qingtan stepped outside. Dressed in a newly-crafted, low-grade first-rank magic artifact-level white dress and wearing a white veil over her head, Yu Qingtan avoided the Protecting Disciples and made her way alone to Suichuan Immortal City¡¯s market square. She had already be highly sessful in crafting low-grade first-rank magic artifact-level apparel, officially bing a low-grade Spirit Tailor. Now, with her strength at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, and having the Moonlight Stone Magpie Hairpin and "Love¡¯s Protection," she wasn¡¯t likely to encounter any danger under normal circumstances. Yu Qingtan first stopped outside Zhi Lan Pavilion, which had arge customer flow. She did not enter, but after watching for a while, she left. Inside, there were some of her recent practice works. Continuing on, Yu Qingtan also encountered a street stall specializing in selling Golden Spear Pills, which seemed to be doing good business. Yu Qingtan was satisfied in her heart, as all of this contributed to her ie. Moving with a light step, Yu Qingtan arrived outside arge mansion, removed her veil, and said to the gatekeeper. "Please inform the young master of your house that an old friend, Yu Qingtan, hase to visit!" Soon, a young man dressed in a green brocade robe with an imposing air came to the entrance. "Miss Qing Tan, it¡¯s been a long time, pleasee in!" It was none other than You Xiwang, the young master of the You family. "I hope I¡¯m not intruding." The two made their way to the You family¡¯s reception hall, where the Family Head You Xiantong was present. "I have the honor to meet Senior You. Please ept this modest token of my esteem," Yu Qingtan said to You Xiantong, handing over a brocaded box. "My dear niece, no need for such formalities, just call me uncle," said You Xiantong as he took the box and opened it. Inside was a Jade Marrow Ganoderma. You Xiantong quickly responded, "My dear niece, you should keep such a treasure for your own use." "Although the Jade Marrow Ganoderma is one of the main ingredients for crafting Foundation Establishment Pills, I don¡¯t know any Alchemists. Uncle You has taken good care of me in the past, and Guardian Huang even fell for my sake. This mere Jade Marrow Ganoderma is nothing inparison," Yu Qingtan replied. "Ah, well then, I shall ept it. If there¡¯s ever anything you need, juste to me. Xiwang, you should also get closer to your cousin," said You Xiantong, storing the Jade Marrow Ganoderma in his Storage Bag. "I will, Father," You Xiwang answered from the side. "Thank you, Uncle You, thank you, Brother You. Other than visiting Uncle and Brother You, I also have a business proposal I would like to work on with the You family," Yu Qingtan said. "Business? May I ask what kind of business?" You Xiantong and You Xiwang exchanged nces, both were clueless, hence the question. "The business of a performance event. The New Year is in half a month, and I n to hold my own performance event before that. I hope the You family can support and help me. After deducting Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s twenty percent, we can split the remainder equally." Performance events are also found in the Lichuan Cultivation World, but Suichuan Immortal City¡¯s location is rtively remote, and they are notmonly seen here. Yu Qingtan had already discussed this matter with Tower Master Gongsun Yurong, iming that she needed to earn resources to improve her strength in order to rescue Shen Wanning. Although Gongsun Yurong found Yu Qingtan¡¯s idea of rescuing someone unrealistic, she also expressed support. However, if Tianxiang Pavilion were to operate it, they would require eighty percent of the profits, and there might be objections from other disciples in the pavilion. What¡¯s more critical, Gongsun Yurong felt that the proportion of profit to investment wasn¡¯t going to be very high. Yu Qingtan then expressed her willingness to operate it herself. Gongsun Yurong consented, but Tianxiang Pavilion would still need to take twenty percent of the profits. The reason why Yu Qingtan approached the You family for coboration was not only because they had good rtions but also because the You family¡¯s main business was the operation of the Immortal City¡¯s arena. Suichuan Immortal City¡¯s arena has existed since the city was established. Since private fighting within the city is prohibited, those with conflicts can sign a life-and-death contract to resolve their disputes in the arena. Cultivators who want to train theirbat experience, or want to be famous, among various other considerations, can also participate in the arena¡¯s dailypetitions. The top ten cultivators in the early, middle, andte phases of Qi Cultivation in the monthlypetition rankings can also receive Spirit Stone rewards. Although it¡¯s not as prosperous as in its heyday, the Suichuan Immortal City¡¯s arena is still a ce that brings in a significant ie daily. As a minor Foundation Establishment family, the You family¡¯s ability to operate the Immortal City¡¯s arena naturally has someone backing it. Yu Xiantong¡¯s mother is from the Ouyang family. Yu Xiantong¡¯s wife is from the Song family. Moreover, the You family had several Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the past, it¡¯s just that there are some gaps now. "My dear niece, I presume you want to hold an exhibition in the arena, especially since one was held over a hundred years ago. How long do you n to hold this exhibition, and how much profit do you expect to make?" "It willst for ten days, with estimated earnings of between one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones." Yu Xiantong and You Xiwang took a sharp breath. After all, operating the arena, they only make a little over a hundred Spirit Stones daily in ie. "Since my dear niece has such confidence, how could my You family not give our full support." "Many thanks Uncle You." The three of them then went on to discuss various details about the exhibition. After the discussion, Yu Qingtan said, "Uncle You, Brother You, I¡¯ll leave the follow-up matters to you. Additionally, Qing Tan has a small matter to take care of. I have some items that are not convenient for me to sell in the open market; do you perhaps have any channels?" Upon hearing this, both Yu Xiantong¡¯s hearts stirred. "This Yu Qingtan is truly not simple, items not convenient to sell in the market, these are usually the kind of things one finds with robbers." However, they didn¡¯t ask any questions, and Yu Xiantong said, "To the south of this Immortal City, there is an underground ck market. After we have lunch, Xiwang will take my dear niece there." ... In an unassuming small house to the south of Suichuan Immortal City. Yu Qingtan, You Xiwang, and one of You Xiwang¡¯s guards, d in voluminous ck robes, appeared at this location. You Xiwang and his guard wore iron masks, while Yu Qingtan wore the Disguising Mask she got from the schrly assassin at Misty Rain Tower, with a ck shawl over her head. "This is the ce." You Xiwang said, then his guard lifted a floorboard revealing a staircase leading downward. The guard went down first, followed closely by Yu Qingtan and You Xiwang. Having descended the equivalent of two storeys, a corridor appeared that stretched forward. After walking down the passageway for the duration of a cup of tea, they arrived at a spacious area. Inside, there were more than twenty vendor stalls, and also a few shops. Under the illumination of Moonlight Stones, Yu Qingtan gave the ce a sweeping nce. There were over a hundred people in the space, most of them wearing ck robes like theirs, with their faces hidden. The three entered a shop without a signboard. A hunchbacked old man came to greet them. "Are you here to buy or to sell?" Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t speak but instead pulled out a Storage Bag, free of any spiritual power marks, and handed it to the hunchbacked old man. The old man took the Storage Bag and mentally sensed the items inside. His expression changed slightly as he said, "It¡¯s quite a lot of goods, please wait a moment." Then he carefully inspected the items within. Chapter 69: Buy or Get Out, It鈥檚 the Black Market ``` In this storage bag, the primary items were the magic artifacts of the Misty Rain Tower assassins like the Fortune Teller Old Man, Schr Dog, and Butcher de, as well as some elixirs that she no longer had use for. After a while, the hunchbacked elder looked up and said, "The total pricees to six thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, how about it?" This was about ten percent less than Yu Qingtan¡¯s own estimate, but considering it was the ck market, she nodded in agreement. Then, using a hoarse male voice, she asked, "Do you have Spirit Dew or Wastnd Crystals for sale?" The hunchbacked elder nced at Yu Qingtan, then shook his head, "No." The hunchbacked elder handed Yu Qingtan a second-grade, mid-quality Storage Talisman. Unlike the blind boxes of low-quality first-grade Storage Talismans that Qing Tan had bought before, this mid-quality first-grade Storage Talisman allowed one to check the contents without damaging the talisman. After confirming the number of Spirit Stones was correct, the three of them, including Yu Qingtan, left the shop. What Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t know was that soon after they left, the hunchbacked elder triggered a Communication Talisman. "The one who destroyed the Misty Rain Tower branch has appeared, I¡¯ve already..." Outside, not far from the shop, amotion was taking ce at a street stall. "If you¡¯re not buying, then get lost. What¡¯s there to shout about when buying an Orichi as a mount for a thousand Spirit Stones?" Yu Qingtan approached to have a look, and saw that the speaker was a fierce-faced, tall stall owner who didn¡¯t bother to wear a mask to conceal his identity. His stall had a variety of items for sale, but mainly mounts contained in various Spirit Beast Pouches. These included the Bicorn Horses, which were the mostmon in Suichuan Immortal City, as well as Gale Pigs, Stubborn Donkeys, Lion-Headed Geese, Orichis, and so on. The Orichi mentioned by the stall owner was arge, blue-bodied snake with eight red-eyed split tails, looking extremely ferocious but actually very docile once tamed. Being a rather rare and precious Spiritual Beast, Orichis weren¡¯t known for much attack power, which is why they were generally used as mounts. The person the stall owner was addressing was an elderly cultivator with hair starting to turn white and wearing a mask. Hearing the stall owner¡¯s words, the elderly cultivator released a wave of Qi Cultivation at the eighth stage and shouted, "What kind of attitude is that? I¡¯m just short of Spirit Stones today and was asking if you could give me a discount, weren¡¯t I?" "Old man, this is my attitude. So, you want to fight, is it? You should ask around about the name of the Beast King, Tian Changfeng!" The stall owner also released a wave of spiritual power, surprisingly at the ninth stage of Qi Cultivation, and scoffed disdainfully. "You...you...hmph!" Sensing Tian Changfeng¡¯s strength, the elderly cultivator ultimately left with an indignant huff, turning away. "Pah, you¡¯re like a dog. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that I still have to run my stall today, I would¡¯ve dly loosened up those old bones of yours," Tian Changfeng spat after the retreating figure of the elderly cultivator. The elderly cultivator didn¡¯t go far and hesitated upon hearing this, but then continued on even more quickly. After the elderly cultivator left, other cultivators approached Tian Changfeng¡¯s stall. Because Tian Changfeng¡¯s mounts were indeed cheaper than those sold by therge families. Even under the somewhat surprised gazes of You Xiwang and the other person, Yu Qingtan made her way to Tian Changfeng¡¯s stall. "How much for this token?" Yu Qingtan asked in a hoarse male voice. She was inquiring about an inconspicuous ck Uninscribed Token on the stall. This token was nearly identical to the one without any inscriptions she had in her System Space, which she had obtained from the Misty Rain Tower assassin, Poison Needle. "Three thousand Spirit Stones," Tian Changfeng said, his eyes shifting as he quoted a price. Upon hearing this, Yu Qingtan turned to leave. Tian Changfeng hurriedly stepped forward, grabbing the edge of the sleeve of Yu Qingtan¡¯s ck robe. "This token was something I risked my life to find in a cave of a second-stage Demonic Beast. If you¡¯re really interested, how about 2,800 Spirit Stones?" Yu Qingtan brushed off his hand with displeasure, stepped back a few paces, and then said, "No need, I don¡¯t have that many Spirit Stones." She just wanted to know what the token was for, but Tian Changfeng didn¡¯t bother to exin and just quoted a price outright. Unlike the earlier mocking of the elderly cultivator, Tian Changfeng didn¡¯t say anything to Yu Qingtan but returned to his stall looking somewhat annoyed. However, he was alreadyughing coldly in his heart. ``` Yu Qingtan continued strolling around but didn¡¯t find anything she wanted to buy. However, You Xiwang bought Yu Qingtan an exquisite ne. Although it was just a lower-grade first-stage magic artifact, its beauty was key. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t refuse since You Xiwang knew she was a core disciple of Tianxiang Pavilion and couldn¡¯t possibly marry anyone until she redeemed herself. At the final shop they visited, there was still no signboard. "What are you looking to buy, dried goods or fresh goods?" a young clerk with a shifty look approached and asked. Yu Qingtan was puzzled. You Xiwang leaned close to Yu Qingtan¡¯s ear and said, "Dried goods mean boys, fresh goods mean girls." Yu Qingtan realized then what this ce was, a den of human traffickers. Disgust immediately rose in her heart. Yu Qingtan asked, "Do you have fresh goods with a True Spiritual Root?" The clerk replied, "Of course, we have them." "Show us the merchandise!" "Well, our shop has a rule, you must pay a deposit of 500 Spirit Stones before you can see the goods!" Yu Qingtan fell silent upon hearing this. You Xiwang also changed his tone and said, "Forget it, we won¡¯t buy today!" The three of them then left that shop. "Let¡¯s head back," Yu Qingtan suggested. "All right!" The trio retraced their steps along the path they hade. "Brother You, this ck market even traffics people, doesn¡¯t the authority above care?" Yu Qingtan pointed upwards and asked. "Heh, there are some above who would like to manage it, but these people also have their own backing. Since it¡¯s not done openly, they don¡¯t intervene, and others simply prefer not to care," You Xiwang replied. "What kind of backing?" "The closest great sect of demon cultivators to us, the Extreme Path Demon Sect." A jolt went through Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart, it was the Extreme Path Demon Sect again. After leaving the passage, the three headed straight back to the You residence. "Thank you, Uncle You, Brother You, I¡¯ll take my leave," Yu Qingtan said. After bidding farewell to the father and son of the You family, Yu Qingtan prepared to pay a visit to Ouyang Wuqing. It was best to give a heads-up to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion about the talent show. While passing through a small alley, a nearly transparent screen suddenly appeared, enveloping the entire alley. Yu Qingtan¡¯s pretty face beneath her veil changed slightly, but she didn¡¯t panic. At that moment, a tall male cultivator emerged from the ground ahead, none other than Tian Changfeng, a stall owner they had seen in the ck market. "Turns out it¡¯s a girl, heh heh, you are now trapped in this Istion Formation. Hand over your Storage Bag, and I can spare your life." "It¡¯s you, how did you find me? What do you want to do?" Yu Qingtan pretended to panic and stepped back a few paces, saying. "The little girl¡¯s voice is quite nice, but you ask too many questions. I¡¯ll count to three, hand over the Storage Bag, otherwise, heh heh." "I understand now, you must have done something to me when you touched my sleeve," Yu Qingtan guessed. "Three!" Tian Changfeng did not refute. "Don¡¯te any closer, do you know who I am? If you dare to hurt a single hair on my head, my father will definitely not let you off," Yu Qingtan threatened weakly. "Two!" A python as thick as an arm appeared in Tian Changfeng¡¯s hand, with the python hissing at Yu Qingtan. "I¡¯ll give it, I¡¯ll give it!" Yu Qingtan shouted. Yu Qingtan took out a Storage Bag and threw it towards Tian Changfeng. Chapter 70 - 70 - Successive Attacks Trouble the Mind Underneath the storage bagy three silver needles. A ck-furred rat scurried out from Tian Changfeng¡¯s sleeve, reaching for the thrown storage bag. "Pfft pfft pfft¡«" Three Shadowless Needles pierced into the body of the ck rat, causing it to fall to the ground. "As expected, not well-behaved, but these are just some old tricks left over by the bigshots. Go!" Following Tian Changfeng¡¯s words, a python soared out of his hand, shooting straight toward Yu Qingtan. This was a Blue-striped Venomous Python, ate-stage first-order spiritual beast. While most pythons are non-venomous, the Blue-striped Venomous Python was an exception. Seeing the Blue-striped Venomous Python open its mouth to bite, Yu Qingtan flung out three Water des toward its gaping maw. However, not only was the Blue-striped Venomous Python extremely fast, the scales on its body also provided strong defense. Leaning its body to one side, two of the Water des missed, while one that struck its vulnerable spot only left a white mark. As the Blue-striped Venomous Python continued its assault, Yu Qingtan used the Water Escape Technique to distance herself, all the while using the Water de Technique to disrupt its attacking rhythm. After a few moments of struggle, Tian Changfeng saw that the Blue-striped Venomous Python could not take down the person immediately, so he released a swarm of Golden Ring Poison Bees from another Spirit Beast Pouch. About a hundred mid-stage first-order spiritual bees, with baby fist-sized abdomens and golden rings, along with threete-stage first-order spiritual bees as big as an adult¡¯s fist, buzzed as they flew toward Yu Qingtan, their wings pping furiously. Besides their stinging poison needles at the tail, the sharp spikes on the heads of Golden Ring Poison Bees were also lethal weapons. Apart from some auxiliary-type spiritual beasts, Tian Changfeng¡¯s carefully nurtured Blue-striped Venomous Python and this swarm of Golden Ring Poison Bees were his main offensive tactics. Seeing the bee swarm approaching, Yu Qingtan¡¯s spiritual power surged within her, and four Water Curtains appeared around her, forming a tetrahedron that protected her within. This was something Yu Qingtan could only achieve after her Water Spirit Root had advanced to a Celestial-grade Spirit Root. The Water Curtain Technique reached the effect of the Water Sphere Spell, but its defensive range was muchrger than that of the Water Sphere Spell. The bee swarm crashed into the Water Curtains without breaking through, instead causing ripples upon them. Tian Changfeng¡¯s face changed upon seeing this. "This is the Water Curtain Technique? How can a mere eighth-level Qi Cultivation cultivator execute four Water Curtain Spells at once?" He immediately ordered the bee swarm to keep pounding, while the Blue-striped Venomous Python coiled itself around one corner of Yu Qingtan¡¯s tetrahedral Water Curtain. "I refuse to believe you, an eighth-level Qi Cultivation cultivator¡¯s spiritual power can maintain these four Water Curtains for long." Indeed, under the attack of the opponent¡¯s spiritual beasts, Yu Qingtan needed to continuously infuse a significant amount of spiritual power into the Water Curtains to maintain their defense, and within a dozen or so breaths, Yu Qingtan¡¯s spiritual power had already been severely depleted. "Since the effects of the spells have been tested enough, I¡¯m not going to y with you any longer." Yu Qingtan thought to herself, then the fluctuation of spiritual power around her almost instantly surged to the Foundation Establishment Stage. "Love¡¯s Protection" from Luo Xiang. The four Water Curtains suddenly shook and then expanded outward. Like four solid walls, they flung open both the Blue-striped Venomous Python and the Golden Ring Poison Bees. Then, Yu Qingtan, using a swift Water Escape Technique, appeared in front of Tian Changfeng and reached out to touch him. Although Tian Changfeng produced a defensive Magic Artifact and released an Amulet, under the Decay and Flourish Technique, his appearance quickly aged. The aura of spiritual power on his body also began to fade, and soon he became a white-haired old man with only the spiritual power aura of a first-level Qi Cultivation. This naturally was the result of Yu Qingtan holding back. "You... What is this... demon...?" Before Tian Changfeng could finish speaking, he was knocked out by a palm from Yu Qingtan and taken into the System Space. Then, over a hundred Water des were flung out, slicing open the heads of both the Blue-striped Venomous Python and the Golden Ring Poison Bees, killing them dead. After collecting their bodies and cleaning up the site with a Cleansing Spell, and retrieving the Array te used by Tian Changfeng for the Istion Formation, Yu Qingtan continued walking toward the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Although Luo Xiang was a despicable person, his Decay and Flourish Technique made him the strongest Foundation-Establishment Stage cultivator Yu Qingtan had ever encountered. Upon arriving outside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡¯s Law Enforcement Hall, it so happened that Ouyang Wuqing, the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall and the Captain of the First Law Enforcement Squad, was there. Yu Qingtan was quite acquainted with him. "Miss Qing Tan wants to host a performance conference, I naturally support it. Here¡¯s the deal, when the timees, I¡¯ll send a team over to help maintain order." Ouyang Wuqing, after hearing Yu Qingtan¡¯s reason foring, spoke. "Thank you, Captain Ouyang!" "Don¡¯t mention it, I think Zeng Jie from the third team would do, Wu Long has entered seclusion, and he¡¯s currently acting as the third team¡¯s captain. It so happens that he knows you." "I¡¯ll trouble Captain Zeng at that time!" "Haha, no trouble at all. A few days ago, before Zhen¡¯er went to Sunset Gate, she mentioned to me that you helped her a lot and asked us to take good care of you. Thest time, it was also she who called Zeng Jie to protect you. It¡¯s just a pity that we in the City Lord¡¯s Mansion were powerless concerning that incident involving your friend." Yu Qingtan thought to herself that indeed, during the chaos in the city before, it was Ouyang Zhen who had sent Zeng Jie. "Qing Tan understands. I¡¯ll take my leave now!" Leaving the Law Enforcement Hall, the day had already started to darken. Yu Qingtan proceeded unhurriedly toward her dwelling. Half an hour, one hour, Yu Qingtan was still on the road. The number of pedestrians on the road grew fewer and fewer. Until there were none. The sky had turnedpletely dark. Yet another night without stars or moon. The moonlight stonemps by the roadside emitted a cool glow, casting long shadows alongside Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan stopped in her tracks. For some reason, the surroundings had be utterly silent. Yu Qingtan could even hear her own breathing. From the shadows of a certain corner, a pale-faced, tall and thin male cultivator was also questioning his life. He was an assassin from Misty Rain Tower, known by the alias Thousand Illusions, and he was the person in charge of Misty Rain Tower¡¯s branch in Suichuan Immortal City, a cultivator at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Previously, he went somewhere else toplete a mission. When he returned, he found that his home had been stolen. This infuriated him, and he was determined to find the person who did it and make them suffer his full array of techniques, dying amidst endless agony. Unfortunately, the other party left no clues. But he was an assassin. What an assassin has in abundance is patience. He believed the other party would eventually show themselves. That belief held until today when he received a message from the owner of that shop in the ck market. It made his huge investment and long wait in the ck market and in various big shops in the city worth it. Depending on a technique left by a hunchbacked old man from the ck market, it took him the better half of the day, but he finally located that person. To his surprise, that ce turned out to be the Law Enforcement Hall. He even suspected whether the hunchbacked old man had sold him out. Yet, if that were true, shouldn¡¯t they haveid an ambush to wait for him to take the bait? Why would he go straight to the Law Enforcement Hall? Therefore, he decided to watch and wait. His judgment was not wrong, but he hadn¡¯t expected the target to be a girl. She seemed very young and did not appear to be a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage. It was a mystery how she was capable of taking down Misty Rain Tower¡¯s branch. "Could there be someone behind her?" After some thought, Thousand Illusions decided to take action. No matter what identity this young girl had, she would not see tomorrow¡¯s sun. Chapter 71 - 71 Di Hua Thousand Illusions and Jiang Lai ``` Thousand Illusions was an assassin, and a stylish one at that. At least, that¡¯s what he thought of himself. Every mission, he loved to employ illusion techniques, step by step pushing his target into the abyss of despair. This time, he was prepared to do the same. He had already lured the girl into the phantasm he meticulously set up. But he had been using his illusion technique for a quarter of an hour now, and the young girl had not shown the slightest issue. "Could this be some expert ying dumb only to deliver a fatal blowter? Am I the actual fool here?" Sweat started to form on Thousand Illusions¡¯ forehead. By now, Yu Qingtan, slow as she was, realized that something was amiss. She took a careful look around. No valuable discoveries. She simply stood in ce, eyes quietly fixed ahead, waiting for any change to arise. The so-called ¡¯If the enemy does not move, I do not move.¡¯ And right across from Yu Qingtan, Thousand Illusions¡¯ gaze met hers. A moment. Another moment. ... After a dozen moments. Thousand Illusions¡¯ back was soaked with sweat. "Can she see me? She really ispletely unaffected by the illusions; she must be one of those cultivators who¡¯s pretending to be weak." "Late Foundation Establishment stage? No, even ate Foundation Establishment stage cultivator would have trouble ignoring my illusions. Could it be a false Golden Core, or a Golden Core cultivator?" Though the eyes under that hood were not see-through, Thousand Illusions always felt a faint pressure from them. At the twenty-moment mark, Thousand Illusions finally averted his gaze and breathed a sigh of relief. Thousand Illusions removed the illusion and then spoke a sentence before quickly leaving. "Junior has offended you greatly; I shall take my leave now, please forgive my impudence." He was always very cautious, which is why he had been able to practice cultivation so freely for all these years as an assassin reaching the Foundation Establishment. Yu Qingtan watched somewhat dumbfounded as her surroundings suddenly changed, finding herself in a small alley. Although there was no one else in the alley, she could still hear the voices of people from a main road not too far away. Then a figure shot out from not too far ahead, leaving behind a puzzling sentence before quickly disappearing. Yu Qingtan realized that someone had most likely just made a move on her again, but for some reason, decided to back off and leave. Not bothering with it, Yu Qingtan quickened her pace and returned to her own room. After securing the door, her figure disappeared, leaving only a pile of clothes on the ground. Indeed, it was still a shadow clone that had gone out this time. So, despite encountering attacks, Yu Qingtan was not too panicked. The original body emerged from the Vajra Protective Spirit Array, picking up the clothes, decorations, Tian Changfeng¡¯s Storage Bag, Spirit Beast Pouch, and the first-grade, Medium Grade Storage Talisman containing six thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. Infusing Spiritual Power into the Storage Talisman, the six thousand five hundred neatly piled Spirit Stones appeared on the ground. Yu Qingtan collected them into the System Space. The Storage Talisman also could not be put into the System Space. The now-useless Storage Talisman was shattered into dust by a strike from Yu Qingtan¡¯s palm, then cleansed away with a Cleansing Spell. ... Meanwhile, Thousand Illusions¡¯ expression changed suddenly. He couldn¡¯t feel the machinations of the hunchback from the ck market at all anymore. "She must have noticed the tracking seal on the Storage Talisman early on. She¡¯s fishing, how cunning!" "Luckily I retreated quickly, or I would¡¯ve been caught for sure." "It seems the waters run deep with the destruction of the Misty Rain Tower¡¯s branch in Suichuan Immortal City, better I go undercover for a while." ... ``` After securing the Spirit Stones, Yu Qingtan took out Tian Changfeng¡¯s Storage Bag and over a dozen Spirit Beast Pouches. On her way to the Law Enforcement Hall, she had used her Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Power to erase the original Spiritual Power marks on them. She emptied the contents of the Storage Bag and took stock of them. Two thousand seven hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones and seven Medium Grade Spirit Stones. A few first-grade Medium and Lower Grade Magic Artifacts, over a dozen bottles of various Elixirs, and over a dozen Talismans. Another Uninscribed Token. An Array te for the Istion Formation. An ancient thread-bound book. Some Spirit Ores, Spiritual Materials, and Spiritual Medicines, including a Heavenly Spirit Fruit, the main ingredient for a Foundation Establishment Pill. The rest were misceneous items. Yu Qingtan picked up the Uninscribed Token and took out the one from the System Space, studying them closely for a while, but finding nothing, she decided to put them away for now. She then picked up the ancient thread-bound book, which was quite thick and titled "Spirit Beast Cultivation Manual." Seeing this book, Yu Qingtan let "Er Ha" Xiao Tao out. After several months of feeding, Xiao Tao had grown significantly, now reaching up to Yu Qingtan¡¯s thigh. "Ow ow~" It greeted Yu Qingtan and then stared at her intently. Yu Qingtan took out the carcass of the Cyan-Patterned Poison Python and used the Water de to peel off the snake skin, extract the teeth, galldder, and some snake meat, then threw it to Xiao Tao. Xiao Tao excitedly started eating. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t pay attention to Xiao Tao, although it looked like an Er Ha, it didn¡¯t make trouble. Yu Qingtan continued reading the "Spirit Beast Cultivation Manual." Inside, it recorded the basic information and cultivation considerations of hundreds of Spiritual Beasts, as well as various methods of forging contracts with them. The book was made of Spirit Bamboo paper and looked very old; it must have been an ancient tome that Tian Changfeng hade across by chance. After reading, Yu Qingtan nced at Xiao Tao, still gnawing on the snake meat, and after some consideration, decided against forming a contract with it. Yu Qingtan took out the dozen or so Spirit Beast Pouches and inspected each one. Two were empty, probably for storing the Cyan-Patterned Poison Python and Golden Ring Poison Bee. Inside one Spirit Beast Pouch were seven Honey Moths, and Yu Qingtan immediately understood how Tian Changfeng had found her. Honey Moths had no offensive ability, but they were extremely sensitive to Spirit Honey. Among Tian Changfeng¡¯s items was a small jar of Spirit Honey. "Tian Changfeng must have pretended to hold onto my sleeve to keep me around while actually leaving a trace of Spirit Honey on me, then relied on the Honey Moths to find me." "I¡¯m still too young, hastily asking for the price of the Uninscribed Token, allowing Tian Changfeng to guess that I also had an Uninscribed Token and was tracked by him without realizing it, not to mention the strange Cultivator that appearedter, I still don¡¯t know how he found me." Not being able to figure it out, Yu Qingtan decided to stop thinking about it and continued inspecting. Another Spirit Beast Pouch contained an early-stage first-grade White Falcon, a Spirit Beast known for its speed but too weak in its early stages, probably used for scouting or delivering messages. The other Spirit Beast Pouches contained various mount-type Spiritual Beasts: Bicorn Horses, Gale Pigs, Stubborn-Skinned Donkeys, Lion-Headed Geese, Orichis, and so on. In thest Spirit Beast Pouch, there was actually a person. Yu Qingtan was shocked and quickly released the person. It was a little girl, about ten years old, with a delicate appearance, wearing a pink nightgown, and her face and neck bore unsightly marks. "This Tian Changfeng truly deserved to die, and the Extreme Path Demon Sect as well!" Yu Qingtan was extremely angry. The little girl was still asleep, with a frown on her small brows that made Yu Qingtan feel heartbroken. Yu Qingtanid her on the bed and performed a Rejuvenation Spell on her; the little girl¡¯s frown rxed considerably, but she still didn¡¯t wake up. Yu Qingtan tidied up the room, took out the Spring Condensing Zither, and began to y "Purification of Soul." Halfway through the song, the little girl woke up groggily. And then, scared, she shrank toward the inner side of the bed. Seeing a big sister walking toward her, her expression rxed quite a bit. "Little girl, don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯ve already rescued you. What¡¯s your name?" "I... my name is Jiang Lai." Chapter 72: Tian Changfeng鈥檚 Death Was Well Deserved "Jiang Lai, what a nice name. I¡¯m Yu Qingtan, you don¡¯t have to be afraid. Tell Sister Qingtan, where are you from? How old are you? Do you still have any rtives?" Yu Qingtan asked with a gentle tone. "I¡¯m from Jiang Country, ten years old. My mother passed away early, and my father was originally a high official, but one day he was suddenly arrested along with my brother, and my aunt and I were captured and taken to the ministry of music and dance." Hearing this, Jiang Lai indeed became less scared and started to talk about her past. "I stayed in the ministry of music and dance for a few months, and I heard them say that my father hadmitted the crime of conspiracy and had already been executed with my brother. One day, a Xian Shi came and bought me along with some other children. Later, they tested our Spirit Roots, and he said I had a Quadruple Spirit Root and sold me again." "After being passed around a few times, I ended up in that underground shop where that beast bought me. Wuu wuu~" As Jiang Lai spoke, she couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears. "It¡¯s all right, it¡¯s all in the past, here, have a pastry," Yu Qingtanforted, handing a pastry to Jiang Lai, while inwardly she cursed the evildoings of that human trafficker connected to the Extreme Path Demon Sect. Jiang Lai must have been very hungry, as she stopped crying when she saw the pastry, took it over, and started eating. Yu Qingtan knew about Jiang Country, a dynasty in the Mortal Realm and a neighboring country to the one her previous incarnation hailed from. If her father was convicted of treason, there were likely no rtives she could rely on anymore. Once Jiang Lai had finished the pastry, Yu Qingtan handed her a cup of water and asked, "Are you full?" "I¡¯m full, thank you Sister Qing Tan." Perhaps because of everything she had been through, Jiang Lai was very polite. "What a pity, I¡¯m not suited to have a child by my side either." After thinking for a while, Yu Qingtan said, "Jiang Lai, I¡¯m not a suitable ce for you either, how about I entrust you to a friend of mine tomorrow?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Lai stopped drinking water, and with tears still in her eyes, she looked at Yu Qingtan like a little cat about to be abandoned. "Don¡¯t worry, my friend is a good person, andter I will have him arrange for your cultivation. I¡¯lle to see you when I have time," Yu Qingtan said. "Mhm," Jiang Lai acknowledged softly. Yu Qingtan then sent a Communication Talisman to You Xiwang. Not long after finishing the pastry, Jiang Lai fell asleep. Yu Qingtan temporarily took her into the System Space and then brought out an old man with chicken skin and crane hair. The old man opened his eyes and when he saw Yu Qingtan, he shrank back in terror. "You demoness, don¡¯te any closer!" Clearly, the Decay and Flourish Technique, a top-tier yet obscure Second Stage Spell, was unheard of by most Qi Practitioners. "Tian Changfeng, if you answer my questions honestly, I can revert you to your original appearance. Why did you attack me, and how did you find me?" "I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk." Tian Changfeng also realized his situation at this point and hastily spoke up. "I saw you ask about that token, and thinking you knew what it was for, I got carried away and sprinkled some spirit honey scent on you. Then I had my honey moths track you by the smell. Fellow Daoist, as long as you turn me back, I am willing to nt a Servitude Seal and be your servant." "So, you don¡¯t know what the token is for either?" "Yes, I truly found that token and the ¡¯Spirit Beast Cultivation Manual¡¯ in an abandoned Second Stage Demonic Beast¡¯s cave, but I really don¡¯t know what the token is for." "What is your background?" "I am a Loose Cultivator with a hunter background from the Mortal Realm, but I possess distinguished skills in cultivating spiritual beasts and can surely cultivate good spirit beasts for you." "If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll be quick about it!" With that said, a Water de shot out. "You don¡¯t talk..." Tian Changfeng¡¯s head fell to the ground. "I thought you knew something. You got off easy!" Considering what he had done to Jiang Lai, Yu Qingtan felt the urge to y him alive. The next day at dawn, You Xiwang sent a carriage drawn by a Bicorn Horse to pick up Jiang Lai. "I wille to see you!" "Thank you, Sister Qing Tan." "Damn the Extreme Path Demon Sect!" Once more cursing the Extreme Path Demon Sect in her heart, Yu Qingtan headed to the Tianxiang Pavilion. To begin her work for the day. ... That day, the Immortal City Arena posted a notice that Yu Qingtan, core disciple of the Tianxiang Pavilion, would hold a personal performance event three nightster at the Immortal City Arena. All cultivators who participated in the defense against the beast tide could register and enter for free, as a gesture of Yu Qingtan¡¯s respect and admiration for those who fought against the tide of beasts. After spending 1,000 Spirit Stones to hire 1,000 people to help spread the word, the news had disseminated throughout the entire city within half a day. "Is that Yu Qingtan from the Tianxiang Pavilion, the one who proposed the mortgage solution, treated the injured during the beast tide, and suppressed the Monkey-faced Eagle with her music?" "Who else could it be but that Qing Tan? Are you going? If not, I¡¯m going to register first!" "I¡¯m going too, I¡¯m going too, I¡¯ve only seen Sister Qing Tan from afar once. Such a pity the Tianxiang Pavilion is too pricey, how could I miss this chance?" "I heard that Sister Qing Tan isn¡¯t only kind-hearted but also unrivaled in both zither and dance, right?" "I also heard that Sister Qing Tan is as beautiful as a flower and exceptionally talented?" "All you¡¯ve got is hearsay. I¡¯ve saved some Spirit Stones just to see Sister Qing Tan¡¯s performance once. It was nothing short of enchanting, an experience I¡¯ll never forget!" "Pfft, I was fortunate enough to meet Sister Qing Tan in person once, not only is she talented, but also chatting with her was refreshing as a spring breeze. No more talk, I need to go register!" "Wife, I want to go see the personal performance." "You barely earn a few Spirit Stones a day, instead of working properly, what performance are you thinking of watching, you¡¯re getting ahead of yourself aren¡¯t you?" "It¡¯s the personal performance by Sister Qing Tan of Tianxiang Pavilion, and it¡¯s free." "It¡¯s Sister Qing Tan¡¯s performance, and free at that? Then take our son along too." "If any of you don¡¯t go to Sister Qing Tan¡¯s personal performance, you¡¯re no longer my brother!" "Big brother, we¡¯ve definitely got to go,e on, let¡¯s go register!" This was the discussion among the Loose Cultivators of Suichuan Immortal City, most of whom were deeply grateful to Qing Tan. The Ges. "Wen You, since Wen Xiong has gone to cultivate in the Yunhua Mountain Range, you should take some people to support Miss Qing Tan this time." Elder Ge Lian of the Ges instructed. "Yes!" The Songs. "Zhen Lin, since you¡¯re acquainted with Miss Qing Tan, you take some of our n members to give her support at the event," said Song Guisheng, the Family Head of the Songs. "Yes!" The Qis. "Who would¡¯ve thought, the girl who was locked in the punitive room that day, is now capable of holding her own personal performance event. After observing for a long time, we still couldn¡¯t figure out whether she¡¯s rted to that detestable thief. It¡¯s a pity that the Qi family is experiencing turbulent times ofte. Since you, Hong¡¯er, have a close rtionship with her, you should go on behalf of our Qi family to form a good bond." The Family Head of the Qis, Qi Zhe, said. "Yes!" Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion. "Father, in a few days, I¡¯d like to take leave to watch Miss Qing Tan¡¯s performance event," Sun Deren said to his father, Deacon Sun of the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion. "You¡¯ve been diligent with your cultivation recently, and a bit of rxation wouldn¡¯t hurt. However, don¡¯t get any funny ideas¡ªthe Miss from the Xie family doesn¡¯t tolerate any nonsense." "Father, I understand my boundaries," Sun Deren replied with a bowed head, but a mysterious light flickered in his eyes. Chapter 73: Breaking Through Again on the Eve of the Grand Assembly Hundred Treasures Pavilion. "Is this Yu Qingtan really as loved by the lower-ranked loose cultivators as you say?" a young man in gray asked. "Returning to the protector, due to the mortgage strategy and the suppression of the monkey-faced eagles, the loose cultivators in Suichuan Immortal City are all full of praise for Yu Qingtan," said Meng Xiyao, the boldly-dressed deacon of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. "In that case, I must see this Miss Yu Qingtan for myself. Likely, the development of our sect in Suichuan Immortal City will depend on her," said the young protector. "I will make arrangements right away." An inconspicuous courtyard in a certain part of Suichuan Immortal City. Fu Nian had intended to purchase some items, so he left Suichuan Immortal City to travel around. Unexpectedly, he heard about Yu Qingtan¡¯s n to hold a performance gathering. "Forget it, a few days won¡¯t make a difference!" Muttering to himself, Fu Nian returned to his cushion and resumed his seated meditation and cultivation. The Arena in the Immortal City, the spectator seats amodate twenty thousand. You Xiantong and his son You Xiwang never expected that on just the first day, over thirty thousand people came to register. Among them, there were even more than a thousand women. The second day, the number of registrants reached over one hundred and twenty thousand. The third day, registration numbers reached two hundred thousand, and all spectator spots were gone. This was even under the condition that each person could only register once. However, not everyone was looking forward to Yu Qingtan¡¯s performance gathering. In a private room of the Drunken Fairy Building. "Hmph, this Yu Qingtan is really shameless, actually performing for that bunch of lowly loose cultivators. I used to think her dance was quite good." "Young Master Zhu is right. This Yu Qingtan even proposed a mortgage strategy, allowing a bunch of slum-dwelling loose cultivators to swarm into the city, making Suichuan Immortal City filthy and chaotic." "Who¡¯s to argue? I¡¯ve felt a decrease in the density of spiritual energy near my home recently, and those loose cultivators¡¯ brats even urinate at my doorstep. Why didn¡¯t this bunch of loose cultivators all die during the beast tide?" "Let me tell you, I¡¯ve heard some rumors that the monkey-faced eagle tribe of the demonic beasts hates Yu Qingtan to the bone and is nning how to get rid of her." "Young Master Gou, how did youe by such news?" "Haha, just hearsay, just hearsay. No need to take it seriously, gentlemen. Now, drink up!" In a room of Tianxiang Pavilion. "s, this Yu Qingtan really knows how to curry favor. She¡¯ll trample us under her feet sooner orter." "Hmph, she¡¯s already a core disciple. Hasn¡¯t she already trampled you under her feet?" "I just can¡¯t ept it. Why should a country bumpkin like her get ahead?" "Heh, what can you do if you can¡¯t ept it? Do you dare to go against her? You don¡¯t really think Xiao Yan¡¯s disappearance has nothing to do with her, do you?" "There¡¯s no need to argue. Just watch; the higher she climbs, the harder she¡¯ll fall. With her showing off like this, she¡¯ll soon end up like Shen Wanning, kidnapped and turned into a furnace." ... No matter how much the people of Suichuan Immortal City were abuzz with discussions about her, Yu Qingtan had paused her performances and business in those days, focusing on cultivating and preparing for the performance gathering. The night before the performance gathering, Yu Qingtan sat within the Vajra Protective Spirit Array, holding two medium-grade spirit stones in her hands, and with closed eyes, she cycled the Clear Water Technique. Because her water spirit root had ascended to immortal grade, Yu Qingtan¡¯s cultivation efficiency of the Clear Water Technique had surged exponentially. The remaining 40 drops of Spirit Dew had long been absorbed. The Hundred Herbs Pill, suitable for thetter stages of Qi cultivation, had also been used up. Considering the issue of elixir toxicity, Yu Qingtan thought to minimize the use of elixirs for cultivation and didn¡¯t purchase any more cultivation elixirs. Instead, she used the Medium Grade Spirit Stones for cultivation directly. Although using spirit stones was a waste and the efficiency was slightly lower than using elixirs, Yu Qingtan felt it was worth it. At that moment, Yu Qingtan was once again on the brink of a breakthrough. With each cycle of her energy cirction, at a certain moment, thest subsidiary meridian recorded in the Clear Water Technique was prated, and her dantian quivered slightly, expanding a bit. In about half a year, Yu Qingtan had cultivated from the first level of Qi cultivation to the ninth level. After stabilizing her cultivation level, Yu Qingtan ceased her seated meditation. He opened the system panel. [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer 5/900, Body Refinement Sixth Layer 420/600] Recently, he primarily cultivated the Clear Water Technique. He spent less time on the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art. There was still some Wastnd Crystal left from exchanging Merit Points, which should be enough to support him until reaching the Seventh Layer of Body Refinement. ncing at the charm points which were over 500, Yu Qingtan decided to congratte himself. "Dao Ancestor be eternal!" Yu Qingtan silently recited before clicking the ten-consecutive-draw button five times in a row. "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "A permanent makeup kit, thank you for your patronage x9!" "Nice stuff!" After iming the permanent makeup kit and checking it out, Yu Qingtan praised. Female cultivators in the Cultivation World generally do not wear makeup, favoring natural beauty instead. Previously, Yu Qingtan would apply light makeup to cover her freckles, but after using the Beauty Enhancement Pill, she hardly wore makeup anymore. The permanent makeup kit primarily included an eyebrow pencil and a mascara wand. Once drawn on with the brow pencil, eyebrows would grow out in the delineated shape, and simrly, the mascara wand could make the eyshes reach the desired length with a simple brush. Yu Qingtan immediately went to the mirror to apply makeup. After half an hour of adjustments, Yu Qingtan looked at her reflection with satisfaction. Her willow-shaped eyebrows and long eyshes highlighted her bright eyes remarkably, making her already fair and smooth face even more charming. After admiring herself for a while, Yu Qingtan began practicing various spells. ... The next evening, You Xiwang, the young master of the You family, personally came to the back door of Tianxiang Pavilion in a Bicorn Horse carriage to pick up Yu Qingtan and bring her to the You residence. "Sister Qingtan, you¡¯re here, and you look even more beautiful today!" As soon as they entered the gate of the You residence, Jiang Lai, dressed in a pink dress looking like carved jade, came over to greet her, clearly having waited for some time. "You Xiwang, look, Jiang Lai knows how topliment better than you. Jiang Lai, how have you beentely?" You Xiwang felt somewhat embarrassed. When he had picked up Yu Qingtan, he also thought she looked more beautiful and hadplimented her, "Qingtan, you look truly beautiful today!" As a result, he received an eye roll from Yu Qingtan. "Am I not beautiful on other days?" Yu Qingtan wondered to herself. "I¡¯ve been doing great recently, every day I have delicious food to eat, beautiful dresses to wear, and brother Xiwang is very kind to me, teaching me how to cultivate. It¡¯s just that he¡¯s too busy." "Well, he is the Young Master of the You family, of course he¡¯s busy!" Yu Qingtan said with a smile. Yu Qingtan then went in to greet the You family head, You Xiantong, before she and You Xiwang headed towards the arena in Suichuan Immortal City. However, Jiang Lai stayed back at the You residence. The arena in Suichuan Immortal City was already packed by this time. Zeng Jie, the captain of the small Enforcement Team, along with a squad of Enforcement officers and You family staff, were working together to maintain order. Everyone was ordered to enter ording to the seat number they drew during registration. The seats for the group registrations were arranged together. "Fellow Daoist Deng, this miss Qingtan is extraordinary. To have the Enforcement Team maintain order at a personal performance meetup is something else." "Fellow Daoist Jiang, miss Qingtan must have a deep background too. Look over there, the people from the Ges, then there, the Songs and even the Qis, who have been very low-keytely, have sent people." "Indeed, now that you mention it, it seems as if most of the major forces in the city are here to support the event. I even spotted people from the Green Wolf Gang, the Xus, the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, and the Hundred Treasures Pavilion." "I¡¯m really looking forward to Miss Qingtan¡¯s performance!" The crowd in the spectator¡¯s seats was buzzing with conversation, but everyone made an effort to keep their voices down, so the venue didn¡¯t get too noisy. Chapter 74: The Twin Excellences of the Zither, Dance, and Exquisite Painting Skill Dusk, at exactly the fourth quarter. The sky had turnedpletely dark. Inside the Arena of Suichuan Immortal City. The four spherical Moonlight Stone Lamps on the ceiling were suddenly covered by ayer of earthen shells. The interior of the Arena abruptly became pitch ck. Before the cultivators could react, melodious sounds of a zither began to y. "Snap¨C" The shell covering the Moonlight Stone Lamps partially disappeared, and four beams of light shone onto the golden section points of thepetition stage. Mist swirled on thepetition stage, and Yu Qingtan, in a white dress, appeared amidst the converging beams of light, sitting elegantly on a zither stool. Her jade fingers fluttered rapidly, and the crisp, melodious sounds of the zither radiated from the Ice Condensation Zither. It was none other than "Yearning," which Yu Qingtan yed most often. The earthenyer on the Moonlight Stones gradually disappeared, and the light in the venue slowly brightened until it was restored to its original state. The fog on the stage had also nearly dissipated. The audience of cultivators, who had never seen such a spectacle, found it extremely novel and watched Yu Qingtan¡¯s performance in silence. Yu Qingtan¡¯s hair reached her waist and draped over her shoulders. She wore Falling Star Earrings and a pure white straight-cored dress that was a Lower Grade Magic Artifact. With willow-like eyebrows and longshes, she truly embodied the image of a ssically beautiful girl with an elegant and gentle demeanor. As "Yearning" came to an end, the venue erupted with fervent apuse. Yu Qingtan stood up, walked to the center of thepetition stage, bowed, and then said, "My name is Yu Qingtan, and I thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to watch my performance. I hope this event can provide some sce for the pain brought by the beast tide, and I hope everyone can continue to live and cultivate happily in Suichuan Immortal City. Next, I will perform the Exquisite Dance for you all. Please wait a moment." Having said this, Yu Qingtan stepped off the stage to change her outfit and hairstyle backstage. Meanwhile, the sound from the Sound Recording Artifact was emitted throughout the venue, which was the "Yearning" piece that Yu Qingtan had just yed. "Miss Qing Tan is even more beautiful than the rumors say, and her zither ying is simply enchanting!" "Indeed, her entrance was innovative and quite like a fairy descending to the Mortal Realm. Just witnessing this made the trip worthwhile!" A small part of the audience seats buzzed with quiet discussions. Because Yu Qingtan was well prepared, as soon as the Sound Recording Artifact had yed "Yearning" once through, Yu Qingtan had finished changing into her new costume and returned to the stage, stunning the entire venue with her appearance. Yu Qingtan now wore a pink and purple off-shoulder dress that hugged her figure, with flesh-colored silk stockings paired with high-heeled ck leather boots. Her waist belt had a split tail attached, and her hair was styled up, adorned with fox-ear headwear. She held a purple umbre in her hand. This ensemble was one of several sets of Lower Grade Magic Artifact attire that Yu Qingtan had recently designed herself, taking inspiration from the attire of A Li, a character from her previous life¡¯s Infinite Star Assessment Officer. The dress, stockings, shoes, and umbre, each taken individually, were of Lower Grade Magic Artifact quality. This outfit was as bold as the usual attire of Deacon Meng Xiyao from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, and those flesh-colored silk stockings with dark circr patterns seemed to exude a magic of their own, capturing the attention of most attendees. The sound of swallowing saliva echoed sporadically throughout the audience. As the music from the Sound Recording Artifact began, Yu Qingtanmenced her performance of the Exquisite Dance. Although the original dance didn¡¯t feature an umbre, Yu Qingtan, who had mastered the Exquisite Dance, seamlessly integrated the element of the umbre into it, leaving many in the audience who had seen the Exquisite Dance before feeling as if they were watching a brand-new dance. At the climax, the stage seemed alive with three dancers, their leg movements multiplying, dazzling the audience and leaving them scratching at their hearts. After the dance, Yu Qingtan returned backstage. The Sound Recording Artifact yed the background music for the Exquisite Dance while the audience remained immersed in the splendor of the dance they had just witnessed. After the Exquisite Dance¡¯s background music had yed once, Yu Qingtan¡¯s voice emerged from the Sound Recording Artifact. "Legend has it, in the Mortal Realm there was a poor schr¡­" Through the magic artifact, Yu Qingtan briefly narrated the story of the Butterfly Lovers and, as the tale concluded, she returned to the stage. At this moment, Yu Qingtan was dressed in a white off-shoulder dress paired with white high-heeled boots, sporting white to blue gradient butterfly-winglike sleeves, resembling a butterfly spirit. This was in fact Yu Qingtan¡¯s adaptation of Chanyi¡¯s golden midsummer night magic artifact set from her previous life, only with considerably more fabric covering the chest area. After all, she hadn¡¯t yet advanced beyond the realm of a double-A scenic area. She took out the Quan Ning Qin, ced it on the table, sat on the stool, and began to y the Love of Butterfly Lovers. The ssic melody rose, intoxicating even in this alien time and space. Combined with the story they¡¯d just heard, many in the audience had tears in their eyes. When the piece ended, Yu Qingtan put away the zither and the table and chair and said, "I present to you my originalposition, Love of Butterfly Lovers, wishing all lovers in the world to find their union. Additionally, I announce that the sheet music and rights to this piece are now open. Anyone who likes it is wee to learn and perform it." Loud apuse filled the venue. "Next, please enjoy the dance, Butterfly Dance." No sooner had she finished speaking than the background music for the Butterfly Dance starteding from the sound recording artifact, and Yu Qingtan began her dance, fluttering like a true butterfly through the flowers, reminiscent of Zhu Yingtai from the story, now transformed into a butterfly. One couldn¡¯t help but wonder, where was her Liang Shanbo? At the end of the dance, warm apuse once again swept through the venue. Yu Qingtan went backstage while above the stage, a huge white curtain was hung, disying on both sides the sheet music for the Love of Butterfly Lovers. After a short while, Yu Qingtan reappeared on stage in a new outfit. Her hair was gathered into twin buns, with two ponytails hanging beneath them. She was d in a muted water-blue top with covert bamboo leaf patterns paired with a knee-length pleated skirt adorned with lotus prints, white stockings on her legs, and ck shoes on her feet. This attire was created based on a magic artifact dress set from the poetry of South River Jiangnan in her past life. Wearing these clothes, Yu Qingtan was the very image of a quiet literary girl. Yu Qingtan approached the desk on stage and, under the puzzled gazes of the audience, took out arge sheet of paper and a peculiar pen, setting them up. "You may be wondering what Qingtan is about to perform next," Yu Qingtan began. "Truth be told, in addition to ying the zither, I¡¯ve also learned Painting Skill. One day in a dream, I chanced upon a method of painting which I¡¯ve chosen to call sketching. Today, I will disy it for the first time, and I ask for your guidance." "If you think Qingtan¡¯s performance tonight was good, if you think the painting is decent, if you like Qingtan, those who are able are wee to reward me with a Spirit Stone. Thank you all! But please, no more than one Spirit Stone!" Having finished speaking, Yu Qingtan picked up the pencil from the table and began to sketch, with the music from her zither performance ying in the background from the sound recording artifact. Meanwhile, the workers from the Yu family moved through the audience with boxes containingrge-capacity storage bags. The boxes werebeled as Reward Boxes. One after another, Spirit Stones found their way into the boxes. A Lower Grade Spirit Stone was not insignificant to a lower-tier Loose Cultivator, but many still managed to give up one after some hesitation. As a result, more than half of the audience rewarded her with Spirit Stones, since Yu Qingtan¡¯s performance was indeed quite stunning. Although Yu Qingtan had said that rewards should not exceed one Spirit Stone, some of the wealthier spectators still rewarded her with more, including Ge Wenyu of the Ges, Song Zhenkai of the Songs, Qi Hong of the Qis, and the mysterious protector of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, each awarding her a Medium Grade Spirit Stone. After spending an entire half hour, Yu Qingtan finallypleted the painting she intended to create. Chapter 75: The End of the Sketch Art Performance After the painting was finished, Yu Qingtan, with the spiritual power of the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, used the Object Controlling Technique to stand the paper up and present it to the audience. On thisrge piece of paper, one zhang long and three chi wide, was depicted thest battle against the tide of beasts. The paper used for the painting was made from Spirit Bamboo, and the pencil from Spirit Charcoal, so even in the open air, it could be preserved for thousands of years, and if vacuum-mounted or stored in a Storage Bag, it wouldst for ten thousand years without decay. The scene in the painting took ce at the time when Yu Qingtan was on the high tform of the city wall, witnessing the brutal battle with her own eyes. This sketch strikingly portrayed the moment when cultivators of the Human Race routed the Demonic Beasts in theter stages of the battle. In the painting, the cultivators were fighting bloodily, the Demonic Beasts showed panic, and the scene, details, and overall situation were all profoundly impactful. Had Yu Qingtan not been a cultivator, confident in her painting, and exceptionally quick, it would have been very difficult toplete such a piece of work in such a short time. Once again, a round of enthusiastic apuse erupted from the audience, and some even regretted not having tipped Yu Qingtan earlier, but it was toote as the staff had already gone backstage. "Thank you all for your encouragement. I will gift this painting to a lucky member of the audience at random, andstly, I will draw two lucky individuals to whom I will paint a portrait," Yu Qingtan said. Find your next read at NovelBin.C?m The staff brought up threerge wheels, each surrounded by a ring of numbers, with "Section," "Row," and "Seat" written on them respectively. Yu Qingtan stepped forward and spun each of the threerge wheels. Most of the cultivators in the audience had never seen such a performance and found it quite interesting, secretly praying to be the lucky one of the night. After a while, the wheels stopped spinning, and Yu Qingtan looked at the pointed area and said loudly, "Congrattions to the audience in section eight, row twelve, seat neen, the painting of Suichuan Immortal City¡¯s cultivators fighting off the beast tide is yours, pleasee to the stage." In the audience, a male cultivator in his thirties stood up excitedly, his face flushed with excitement under envious gazes, as he was guided by staff toward the stage. He was a Loose Cultivator from an original shantytown, with a cultivation level of the third level of Qi Cultivation, and his hands trembled slightly as he approached the stage. When he got close to Yu Qingtan, he thought she looked even more beautiful up close. Yu Qingtan took the painting, already mounted and rolled up by the staff, handed it over with both hands, and said, "Congrattions, big brother!" The Loose Cultivator hurriedly received it with both hands, his voice trembling as he said, "Thank... thank you, Miss Qing Tan!" Her face broke into a happy smile, and Yu Qingtan responded with a smile. On the spectator seats, there was the asional sound of gritted teeth. After the Loose Cultivator returned, Yu Qingtan continued operating the three wheels and said, "Now let¡¯s draw the first lucky audience member for a portrait." Soon after, the wheels stopped and Yu Qingtan said, "Congrattions to the audience in section ten, row one, seat eight, pleasee to the stage." A middle-aged man carrying a long sword and with stubble on his face stood up excitedly and said, "Ha-ha, it¡¯s me, Miss Qing Tan drew me." Then, he swiftly raced towards the stage amidst a sea of envious and resentful stares. "Big brother, congrattions, please strike the pose you find most handsome," Yu Qingtan said. The outgoing Loose Cultivator blushed slightly as he saw Yu Qingtan up close. "My goodness, she¡¯s too good-looking!" Thinking thus, he said aloud, "Alright!" He then took the long sword off his back, adopted a pose with the sword resting, and looked ahead. "Not bad, hold that pose, don¡¯t move," Yu Qingtan instructed. She then went to the desk and began drawing swiftly. In just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Yu Qingtan had finished the drawing. She took the drawing in her hand, walked over to the Loose Cultivator, handed it over with both hands, and said, "Big brother, it¡¯s finished, what do you think?" The Loose Cultivator excitedly took the painting and started looking at it, after just one nce, he praised repeatedly, "Good, it¡¯s really well done!" "Then show it to everyone," Yu Qingtan suggested. The Loose Cultivator followed the instructions provided and raised the painting to his chest, presenting it at the edge of the stage. In the painting, the Loose Cultivator¡¯s image was vivid and lifelike, with his gaze matching exactly that of when he had posed before, and even the position of his stubble was urately detailed. Enthusiastic apuse rose from the audience. After the disy, the Loose Cultivator holding the painting returned to his seat. Yu Qingtan then continued to approach the threerge spinners and gave them a spin. "Let¡¯s draw the next lucky audience member!" After a moment, the spinner came to a stop. "Congrattions to the audience member in the second zone, first row, twelfth seat. Pleasee to the stage." A young man in white with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, tall and lean, stood up and walked toward the stage. He was an acquaintance of Yu Qingtan, Song Zhenbo from the Song family. Although the Song family had asked Song Zhenkai to bring people to support the event, knowing that his cousin liked Yu Qingtan, Song Zhenkai had invited him toe along. Song Zhenbo, of course, did not refuse. "It¡¯s Brother Song! Thank you for your support. It has been a while since west met. How have you been, Brother Song?" Yu Qingtan said as she approached him. Yu Qingtan surely noticed all the familiar faces in the audience, but she hadn¡¯t expected Song Zhenbo to be the one drawn for the disy. "Very well! Miss Qingtan¡¯s performance is outstanding. It¡¯s a pleasure for Bo to behold it!" Yu Qingtan did not expect him to be so ttering and said with a smile, "Thanks, Brother Song. Could you please strike a handsome pose for me?" "Sure!" With that, Song Zhenbo drew his sword, held it close to his heart, and stood sideways to Yu Qingtan. "Indeed very handsome!" Yu Qingtan praised inwardly while beginning to draw. Somewhere in the audience. Qi Hong, seeing this, twisted his face with jealousy and muttered, "Show-off!" Unfortunately, now whenever he went out, he had to endure the strange looks of others, so it was not good for him to draw attention to himself. Not far away, Fu Nian in a ck robe nced at Qi Hong from time to time, considering whether to extract a bit more "interest" from the Qis before leaving. However, after another nce at the quietly drawing Yu Qingtan on the stage, he reluctantly suppressed the tempting idea. By now, Yu Qingtan hadpleted the drawing and came over to pass the piece to Song Zhenbo. Song Zhenbo smiled as he took a nce at the painting and said, "Thank you!" Then, Song Zhenbo employed the Object Controlling Technique and suspended the paper in mid-air, showing it off to the audience. The painting depicted a white-robed male cultivator standing with a sword, his eyes sharply fixed forward, his chiseled profile entuated by the long ck hair, exuding an imposing handsomeness. After showing it around, Song Zhenbo stored the painting in his Storage Bag, gave Yu Qingtan a bow, and returned to his seat in the audience. Yu Qingtan also bowed to the audience and announced, "Thank you very much for your support. I dere today¡¯s performance at an end. Thank you, everyone!" Warm apuse erupted from the venue. After bowing again, Yu Qingtan retreated backstage. The audience also left in an orderly fashion. As Yu Qingtan stepped off the stage, a strange voice echoed in her ears. "Miss Qingtan, I am Meng Xiyao, a deacon from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. I would like to discuss a potential coboration with you. Can we talkter in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion¡¯s carriage?" Yu Qingtan nodded imperceptibly. Chapter 76: Clearing the Universe for the Common People Backstage. You Xiwang approached her. "Congrattions, Qing Tan, on the sessful conclusion of the first day of the performance! Your dazzling disy today will surely make you the talk of the entire city by tomorrow." You Xiwang looked at the girl next door and heaped praise on her. Before, he had thought of buying out her contract when Yu Qingtan¡¯s value dropped to a range affordable for the You family, and then marrying her. Now, well, he could only say that he, You Xiwang, no longer had the right to even dream of her. "It¡¯s all thanks to brother You¡¯s excellent organization, hehe, I¡¯m going to change my clothes first." "I dare not take the credit, go ahead." Yu Qingtan said with a smile, then headed to the dressing room and changed into her usual attire, a light-yellow long dress. Aftering out, You Xiwang asked Yu Qingtan, "Do you know how much you were tipped tonight?" "How much?" Yu Qingtan asked nonchntly. "13,524 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, and six Medium Grade Spirit Stones," said You Xiwang with some excitement. "Oh," Yu Qingtan responded, her attention turning to the system panel. [Charm Points: 2134] [Affection Value: 81] Seeing this massive amount of Affection Value, Yu Qingtan felt a surge of excitement. She didn¡¯t believe that she¡¯d gone to the trouble of hosting the performance to earn those few Spirit Stones. Her real goal was to acquire Affection Value. ording to the pattern she had figured out before, as long as someone had feelings for her and then gave her a gift worth at least one Spirit Stone, it would increase the Affection Value. The tips from the performance counted as gifts; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have wanted to take Spirit Stones from those poor Loose Cultivators. Among the many who favored her, there were sure to be some who genuinely felt affectionate. Sure enough, the results were as she expected. Explore stories on NovelBin.C?m You Xiwang, seeing her beaming smile, thought she too was happy for earning so many Spirit Stones. "Qing Tan, shall we divide these Spirit Stones between us?" "Let¡¯s wait until the ten-day performance is over, then we¡¯ll divide them together." "The deacon Meng from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion has just invited me to discuss some matters in their carriage. Now that the audience has almost all left, I should go there," Yu Qingtan continued. "Oh, you have that matter, okay, let me escort you there." The two of them, apanied by guards, went from the side door of the arena to the parking area, where they immediately spotted a luxurious carriage drawn by four Bicorn Horses. On one side of the carriage was the emblem of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion; Yu Qingtan approached it alone. Deacon Meng, who had already sensed her arrival with Divine Sense, lifted the carriage curtain and said to Yu Qingtan, "Miss Qing Tan, you¡¯vee. Please, get in the carriage!" Deacon Meng Xiyao was unusually dressed in a conservative rice-white dress today, presumably specifically for the asion of Yu Qingtan¡¯s solo performance. Yu Qingtan entered the carriage, which was like a small elegant room,plete with calligraphy, potted nts, a table and chairs made of Spirit Redwood, and a tableden with Spirit Energy-charged pastries and fruit. The chairs were cushioned with Demonic Beast hide pads. "Such opulence," Yu Qingtan inwardly eximed. Inside the carriage, there was also a young man in gray, with a square face and deep eyes. "Qing Tan, let me introduce you. This is Elder Gong Ping from our Hundred Treasures Pavilion. It is he who wishes to discuss a coboration with you." "Do you have two brothers, one named Gong Kai and another named Gong Zheng?" Yu Qingtan mentally scoffed. Yu Qingtan gave a bow and said, "Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s Yu Qingtan has met Elder Gong." To be an Elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, one must at least be above the Foundation Establishment Stage, and it was clear that Meng Xiyao, a deacon at thete stage of Foundation Establishment, was considered subordinate, which meant this Elder Gong could possibly be a Golden Core Cultivator. "Miss Qing Tan need not be overly courteous," said Elder Gong with aposed tone. "Upon my first visit to Suichuan Immortal City, Deacon Meng spoke highly of you, and today I see that you indeed surpass the praise. The performance at today¡¯s event was quite extraordinary, and it even impressed this old Elder. Moreover, at such a tender age, Miss Qing Tan, you have already reached the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation, promising a great path ahead!" Elder Gong spoke at an even pace. In her heart, Yu Qingtan was startled; this was indeed a Golden Core Cultivator. Meng Xiyao was also surprised, her hand covering her mouth. For A cultivator, it¡¯s difficult to discern their realm without the use of spiritual power. Aside from certain pupil techniques, one normally needs to be two major realms higher to see through another¡¯s cultivation level at a nce. Yu Qingtan had also cultivated the Breath-Concealing Technique to a small degree of proficiency. By controlling the intensity of her spiritual power while casting spells, she could generally prevent those at the Foundation Establishment Stage from seeing through her true cultivation level. Additionally, she had the excuse of her bloodline inheritance¡¯s secret method. But none of these were of any use in front of a Golden Core Cultivator. "Elder Gong tters me too much!" Yu Qingtan bowed again. "Miss Qing Tan, there¡¯s no need for concern. I¡¯m here for two main matters. Please, take a seat," Elder Gong motioned with his hand. Yu Qingtan took a seat. "On one hand, our Hundred Treasures Pavilion would like to invite Miss Qing Tan to be a first-ranked guest elder. After bing a first-ranked guest elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, you will receive a monthly sry of 200 Spirit Stones, and any consumption within the Hundred Treasures Pavilion will be at a ny-five percent discount," Elder Gong continued. "May I know what I would need to do?" Yu Qingtan asked. "All Miss Qing Tan needs to do is to hold personal performance meets in the ces where the Hundred Treasures Pavilion is located in the future, allowing our Pavilion to organize them, with eighty percent of the ie belonging to you." "May I take some time to consider it?" Yu Qingtan inquired. She was somewhat tempted; as far as she knew, the business of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion spanned the entire Southeast Region and was indeed overseen by Cultivators at the Divinity Transformation Stage. "Of course you can. Now let¡¯s continue with the other matter. Have you ever heard of the Sect of Commoners?" Elder Gong asked after taking a sip of tea with a calm expression. "The Sect of Commoners? I have not heard of it, may I ask what kind of power it is?" Yu Qingtan genuinely had not heard of it, and despite recently looking into some of the major forces of the Southeast Region, the Sect of Commoners was not among them. "It¡¯s quite normal for Miss Qing Tan to have not heard of it. The Sect of Commoners is a low-profile force that has developed in the past hundred years. The sect leader is a God Transformation Honorable, aiming to create a fair and just Cultivation World." Meng Xiyao eagerly interjected from the side, her eyes filled with fervor. "My goodness, that sounds exactly like the kind of group that would lead a rebellion!" Yu Qingtan thought to herself. "Indeed, the Cultivation World is currently dominated by major forces hoarding cultivation resources and nurturing those close to them. The vast number of bottom-tier Loose Cultivators suffer exploitation and oppression. Our sect leader harbors a grand ambition and founded the Sect of Commoners, swearing to cleanse the universe and restore a clear sky to the Cultivation World," proimed Gong Ping loudly. "That is a noble aspiration, and I am impressed, Miss Qing Tan," Yu Qingtan remarked. "May I ask what is the rtionship between the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and the Sect of Commoners?" Yu Qingtan inquired. "The Hundred Treasures Pavilion and the Sect of Commoners don¡¯t have a direct connection. However, I am also a protector of the Sect of Commoners, and Deacon Meng is the Hall Master of the Suichuan branch of the sect. Both Protector Gong and Hall Master Meng feel that Miss Qing Tan ispassionate towards the bottom-tier Loose Cultivators and would like to invite you into the sect. What are your thoughts on this, Miss Qing Tan?" Gong Ping continued. "This is a significant decision; I need to consider it carefully. Moreover, what benefits would I receive if I joined the sect?" "Our sect truly distributes resources and positions based on the contribution, and everyone starts as an ordinary sect member upon joining. Moreover, our sect does not force anyone to join nor prohibit leaving. However, since the sect has many enemies, Miss Qing Tan would need to take a Heavenly Oath not to reveal any information about our sect," replied Gong Ping. Chapter 77 - 77 Mall Update and Sisters After a short conversation, Yu Qingtan, fearing that You Xiwang would worry about her, proposed to take her leave. "The doors of Hundred Treasures Pavilion and Sect of Commoners are always open for you," Meng Xiyao said. When Yu Qingtan made the Heavenly Oath, a mysterious sense descended upon her as if there would be exceedingly serious consequences were she to break her vow, but this feeling quickly vanished in an eerie way. Suppressing the doubt in her heart, Yu Qingtan returned to her residence with You Xiwang¡¯s escort. "Qing Tan, I¡¯lle to pick you up tomorrow at dusk!" "Thank you, Brother You." Once home, returning her consciousness to her physical body, she simply prepared some Spirit Rice for herself and Xiao Tao to eat. As her cultivation level grew, her need for food gradually decreased. However, the demand would surge after each session of body refinement. "I wonder if Wanning is eating well?" While eating the delicious Spirit Rice and watching Xiao Tao do the same, Yu Qingtan thought of Shen Wanning. Thus, she ate more quickly and opened the system interface. She discovered that her Affection Value had decreased by 10 points. "Could it be that the effect of the Heavenly Oath was offset by the system using Affection Value?" Yu Qingtan guessed, recalling how she was unaffected by the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly in the Trial Demon Tower and how she seemed unharmed after encountering what she suspected was an illusion attack on her way home, concluding it was the system¡¯s doing. "Could the system also protect the soul?" Yu Qingtan realized she still knew too little about the Fairy-Raising System. "Forget it, I¡¯ll figure it out sooner orter." No longer dwelling on it, Yu Qingtan spent 28 Affection Points to buy the remaining two First Stage Cultivation Upgrade Cards, four First Stage Spell Upgrade Cards, and four First Stage Skill Upgrade Cards from the system¡¯s store. As expected, an update option appeared for the system. After selecting it, the progress loaded swiftly, and the update waspleted in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. [System Store: Immortal Body Activation Card 0/1 (100,000 Affection Value), Innate Divine Skills Upgrade Card 0/1 (100,000 Affection Value), Advanced Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (10,000 Affection Value), Third Stage Cultivation Upgrade Card 0/3 (1,000 Affection Value), Second Stage Cultivation Upgrade Card 0/3 (100 Affection Value), Third Stage Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (100 Affection Value), Second Stage Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (10 Affection Value), Third Stage Skill Upgrade Card 0/5 (100 Affection Value), Second Stage Skill Upgrade Card 0/5 (10 Affection Value)] "There¡¯s even an Immortal Body Activation Card and an Innate Divine Skills Upgrade Card!" Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart ignited with excitement, and even their exorbitant price couldn¡¯t dampen her resolve to acquire them as soon as possible. After the initial excitement, Yu Qingtan spent 40 Affection Points to purchase four Second Stage Spell Upgrade Cards, reducing her Affection Value back to a single digit, three. Applying one of the Second Stage Spell Upgrade Cards to her Object Controlling Technique, Yu Qingtan¡¯s mind felt as if she had practiced the technique hundreds of thousands of times, understanding its spiritual power pathways and release techniques thoroughly. The Object Controlling Technique reached major sess. "It actually added 600 progress points." After some consideration, Yu Qingtan used the remaining three Second Stage Spell Upgrade Cards on Invisibility Technique, Breath-Concealing Technique, and Earth Escape Technique, while the four First Stage Spell Upgrade Cards she applied to Wood Escape Technique, Wooden Shield Technique, Earth Wall Technique, and Earth Spike Technique, respectively. She used all four First Stage Skill Upgrade Cards to advance her Spiritual Tailoring Skill and stored the two First Stage Cultivation Upgrade Cards in the System Space, ready for use during her Foundation Establishment breakthrough. At this point in the system panel: [Spells: Cleansing Spell minor sess 1/200, Water Escape Technique major sess 113/400, Invisibility Techniqueplete, Breath-Concealing Techniqueplete, Water de Technique minor sess 176/200, Water Curtain Technique minor sess 136/200, Object Controlling Technique major sess 340/400, Wood Escape Technique minor sess 38/200, Wooden Shield Technique minor sess 21/200, Earth Wall Technique minor sess 15/200, Earth Spike Technique minor sess 19/200, Earth Escape Technique major sess 320/400, Rejuvenation Spell minor sess 60/200] Enjoy exclusive adventures from NovelBin.C?m [Skills: Dance Artistry major sess 52/400, Zither Art major sess 132/400, Chess Skill minor sess 28/200, Calligraphy minor sess 21/200, Painting Skill minor sess 15/200, Spiritual Tailoring Skill major sess 213/400] After the update, Exquisite Dance and Butterfly Dance merged into Dance Artistry. "It¡¯s just that the marketce doesn¡¯t have cultivation techniques, spells, or magical artifacts, which is somewhat disappointing." Yu Qingtan sighed, thinking that her Clear Water Technique was quite ordinary, as it could only cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and her equipment was also very average. After bing familiar with the upgraded spells, Yu Qingtan began to try mastering the remaining 18 artifact bans of the first-stage Spiritual Tailoring Skill. ... Early the next morning, Tower Master Gongsun Yurong sent someone to find her. Arriving at Gongsun Yurong¡¯s luxurious room. To her surprise, she was dressed in a red hip-hugging dress, wearing flesh-colored stockings on her legs, and her feet were in high-heeled beige leather boots. Her hair draped over her shoulders, a melon seed-shaped face, and almond-shaped eyes, she looked young yet seductively charming. "How about it, do I look good?" "Beautiful!" Yu Qingtan couldn¡¯t help but nod, Tower Master Gongsun¡¯s attire made her reminiscent of the urban beauties from her previous life. One could only say that Tower Master Gongsun was a quick learner and also very adept at improvising. ording to Yu Qingtan¡¯s knowledge, hip-hugging dresses, stockings, and high-heeled shoes had yet to appear in the Lichuan Cultivation World. "Hehe, Qingtan, you¡¯re being dishonest. Stealing all the good stuff for yourself, are you afraid I might snatch it from you?" Gongsun Yurongughed. "That¡¯s unfair, I was nning to test their effects myself before offering them to the Tower Master!" "Stop kidding, I know you well. But you really are a little genius. From now on, don¡¯t call me Tower Master, call me Sister, how about that?" After sitting down, to Yu Qingtan¡¯s astonishment, Tower Master Gongsun nonchntly crossed her legs, a move she seemed to have mastered without a teacher. The skirt that barely reached her knees could hardly cover her thighs; if the male cultivators of the Immortal City were to see this, countless would likely have nosebleeds on the spot. "Qingtan would be more than grateful to, I¡¯ve seen Sister Yurong!" Yu Qingtan naturally didn¡¯t mind ingratiating herself with Tower Master Gongsun¡¯s high status; this was not a rtionship to be taken lightly. "Let¡¯s sit down and talk. I¡¯m already regretting not hosting your performance at my pavilion. Even if we split the profits fifty-fifty, it would¡¯ve been fine, sigh..." Gongsun Yurong sighed. Actually, Gongsun Yurong hadn¡¯t attended the event, but she had sent a Sound Recording Artifact and a Sound Recording Artifact there. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t respond to this, and Gongsun Yurong continued, "Do those skirts, stockings, and shoes you created have names? I¡¯m also nning to sell these at Zhi Lan Pavilion, how does that sound?" "Sister Yurong, they are called hip-hugging dresses, stockings, and high-heeled shoes, and I was nning to add these categories of goods to Zhi Lan Pavilion as well." "Mm-hmm, that¡¯s good. Since you¡¯ve called me Sister, from now on, you¡¯ll take thirty percent of Zhi Lan Pavilion¡¯s profits in Suichuan Immortal City, but it will be business as usual with Li Xingruo." "Thank you for looking out for me, Sister Yurong!" "That sketching skill you¡¯ve acquired in your dreams is quite remarkable, too. Could you do me the favor of drawing one for me when you have time?" "Sure, I will definitely capture Sister Yurong¡¯s beauty inplete detail." After chatting for a while, Gongsun Yurong seemed to remember something and said, "Speaking of which, you haven¡¯t learned the Illusion Dance Technique since bing a core disciple. I might as well give it to you now to save you another trip to the library." Yu Qingtan took the Jade Slip that Gongsun Yurong handed over and said, "Thank you, Sister Yurong!" If Gongsun Yurong hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Yu Qingtan would have nearly forgotten about it. "This is the prerequisite spell for the second-stage Illusion Dance Technique ¡¯Tian Xiang¡¯. Although it¡¯s quite difficult to cultivate, I¡¯ve heard that you have an exceptional talent for learning spells, and with your aplished Dance Artistry, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you. If you do have any problems, feel free toe to me!" "Thank you, Sister Yurong!" That¡¯s what it felt like to have someone cover for you, not bad at all. "You can go back now, I have some things to take care of." "Yes, Qingtan takes her leave!" Chapter 78: Venturing into the Black Market for a Clear Understanding By the time I got home, it was already midday. Yu Qingtan changed into a set of ck clothes and put on a Disguising Mask. After casting the Invisibility Technique and the Breath-Concealing Technique, she left the house. There were some things that needed to be done. With the fully mastered Invisibility Technique and Breath-Concealing Technique, Yu Qingtan estimated that even Golden Core Cultivators would not notice her unless they examined carefully with their Divine Sense. "If I had this divine skill in my previous life, wouldn¡¯t I have been able to do this and that? What a pity!" As she let her thoughts wander, Yu Qingtan took various shortcuts and quickly arrived at her destination. A small, uninhabited house on the southern side of the Immortal City. It was indeed one of the entrances to the ck market of Suichuan Immortal City. Having been here before, Yu Qingtan made her way to the spacious underground space where the ck market was located. Before entering, Yu Qingtan put on a ck veil hat, wore a wide ck robe, and dispelled the Invisibility Technique. At this moment, the ck market was not lively, with the number of stalls and cultivators being less than half of what there was during herst visit. Yu Qingtan walked down the path between the stalls, heading towards the innermost shop. Suddenly, she halted in front of a stall, her gazending on an item disyed there. "Fellow Daoist, are you interested in buying this art booklet of Qing Tan? I¡¯ve worked overtime to draw it, which includes thetest attire of Qing Tan. It¡¯s 100 Spirit Stones per booklet. Would you like one?" The stall owner, dressed as a schrly young cultivator with the refined looks of a schr, held a booklet featuring a girl in a purple backless dress with considerably less fabric on the cover, which caused Yu Qingtan internally tobel him as a "cultured rogue." In this Cultivation World, there were indeed gentlemen, and such unscrupulous ones at that. Although his drawings were vivid and colorful, charging 100 Spirit Stones for a single booklet was outrageous. "Have you considered taking a cut for yourself? Drawing it so revealingly, isn¡¯t it essentially adult material inside?" Feeling a shiver at the thought, Yu Qingtan cast a displeased nce at the stall owner and decided to continue with her own business. "Eh, fellow Daoist, don¡¯t leave! Seeing that you must be a devoted fan of Qing Tan, don¡¯t you want to own such a booklet of Qing Tan? The price is negotiable. How about 80 Spirit Stones? Even 50 Spirit Stones could be discussed... Alright, you win, 10 Spirit Stones, that¡¯s the rock-bottom price." Listening to her own value plummet, Yu Qingtan eventually stopped, walked back to the stall, and threw out 10 Spirit Stones. The schrly-looking stall owner didn¡¯t mind the low price, eagerly picking up an art booklet and handing it to Yu Qingtan. "Fellow Daoist, selling it to you for so cheap means I am taking a big loss, s, who am I to resist? I too am a loyal admirer of Qing Tan, and seeing you, I feel a kindred spirit..." Taking the art booklet, Yu Qingtan had no interest in his rambling and quickened her pace to leave. She entered the innermost shop of the ck market. "Fellow Daoist, are you looking to buy dry goods or wet goods?" the same sly-looking young shop assistant as before came up to ask. "How much for wet goods of a True Spiritual Root?" Yu Qingtan asked in a different middle-aged male voice thanst time. Possibly because cultivators found it easier to control their own bodies, changing one¡¯s voice was not difficult for them, but making itpletely unrecognizable was harder. At least Yu Qingtan hadn¡¯t mastered that yet, but it was no big deal. "Starts at 1000 Spirit Stones, and the final price depends on the quality," the assistant said. "Is this Single or Superior Spirit Root? So expensive!" "Hey, there¡¯s no such stock of those Spirit Roots here, only Quintuple and Quadruple Spirit Roots. Are you buying or not?" the assistant was getting impatient. "Fine, pick out one with better water energy and Spirit Root for me to see." "This, ording to the shop rules, you must pay a deposit of 500 Spirit Stones before you can see the goods!" "Such a bother, are you really afraid that this lord can¡¯t afford the Spirit Stones?" Yu Qingtan seemed to grow impatient as well, stacking a pile of Spirit Stones on the counter. The shop assistant took the Spirit Stones and used a wooden token to disarm the Protective Array beneath the counter, selecting a Spirit Beast Pouch. In the blink of an eye, a sleeping little loli around seven or eight years oldy t on the counter. "Fellow Daoist, what do you think of this? Our most exquisite item, with four inferior-grade Spirit Roots, just for 2300 Spirit Stones," the shop assistant pitched. "Are these four inferior-grade Spirit Roots genuine?" Yu Qingtan asked calmly. "What kind of question is that? We¡¯re not some roadside stall; could we possibly be selling you fake goods?" "I¡¯m asking you, are these four inferior-grade Spirit Roots genuine?" Yu Qingtan pressed. "Are you deliberately picking a quarrel here? Are you going to buy it or not? If not, the deposit is non-refundable," the shop assistant squinted, looking at Yu Qingtan and said. "If these Spirit Roots are genuine, I will certainly buy them. But what if they are not?" "If they¡¯re not real, I¡¯llpensate you with double the Spirit Stones, alright?" "Then I¡¯ll have to verify it," said Yu Qingtan, reaching for the Storage Bag at her waist. The shop assistant didn¡¯t care, confident that they were indeed four inferior-grade Spirit Roots. "Pfft~" What Yu Qingtan pulled out was naturally not a Magic Artifact for testing Spirit Roots, but a kitchen knife, which she plunged into the shop assistant¡¯s chest with lightning speed, before he could cover his ears at the thunder¡¯s crash. Being only a Qi Cultivation fifthyer Cultivator, the assistant, pierced through the heart, didn¡¯t even have time to scream before he was done. The kitchen knife was a first-grade superior Magic Artifact from the Misty Rain Tower assassin Butcher de, which Yu Qingtan had put to use in making spiritual food, so she hadn¡¯t sold it. The indentations it bore from that battle had been forcibly hammered out by her, causing the grade of the kitchen knife to drop to middle-grade first rank. As for the knife having stabbed people, even just used for stabbing, Yu Qingtan really didn¡¯t mind. Under the Cleansing Spell, it was clean and tidy, and importantly, the knife was quick. Having absorbed the little loli into the System Space, Yu Qingtan pulled out the kitchen knife, avoiding the spurting fresh blood, leaped behind the counter, and gathered up a Storage Bag, several Spirit Beast Pouches, and also the shop assistant¡¯s Storage Bag from around his waist. "How dare you, die!" It was then, a Crimson Flying Sword enveloped in scorching and sharp sword Qi, pierced swiftly towards Yu Qingtan. "Middle stage of Foundation Establishment!" Yu Qingtan¡¯s eyes narrowed as she called upon the "Love¡¯s Protection" of the wretched Luo Xiang, as Spiritual Power of the early Foundation Establishment stage instantly surged through the meridians in her body. Then her figure vanished from the spot, having employed the Earth Escape Skill. She raised her cultivation level to Foundation Establishment because the reaction speed at the Qi Cultivation Stage was unlikely to keep up with the attack speed of someone at the Foundation Establishment stage. Ordinary ground could not of course stop the Crimson Flying Sword, but its master lost his Divine Sense lock on Yu Qingtan. For Yu Qingtan had simultaneously used the Spiritual Power of Foundation Establishment to employ the Breath-Concealing Technique and the Invisibility Technique as she dove underground. The Crimson Flying Sword returned unwillingly, circling back to a purple-robed elder. The elder had a high nose and wide forehead, his eyes cold and ruthless as he swept his gaze around. He was the resident Cultivator safeguarding the shop, having been cultivating in secret within the backyard, only to have a Cultivator audaciously attack in his store, killing his assistant and stealing the goods. In his perception, the assant was no more than a Qi Cultivation seventhyer Cultivator, but he had still attacked with full force, intending to annihte with his flying sword. He hadn¡¯t expected his opponent to be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator adept in Earth Escape and stealth techniques. Even being one minor realm higher did not allow him to take the matter lightly. Chapter 79: It鈥檚 Difficult to Supersede from Below The elder in the purple robe stood midair on a Flying Spirit Sword, bringing forth a set of armor-like Spiritual Artifact for defense that enveloped his upper body. However, once the artifact was activated, it formed a protective barrier that covered his entire being. Crimson Flying Swords circled around him, and the elder said, "You little thief, the items you¡¯ve stolen are just inferior goods; the quality items are all with me. Let¡¯s see if you dare toe and snatch them!" Unable to locate his opponent, he had no choice but to provoke. Most who dared to act this way in their store were self-proimed righteous, hot-blooded Cultivators, and he had killed many such Cultivators already. Yu Qingtan never intended to leave, and hearing the elder¡¯s words only solidified her resolve to deal with him. Spiritual Power surged within her, and spikes of earth rose from the ground, aiming for the elder in the sky. At the same time, her body emerged from the ground as a dozen Water des shot towards the elder. Earth Spike Technique, Water de Technique. The elder in the purple robe sneered inwardly. Controlling the Flying Spirit Sword, he evaded while the Crimson Flying Sword sent out an immense sword qi towards the location where the Spiritual Power fluctuated. Sword Control Technique, Giant Sword Technique. Both being Second Stage Spells, it was only with Yu Qingtan¡¯s Water Escape Technique and Earth Escape Skill that she barely dodged that wide-ranging attack. However, her Earth Spike Technique and Water de Technique were both merely First Stage Spells, and although several Water des managed to strike the elder, they only cut halfway through his barrier before dissipating. Seeing that Yu Qingtan did not continue her attack, the elder in the purple robe chuckled lightly as a little boy appeared in his grasp, his neck pinched by the elder¡¯s hand. "Despicable old thief!" Yu Qingtan cursed inwardly. Sometimes she felt that her Fairy Nurturing System was not powerful enough. Forget about Taoist Instruments and Immortal Artifacts, she didn¡¯t even possess a Spiritual Artifact, except for the Moon Branch Magpie Hairpin, and her Spells and Cultivation Techniques were all just First Stage. Stay updated through NovelBin.C?m The System¡¯s lucky draw was also a pitfall, offering items that could enhancebat capability at a miserably low chance. Every time, she merely consoled herself that obtaining anything was a gain. But what else could she do, other than to work even harder to increase her Charm Points and Affection Value. Returning to the battle scene. The shop had copsed due to the aftermath of the battle, and the Qi Practitioners of the ck market were long gone. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s battle was not something that could be watched leisurely. Meanwhile, three other shops were activating their Protective Arrays. Though only high-grade First Stage Arrays, each was protected by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator above the shop, who also enjoyed watching the spectacle. As the elder¡¯s grip began to tighten, Yu Qingtan acted once more. More Earth Spikes and Water des targeted the elder. The elder tossed the boy, throwing him towards where the Water des were most concentrated. Yu Qingtan had no choice but to rush forward with her Water Escape Technique, a Water Curtain manifesting between the Water des and the boy. The Water Curtain Technique required a certain distance to cast. Just as she was about to get closer to bring the boy into her System Space, a massive surge of sword qi shot towards them. Instantly turning the boy into pieces, the sword qi then shattered the Water Curtain, aiming straight for where Yu Qingtan was. Her eyes filled with rage, Yu Qingtan used her Water Escape Technique to its limit, yet still got grazed on the back by the sword qi. Luckily, her Body Cultivation had reached the sixthyer, rendering her flesh as durable as that of an average early-stage Foundation Establishment practitioner, so it only hurt terribly. After diving underground, Yu Qingtan released a few Earth Spikes, immediately moved to another location, and triggered a few more. The spot she had been in was struck by another sword qi attack. As expected, underground the elder could now only rely on the fluctuation of Spiritual Power when his Spells were cast to lock onto Yu Qingtan¡¯s position, which took longer. This dy was enough to allow Yu Qingtan to move to safety before being attacked. Previously, Yu Qingtan was habitually using her most proficient Water de Technique for attack, which produced weaker des underground. Yu Qingtan¡¯s practicalbat experience was still too limited; after all, she was just a courtesan selling her arts at Tianxiang Pavilion. However, having made this discovery, Yu Qingtan then proceeded to fight a guerri warfare underground. In response to Yu Qingtan¡¯s continuous assaults with the Earth Spike Technique, the elder in the purple robe also dodged while continuing his sword energy attacks. But he soon stopped, as his sword energy attacks were not reaching the target, and the continuous use ofrge-scale sword energy attacks had depleted forty percent of his spiritual power. "The opponent is just at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, such attacks should exhaust her spiritual power before long," he thought. Thinking this, the elder in purple took a Second Stage Spirit Revitalizing Pill and simply focused on dodging Yu Qingtan¡¯s Earth Spike assaults. After an incense stick¡¯s worth of continuous Earth Spike attacks, the elder¡¯splexion started to look somewhat ugly. Even with the Spirit Revitalizing Pill, only fifty percent of his spiritual energy remained, and there was no sign of the opposite side running out of spiritual power. "This can¡¯t continue," thought the elder in the purple robe. He knew that the three Foundation Establishment cultivators watching themotion were not to be underestimated; if he became too weak after the battle, they might harbor some ideas. So, while dodging, he transmitted his voice to one of the Foundation Establishment cultivators: "Fellow Daoist Du, haven¡¯t you always wanted that piece of Soul Nurturing Wood in my possession? Help me break through this person¡¯s Earth Escape Skill, and it¡¯s yours." The long-bearded cultivator in a green robe, bearing the surname Du, brightened up at hearing this and transmitted back, "Fine, but first, you need to hand over the Soul Nurturing Wood. You know what I¡¯m capable of." The cultivator with the surname Gao felt a twinge of pain at the thought but still took out the Soul Nurturing Wood, tossed it to the cultivator named Du, and transmitted, "Wait for me to prepare my spells." Immediately afterward, he formed hand signs with his left hand and wielded a Crimson Flying Sword with his right, enduring several of Yu Qingtan¡¯s Earth Spike assaults with the protection provided by his spiritual armor. A massive Fire Net took shape. Second Stage Fire Net Technique. Cultivator Du, having received the Soul Nurturing Wood, acted without hesitation,nding on the ground and formingplex hand signs with both hands, then touching the ground with his right index finger. Second Stage spell, Steel Ground Technique. One must know that spells requiring hand signs for casting generally have high cultivation difficulty but possess great power. Moreover, cultivator Du was at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, while the other two were at the initial stage. Yu Qingtan had originally nned to exploit the negligible spiritual power consumption during "Love¡¯s Protection" to conduct hit-and-run tactics and exhaust the enemy¡¯s energy before looking for an opportunity tounch a surprise attack. But when her divine sense detected changes in the ground, she immediately felt something was wrong. Sure enough, after another Earth Spike assault, just as Yu Qingtan thought about moving, she noticed the ground turning harder around her. Yu Qingtan quickly escaped to the surface to avoid being trapped, but by then, a huge Fire Net had already enveloped the area. And the Fire Net was slowly contracting. Invisible Yu Qingtan felt somewhat at a loss; even though this was just her shadow clone, she had not had the chance to transfer the children in the Spirit Beast Pouch to System Space. Seeing the Fire Net shrinking steadily, Yu Qingtan took out the Second Stage Escape Talisman that Fu Nian had given her from System Space. She infused spiritual power and activated the Escape Talisman. After a moment of slight dizziness, Yu Qingtan appeared in an empty room. Maintaining her Invisibility Technique and Breath-Concealing Technique, Yu Qingtan went out to explore a bit. This turned out to be a small courtyard on the west side of Immortal City. A Second Stage Escape Talisman could randomly transport a person up to a hundred miles away and would avoid various formations and prohibitions. Yu Qingtan transferred all the children from the Spirit Beast Pouch to System Space and then headed south toward Immortal City. Chapter 80: The Final Blow - Slaying at Foundation Establishment Having fled in disarray, Yu Qingtan naturally couldn¡¯t reconcile herself to it. Moreover, the purple-robed elder indeed still had a child in his possession. She had already indirectly caused the death of one, and without ying that old ghost, her thoughts would only grow more obstructed. Traveling at the speed conferred by the Foundation Establishment Stage while employing the Water Escape Technique, Yu Qingtan returned to the underground space where the ck market was located within the time it took to brew a pot of tea. However, the purple-robed elder, sensing the fleeting fluctuation of spiritual power within the fire, hurriedly elerated the speed at which he drew the closed. But, even as the fire shrank to the size of a single person, there was no response from within. His face grew unsightly as he remained on guard in all directions while asking the cultivator surnamed Du, "Is your Steel Ground Technique really effective against the Earth Escape Skill? Where is the person? Why can¡¯t I see them?" The cultivator surnamed Du responded, "Fellow Daoist Gao, that person only used a First Stage Earth Escape Skill, which allows one to burrow three Zhang beneath the ground at most, unlikely to escape under my Steel Ground Technique. Didn¡¯t you also feel the fluctuation of spiritual power in the fire? They must have escaped using something like an Escape Talisman." "That despicable thief!" The cultivator surnamed Gao had actually guessed as much but was somewhat reluctant to ept the reality in his heart. Seething with anger, he returned to the ground, and after sending out a Message-Transmitting Flying Sword, he entered the barely intact cultivation room in the backyard. There he set up a small Second Stage Alert Defense Formation and, with two Medium Grade Spirit Stones in hand, began to meditate to recover his spiritual power. The other three Foundation Establishment Cultivators each returned to their respective shops as well. At this moment, Yu Qingtan was lurking underground not far from the cultivator surnamed Gao. Seeing the Alert Defense Formation, Yu Qingtan sighed; this was also why she hadn¡¯t directly snuck in earlier tounch a surprise attack on the cultivator stationed there. Fortunately, soon a Message-Transmitting Flying Sword arrived, and after the purple-robed cultivator checked the information within, the flying sword flew back. The purple-robed elder¡¯s face wore an unsightly expression as he deactivated the Alert Defense Formation, getting ready to leave. Yu Qingtan had been waiting for this moment¡ªthe instant the purple-robed elder deactivated the Alert Defense Formation, she surfaced directly beneath him using the Earth Escape Skill and unleashed the Decay and Flourish Technique. Luo Xiang¡¯s mastery of the Decay and Flourish Technique was extremely high, likely fully aplished, as it could be released without the need for hand seals. The purple-robed elder also reacted swiftly, rapidly increasing the distance between them and activating a body-protecting technique. The protective shield formed by the body-protecting technique was inferior to a Spiritual Artifact armor, but the advantagey in its quick activation. But it was toote; the purple-robed elder, already having consumed much of his spiritual power, began to show a change in his condition as wrinkles appeared on his face. "Decay and Flourish Technique!" Paying no mind to the shock in his heart, Yu Qingtan¡¯s attack followed closely behind. Enjoy exclusive chapters from NovelBin.C?m Yu Qingtan held the Cherry Red Sword, her movements suddenly quickening, agile and swift, her sword energy crisscrossing as she struck at the purple-robed elder. The Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, fourth move, Clear Song Shattering Geese. The purple-robed elder, with most of his spiritual power dedicated to suppressing the sinister energy of the Decay and Flourish Technique in his body, failed to dodge in time, and the protective body shield around him was torn to shreds. However, he was an experienced character who, in a critical moment, avoided vital areas while forcefully gathering his spiritual power to cover himself with his Spiritual Artifact armor. Yet there were two deep sword wounds on his shoulder and right thigh; even more wrinkles appeared on his face, and his hair began to turn white. "Daoist Du, save me!" the purple-robed elder shouted. Yu Qingtan wouldn¡¯t miss the opportunity to kick an enemy when they were down, moving swiftly forward, her long sword with a sharp sword energy piercing directly towards the purple-robed elder. The Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, first move, Silver Toad Spitting Water. A small hole was punctured through the protective shield of the purple-robed elder¡¯s Spiritual Artifact armor at his left thigh, and Yu Qingtan took advantage of the moment to strike another Decay and Flourish Technique into the elder through the hole. The purple-robed elder¡¯s hair turned almost instantly white, and a decayed aura emanated from his body. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t continue her attack because a huge spear glow of earthy yellow color was hurtling toward the area where she was. Yu Qingtan had to use the Water Escape Technique to evade while simultaneously deploying the Clear Song Shattering Geese to defend herself. Clear Song Shattering Geese was a sword move that served both offense and defense, blocking the unavoidable part of the spear glow¡¯s power, but the Cherry Red Sword was now on the verge of copse. "Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, Decay and Flourish Technique, are you a member of Tianxiang Valley? Who are you?" The one who had just acted was naturally the Du-surnamed Foundation Establishment Cultivator. After his strike, he did not continue the attack but instead inquired. Yu Qingtan¡¯s ambush on the purple-robed elder actually took only a few breaths of time, but it had once again rmed several other Foundation Establishment cultivators at the ck market. At this moment, the purple-robed elder already looked like an octogenarian or nonagenarian from the Mortal Realm, barely hanging on to life. "Tian¡­ Xiang¡­ Valley, Ultimate¡­ Path¡­ Sect will¡­ seek¡­ revenge¡­" Yu Qingtan did not heed their words. Seeing that the Du-surnamed Foundation Establishment Cultivator showed no intent to continue attacking, she unleashed a sword qi and finished off the purple-robed elder. His Spiritual Artifact armor had formed a spiritual shield, which dissipated due to theck of Spiritual Power to sustain it. Yu Qingtan stepped forward, yanked off and stowed the purple-robed elder¡¯s Storage Bag and Spirit Beast Pouch, then also collected his corpse. "Fellow Daoist, conducting such wanton killing in the ck market might break the rules. Even if you are from Tianxiang Valley, this shouldn¡¯t be permissible, right?" Seeing Yu Qingtan ignore him and kill the purple-robed elder, the Du-surnamed Foundation Establishment Cultivator felt embarrassed and spoke up again in a grave voice. "If you want to fight, then fight; if not, scram!" The invisibly cloaked Yu Qingtan shouted in the same middle-aged male voice as before. She was extremely repulsed by the cultivators who had twice lent assistance to the purple-robed elder, but regrettably, with her current strength, killing a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was too difficult. Having said her piece, Yu Qingtan used an Escape Technique to leave. "Hmph!" The Du-surnamed Foundation Establishment Cultivator snorted coldly but ultimately did not make another move. The way Yu Qingtan dispatched the purple-robed elder,bined with the suspected Tianxiang Valley origins, made him very wary. Back at her ce, while her Foundation Establishment stage strength was still present, Yu Qingtan cleansed the residual Divine Sense from the Storage Bag and Spirit Beast Pouch; then, she took a short rest. The battles of today left her constantly on edge, feeling very tired. After a good rest, Yu Qingtan started to inspect her spoils of war. This battle had nearly depleted her stash of over six thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones and cost her a Second Stage Escape Talisman. However, just the purple-robed elder¡¯s Flying Spirit Sword and Spiritual Artifact armor alone made the loot a windfall. Both the Flying Spirit Sword and the Message-Transmitting Flying Sword were merely Second Stage Lower Grade Spiritual Artifacts, valued at about 8000 and 5000 Spirit Stones respectively. The main battle Flying Spirit Sword was a Second Stage Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact with a reddish de and the hilt inscribed with its name, "Crimson Abyss." The Crimson Abyss Sword was worth at least twenty thousand Spirit Stones. It was a pity that it was attuned to the fire attribute, but it was better than nothing. Every time she used the Cherry Red Sword to execute the Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, she couldn¡¯t get through several moves without worrying about damaging the Cherry Red Sword. The Spiritual Artifact armor was bluish with red patterns and named Xuan Chi Armor, also a first rank Medium Grade Spiritual Artifact. As a defensive Spiritual Artifact, its value was higher than, if not equal to, the Crimson Abyss Sword. The purple-robed elder¡¯s Storage Bag was also a five-directional Storage Bag, containing over twenty-three thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones and one hundred and twenty Medium Grade Spirit Stones. Two drops of Second Stage Spirit Dew. One set of Second Stage Alert Defense Formation. Three bottles of Second Stage Purple Spirit Pills, and one bottle each of Second Stage Spirit Revitalizing Pill and Healing Pill. Three Second Stage Purifying Heart Talismans. There were also many items unknown to Yu Qingtan and some that were of the first order. All in all, Yu Qingtan had struck it rich. Chapter 81: Becoming a Guest and Discovering Hidden Dangers After organizing these items, Yu Qingtan put most of them into the System Space, and burned away some low-value items and the corpse of the purple-robed elder with a Fireball Talisman. Transferring the children from the Spirit Beast Pouch to the System Space, Yu Qingtan was somewhat grinding her teeth in anger. There were actually more than fifty children. "Damn the Extreme Path Demon Sect!" Putting aside the children for now, Yu Qingtan began to tidy up. The sky was already darkening. It wasn¡¯t long before You Xiwang came to fetch Yu Qingtan, and this time they went directly to the Arena in the Immortal City. By this time in the Arena, most cultivators had already arrived early. "That Hu Mazi praised Miss Qingtan sky-high at noon, iming there¡¯s no one like her on earth. I don¡¯t believe she¡¯s that beautiful, I¡¯ve seen Miss Qingtan myself." "Indeed, that Lu Shusheng also boasted that Miss Qingtan is not only unparalleled in ying the zither and dancing but has also created a new painting style, akin to a Painting Skill grandmaster, a rare talent even for the All-World Academy. I¡¯m quite curious to witness it for myself." "Heh heh, I¡¯m here to see the legs. I heard Miss Qingtan wore a new type of long stockings that make her legs seem like they¡¯re casting an enchantment, impossible to take your eyes off." "You old letch, Miss Qingtan is such a finedy, how can you be so filthy. I¡¯m here to appreciate the performance." "You guys are out of the loop, aren¡¯t you? Those new-style long stockings are called ¡¯silk stockings,¡¯ and the new skirt ¡¯bodycon dress,¡¯ with new shoes known as ¡¯high heels.¡¯ You know about Zhi Lan Pavilion, right? The clothing store opened by Tianxiang Pavilion? They¡¯re selling like crazy today. The clothes are pretty, but they¡¯re darn expensive." Discover more stories at NovelBin.C?m "Indeed, especially those silk stockings. I¡¯ve heard they can only be made from a few spiritual materials, so they¡¯re all based on first-grade Lower Grade Magic Artifacts, you can¡¯t buy them for less than two hundred Spirit Stones." "Heh heh, I managed to get a Mortal-grade bodycon dress and a pair of Mortal-grade high heels for my wife. She looked amazing in them, and we didn¡¯t leave the house all afternoon." "It¡¯s said that the loose cultivator who yesterday won the Immortal City cultivators¡¯ drawing for resisting the wave of Demonic Beasts was surrounded by a crowd wanting to buy that painting after exiting the Arena. Finally, someone from the Enforcement Team spent two thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones to purchase it, making arge sum of money. I wonder if I could be so lucky?" "Hmph, if I got Miss Qingtan¡¯s painting, I would definitely cherish it. I would never sell it." Amidst the cultivators¡¯ discussions, Yu Qingtan made her entrance. The performance was basically the same asst night; the only difference was the scene Yu Qingtan painted was different. However, all of them depicted the battle scenes between Immortal City cultivators and Demonic Beasts during the resistance of the beast tide. Since the audience was new and with the publicity from yesterday¡¯s spectators, the response to the performance was even more enthusiastic. The Spirit Stone rewards reached 12,726 Lower Grade Spirit Stones and 2 Medium Grade Spirit Stones. It was less thanst time because rich cultivators like those from the three major families had alreadye yesterday. However, Yu Qingtan was very satisfied. [Charm Points: 4362] [Affection Value: 95] The harvest of Charm Points and Affection Value was even more than yesterday. After the performance, Yu Qingtan went to Hundred Treasures Pavilion apanied by You Xiwang. When Meng Xiyao heard that Yu Qingtan had arrived, she directly invited the two of them to the second floor. Then, to You Xiwang¡¯s astonishment, Yu Qingtan followed Meng Xiyao to the third floor, while he was asked to wait on the second floor. Today, Meng Xiyao was also wearing silk stockings, high heels, and a bodycon dress. As she ascended the stairs, she left You Xiwang gawking and parched with thirst. "Qing Tan, the clothes you designed are really nice. They¡¯refortable and look very good. I bought quite a few sets at Zhi Lan Pavilion." When they reached the third floor, Meng Xiyao spoke. Yu Qingtan sighed at how quickly Gongsun Yurong had acted, having sold the item today. "Elder Meng tters me too much!" While they talked, the two arrived at a room on the third floor. The protector and an elder of the hundred treasures Pavilion, the Golden Core Real Person Gong Ping, was sitting in the room, savoring tea. "Qingtan pays respects to Elder Gong." "No need for formalities,e sit. Have you made a decision about my earlier proposal?" asked Gong Ping. Yu Qingtan and herpanion took a seat. "To answer your question, Elder, it is indeed an honor to be a first-level guest elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. As for joining the Sect of Commoners, I still need time to consider." Upon hearing this, grins appeared on the faces of both Gong Ping and Meng Xiyao. Real Person Gong Ping said, "No worries, the Sect of Commoners is always open to you." "Thank you for your understanding, Elder. Additionally, I¡¯d like to inquire about the Sect of Commoners¡¯ stance towards the Extreme Path Demon Sect?" "The Extreme Path Demon Sect, they stop at nothing for the sake of cultivation, and can rightly be deemed utterly evil. Naturally, our Sect of Commoners is in opposition to them. s, our power is currently too weak to confront the Extreme Path Demon Sect directly. I¡¯ve heard that Miss Qingtan has a friend who was abducted in broad daylight by a revered adept of the Extreme Path Demon Sect, and we will keep an eye on this matter. Should there be any news, we¡¯ll notify you immediately," Gong Ping said with a sigh, intuitively guessing her intention when Yu Qingtan mentioned the Extreme Path Demon Sect. "Many thanks, Elder!" Yu Qingtan stood up and bowed in gratitude. "There¡¯s no need for such formalities, Qingtan. From now on, we¡¯re all part of the same family," said Meng Xiyao, while also handing Yu Qingtan a jade token that represented being a first-level guest elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Yu Qingtan epted the token and then asked, "Do you both know of the ck market in Suichuan Immortal City, where there is a shop supported by the Extreme Path Demon Sect that traffics in human lives?" Gong Ping appeared somewhat surprised at her question, watching Yu Qingtan closely as he replied, "Of course we are aware of it; however, our sect has only recently expanded in this direction. Furthermore, there are manyplicated factors involved, so it is inconvenient for us to take action. Nheless, I¡¯ve heard that today, a mysterious cultivator at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment from Tianxiang Valley forcibly killed the sitting cultivator of that shop, Golden Daoist Gao, who was at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment." Hearing this, Yu Qingtan realized that her direct inquiry might have revealed something to him, so she said, "That person is a friend of mine. He rescued a group of abducted children and entrusted me with finding them a safe ce. I wonder if the two Elders here might have a way to help arrange this." Gong Ping and Meng Xiyao exchanged a nce, with Gong Ping speaking, "It seems Miss Qingtan has a wide circle of friends. However, that Golden Daoist Gao was a nephew of Huoyun, a Golden Core Cultivator from the Extreme Path Demon Sect, so Tianxiang Valley might face some trouble. As for those abducted children, our Sect of Commoners can certainly help arrange something for them." After theirst interaction, although Yu Qingtan had doubts about the future development of the Sect of Commoners, she still trusted Gong Ping¡¯s character and respected the sect, which was why she came to ask for their help with the children. Yu Qingtan took out the Spirit Beast Pouches, and Gong Ping and hispanion examined them before taking them. "The Extreme Path Demon Sect is indeed despicable to the core and must be overthrown sooner orter. Rest assured, Miss Qingtan, for those children without a Spirit Root, we will send to the Mortal Realm to be cared for and raised. Those with a Spirit Root will be nurtured in the Cultivation World. After they turn fourteen, if they wish to join our sect, that would be best; if not, we¡¯ll let them go their own way," Gong Ping said. In the Suichuan Cultivation World, one was considered an adult at the age of fourteen. "Thank you, Elder Gong. Additionally, that friend entrusted me with these goods as well¡ªwould it be convenient to sell them at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion?" Yu Qingtan took out a pile of loot she didn¡¯t need from Tian Changfeng and Golden Daoist Gao and put them into her Storage Bag and Spirit Beast Pouch. "That would certainly be convenient, and we will pay the market rate for everything. That is one of the benefits of being a first-level guest elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion!" Meng Xiyao said. "Huh, there¡¯s even a Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s mark on this Storage Bag," said Gong Ping at that moment. He was looking at Golden Daoist Gao¡¯s Five Directions Storage Bag. Chapter 82: Love and Hatred, So Many Events Upon hearing this, Yu Qingtan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Gong Ping, the elder, reached out his hand, and the storage bag appeared in his left, then he wiped over it with his right hand. "There, I¡¯ve erased the spiritual power mark, It was most likely a trickid by that old Fire Cloud ghost," Gong Ping said. Yu Qingtan broke out in a cold sweat behind her back, thankful that she hade here to dispose of her ill-gotten goods, and at the same time, she asked, "Elder Gong, could there be the same tricks on the other items?" "The ones you¡¯ve taken out here are now clear, but for the others, I have no way of knowing. You¡¯d better warn your friend," "Hmm, thank you Elder Gong. Is there a way to check?" Considering that the rest of her goods were in the System Space, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems for the moment. But having been at a loss when she visited the ck market before, and almost bing a target of a Golden Core cultivator this time, she could not be too cautious. "Other than divine sense of about the same realm, there are also some advanced pupil techniques. Also, one could use the Great Purification Technique, but unfortunately, advanced pupil techniques are hard to find, and the Purification Spell is difficult to master." Gong Ping said. "Deacon Meng, does the Hundred Treasures Pavilion have any pupil techniques or Purification Spells for sale?" Yu Qingtan asked after hearing this. "No, most of the spells sold by the Hundred Treasures Pavilion aremon varieties; the really rare ones have to be bought at the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion. I¡¯m not sure about pupil techniques, but the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion definitely sells the second-stage Purification Spell. However, only the Purification Spells of the second stage and above are avable, and cultivators usually can only practice second-stage spells after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage. Speaking of which, the Cleansing Spell is a prerequisite for the second-stage Purification Spell. The better you are at the Cleansing Spell, the easier it is to learn the Purification Spell. Looking at the value of these items you¡¯ve brought, it¡¯s about 7800 spirit stones. I¡¯ll round it up to an even 8000 spirit stones. Do you have anything else you wish to buy?" Meng Xiyao said. "Are there any books introducing knowledge about the Foundation Establishment Stage and higher realms, as well as spirit objects that aid the soul barrier during Foundation Establishment?" Yu Qingtan asked. She had too little understanding of realms above Qi Cultivation, which was the pain point of not having a master to guide her. "We have some rted books. As for spirit objects, we only have Marrow Cleansing Liquid, which aids the body¡¯s barrier," Meng Xiyao replied. There are three barriers in Foundation Establishment: the spiritual power barrier, the body barrier, and the soul barrier. Each one has blocked countless Qi Practitioners from advancing in their cultivation. Yu Qingtan cultivated spiritual power mostly through system upgrades or by consuming heaven-sent treasures like marrow milk or Spirit Dew, making her spiritual power very pure and abundant, so the pressure wasn¡¯t significant for the spiritual power barrier. Having cultivated to the sixth level of the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art before Foundation Establishment, and potentially the seventh level, her physical body wasparable to that of an ordinary early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, so the body barrier was very stable. It was only the soul barrier where Yu Qingtan felt her soul was stronger than cultivators of the same realm, but it was only a feeling and not yet secure. Although she had Foundation Establishment Pills for support, an ancient text mentioned that ancient cultivators did not use Foundation Establishment Pills and were stronger than the cultivators of today. Thus, she wanted to strengthen her soul as well, and hearing Meng Xiyao¡¯s words, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit disappointed. "On New Year¡¯s Eve afternoon, our Hundred Treasures Pavilion will be hosting an auction in conjunction with Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion and Spirit Clothing Pavilion. You can attend by presenting your Guest Jade Token. You might find what you¡¯re looking for. But be ready with enough spirit stones!" "Alright!" After spending 1900 spirit stones on the books, Yu Qingtan took her leave and left. After Yu Qingtan had left, Meng Xiyao asked, "Protector Gong, are you really going to put up the Soul Nourishing Liquid you have for auction? There are quite a few people in the sect who want to exchange it for Merit Points." "It was my own fortuitous discovery. How I dispose of it is naturally for me to decide. I see great potential in this young girl. She will definitely achieve Foundation Establishment next year, and at fifteen years old, even those with top-grade spirit roots are rare to achieve as much." ... By the time she returned home, under the sky filled with a myriad of stars and the shining full moon, there was a person leaning against the door, wearing a bamboo hat. Their ck hair swaying in the north wind. You Xiwang was about to move forward to check when Yu Qingtan stopped him. "He¡¯s a friend of mine, probably looking for me. You go ahead and leave!" You Xiwang nced at the short figure and said, "Alright!" Then he left. This person was none other than Fu Nian. Yu Qingtan approached the door and said, "Young Master Fu, wait a moment while I change my clothes." Fu Nian nodded. After speaking, Yu Qingtan entered the house. Fu Nian outside sensed You Xiwang hiding around the corner with his divine sense and smiled faintly. Once inside, Yu Qingtan switched her consciousness to her main body, tidied up a bit, then went out and invited Fu Nian inside. "Master Fu, please take a seat!" Yu Qingtan said, while pouring a cup of tea for Fu Nian. "Aboutst time, I must have been aughingstock," Master Fu sat down and said. "It is Qing Tan who should be embarrassed forughing, Master Fu. You are truly a person of good temperament and generosity," recalling the incident of getting drunk, Yu Qingtan also felt somewhat awkward. "Miss Qing Tan¡¯s performance was stunning, a feast for the eyes. Fu is greatly appreciative," Fu Nian changed the subject. "Thank you for yourpliment, Master Fu." Yu Qingtan smiled sweetly, causing a ripple in Fu Nian¡¯s heart. "Miss Qing Tan, my visit this time is to bid you farewell." Fu Nian gathered his thoughts and said. "Farewell? Are you leaving Suichuan Immortal City?" "Correct, I have decided to go on a journey in search of opportunities. My current strength is still too weak, and seeking revenge is hopeless." Fu Nian had two alternate identities in Suichuan Immortal City, so he watched Yu Qingtan perform for two days. However, it was time for him to leave. Yu Qingtan kept silent, and after a few moments, she said, "Then, I wish you a smooth journey. When will you be leaving?" "Right now." "So soon?" "Yes, let¡¯s part here." After saying this, Fu Nian stood up and walked out. Yu Qingtan also stood up. "I¡¯ll see you out!" When the two reached the door, the sound of the watchman¡¯s drum sounded not far away. "This is far enough, you should head back," Fu Nian said. "Before parting, let me gift you a poem." "Stars and bright moon, the north wind blows, silent night, cold winter, the watch drum urges. Love and hatred, countless tales, Tian Xiang has a maiden waiting for your return." Yu Qingtan recited softly. Fu Nian did not say anything else but his look at Yu Qingtan changed slightly. Then, he turned and left. You Xiwang, who had been secretly observing, saw Fu Nian leave and went home as well. Back inside the house, Yu Qingtan got goosebumps all over her body and then opened the system panel. As expected, Affection Value +10, and there was one more line on the list of Devotees. [Fu Nian, Foundation Establishment early stage, 1000 Spirit Stones for fifteen minutes.] "It¡¯s all for the Affection Value; the system forced me. Master Fu, please don¡¯t me me in the future!" Yu Qingtan said to herself. She and Fu Nian were old acquaintances. It would be a waste not to get Affection Value before parting. She flipped through the list of Devotees. [Luo Xiang, Foundation Establishment early stage, 1000 Spirit Stones for fifteen minutes; Fu Nian, Foundation Establishment early stage, 1000 Spirit Stones for fifteen minutes; Han Daniu, Qi Cultivation ninthyer, 80 Spirit Stones for fifteen minutes; Find your next read at NovelBin.C?m Song Zhenbo, Qi Cultivation ninthyer, 80 Spirit Stones for fifteen minutes; Fang Ling, Qi Cultivation ninthyer, 80 Spirit Stones for fifteen minutes; Hao Can, Qi Cultivation eighthyer, 70 Spirit Stones for fifteen minutes; Qi Hong, Qi Cultivation eighthyer, 70 Spirit Stones for fifteen minutes; You Xiwang, Qi Cultivation seventhyer, 60 Spirit Stones for fifteen minutes; ...] "Looks like everyone has made some progress in their cultivation, especially Fang Ling and Hao Can, seems like they¡¯ve had their breakthroughs too!" Chapter 83: It鈥檚 Appropriate to Hold a Lottery at the Peak of Qi Cultivation After checking the system panel, Yu Qingtan released Xiaotao and fed it a piece of demonic beast meat before taking out the materials for Foundation Establishment she had bought from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and started reading them. An hourter, she began to ponder over and learn the Illusion Dance Technique. She was determined to cultivate the Clear Water Technique, practice the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art, master spells like the Water de Technique, and grasp the path of Spirit Tailoring... There were just too many things she needed to cultivate and learn, with activities like ying music, chess, calligraphy, and painting having be mere diversions ofte. It couldn¡¯t be helped¡ªher Fairy Development System wasn¡¯t all-powerful, and she needed to be famous to gain Charm Points and Affection Value. If she didn¡¯t immerse herself in these activities nuts and bolts, who knew when she might be kidnapped by a powerful cultivator to be a concubine or a cultivation cauldron. Plus, Wanning was still awaiting her rescue. Over the next eight days, Yu Qingtan¡¯s performance conference went smoothly. During the rest periods, she was frically upskilling and cultivating. She also applied for ess privileges to the Tianxiang Pavilion¡¯s Foundation Establishment Stage materials from her sister Gongsun Yurong and consulted Gongsun Yurong numerous times, which gave her a much clearer understanding of the Foundation Establishment process and stage. On the day the performance conference concluded, the You father and son excitedly divided the Spirit Stones with Yu Qingtan. For the ten days of performances, Yu Qingtan had received about 120,000 Spirit Stones in tips, of which the You family was entitled to forty percent, making it 48,000 Spirit Stones, with their investment being only about 5,000 Spirit Stones. You Xiantong immediately suggested giving Yu Qingtan arger share, but she kindly refused, instructing them to take good care of Jiang Lai instead. The You father and son naturally agreed without hesitation. Back at Tianxiang Pavilion, Yu Qingtan intended to give Gongsun Yurong the 24,000 Spirit Stones she had promised to the pavilion. As it happened, Gongsun Yurong was just about to give Yu Qingtan her share of the profits from the Zhi Lan Pavilion in Suichuan Immortal City¡ªthirty percent of its earnings, five percent from the Zhi Lan Pavilions in Tianxiang Valley and other immortal cities, as well as the profits from the sale of her own practice works, amounting to a total of 54,000 Spirit Stones. After deducting the performance conference share for the Tianxiang Pavilion, Gongsun Yurong handed over 30,000 Spirit Stones to Yu Qingtan. Including her war booty previously received from the old man in the purple robe, Master Gao, Yu Qingtan now had a stunning 140,000 Spirit Stones in her possession. However, what made Yu Qingtan even more excited was the umtion of her Charm Points and Affection Value. [Charm Points: 23137] [Affection Value: 788] Yu Qingtan asked Gongsun Yurong for leave, stating she needed to go into closed-door cultivation. Gongsun Yurong naturally agreed. Inside the Vajra Protective Spirit Array, Yu Qingtan got ready and took out half a drop of the Second Stage Spirit Dew she had obtained from Master Gao. She consumed it. Purity of spiritual power rushed madly into Yu Qingtan¡¯s body. For an ordinary Qi Practitioner, directly consuming Second Stage Spirit Dew for cultivation would result in an explosion like an overinted balloon. However, Yu Qingtan¡¯s physical body was on par with someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage; although some of her meridians were throbbing in pain, it was still within her tolerance. With each cirction of her energy throughout her body, the meridians slowly expanded and strengthened under the impact of the spiritual power, and her Dantian also grew slightly more rapidly. Several dayster, Yu Qingtan slowly opened her eyes and halted her cultivation. Because that day was New Year¡¯s Eve. It was also the day of the auction. Her cultivation level had reached the pinnacle of the Qi Cultivation Stage. Before emerging from seclusion, Yu Qingtan decided to test her luck with a draw. Continue reading at NovelBin.C?m In the past, she would count every Charm Point when drawing a prize, but now these points were in abundance. Even though the performance conference was over, she still had a steady influx of Charm Points every day, which had reached over 24,000 by this time. She had also looked through that painting album of ¡¯Miss Qing Tan¡¯ that she¡¯d bought for 10 Spirit Stones and, unsurprisingly, found the fabric within to be scanty, hardly appropriate for children. Thankfully, there were no males depicted in it; otherwise, Yu Qingtan would have considered annihting that so-called gentleman who posed such a depravity. Her regr painting album was now a hotmodity in Suichuan Immortal City¡ªYu Qingtan had essentially be the most dazzling figure in Suichuan Immortal City. Casting aside all distractions, Yu Qingtan concentrated inwardly. "Dao Ancestor through the ages!" she murmured, then tapped the hundred-fold draw button continuously. "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "One Medium Grade Spirit Stone, thank you for your patronage x9!" "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "Thank you for your patronage x10!" ... "One more time, thank you for your patronage x9!" ... "A bag of chips, thank you for your patronage x9!" ... "A calculus book, thank you for your patronage x9!" ... "A warm clothing catalog, thank you for your patronage x9!" ... "A toy that girls love to y with, thank you for your patronage x9!" ... "A second-tier Clear Heart and Few Desires Talisman, thank you for your patronage x9!" ... Amid Yu Qingtan¡¯s internal rant, this round of the prize draw finally ended. ording to her summary, about one in fifty draws would yield something, but the ratio of useful items was merely one or two out of ten. This time, the most useful thing was probably that warm clothing catalog. Yu Qingtan had never yed this dress-up game from her previous life, but she had heard of it, and the catalog would indeed be helpful in designing clothes. After she upgraded her Spiritual Tailoring Skill to a major aplishment and grinded for more than ten days during herst session, she had totally mastered the twenty-seven basic Artifact Bans of first-tier Spiritual Tailor and sessfully made a skirt of first-tier high-quality Magic Artifact level, bing a first-tier high-quality Spiritual Tailor. After collecting the items, Yu Qingtan chanted in her mind once more. "Eternal Dao Ancestor!" and then she clicked for one hundred consecutive ten-draws again. That¡¯s just how extravagant she was, no shortage of Charm Points. "Thank you for your patronage x10!" "A bag of dog food, thank you for your patronage x9!" ... "Love¡¯s Tribute, thank you for your patronage x9!" ... This round of the prize draw finally yielded another good item. [Love¡¯s Tribute: Spend Spirit Stones to duplicate a piece of equipment, spell, skill, etc., of a Devotee. Limited to 1 time per Devotee.] "What a great item! I¡¯m feeling so lucky today, I might as well use all my remaining Charm Points." As she thought, so she did. "Eternal Dao Ancestor!" She clicked for forty-five consecutive ten-draws. "Thank you for your patronage x10!" ... "Introductory Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique, thank you for your patronage x9!" ... "It¡¯s the rare pupil technique, I really am lucky today!" She decisively epted and learned it, and Yu Qingtan felt a clear vision materialize before her eyes. Channelling spiritual power into her eyes and using the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique, she could see every detail on the distant wall. However, the progression value required to reach minor aplishment was a massive 5000. ording to the information in her mind, the introductory Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique was usually sufficient for the Qi Cultivation Stage. After experiencing the wonderful uses of the pupil technique for a while longer, Yu Qingtan opened the Devotee list. [Luo Xiang, at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, 1000 Spirit Stones per quarter hour, can duplicate: Major Aplished Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, 100,000 Spirit Stones, Major Aplished Decay and Flourish Technique, 100,000 Spirit Stones; Fu Nian, at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, 1000 Spirit Stones per quarter hour, can duplicate: Minor Aplished second-stage Array Breaking Talisman Drawing Skill, 100,000 Spirit Stones, Second-stage Escape Talisman Drawing Method, 50,000 Spirit Stones; Han Daniu, at the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation, 80 Spirit Stones per quarter hour, can duplicate: Perfectly Aplished Earth Spike Technique, 10,000 Spirit Stones, Major Aplished Earth Prison Technique, 8,000 Spirit Stones; Song Zhenbo, at the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation, 80 Spirit Stones per quarter hour, can duplicate: Perfectly Aplished Green Wood Sword Technique, 10,000 Spirit Stones, Major Aplished Wood Escape Technique, 8,000 Spirit Stones; Fang Ling, at the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation, 80 Spirit Stones per quarter hour, can duplicate: Perfectly Aplished Blood Control Technique, 10,000 Spirit Stones, Major Aplished Blood Puppet Technique, 8,000 Spirit Stones; Hao Can, at the eighthyer of Qi Cultivation, 70 Spirit Stones per quarter hour, can duplicate: Perfectly Aplished Water de Technique, 10,000 Spirit Stones, Major Aplished Water Curtain Technique, 8,000 Spirit Stones; ...] "There are plenty of good things to duplicate, but it¡¯s a pity they are quite expensive. I¡¯ll wait until after the auction to consider them!" Chapter 84 - 84 New Year鈥檚 Eve Auction of Soul Nourishing Liquid Recalling Meng Xiyao¡¯s words that the Cleansing Spell was a prerequisite for the Second Stage Purification Spell, Yu Qingtan spent 10 Affection Points to purchase a Second Stage Spell Upgrade Card, upgrading the Cleansing Spell, which had only recently reached the minor aplishment stage, to perfection. Then, she cast the Cleansing Spell in the room. The consumption of spiritual power was so low it was almost imperceptible, yet the spell¡¯s range had expanded several times over, turning the entire room spotless as if it was glistening. Yu Qingtan, who loved cleanliness in both her past and present lives, nodded with satisfaction before opening the System Panel. [Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer 899/900, Body Refinement Seventh Layer 21/700] [Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] [Spells: Cleansing Spell Perfected, Invisibility Technique Perfected, Breath-Concealing Technique Perfected, Water Escape Technique Major Achievement 276/400, Water de Technique Major Achievement 36/400, Water Curtain Technique Major Achievement 13/400, Object Controlling Technique Major Achievement 356/400, Wood Escape Technique Minor Achievement 40/200, Wooden Shield Technique Minor Achievement 25/200, Earth Wall Technique Minor Achievement 20/200, Earth Spike Technique Minor Achievement 24/200, Earth Escape Technique Major Achievement 334/400, Rejuvenation Spell Minor Achievement 63/200, Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique Beginner 10/5000, Illusion Dance Technique Beginner 13/100] [Skills: Dance Artistry Major Achievement 113/400, Zither Art Major Achievement 162/400, Chess Skill Minor Achievement 30/200, Calligraphy Minor Achievement 23/200, Painting Skill Minor Achievement 105/200, Spiritual Tailoring Skill Major Achievement 233/400] [Charm Points: 2] [Affection Value: 778] [System Space Grid: First Stage Cultivation Upgrade Card 2 sheets, Medium Grade Spirit Stones 159 pieces, Lower Grade Spirit Stones 140,000 pieces, Second Stage Spirit Dew 1 and a half drops, mysterious seed, Uninscribed Tokens 2 pieces, Spiritual Artifacts like the Crimson Abyss Sword, ck Scaled Armor, Flying Spirit Sword, Message-Transmitting Flying Sword, Magic Artifacts like the Cherry Red Sword and Xuan Turtle Shield, Second Stage Elixirs like Foundation Establishment Pill, Purple Spirit Pill, Spirit Revitalizing Pill, Healing Pill, First Stage Elixirs like Ascension Pill and Spirit-Condensing Pill, Second Stage Purifying Heart Talisman and other Talismans, Heavenly Spirit Fruit and other Spiritual Medicines, materials like Snow Silkworm Thread, Spiritual Ores like Deep Sea Blue Crystal and Sun me Jade, Second Stage Alert Defense Formation and other Array gs] [System Mall: Immortal Body Activation Card 0/1 (100,000 Affection Points), Inborn Divine Skills Upgrade Card 0/1 (100,000 Affection Points), Advanced Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (10,000 Affection Points), Third Stage Cultivation Upgrade Card 0/3 (1,000 Affection Points), Second Stage Cultivation Upgrade Card 0/3 (100 Affection Points), Third Stage Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (100 Affection Points), Second Stage Spell Upgrade Card 5/10 (10 Affection Points), Third Stage Skill Upgrade Card 0/5 (100 Affection Points), Second Stage Skill Upgrade Card 0/5] [Lucky Draw: Spend 10 Charm Points for one draw (with a ten-draw option)] Yu Qingtan cleaned herself up, dressed in a male-style blue robe, donned a Disguising Mask, and walked out of her home. Because it was New Year¡¯s Eve, the outside of the Immortal City was bustling. After strolling around a bit and dining at the Drunken Fairy Building, Yu Qingtan arrived at the Immortal City auction house. This was actually the Immortal City Theater, where asionally there were opera performances, circuses, debates, and the like. Yu Qingtan had not considereding here for the performance convention, mainly because there were only just over 2,000 seats here, plus a hundred private boxes. Arriving outside the auction house, Yu Qingtan quietly deployed her Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil to observe. The area around the auction house was overflowing with spiritual radiance, clearly protected by a Great Array. Looking up, she couldn¡¯t detect any trace of the Immortal City¡¯s Great Five Elements Qiankun Formation, likely because her realm was too low and the Immortal City¡¯s formation was normally only activated to a small extent. Without showing her Hundred Treasures Pavilion first-tier Guest Token, but by showing off a storage bag containing fifty thousand Spirit Stones, Yu Qingtan, disguised as a "male cultivator" with the cultivation level of the eighthyer of Qi Cultivation, received VIP treatment. A pretty young girl led her to a private box, number Ren 8. She declined the young girl¡¯s offers for shoulder massages and even other services, casually tipping her ten Spirit Stones and asking her to leave the box. Then she sat down in the chair in front of the small window to wait. A special small array was set up at the small window, allowing those inside to see outside, while those outside could not see in. About half an hourter, the hall seats were almost full. As Meng Xiyao, wearing a red off-the-shoulder gown with high heels, and apanied by her sinfully white exposure, gracefully walked onstage, everyone quieted down. "Wee everyone to this year¡¯s Suichuan Immortal City auction. I am the host of this auction, Meng Xiyao. I¡¯m sure everyone has been looking forward to this auction, so without further ado, let¡¯s begin," she said. Meng Xiyao¡¯s voice was that of a mature woman, low and soft. As she spoke, a maid had already brought up a small tray with a jade bottle on it. "The first item up for auction today is one Foundation Establishment Pill, which I¡¯m sure needs no introduction from me. The starting bid is 10,000 Spirit Stones," she announced. As soon as her words dropped, the mood in the hall soared. The threshold to enter this auction was having funds exceeding five thousand Spirit Stones, so even the guests in the hall were basically cultivators in thete stages of Qi Cultivation. Hearing that the first item was the Foundation Establishment Pill they had long dreamed of, how could they not be excited? "15,000!" "20,000!" "30,000!" "35,000!" "40,000!" However, their excitement didn¡¯tst long, as the escting prices quickly doused their enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water. "Forty-one thousand!" announced an elder cultivator who bore the weathered visage of middle age as he stood up, fists clenched and eyes burning red with determination. "Forty-three thousand!" rang out a bid from a private box, the middle-aged cultivator¡¯s eyes went lifeless, and he slumped back into his seat as though all his vitality had been drained away. "Forty-four thousand!" "Forty-five thousand!" "Forty-nine thousand!" "Bid from Box A7 is forty-nine thousand, any further bids?" Meng Xiyao¡¯s pleasant voice arose. Yet there were no further bids, as the typical price for a Foundation Establishment Pill was around forty thousand spirit stones, and forty-nine thousand was already considered a lofty sum. Further, the discerning had recognized that the bid came from the Ges, and the various big powers of the Immortal City had an unspoken agreement not to drive up prices carelessly. "Forty-nine thousand once, forty-nine thousand twice, forty-nine thousand three times! Alright, the Foundation Establishment Pill goes to the esteemed guest in Box A7!" "Moving on to the second auction item, a First Stage high-grade defensive magic artifact, the ck Scaled Armor, made from the scales of severalte-stage First Stage Demonic Beasts¡ªXuan Scaled Lizards. The starting bid is five hundred spirit stones." ... The subsequent items were mainly First Stage goods,rgely contested over by clients within the hall. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t bid; she was merely observing, seeking to expand her knowledge. "Next up, item one hundred twelve, Soul Nourishing Liquid, one portion. Soul Nourishing Liquid possesses the ability to grow and repair the soul, and is also a prime spiritual material for those attempting to break through the Soul Barrier upon establishing one¡¯s foundation. Starting bid, five thousand spirit stones." "Six thousand!" "Sixty-five hundred!" "Eight thousand!" "Ten thousand!" "Twenty thousand!" interjected Yu Qingtan in a masculine tone, deciding to aim high in her bid. She had read many tomes in recent days, learning about the Soul Nourishing Liquid, which was precisely the kind of top-tier spiritual material she sought for the Soul Barrier. Gauging the size of the bottle, she estimated the market value of the liquid to be around fifteen thousand. "Thirty thousand!" The one who bid was the middle-aged cultivator who had missed out on the Foundation Establishment Pill. Muttering about her bad luck, Yu Qingtan shouted, "Thirty-five thousand!" Since this man had spent twelve thousand on an Ascension Pill earlier, Yu Qingtan figured he wouldn¡¯t have enough spirit stones topete with her. To her surprise, another bid came from a different private box. "Thirty-eight thousand!" Yu Qingtan gritted her teeth and called out, "Forty thousand!" This time, no further bids were made. "Forty thousand once, forty thousand twice, forty thousand three times! Well done, the Soul Nourishing Liquid goes to the distinguished guest in Box B8!" As Meng Xiyao¡¯s voice reached her ears, Yu Qingtan finally rxed. Soon after, the pretty young girl Yu had previously turned away knocked on the door and entered wearing a crop top dress, handing over the Soul Nourishing Liquid. Continue your journey on NovelBin.C?m Ignoring the fluster of snow-white skin before her eyes, Yu Qingtan settled the payment with spirit stones and sent the girl away. Not even a tip was given. Her own spirits had barely recovered from the restriction of the airport, and now this fresh torment. Chapter 85: Struggle for the Jade Slip and Golden Core in the Secret Realm After more than a hundred lots passed, another item of interest to Yu Qingtan finally appeared. "Lot number two hundred and thirty-one, a top-tier first stage full diamond bra, presented by Spirit Clothing Pavilion, with an opening bid of eight thousand Spirit Stones." At this moment, the bra that was blinding those on the maid¡¯s tray owed its dazzling effect to being studded with shining Spirit Diamonds. Spirit Diamonds were a type of second-stage Spirit Ore, extremely hard and clear as crystal, but with poor efficiency in conducting Spiritual Power. Moreover, since the ores were often tiny granules, they were rarely used in weapons but had be amon sight in jewelry, highly coveted by female cultivators. Even though this bra utilized so many Spirit Diamonds, it still hadn¡¯t reached the level of a second-stage Spiritual Artifact, which highlighted the awkward position of Spirit Diamonds in artifact refining. However, this didn¡¯t affect its exorbitant price in the least. The bra was quickly bid up to a high price of twenty thousand Spirit Stones. "Twenty-three thousand!" "Twenty-four thousand!" The bidding war was going on between two private boxes. "Twenty-five thousand, I am Qiao Huannai, I really love this piece of clothing and would appreciate it if you could let me have it?" At this time, one of the private boxes turned to a new bidder who spoke in a delicate tone. Qiao Huannai, the favored concubine of City Lord Ouyang Wenjian, was said to have been brought back by Ouyang Wenjian from an ind in the Lichuan Inner Sea during one of his earlier experiences. The person in the other private box felt somewhat ufortable but not to the extent of offending Qiao Huannai over a piece of clothing, and so the full diamond bra was sessfully bid by Qiao Huannai. "These people in the Cultivation World sure know how to have fun," Yu Qingtan remarked. She had received a Spirit Diamond pendant before and found it quite pretty, but a bra studded with diamonds? She courteously declined. "Lot number two hundred and thirty-two, a water attribute Cultivation Technique called the Tide-Born Seaform Technique, which can be cultivated up to thete stage of the Golden Core. The opening bid is one hundred thousand Spirit Stones." Yu Qingtan was speechless. She had thought that with her massive sum of one hundred and forty thousand Spirit Stones, she was a little rich woman, but the auction¡¯s escting prices told her time and time again that she was still a poor little thing. There had been two other Cultivation Techniques auctioned earlier, but neither was water attribute nor extended past the Foundation Establishment Stage. Now, a suitable Cultivation Technique had appeared, and her Spirit Stones were just enough for the opening bid. "One hundred and ten thousand!" "One hundred and twenty thousand!" ¡­ In the end, the Cultivation Technique was purchased by someone for a price of one hundred and seventy thousand. "System Dad, can¡¯t you just find me some direct ess to a Divinity Transformation Cultivation Technique or something?" While Yu Qingtan was lost in her wishful thinking, the auction continued. Before long, Yu Qingtan was invigorated once more. "Lot number two hundred and forty-eight, a second-stage Purification Spell Jade Slip. I won¡¯t say much about it, and the starting bid is five thousand Spirit Stones!" Yu Qingtan promptly joined the bidding and eventually acquired the Jade Slip for the spell at a price of eighteen thousand Spirit Stones. ¡­ "Lot number two hundred and thirty-six, a top-tier first stage Flying Boat, opening bid of five thousand Spirit Stones!" Yu Qingtan was somewhat tempted, as she had once told Shen Wanning that she would take her on a Flying Boat one day, unfortunately¡­ She still didn¡¯t bid, considering she was about to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and a first-stage top-tier Flying Boat wouldn¡¯t be of much use. ¡­ "Lot number three hundred, which is also the finale of this auction, a Jade Slip containing information about the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm!" As soon as these words were uttered, not only did the hall erupt with excitement, but many in the private boxes were also astonished enough to stand up. "The Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, is it that legendary ce that appears only once every millennium?" Discover hidden tales at NovelBin.C?m "Could it be that the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm is about to appear in this world?" "Legend has it that the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm is the ruins of the ancient, imposing sect called Myriad Beasts Sect which once dominated two realms. Its interior is filled with treasures and opportunities at every turn. The current Divinity Transformation realm sect, the Hundred Beasts Sect, was founded by a predecessor who obtained a significant opportunity within the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm." "Silence!" Suddenly, a loud voice rang out, carrying a certain powerful pressure. A figure appeared next to Meng Xiyao¡ªit was Feng Zhongming, the Hall Master of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡¯s veneration hall, a cultivator at the False Golden Core stage. Everyone immediately quieted down. "Your guess is not wrong. The Myriad Beasts Secret Realm will appear in half a year. This news is already widely known in the outside world; it¡¯s just that Suichuan Immortal City is quite remote, so the message has not yet been broadly disseminated throughout the city. This time, the auction is for a piece of intelligence about the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, a jade slip discovered by chance by a Suichuan Immortal City Foundation Establishment Cultivator during his travels. Fearing he couldn¡¯t keep it safe outside, he returned to the city to auction it off." "After verification, this jade slip contains a partial map of the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm and some details on residual formations and prohibitions; it¡¯s highly valuable. The starting bid is 100,000 Spirit Stones, with priority given to those offering Core Formation spiritual materials or longevity spiritual items," Meng Xiyao exined. This price was like a bucket of cold water poured over most people¡¯s heads, including Yu Qingtan. "Two hundred thousand Spirit Stones!" "Three hundred thousand!" "Three thousand five hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones!" Listening to these bids, Yu Qingtan could only say that poverty limited his imagination. "One thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones plus one Xuan Ling Flower that can improve Core Formation sess by ten percent!" Yu Qingtan recognized that this was the voice of Real Person Gong Ping. "One thousand seven hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones plus a Longevity Fruit that can extend life by twenty years." This was a gentle and soft female voice. "Two thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones plus one Tian Chen Pill that can increase Core Formation sess by one and a halfyers." This was a deep male voice. "Two thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones plus a thousand-year-old Heavenly Spirit Fruit that can increase Core Formation sess by twoyers," Real Person Gong Ping continued to raise the bid. "Hmph, Old Gong Ping, as an Elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, isn¡¯t it inappropriate for you topete with us in bidding?" the deep male voice said discontentedly. "Firecloud old ghost, Qing Wei Daoist Friend must have hit your head and caused some damage if you can say such childish things," Gong Ping retaliated without giving any face to Firecloud. This man was none other than the Golden Core Cultivator of the Extreme Path Demon Sect, Real Person Firecloud, who had left a spiritual power imprint on Gao Lao¡¯s storage bag. However, Real Person Gong Ping did not give the slightest face to Firecloud and directly hit back. "Real Person Gong Ping, don¡¯t wrongly use me, I was quite gentle," the gentle female voice also chimed in. This person was a Golden Core Cultivator of Tianxiang Valley, Real Person Qing Wei. It turned out that after the murder of High Elder Dao in the ck market, both Real Person Firecloud and Tianxiang Pavilion received the news. Although High Elder Dao was only Real Person Firecloud¡¯s nephew, he was a talented n member cultivated by Firecloud himself. His sudden murder naturally prompted Firecloud to seek revenge. However, before he could reach Suichuan Immortal City, he sensed that the spiritual power imprint he left behind had been erased. Upon investigation in the city, he discovered it was the deed of someone from Tianxiang Valley. He immediately went to Tianxiang Pavilion to demand a person, only to be stopped by Real Person Qing Wei, who had been called in as reinforcement by Gongsun Yurong. The two sides fought fiercely just outside Suichuan Immortal City, with Firecloud suffering a crushing defeat. The two of them arrived in Suichuan Immortal City and just happened to receive news of the auction for the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm¡¯s intelligence jade slip, so they both decided to stay. "Hmph, Old Gong Ping, I fear it was you who erased the spiritual power imprint I left on my nephew¡¯s storage bag. Perhaps my nephew was killed by you, and then you framed Tianxiang Valley," Real Person Firecloud said, his face turning red with anger, yet his eyes shifted as he spoke. "Firecloud old ghost, don¡¯t spew nonsense out of your mouth. If you want a fight, I¡¯m right here and ready any time; just don¡¯t go crying back to your elders after the beating," Real Person Gong Ping retorted. "You¨Chmph!" Real Person Firecloud, unable to contain his rage but unsure of his chances against the inscrutable Gong Ping, could only snort coldly and left the auction hall directly. Real Person Qing Wei then stopped raising the bid, and the jade slip containing intelligence on the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm was sessfully won by Real Person Gong Ping. That was also his main purpose foring to Suichuan Immortal City. Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Welcoming the New and Sending off the Old to Lay the Foundations of the Path After the auction ended, night had already fallen. The market was still bustling. Yu Qingtan went straight home and her consciousness returned to her body. She lit a stick of Calming Incense and took out the Spring Condensed Zither, ying "Purification of Soul" for a while, which made Yu Qingtan feel an unprecedented calm. She undressed and performed aplete Cleansing Spell on herself. Sitting cross-legged within the Vajra Protective Spirit Array, beneath her wereid one hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones. She took out the remaining half-drop of Second Stage Spirit Dew and swallowed it. At the same time, her thoughts moved. Two First Stage Cultivation Upgrade Cards were used. Instantly, spiritual power churned inside Yu Qingtan''s body. She began to circte the Clear Water Technique, moving the spiritual energy in a full circle and absorbing it continuously. Chapter Discover: Even though her meridians and Dantian were achingly swollen, Yu Qingtan ignored the pain and continued to circte her cultivation technique. After an unknown number of cycles, Yu Qingtan felt her meridians and Dantian vibrating slightly, expanding and contracting at the same time. After such vibrations for a dozen breaths, as if reaching a certain critical point, her meridians and Dantian expanded and no longer contracted. The residual spiritual power of the Spirit Dew violently poured into her meridians and flowed into her Dantian, then transforming into droplets of liquid spiritual energy. If the spiritual power cannot be converted into liquid form in the Dantian, it signifies a failure in Foundation Establishment ¡ª the so-called ''Spiritual Power Barrier''. A failure at the Spiritual Power Barrier would result in the meridians remaining damaged due to theck of subsequent tempering, leading to a decline in the realm of cultivation. Soon, the spiritual energy from the Spirit Dew was exhausted, and the nature''s spiritual energy from the outside started to surge into Yu Qingtan''s body. The concentration of nature''s spiritual energy in this house was clearly insufficient to sustain Yu Qingtan''s Foundation Establishment needs, thus the spiritual energy from the Medium Grade Spirit Stones beneath her was also rapidly drawn into her body. The rapid influx of external spiritual energy was also a process of tempering the physical body; if the body cannot withstand it, it would explode and result in death ¡ª this is referred to as the ''Physical Body Barrier''. The tempering process was very painful, but to Yu Qingtan, who had experienced the pain of Body Refinement, it was trivial. She even started practicing the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art simultaneously. When the liquid spiritual energy inside Yu Qingtan''s Dantian reached one hundred and eight droplets, her body finally stopped absorbing spiritual energy. Her body expelled some ck impurities, part of the process of cleansing and bone washing during Foundation Establishment. Yu Qingtan took out the Soul Nourishing Liquid, used her spiritual power to turn it into mist, and enveloped her head with it. At the same time, Yu Qingtan''s divine sense roamed through her Sea of Consciousness. In a sensing within the dark, it reached a certain ce, as if a light appeared in the darkness, or as though a singrity emerged in the endless space and time. A hazy area was born in Yu Qingtan''s mind, where her divine sense took residence. This was opening the Niwan Pce, pioneering the Sea of Consciousness, the birth of Divine Sense. This was the final barrier of Foundation Establishment, the Soul Barrier. Failing to cross it means the soul would extinguish, leading to death and the vanishing of the Dao. At this step, Yu Qingtan''s Foundation Establishment was sessful. Yu Qingtan tried to release her Divine Sense and felt its range; surprisingly, it could explore up to a hundred zhang. It is known that the Divine Sense exploration range of an average cultivator in the early, middle, andte stages of Foundation Establishment is approximately 30 to 80 zhang, 80 to 130 zhang, and 130 to 180 zhang respectively. Obviously, the strength of Yu Qingtan''s Divine Sense was already no weaker than many in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Such a powerful Divine Sense might be rted to her transmigration, or it might be rted to her frequent ying of "Purification of Soul," or it could be rted to the portion of Soul Nourishing Liquid that had already turned into ordinary droplets. Yu Qingtan once again assessed his physical body, realizing that the immense upgrade to his physical strength that came with the Foundation Establishment Stage was significant, leaving him feeling no worse than an averagete-stage cultivator at the same level. Logically speaking, the infusion of spiritual power shouldn''t have been sufficient to enhance the body''s strength to such a degree, yet that was precisely the oue. Previously, despite Yu Qingtan''s hard efforts in advancing the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art to the seventh level of body refinement, he barely matched the strength of a cultivator at the initial Foundation Establishment Stage who did not practice body refinement. ording to ancient texts, some powerful cultivators spected that this might be rted to thews of nature and earth. Beyond the increase in physical strength, Yu Qingtan felt that he had grown taller and bigger. "I must be about 163 cm tall now, and finally over the embarrassment of a double-A size," he mused. After casting the Cleansing Spell on himself once more, Yu Qingtan looked at his physique with satisfaction. Then he put away the Medium Grade Spirit Stone, which had used up much of his spiritual power, donned a self-made white silk nightgown, and stepped out of the Vajra Protective Spirit Array. He opened the system panel. [Age: 15/237] [Cultivation Level: Early Foundation Establishment Stage 15/20000, Body Refinement Eighth Level 623/800] Right then, fireworks could be seen bursting into the sky above the Immortal City from the window. The new year had arrived. Yu Qingtan couldn''t help but feel a multitude of emotions as he recited aloud: "As a guest from afar in Tian Xiang, who knows the bitterness mixed with luck half a year brings. In front of the assessment tform, once I stood as a concubine; within the trial tower, I almost turned to ruins. The delicate dance entertains withughter, the lingering tune of the qin quiets the beasts'' cries. Braving waves and cleaving tides prepared for all undertakings, weing the new year as Iy the foundations of my path." He let out Xiao Tao to join him in watching, and it was only after half an hour that the fireworks began to subside. Having watched the fireworks, Yu Qingtan took out the second-stage Purification Spell Jade Slip he had acquired at an auction, and by probing it with his divine sense, the knowledge of the second-stage Purification Spell was imprinted into his mind. Yu Qingtan discovered that indeed, the main spiritual power circuit of the Purification Spell was simr to the Cleansing Spell, but it required a greater amount of spiritual energy and more precise control, thus necessitating the coboration of the spiritual power and divine sense exclusive to the Foundation Establishment Stage. After several attempts, Yu Qingtan was able to cast the Purification Spell smoothly. After all, the Cleansing Spell was the simplest of first-stage spells, and its advanced form, the Purification Spell, was not difficult either. However, this was true only for Yu Qingtan, who had mastered the Cleansing Spell. For an average cultivator, mastering first-stage spells might be easy to learn but hard to perfect, while second-stage spells are difficult to learn and even harder to perfect. That''s why the average cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Stage generally does not have more than three masterfully executed spells, and those at the Foundation Establishment Stage typically master no more than two spells, often deriving directly from the first-stage spells they are adept in. For anythingcking, cultivators would then rely on spiritual artifacts, spirit pets, talismans, and other means to make up for it. After practicing for half an hour, Yu Qingtan''s Purification Spell achieved great proficiency, but there was still an approximate 5000 progress point gap before it was wless. Yu Qingtan purified all of his belongings with the Purification Spell, as the greatly proficient spell was now capable of removing imprints of spiritual power left by Golden Core early-stage cultivators. Only then did he feel somewhat at ease with the spoils of war obtained from the senior Daoist Gao. Next, Yu Qingtan took out the treasures like Moon Branch Magpie Hairpin, Crimson Abyss Sword, Xuan Chi Armor, Flying Spirit Sword, and Message Transmission Spirit Sword, infused them with his own spiritual power, branded them with his divine sense, truly making them his spiritual artifacts. Nevertheless, the Crimson Abyss Sword and Xuan Chi Armor must remain hidden, but the standard-issue Flying Spirit Sword and Message Transmission Spirit Sword didn''t have this concern. To his delight, the Moon Branch Magpie Hairpin turned out to be a second-grade lower-grade spiritual artifact capable of both offense and defense¡ªit could form protective shields and alsounch itself to pierce the enemy. Having infused the spiritual artifacts, Yu Qingtan took out the Soul Cleansing Technique Jade Slip gifted by Fu Nian. After Foundation Establishment, his spirit was robust, and he estimated he could go days without sleep. If not now, when? Chapter 87 Reward for the Magic Bird to Celebrate the New Year The next day, Yu Qingtan, in a great mood, arrived at the Tianxiang Pavilion early in the morning. The morning sun of winter brought a more joyous mood to the people of Suichuan Immortal City. Upon meeting anyone, Yu Qingtan would smile and celebrate, "Happy New Year!" Chapter Find: The people also responded with smiling faces. Until she reached the room of Gongsun Yurong. "Sister Yurong, Happy New Year!" However, Gongsun Yurong''s face was void of a smile, her gaze inexplicably fixed on Yu Qingtan as she reluctantly responded. "Qingtan, Happy New Year!" Yu Qingtan felt puzzled, something seemed amiss. She had always maintained a perfect Breath-Concealing Technique, so even Golden Core cultivators would not notice that she had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage without carefully probing with their divine sense. "Sister Yurong, has something happened?" Yu Qingtan simply asked directly. After the py transaction with Tower Master Gongsun Yurong, they still had a very good rtionship. "s, I just received news that the Monkey-faced Eagle tribe among the Demonic Beasts has issued a bounty. If someone kills you, they can obtain a Longevity Fruit that increases lifespan by one ji¨£z¨«, and if they capture you alive and deliver you to them, they can obtain a Longevity Fruit that extends life by two ji¨£z¨«," Gongsun Yurong said. "A nt! Do I, a mere Qi Cultivation shrimp, really hold such value in their eyes?" On hearing this, Yu Qingtan cursed inwardly, and the joy of the Foundation Establishment and the New Year "poofed" away. But she also knew it was because her "Purification of Soul" piece countered their prized skill. "Although Longevity Fruits that extend life by less than 150 years are millennium fruits and practically have no effect on Nascent Soul cultivators, for many Golden Core cultivators, it''s a fatal temptation, so your current situation is very dangerous." Gongsun Yurong said, looking at Yu Qingtan as if the character "peril" was written on her forehead. There was no helping it, the Longevity Fruit was too precious. Cultivators seek immortality, but how many truly achieve eternal life! Have you not heard, how many geniuses with exceptional talents have perished to the relentless flow of time. Have you not seen, how many ordinary cultivators have given up on bravely advancing on the path to immortality. Are you not aware, how many who cannot bear to sumb have gone to extreme lengths just to cling to life. A Longevity Fruit represents not just an increase in lifespan but could also be the hope for advancing to a higher realm, walking further on the path of Dao. But the Longevity Fruit grows under harsh conditions and takes a long time to mature, usually found only in deep forests teeming with Demonic Beasts or in some Secret Realms, causing many covetous cultivators to sigh in despair. Now that the Monkey-faced Eagle tribe has offered such conditions just for a minor Qi Cultivator, it would indeed drive people insane. Yu Qingtan also felt a chilling dread, looking pitifully at Gongsun Yurong, she said, "Sister Yurong, save me!" "Hmm, of course, I won''t ignore this. I''ve already made arrangements. You will be sent to Tianxiang Valley this afternoon. You needn''t worry about Luo Xiang. The incident of him breaking off his engagement with Yan Xi was a hugemotion in Tianxiang Valley. Although the engagement has been dissolved, he was confined by his mother for a year. Once you get there, you will directly be an Inner Sect Disciple. I''ve also spoken to Li Xingruo and Wen Jin. They will take care of you." Hearing that Gongsun Yurong had already made detailed arrangements, Yu Qingtan felt moved. "Thank you, Sister Yurong!" "You should go back and pack up now. We shall leave on time at the hour of Wei this afternoon." "Okay!" Yu Qingtan went home, quickly packed up, disguised herself as a middle-aged male cultivator, and then left the house. Upon arriving at Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, she immediately released the fluctuations of Spiritual Power at the Foundation Establishment Stage. "Esteemed senior, pleasee inside. May I know what you need? Today we at Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion have a New Year sale, all items are at a ten percent discount." The one receiving her was a female shop assistant; Sun Deren was not in the store. The waitress led Yu Qingtan to a VIP room on the second floor while speaking. "I''d like to purchase some second-stage spells and a water-based cultivation technique suitable for post-foundation establishment." Yu Qingtan got straight to the point. "Of course, Senior. Please wait a moment." Shortly after, the waitress brought over a jade slip and said, "Senior, this contains our shop''s catalog and summary of second-stage spells and water-based cultivation techniques for your review." Yu Qingtan took it and checked with her divine sense. The spells were only themon elemental ones, priced at around twelve thousand spirit stones. More niche second-stage spells like the Invisibility Technique, Breath-Concealing Technique, Purification Spell, and Sword Control Technique weren''t avable. However, the Object Controlling Technique was for sale, priced at fifteen thousand spirit stones. As for cultivation techniques, three were avable that could be cultivated until thete stages of Foundation Establishment: Greenwave Technique, Vast Surge Technique, and Cloud Rain Technique, each priced at around thirty thousand spirit stones. There was also the Endless River Technique, which could be cultivated to the early stages of Golden Core, priced at seventy thousand spirit stones. Regarding multi-attribute techniques, which are rare and difficult to practice, the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion did not sell them either. After contemting, Yu Qingtan decided to purchase the second-stage Water Escape Technique, Water de Technique, Water Curtain Technique, Object Controlling Technique, and the Greenwave Technique, spending a total of eighty thousand spirit stones. Yu Qingtan was left with only two thousand lower-grade spirit stones and fifty medium-grade spirit stones. As for the superior Endless River Technique, she couldn''t afford it without selling her assets. Fortunately, since all of these were transitional and the Greenwave Technique didn''t have any particr features, it was not only a continuation of her Clear Water Technique but would also make it easy to switch to other techniques in the future. After epting the second-level VIP jade token given to her by the waitress, Yu Qingtan left the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion. Having purchased a batch of spiritual food ingredients and other items, Yu Qingtan sent amunication talisman to Han Daniu and soon received his reply. Yu Qingtan went to the agreed tea house. It wasn''t long before Han Daniu arrived alone for the meeting. "Miss Qing Tan?" Spotting a strange male cultivator seated at the agreed spot, Han Daniu tentatively called out. "Brother Han, it''s me, happy New Year!" Yu Qingtan responded in her own voice. "Ha, happy New Year! Miss Qing Tan has be quite the celebrity in the Immortal City. It truly isn''t suitable for you to show your face publicly." Han Daniu sat down, looking at Yu Qingtan, who now bore the appearance and attire of a man, and thought back to his own love letters, feeling somewhat embarrassed and nervous. "I must also congratte Brother Han on the improvement of your cultivation and your sessful appointment as the Hall Master of the Green Wolf Gang''s medicine hall." "It''s all thanks to Miss Qing Tan''s blessings. I had ns to give you the earnings from the Golden Spear Pill business before the New Year, but I couldn''t send amunication talisman, and only after asking around did I learn you were in seclusion. Here it is for you now." Han Daniu took out a first-stage, medium-grade storage talisman and handed it to Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan epted it, and inside were fifty medium-grade spirit stones. "Brother Han, I''m about to head to Tianxiang Valley. I''ll need you to take care of the business matters from now on." Hearing this, Han Daniu was first taken aback then felt a sense of loss. He paused for a moment, then said, "Congrattions to Miss Qing Tan for joining the sect gate, a promising path to the great Dao awaits you!" "Thank you, Brother Han. You should also work hard on your cultivation. I''ll see if I can secure a Foundation Establishment Pill for youter on." "Ha ha, if Han can establish his foundation, it''ll be all thanks to Miss Qing Tan," Han Daniu replied jokingly, not taking it too seriously. After parting ways, Yu Qingtan sent anothermunication talisman to You Xiwang, telling him that she was going to Tianxiang Valley and asking him to take care of Jiang Lai. Then, Yu Qingtan returned home. She practiced the second-stage Object Controlling Technique while attempting to fly with sword control. Riding the wind with a sword, dispelling demons between heaven and earth. It was a dream for many gant men, and even as a female cultivator, Yu Qingtan also yearned to master sword flying. Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Tian Xiang Encounters Qi Rui on Her Way Home With near-perfect mastery of the first stage of the Object Controlling Technique, it took Yu Qingtan only a quarter of an hour to be able to stand shakily in the air on a Flying Spirit Sword. Unfortunately, the room was too small to properly exercise the skill, but Yu Qingtan had no choice but to make do and practice. Actually, the best way to operate a Flying Spirit Sword is with the Sword Control Technique, which is specialized in controlling swords; it can be used not only to fly but also as a powerful means of attack. Therefore, it''s harder to learn and also more expensive, so Yu Qingtan had to make do with the Object Controlling Technique for now. After a while, the house''s protective formation was triggered, and Yu Qingtan sent out her divine sense, finding that it was a Message-Transmitting Flying Sword. Yu Qingtan let it in, and as the Flying Sword sensed Yu Qingtan''s spiritual power, it conveyed the pleasant voice of Meng Xiyao from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. "Qing Tan, we have received information that a bounty has been issued on you by the Monkey-faced Eagle n... Elder Gong has already left, but he sent me a message; if you are willing to join the Sect of Commoners, we will ensure your safety," Meng Xiyao said through the Flying Sword. Yu Qingtan felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this. She attached a Communication Talisman directly to the Message-Transmitting Flying Sword and let it return. "Thank you, Deacon Meng and Elder Gong, for your concern. Qing Tan has decided to join Tianxiang Valley and will leave the Immortal City this afternoon," Yu Qingtan replied. As for the fact that she had already reached Foundation Establishment, that she was a fifteen-year-old Foundation Establishment Cultivator, she decided it was best to keep hidden for now. Before the hour of Wei, Yu Qingtan arrived at Tianxiang Pavilion. Gongsun Yurong had surprisingly arranged for Liu Sandao, the manager of misceneous affairs, to escort Yu Qingtan to Tianxiang Valley. "Thank you, Manager Liu!" Yu Qingtan first bowed and thanked him. "No need for such formalities. Come aboard!" Liu Sandao invited, taking out a second-stage Flying Boat for Yu Qingtan. The Flying Boat was made of wood, simr in structure to the wooden boats from her previous world, but more slender. Inside the cabin of the Flying Boat, a tea table sat in the middle with bench-like seating on both sides, covered with nkets, enough for six people. After Liu Sandao entered the cabin, the boat rose into the air and climbed diagonally forward, stopping its ascent at an altitude of about five kilometers. Tianxiang Valley was approximately 25,000 li from Suichuan Immortal City. With the speed of this second-stage Flying Boat, they would reach their destination in three hours. Liu Sandao seemed to be someone who didn''t like to talk much, for after starting the Flying Boat, he closed his eyes to rest. Yu Qingtan didn''t dare to disturb him and simply admired the view outside the window. Since they weren''t too high up, Yu Qingtan could barely make out the scenery on the ground with her current vision. Mostly it was hills, with the asional sight of farm fields and viges. Half an hourter... Suddenly, the Flying Boat pitched upwards, and Yu Qingtan was thrown to one side of her seat. Yu Qingtan caught a glimpse of a golden sword qi whizzing past the Flying Boat. Before she could react, Liu Sandao had already pulled her out of the boat, standing on a Flying Spirit Sword. At the same time, Liu Sandao had already stowed the Flying Boat away. Not far in front of them was an elderly ck-robed cultivator with white eyebrows, hair, and beard, floating in the air. "False Core Cultivator, Qi Rui!" Liu Sandao dered in a deep voice, having encountered the former head of the Qis before. Upon hearing this, Qing Tan''s heart soured; wasn''t Qi Rui the traitor who coborated with the Demon Race twice to sabotage the Protective City Formation during the beast tide? "Tianxiang Pavilion, Liu Sandao, you aremendable, but I havee today to take her with me," Qi Rui said confidently, his gaze fixed on Yu Qingtan behind Liu Sandao. "It''s really for me! This old undead," cursed Yu Qingtan inwardly, the tension of standing so high for the first time forgotten. "As long as I''m here, you won''t be able to take her!" Liu Sandao drew her own sword as she spoke. "You are no match for me, why bother fighting?" Qi Rui''s tone remained confident throughout. Liu Sandao took out a mat-shaped Spiritual Artifact, floating it below the sword. Understanding her intention, Yu Qingtan jumped onto the flying mat, which slowly began descending towards the ground. "I''ve been wanting to see for myself the power of a False Core Cultivator!" After his words, Liu Sandao''s energy burst forth, the air swirling along the de as his aura locked onto Qi Rui, striking from the sky with a sh. The third cut of the Three Swords of Inquiry, Rending the Air. The de, with its sharp sword qi, tore through the air as if it were cloth, cleaving toward Qi Rui with an unstoppable force. If this were amon Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it would be difficult to dodge under the powerful containment of the sword''s momentum, and they would have no choice but to meet the sh head-on. Regrettably for Liu Sandao, Qi Rui was a false Dan Cultivator, and even under this attack, his face remainedposed. "Young people these days are all so impetuous, cultivating isn''t all about fighting and killing. Oh well, let me show you the gap between you and me," Qi Rui said, and then a small silver shield appeared not far in front of his forehead and instantly erged. "Ding~Bang~" Liu Sandao''s superior-grade spiritual artifact longsword struck the silver shield, producing a tremendous collision noise. But it did not leave even a scratch on the shield, nor did it push the shield back. Instead, the longsword was repelled and sent flying. "An Ancient Treasure!" Liu Sandao said, his expression growing solemn. Suddenly, his expression changed as he used a Secret Technique, and the aura around his body climbed, nearing the level of Qi Rui''s spiritual power. He immediately took control of his spiritual artifact longsword and once again swung a more formidable Rending the Air sh. Because Qi Rui''s counterattack had arrived. Qi Rui did no more than clench his right hand into a fist and then slowly extended his index finger, forming a small golden sword. Chapter Enjoy: With a flick of his finger, the small sword shot out. There was no astonishing momentum, no exaggerated phenomena. But Liu Sandao, not sparing any Secret Techniques even with their adverse effects, used his strongest sh to respond. She had always believed that the best defense was a strong offense. However, as the longsword collided with the even faster golden small sword. The longsword was sent flying back again. Liu Sandao no longer had time to attack again; the golden small sword, which had elerated to the extreme, pierced Liu Sandao''s right shoulder, leaving a punch-sized bloody hole. Clearly, Qi Rui had held back, not targeting the vitals. "Is this the legendary Five Finger Sword of the Heart?" This one sword not only pierced through Liu Sandao''s body but also injured many of his meridians. Unable to retaliate, Liu Sandao could only watch helplessly as Qi Rui cast a-like spiritual artifact over the still-descending Yu Qingtan, turned into a beam of escape light, and fled. Only a slowly falling flying carpet was left behind. ... At this moment, Yu Qingtan also felt somewhat desperate. "It''s over, I''m screwed!" This time, it was her true body that she had sent out. She had tried, when controlling her Shadow Clone, her true body could not be taken into the System Space, but could be ced into the Spirit Beast Pouch. After some consideration, Yu Qingtan ultimately chose not to carry her true self in the Spirit Beast Pouch but to send out her true body directly. But now she felt somewhat relieved. Because as soon as Qi Rui captured her, he sealed her cultivation level and took away her Storage Bag and Spirit Beast Pouch. When she wasted, Yu Qingtan wanted to resist, but the superior-grade spiritual artifact, and even Foundation Establishmentte stage Liu Sandao were defeated by a single move from Qi Rui, which made her give up. After all, the reward for capturing her alive was much higher. "To think she has already reached Foundation Establishment, and her physical body is well-cultivated too, this young girl has quite the fortune! It seems the n needs some adjustments," Qi Rui said as he sealed Yu Qingtan''s Dantian, naturally discovering her cultivation level. Chapter 89: Chapter 89 The Bewilderment Array and Houssein Lei Qi Rui brought Yu Qingtan to a certain cliff in the Yunhua Mountain Range; this was where Qi Rui temporarily resided in his cave abode. "Little girl, tell me, what fortunes have youe across?" Qi Rui put away his, asking leisurely. At the same time, his Divine Sense took a peek inside Yu Qingtan''s Storage Bag and Spirit Beast Pouch. "What is this trash!" Qi Rui thought with disdain as he tossed them aside. "Senior Qi, I obtained quite a few marrow stones and Wastnd Crystals inside the Trial Demon Tower, andter during the beast tide, I earned quite a few Merit Points and exchanged them for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Senior Qi, you are a great man of great mercy, can you please spare me?" Yu Qingtan tried to beg for mercy. "Ha-ha, you didn''t lie after all; your luck is truly extraordinary, even encountering treasures like marrow stones. It''s a pity there must be a lot you haven''t mentioned yet, all that''s left over from grandpa''s ythings. You have the Longevity Fruit which can add sixty years to a person''s life; do you think I would let you go?" Qi Rui said with augh, his beard quivering, making Yu Qingtan want to punch him in the face. Qi Rui then took out some Array gs, setting up the formation as he spoke: "But don''t be afraid, I won''t get violent. This is a Second Stage high-grade Bewilderment Array, which will make you spill everything you know without harming your soul, much gentler than any Soul Search Technique." As he finished speaking, amidst the mist, a formation took shape, enveloping a terrified Yu Qingtan. Soon, Yu Qingtan felt her Divine Sense being suppressed, unable to radiate, her mind bing groggy and hazy, as if in a dream, her eyes lifeless and unseeing. Suddenly, from the depths of her Sea of Consciousness, a strange ripple emanated, restoring rity to Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan immediately guessed that this was the system flexing its power, so she continued to pretend to be dazed and confused. "What''s your name, and how old are you?" At that moment, Qi Rui''s voice entered her ears, as if carrying some sort of magic that made one unable to resist answering truthfully. "My name is Yu Qingtan, 15 years old." "Share your experiences, will you?" "I was taken from Jiang Country to Tianxiang Pavilion in Suichuan Immortal City when I was two years old..." "Started cultivating the Clear Water Technique and practicing the Exquisite Dance at ten..." "Became a disciple of the interior tower at fourteen..." "Entered the Trial Demon Tower, awakened my bloodline inheritance secret arts and received ancestral teachings in dreams..." "Took the Foundation Establishment Pill and sessfully established my foundation yesterday. Because of being wanted by the Monkey-faced Eagle n, the Tower Master arranged for Steward Liu to send me to Tianxiang Valley." Yu Qingtan recounted her experiences truthfully but concealed things like crossing into another world, the system, innate divine skills, Xiao Tao, taking down a branch of Misty Rain Tower, the ughter in the ck market. She attributed her fortunes to bloodline inheritance secret arts and ancestral teachings in dreams. "That''s enough!" Qi Rui was somewhat disappointed; it was just bloodline inheritance secret arts and ancestral teachings in dreams. Both of these were indeed types of fortunes that existed in the Cultivation World, which he had no way to strip away. "However, the fact that the Fu family still has remnants and Purification of Soul as well as the Soul Cleansing Techniquees from them is a pity, as they are of no use to me." Qi Rui reluctantly packed away the Bewilderment Array, knocked Yu Qingtan unconscious, and ced her in a Spirit Beast Pouch. Before losing consciousness, Yu Qingtan heard Qi Rui muttering to himself, "She''s quite talented and delicately beautiful, a pity this old man is too old. Otherwise, I would surely have my way with her." ... When Yu Qingtan woke up again, she found herself inside a dim cave. Her cultivation was still sealed, but she could still use her Divine Sense. Looking out of the cave entrance, it was also located on a steep cliff, with a gray eagle with a monkey-like face standing guard at the entrance. "This must be the Monkey-faced Eagle! Judging by its size, it should still be at the First Stage." She tried to activate her Spiritual Power, but she couldn''t break through the seal of a false dan cultivator. "They haven''t killed me immediately, so there''s still a chance for life!" Yu Qingtan thought excitedly. At that moment, the monkey-faced eagle at the door noticed she had awakened and let out a harsh screech. Soon, a giant monkey-faced eagle with golden hair on its head flew over and transformed into a middle-aged man with a pointy mouth, monkey cheeks, and golden short hair, dressed in a golden robe. It turned out to be a Third-Stage Heavenly Demon capable of shape-shifting. The shy golden-robed middle-aged man walked into the cave and said to Yu Qingtan, "Human girl, was it you who yed that what, broken zither that suppressed the divine skills of our n''s youngsters? y it, let Lord Hou Sairui hear if there''s any trick to it." As he said this, Hou Sairui actually took out Yu Qingtan''s storage bag and from it, he pulled out a zither. It was the Common Zither that Yu Qingtan had purchased. Facing a Third-Stage Heavenly Demon, Yu Qingtan was very scared, not even bothering to criticize his name. "Lord Hou, spare my life, I was only following orders previously, I had no choice, I never intended to be an enemy of the nobility." Yu Qingtan pleaded for mercy, fearing that the demon would kill her on the spot. Even a grown man would bend or stretch as needed, let alone a woman? "Just y when I tell you to y, no more nonsense," Hou Sairui said impatiently. "This humble girl will y for Lord Hou right away." After speaking, Yu Qingtan sat cross-legged and began to y "Purification of Soul." Halfway through the piece, Hou Sairui let out a sharp, ear-piercing cry from his mouth. Yu Qingtan''s head buzzed, wanting to faint, but at that moment, an inexplicable fluctuation emerged from the depths of her sea of consciousness, keeping her awake. Nevertheless, Yu Qingtan still pretended to faint. "It has some merit, but that''s all it is," Hou Sairui said disdainfully. "Inform the youngsters, we''ll have a feast tomorrow, steamed human, this tender-fleshed girl will belong to me," he dered. After that, Hou Sairui transformed back into a giant eagle and flew away. These monkey-faced eagles like to eat cooked food, supposedly learnt from that certain someone. Yu Qingtan, feigning unconsciousness, felt both icy cold and zing hot inside. The icy cold was because the monkey-faced eagles wanted to eat her. The zing hot was because they weren''t eating her immediately. After waiting for a quarter of an hour, figuring that Hou Sairui was far away, Yu Qingtan moved her mind, and a shadow clone appeared. Indeed, the shadow clone''s cultivation level had not been sealed. Chapter Experience: She instantly used Invisibility Technique, Breath-Concealing Technique, and Earth Escape Skill, hiding underground. The mountain cliff here was mostly made of stone, so Yu Qingtan could only burrow a yard into the earth. She probed around the cliff face and found that this was a towering Solitary Peak, dotted with many caves where one or two monkey-faced eagles dwelt, though all were only at the First Stage. Many of the caves also contained humans and some other demonic beasts, some already dead, probably the food for the monkey-faced eagles. Around her were several higher Solitary Peaks, with monkey-faced eagles asionally sweeping across the sky. After the inspection, Yu Qingtan returned to the cave where her body was and then she waited. The monkey-faced eagle at the cave entrance would asionallye in to check on Yu Qingtan''s state, and when it entered the cave again, three Shadowless Needles were silently shot from the stone wall above and behind. Even though they were only mid-grade Second Stage magic artifacts, with the enhancement of Yu Qingtan''s Foundation Establishment Stage spiritual power, the Shadowless Needles prated the back of the monkey-faced eagle''s head. Then, Yu Qingtan, carrying her body, used the Earth Escape Skill to head toward the base of the mountain. Chapter 90 Escape to Heaven and Collect Interest After fleeing eastward underground for half a day, fortunately, I encountered no demonic beasts that lived beneath the earth. Yu Qingtan dug a tunnel downwards, storing the excavated soil into the System Space first. It wasn''t until I was a mile underground that Yu Qingtan finally breathed a sigh of relief. At such depth, even Third Stage Heavenly Demons definitely wouldn''t be able to detect me, and Yu Qingtan decided to hide here for a while. The Monkey-faced Eagles would surely be searching for me recently, and it would actually be more dangerous to wander blindly in the Yunhua Mountain Range. "Damn that traitorous Qi Rui, damn those Monkey-faced Eagles." Yu Qingtan''s mental cklist had just gotten longer. I tried using a Purification Spell on my body once, but it failed to break Qi Rui''s seal. Yu Qingtan then spent a hundred Affection Value to buy a Third Stage Spell Upgrade Card and used it on the Purification Spell. Second Stage Purification Spellplete. Using the Purification Spell on my body again, this time, it sessfully purified the seal. Yu Qingtan''s consciousness returned to her body, and then she began to switch to cultivating the Greenwave Technique. One monthter, the cultivation of the technique waspleted, and Second Stage Water de Technique, Water Curtain Technique, Water Escape Technique, and Object Controlling Technique were also progressed to just 5,000 points short of perfection. She then purchased three Second Stage Cultivation Upgrade Cards and three Third Stage Spell Upgrade Cards. With the use of the Cultivation Upgrade Cards, my Cultivation Level surged to near the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. The three Third Stage Spell Upgrade Cards were used on the Water Escape Technique and Water de Technique to bring them to perfection, while the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique reached the minor achievement stage. Opening the system panel. [Cultivation Level: Foundation Establishment early stage 15,300/20,000, Body Refinement eighthyer 643/800] [Cultivation Techniques: Greenwave Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] [Spells: Second Stage Purification Spell, Water Escape Technique, Water de Techniqueplete, Second Stage Water Curtain Technique, Object Controlling Technique major achievement 14/5,000, Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique minor achievement 25/200,000...] [Charm Points: 2,314] [Affection Value: 78] After closing off in retreat for so long for the first time, Yu Qingtan was also a bit tired. A Purification Spell on myself and I feel refreshed and invigorated. Retrieving the Vajra Protective Spirit Array, I secure my body within it and leave the subterranean depths behind. I''m going to live a little and collect some interest. Upon reaching the surface, Yu Qingtan scouted the nearby ten miles and found virtually no traces of demonic beasts on the ground. Instead, Monkey-faced Eagles asionally flew through the sky. "As expected, we''re still within the territory of the Monkey-faced Eagles!" Yu Qingtan sneered inwardly. Centered on the Solitary Peaks where the Monkey-faced Eagle flocks resided, Yu Qingtan took an arc to arrive at the south side of them. Then, she cautiously approached the peaks. ... "Whoosh~" Just as a Monkey-faced Eagle was about to fly out to search for food, suddenly a hairpin flew from the bushes on the ground, piercing its belly urately." "Wah~" After an unpleasant scream, thete First Stage Monkey-faced Eagle fell to the ground. It thennded in the mouth of a five-feet-tall tailless "Er-ha." It was Little Tao. Because Yu Qingtan had fed it many Spiritual Beasts obtained from Tian Changfeng, this "Er-ha" was now almost as tall as Yu Qingtan and had reached the pinnacle of thete First Stage. Yu Qingtan rode on it, and the feeling was simr to riding a horse, so naturally, Little Tao became her mount. But Yu Qingtan didn''t intend to do this in public, after all, riding an "Er-ha" was somewhat unsightly. In the past few days, Yu Qingtan and Little Tao had joined forces, and they had already taken down more than a dozen Monkey-faced Eagles, all of which went into Little Tao''s stomach. Because Yu Qingtan had tried some and found that Monkey-faced Eagle meat was sour and not tasty at all. But Little Tao was not picky about food. At that moment, five monkey-faced eagles with a wingspan of nearly ten feet wide flew toward this area from five different directions, encircling it. At the same time, they emitted harsh shrieking sounds. Yu Qingtan tucked Xiao Tao into the System Space and murmured to herself, "They''ve finally arrived!" Among the five monkey-faced eagles, one was in thete phase of the Second Stage, two were in the middle phase, and two were in the early phase. Their screeching was a form of soul attack, a kind of innate divine ability. Unfortunately, it was useless against Qing Tan. Yu Qingtan took to flight upon her sword, holding the Crimson Abyss Sword, and charged directly at thete phase Second Stage monkey-faced eagle. These days, her sword flying technique had significantly improved. Thete phase Second Stage monkey-faced eagle, seeing its most proficient attack rendered ineffective and the enemy charging at it, felt no fear. Its ws, sharp as hooks, reached out for Yu Qingtan. When they were thirty feet apart, over a hundred Water des formed around Yu Qingtan and were fired at thete phase Second Stage monkey-faced eagle ahead of time. Each Water de possessed the might of an attack from an average mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator''s spell. With the distance being too close and the number of Water des too many, thete phase Second Stage monkey-faced eagle could only use its left wing to deflect the Water de attacks, confident in the strength of its physique and the defensive capability of its feathers, believing it could emerge unscathed from these attacks. And indeed it was so; the Water des struck its wings but caused no harm, only significantly slowing its speed. But this was enough for Yu Qingtan, who had already closed in on it. Guided by the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique, the Crimson Abyss Sword pierced through a gap in the feathers of its left wing at a tricky angle. With a pull, it drew out a spray of blood, and at the same time, her left hand tapped on the wound. The first move of the Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, Silver Toad Spitting Water. Decay and Flourish Technique. At this point, the other four Second Stage monkey-faced eagles had also arrived. Yu Qingtan spiraled upwards, gaining altitude. She raised her right hand. A dense multitude of Water des materialized around her, amounting to over a thousand. With a sweep of her right hand downward, the thousand Water des shot downwards. What was more terrifying was that a second wave of equally numerous Water des followed suit. Then came the third wave. There was no fourth wave, for the enemies, including thete phase Second Stage monkey-faced eagle that was starting to molt, had already fallen. Her ability to mount such an attack stemmed partly from her Water Spirit Root reaching the immortal grade, partly from her perfect mastery of the Second Stage Water de Technique, and partly because her nearly cheat-like state consumed almost no spiritual power. If it weren''t for "Love''s Protection," the assault of the first wave of over a thousand Water des would have drained her. "In my previous life, I found Jin Shanshan''s use of the King''s Treasure to be so shy, but now that I''ve used a simr tactic myself, I''ve realized it''s truly cool," Yu Qingtan thought to herself as she descended back to the ground. She collected the corpses of the five Second Stage monkey-faced eagles and then used the Earth Escape Skill to reach an underground dark river before leaving with the Water Escape Technique. She had already sensed an astonishing presence emerging at high speed in the distance. A Third Stage Heavenly Demon. However, she was well-prepared, and the locations had all been chosen carefully. Under the expert use of the Second Stage Water Escape Technique, she was like a part of the water itself, her presence undetectable and her speed extremely fast. The Third Stage Heavenly Demon was bound to be met with disappointment. Nheless, Yu Qingtan decided it was best to quit while she was ahead and not push her luck any further. Next time, it might be Hou Sai Lei himself lying in wait. After returning to her body''s location underground, Yu Qingtan rested for a day to lie low, then she continued her journey eastward. With the minor aplishment of the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique, Yu Qingtan could observe from afar whether there were any powerful demonic beasts. If there were, she would avoid them, and if not, she would alternate between various Escape Techniques to move stealthily. Five dayster, Yu Qingtan dug another hole underground and started to consolidate her gains. Because Xiao Tao was about to advance in stage. After consuming the corpses of two early phase Second Stage and one mid-phase Second Stage monkey-faced eagles, Xiao Tao''s body size increased once more, and then it fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 91: Chapter 91 Feng Buji Battles Skyscraping Ridge One dayter, Xiao Tao woke up, having sessfully advanced to the early Second Stage. Its body had grown a bitrger, its fur felt even better to the touch, and its eyes gained an extra sparkle of agility. Yu Qingtan then threw the remaining two Second Stage Monkey-faced Eagle corpses to it. The advancement of Demonic Beasts is restricted by their bloodline, but nowadays almost all Demonic Beasts have the bloodlines of a Fourth-Grade Demon King, as those without it have mostly been eaten into extinction. Therefore, before the Fourth Stage, the advancement of a Demonic Beast is quite simple: it just needs to survive and absorb a sufficient amount of energy. However, just like the quality of a Spirit Root affects the efficiency of absorption and refinement, so does the bloodline rank. As for what rank Xiao Tao''s bloodline is, Yu Qingtan doesn''t know. After Xiao Tao, who seemed as if it had been starving for a month, finished devouring the Monkey-faced Eagles'' corpses, Yu Qingtan stored it in the System Space. Although Xiao Tao had advanced in stage, it showed no signs of rebelling against Yu Qingtan and continued to be very submissive. Yu Qingtan continued on his journey. An hourter, Yu Qingtan watched with aplex expression from atop arge tree in the distance. There was a valley that contained a town with smoke curling upwards from its chimneys. But this ce should still be very far from the edge of the Yunhua Mountain Range. On the high mountains on both sides of the valley, one could sense the presence of Demonic Beasts. In the distance, a towering peak was visible, and the faint sound of eagle cries could be heard. ording to the rough map of the Yunhua Mountain Range recorded in the books Yu Qingtan had read, he guessed that the peak was Skyscraping Ridge, the stronghold of the Sky-Rending Eagle flock. The town in the valley was the ce where the Sky-Rending Eagles raised their human ves. Yu Qingtan wanted to do something, but he realized he couldn''t do anything at all. Being weak was truly helpless. Just as Yu Qingtan was about to continue his journey, a series of loud spell battles erupted from distant Skyscraping Ridge. After some consideration, as usual, Yu Qingtan hid his true body underground and then sent a clone sneaking towards the direction of Skyscraping Ridge. ¡­ Skyscraping Ridge. The sun zed in the sky as Gray Sky-Rending Eagles of various sizes flew busily back and forth. At that moment, a streak of green Escape Light approached from afar, reaching the sky above Skyscraping Ridge in the blink of an eye. "Boom~" A massive green Wind de struck Skyscraping Ridge, shearing off arge chunk of its side. A dozen Sky-Rending Eagles that were grazed by the Wind de turned instantly into dust. Three gray Sky-Rending Eagles with wingspans of forty to fifty feet rose into the air from Skyscraping Ridge, eyeing the handsome man ahead with green hair and a pair of green wings spanning ten feet on his back without attacking right away. "Feng Buji, what are you doing?" The eldest eagle asked sternly, piercing the sky with its voice. Eagle Hit the Air and Eagle Nine Heavens red at the man before them with eyes full of murderous intent. "What am I doing? Didn''t you guysunch a beast wavest year? The old man sent us out for a walk to collect some interest. I came to you guys first, after all, one should take good care of their descendants, right?" Feng Buji was dressed in a green long tunic with a very low neckline, holding a folding fan, and spoke in a casual tone. "You~" The three demons were furious but still dared not attack. Before them was a True Disciple from the God Transformation Honorables of the Wendao Sect, and his master was a God Transformation Venerable. The pair of wings on his back might look small, but they belonged to their father. Many Demonic Beasts first increase in size before shrinking as they advance in stages. Their father was a Fourth-Grade Demon King, but he had been killed by Feng Buji''s master back when his master was still a Nascent Soul True Monarch, and the wings were refined into Magical Treasures. "Hmph, don''t think you can do whatever you want at Skyscraping Ridge just because you''re that person''s disciple." Sky-Rending Eagle scoffed coldly. "You needn''t worry about my master, as long as it''s not a Demon King who makes a move, she will not care about me. If you''re scared, sever one wing and scurry back to the depths of the Yunhua Mountain Range; I might just spare you." The three demonic beasts were so angered by these words that they felt they might ascend to heaven in rage. Sky-Rending Eagle squawked sharply, "Good! Good! Good! How wildly arrogant you are, youngster. Today, let us witness the divine skills of the spells of a true disciple from the Wendao Sect." As it spoke, it pped its wings and charged straight at Feng Buji. Sky Assault Eagle and Sky Nine Eagle also pounced on Feng Buji from both sides, attempting to encircle him. "Bring it on!" Facing the attack of e Third-Stage and two early Third-Stage Sky-Rending Eagles, as just an early Golden Core Cultivator, Feng Buji let out a loud cry, his wings vibrating on his back as he went to meet them. His speed was surprisingly not any slower than that of thete Third-Stage Sky-Rending Eagle. At the same time, a gentle breeze surrounded Feng Buji, forming a transparent spherical shield around him. A Third-Stage spell, Wind King Barrier. Sparks flew in all directions. In the blink of an eye, Feng Buji had already shed with Sky-Rending Eagle''s sharp ws and beak over a dozen times using the folding fan in his hand. The folding fan, Feng Buji''s lifebound magical treasure, the Gentle Wind Fan. Magical treasures, also known as precious artifacts, aremon equipment for Golden Core Cultivators. Feng Buji''s ability to go toe-to-toe with Sky-Rending Eagle indicated he also possessed a considerable degree of physical training. Feng Buji was not originally surnamed Feng, but since he was found to have an almost top-grade Spirit Root of wind and was an orphan, he chose to take Feng as his surname. In their initial sh, neither side had the upper hand. Feng Buji''s wings vibrated behind him, and he vanished in front of Sky-Rending Eagle. At the same time, threepressed Wind des were unleashed in the direction of Sky-Rending Eagle and its recently arrivedrades, Sky Assault Eagle and Sky Nine Eagle. Sky-Rending Eagle dodged the Wind des with a twist of its body and continued flying towards Feng Buji for closebat. Being only at the early stages of the Third Stage, Sky Assault Eagle, and Sky Nine Eagle were forced to dart left and right to barely avoid the Wind des, and by then, Sky-Rending Eagle and Feng Buji had already shed three more times. The two demonic beasts changed their strategy and rose higher, their wings pping alternately as they fired four beams of blue light at Feng Buji. An innate divine ability, Monochrome Divine Light. No matter how fast Feng Buji was, he couldn''t outpace the speed of light and was hit by the blue light. The Wind King Barrier and Feng Buji himself were unharmed, but his lifebound magical treasure, the Gentle Wind Fan, dimmed in its spiritual luster. Feng Buji quickly widened the gap and put away his Gentle Wind Fan to avoid further damage to his precious treasure. Fortunately, the wings magical treasure on his back was unaffected, perhaps due to their resemnce to his father''s wings. Sky-Rending Eagle wouldn''t miss such an opportunity and, with a piercing shriek, increased its speed by twenty percent, shooting straight for Feng Buji. "You think without my lifebound magical treasure, I won''t be able to handle you?" Feng Buji sneered inwardly, his hands forming seals while he flew swiftly, quickly creating a tornado centered around him. The tornado spun faster, generating a tremendous suction force. A Third-Stage spell, Wind Rolls the Remnants of Clouds. Sky-Rending Eagle''s ws were already on the Wind King Barrier when it had to force its wings open to move away from the range of the powerful suction of the tornado. Carrying the tornado, Feng Buji rapidly charged at the weakest, Sky Nine Eagle. Trying to resist the pull of the tornado, Sky Nine Eagle found itself significantly slowed down. Sensing Feng Bujiing directly at it, Sky Nine Eagle called out in panic, "Big brother, save me!" He had already been injured several times during his battle with Ouyang Wenjian, and although it was not serious and he could still move, there were still many internal injuries within him. Being the weakest, Ouyang Wenjian had enjoyed giving him unexpected blows before. And just as Sky-Rending Eagle had finished dealing with Sky Assault Eagle and moved out of the tornado''s strong suction range, it was about to go and rescue Sky Nine Eagle. "Ah ah ah~" Sky Nine Eagle was sucked into the tornado. This scene made Yu Qingtan, who was hiding in a puddle on the ground, want to p in delight. Chapter 92 Picking up the Remnants and Ambushing to Annihilate the Heavenly Demon ``` The Sky-Rending Eagle''s eyes hardened, and it issued a sharp scream, producing thenguage of eagles. "Number Three, you hold him off, Number Two, children, we split and retreat!" Then, it pped its wings toward the depths of the Yunhua Mountain Range. Looking at Eagle Nine Skies spinning in the tornado, Eagle Splinter hesitated for 0.03 moments before following the Sky-Rending Eagle into the depths. The Sky-Rending Eagles of Skyscraping Ridge also rose into the air, scattering in different directions toward the depth of the Yunhua Mountain Range. Eagle Nine Skies: "Damn it! I''m still spinning in the tornado, how can I hold him off?" "Think you can escape that easily?" Feng Buji pped his wings and shot out of the tornado, chasing directly in the direction of the Sky-Rending Eagle. As the inflow of spiritual power ceased, the tornado began to slowly dissipate. After a dozen breaths, the blood-covered Eagle Nine Skies, with half of its feathers missing, finally burst out of the tornado. Dizzy and frightened, Eagle Nine Skies nced in the direction where the Sky-Rending Eagle and Feng Buji had left, and chose a direction perpendicr to theirs, fluttering its wings to escape. Its speed was less than half of what it was before. However, just as it had flown for a moment, thousands of Water des shot from the ground below, heading straight for it. Eagle Nine Skies was startled, for it was not far from the ground and the area covered by the Water des wasrge, so it could not dodge them. "But an attack of this degree is just a little stronger than a tickle! Even though I''m injured, I''m not something any cat or dog at the Foundation Establishment Stage can bully." Feeling the force of the Water des hitting its body, Eagle Nine Skies calmed down and, thinking thus, prepared to end the person who dared to attack with one swoop of its ws. However, then came the second wave, the third wave... The Water des came one after another, and even if the force of a single Water de was only at a mid-Foundation Establishment level, Eagle Nine Skies, with half of its main defensive feathers missing and some parts injured, felt the attacks. After a dozen waves of Water des, Eagle Nine Skies felt its injuries worsen. By then it was toote to retreat. Eyes shining with ferocity, Eagle Nine Skies, braving the Water de attack, mmed its ws where Yu Qingtan was concealed in a small puddle. "Bang¡ª" Water sshed in all directions, creating a deep crater. Facing the w strike of the Third Stage Heavenly Demon, the Sky-Rending Eagle, Yu Qingtan felt an overwhelming presence envelop her, and an ordinary early Foundation Establishment cultivator could not escape this pressure using the Five Element Escape Technique. But Yu Qingtan was far from ordinary; she possessed a powerful Divine Sense and the Clear Spirit Eyes. As soon as Eagle Nine Skies gathered its ws to speed up its attack, she detected it. She used the perfected Second Stage Water Escape Technique in advance to leave her original spot. Although the attack of Eagle Nine Skies was fast and fierce, it missed its mark. Then came another intense barrage of Water des. "How can this human maintain such frequent, dense spell attacks with their spiritual energy?" The not-so-clever Eagle Nine Skies couldn''t understand, but it knew it couldn''t be entangled with this human any longer. It pped its wings with all its might, attempting to fly away, but Yu Qingtan wasn''t about to let it get away so easily. She maintained a continuous output of dense Water des. It doesn''t matter if a move is old; as long as it''s effective, it works. After a dozen breaths like this, Yu Qingtan still kept Eagle Nine Skies tightly trammelled, and its aura became more and more wilted. Eagle Nine Skies felt intense hatred in its heart. "I''m a dignified Third Stage Heavenly Demon; Ouyang Wenjian couldn''t kill me, Feng Buji couldn''t kill me, do you, a little Foundation Establishment cultivator, think you can kill me?" Eagle Nine Skies violently turned around and spat a pigeon-egg-sized orb toward Yu Qingtan''s location. The orb spun around and rushed at Yu Qingtan at several times the speed of Eagle Nine Skies'' flight. The orb was thick with demonic energy, exuding a formidable aura. It was Eagle Nine Skies'' Demon Core. ``` Yu Qingtan felt her hairs stand on end, a sense of great disaster looming. Under the lock of the Demon Core''s energy and its extreme speed, Yu Qingtan realized that even with her perfected Water Escape Technique, she could not escape, and even wearing a medium-quality Spiritual Artifact, the Xuan Red Armor, she could not defend against the attack from the Demon Core. "Could it be that this avatar is going to fall here?" Since it was only an avatar, Yu Qingtan did not panic. In a sh of thought, an idea struck her. She did not attempt to dodge, but instead took out the Xuan Turtle Shield, holding it in front of her with both hands and infusing it with Spiritual Power for defense. "You think such a petty Magic Artifact can block my Demon Core''s strike? Die!" In the midst of Eagle Nine Skies'' coldugh, the Demon Core easily pierced through the Xuan Turtle Shield. Then. It disappeared. It actually disappeared. Eagle Nine Skies was bewildered and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his aura wilted to an extreme. At this moment, Eagle Nine Skies'' Demon Core was in Yu Qingtan''s System Space. Yu Qingtan had researched that to take something into the System Space, her hand needed to directly touch it. If it was a living being or something bearing the divine mark of a living being''s soul, it required theck of any resistance from the other party. Yu Qingtan had only tried using the Purification Spell to cleanse it before taking it into the System Space as ast-ditch effort; she never expected it to truly seed. What Yu Qingtan didn''t know was that inside a Third Stage Heavenly Demon''s Demon Core, there was a portion of the Demonic Beast''s soul, but it was very little, which is why it waspletely purified by Yu Qingtan''s second stage perfected Purification Spell. A Demonic Beast would generally not directly use its Demon Core against enemies¡ªit was too risky. Eagle Nine Skies had no choice, driven to such a desperate measure. Facing the weakened Eagle Nine Skies, Yu Qingtan would not miss the chance to beat the faltering eagle. A Water de surged forth with her Spiritual Power, rushing towards Eagle Nine Skies. Eagle Nine Skies strained to block with his right wing. "Pfft¡ª" This Water de, whose might wasparable to ate Foundation Establishment strike, left a deep bloody mark on the bare spot of his right wing. "Chirp¡ª" Eagle Nine Skies let out a pain-filled cry, but immediately after, a second solid Water de already arrived. Then came the third, the fourth¡­ Thebat of someone with an advantage is just like this¡ªin and unadorned yet monotonous. Finally, Yu Qingtan found an opportunity, and a Water de severed Eagle Nine Skies'' neck. A Heavenly Demon of that era fell by the hand of Yu Qingtan just like that. Yu Qingtan exhaled a breath of air and was about to go forward to collect Eagle Nine Skies'' body. A cyan Escape Light shot rapidly from afar. Yu Qingtan quickly put away the Xuan Red Armor, then waited in ce. Two breathster, a man with green hair and green robe, and wings emerged above Eagle Nine Skies'' carcass. Feng Buji. Upon seeing his green hair up close, the corners of Yu Qingtan''s mouth twitched even more fiercely. "Such a natural hair color, what were you thinking?" But, it seemed like there was no concept of ''natural hair color'' in the Lichuan Cultivation World. While lost in her thoughts, Feng Buji looked at her, puzzled, and asked, "Qunfang Pavilion''s Yuan Qianrou? No, I heard that Fairy Qianrou has also formed her Core. Who are you?" Yu Qingtan instantly remembered the Fairy Qianrou that Yan Xi of Tianxiang Valley had mentioned, Luo Xiang''s unattainable dream, and the person she supposedly resembled quite a bit. So, she was a Golden Core Cultivator from Qunfang Pavilion? Yu Qingtan felt a subtle nuance; in the Lichuan Cultivation World, the title of ''fairy'' was not one casually thrown around. Thoughts swirling in her mind, Yu Qingtan quickly replied, "Tianxiang Valley''s Yu Qingtan bids Senior Feng greetings. The senior''s lone battle against the three Heavenly Demons was mighty and awe-inspiring. I hold great admiration for you." As a low-level cultivator in the Cultivation World, there were times for ttery; she couldn''t risk him being upset for her taking his prey and smacking her to death, with no ce to seek justice. As for iming to be from Tianxiang Valley, she was mainly worried that if she said Tianxiang Pavilion, he might not have even heard of it. Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Combat Training to Save an Old Friend "So it turns out to be a disciple from Tianxiang Valley, managing to kill a Heavenly Demon at the start of Foundation Establishment. You''re even more formidable than I was at your age. Tianxiang Valley truly has produced a genius," Feng Buji carefully sized up Yu Qingtan and spoke indifferently. At the time, Yu Qingtan was wearing a light blue gown, with a falling chignon hairdo draped down her head, a few beads of sweat on her forehead, and the fluctuations of the spiritual power she exerted had not yet been retracted. Yu Qingtan, naturally familiar with the Wendao Sect, a Divinity Transformation Stage sect nearby, knew it had no superior or subordinate rtionship with the Tri-Sun Sect or Qunfang Pavilion, but it was still among the leading orthodox sects nearby. With a bow to Feng Buji, she said, "Senior overpraises me. It was truly Senior''s unequaled technique that left the Heavenly Demon half dead. I saw Senior pursue the other two Heavenly Demons and was worried this one might escape, so I rashly made a move. I hope Senior won''t me me." Feng Buji waved his sleeve and replied, "You''re quite modest and polite, no harm done. It''s just a Heavenly Demon, and you''ve saved me some trouble. Even though you possess some strength as an early Foundation Establishment cultivator, why would you venture so deeply into this ce?" "Ah, as it happened, I stumbled upon a piece of music that could suppress the Monkey-faced Eagles during the beast tide, which made me a target of the Monkey-faced Eagles'' n," "This time, I was kidnapped by a pseudo-Dan person to the depths of the Yunhua Mountain Range and sold to the Monkey-faced Eagle n. I escaped after much difficulty and danger." "I see, the Monkey-faced Eagles indeed caused us quite a bit of trouble during this beast tide. That you could escape from their clutches surely means you''re quite resourceful," Feng Buji did not delve into the details but looked at Yu Qingtan appreciatively as he spoke. "No more of this. Now that this demon bird is dead, I need to gather up the humans nearby and lead them out of the Yunhua Mountain Range," Feng Buji said. "Senior, please proceed as you wish." Yu Qingtan held a deep respect for Feng Buji''s intention to rescue those from the Human Race who were being raised as livestock. However, she did not have any space equipmentrge enough to carry many people, but Feng Buji likely did. With a ''swoosh,'' Feng Buji disappeared from sight. Yu Qingtan immediately stepped forward to collect the body of the Sky-Rending Eagle into her System Space and then used an Escape Technique to leave. It must be said that the disciples of a great sect really are magnanimous, not minding in the slightest that she had taken what should have been his spoil. Little did they know that he appreciated seeing such a young girl employing such clever methods, whichmanded his respect, and that was why he did not argue with her over it. After returning to her physical body, Yu Qingtan rested for half a day before continuing her journey to the outer edges of the Yunhua Mountain Range. ... Three dayster, deep within a certain cave underground. Yu Qingtan excitedly looked at the Storage Bag in her hands. It was discovered inside the belly of the Sky-Rending Eagle. It was normal for the Sky-Rending Eagle, who could transform into human form, to have a Storage Bag. It was even a five-direction Storage Bag, which was somewhat modest for a Third Stage Heavenly Demon, but Demonic Beasts did not produce Storage Bags; they all were snatched from the hands of human cultivators. Nevertheless, the contents inside were anything but modest. One thousand three hundred Wastnd Crystals, sixty Second Stage Wastnd Crystals. Seventy thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones, three hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones, and three High-Grade Spirit Stones. One Qin Leaf Banyan Fruit. One Third Stage Spirit Ore of water molybdenum stone. Various First and Second Stage spiritual fruits, Spirit Ores, and so on. "Feng Buji is generous!" Yu Qingtan eximed again. High-Grade Spirit Stones, so transparent and gleaming, were quite beautiful. Usually, cultivators at the Nascent Soul or Divinity Transformation Stage would primarily use High-Grade Spirit Stones. The Qin Leaf Banyan Fruit, a precious treasure produced by the Trial Demon Tower, helps with breakthroughs in Body Refinement and Foundation Establishment. Coupled with so many Wastnd Crystals, Yu Qingtan felt that her Body Refinement and Foundation Establishment was imminent. Third Stage Spirit Ore could be used to forge magical treasures and was highly valuable. The sum value of all other itemsbined was also worth more than a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. After purifying everything with a Purification Spell, she put them all in her System Space. With two Wastnd Crystals in hand, she began to cultivate the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art. Over the following days, Yu Qingtan cultivated the Greenwave Technique and Ice Skin Jade Bone Art underground at night, while during the day, she fought with Demonic Beasts. Yu Qingtan had now reached the more peripheral area of the Yunhua Mountain Range, where the Demonic Beasts encountered were at most Second Stage mid-term. She needed to sharpen herbat skills, and actualbat was the quickest way to do so. In addition, by hunting Demonic Beasts, she could obtain both materials from the Demonic Beasts and some Spiritual Medicines and Materials. Of course, it was still a clone that was deployed. Prioritizing stability was the first rule. Sometimes, she would only use physicalbat to face off against the bears. Sometimes, she would only practice the Water de Technique to duel with the Shadow Leopard. Sometimes, she would only use the Object Controlling Technique to make the Crimson Abyss Sword and the Red-Training Snake fight each other. She also practiced the coordination between various methods, observing the opponent''s weaknesses with her Clear Spirit Eyes, and resolving the battles with the simplest and most efficient methods. That day, Yu Qingtan rode Xiao Tao through the dense forest in search of new prey. Xiao Tao''s nose had be more sensitive after leveling up, and it could smell the breath of living beings from a great distance. "Aoaoaoaoao~" Xiao Tao growled softly in one direction. "Are you saying there are demonic beasts five miles away in that direction?" "Ao, ao ao~" Xiao Tao said, waving its paws. "And there''s a fight going on? Let''s go check it out!" Yu Qingtan put away Xiao Tao, hid her true body, and then sneaked over. In the dense jungle, there was a small swamp where a group of Water Arrow Frogs was besieging a cultivator. The cultivator wore a gray robe, had a resolute face, and a tall stature. It was Ge Wenxiong from the Ges, the former Metal Spirit Root prodigy of the Ges, who after his dantian was destroyed, switched to Body Refinement cultivation. When Yu Qingtan arrived, Ge Wenxiong was in dire straits. The group of Water Arrow Frogs numbered thirty or forty, including an early Second Stage one. Many demonic beasts prefer to attack with their bodies, either because they don''t know any spells or the power of their spells is not as strong as their melee attacks. For example, the Sky-Rending Eagle has a spell for shooting feathers, but the lethality of this spell is no match for its ws and beak. However, some demonic beasts are different, excelling in spell attacks with only average melee abilities, such as the me Wolf and, like these, the Water Arrow Frogs. The group of Water Arrow Frogs continuously shot water arrows at Ge Wenxiong, making it difficult for him, who was a Body Refinement practitioner. If it were a melee fight, even the early Second Stage Water Arrow Frog would not scare him, but every time he got close to one, it would just jump away. Unable to keep up while defending against attacks from other Water Arrow Frogs, Ge Wenxiong was already out of breath and bleeding profusely. "Is this the end? I''m not willing to ept this!" Ge Wenxiong felt somewhat resentful, but he wasn''t afraid. Death was no longer so frightening to him. "It''s just that I let her encouragement go to waste." Ge Wenxiong thought of that slender figure in his mind. "Shua~" Another water arrow struck,unched by the Second Stage early Water Arrow Frog. Ge Wenxiong''s qi condensed, he gritted his teeth, and swung his fist, which was already revealing bone, preparing to counter. Suddenly, a blue water screen appeared in front of him. The water arrow hit it, bursting into a spray and dissolving. Then, a blue-dressed girl emerged from the surface of the swamp, with hundreds of Water des appearing around her and shooting towards the Water Arrow Frogs. "Pupupu~" The Water Arrow Frogs were struck in the head by the Water des one after another. Some of the frogs tried to jump and dodge, but the Water des turned corners to chase them down. As for the early Second Stage Water Arrow Frog, four water screens had already appeared around it, forming a tetrahedron that trapped it, and the majority of the Water des targeted it. Being a type of demonic beast with weak defenses, it couldn''t withstand the barrage of twenty Water des before sumbing. With a wave of her hand, the corpses of the Water Arrow Frogs flew towards Yu Qingtan, and she collected them into the System Space. Chapter 94: Chapter 94 Boiling Hot Pot and Visions of Life Watching the sudden appearance of the image in his mind, who saved him, Ge Wenxiong couldn''t help but feel a bit dazed. Yu Qingtan looked at the stupefied Ge Wenxiong, somewhat puzzled. She had only used the peak of Qi Cultivation abilities, at most exaggerating the power of her spell. It wasn''t that stunning, was it? Approaching Ge Wenxiong, Yu Qingtan cast a Rejuvenation Spell, then said, "Young Master Ge, it''s been a long time!" It was then that Ge Wenxiong snapped out of it, looking at the even more beautiful face in front of him than he remembered, and he gave a deep bow, saying, "It has indeed been a long time. Thank you, Miss Qing Tan, for saving my life!" "It was just a small effort!" Yu Qingtan said nonchntly, waving her hand. "Wait for me a minute!" Then she vanished in a puff of smoke. However, Yu Qingtan soon returned, this time her actual body appeared. She had just scoped out the surroundings, there shouldn''t be any danger. Ge Wenxiong had already applied medicine to his wound and bandaged it up simply. Yu Qingtan''s Rejuvenation Spell also helped his wound heal faster. Yu Qingtan set up a high-level Formation given by Elder Gao, then took out a pile of charcoal, a silver hotpot, and a bunch of ingredients and seasonings. Then she lit the charcoal with a Fireball Talisman, set up the silver hotpot, and began to boil the broth. After treating his injury, Ge Wenxiong came over and curiously asked while watching Yu Qingtan busy at work, "Miss Qing Tan, are you preparing food?" "Of course, Young Master Ge, you''re in for a treat today. I''m inviting you to have frog meat hotpot," she said. Yu Qingtan had always enjoyed fine cuisine, but unfortunately, she had been so busy these past few months that she could only make simple spirit food to fill her stomach. After reaching Foundation Establishment Stage, she would be able to practice Fasting. Then again, she was captured to the Yunhua Mountain Range, going through hardships. Only in these recent days had she found time to asionally make something delicious as a treat. Although she practiced Fasting, eating some spirit food was still beneficial. She once saw, in the Foundation Establishment records of Tianxiang Pavilion, a travelogue by an ancestor that also listed many delicious ingredients. The Water Arrow Frog was one of them. "Hotpot?" Ge Wenxiong asked curiously; he had never heard of it. "You''ll know in a bit. Your injury should be fine now, right?" "It''s no longer a concern." "Then help me process these Water Arrow Frogs, remove their insides, heads, peel them, and cut them into pieces," said Yu Qingtan. Although she could do it herself, why not take advantage of freebor if it was avable? With a smile that was a bit of a wryugh, Ge Wenxiong took the cutting board, kitchen knife, and Water Arrow Frogs that Yu Qingtan handed to him. Luckily, even though he was the young master of the Ges and had never cooked, as a Body Cultivation Cultivator, dealing with some Water Arrow Frogs was a breeze. Soon, the two sat on the small stools brought by Yu Qingtan and began eating the frog meat hotpot. "Wow, it really is delicious!" Yu Qingtan took a bite of frog meat and said with her eyes closed, savoring the taste. "Indeed a delicacy of the mortal world," said Ge Wenxiong after taking a bite, praising it as the tastiest food he had ever eaten. "Just a pity there''s no chili pepper. The mushroom broth hotpot is delicious, but it''s missing some soul." "Chili pepper, what''s that?" "A type of seasoning, gives a spicy taste. You surely haven''t seen it." "Oh, why has Miss Qing Tan alsoe to the Yunhua Mountain Range?" "Hmm, don''t mention it. It irritates me just thinking about it. So forget it. Let''s eat frogs!" Yu Qingtan didn''t care to exin, instead, she popped a piece of frog meat into his bowl and stuffed another into her own mouth. Satisfaction. After eating for nearly an hour, they finished off more than thirty Water Arrow Frogs. Both were Body Cultivators with huge appetites. "Young Master Ge, was it good?" "Delicious!" Ge Wenxiong felt that the young girl in front of him was somewhat mysterious and even more lively and attractive than when he had seen her previously at Tianxiang Pavilion. "If you enjoy it, that''s good. I am preparing to return to Suichuan Immortal City; do you have a more detailed map of the nearby area?" "I do." Ge Wenxiong took out a jade slip and handed it to Yu Qingtan. "Thank you, Young Master Ge. What are your ns next?" Yu Qingtan took the jade slip and asked. "I n to continue my training in the Yunhua Mountain Range!" Ge Wenxiong said with a determined look in his eyes. Just as Yu Qingtan was about to take his leave, the ground suddenly shook violently. "An earthquake?" Yu Qingtan wondered, but since they were cultivators, even an earthquake shouldn''t pose a threat to them. After the trembling, a sinister red light appeared on the distant horizon. "Young Master Ge, could it be that some sort of treasure has emerged?" Yu Qingtan curiously asked. "Maybe, I''m not sure. Shall we go check it out?" Excitement shone in Ge Wenxiong''s eyes; he was in need of an opportunity. Yu Qingtan considered for a moment and then said, "Alright, wait for me a moment!" Then, the Water Escape Technique was activated, and his figure disappeared. About a dozen breathster, he returned. He was dressed in a gray robe and wore a matching gray hat. "Let''s go!" said Yu Qingtan. Ge Wenxiong thought the woman before him was fiery and mysterious, quite a change from the quiet and elegant person he thought she was. But he didn''t say anything and hurried together with Yu Qingtan toward the area from where the red light emanated. He had cultivated a movement technique that was only slightly slower than Yu Qingtan''s speed, who was using spiritual power to perform the Water Escape Technique after reaching theter stages of Qi Cultivation. Of course, that was because the water content in the air was limited; in the water, Yu Qingtan could be three times as fast. The ce where the red light had appeared looked close, but it took them half an hour to get there. It was a narrow basin surrounded by hundred-zhang-tall mountains lush with vegetation, yet the basin itself was barren, resembling a desert. At this time, there was a wide and deep fissure on the ground of the basin, from which the red light was emanating. Around the basin, numerous demonic beasts and human cultivators had already gathered. However, neither side had started fighting; they were both waiting on opposite sides of the basin. Yu Qingtan and Ge Wenxiong arrived on the cultivators'' side and recognized a few faces, but they didn''t approach. Using his Biching Eyes, he observed that the fissure was filled with wildly fluctuating spiritual power. At that moment, a Plum Blossom Deer in thetter stages of the First Stage was being coerced by a Second Stage mid-level ck-Backed Bear to approach the fissure. As it reached the edge of the fissure, the deer instinctively felt fear and turned to flee, only to see the bear''s paw "gently" caressing the back of a young Plum Blossom Deer. The helpless deer jumped into the fissure. Yu Qingtan saw as the deer entered the fissure, its body began to bleed, then shattered, turning into fine fragments. "Meeeh~" The area fell silent, save for the pitiful cry of the young deer. Yu Qingtan realized this must have been caused by spatial turmoil. Everyone dared not act rashly anymore, and those as cautious as Yu Qingtan retreated quite a distance. After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick. A loud "Bang!" erupted from the fissure, and the splintered rocks injured many of the closeby demonic beasts and cultivators. From the explosion, a white figure flew out of the fissure and transformed into an Escape Light that sped away into the distance. Yu Qingtan only caught a glimpse of the exquisite whitece dress and a pair of bare, translucent and well-proportioned jade feet. The kind you could y with for a year. Chapter 95 Fang Ling Comes of Age and Meets Qing Tan The white-robed female cultivator transformed into escape light and departed, her body radiating the spiritual power fluctuations of a Golden Core cultivator, exerting a strong pressure on all the demons and humans present. Fortunately, she left as soon as she appeared. Before they could recover their senses, a figure d in ck also burst forth from the fissure. More violent explosions came from within the fissure. The ck-robed cultivatornded on arge rock in the basin, looking in the direction the white-robed female cultivator had gone with aplex expression. This person was well-known to Yu Qingtan. Fang Ling. When Fang Ling emerged from the fissure, his body emitted the spiritual power fluctuations of the early Foundation Establishment stage, but his aura was unstable, and his clothes were in disarray. The crowd of demonic beasts and cultivators understood that what was supposed to be a near-copsing secret realm within the fissure had nowpletely shattered. It turned out that this was a damaged secret realm that Ancestor Blood Xi had identally discovered during Fang Ling''s previous training in the Yunhua Mountain Range. Ancestor Blood Xi advised Fang Ling not to risk entering it, and Fang Ling had initially given up on the idea, but after being somewhat struck down by Yu Qingtan on hisst return to Suichuan Immortal City, he resolutely decided to take a chance in this secret realm. This secret realm was known as the Blood Jiao Secret Realm, the ce where a Fifth Stage Blood Jiao had once fallen and secludedly cultivated countless years ago. As time passed, most of the treasures had eroded with the years, but he still reaped considerable rewards within the secret realm. What he didn''t know was that shortly after he entered, a Golden Core female cultivator, having gained some clues, also found this secret realm. Since the secret realm was fragile and could no longer withstand the force of the Third Stage, she suppressed her cultivation to the Foundation Establishment stage before entering the Blood Jiao Secret Realm. She headed straight for her main target, the remnants of the Fifth Stage Blood Jiao''s demon core, and found it sessfully. However, out of excitement, she identally broke the blood jiao''s aphrodisiac pore pouch while continuing her exploration. Even a faint whiff of its lingering scent wasparable to the strongest aphrodisiac. For endless eons, as blood jade turned to azure smoke, The secret realm bloomed with the colors of spring, fate blossomed in the midst of creation. Afterwards. The white-robed woman couldn''t help but unleash the spiritual pressure of the Golden Core stage and pushed Fang Ling away, which also led to the beginning of the secret realm''s copse. The woman in the white robe sensed danger and quickly retracted her aura, then headed towards the exit of the secret realm. Fang Ling, who was sent flying, had no time to care about anything else and followed toward the exit of the secret realm. However, the secret realm''s exit was already destroyed and the white-robed woman, somewhat in despair, thought about killing this young man who had taken advantage of her first. Feeling the white-robed woman''s intent to kill, Fang Ling remembered a secret technique that Ancestor Blood Xi had once told him could be relied upon in situations like this. However, the higher the cultivation, the greater the chances of sess, so he told the white-robed woman about the secret technique. Knowing there was hope for escape, the white-robed woman temporarily extinguished her thoughts of killing Fang Ling. In the end, the two of them escaped from the Blood Jiao Secret Realm right before itpletely crumbled. "Boy, hand over your storage bag and spirit beast pouch, and we assure your safe departure," said a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a full beard. By this time, Fang Ling was surrounded by both demons and humans. On the side of the demonic beasts, the leaders were a Second Stage mid-term ck-Backed Bear and three Second Stage early-stage Carapace Wolves, and on the side of the human cultivators, two early Foundation Establishment stage Loose Cultivators led the way. Before Fang Ling could respond, the ck-Backed Bear and the Carapace Wolves had already incited the First Stage demonic beasts to attack Fang Ling. Second Stage demonic beasts had the intelligenceparable to human children of thirteen or fourteen years old, immature but not to be treated like wild beasts. Facing the attack of more than a dozen First Stage demonic beasts, Fang Ling sneered and released twenty-eight Blood Marites. Each exuding the aura of thete First Stage, they rushed towards the attacking First Stage demonic beasts. At the same time, he shouted, "If you want my storage bag and spirit beast pouch,e and get them yourself, and see if my treasure sword is sharp enough." "You!" The bearded foundation establishment cultivator furiously said, looking at another cultivator dressed as a farmer beside him, "Old Man Wang, this youngster is so unappreciative; we should teach him a lesson!" "Wang Bearded, the young people today are indeed arrogant and need to be taught a thing or two." Having said that, the two of them prepared to make their move. Meanwhile, two second-stage early carapace wolves had already rushed towards Fang Ling. The ck-backed bear and the other carapace wolf still needed to watch out for other human race cultivators. "Elders, do you intend to join forces with demonic beasts to besiege a member of the human race?" At that moment, a figure brandishing a sword stepped in front of Wang Bearded and Old Man Wang. "Youngster from the Song family, we originally wanted to help him fight the demonic beasts, but he wouldn''t listen to reason and even threatened us. I advise you not to meddle in other people''s business," said Wang Bearded with displeasure. As it turned out, this person was Song Zhenbo. "Elders, calling you that is out of respect for the elderly. Don''t take yourselves too seriously. You were all trembling during the beast tide, but now youe out to throw your weight around," said Ge Wenxiong as he arrived beside Song Zhenbo and spoke in a grave tone. Wang and Wang had naturally noticed Ge Wenxiong as well. Although he was no longer a single spiritual root prodigy, his ferocity in battling demonic beasts during the tide had left a deep impression on them. With the two of them taking the lead, including Yu Qingtan, approximately sixty to seventy percent of the cultivators subtly positioned themselves behind them, indicating their support. Seeing that he had angered the crowd, Wang Bearded then said with a wave of his sleeve, "Then we''ll give face to the young ones from the Song family and the Ge family and won''t take offense at his disrespectful words." The two stepped aside, and Song Zhenbo nced at Yu Qingtan from the corner of his eye. He always felt a sense of familiarity with this girl. At this moment, Fang Ling''s situation was not looking good. Although he had sessfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage in the Secret Realm of the Blood Jiao and had even advanced his cultivation nearly approaching the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment Stage owing to a certain event. He had sustained internal injuries from the oppression of a golden core''s force, and he had used up a great deal of spiritual power while escaping the secret realm. In addition, he had yet to learn second-stage spells, and he didn''t have a spiritual artifact, thus he was struggling against the two early second-stage carapace wolves. Song Zhenbo and Ge Wenxiong exchanged nces, wanting to help but also worried that the two old geezers would y dirty tricks. At that moment, Yu Qingtan stepped forward and used the Water Escape Technique to get close to Fang Ling. She still attacked with the most familiar Water de Technique. Hundreds of water des, with the power of a ninthyer Qi Cultivation, shot towards the two carapace wolves. With this move, both Fang Ling and Song Zhenbo recognized her. The aura of a cultivator''s spiritual power is unique, but the difference is very slight; lower-level cultivators typically can''t discern it unless they pay close attention, and there are many methods to conceal or confuse it. Both men had obviously made a careful note of Yu Qingtan''s spiritual power aura. Song Zhenbo''s face showed delight; he had heard about the incident of Yu Qingtan being kidnapped by Qi Rui. Ge Wenxiong, who had not returned for the past two or three months, was thus unaware of it. Fang Ling, naturally, was also unaware, and he was filled with guilt at the sudden appearance of Yu Qingtan. However, he was a person of strong will. While the carapace wolves were dodging and defending against Yu Qingtan''s water des, he swiftly formed hand seals like a butterfly flitting through flowers, creating a tiny blood-red sword that shot towards one of the carapace wolves. The Blood Sword Technique. Although it was only a first-stage spell, its power was among the top in the first stage. Fang Ling activated it with Foundation Establishment Stage spiritual power, plus he had richbat experience. The blood-red tiny sword pierced into the throat of the carapace wolf, its weakest spot. "Aooo~" With a pitiful howl, the carapace wolf fell powerlessly. Chapter 96: 96 Chapters - I Walk the Grand Path Alone Seeing this scene, the ck-Backed Bear could not sit still any longer. It stepped forward and swung its paw, creating an earthy yellow protective shield that blocked Yu Qingtan''s Water de and saved another Carapace Wolf. Then it directly fled. The Human Race had three at the Foundation Establishment stage, plus three others at thete stage of Qi Cultivation who were clearly not simple. Their side had lost an early Second Stage. The advantage was not with them. When the wind blows hard, the tough get going. The other two Carapace Wolves and the rest of the Demonic Beasts also took off, leaving behind the corpses of those in by the Blood Marite. Yu Qingtan chose not to pursue them. "Fang Ling, how are you?" Yu Qingtan stepped forward and asked, she had decided to look out for Fang Ling. "Cough cough~ I''m fine, just some minor injuries." Fang Ling felt somewhat unable to meet Yu Qingtan''s eyes, even through ayer of veil. "It''s good that you''re alright, and congrattions on your Foundation Establishment," said Yu Qingtan as she cast a Cleansing Spell and a Rejuvenation Spell on Fang Ling, also handing him a second-stage Healing Pill. "Thank you!" Fang Ling epted the Healing Pill given by Yu Qingtan and swallowed it in one gulp. But the guilt in his heart deepened further. "Let''s leave this ce first." Yu Qingtan said. After all, such amotion could attract something much stronger, which would bode ill for them. "Okay," Fang Ling agreed, collected the Blood Marite and the corpses of the Demonic Beasts, and left with Yu Qingtan. Song Zhenbo and Ge Wenxiong also followed behind. Fang Ling''s brows furrowed slightly, but since Yu Qingtan didn''t say anything, he let them tag along. Wang Hu and Old Wang, seeing that both Fang Ling and Yu Qingtan were formidable fighters, and with Song Zhenbo and Ge Wenxiong following them, reluctantly and indignantly walked away. The other cultivators naturally scattered like birds and beasts. The four arrived at the ce where Yu Qingtan and Ge Wenxiong had eaten hotpot and finally stopped. Her warning Formation had not been removed. "You go and heal your injuries first," Yu Qingtan removed her veil, led Fang Ling into the Formation, and told him. "Okay." Fang Ling found it even harder to meet Yu Qingtan''s gaze and nodded, then he started to meditate. The effects of cultivating with the Healing Pill would certainly be quicker and better. "Son of Song, I hope all is well," Yu Qingtan approached Song Zhenbo with a graceful smile and said. "Miss Qingtan, it''s good you''re unharmed!" said Song Zhenbo. "I was lucky, just escaped a disaster," Yu Qingtan said indifferently. Ge Wenxiong asked, "What disaster?" Song Zhenbo sneered, "Miss Qingtan was put on a bounty by the Monkey-faced Eagle n, and that scoundrel Qi Rui actually kidnapped her on her way to Tianxiang Valley. He probably intended to exchange her for Longevity Fruits with the Monkey-faced Eagles." Hmph, "I had to use every trick in the book and endure endless hardships just to be lucky enough to escape," Yu Qingtan mused about the situation, the irritation making her teeth itch. "So that''s how it is, Qi Rui has done many evil deeds; he more than deserves death," said Ge Wenxiong. "Snap~" The sound of a jade bottle shattering came from within the warning Formation, obviously indicating that Fang Ling had not deeply meditated. In Fang Ling''s heart, Qi Rui and the Monkey-faced Eagle n had tread the path to their own doom. The three took a nce at the warning Formation. Ge Wenxiong asked, "May I ask who this senior is?" Song Zhenbo looked at Yu Qingtan as well, his heart already sour. "He is my distant cousin, Fang Ling," Yu Qingtan revealed, also hoping it might quell some of Fang Ling''s feelings for her. In her past life, she was a true man, and the idea of pledging herself to someone was impossible. "Cough... cough cough..." Fang Ling''s coughing was heard once again. "So it is, Qingtan''s cousin is so young yet has already achieved Foundation Establishment, truly a person of exceptional talent." Ge Wenxiong spoke with a tinge of envy, he too should have achieved Foundation Establishment by now. At the same time, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief in his heart. Although Fang Ling was two years younger than Yu Qingtan, his actual age was not less than Song Zhenbo''s, due to the Universe Light Pearl. "It must also be because of his profound opportunities," said Yu Qingtan, who always thought Fang Ling was younger than her, though she had a venerable old grandfather with her. "Miss Qing Tan also has unusual opportunities," interjected Song Zhenbo. As a disciple of Tianxiang Pavilion, she had reached the ninth level of Qi Cultivation at such a young age, and herbat strength was substantial. He respected her ability to escape from a swarm of Monkey-faced Eagles. Seeing how familiar Ge Wenxiong and Yu Qingtan were with each other made him feel somewhat ufortable. That''s how it is when you fancy someone: even though he knew it was unlikely for him to have a future with Yu Qingtan, he still felt ufortable seeing her interact with other men. Unknown to him, Ge Wenxiong was starting to feel the same way. Unaffected by these romanticplications, Yu Qingtan herself had not realized any of this, but even if she had, she wouldn''t care. "It''s all because the system forced me." Yu Qingtan had epted the fact that she was somewhat wed. She wasn''t a perfect person, just a cultivator yearning for immortality. With a chuckle, she said, "I''ve had some opportunities, heh." Without going into details, Yu Qingtan did not borate, and neither did they ask further. In the Cultivation World, who among those with notable aplishments didn''t have some stroke of fortune? Prying too deeply would be unbing. The three of them chatted for a while longer before Fang Ling stepped out of the warning formation. It appeared that he had made some sort of determination and finally looked into Yu Qingtan''s eyes to say, "My injuries are almost healed, what are your ns now?" "I n to go back to Suichuan Immortal City with Brother Song, then head to Tianxiang Valley. What about you?" Upon hearing this, Fang Ling was silent for a couple of breaths before responding, "I''ll escort you back to the Immortal City, and then I must continue my journey to gain experience." "That sounds good!" "Miss Qing Tan, then I shall take my leave first," Ge Wenxiong said as he sped his fists. "Here, take this and good luck!" Yu Qingtan took out a box and handed it to Ge Wenxiong. She felt Ge Wenxiong had the makings of a protagonist and decided to invest a little in him. Inside the box were three Second Stage Wastnd Crystals. Ge Wenxiong hesitated for a moment, then epted the wooden box. "Thank you!" He bowed to Song Zhenbo and Fang Ling as well, before turning decisively and leaving the ce. Yu Qingtan went to retrieve her main body, and then the trio set off on the road back to Suichuan Immortal City. On the way, the three of them spoke sparingly, focusing on their travel. Two dayster, they finally arrived outside Suichuan Immortal City. "Brother Song, thank you for looking after me on our journey. You go into the city first, Fang Ling and I have some matters to discuss," said Yu Qingtan to Song Zhenbo after receiving a Divine Sense message from Fang Ling on the road. Song Zhenbo nced at Fang Ling. "Alright!" After Song Zhenbo entered the city, Fang Ling looked at Yu Qingtan and said, "Qing Tan, you know my feelings for you, I have reached Foundation Establishment, are you still unwilling to be with me?" Yu Qingtan was somewhat taken aback by his direct approach but still replied earnestly, "Fang Ling, I ammitted to the great Dao and do not wish to be entangled in romantic affairs." "Solitary pursuit of the Dao cannotpare to braving the journey together," Fang Ling tried to change Yu Qingtan''s mind. "Fang Ling, I am truly sorry, my mind is made up." Fang Ling stepped back a few paces, gazing at Yu Qingtan with a look of anguish in his eyes. Feeling guilty, Yu Qingtan looked away. "I won''t give up, I''ll wait for the day you change your mind!" he said. In the end, Fang Ling left those words behind, departing with a stagger. Chapter 97 The Foremost Fragrance in the Human World Donning a veiled hat, Yu Qingtan walked into Suichuan Immortal City, feeling somewhat gloomy. Song Zhenbo was waiting for her near the city gate. "Big Brother Song, I''m going to head back to Tianxiang Pavilion and then to Tianxiang Valley. Please convey my regards to Patriarch Song and the Elders." Seeing her mood was not good, Song Zhenbo said, "Alright, I''ll apany you to Tianxiang Pavilion." "Thank you," Yu Qingtan sighed inwardly. The more debts one has, the less one worries. Even though she had already admitted she was very bad. Why was she still troubled? Song Zhenbo escorted Yu Qingtan to the back door of Tianxiang Pavilion and didn''t leave until he could no longer see her figure entering. When she was close to the back door of Tianxiang Pavilion, Yu Qingtan sent a Communication Talisman to Gongsun Yurong, the Tower Master. Gongsun Yurong sent one of her maids to receive Yu Qingtan and bring her inside. Since the monkey-faced eagle flock might issue a warrant for her again, Yu Qingtan needed to keep as low a profile as possible. "Sister Yurong, I''m back," Yu Qingtan said to Gongsun Yurong as she removed her hat. "Qingtan, it is really you! It''s good that you''re back! It''s so good!" Gongsun Yurong scrutinized Yu Qingtan with joy in her expression. She had thought that Yu Qingtan was surely dead, but to her surprise, she had just received her Communication Talisman, saying she was back and wanted to see her privately before heading to Tianxiang Valley. "How is the status of Manager Liu?" Yu Qingtan asked with some concern. "Don''t worry, her injury has healed, but she''s currently in secluded cultivation." "As long as Manager Liu is alright, I mainly came to inform Sister Yurong that I''m safe and then I n to go directly to Tianxiang Valley alone." "That''s fine. You must have grown a lot after escaping from the Yunhua Mountain Range. Although there''s no new warrant from the monkey-faced eagle flock, it''s better to be cautious. Head to Tianxiang Valley soon. Since you''re back, I will give you the earnings of Zhi Lan Pavilion for the past two months." With that, Gongsun Yurong gave Yu Qingtan a whole one hundred thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones. "Sister Yurong, I should not dy my departure, I''m ready to set out now." "Okay, I''ll give you a detailed map of the nearby Cultivation World to facilitate your journey. What you''ve seen in the books before is only rough. Be careful on your way, and send me a Communication Talisman when you get to Tianxiang Valley. I will return to the valley myself in a few years," Gongsun Yurong said as she handed Yu Qingtan a Jade Slip and advised her. "Thank you, Sister Yurong!" After saying farewell to Gongsun Yurong, Yu Qingtan once again disguised her identity and left Suichuan Immortal City. Being on her way towards Tianxiang Valley. On the road, Yu Qingtan used the one hundred thousand Spirit Stones she had just received to copy Luo Xiang''s Decay and Flourish Technique. She still primarily relied on the Earth Escape Skill, supplemented by the Water Escape Technique to travel, avoiding all Demonic Beasts and Cultivators, and finally after six days, she arrived back at Tianxiang Valley. Tianxiang Valley was located between several High Mountains that were thousands of feet tall; the valley was filled with flourishing flowers, a riot of splendid colors everywhere. Yu Qingtan came to the entrance of Tianxiang Valley and saw a mist shrouding the valley, a clear Small River flowed gently out from the middle, alongside the mountain wall; asionally, the sound of birds could be heard, while bursts of floral scent wafted from the valley. The valley entrance was nestled between two mountains, only about sixty feet wide, half of which was the river. At the entrance, there was a gate with "Tianxiang Valley" elegantly written on it, with a pair of couplets on either side stating: "Competing to be unmatched in beauty under the heavens, standing alone as the foremost fragrance amongst mankind." Behind the gate, there was a small house, and as soon as Yu Qingtan arrived, two women in their twenties came out of it. "Who are you? What is your business in Tianxiang Valley?" "Met two Senior Sisters, I am Yu Qingtan from the core disciples of Tianxiang Pavilion in Suichuan Immortal City, rmended by Tower Master Gongsun Yurong to join Tianxiang Valley," Yu Qingtan took out a jade token given to him earlier by Gongsun Yurong and said. "Oh, you''re Yu Qingtan," one of the younger-looking women said. "There is indeed a notice about you; Elder Gongsun rmended you to join the valley, and we were expecting you to arrive. Follow me." "Thank you, Senior Sister." "No need for thanks, my name is Su Qinghe, just call me Qinghe." Yu Qingtan followed Su Qinghe into the valley and soon saw a sea of flowers. Forsythia, Yin Chun, daffodils, jasmine, begonias, peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, and so on. The fragrance of flowers was overwhelming, refreshing to the soul. Walking past the sea of flowers and through arge peach grove, they saw arge cluster of buildings in the distance. The architectures were ancient and elegant, with pavilions and towers situated in an orderly fashion amidst the mist and fragrant air, golden birds and immortal cranes flying about, and asionally cultivators riding magical artifacts passing through¡ªtruly a scene of an immortal family. Su Qinghe led Yu Qingtan into a building marked General Affairs Hall and entered a small room. "Elder Ye, Tower Master Gongsun from Tianxiang Pavilion of Suichuan Immortal City rmended core disciple Yu Qingtan to join the valley; please process the entry procedures," she said. The middle-aged beautiful woman lying on a rattan chair opened her eyes and looked at the two of them, saying, "Ah, little Qinghe. Xing Ruo has already mentioned it to me. Yu Qingtan can be an Inner Sect Disciple." The woman with the Ye surname stood up, looked Yu Qingtan over, and asked, "You have a fine appearance; how old are you, and what is your cultivation level?" "Met Elder Ye, I am fifteen years old and at the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation," Yu Qingtan replied respectfully, bowing and at the same time handing over his Tianxiang Pavilion identity jade. "Not bad, ninthyer of Qi Cultivation at fifteen, it''s eptable to enter the Inner Sect. Come on, let''s go through the Ancestral Master Hall, and then you can be formally admitted." Su Qinghe took her leave. Elder Ye took Yu Qingtan to the Ancestral Master Hall. "That mirror above the hall entrance is the Insightful Mirror, it is a Taoist Instrument to prevent demonic and ghostly beings from infiltrating among the disciples being admitted," she exined. Yu Qingtan, recalling the feeling of being scrutinized when he entered the Ancestral Master Hall, suddenly understood. It was his first encounter with a Taoist Instrument up close; those were equipment used by cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage. "I have verified your identity jade. Make your vows to not betray the human race and the sect gate upon paying homage to the ancestral masters, and you''ll be epted," said Elder Ye. Yu Qingtan followed the instructions. He knelt and paid homage to the hanging portraits. After taking the Heavenly Oath, however, the mysterious feeling that descended oddly vanished. Just as Elder Ye was about to give Yu Qingtan the identity jade that symbolized an Inner Sect Disciple of Tianxiang Valley, a male voice came from the entrance. "Wait! Deacon Ye, this does not seem proper. This girl hails from Tianxiang Pavilion; her qualifications must be poor, and she should not be directly entering the Inner Sect. Previous ones joined the Outer Sect, and few were remarkable." The neer wore a python-embroidered, yellow brocade robe with a distinctly angr face and prominent features, though he was a bit corpulent. "Ruan Fan, don''t cause unnecessary trouble. This girl is fifteen and at the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation; how is her talent poor?" Elder Ye retorted. "Qi Cultivation Stage is nothing special; with enough resources, reaching the ninthyer at fifteen is no big deal," Ruan Fan said with some disdain. "Oh, born a prince of the Qi nation, you must notck resources. How advanced was your cultivation at fifteen?" Another woman''s voice came from outside. Yu Qingtan recognized the voice; it belonged to Li Xingruo. Royals of the Mortal Realm typically have considerable Cultivation World backing; if Ruan Fan was born a prince and had a Spirit Root, Qi Cultivation Stage certainly wouldn''tck ordinary resources. But he shouldn''t dream of things like marrow milk or Spirit Dew. "You! Hmph~" Indeed, it was Li Xingruo who came in. Ruan Fan was rendered speechless by her retort and stormed out with a huff. Chapter 98: Chapter 98 The Strife Arrives at Xiangfei Elegant Garden "I have seen Senior Li!" Yu Qingtan hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects. "Qingtan, there''s no need for formalities. A few days ago, my masterpleted her retreat. I have spoken to her about you, and she has agreed to take you as a named disciple. You can just call me Senior Sister. Sister Ye, please continue to help her with the entrance procedures." Li Xingruo said. "Xing Ruo, it seems Master Lin has left her retreat, which probably means her cultivation has progressed further. Qingtan, being taken as a named disciple by Master Lin is a great fortune for you. Here is your Inner Sect Disciple Identity Jade and some other items that Inner Sect Disciples are entitled to¡ªtake good care of them!" Deacon Ye said, handing over a Jade Token and a Storage Bag to Yu Qingtan. "Many thanks to Senior Sister Li, many thanks to Deacon Ye!" "Hmm, I have already added your name to the sect''s roster; the procedures are nowplete. Since you have be Master Lin''s named disciple, I will no longer manage your living arrangements." "Thank you for your efforts, Sister Ye. Qingtan,e with me!" After bidding farewell to Deacon Ye, Yu Qingtan followed Li Xingruo away. "Qingtan, I''ve been informed of your situation by Senior Sister Yu Rong. It wasn''t easy for a Qi Practitioner like you to escape from the depths of Yunhua Mountain Range. In addition, we have benefitted greatly from Zhi Lan Pavilion, so my master agreed to take you as a named disciple. As long as you break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage before you turn twenty, she will take you as an official disciple," Li Xingruo said as the two rode on a willow leaf-shaped flying Spiritual Artifact. "Many thanks, Senior Sister Li. May I know the name of our master?" "Our master is Lin Roujia. She has broken through to the Late Stage of the Golden Core with her recent retreat, but she is currently away on business, so you won''t be able to see her for the time being." Late Stage of the Golden Core, now that''s a powerful backer totch onto. "Senior Sister Li, I''m curious about Ruan Fan''s behavior. It seems like he is targeting me?" Yu Qingtan asked with curiosity. "Heh, it''s not just a feeling, he is targeting you. He''s Yan Xi''s father, though he''s the son-inw to the Yan family, and since the incident when Yan Xi and Luo Xiang broke off their engagement, the Yan family naturally holds no fondness for you. Of course, the key reason is your deep connection with Zhi Lan Pavilion. Our lineage has benefitted from Zhi Lan Pavilion, so it''s quite normal for the family faction to target you," Li Xingruo exined, and Yu Qingtan instantly understood the situation. "It''s all about the conflict of interests, but ''Ruan Fan,'' indeed, seems to be quite an appropriate name." Yu Qingtan thought to herself. "We''ve arrived. This is Xiangfei Garden, the cultivation site of our master''s lineage. I have arranged a small courtyard for you. Normally, that would only be treatment for Foundation Establishment disciples, so you have to work hard on your cultivation and reach Foundation Establishment soon." The twonded in front of a vastplex built against the mountain. Li Xingruo said. "Qingtan will work hard in her cultivation." After leading Yu Qingtan to a secluded courtyard and giving her the Jade Token to control the formation of the courtyard, with a few more words of advice, Li Xingruo left. The small courtyard was backed by a mountain wall, half an acre in size, with arge open space and a pond, nted with bamboo and a few peach trees. Surprisingly, the house had four rooms and a living room. Yu Qingtan first purified the ce with Purification Spell, then she arranged it simply. Then, heading to the cultivation room, Yu Qingtan opened the Storage Bag given by Deacon Ye. One thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones, two sets of first-grade Superior Inner Sect disciple uniforms, one first-grade Superior standard-issue sword, and a Jade Slip. The treatment for a Qi Cultivation Stage disciple was quite good, and for Qingtan, it was better than nothing. The uniform was a pink dress, which she had seen Su Qinghe and others wearing before; it was quite pretty. Storing the Spirit Stones, sword, and clothes, Yu Qingtan picked up the Jade Slip and began to check it with her Divine Sense. The Jade Slip contained a detailed introduction to Tianxiang Valley, including its history, sect rules, leadership, areas of influence, and important points for disciples, among other things. Yu Qingtan read through it thoroughly andmitted it to memory. Checking the time, Yu Qingtanid out the Vajra Protective Spirit Array in the cultivation room, added the rm Formation on the outside, plus the Second Stage Superior Array that came with the courtyard. "This should be quite safe!" She put on that pink uniform and stepped out of the courtyard. In Tianxiang Valley where every step revealed a different scene, Yu Qingtan admired the surroundings as she made her way to her destination. Scripture Pavilion. As a newly epted Inner Sect Disciple benefit, her Identity Jade contained one hundred Sect Contribution Points. The Scripture Pavilion was divided into four floors, and Inner Sect Disciples were allowed to enter the first two. With no one guarding the entrance, Yu Qingtan could pass through the formation''s light screen into it by simply holding her Identity Jade. Inside the Scripture Pavilion, rows of shelves were lined up, not with books, but with structures resembling drawers. When she swiped her Identity Jade against the side of a shelf, she could obtain a Jade Slip that introduced the scriptures within that row. The kind you had to put back after reading. The shelves were also categorized, and to find the desired scriptures, sweeping the Identity Jade at the corresponding location would automatically deduct Sect Contribution Points and exchange them for a Jade Slip. It was indeed very intelligent. At this time, there were only a few scattered individuals inside the pavilion, and Yu Qingtan went through the introduction Jade Slips of each level, greatly broadening her knowledge. Then, she proceeded to the second floor and did the same. After finishing with all the levels, Yu Qingtan headed towards her target. The Second Stage Breath-Concealing Technique, which could be exchanged for exactly one hundred Sect Contribution Points. Achieving her goal for this trip, night had already fallen. Walking back by the bright moonlight, Yu Qingtan was on her way. However, trouble found her when she was close to reaching her small courtyard. Two female cultivators blocked Yu Qingtan''s path. Both were dressed in Inner Sect Disciple uniforms and had beautiful features, one tall and the other with deep-set, malevolent eyes. "This small courtyard has a new resident. I thought master had taken in another disciple, but after inquiring at the General Affairs Hall, I learned it was just a little girl from Tianxiang Pavilion. It must be you," the tall cultivator said, looking down at Yu Qingtan with disdain. "Yes, it''s me. What brings the two senior sisters here?" Yu Qingtan replied expressionlessly. "Clearly from some small ce, not even knowing basic manners. I also heard you seduced Deacon Luo, causing Deacon Yan to break off their engagement. Isn''t it just like someone from Tianxiang Pavilion?" the other cultivator with malevolent eyes scornfully said. Yu Qingtan did not respond, gave a push with her legs, and dashed closer to them. "p¨C" "p¨C" She delivered a resounding p to each face. In Tianxiang Valley sect rules, disciples were forbidden from fighting each other privately. But she wasn''t fighting, was she? Both women were stunned, one hand covering their faces, the other pointing at Yu Qingtan. "You little slut, how dare you hit me? Even my father has never hit me; you''re dead! You''re dead for sure!" the tall cultivator roared. The cultivator with malevolent eyes, full of fury, circted the Spiritual Power within her body, forming a concentrated fireball at her fingertips and shooting it towards Yu Qingtan. "Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, Fire Bullet Technique, you were the one who attacked first," Yu Qingtan thought coldly as she swiftly formed three Water des that dashed out, shattered the fireball into sparks, and whirled around her. The protective shield formed by the hastily summoned amulet from the malevolent-eyed cultivator didn''tst a breath before shattering. Amidst the scattering of torn fabric, the clothes of the malevolent-eyed cultivator had already vanished. The moon tonight. So big. So white. Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Body Refinement and Foundation Establishment: Listening to the Dao Lecture "What are you doing, don''t you know that private spell duels are forbidden in the valley?" At that moment, a male voice chided from midair. Simultaneously, a robe floated down, covering the body of the grievously sinful female cultivator. "Ah~" A piercing scream sounded. ... "Alright, we have understood the situation. Inner Sect Disciple Bai Xun and Yu Qingtan engaged in a private spell duel, with Bai Xun striking first. Bai Xun will be fined two hundred Sect Contribution Points and confined to the Reflection Room for ten days. Yu Qingtan will be fined one hundred Sect Contribution Points." In a side hall of the Sect''s Law Enforcement Hall, Deputy Hall Master Pang Zaisi spoke with a cold face to the three people standing below. The public areas of Tianxiang Valley all have the capability of an image-recording function in the protective Great Array. However, he had already asked a junior sister to delete some inappropriate images. "Elder Uncle Pang, she was clearly the one who initiated the fight!" The tall female cultivator retorted unwillingly, the p mark still stinging on her face. "Fang Qi, she did not use Spiritual Power before that. As for verbal disputes and fights, the Sect does not get involved." Pang Zaisi responded coldly, his clean-cut face twitching at the corner of his mouth. Bai Xun was still wearing his robe, gazing at him with fervent eyes. Dressed in his clothes, Bai Xun indeed appeared more enticing, but he... "Do any of you still have objections?" The three said nothing more. Pang Zaisi swiftly left the side hall. "Hehe~" Yu Qingtan sneered, leaving the side hall to go to another and pay a fine of ten thousand Spirit Stones. One Sect Contribution Point can be exchanged for one hundred Spirit Stones; usually, it doesn''t work the other way around, but it is an exception when the Sect imposes a fine ¡ª one hundred Spirit Stones can offset one Contribution Point. Back at the courtyard. She let Little Tao out into the open space to get some air. It liked to run wild too, but being a creature with intelligence, it knew restraint. It hadn''t finished digesting and absorbing the Heavenly Demon meat it recently ate. Entering the Cultivation Room, Yu Qingtan first learned the Second Stage Breath-Concealing Technique. Having a solid foundation in the first stage, she quickly mastered the Second Stage Breath-Concealing Technique. Then, Yu Qingtan took out a pile of Medium Grade Spirit Stones and began to cultivate the Greenwave Technique. Recently, she had been luxuriously using Medium Grade Spirit Stones for her cultivation. "Hmm~" After circting her cultivation for one cycle, Yu Qingtan let out afortable moan. Unsurprisingly, given the presence of a Third-order Spirit Vein, the density of Spiritual Energy was extremely high, making the efficiency of her cultivation at least thirty percent higher than directly using Medium Grade Spirit Stones in the Yunhua Mountain Range. Two dayster, the liquefied Spiritual Power in Yu Qingtan''s Dantian reached five hundred drops, her Dantian further expanded, and her Divine Sense range also reached one hundred and fifty meters. She had broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment phase. Having used the Cultivation Upgrade Card, her Cultivation Level was already close to mid-Foundation Establishment, and she had been diligently cultivating recently. The cultivation speed of a Celestial-grade Water Spirit Root was not to be underestimated. In addition, she had also barely learned the Soul Cleansing Technique passed on by Fu Nian; although she was just a beginner,bined with Soul Cleansing Music, there was a sense of purifying the soul and enhancing Divine Sense. Her Divine Sense was alreadyparable to that of an averagete-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and the breakthrough in her Cultivation Level had further strengthened her physique. Seizing this opportunity, Yu Qingtan took out a small pile of Wastnd Crystals, and then ate the Qing Leaf Banyan fruit. It tasted like a pear, but not sweet. As soon as the Qing Leaf Banyan fruit entered her stomach, Yu Qingtan felt as if her body was about to melt. Clenching her teeth, Yu Qingtan circted the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art to temper her body. Sometimes it felt like a thousand ants gnawing at her, sometimes like a thousand needles piercing her, sometimes like being hacked and chopped with axes, sometimes like being burnt by a zing fire... After a whole day and night of agony, Yu Qingtan finally opened her eyes. A thinyer of ck filth covered her body. After a Purification Spell, Yu Qingtan looked at her own smooth, soft, and fair body, and a smile couldn''t help but spread across her face. Body Refinement Foundation Establishment, finally achieved. Not only did the strength of the body surge, but the power was also astonishing. With her physical body alone, she couldpletely contend with ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. After resting well for a day, Yu Qingtan left the small courtyard. Heading towards the Scripture Pavilion. In addition to the Cultivation Techniques, Spells, and Secret Techniques that needed to be exchanged for Contribution Points, there were also many books avable for free borrowing in the Pavilion. For example, "Introduction to Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Ore," "Cultivation Encyclopedia," "Memoirs of a True Heavenly Wolf," "The Romantic History of the Great Sun True Monarch," "Detailed Exnation of the Thirty-Six Cultivation Postures," and so on. Yu Qingtan stillcked knowledge in these areas, so she naturally wanted to take the opportunity to learn more. A few dayster, it was the monthly day for Foundation Establishment cultivators to lecture, and Inner Sect Disciples could attend for free ¡ª one of the benefits. The lectures were basically given by senior Foundation Establishment cultivators in theter stages, and although Yu Qingtan was already in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, she had always been groping on her own,cking a foundation. Upon reaching the Lecture Hall, nearly a hundred disciples were already scattered around the room, sitting. Yu Qingtan found a spot in a back corner to sit down. Soon after, a woman in a purple dress arrived on her sword. "Today it''s the venerable Zixin of the Purple Mysterious Sword lecturing, it''s rumored that Senior Zixin once yed a Heavenly Demon with herte-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, shocking the Southeast Sea," a disciple whispered to another at the front when the woman in purple appeared. "Yes, it''s really worthing today." After Zixin took her seat, the entire hall fell silent. "The path of cultivation first and foremost requires steadfastness of heart. What is steadfastness of heart? The Dao isprehended through the heart, the heart is enlightened by the Dao. When the heart is enlightened, the Dao descends, and when the Dao descends, the heart understands..." Zixin did not waste words and began to lecture directly. An hourter, she departed gracefully on her sword, leaving behind disciples still immersed in contemtion. Yu Qingtan listened attentively, her understanding deepened significantly. After another period equivalent to the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Yu Qingtan emerged from her contemtion. The others had already begun to trickle out. At this moment, a cute girl in a pink dress came up to Yu Qingtan and sweetly asked, "Sister, hello, is this your first time attending the Lecture Hall?" Faced with a doe-eyed loli who was a head shorter than herself, Yu Qingtan felt smitten by her cuteness. "Yes, it is," Yu Qingtan replied with a smile. "Then, sister, would you need any of the past lectures'' Sound-recording Jade Slips? It''s only a thousand Spirit Stones each, do you want to buy some?" the girl in the pink dress sweetly asked, with the corners of her eyes slightly turned up, resembling a little, shrewd fox. Yu Qingtan''s mind stirred at the words; she wouldn''t be able to stay sequestered in the sect for extended periods, and having the recordings of the lectures on Jade Slips would be quite handy. "I would like to, but I don''t have many Spirit Stones, could you make it cheaper? How about a hundred Spirit Stones each?" Yu Qingtan put on a pitiful face as she spoke. The girl in the pink dress stiffened. "Sister, you''re driving a hard bargain here, the lowest I can go is five hundred Spirit Stones each. If you buy more than ten, there''s a 10% discount. I have thirty here," she said. "Deal, I''ll take all thirty," Yu Qingtan dered decisively. From the strange looks the nearby disciples gave her, Yu Qingtan felt she might have been overcharged. But as long as she felt it was worth it, that was all that mattered. "Sister is straightforward," The girl in the pink dress was somewhat surprised but responded happily. Yu Qingtan checked the Sound-recording Jade Slips and after confirming they were fine, she paid thirteen thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. The Jade Slips contained lectures from only five cultivators, which was quite normal. The so-called Dao is not to be imparted lightly, nor thew to be transmitted casually. Most cultivators were unwilling to have the contents of their lectures sold. The girl in the pink dress also gifted a Sound-recording Array Method that could be used for recording as well as ying the sound from the Sound-recording Jade Slips. After the transaction, both parties felt satisfied and departed, convinced they had made a good deal. Chapter 100: Chapter 100 Going Out for Trials and Fishing Again In a beautifully decorated room somewhere in Tianxiang Valley. A male cultivator was instructing a female cultivator in the practice of spells. "Master Ruan, how well have I practiced this water-based spell, ''Bounty for the Masses''?" a coquettish female voice inquired. "Not bad, you''ve achieved a minor level of proficiency, but you still need to practice diligently. Only when you can defeat the Golden Spear Technique, which I execute with my Qi Cultivation Stage spiritual power, will you be consideredpetent," Ruan Fan evaluated. "Master Ruan, you''re bullying me. With your extremely exquisite and unparalleled techniques, how could Qi''er possibly defeat you?" "How would you know if you haven''t even tried? Come on, practice it again." "Qi''er''s spiritual power is already depleted." "The best effects of practicee when your spiritual power is depleted." "Alright then!" Not until Fang Qi''s spiritual power was nearly exhausted and she copsed on the floor did Ruan Fan allow her to rest. "Has that girl been up to anythingtely?" Ruan Fan asked. "Nothing much; she hardly goes out. When she does leave, it''s just to visit the Scripture Pavilion, and she always returns early. That wretch pped mest time, Master Ruan, you must take my side." "Don''t worry, there will be an opportunity. You keep a close watch." "Master Ruan, I will. However, that girl Bai Xun, after being seen naked by Master Pang, had the shameless audacity to press on marrying him. It''s utterly disgraceful," "Bai Xun, eh? She''s a good girl too. If there''s a chance, I''ll also guide her in practicing spells," Ruan Fan said, squinting his eyes. "Master Ruan, I''m afraid that''s quite difficult. As her best friend, I know her the best; she''s quite stubborn." "No matter, heh, it''s better if she''s a bit stubborn." ... Ten dayster. Yu Qingtan had finished reading the free books in the Scripture Pavilion and had also learned the contents of the Sound-recording Jade Slips from the sermons. Recently, she had also noticed that someone was secretly observing her, but she didn''t care. She was about to leave Tianxiang Valley. Although Tianxiang Valley was nice, more than 90% of its inhabitants were females. Her Charm Points and Affection Value hadn''t increased much for some time now. Last time, Fang Ling made a breakthrough in Foundation Establishment and gained ten Affection Value points, but then a Heavenly Oath ended that opportunity. Of course, her main body would still remain in Tianxiang Valley. Having reached Foundation Establishment and mastered Fasting, she didn''t need to worry about her main body for a year and a half. One of the reasons she had joined Tianxiang Valley was exactly for this. Arriving at the Task Hall. The hall was very spacious. Upon entering, one could see a huge screen with a list of avable tasks disyed upon it. To the left was an area for automatically epting tasks and one for manual processing, and to the right was an area for submittingpleted tasks. Nearly a hundred disciples were present in the Task Hall, yet it didn''t feel crowded. Looking at the task list. "Manage the Spirit Medicine Garden, 5 Contribution Points per month; Take care of the spiritual crane, the Red-crowned Crane, 5 Contribution Points per month; Refine a Third Stage inferior-quality Magic Artifact, 1 Contribution Point each; Gather Nine-Leaf Qingling Grass, 1 Contribution Point per stalk; ... Hunt Rogue Rabbits, 3 Contribution Points each; ... Investigate the Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator lurking in Linxiang Town, 100 Contribution Points; ... "As the resident zither master at the Tianxiang Immortal City''s Raoliang Tea House, you will earn 10 contribution points every month." "This is the one!" After browsing through the entire task list, Yu Qingtan finally found one to her liking. She approached the automatic task assignment kiosk, swiped her identity jade, and checked the details of the task. "Tianxiang Immortal City''s Raoliang Tea House has seen the disappearance of two consecutive resident zither masters, urgently requiring a recement. Requirements: Qi Cultivation Stagete-phase or above, Zither Art highly aplished or above, and at least three months'' duration." After clicking to ept, Yu Qingtan went to the manual processing area, where her cultivation level and zither skills were verified in a small side hall, and after a manual registration, she sessfully epted the task. Arriving back at the Xiangfei Yaoyuan, Yu Qingtan went to Li Xingruo''s courtyard, triggered the formation, kind of like ringing a doorbell. She had been here once before and received no response, possibly because the owner was out. This time, however, it was different. After a dozen or so breaths, the formation fluctuated, and then the courtyard door opened automatically. Yu Qingtan entered. Li Xingruo''s small courtyard wasrger, arranged like the gardens of Jiangnan from Qing Tan''s previous life, with a pleasant scenery. The main door of the house was open, and Li Xingruo was inside, sitting in the living room, waiting for her with tea. "Qing Tan pays respects to Senior Sister Li!" "There''s no need for formalities, sit down. How have you beentely? Are you getting ustomed to life in the sect?" "Thanks to Senior Sister''s concern, Qing Tan is doing well. This time, I havee to inform Senior Sister that I have epted a task from the sect to be the resident zither master at Tianxiang Immortal City''s Raoliang Tea House, before I leave." "A task to Tianxiang Immortal City? You''re already earning forty to fifty thousand spirit stones each month from the Zhi Lan Pavilion; you''re not short on resources. You only need to take on one or two simple sect tasks to meet the requirements. What you need to focus on now is the Foundation Establishment. You should concentrate on your cultivation. I have some Foundation Establishment Pills; you can buy one from me at market price when the timees." Li Xingruo''s brows furrowed slightly, as she earnestly advised. "Moreover, I''ve received news that the Monkey-faced Eagle n has reissued the bounty on you, identical to the previous one. Families from within the valley, like the Luos and the Yans, will also target you. Leaving the valley for a task right now is very unwise." "Senior Sister, I have considered this thoroughly, but relentless cultivation is not Qing Tan''s path to cultivation. I am fully prepared, and I hope you can understand." Yu Qingtan said with a determined look in her eyes. Li Xingruo took a deep look at Yu Qingtan, admiring her aspirations as she considered her cultivation path even in the Qi Cultivation Stage, and did not try to discourage her further. She said: "If that is the case, then you must be extremely careful. Including this month, I''ll advance you three months'' ie from the Zhi Lan Pavilion, and also give you a Third Stage Escape Talisman, worth about a hundred thousand spirit stones, which will be deducted from your future earnings." Yu Qingtan received the one hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones and a Third Stage Talisman from Li Xingruo. "Thank you for your generous love, Senior Sister. Qing Tan will not disappoint Senior Sister''s expectations and will achieve Foundation Establishment as soon as possible!" After bidding farewell to Li Xingruo, Yu Qingtan returned to her ce, packed a bit, and then went to the sect''s Spirit Beast Hall, where she spent a hundred spirit stones to rent ate First Stage Spirit Crane. "Crane, take me to Tianxiang Immortal City!" Sitting on the back of the Spirit Crane, Yu Qingtan whispered softly. "Caw~" The Spirit Crane let out a call, then spread its wings and soared into the sky. There was a unique charm to travelling on a Spirit Crane, and Yu Qingtan had her own considerations for doing so. In a secluded corner of the sect, soon after Yu Qingtan left, a Communication Talisman was activated and sent on its way. With white clouds leisurely passing by and a gentle breeze on her face, Yu Qingtan was already thousands of miles away from the sect. Tianxiang Valley is located within the territory of the Human Race, and generally, there is no need to worry about encountering flying Demonic Beasts, but there could be other troubles. For instance, up ahead in midair stood a swordsman with his hands behind his back, exuding the formidable pressure ofte Foundation Establishment level spiritual power, a cultivator in yellow python robes: Ruan Fan. Yu Qingtan had the crane halt from afar. "Little girl, I''ve been waiting for you for a long time," Ruan Fan said indifferently. Now, taking a closer look at Yu Qingtan, he saw that her skin was fairer than snow, her figure delicate, and her face refined. She bore a resemnce to Fairy Yuan Qianrou, who ranked sixteenth on the Hundred Flowers List. Her eyebrows were just longer, her nose a bit lower, and her eyes slightly smaller, but those longshes made her eyes appear not so small after all, and in fact, quite enchanting. "No wonder young master Luo took a fancy to this girl. If she were trained into a female ve, it would indeed be quite nice!" Ruan Fan thought to himself. Chapter 101 Feigning Weakness to Defeat Ruan Fan Yu Qingtan "fearfully"y on the jittery Spirit Crane, saying, "Elder Martial Uncle, why are you here? What do you want to do?" Ruan Fan wore a sleazy andscivious smile on his face as he said, "Hehe, of course, I came here to take you back for practicing techniques!" After speaking, his sword flew forward. "Don''te over here! Ahhh~" Under the crushing presence of Ruan Fan''ste Foundation Establishment stage aura, the Spirit Crane''s eyes rolled back, and it fainted, dropping straight down. Higher-order creatures always exert a certain oppression on lower-order beings, the so-called deterrent force, and some methods can enhance this deterrent, creating "momentum." This deterrent force is easy to retract but not easy to form into "momentum." Yu Qingtan screamed "in fear." "Haha, don''t be afraid, your Elder Martial Uncle is here to save you!" Ruan Fanughed. He withdrew his spiritual power''s pressure, sped up with a shake, and rushed to Yu Qingtan''s side, hisrge hands reaching to embrace her slender waist. At the same time, he didn''t forget to throw out a-shaped magic artifact, catching the Spirit Crane. As Ruan Fan drew close, the fear on Yu Qingtan''s face had already disappeared, reced by a sneering cold smile. She violently kicked out with her right leg, aiming straight for Ruan Fan''s groin. "Aoww~" Apanied by the sound of cracking eggs, Ruan Fan let out a pained groan. He, confident in his profound cultivation, had not put up any defense. And Yu Qingtan, who had been honing herbat skills in the Yunhua Mountain Range, had long since developed the habit of striking at weak points. With the strength and power of her body-refined Foundation Establishment physique, that kick had severely crippled Ruan Fan. As for dignity, what need did she, a weak woman, have for dignity? Besides, there was no one else to see. As she kicked, Yu Qingtan had already unleashed a Decay and Flourish Technique attack and three condensed Water de attacks. Ruan Fan clearlyckedbat experience; after being kicked, he was too preupied with his painful howls to defend or counterattack. He was directly hit by the Decay and Flourish Technique and three Water des. But he was still ate Foundation Establishment cultivator after all; the Decay and Flourish Technique only turned his hair white, and even though the three Water des pierced his chest, he did not fall. But his aura had declined immensely, and he couldn''t even manage to stay on his sword, falling downward. "Ahh~" He screamed in agony, mixed with fear. Yu Qingtan flew forward on her sword, sealed his dantian with a finger, and then knocked him unconscious with a p to the back of his neck. She took his Storage Bag and then ced it into the System Space. She then sped up to catch the unconscious Spirit Crane, also cing it into the System Space. Immediately after, she sped away on her sword. The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, done in one go. Underneath an unassuming hillside, Yu Qingtan dumped out the contents of Ruan Fan''s Storage Bag, which had been purified with a Purification Spell. As usual, she cast a Purification Spell first. Then she began to take stock. The most abundant items were surprisingly a pile of women''s dresses. There were even many bras, stockings, and hip-hugging skirts. "Pah~ Old lecher!" Yu Qingtan spat disdainfully and began to look at the valuable items. One hundred ten thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones, one hundred fifty Medium Grade Spirit Stones. One high-quality Spiritual Artifact golden spear called the Purple-Gold Spear, one high-quality Spiritual Artifact armor called Golden Light Armor. One high-quality Spiritual Artifact level Spirit Boat named Cloudflow Boat. Fifteen drops of Second Stage Spirit Dew. Three bottles of Second Stage Purple Spirit Pills. One Charm Treasure inscribed with the pattern of a small blue sword. A set of Second Stage, Medium Grade Spirit Gathering Array. There were also some misceneous items that Yu Qingtan didn''t need. "As expected of someone living off others, quite rich indeed," she mused. Yu Qingtan happily stored these belongings in her System Space. As for Ruan Fan, she had avoided his vitals, so he wasn''t going to die immediately. Thest time she killed the senior Daoist, even Golden Core Cultivators left behind countermeasures. The Qis, a Foundation Establishment family, even possessed Secret Techniques like the Blood Tracking Technique. Yan Xi had mentioned there were three Golden Core Cultivators in her family; directly ughtering her father risked them having some means to trace back to her. It was better to find an opportunityter to toss him into the den of Demonic Beasts to end this once and for all. With the Spirit Stones sponsored by Ruan Fan and the advance payment from Li Xingruo, Yu Qingtan employed "Love''s Tribute." She replicated the Second Stage Great Sess Blood Control Technique of Fang Ling after Foundation Establishment, the Small Sess Second Stage Array Breaking Talisman drawing skills of Fu Nian, and some Perfected First Stage Spells. Only a little over thirty thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones were left. However, Yu Qingtan wasn''t distressed; Spirit Stones were meant to be spent. She opened the system panel. [Cultivation Level: Mid-stage Foundation Establishment 500/50000, Body Refinement Foundation Establishment initial stage 20/20000] [Cultivation Technique: Greenwave Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] [Spell: Second Stage Purification Spell, Water Escape Technique, Water de Technique Perfected, Second Stage Water Curtain Technique, Object Controlling Technique, Breath-Concealing Technique, Decay and Flourish Technique, Blood Control Technique Great Sess, Second Stage Soul Cleansing Technique Beginner, Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique Small Sess, First Stage Wood Escape Technique and other First Stage Spells Perfected, Illusion Dance Technique Small Sess] [Charm Points: 3124] [Affection Value: 79] Yu Qingtan then refined Ruan Fan''s High Grade Spiritual Artifacts: Purple-Gold Spear, Golden Light Armor, Cloudflow Boat, and a green small sword Charm Treasure. Armed with these, as long as she didn''t encounter an enemy in the Golden Core Stage, Yu Qingtan was confident she could handle them. After tidying up, Yu Qingtan disguised herself as a female Loose Cultivator and set off straight for Tianxiang Immortal City on her sword. An hourter, Yu Qingtan arrived at Tianxiang Immortal City. Tianxiang Immortal City, as its name suggests, was closely rted to Tianxiang Valley. In fact, Tianxiang Immortal City was the closest Immortal City to Tianxiang Valley and had always been under its control, with two Golden Core Cultivators of Tianxiang Valley stationed there all year round. The area of Tianxiang Immortal City was about three times that of Suichuan Immortal City, inhabited by about three million cultivators. Additionally, unlike the remote Suichuan Immortal City, Tianxiang Immortal City was near the bustling Lan River in, the most flourishing area of cultivation in the Southeast Region, and was not far from the Lan River, thergest river in the Southeast Region, making it exceedingly prosperous. Every year, the poption of transient cultivators was also in the hundreds of thousands. Approaching Tianxiang Immortal City, one could see some low-lying building clusters from afar. That was the city''s outer slum area, where nearly a million Loose Cultivators lived. Yu Qingtan went directly to the city gate on her sword. After paying ten Spirit Stones, she, a Foundation Establishment senior, was respectfully issued an unlimited temporary residency jade token for the Immortal City. Not going to lie, being a senior felt pretty good. Then, Yu Qingtan started wandering around Tianxiang Immortal City. Compared to Suichuan Immortal City, Tianxiang Immortal City''s greenery was very well-done, and there were more smiles on the faces of the cultivators on the streets. Yu Qingtan saw familiar ces like the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, Spirit Clothing Pavilion, Zhi Lan Pavilion, and the Arena. There was even a Tianxiang Pavilion. Brothels, tea houses, pubs, magic artifact shops, talismans, and elixirs were the main industries operated by Tianxiang Valley. It''s just that Suichuan Immortal City was remote, and Tianxiang Valley mainly operated Tianxiang Pavilion there. Yu Qingtan, under the identity of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, liquidated a batch of unused but unmarked spoils of war at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, then purchased materials for refining magic artifact clothing, basic talisman drawing skills, talisman pens, and talisman paper, etc. It was a pity that there was neither Second Stage Spirit Dew nor Second Stage Wastnd Crystal for sale. Leaving Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Yu Qingtan arrived at a shop named Heavenly Secret Tower. "Fellow Daoist, what do you require?" A white-bearded Foundation Establishment senior Daoist received Yu Qingtan in what seemed to be a VIP room. "I need a detailed dossier on the Extreme Path Demon Sect and True Monarch Geduo of the Extreme Path Demon Sect, as well as a copy of the Pride of the Heavens List and the Hundred Flowers List," she asked. Chapter 102 The Sound that Lingers for More Than Three Years The white-bearded Daoist looked up in surprise at Yu Qingtan, who was wearing a disguising mask, and said, "Detailed information on the Extreme Path Demon Sect, fifty thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones; detailed information on the Extreme Path Demon Sect''s Master of Tribtions, eight thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones; the Pride of the Heavens List and the Hundred Flowers List, one hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones each. Fellow Daoist, are you sure you want to buy these materials?" Yu Qingtan felt a bit embarrassed; she had made somewhat of a blunder. However, she asked with an unchanged expression, "How many Spirit Stones for the basic information on the Extreme Path Demon Sect and the Master of Tribtions?" "Six hundred and one hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones, respectively." "Is it possible to settle with Lower Grade Spirit Stones?" "We can settle with Lower Grade Spirit Stones at a rate of one hundred twenty to one." "Then give me a set of the basic information on the Extreme Path Demon Sect''s Master of Tribtions, one Pride of the Heavens List, and one Hundred Flowers List." Upon leaving the Heavenly Secret Tower, Yu Qingtan had once again spent almost half of the Lower Grade Spirit Stones she had earned selling spoils of war at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. "Spirit Stones really burn a hole through the pocket." After leaving the Heavenly Secret Tower, Yu Qingtan found a deserted corner to switch into a white dress, reverting to her original appearance. She used the Breath-Concealing Technique to conceal her aura and arrived at the destination of her mission¡ªthe Raoliang Tea House. Given the normal flying speed of a Spirit Crane, she should have arrived by now. It is said that long ago, a Golden Core precursor from Tianxiang Valley had yed zither andprehended the Dao at this tea house, seeding after three years. After ying a piece on the zither, the lingering sound remained in the beams for three years before dissipating. Hence the tea house got its name. Comprehending one Dao is one of the basic requirements for entering the Nascent Soul Stage. The tea house was also quiterge, with a business area spread over three floors, tables arranged in a ring, and a performance stage in the center. At the moment, the tea house was somewhat quiet with only a dozen or so customers. Yu Qingtan walked straight to the counter and said to the young girl standing inside, "Hello, I am Yu Qingtan, an Inner Sect Disciple of Tianxiang Valley, here to take up the position of the resident Zither Art sitter." The young girl''s eyes lit up with surprise as she said, "Sister, hello, please wait a moment, I''ll notify the manager." With that, she dashed into the back of the tea house. Soon, the plump middle-aged woman in a white dress, the manager of the Raoliang Tea House, received Yu Qingtan in a room in the back courtyard. "I am Xiang Yu, the manager of Raoliang Tea House, formerly an Inner Sect Disciple of Tianxiang Valley as well. You can just call me Martial Aunt. Wee to Raoliang Tea House." Manager Xiang Yu said. "I''ve met Martial Aunt Xiang; I''m looking forward to your kind care." Yu Qingtan greeted solemnly. "We''re all family here. Our tea house has not been doing as well over the past two months because wecked a zither sitter, as our main attraction is listening to the Roaming Zither piece while enjoying Cloud Mist Tea. Your arrival this time should improve things quite a bit. This is my niece Xiang Ru; try some of our signature Lu Mountain Mist Tea." Xiang Yu said, looking at the young girl, who was currently brewing tea for them. Xiang Ru, the same girl who had been at the counter before, was probably only about eleven or twelve years old, lively and adorable. The Cloud Mist Tea was green and fragrant, and Yu Qingtan took a sip to find it refreshing and rich, with a faint orchid aroma. "Good tea, truly worthy of being a supreme grade Spiritual Tea produced by Lu Mountain." Yu Qingtan praised. Yu Qingtan had learned from the free scriptures in the Scripture Pavilion that Lu Mountain was a peak outside Tianxiang Valley, with a field of Spiritual Tea trees on its summit, nicknamed Cloud Mist Tea because the peak was often shrouded in mist. Among them was one Third Stage, several Second Stage, and hundreds of First Stage Cloud Mist Spiritual Tea trees, a significant resource point for Tianxiang Valley. Obviously, the tea that Yu Qingtan was drinking now was only First Stage Spiritual Tea, but it was indeed quite delicious. "Martial Aunt Xiang, I heard that thest two resident zither sitters disappeared without a trace. Do you know what happened?" "Ah, that''s really strange. They were both fine ying the zither on the day, and people saw them enter their rooms, but by the next day, they were gone. Everything in the rooms was as usual, no Protective Array had been activated or broken, and nomotions were heard." Xiang Yu sighed. "Some people are saying that the tea house is haunted," interjected Xiang Ru, who had also taken a seat. "Be quiet, Qin Tan, don''t listen to her nonsense. How can there be ghosts in such a big Immortal City? Qin Tan, you can rest assured. This time I''ve arranged for you to stay next to my room. The Protective Array is a high-grade Second Stage with an easily triggered rm feature. You will definitely be safe." Xiang Yu said, and she was also worried that something might happen to Yu Qingtan again, or that she was afraid to go back directly. "Thank you, Uncle Xiang, Qingtan is not afraid." Yu Qingtan stated her stance. After chatting for a while longer, Xiang Yu and Xiang Ru took Yu Qingtan to the room prepared for her. The room was located at the very back of the courtyard, quite spacious, and decorated with elegant simplicity. "Qingtan, my room is right next door, and there is also a sister from the Battle Hall in retreat in another room nearby. With the two of us, Foundation Establishmentte stage cultivators, here, you can be at ease." "Come, look, this is the treasure of our tea house, the Roaming Zither. The predecessor who used to be hereprehended the Dao through ying this zither. Unfortunately, she failed in her attempt to reach the Nascent Soul Stage, and the zither fell from a Supreme Treasure to a High-Grade Spiritual Artifact. A poem in its praise says: In a tune of lovesickness, the Great Dao approaches, lingering for three years with echoes remaining. Pity the scent is gone and jade breaks, mourned at dusk, revered at dawn across the four seas. In ordance with the predecessor''sst wish, the valley has kept this zither in the Raoliang Tea House, making it this establishment''s treasured possession. However, it requires at least a masterful Zither Art to be able to y it. Would you like to give it a try now?" Xiang Yu brought Yu Qingtan inside the room, pointing at an ancient ck zither and looking at her with a hint of scrutiny in her eyes. Yu Qingtan liked the Roaming Zither at first sight and said, "It would be a great honor!" Without further ado, she sat down and tested the sound. The bass was rich and deep, the mid-tones mellow and correct, the treble clear and bright. "Indeed, a magnificent zither!" Then, the melody of the "Love of Butterfly Lovers" slowly emerged. After the piece ended, the echoes lingered in the beams, not dissipating for a full thirty breaths. Xiang Yu and Xiang Ru couldn''t help but start pping. "Qingtan, one so young yet already showing the signs of a master, impressive. This piece, a newposition that has been recently introduced, and yet you yed it so beautifully, shows a profound understanding!" Xiang Yu praised. "To be honest, Uncle Xiang, Qingtan has just recently joined the Tianxiang Valley from Tianxiang Pavilion in Suichuan Immortal City, and this ''Love of Butterfly Lovers'' piece is my creation." Yu Qingtan said without a hint of embarrassment. "That is so!" Xiang Yu eximed in surprise. "Sister Qingtan, you are too amazing!" Xiang Ru''s eyes were starry, turning into a little fangirl. Pity it isn''t a man, otherwise, Affection Value would have been gained. "Uncle, junior sister, you tter me too much." "No need for modesty, this Roaming Zither is temporarily yours to look after. This zither is made from thousand-year Parasol Tree Wood and silk spun by a Demon King level Ice Silkworm. It has a hint of spirituality, and though it was greatly damaged during the Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribtion, it cannot be stored in a storage item. All right, the sky is also getting dark. You should rest now!" Xiang Yu grew more satisfied with Yu Qingtan and suggested she rest early. After the two left, Yu Qingtan closed the room door and activated the Protective Array. She looked at the ck Roaming Zither. While she was ying the zither, there was an inexplicable throbbing in the depths of her heart. She felt as though there wereplex emotions like excitement, resistance, and greed within the zither. "There''s definitely something wrong with this zither. Perhaps the disappearances of the previous two zither masters have something to do with it. Does Uncle Xiang know what''s wrong with this zither?" Yu Qingtan looked toward the wall on Xiang Yu''s side of the room with deep, profound eyes. Chapter 103 The Pride of the Heavens List and the Hundred Flowers List ``` Yu Qingtan examined the Roaming Zither carefully with her Divine Sense, but unfortunately, she didn''t discover anything. She also tried to store it in the System Space, yet she failed. After some thought, Yu Qingtan sat down and began to y "Purification of Soul". Her Spiritual Power circted within her body, while she simultaneously operated the Soul Cleansing Technique. The might of the Technique unfolded with the zither''s melody, making Yu Qingtan feel her soul be crystal clear. At this moment, her astral body was out, so she couldn''t practice the Greenwave Technique or the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art to improve her Cultivation Level, but she could still practice Spells and Arts. It just so happened that both her Zither Art and Soul Cleansing Technique needed diligent practice. Indeed, befitting its existence as a former Supreme Treasure, even though she couldn''t refine it, Yu Qingtan also felt that the effect of the Soul Cleansing Technique was much better when using the Roaming Zitherpared to when she used the Spring Condensing Zither before. She yed the entire night without any anomalies urring. So Yu Qingtan stopped. She took out three Jade Slips that she had purchased from the Heavenly Secret Tower. The Heavenly Secret Tower is a mysterious power; no one knows where its headquarters are located, and it specializes in collecting information and deducing the secrets of heaven. "Diviners forecast the past and present, starry eyes prate the deep abyss. Fully aware of the affairs under the heavens, they resolve all worldly worries." These lines describe the Heavenly Secret Tower. It was an obvious fact that all major powers were wary of the Heavenly Secret Tower because it controlled so much information. Once, a power at the level of Divinity Transformation made a move to eradicate the Heavenly Secret Tower, only for that power to quickly and inexplicably be the target of various factions themselves, which led to their ultimate disintegration. That''s when everyone understood that the Heavenly Secret Tower was not to be trifled with. Additionally, the Heavenly Secret Tower has always imed to maintainplete neutrality and indeed lived up to its word. This is why the major powers tolerated the existence of the Heavenly Secret Tower. The Pride of the Heavens List and the Hundred Flowers List are ranking lists published by the Heavenly Secret Tower, but they are only for their respective domains. The Pride of the Heavens List includes the names of one hundred young talents under the age of thirty, primarily ranked ording to their talent andbat power. The Hundred Flowers List includes the names of one hundred female cultivators under the age of twenty-five, primarily ranked ording to their beauty and talent. Yu Qingtan began to examine these two lists. "Pride of the Heavens List First ce, Cangqiong Sword Sect, Wu Di, 28 years old, Nascent Soul Initial Stage, Supreme Thunder Spiritual Root, Sword Dao Body; Pride of the Heavens List Second ce, Star Moon Sect, Xu Fang, 24 years old, Late Stage of the Golden Core, Supreme Ice Spirit Root, Starlight Dao Body; Pride of the Heavens List Third ce, Extreme Dao Sect, Luo Fanchen, 26 years old, Late Stage of the Golden Core, Supreme Metal Spirit Root; Pride of the Heavens List Fourth ce, Red Dust Sect, Xi Jiu Chong, 27 years old, Late Stage of the Golden Core, Supreme Dark Spirit Root; Pride of the Heavens List Fifth ce, Wendao Sect, Baili Ya, 29 years old, Late Stage of the Golden Core, Superior Thunder Spirit Root; Pride of the Heavens List Sixth ce, The World Academy Southeast Branch, Liu Maocai, 29 years old, Late Stage of the Golden Core, Superior Wood Spirit Root; ... Pride of the Heavens List Thirty-First ce, Wendao Sect, Feng Buji, 21 years old, Golden Core Initial Stage, Superior Wind Spirit Root; ... Pride of the Heavens List Eighty-Sixth ce, Tianxiang Valley, Huangfu Yun, 22 years old, Golden Core Initial Stage, Superior Water Spirit Root; ... Yu Qingtan couldn''t help but be astonished as she read. "Wow, almost all are under thirty and at the Golden Core Stage, with the first one already at the Nascent Soul Stage. What''s more, those at the top are almost exclusively from the major Divinity Transformation Sects." In the Pride of the Heavens List, there are two individuals ranked with Foundation Establishment Cultivation Levels, but both possess Dao Bodies. Most profiles also include some of their achievements, which are generally feats of oveing the odds, such as fighting outnumbered battles or defeating higher-ranked opponents, and then emerging victorious. Looking at this made Yu Qingtan''s blood pulse with excitement. In the Pride of the Heavens List, Yu Qingtan recognized one and a half individuals: one was Wendao Sect''s Feng Buji, and the half was Tianxiang Valley''s Huangfu Yun. ``` ``` Huangfu Yun was indeed the current Valley Master of Tianxiang Valley, which Yu Qingtan had seen in the records of Tianxiang Valley, along with a portrait and some introduction. Although she was only in the early stage of the Golden Core, she had killed a Late Stage Third Order Heavenly Demon on her own. It was a direct, solo kill, not like Yu Qingtan, who took advantage of a situation. After finishing with the Pride of the Heavens List, Yu Qingtan started looking at the Hundred Flowers List. "The first on the Hundred Flowers List: Xu Fang of Star Moon Sect, 24 years old, Late Stage of the Golden Core, Supreme Ice Spirit Root, Starlight Dao Body, known to the world as the Descending Fairy; The second on the Hundred Flowers List: Li Qingxuan of Extreme Dao Sect, 20 years old, Middle Stage of the Golden Core, Supreme Metal Spirit Root, known to the world as the Splendid Heavenly Saber. The third on the Hundred Flowers List: Qi Xun of Qunfang Pavilion, 21 years old, Middle Stage of the Golden Core, Supreme Water Spirit Root, known to the world as the Exquisite Jade Face. The fourth on the Hundred Flowers List: Duan Qingying of Qunfang Pavilion, 22 years old, Middle Stage of the Golden Core, High-Quality Wood Spirit Root, known to the world as the Fairy of Clear Shadows. The fifth on the Hundred Flowers List: Ye Yue of Red Dust Sect, 23 years old, Middle Stage of the Golden Core, High-Quality Light Spirit Root, known to the world as Princess Ye Yue. The sixth on the Hundred Flowers List: Tan Suqin of Wendao Sect, 23 years old, Middle Stage of the Golden Core, High-Quality Wood Spirit Root, known to the world as Fairy Su Qin. ... The sixteenth on the Hundred Flowers List: Yuan Qianrou of Qunfang Pavilion, 21 years old, Early Stage of the Golden Core, High-Quality Fire Spirit Root, known to the world as Fairy Qianrou; ... The neenth on the Hundred Flowers List: Bai Junjun of Extreme Dao Sect, 22 years old, Early Stage of the Golden Core, High-Quality Water Spirit Root, known to the world as the Jade Foot Witch; ... The twenty-third on the Hundred Flowers List: Huangfu Yun of Tianxiang Valley, 22 years old, Early Stage of the Golden Core, High-Quality Water Spirit Root, known to the world as Fairy of Water Rhythm; ... The ny-second on the Hundred Flowers List: Li Xingruo of Tianxiang Valley, 20 years old, Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, High-Quality Water and Wood Dual Spirit Roots, known to the world as Fairy Xingruo; ... Most of the individuals had portraits following their descriptions, though some did not, possibly due to ack of consent from the person themselves. For those with portraits, they indeed all had a majestic bearing, stunningly beautiful beyondpare. "This Fairy Qianrou really does look a lot like me." Yu Qingtan frowned slightly, as Yuan Qianrou''s facial features were very much like her own, though with a higher nose andrger eyes, which made her appear more attractive. Yu Qingtan felt a slight irritation in her heart. "My eyebrows are prettier than yours, hmph!" Why did Yu Qingtan buy these two lists? Of course, it was to understand them and then strive to be listed on them. Although these two lists were incredibly expensive, being listed would undoubtedly significantly increase her fame, making it easier to gain Charm Points and Affection Value, right? If she could be like Xu Fang of Star Moon Sect, second on the Pride of the Heavens List and first on the Hundred Flowers List, then everything would be going well. "No, Yu Qingtan, you''re someone with an advantage; aiming for first ce on both lists should be your goal." Yu Qingtan admonished herself, then put away the two Jade Slips and started looking at the third one. "The Venerable Cmity Crosser of Extreme Dao Sect, a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, disciple of Six Desires Venerable of Extreme Dao Sect, specializes in the path of cmities, achieved Nascent Soul eighty years ago. His lifebound artifact is the Cmity Bead, excelling in fire and poison Techniques, with a penchant for beauty and a capricious personality. After achieving Nascent Soul, he opened the lineage of Cmity Peak, with three personal disciples. The eldest disciple, Xiao Yan, Early Stage of the Golden Core; the second disciple Chu Yu, Early Stage of the Golden Core; the third disciple Ru Yao, Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. He recently took a female cultivator with a Fortune Cultivation Body from Suichuan Immortal City by force, intending to use her as a furnace for cultivation. Currently, he is in seclusion in Cmity Peak of Extreme Dao Sect while nurturing said ''cultivation furnace.'' It is rumored that the Venerable Cmity Crosser and his third disciple Ru Yao have an affair." "Wanning, wait for me!" As she looked at the information about the Venerable Cmity Crosser, Yu Qingtan''s eyes turned icy cold. "If Wu Di of Cangqiong Sword Sect became a Nascent Soul at 28, then me, with my supreme-grade spirit root and advantage, bing a Nascent Soul at 20 isn''t too much to ask! When that timees, it will be the end for that Cmity Crossing Old Scoundrel." Yu Qingtan clenched her fists. Then, she took out the basic knowledge of talisman making and began to study. She had copied the skill of creating the Second Stage proficient Array Breaking Talisman from Fu Nian and a well-developed Fireball Talisman from a Qi Cultivation Stage Devotee. It was time toy a solid foundation and master the craft of talisman making. ``` The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 104 The Ballad of Falling Flowers Reveals a Conspiracy The following day. A huge advertisement board was ced at the entrance of the Raoliang Tea House. "Composer of ''Love of Butterfly Lovers,'' zither prodigy, fashion trendsetter, Inner Sect Disciple of Tianxiang Valley, Yu Qingtan, will be the resident musician at Raoliang Tea House starting today! First-day consumption, 10% off for the entire venue!" Below it, there was also a portrait of Yu Qingtan sitting and ying the zither, exactly as she was dressed today. Her hair was braided into two its and fixed at the back of her head in the shape of an 8 with a hair essory, while bangs covered her forehead, and two locks of hair draped over her shoulders down her front. She was wearing a goose-yellow chest-high robe skirt with a light green gauze garment over the upper body and a pair of light yellow cloth shoes. There were plum blossom embroideries on the skirt hem, gauze garment, and the surface of the shoes. This outfit was made by Yu Qingtan ording to a set of clothing designs she had won in a draw called ''Falling Petal Bad.'' Yu Qingtan''s own appraisal was, "So beautiful it bubbles." It was naturally Yu Qingtan''s idea to ce an advertisement. The Lichuan Cultivation World did have some understanding of advertising, but not much. As expected, once the advertisement was out, the number of customers significantly increased. The cheapest tea at the Raoliang Tea House only cost one Spirit Stone per pot, which was quite affordable. Yu Qingtan''s work hours were during the morning Si hour, afternoon Wei hour, and evening Xu hour, totaling three periods. Right on the Si hour, Yu Qingtan appeared on the performance stage of the tea house with the Roaming Zither in her arms. By this time, seventy to eighty percent of the seats in the tea house were already filled. Seeing Yu Qingtan, who was even more beautiful than her portrait, everyone was struck silent, staring dumbfounded at her. There were no opening remarks, no warm-up. Yu Qingtan sat down, ced the zither down, and began ying ''Love of Butterfly Lovers.'' The melodious tune resonated, captivating the customers, who listened spellbound, many of them forgetting even to drink their tea. After the music ended, the echo lingered among the beams. Thirty breathster, a round of enthusiastic apuse broke out. The apuse ceased. The melodious sound of the zither rose again. The piece was ''Yearning.'' This was a teaching piece for learning the zither, and also a ssic piece for Daoprehension by the seniors of Tianxiang Valley. The third piece, ''Small River.'' The fourth piece, ''High Mountain.'' The fifth piece, ''Flowing Water.'' ... Thest piece was ''Xiaoxiang Water Clouds.'' ''Xiaoxiang Water Clouds'' was not a piece from the Lichuan Cultivation World, but rather one from Yu Qingtan''s past life. The thick-skinned Yu Qingtan naturally presented it as another new piece of her own. After the performance concluded, Yu Qingtan bowed and then carried the zither off the stage. Now somewhat of a celebrity, she needed to maintain her demeanor. She left behind guests gazing after her figure, reluctant to leave, each of them taking a bamboo stick from their tea table and throwing it into a basket in front of the stage. This was considered a tip for Yu Qingtan, one Spirit Stone per bamboo stick, limited to one per person. "This Miss Qingtan is too beautiful, I must support!" "Indeed, outrageously beautiful! Support, support!" "Love, love, love!" "From now on, I''lle every day, don''t ask why, if you do, it''s because I love tea." ... "Daoist Zhang, I told you that the sign outside Raoliang Tea House wasn''t an exaggeration, this Miss Qingtan''s zither skills are extraordinary,parable to a master, and herst new piece especially was awe-inspiring!" "Daoist Li, I misspoke earlier, Miss Qingtan''s zither skills are unparalleled, far surpassing mine, Zhang is ashamed." ... "Daoist Wang, Miss Qingtan''s zither music lingers for a full thirty breaths, even longer than the previous musicians, this pot of ten Spirit Stone Cloud Mist Tea was well worth it!" "Fellow Daoist Zhao, to be able to hear such celestial music for just ten Spirit Stones is more than satisfactory. Moreover, Miss Qing Tan''s attire is so pleasing to the eye, it''s simply a steal." ... "Sister Liu, Miss Qing Tan''s outfit is so pretty, isn''t it? She truly lives up to being called a trendsetter. I''m going to make a few copies of it when I get back." "You, you just love pretty clothes. She ys the zither so well, yet you don''t appreciate it." "Sister Liu, I''m tone-deaf, you know, but it does sound very nice indeed." ... Yu Qingtan looked at the Charm Points and Affection Value slowly increasing on her system panel, feeling very content. "What fine ''cash crops''!" Although the tips she received could only yield a tenth, the acquisition of Charm Points and Affection Value was satisfying enough for her. ... Ten dayster, even though the signboard at the entrance had long been taken down, Raoliang Tea House was packed with customers every day. Some people even arrived early to queue at the teahouse door, waiting for it to open. Each day, Yu Qingtan''s Charm Points increased by about two thousand, and her Affection Value by over forty. That night, after finishing her work, Yu Qingtan nned to return to her room as usual and work on her talisman-crafting technique. But Xiang Ru stopped her at the door. "Sister Qing Tan, Auntie asked me to get the Roaming Zither from you; she needs to maintain it." As she spoke, Xiang Ru''s eyes gleamed with excitement. She hadpletely be Qing Tan''s adoring fan. After Qing Tan gave her a dress that suited her, she became utterly obedient to Qing Tan. "Xiang Ru, does Uncle Xiang Yu often maintain the Roaming Zither?" Yu Qingtan asked. "Not that often, I guess, perhaps once a year? Strange, wasn''t it just maintained a month ago?" Xiang Ru said, puzzled. Yu Qingtan''s eyes shed, then she handed the zither to Xiang Ru. "Since Uncle Xiang Yu requires maintenance, you better take it to her quickly, don''t keep her waiting." "Yes, yes, of course." ... The next day, Xiang Ru returned the Roaming Zither to Yu Qingtan early in the morning. Yu Qingtan continued her normal work. Another five days passed. At night, Yu Qingtan finally went to sleep. She was sleeping very little these days. An odorless, colorless smoke began to emanate from the Roaming Zither. Yu Qingtan felt her head grow foggy, and it took a long time before she slowly woke up again. She found herself lying in a strange ce, surrounded by white haze. She extended her Divine Sense and discovered four girl-like figures sitting with their heads down, each with a zither before them. She checked her body and found that her cultivation had been sealed. A figure in a white dress, resembling Xiang Yu but appearing somewhat older, abruptly appeared in front of Yu Qingtan. "You''re awake. Tsk, tsk, a 15-year-old at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and indeed possessing a celestial-grade Spirit Root, haha, heaven truly blesses me! Hahaha..." The figureughed heartily as she spoke. Yu Qingtan retreated warily and asked, "Who are you? Where am I?" "As the rare owner of a celestial-grade Spirit Root, naturally you shouldn''t die in ignorance. I am Xiang Jin, the former Golden Core Cultivator from Tianxiang Valley who perished in the Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribtion at Raoliang Tea House. But actually, I didn''tpletely perish. During the lightning tribtion, my Lifebound Magical Treasure, the Roaming Zither, was almost elevated to a Taoist Instrument, but it fell just short of developing an Artifact Spirit. I also sustained serious injuries from the tribtion and couldn''t withstand the final heavenly lightning. Thus, I chose to enter the Roaming Zither with my soul, bing its Artifact Spirit. This ce is the Taoist Instrument space within the Roaming Zither." Upon hearing this, Qing Tan understood and asked apprehensively, "Since you are a senior from Tianxiang Valley, what is your intention in bringing me here?" Chapter 105 Millennia of Schemes Turn to Naught "Haha, although I didn''tpletely fall, both Roaming Zither and I were seriously injured in thest Heavenly Tribtion, but I had made arrangements long before. Ten years ago, I finally woke up, and after ten years of recuperation, my soul had recovered to thete stage of Foundation Establishment, and I had prepared everything. I didn''t expect to be presented with such a body with a fairy-grade Spirit Root, truly a blessing from heaven for me, Xiang Jin!" "You... you want to take... take possession of me?" Yu Qingtan shrank back, her voice trembling a bit. "Correct, if I hadn''t discovered that you were hiding your Cultivation Level, I would have been worried about not being able to take you down, and I would have lost my patience the first day. Fortunately, my good junior had prepared the Dream Inducing Incense for me." "It''s... it''s Xiang Shi Uncle?" Yu Qingtan wore a look of "disbelief." "Yes, if it weren''t for her help, I would have had to put in a lot of effort with this Minor Four Ghosts Heavenly Array. Now, with the assistance of the Minor Four Ghosts Heavenly Sound Array, my sess rate of possession nearly reaches a full hundred percent. Alright, I''ve already mercifully exined so much to you, good girl, let your body be mine and help me achieve my path!" After Xiang Jin finished speaking, the four girls surrounding her suddenly lifted their heads, their hands starting to y the zither, a strange melody that Yu Qingtan had never heard before. The music resonated with the space, enveloping Yu Qingtan and causing a heavy oppression on her soul. Xiang Jin also turned into a beam of white light and rushed into Yu Qingtan''s mind. Unfortunately, she didn''t see the mischievous smile on Yu Qingtan''s lips. As is well known, most transmigrators are not afraid of possession at all. Because they themselves are possessors, and a body cannot be possessed twice. Moreover, Yu Qingtan had System Space as her father. Therefore, as Xiang Jin''s soul entered into Yu Qingtan''s Sea of Consciousness, a mysterious fluctuation emanated from the depths of the Sea of Consciousness, directly shattering Xiang Jin''s soul into pure soul force, which was absorbed by Yu Qingtan''s own soul. She died quietly, without a stir. How tragic. Yu Qingtan naturally noticed something amiss about Xiang Yu''s disappearance and the whole zither yer incident, but she was now brave and skilled, and besides, this was only an avatar. She couldmit suicide at any moment, and then her consciousness would return to her main body. Soon, Xiang Jin''s soul force waspletely absorbed by Yu Qingtan, since Xiang Jin''s soul was only at thete stage of Foundation Establishment, not much different from Yu Qingtan''s, really. This was still the result of the Minor Four Ghosts Heavenly Sound Array severely suppressing Yu Qingtan''s soul from the outside. Facing the uncontrolled Minor Four Ghosts Heavenly Sound Array, Yu Qingtan took out four Second Stage Array Breaking Talismans. She activated them and aimed at the foreheads of the four girls, immediately stopping the operation of the Minor Four Ghosts Heavenly Sound Array. This was naturally the result of Yu Qingtan''s recent diligent work on talisman crafting, as well as spending Affection Value to purchase Skill Upgrade Cards to improve her skills. Now, she was truly a Second Stage Talisman Master, although for now, the only Second Stage talisman she knew was the Array Breaking Talisman. Looking at the bodies of the four girls, Yu Qingtan sighed, using the Fireball Technique to turn them into ash. She felt a connection with Roaming Zither. With a thought, Yu Qingtan returned to her room. Attempting to put Roaming Zither into System Space, she seeded. Yu Qingtan then looked in the direction of Xiang Yu''s room. She did nothing. The next morning, Yu Qingtan who should havee out to prepare for the day, did not appear, and there was no response when Xiang Ru knocked on her door. Feeling somewhat panicked, Xiang Ru went to inform Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu sighed inwardly, asking Xiang Ru to wait outside as she opened the formation of Yu Qingtan''s room and entered, closing the door behind her. As soon as she entered, she noticed that the Roaming Zither, which should have been on the table, was gone. She had just turned to look for Yu Qingtan, or rather, Xiang Jin. That''s when Yu Qingtan, invisible, touched a point on Xiang Yu''s Dantian with her finger, sealing her Cultivation Level. Although Yu Qingtan was only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, she barely managed it with a surprise attack. At the same time, Yu Qingtan''s Crescent Magpie Hairpin was already pressed against Xiang Yu''s neck. Faced with this sudden event, Xiang Yu was surprisingly calm. "It seems that the ancestral spirit has failed," Xiang Yu said with a mix of sadness, relief, and constion. "Aunt Xiang really does know everything, huh!" Yu Qingtan said coldly. "Yes, our Xiang family has always followed the arrangements of our ancestors, with each generation guarding the Roaming Zither. As a result, ten years ago the soul of Xiang Jin, our ancestor within the Roaming Zither, awakened and tasked me with finding five young girls with exceptional zither skills and talent. I spent nine years and found two for her, but as her patience dwindled, she also harmed the two zither masters sent by Tianxiang Valley. After your arrival, I thought you would quickly share their fate, but you didn''t. That day I specifically asked her about it and learned that you had hidden your real cultivation level; she was afraid she couldn''t overpower you. She asked me for the Dream Inducing Incense, and I knew she was going to make a move in the next few days," Xiang Yu said calmly. "You really are a good master uncle, aren''t you?" Yu Qingtan said with sarcasm. "Ah, I didn''t want this either, but our Xiang family no longer has any Golden Core Cultivators. Our ancestor''s appearance gave me a glimmer of hope. But now that things have failed, I''m afraid our Xiang family is truly doomed. I just hope you can spare Xiang Ru; she knows nothing about this," Xiang Yu looked at Yu Qingtan and said. "Hmph, swear a Heavenly Oath to keep this matter and my secret, and do not harm me," Yu Qingtan said coldly. "You won''t kill me? Although the ancestor didn''t say, at your young age you are already at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, surely with exceptional talent. The Heavenly Oath is not that safe." "You even worry about me now, but you needn''t bother." Mainly because killing Xiang Yu would involve too many consequences. "Ah..." Xiang Yu sighed and took the Heavenly Oath. Yu Qingtan put away the Moon Branch Magpie Hairpin. "Then the Roaming Zither is mine now, you have no objections, right?" "No, the Roaming Zither is the property of the Xiang family, and now that such an event has urred, as the head of the Xiang family, it naturally belongs to you," Xiang Yu said. Yu Qingtan lifted the seal on Xiang Yu''s cultivation. "That dead zither masters of your Xiang family will need properpensation," Yu Qingtan said. Xiang Yu was taken aback by the remark but immediately responded, "Of course." "Then let''s go, Master Uncle Xiang, I still have to work," Yu Qingtan said. "Yes." The two left the house and exined to Xiang Ru that Yu Qingtan had overslept because she was too engrossed in her cultivation. "Sister Qingtan, you should also take care to rest. Don''t wear yourself out," Xiang Ru said. "Yeah, I will," Yu Qingtan replied. "Sister Qingtan, have you heard? In a few days, the four young geniuses of The World Academy Southeast Branch wille to Tianxiang City." "The four young geniuses?" "Yes, they are each skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. They travel everywhere, exchanging knowledge with the talented to further improve themselves." "Is that so!" "Yes, The World Academy is the holynd for cultivators who pursue the path of culture. Unfortunately, I''m not made for that. But Sister Qingtan, you y the zither so well, maybe you will have the opportunity to study at The World Academy too?" "Haha, maybe," Yu Qingtanughed. ... Watching Xiang Ru and Yu Qingtan chatting happily, a smile appeared on Xiang Yu''s face. Chapter 106 Whirlwind Acting to Retreat Autumn Yue The following day. Xiang Yu frowned as she sought out Yu Qingtan. "Qing Tan, the City Lord''s Mansion has sent a message; they want me to take you there." Yu Qingtan felt a stir in her heart, "Has it finallye?" She smiled at Xiang Yu and said, "Then let''s go." Seeing Yu Qingtan smile, Xiang Yu did not say anything else and walked with her toward the City Lord''s Mansion. The City Lord of Tianxiang Immortal City was naturally held by someone from Tianxiang Valley. When the two arrived at the City Lord''s Mansion, they were led by guards into a parlor. As Xiang Yu entered, she saw three women with distinct auras sitting upfront. Surprised, she quickly gave her respects and said, "Xiang Yu pays her respects to Elder Martial Aunt Li Xueying, Elder Martial Aunt Luo Qingwei, and Elder Martial Aunt Yan Qiuyue!" Yu Qingtan also bowed deeply and said, "Qing Tan pays her respects to Elder Martial Aunt Li Xueying, Elder Martial Aunt Luo Qingwei, and Elder Martial Aunt Yan Qiuyue!" Real Person Li Xueying was a mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator from Tianxiang Valley and the City Lord of Tianxiang Immortal City. Real Person Luo Qingwei was an early-stage Golden Core Cultivator from Tianxiang Valley and the Vice Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall. Real Person Yan Qiuyue was an early-stage Golden Core Cultivator from Tianxiang Valley, Vice Hall Master of the Talisman Hall, mother of Yan Xi, and dao partner of Ruan Fan. "Hmph, you, a mere Qi Practitioner, dare to address us as Elder Martial Aunts; have you no understanding of propriety?" Real Person Yan Qiuyue looked dissatisfiedly at Yu Qingtan and scolded her. "Oh,e on, she''s the named disciple of Elder Martial Sister Rou Jia. It''s not incorrect for her to address us thus. Qing Tan, we''ve called you here because there are some matters we need to understand, and you should cooperate fully." Real Person Luo Qingwei spoke indifferently. Real Person Yan Qiuyue couldn''t directly oppose her, but her gaze toward Yu Qingtan was filled with ill will. "Thank you, Elder Martial Aunt Luo Qingwei, Qing Tan will certainly cooperate," Yu Qingtan replied. "Xiang Yu, you may leave now," she was instructed. "Yes, Elder Martial Aunt." After Xiang Yu left, Real Person Luo Qingwei began to question Yu Qingtan, while the other two Real Persons continued watching her closely. "Qing Tan, do you know Ruan Fan?" "I had a brief encounter with him on the day I joined Tianxiang Valley, Elder Martial Sister Xing Ruo introduced him to me, mentioning he was Real Person Yan Qiuyue''s dao partner." "Have you seen Ruan Fan since then?" Yu Qingtan lied without a change in her expression, and even her heartbeat and pulse remained steady. "You''re lying!" Real Person Yan Qiuyue shouted loudly. "Elder Martial Sister Yan Qiuyue!" Real Person Luo Qingwei looked at her with some displeasure. "On the day you left Tianxiang Valley for Tianxiang Immortal City, there was a confirmed message that Ruan Fan followed you out of the valley. Did you really not encounter him?" Yu Qingtan showed a mix of confusion, shock, and fear as she replied, "Elder Martial Aunt, I truly haven''t seen Elder Martial Uncle Ruan, but why would he follow me?" "What about the Spirit Crane you rented?" Real Person Yan Qiuyue couldn''t help but interject. This time, Real Person Luo Qingwei did not say anything; she also wanted to ask this question. "I returned the Spirit Crane as soon as I arrived at Tianxiang Immortal City!" Yu Qingtan said, still feigning bewilderment. "Hmph, I think she''s just telling lies with her eyes wide open. We should take her back to the valley and interrogate her under the Insightful Mirror," Real Person Yan Qiuyue continued to speak out. "Elder Martial Aunt, I have not lied," Yu Qingtan weakly retorted. "Enough, Elder Martial Sister Yan Qiuyue. Ruan Fan has just been missing for a short time, and his Soul Lamp is still lit. Perhaps he''s gone to take care of some matter; there''s no need to involve a Sect Gate Taoist Instrument yet," Real Person Luo Qingwei was bing slightly irritated with Real Person Yan Qiuyue. "Hmph, then do you dare to swear by the Heavenly Oath that everything you just said is true?" Ignoring Real Person Luo Qingwei''s displeased look, Yan Qiuyue continued to speak to Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan, "intimidated" by the reprimand from a Golden Core predecessor, looked helplessly towards Luo Qingwei. Just as Luo Qingwei was about to speak, Real Person Li Xueying interjected. "Enough, what Qiuyue said makes some sense. Since Qing Tan ims she has told no lies, then why not take a Heavenly Oath to resolve the misunderstanding?" Seeing this, Luo Qingwei looked at Yu Qingtan. "Qing Tan, what do you think?" "Qing Tan is willing to swear by the Heavenly Oath. I, Yu Qingtan, swear from the day I was admitted to the Tianxiang Valley, I have never seen Uncle-Master Ruan Fan again, and the Spirit Crane rented upon arriving at the Tianxiang Immortal City was released immediately after arrival, all of which are true." Yu Qingtan, thus seeing no alternative, "reluctantly" took the Heavenly Oath. "Xueying, sorry for the disturbance, I''ll take my leave now!" Yan Qiuyue said goodbye to Li Xueying with a displeased face and left. "Xueying, we''ll also take our leave first," Luo Qingwei said, gesturing for Yu Qingtan to follow her. Real Person Luo Qingwei pulled out an emerald green flying boat, taking Yu Qingtan towards the Raoliang Tea House. "Thank you, Luo Qingwei!" On the way, Yu Qingtan expressed her gratitude first. "Don''t mention it, Yun Rong and Ie from the same lineage. She has mentioned a lot about you to me, so naturally I would look after you in such a situation." Luo Qingwei exined briefly, and in the midst of conversation, they had arrived at the Raoliang Tea House. Such was the speed of a Golden Core Cultivator. "Alright, I need to return to the valley. You focus on your cultivation and establish your foundation as soon as possible." "Until next time, Uncle-Master!" Luo Qingwei transformed into an Escape Light and departed. Yu Qingtan returned to the Raoliang Tea House. "Qing Tan, are you alright?" Xiang Yu approached her with concern upon her return. "I''m fine, what could possibly happen to me?" Yu Qingtan said with a smile. Xiang Yu felt that this "Junior Martial Niece" was bing increasingly enigmatic. Yu Qingtan had anticipated the events of today and had prepared hundreds of contingency ns. Within the Tianxiang Valley, there were actually three factions: the Family Faction, the Mentor-Disciple Faction, and the Neutral Faction. Several Golden Core families led by the Yans and the Luos constituted the Family Faction; a few lineages headed by the Sect Leader represented the Mentor-Disciple Faction, and the rest were the Neutral Faction. Because Tianxiang Valley had originally been based on the mentor-disciple system, the Mentor-Disciple Faction was the most powerful, with Real Persons Rou Jia and Luo Qingwei belonging to this faction. The Family Faction had gradually separated from the Mentor-Disciple Faction and, having gained significant influence, naturally began to vie for power and profit. Those who were reluctant to participate became part of the Neutral Faction, with Real Person Li Xueying as one of them. Now that Yu Qingtan was considered part of the Mentor-Disciple Faction, she naturally wouldn''t be easily suppressed or persecuted by the Family Faction. If she had refused to swear by the Heavenly Oath, in reality, Yan Qiuyue wouldn''t have been able to do much to her. However, Yu Qingtan spared herself the trouble, as it was only a matter of ten Affection Value points. "By the way, Uncle-Master Xiang, how much do you know about the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm?" Because Xiang Ru often shared with her the gossip she heard from tea house customers, Yu Qingtan knew that the recent bustle in Tianxiang Immortal City was due to the events involving the Four Talented Youngsters and the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. Xiang Ru might know even more about the matters of the Four Talented Youngsters than Xiang Yu, but Yu Qingtan certainly had to ask Xiang Yu about the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. After the previous Suichuan Immortal City auction, Yu Qingtan had also researched information about the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. She knew it was an ancient relic of the Myriad Beasts Sect, emerging once every millennium, and only allowed Cultivators below the Golden Core to enter. Upon hearing the question, Xiang Yu was startled, "You also want to venture into the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, Qing Tan? That is a very dangerous realm. The mortality rate for Qi Practitioners is as high as seventy to eighty percent, and even for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it''s about thirty to forty percent." "Qing Tan wants to give it a try." "Alright, I do have some materials on the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm left by my ancestors. I''ll make a copy for you and give it to you tonight." Chapter 107 The Four Talented Scholars Visit Tian Xiang March days were as thick with spring as wine. The sunshine was cheerful and peach and plum trees fragrant in Tianxiang Immortal City, which bustled with unusual excitement today. The four great talents from All-World Academy had finally arrived in Tianxiang Immortal City. Most of the shops in the city announced a three-day closure. At this moment, the immense central za of the city was overcrowded. Cultivators had taken time off from their arduous cultivation or their jobs to witness the elegance of the four great talents from All-World Academy. Yu Qingtan and Xiang Ru had also arrived early at the za to secure a spot near the front. Even though they were wearing veils, Yu Qingtan in her crimson "Cloud Brush Flower Sleep" robes and Xiang Ru in her peach pink "Cloud Brush Spring Dawn" robes still attracted the attention of many cultivators around them. Some recognized her because Yu Qingtan had yed the zither in Raoliang Tea House wearing this attire. "That''s the young Qing Tandy from Raoliang Tea House, isn''t she like a painting?" "Indeed, indeed, one look at her gives a sense of someone who can be admired from afar but not profaned." "That''s right, Qing Tandy is my goddess; whoever dares to bully her, I will risk my life fighting with them." "Qing Tandy''s zither skills are unparalleled, I wonder if she''ll take the stage topete in zither art with young master Shi Kuang this time?" "She definitely will, I''m looking forward to it so much!" "Hmph, although Qing Tandy does indeed have extraordinary zither skills, she is still young after all. If we''re talking about the best young zither yer in Tianxiang Immortal City, that would be my Tianxiang Pavilion''s Yi Zhendy." "Clearly, it is Miss Xie from the Xies whose zither skills are unmatched, a single performance of ''Crane Guidance'' shakes all of Tianxiang." "Hmph, isn''t my Qing Tan''s ''Love of Butterfly Lovers'' and ''High Mountain and Running River'' even more delightful to listen to, and that''s two against one!" ... In the midst of these discussions, four young men dressed in moon-white robes descended from the sky on their swords,nding on the grand tform in the middle of the za. The robes of the four were each embroidered with plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. "Shi Kuang, Zhou Lan, Zhong Yao, and Jing Hao of All-World Academy pay respects to all fellow daoists of Tianxiang Immortal City!" The four introduced themselves and paid their respects, then Zhou Lan, Zhong Yao, and Jing Hao took seats in chairs on one side. Shi Kuang continued, "We are deeply grateful for the invitation from the City Lord of Snowy Crystal, and for the warm support of the daoists of the city. We havee here to engage in the exchange of knowledge and make friends, hoping we can all gain something." Shi Kuang had a fair and refreshing appearance and spoke gently and elegantly, embodying the very image of a modest gentleman. Zhou Lan''s eyes were sleepy and his face still held a trace of baby fat, making him look as if he stayed upte often. Zhong Yao''s face was stern, with sharp brows and bright eyes, giving off a sense of imposing authority without anger. Jing Hao kept a smile, with dimples on his cheeks and clear eyes, all in all giving off the impression of a sunny, cheerful boy. All four were over five foot four inches tall, their long ck hair simply tied up, embodying the handsome young men that Qing Tan from her previous life would have envied. The cries and cheers of the female cultivators had already begun to fill the air. "Kuang Kuang, I love you, ahhh~" "Lazy treasure,e give your sister a hug~" "Look, Brother Yao red at me, I''m so happy, re at me again please!" "Brother Hao, I want to have your babies~" ... Shi Kuang gestured with his hands to silence them, and the crowd immediately quieted down. "Kuang has a little skill in ying the zither, does any fellow daoist wish toe up and exchange notes with Kuang?" Shi Kuang asked. "Sister Qing Tan, they''re all so handsome, but I like Shi Kuang the most. You should go up and spar with him a bit!" Xiang Ru, with stars in her eyes, whispered to Qing Tan. "No rush." Yu Qingtan shook her head slightly. Experts usually appearst, and for today''s event, she had made quite a lot of preparations. Although the two of them spoke in low voices, the four at thete Foundation Establishment Stage on stage could naturally hear them. They had also noticed the two whose dresses were especially beautiful early on. "Brother Zhong, these twodies are truly beautiful, and it sounds like the elder one has decent zither skills. How about we try to set up a match with Master Shi Kuang for her?" Jing Hao transmitted his voice to Zhong Yao. "Not interested!" Zhong Yao replied without a hint of emotion. "Brother Zhong, you''re really no fun." At that moment, a young man dressed in ck leaped onto the high tform. "Di Qin of Tianxiang Immortal City hase to meet Master Shi Kuang. I''ve long admired the master''s great reputation. Allow me to start things off and y a duet with the master." "Master Di, please, may I ask which piece you excel in?" "High Mountain." Thus, the two sat opposite each other and took out their zithers. They exchanged a nce and then began to pluck the strings simultaneously. The sound of the zither wafted across the square. As the saying goes,ymen watch the excitement while experts observe the technique. The zither melody had barely started when Yu Qingtan picked up on Master Shi Kuang''s well-timed and delicately bnced strikes, revealing a high level of Zither Art expertise, whereas Di Qin struck one note too hard, slightly marring the performance. After the piece concluded, Di Qin also felt the gap between himself and Shi Kuang. He bowed with his hands sped: "Master Shi Kuang''s zither art is superb. I''ve gained much from this exchange. Thank you!" Shi Kuang returned the bow with sped hands. Di Qin stepped down, and several others went up in session topete with Shi Kuang on the zither, though they were all merely there to show their faces and learn. Shi Kuang maintained a humble and polite demeanor throughout, graceful and elegant. Zhou Lan and the three along with the people in the square were also listening with great enjoyment, not showing the slightest impatience. At this point, a woman in red with red silk under her feet floated onto the stage. "Greetings to Master Shi Kuang. I am Yi Zhen from Tianxiang Pavilion. I have long admired the master''s reputation, and I am honored to y the zither with the master on the same tform today." Before Shi Kuang could reply, a figure in a white dress stepped onto the tform, using the Treading Air Step in three strides. "How could I let sister Yi monopolize such an elegant event? Xie Yun of the Xie family from Tianxiang Immortal City hase to meet Master Shi Kuang. I wish to join sister Yi in a friendly exchange with the master, if that''s eptable." Thisdy was Xie Yun, the eldest daughter of the Golden Core family of the Xies in Tianxiang Immortal City, who had used the family''s inherited Spell of Treading Air Step to ascend the stage. "With the twodies showing such refined interest, how could I refuse?" Shi Kuang said. Just then, another voice chimed in. "I heard that Tianxiang Immortal City has a promising new star in the Sound Path, who also happens to be a leading fashion icon and a great beauty¡ªthe zither musician Qing Tan from Raoliang Tea House. Why not join them on stage? The three beauties challenging Master Shi Kuang would surely make for a memorable tale." It was the sunny and cheerful big boy Jing Hao who said this with augh. Upon hearing this, everyone turned their attention to where Yu Qingtan was. Yu Qingtan was somewhat annoyed that Jing Hao had disrupted her n, but it wasn''t a major issue. With no hint of stage fright, she gracefully moved her steps and walked up the high tform via the side stairs. Though she made her entrance in a different manner than Yi Zhen and Xie Yun, her outfit called "Clouds Brushing the Blooming Flowers" overshadowed the other two in terms of fashion. "Since Master Jing proposes it, Qing Tan has no objection. Qing Tan of Raoliang Tea House hase to meet Master Shi Kuang, Senior Yi, and Senior Xie." Yu Qingtan said, knowing that Yi Zhen and Xie Yun were also cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage. As for this so-called new Sound Path prodigy from Tianxiang Immortal City, both Yi Zhen and Xie Yun had heard of her, but they weren''t particrly concerned. After all, how skilled could a Qi Practitioner be in the Sound Path? "Your attire is indeed exquisitely beautiful. Xie too is delighted by the sight of it and feels you deserve the title of fashion icon. Being the creator of the pieces ''Love of Butterfly Lovers'' and ''High Mountain Flowing Water,'' you certainly have stunning talent. However, zither art requires extensive refinement, so I hope you live up to the name of a Sound Path prodigy, Miss Qing Tan," Xie Yun said with a smile to Yu Qingtan,vishing praise before expressing skepticism, clearly with the intention of putting her down. Although Yi Zhen also came from Tianxiang Valley, she harbored simr thoughts and even doubted whether those two new pieces were genuinelyposed by Yu Qingtan herself. Naturally, she didn''t speak up for Yu Qingtan. Chapter 108 The Artistry Surpasses All and Becomes the Foremost ``` "Whether it''s all just empty reputation will be clear soon enough, Senior Xie. There''s no need for so many words." Yu Qingtan stood her ground with neither aggression nor submission in her tone. "You speak reason. Since all threedies have their originalpositions, why don''t we each y our own piece?" Shi Kuang suggested. "Agreed!" The threedies naturally consented. Since the tunes differed, to avoid interference with one another, they decided to y separately, drawing lots to determine the order. The drawn sequence was Xie Yun, Shi Kuang, Yi Zhen and Yu Qingtan. Xie Yun sat down, took out a zither of spiritual artifact grade, and began to y her selfposed piece, "Crane Prelude". The zither''s notes were light and brisk, like the cry of a spirit crane in the clouds. Midway through the piece, two rows of eight ck-feathered spirit cranes flew in from the southern sky, arrived above the tform, emitted pleasant calls and danced with the zither melody. The spectators watched this extraordinary phenomenon in amazement, immersing themselves in it. At the end of the piece, the spirit cranes circled once before returning to the south. That was the location of the Spirit Crane Rental Ground of Tianxiang Immortal City. "Marvelous, Miss Xie''s piece has drawn the spirit cranes to echo along, demonstrating a zither skill that closely approaches the Dao. Shi Kuang has learned much." Shi Kuang pped and praised. "Master Shi tters me!" Xie Yun said, though her eyes betrayed a hint of pride as she nced at Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan had to admit that Xie Yun was indeed formidable. The levels after mastering the zither could roughly be divided into ''ying at Will,'' ''Close to the Dao,'' and ''Entering the Dao.'' Xie Yun''s ability to attract eight spirit cranes indicated she had just touched the level of ''Close to the Dao.'' However, Yu Qingtan remained unfazed and responded with a smile. She was no longer ignorant of the world. After Xie Yun sat down, Shi Kuang began to y the zither. The piece he yed was also his well-known original work, "Spring Sun". The zither tones were upright and tranquil, sparse and light. As the music flowed, the stone ground of the za gradually turned green, and tender grass shoots peeked through the cracks. The willow trees around the za grew greener, the flowers more vibrant, with the sounds of orioles and butterflies, and the circling of swallows and leaping fish. The people at the za felt a soothing warmth and breeze, and longed to indulge themselves in the luxuriant spring atmosphere. When the piece concluded, the listeners still had smiles on their faces. It took a while before, led by Xie Yun, Yi Zhen, and Yu Qingtan, the audience broke into a thunderous apuse thatsted a long time. "Master Shi''s piece yed out the splendor of spring, nearly touching the threshold of the Dao. Zhen is truly inferior, but having ascended the stage, I must also show what I can." Yi Zhen spoke with a smile, then also began to y her selfposed piece, "Autumn Thoughts". The notes of the zither were lingering, mournful and intive. The previously flourishing green spring scene now seemed to yellow a bit, and as the audience listened to the zither, they felt a touch of mncholy, recalling their own thoughts and yearnings. Although Yi Zhen''s skill could notpare to that of Shi Kuang, and was just slightly behind Xie Yun, "Miss Yi''s piece not only captures the hues of autumn but also embodies lovesickness, indeed a rare gem." After Yi Zhen finished ying, Shi Kuang praised. At this moment, Xie Yun cast another scrutinizing nce at Yu Qingtan, as if to say, "With our exquisite performancesid bare, do you, a mere girl, still dare to make a fool of yourself?" Yu Qingtan, of course, dared. She took out the Quenched Spring Zither, bowed to the crowd, and without further ado, her jade fingers gently plucked the strings, and the music sounded. As for the Roaming Zither, she was not yet ready to reveal in front of others the fact that she could store it in her storage equipment. The piece she yed was naturally "Love of Butterfly Lovers". As the melody ebbed and flowed, phantom images seemed to appear in the sky above the tform in the sight of the onlookers. Butterfly Lovers meeting. Studying in the academy. ... And then, transforming into butterflies and flying away. Scene by scene yed out as if it were a three-dimensional movie from Yu Qingtan''s former life, telling a beautiful and tragic love story. At the end of the piece, how many lovelorn men and women in the audience were on the verge of tears, ready to cry. ``` Shi Kuang''s eyes were filled with contemtion. "Feelings?" Until now in his cultivation journey, he still did not know what feelings were. Perhaps, this was what the dean meant, the very thing his zither pathcked. The apuse at the venue finally ceased, and he withdrew his thoughts. He turned to Qing Tan with a sped-hand salute and said, "Miss Qing Tan, your rendition of ''Love of Butterfly Lovers'' evoked the manifestation of Dao marks, indicating that the path to true enlightenment is within reach. I am truly impressed." Even Xie Yun, who had always looked at Yu Qingtan with some distaste, was shocked at this point and no longer dared to underestimate her. "Master Shi''s praise is too generous. Qing Tan has also learned much today." Shi Kuang''s words were indeed a bit exaggerated. At most, her level of zither skill was somewhat equivalent to his, far from enlightenment. As for her sudden surge in zither skill level, of course, it was due to ''cheating''. She had directly used a Second Stage Skill Upgrade Card and a Third Stage Skill Upgrade Card. For the sake of Charm Points and Affection Value, such a glorious moment in the spotlight was naturally something she had to fully embrace. Now it seemed that the effect was indeed quite good. "Sister Qing Tan''s zither artistry should be considered the finest among the young generation in Tianxiang Immortal City," Yi Zhen could not help bute forward to praise her too. Xie Yun''s expression showed a trace of unwillingness, but she did not speak up to refute. After the three women stepped down from the stage, no one else went up to challenge Shi Kuang with the zither. Thus, Yi Zhen''s words were as good as confirmed. "Many thanks to the friends from Tianxiang Immortal City for the exchange today. It ends here. Tomorrow, my younger brother Zhou Lan will ''meet with friends over a game of chess,'' and we hope you will all grace the asion." After Shi Kuang finished speaking, Zhou Lan barely managed to get up, and saluted the crowd. Then the four of them once again took to their swords and left with elegance. "Sister Qing Tan, you are too amazing. Are you missing a leg essory?" In the midst of all sorts of praise from her little fan Xiang Ru, Yu Qingtan and herpanion returned to the Raoliang Tea House. Within the crowd, a man had been watching Yu Qingtan''s figure the whole time, his eyes flickering with various thoughts before finally solidifying with determination. This man was none other than Sun Deren, the son of the Deacon of Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion in the original Suichuan Immortal City. The Ice Skin Jade Bone Art practised by Yu Qingtan had been a gift from Sun Deren. By this time, Deacon Sun had been transferred to Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion in Tianxiang Immortal City, and Sun Deren had followed. Returning to The Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, Sun Deren went straight to his father''s room. "Father, I want to break off the engagement." "Smack¡ª" The teacup in Deacon Sun''s hand crashed down at Sun Deren''s feet. "Listen to yourself, what nonsense are you spouting? Has your head been caught in a door?" With only this one son possessing qualifications for cultivation, Deacon Sun had finally managed to arrange a marriage with ady of a shu branch from the Golden Core family, the Xies. "You''ve met Miss Xie Chunhong. She''s respectful, dignified, and has a gentle temperament. What exactly are you dissatisfied with?" Deacon Sun said angrily. "Miss Chunhong is indeed wonderful, but..." "Enough, I understand. It''s Qing Tan again. I''ve heard that the girl Qing Tan has alsoe to Tianxiang Immortal City. But now she''s a top disciple of Tianxiang Valley. Can you even aspire to her level? "With the Xies as a prominent Golden Core family, can you bear the consequences of breaking off an engagement?" Deacon Sun asked sarcastically,ughing angrily. Sun Deren suddenly felt like an eggnt beaten by frost, utterly dejected. He knew all too well what his father was saying. Yet in his mind, he always visualized Qing Tan''s charming image, her every frown and smile lingering long in his thoughts. He had originally epted his fate, following his father to Tianxiang Immortal City. But today, after seeing the inextricably linkeddy of his dreams, Qing Tan, shine brightly on stage like an unattainable goddess, his feelings for her intensified even more. However, the cruel reality once again jolted him awake. "Go to your room and stay there, no leaving for seven days, think carefully about your actions!" his father''s voice rang in his ears. Desire without attainment, only to tuck it deep in his heart. Chapter 109: Chapter 109 Im Going to Start Showing Off In the evening, seeing her Charm Points surge, Yu Qingtan''s eyes narrowed into a slit with a smile. She then continued to practice her Spells and Skills. Rolling up. ... The next day, the sky was clear for thousands of miles, clean as washed azure. In the giant central square of Tianxiang Immortal City, arge number of Cultivators had already been waiting early on. Xiang Ru and Yu Qingtan had also arrived early. Since Cultivators have a strong sense of personal space, the square did not seem crowded. Today, even more people recognized Yu Qingtan, and quite a few hade just to see her. However, Cultivators in the Cultivation World generally have good manners and would not swarm around her. As everyone waited, the four prodigies of the All-World Academy arrived on their swords. Causing a fervent cheer from the crowd. After introducing themselves once more, the still drowsy-looking Zhou Lan took out a huge, transparent, thin board from his Storage Bag and set it up on the stage. There were six chessboards drawn on the board. Five of them already had some ck and white pieces in ce. Zhou Lan''snguid voice rose, "Greetings to all friends in Tianxiang Immortal City, today I, Zhou Lan, wish to make friends through Chess Skill. To save time, I haveid out five puzzle positions on this chess wall. Interested yers may try to solve them first, and those who seed in solving one will then have the honor of ying against me." The crowd at the square knew today was a Chess Skill exchange, so at least half of them knew how to y chess, and they began scrutinizing the puzzle positions on the chess wall. The chess wall had a virtual shadow of the pieces on both sides, with instructions on the side. Injecting a trace of Spiritual Power into the move spot on one side would cause ck pieces to appear on the corresponding position on both sides. Injecting Spiritual Power on the other side would make white pieces appear. Captured pieces would disappear automatically. Zhou Lan took out a recliner andy down on the side with the ck pieces. Yu Qingtan also started observing the five puzzle positions. At a nce, the white side in each puzzle position seemed to be at a significant disadvantage. Obviously, she had to find a way to beat Zhou Lan''s ck pieces to solve the puzzles. For this grand asion, Yu Qingtan had gone through all the chess manuals she could remember from her previous life. Unfortunately, in her previous life, she was only an amateur yer and could only remember some of the most famous manuals. Soon, Yu Qingtan felt confident. The fifth puzzle position was familiar to her, wasn''t it the legendary intricate chess puzzle? It was a puzzle that had stumped countless people. And in Qingtan''s mind, she still remembered the chess manuals from the three games where a Go genius faced an Artificial Intelligence in her previous life. Yu Qingtan went through these few games in her mind again before she began to carefully analyze the other four puzzles. After much consideration, she found a potential solution to the second puzzle. At that moment, an Elder with an immortal demeanor lightly hopped onto the stage and stood with his hands behind his back. "Young Master Zhou, I am Nie Ping. I have found a solution to the second puzzle," said the Elder. After speaking, he pointed with his right hand and ced a white piece on the second chessboard. Since Nie Ping had started to y, Zhou Lan didn''t bother with pleasantries, stood up, and gently lifted his right hand to drop a ck piece. "That''s the great Elder of the Nie family, known as a Chess Skill fanatic. Rumor has it he has few rivals in Tianxiang Immortal City," said Xiang Ru, softly introducing him to Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan nodded and began to seriously examine Nie Ping''s method of solving the puzzle. Because they both had strategies in mind, the game proceeded rapidly. After two quarters of an hour, the ck pieces met their defeat. The solution process was roughly simr to what Yu Qingtan had envisioned. "Please instruct me!" Zhou Lan said to Nie Ping with a bow. Nie Ping returned the bow, then ced a piece on the sixth nk chessboard. The two began their game. After another quarter of an hour, Nie Ping''s brow was sweaty, and his pace of cing pieces noticeably slowed. Half an hourter,rge beads of sweat streamed down Nie Ping''s face, white smoke rose from his head, and his right hand stayed rigid in mid-air, unable to ce the next piece. After a long while, his right hand weakly dropped, and Nie Ping said, "Young Master Zhou''s Chess Skill is exquisite, this old man concedes." Zhou Lan, still at ease, cupped his hand in a salute. "I am ttered by your concession!" Nie Ping leapt down from the high stage, and the chess pieces on the second and sixth boards vanished. Next, another elder took the stage, breaking through the first endgame, but also sumbed to Zhou Lan just over a half-hourter. Then, there was a long while without anyone approaching the stage. Zhou Lan even reclined back on the lounge chair. "Young Master Zhou''s Chess Skill is too strong, I''m afraid only seniors above the Foundation Establishment Stage can defeat him!" "Lazy Treasure looks so cool! I really want to be his pillow!" "Could it be that our Tianxiang Immortal City can no longer find anyone to challenge him?" The crowd was abuzz with discussion. Just as Shi Kuang, Zhong Yao, and Jing Hao began tomunicate through voice transmission about whether to end the day''s activities, Yu Qingtan was preparing to make her move. But someone beat her to it. Still d in a white dress, Xie Yun used the Xies'' Treading Air Step to ascend the high stage once again. "Young Master Zhou, Yun also has some understanding of Chess Skill, and has found a solution to the fourth game," she announced. Zhou Lan stood up and saluted, "Miss Xie is also proficient in Chess Skill, I admire that. Please!" Xie Yun gently lifted her hand, cing a white piece down on the fourth endgame. The two yed speedily, their pieces flying, and in just a quarter of an hour, the white pieces secured victory. Afterward, theymenced a game on an empty chessboard. Below the stage, there was already heated discussion. "I had no idea Miss Xie had such Chess Skill; it''s never been heard of!" "It''s said that Miss Xie has taken a mysterious master, perhaps she learned it from her master!" "Why does Miss Xie never y against people from Tianxiang Immortal City?" "Is there a possibility that she thinks no one is her match?" "I heard that Miss Xie is also skilled in painting. Indeed, the number one talented woman of Tianxiang Immortal City should be Miss Xie. That Qing Tan is nothing more than a teahouse zither yer; how can shepare to Miss Xie?" "Hmph, how do you know Miss Qing Tan is not skilled in chess? Look how engrossed she is over there!" "Then why doesn''t she take the stage? I think she''s just putting on airs." "You..." Soon, half an hour passed, and Xie Yun''s delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed as she felt the pressure from Zhou Lan. Yu Qingtan also saw that she was at a disadvantage. Another half-hourter, Xie Yun was already drenched in sweat. In her eyes, the chessboard upon the chess wall seemed like a battlefield, with Zhou Lan continuouslyunching attacks at her, leaving her struggling to cope. The crowd in the za seemed to hear the ngour of golden horses and iron soldiers, the shing of swords and des. In the end, under Zhou Lan''s powerful assault, Xie Yun''s delicate body trembled, her right arm drooping powerlessly. A momentter, she cast a Cleansing Spell on herself and mustered her spirit to say, "Young Master Zhou''s Chess Skill is unparalleled, Yun is defeated!" "Miss Xie''s Chess Skill is quite impressive as well, I hope we have the chance to y again in the future," Zhou Lan said, a rare smile gracing his lips. His victory had note easily; he had quite enjoyed this challenging match. Xie Yun used Treading Air Step and stepped down from the high stage. Before descending, she cast a proud nce at Yu Qingtan. Though defeated, she held her dignity; keeping her head slightly raised as she stepped down, her fair neck visible like that of a proud swan. However, her proud gaze quickly soured. Because Yu Qingtan was lifting the hem of her skirt, steadily walking towards the stage. "Raoliang Tea House''s Yu Qingtan has a strategy for the fifth endgame. I request Young Master Zhou to enlighten me!" she dered. Chapter 110: Chapter 110 The Masterful Solution Concludes with The Chess Apprentice When Yu Qingtan approached the high tform, Xiang Ru was bewildered, Xie Yun was shocked, and the crowd was cheering. The four talents on the tform also stared at her intently, as if they were seeing her for the first time. Hearing Yu Qingtan''s words, Zhou Lan''s eyes widened dramatically, instantly shedding any hint of sleepiness. Because he did not know how to solve the fifth puzzle. He had not even heard of anyone who could solve it. He had only set it up as part of the numbers and to give the chess yers of Tianxiang Immortal City a glimpse of this game. At this moment, Yu Qingtan extended her delicate hand, her Ninth Stage Qi Cultivation''s spiritual power red up, and she ced a white piece at a certain point on the fifth puzzle''s chessboard. The whole room was in an uproar. Xie Yun felt greatly relieved and, with a hint of disdain, whispered, "She doesn''t even know how to y chess; she''s just there to show off." The crowd also began to discuss among themselves. Because with that move, the white side had directly handed over a gaping fifty-point void to the opponent. Xiang Ru looked worriedly at Yu Qingtan on the tform, wanting to say something on her behalf, but she did not understand chess. Zhou Lan let his eyelids droop again and, out of decorum, did not say anything; he simply began to y his pieces. Yu Qingtan ignored the surrounding dialogue and quickly made her moves. Twenty movester, Zhou Lan''s eyes narrowed. The lone piece that Yu Qingtan had previously ced in the center had unexpectedly be a strong position; the outer influence of the ck pieces turned into a lone piece, and therge pattern on the top, which was initially set to jump and blossom independently, not only vanishedpletely but the upper-left three pieces were now caught in a heavy siege. Fifty movester, Zhou Lan''s eyes were as round as wheels, staring fixedly at the chessboard. The audience was dead silent; Xie Yun''s hands were clenched tightly, his fingers digging into his flesh, oblivious to the blood flowing from them. After a few more moves, it was as if a phantom image appeared above the wall of the chessboard. In the image, two armies dressed in ck and white uniforms were engaged in battle, with a small part of the white army already surrounded. The white army''smander abandoned any attempt to rescue them and, while the ck army was upied with eliminating the white forces within the enclosure, he hid troops in ambush and ultimately turned the tide of battle. In less than half an hour, the ck army was in total disarray, and the white army emerged victorious. The phantom disappeared. Below, Zhou Lan''s eyes were bloodshot, and he was panting heavily, looking like a beaten dog. Yu Qingtan still stood elegantly on the tform, her gaze fixed on Zhou Lan. Three breathster, Zhou Lan stood up abruptly and bowed deeply to Yu Qingtan, "Miss Qingtan''s Chess Skill is unparalleled, capable of solving this ancient, unsolvable precious puzzle. Lan wishes to take Miss Qingtan as his master and hopes Miss Qingtan will not abandon him!" As soon as these words were spoken, the entire ce erupted. "So this was a puzzle that no one has ever solved before, Miss Qingtan is too incredible!" "It turns out that Young Master Zhou also could not solve this puzzle; no wonder he is willing to be an apprentice." "Miss Qingtan''s first move directly gave away a cluster of white pieces; then she attacked with a taboo pattern in chess, such genius moves one after another. It''s no wonder no one could have anticipated them." "With just this one game, Miss Qingtan deserves to be called the contemporary Chess Saint!" ... Xiang Ru was already dumbfounded, and Xie Yun had alsoe to terms with it. As for Zhou Lan''s request to take her as a master, Yu Qingtan was also puzzled. "You are the pride of All-World Academy, a high level cultivator in thetter stages of Foundation Establishment, is it really okay for you to take me, a minor Qi Cultivator in the public eye, as your master?" So, she refused, saying, "Young Master Zhou, you overstate my abilities. Qingtan merely acted on a whim and happened to stumble upon this method. I still need to learn much from Young Master Zhou in chess." Zhou Lan continued to maintain his bow, and said, "Master Yu, do not be modest! An asional pointer from Master Yu is all Lan asks for¡ªit will not interfere with Master Yu''s cultivation or life." At this point, Shi Kuang also spoke up, "The virtuous shall instruct; Miss Qingtan should agree. Brother Zhou is obsessed with the Path of Chess, and we hope Miss Qingtan will amodate him." What else could Yu Qingtan say? She could only agree. "All right then." Zhou Lan showed a smile. Under such circumstances, there was no need for the two of them to continue ying chess, and the day''s exchange in the Path of Chess came to an end. Amidst the lively discussion of the crowd, Yu Qingtan and Xiang Ru returned to the Raoliang Tea House, followed by a Zhou Lan and a Shi Kuang. Zhou Lan said he wanted to learn about the strategies for solving the intricate chess formations, whereas Shi Kuang mentioned he wanted to exchange knowledge on Zither Art with Yu Qingtan. "I am the disciple of Master Yu, and since you haven''t taken a master, naturally it should be me first. You can find another time for your Zither Art exchange!" Zhou Lan unapologetically rebuked Shi Kuang. Shi Kuang was left speechless, but still followed them. In a private room of the Raoliang Tea House. Zhou Lan took out a jade bottle and handed it to Yu Qingtan with both hands. "Master Yu, this is the gift I offer as I be your disciple, a Foundation Establishment Pill. It should be useful to you, please ept it." "Such extravagance!" Yu Qingtan thought to himself, but still replied, "Young Master Zhou, this isn''t necessary. Besides, I already have a Foundation Establishment Pill." "You may address me as Zhou Lan or just Lan, but the customary gift for pledging discipleship cannot be omitted. What does Master Yu need?" "To call you ''Lan Lan,'' how can I say such a cute name?" A look of exasperation crossed Yu Qingtan''s forehead. Considering the rich might as well be exploited, with a guilty conscience, he said, "Zhou Lan, I am about to undertake Foundation Establishment soon and have made all the necessary preparations. However, the Second Stage Spirit Dew that I will need for my cultivation after Foundation Establishment is something I could use." Upon hearing this, Zhou Lan put away the Foundation Establishment Pill and took out another jade bottle; Shi Kuang reluctantly also fetched a jade bottle and tossed it to Zhou Lan. "Master Yu, here are two bottles containing a hundred drops of Second Stage Spirit Dew in total. Please ept them!" Yu Qingtan felt a bit embarrassed, as he hadn''t expected Zhou Lan to give him so much¡ªit was worth quite a lot of Foundation Establishment Pills. However, Yu Qingtan still epted it. Earned through one''s abilities, there was no guilt in epting it. With this Second Stage Spirit Dew, it would be enough for his cultivation to reach thete phase of Foundation Establishment. After epting the disciple''s gift, the two of them began to review the previous intricate chess game. "Master Yu, how did youe up with that brilliant move?" The question from Zhou Lan was naturally about Yu Qingtan''s first move. "Sacrifice several pieces to maintain the initiative. But the predecessors were not bold enough in their sacrifices¡­" Although Yu Qingtan''s actual Chess Skill was not that strong, he was still capable of exining it. Not until thete hours of the evening did Shi Kuang, still eager to learn more, finally pull Zhou Lan away from the Raoliang Tea House. The Raoliang Tea House, including Xiang Yu and others who had listened to Xiang Ru''s recount of Yu Qingtan''s bold deed, were also filled with astonishment and regarded him as a prodigy. Yu Qingtan finally had a good night''s sleep since ying chess had drained so much of his energy. ... The next day, Xiang Yu, along with Yu Qingtan and Xiang Ru, headed to the central square of Tianxiang Immortal City. "Sister Qingtan, you''re not going to tell me that you''re also skilled in Calligraphy and Painting, are you?" On the way, Xiang Ru asked curiously. Today was the day for Zhong Yao and Jing Hao to have their Calligraphy and Painting Skill exchange. As the saying goes, calligraphy and painting are inseparable as paper arts and oftenbined, so the exchange was set on the same day. "I have a little understanding, just a little!" Yu Qingtan replied with a purse of his lips,ughing it off. Xiang Ru took it as the truth, but Xiang Yu gave her a deep look. She knew that Yu Qingtan''s mastery in the arts of Calligraphy and Painting was quite profound, at least in Painting Skill. She was finding it more and more difficult to see through this new disciple from Tianxiang Valley. She had also recently done some secret investigations into Yu Qingtan''s past. At just fifteen, he was already at the mid Foundation Establishment stage, notcking inbat prowess, exceptional in Dance Artistry, adept in both Zither and Chess, possibly proficient in Calligraphy and Painting as well, and also a creative Spirit Tailor. Could this be what they call a genius? Chapter 111: Chapter 111 Exchange of Calligraphy and Painting: The Essence of the Magic Sect Today, it was still a clear and sunny day with a cloudless azure sky. In the central square of Tianxiang Immortal City, there were even more cultivators than the previous two days. After the arrival of the four talented youths, they introduced themselves as usual, and then Zhong Yao and Jing Hao stood on the stage. A row of writing desks had already been set up on the stage, with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on them. "In the past two days, Brother Shi and Brother Zhou''s exchanges have been very fruitful. Today Brother Zhong and I will use calligraphy and painting to make friends. Please do feel free to offer your guidance," said Jing Hao, the sunny big boy, while Zhong Yao coolly stood to one side. After Jing Hao spoke, he took out eight array gs and hammered them into one side of the tform, setting up an eight-sided cylindrical formation. "This is a unique ''Cultural Dao Refinement Formation'' created by our All-World Academy. When calligraphy and painting works are ced upon it, they will emit a holy light of the Cultural Dao. The higher the quality, the taller the light," Jing Hao continued. "Brother Zhong and I will throw out a brick to attract jade. We invite fellow Daoists who are interested toe up and create," he concluded, then Jing Hao and Zhong Yao each went to a writing desk and picked up a brush to begin their creations. Some cultivators confident in their skills also came onto the stage. In this scene, as long as one didn''t make a fool of oneself, one could stand out. Zhong Yao was the first to finish a piece of calligraphy, casually throwing it up to hang on one side of the Cultural Dao Refinement Formation. What Zhong Yao wrote was a lyric, titled "Spring in the Garden." "Warm sun in the sky, swallows and sparrows return together,peting to build nests, Gazing at the sky so clear, clouds white as cotton, soft winds like dreams, willow catkins drifting. Bright red peach blossoms, with low smiling brows, who knew yesterday that today would wither? On Fragrant Hill, a small measure of yellow earth, to coverpletely all grace. Spring''s beauty''s limitless charm, yet cannot escape a tinge of loneliness. Remembering the pain of Young Master Shao, with spring flowers weeping, the burdensome glow, with spring waters vast and distant. Gazing until the ends of the earth, drunk alone in a high tower, lying with back to the green mountains, and ying with a Xiao. When the beauty has gone, with Du Kang wine entering dreams, again encountering Lady Jiao." The calligraphy was semi-cursive, elongated and rigorous, with powerful and forceful strokes, and a style that was straightforward yet revealed a sense of risk. After hanging it up, three feet of white light shone forth from above. Subsequently, the cultivators who were writing calligraphy finished their works one after another and hung them on the Cultural Dao Refinement Formation as well. Regrettably, the holy light for all of them was below one foot, and one piece didn''t even elicit any holy light. Yu Qingtan could see that without perfect calligraphy skills, one could not make the Cultural Dao Refinement Formation produce holy light. "Mr. Zhong''s calligraphy is daring and sharp, fiercely long-driving, brilliant in seizing the momentum, with an excess of graceful charm. Shi admires it!" the cultivators who went on stage to write calligraphy praised Zhong Yao one after another, with Zhong Yao slightly nodding in response. The few were not annoyed. After disying their works for a quarter of an hour, they took them down and stepped off the stage, contented. The audience below mainly appreciated Zhong Yao''s calligraphy work. Meanwhile, Jing Hao''s painting had also beenpleted, and he hung it up on the Cultural Dao Refinement Formation as well. It was a painting depicting the spring scenery of Tianxiang Immortal City; in it, the blue sky and white clouds, peach blossoms coupled with green willows, and orioles and swallows danced. The scenery was extremely beautiful, corresponding with the lyric written by Zhong Yao. Two feet and nine inches of holy light indicated the high level of the painting. The people who went on stage to paint also finished one after another, and their paintings were hung on the Cultural Dao Refinement Formation. All had holy light, yet the tallest was only one foot and five inches. After disying for half a quarter of an hour, and singing each other''s praises with Jing Hao, they stepped down from the tform. Then another wave of cultivators went on stage to create, but Zhong Yao and Jing Hao did not pick up their brushes again. This batch of cultivators was of a somewhat higher level; one calligraphy work reached two feet of holy light. As the third wave of cultivators went on stage, the red-robed female cultivator from the Xies, Xie Yun, who walked on air, went up again. "Yu Qingtan, do you also know calligraphy or painting?" she asked, her beautiful eyes looking directly at Qingtan. This question instantly invigorated the crowd. Two women contending for superiority, this is something everyone loves to watch. Yu Qingtan did not disappoint everyone and replied indifferently, "Slightly." Then she walked gracefully towards the high tform. This demeanor made Xie Yun''s heart tighten. "Could she also possess profound mastery?" The four talented gentlemen were also curious as they looked towards the beautiful Yu Qingtan. Just as everyone was about to begin their creations, unexpectedly a pure white winged horse pulling a magnificent carriage flew from the sky towards the high tform. "All-World Academy, the four talents, in my opinion, are nothing more than this, mere seekers of hollow fame!" At the same time, a carefree and maic voice emanated from the carriage. Shi Kuang, Zhou Lan, Zhong Yao, and Jing Hao all stood up upon hearing this, looking towards the carriage with disapproval on their faces. The carriage stopped in mid-air above the high tform, and two figures emerged from it. A man dressed in a white robe adorned with orchid emblems cradled a woman in a light green chest-high ruyi dress with lotus patterns who retracted the carriage and floated down onto the high tform. The man had long ck hair casually draped over his shoulders, a youthful and handsome face, and deep green eyes. An orange chubby cat was perched on his left shoulder, a liquor jug in his left hand, and his right arm wrapped around the beauty''s slender waist. The woman also had long hair flowing like a waterfall, her cheeks pale as jade, cherry lips, eyes clear as autumn waters, a teardrop mole under her right eye, a slender figure, and was barefooted, exuding immense allure and sensuality. Afternding, the man''s green eyes surveyed both Xie Yun and Yu Qingtan, prompting the woman in his arms to pinch his waist. "Who are you to speak so insolently? How dare you nder All-World Academy!" Jing Hao asked sternly. "Red Dust Sect''s Ye Rujun. Your All-World Academy''s reputation doesn''t scare me." "Extreme Path Demon Sect''s Feng Qiao. Big Brother Jun, they are so fierce, they have scared this girl!" Red Dust Sect, Extreme Path Demon Sect. Shock coursed through the hearts of everyone present. Qing Tan also looked intently at Feng Qiao. "Hundred Flowers List number forty-seven, Extreme Path Demon Sect, Feng Qiao, neen years old, top-quality Gold and Water dual Spirit Roots, Foundation Establishmentte stage, world-known as Feng Qiao the Witch." However, her portrait was not on the Hundred Flowers List. "Rumors im that the Venerable Liang Chen of the Red Dust Demon Sect has a grandchild with the Mystic Vision. It must be you. Unexpectedly, you''ve gotten together with the witch Feng Qiao from the Extreme Path Demon Sect." Shi Kuang said. So she''s the granddaughter of a God Transformation Honorable, no wonder she dares to roam so freely in Tianxiang Valley''s territory. It''s said that Feng Qiao also has a master in the Nascent Soulte stage. Had it not been for this, the cultivators present today would have undertaken to eliminate demons and defend the path. "What do you mean ''together''? I and Big Brother Jun are in mutual love!" Feng Qiao retorted dissatisfied, with a slight nasal tone in her voice. "What is your purpose foring here?" Shi Kuang asked coldly. Though they were important figures from a demon sect, since these two demeaned them and belittled their All-World Academy, they were not afraid to battle them. "Aren''t you hosting some calligraphy and painting exchange? We are here to show you just how inferior your own calligraphy and paintings are!" Ye Rujun nced disdainfully at the calligraphy and paintings of Zhong Yao and Jing Hao during the Formation refinement. Zhong Yao and Jing Hao red at Ye Rujun and Feng Qiao. "That''s to say, you''re here to cause trouble. In that case, I would like to see what you''re capable of," Jing Hao said. "Haha, then keep your eyes wide open and watch closely," Ye Rujun said with a bigugh. Afterwards, he blew a kiss on Feng Qiao''s cheek, tossed out a plush chair, and said, "Qiao''er, take a seat here and wait for a moment." Feng Qiao blushed slightly and obediently took her seat on the chair. Ye Rujun then approached the writing desk facing the chair and began his own creation. Chapter 112 Tian Xiang Has a Daughter Named Qing Tan Ye Rujun''s hand channeled Spiritual Power, and the white paper floated in the air before him. Opening the sk, he took a sip of Spiritual Wine and then began to write on the paper with his right hand. In this manner, he took a sip now and again, appearing incredibly suave. Half an hourter, Ye Rujun took another sip of wine, then sprayed it onto the paper. Blue mes appeared on the paper immediately. After three breaths, the mes disappeared. Ye Rujun casually waved, and the white paper drifted toward the Literary Dao Refining Array. "Watch closely and learn, what is good Painting Skill, what is good Calligraphy!" Ye Rujun nced at Zhong Yao and Jing Hao, dering loudly. The two of them suppressed their anger, watching the white paper along with everyone else. The painting on the white paper was of Feng Qiao sitting in a chair. At first nce, it was almost identical to the real person. Upon closer inspection, every single strand of hair was precisely depicted, as if the real person had stepped into the painting. What''s more critical was the extremely lifelike look in the eyes of the painted Feng Qiao. No matter from which angle you looked, it seemed as if she was gazing at you. Beside the painting, there was also a poem. "In Tianxiang''s March, a hundred flowers bloom, from Extreme Path Demon Sect Feng Qiaoes from up north. Willows graceful, bewitching eyes they veil, tone of peach trees shading fragrant cheeks prevail. Soft bosom, elegant neck, slender hands unfold, long legs, waist petite, ankles white as snow they hold. Lament in beauty spots, charmingly she glides, amidst the crowd of flowers, their sorrow they all hide." The entire poem was written in a style between running script and regr script, with an elegant and unrestrainedyout that felt powerful and carefree upon viewing. As the calligraphy and painting hung behind the Literary Dao Refining Array, a sacred light of four feet eight inches emanated above. Zhong Yao and Jing Hao''s faces were as dark as water. They had hoped to meet a master and make progress through exchange. But this sort of crushing humiliation at the hands of someone from the Extreme Path Demon Sect was certainly not what they wanted to face. Upon seeing the painting and the poem above it, Feng Qiao''s cheeks turned red, but she still rushed into Ye Rujun''s embrace, sping her lover''s waist tightly. Ye Rujun wrapped his right arm around the beauty''s slender waist, proudly surveying the people around him. Although everyone was amazed by Ye Rujun''s superb skills in calligraphy and painting, they were irritated by his dismissive attitude. Especially the female cultivators present; the line "amidst the crowd of flowers, their sorrow they all hide" was like a p to their faces, certainly hard to bear. Even though Feng Qiao was indeed beautiful, this kind of put-down was really suffocating. Zhong Yao and Jing Hao exchanged nces, then Jing Hao said, "Young Master Ye is indeed unparalleled in both calligraphy and painting. However, disciples from the All-World Academy should not be underestimated. You should know that my senior brother, Real Person Gong Zhaoqing, is also exceptional in both arts. Regrettably, Zhong Yao and I are only proficient in one, but would it be possible for the two of us to make a joint painting and calligraphy piece to learn from Young Master Ye?" Ye Rujun indifferently said, "Gong Zhaoqing of the All-World Academy, ranked thirty-ninth on the Pride of the Heavens List. Once I reach Core Formation, I shall certainly pay him a visit to move his rank back a notch or two. Today, though, you maye at me together if you wish; I suspect it won''t make much of a difference." Zhong Yao and Jing Hao clenched their fists, but ultimately did not react. Jing Hao approached Yu Qingtan and said, "Miss Qing Tan, may I request you to remove your veil so that I may capture your likeness in a painting?" Yu Qingtan didn''t expect Jing Hao toe to her. After a brief moment, she agreed. She only wore a veil in public because it felt more imposing. If one observed with Divine Sense, the veil would be ineffective; however, it was highly impolite to scan others with Divine Sense without permission, and most cultivators would refrain from such behavior. Yesterday, Shi Kuang and Zhou Lan had already seen her face. Moreover, she was confident that her appearance was notckingpared to Feng Qiao''s. Following Jing Hao''s instruction, Yu Qingtan posed as if ying the zither. Ye Rujun and some other Foundation Establishment Cultivators noticed that Yu Qingtan resembled the Fairy ranked sixteenth on the Hundred Flowers List. Ye Rujun raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Xie Yun felt displeased, thinking Jing Hao choosing Qing Tan as his model implied she was not as attractive as Qing Tan. Some fans of Yu Qingtan below the stage were very excited. "Qingtan is indeed beautiful too!" Jing Hao had been painting meticulously for more than an hour, and then it was Zhong Yao''s turn to inscribe a poem on it. Once it was done, Zhong Yao threw it into the Literary Dao Refining Array. The crowd saw a painting of a young girl in a ruqun ying the zither, with petals falling behind her, creating an extremely aesthetic scene. The expression and eyes of the girl in the painting were lifelike, as if stained by the sorrow of the zither music. There seemed to be a faint sound of the zither emanating from the painting. Next to the image, there was also a poem. "Unsurpassable beauty and talent, Tianxiang has a girl named Qingtan. Ice-clearplexion and delicate features like dangling stars. Eyebrows fine as crescent moons, hairpins matching her cloud-like hair. Fingers nimbly y the Butterfly Lovers'' tune, tender hands ingeniously solve ancient riddles. A beauty that could overthrow a realm, yet the visage does not show. Descended to the mortal realm, even an exiled fairy would feel ashamed." The font was still the semi-cursive that Zhong Yao excelled in. Whether it was the painting or the calligraphy, both were far more exquisite than what they had created before. However, the saintly light from the Literary Dao Refining Array reached only four feet and five inches. "Hahaha, although there''s a slight improvement over the previous mediocre work, there''s still a need for more effort, hahaha~" Seeing this, Ye Rujun burst outughing, openly mocking them. Feng Qiao, who was in his arms, also covered her mouth and giggled, but her gaze at Yu Qingtan flickered with a trace of displeasure. Zhong Yao and Jing Hao had their heads down, hands tightly sped. Jing Hao felt like crying even more. The people present also felt a deep sense of humiliation. It was a pity that they were indeed outssed, with nothing to say in their own defense. Yu Qingtan felt somewhat ashamed when she saw the poem Zhong Yao had written for her. "That''s exaggerated, too exaggerated, the exiled fairy Xu Fang is the first on the Hundred Flowers List, I am not yetparable." Thinking this, Yu Qingtan took a few steps forward and said to Ye Rujun, "Junior Yu Qingtan from Tianxiang Valley wishes to exchange pointers in painting and calligraphy with elder Ye." Everyone was shocked. Ye Rujun also knew from the discussions of those below the stage and from Zhong Yao''s poem that Yu Qingtan excelled in music and chess, but now she wanted topete with him in painting and calligraphy. "Are you sure?" He asked, his arms crossed, as Feng Qiao also looked at her scrutinizingly. Xie Yun had a bad feeling in her heart, for she too was proficient in Painting Skill, but in front of Ye Rujun, if she stood out, it would mean real embarrassment. Therefore, she had no intention of painting. Unexpectedly, Yu Qingtan stepped forward. However, some in the crowd were rejuvenated. "Just the other day, Miss Qingtan dominated Tianxiang with her skills in music and chess; could it be that her painting and calligraphy could not also stand alone and unmatched?" They believed that Yu Qingtan was such a treasure of a girl. Like her little fan Xiang Ru, like Xiang Yu who had some understanding of her. And like Fu Nian, who had just arrived at Tianxiang City today. "I am sure!" Yu Qingtan said firmly. Originally, she only intended to show a bit of her skill, but with the people from the Extreme Path Demon Sect, especially, pressing down on her, she naturally had to take action. "Interesting, then please go ahead!" "However, just an exchange of skills seems a bitcking. Why not raise the stakes?" Yu Qingtan continued to speak. "Interesting, Qiao''er, this trip is truly interesting. Well, if a little Qi Cultivation girl dares to bet with me, how can I not ept. Let''s bet on whether you can create a piece that exceeds four feet and eight inches of saintly light. If you fail, you will be my servant girl, but if you seed, I will give you a supreme quality Spiritual Artifact," Ye Rujun said with a smile. Chapter 113 Unmatched in Both Calligraphy and Painting, Gai Ru Jun Hearing Ye Rujun''s words, the four great talents stepped forward in unison, wanting to refute. Especially Zhou Lan, he certainly did not want his newly acknowledged chess mentor to be someone else''s maid. Yu Qingtan anticipated their reaction and turned around to wave at them. "Elder seniors, I have made up my mind. However, Elder Ye, I do not want a superior-grade spiritual artifact, I want a drop of third-stage Spirit Dew." Yu Qingtan said. "Good!" A sh of surprise crossed Ye Rujun''s eyes, but still, he took out a jade bottle very briskly and tossed it towards an empty table. Although Feng Qiao felt somewhat jealous about Ye Rujun wanting to take Yu Qingtan as a maid, she simply pinched Ye Rujun''s waist a bit more and said nothing. Xiang Ru in the audience looked utterly worried. Yu Qingtan moved gracefully to a desk and began to create. The creation process saw Ye Rujun and those who could see the desk''s surface change expressions several times, but they didn''t make a sound to interrupt. More than an hourter, Yu Qingtan finished her work. "Good!" Jing Hao couldn''t help but praise loudly, and then he used the Object Controlling Technique to hang Yu Qingtan''s work above the literary path refining array. A white light shed, and the holy light reached a height of five feet and four inches. The painting depicted a self-portrait of Yu Qingtan, an image of a beautiful woman walking elegantly upon the waves. The portrait was realistic and even more meticulous than those of Ye Rujun and Jing Hao, with every eysh and eyebrow perfectly captured. Most importantly, this ink paintingbined the effects of pencil sketching, giving the figure a powerful sense of three-dimensionality. If Ye Rujun and Jing Hao''s paintings were like figures walking into the paintings, then Yu Qingtan''s painting was like the figure walking out of it. Beside the portrait was a section from Cao Zijian''s "The Goddess" written in a script never before seen in the Cultivation World. "Graceful as a startled swan, gentle as a roaming dragon, her glory outshines autumn chrysanthemums, her radiance overpowers the pines of spring. Vaguelike a light cloud veiling the moon, and floating like the wind returning the snow. From afar she seems as bright as the rising sun amidst morning clouds; when close, as dazzling as lotus flowers breaking through the water''s surface. Perfect bnce achieved within, a harmony of length and shortness, shoulders carved with precision, waist as if cinched. Extending her neck, a slender pir revealed, the radiance of her skin unveiled, her natural scent untainted, no powder nor rouge applied." This script was the slender gold style created by Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, characterized by a central structure that tapers and radiates outward, with the weight shifted upwards. The brushwork was concentrated, sharp, and coherent, often creating angr turns and pauses, reminiscent of the legs of a crane. Overall, the characters had an iron hook brushstroke appeal, with a divine power and ghostly skill, also presenting a beauty that was clear, elegant, and full of yful wit. "Great writing, great painting, great verses!" Even Ye Rujun couldn''t help butmend. At that moment, a thunderp sounded out of nowhere, and the Yu Qingtan in the painting came to life as if by magic, floating out from the paper. She appeared before Yu Qingtan, took one look at her, and then floated back onto the paper. "A Treasure Painting!" Ye Rujun, the four great talents, and other knowledgeable people couldn''t help but exim. A so-called Treasure Painting is a work imbued with divine meaning, generally only creatable by cultivators at the Golden Core level or above who specialize in painting. Yu Qingtan was also a bit dazed, as she hadn''t anticipated this oue. This time, to suppress Ye Rujun, she had used up two second-stage Skill Upgrade Cards and two third-stage Skill Upgrade Cards, nearly spending all the Affection Value she had saved up over the past days. She had referred to many things from her previous life to create this piece, and thankfully, the result did not disappoint her. The audience, though not understanding what a Treasure Painting was, could see the figure stepping out of the painting and the five feet and four inches of holy light, which made everything clear. They broke into apuse and cheers. Xie Yun was like a swan that had lost its soul, while Xiang Ru was like a little sparrow that had found sesame seeds, dancing with joy and chattering excitedly to Xiang Yu. "Young Master Ye, what do you have to say?" Yu Qingtan asked, with the Four Great Talents all standing behind her. Ye Rujun and Feng Qiao both gazed deeply at Yu Qingtan. After a long while, Ye Rujun said, "Indeed, Miss Qingtan, this book has created a new font, and this painting has created a new painting technique. I am ashamed to say I am inferior. However, for Miss Qingtan with such talent, Tianxiang Valley is too small a ce. If youe with me to the Red Dust Sect, I can arrange for Venerable Liang Chen to ept you as his personal disciple. How about that?" Ye Rujun''s words were like a huge stone thrown into a calmke. Being a personal disciple of a God Transformation Honorable is something so many people wouldn''t even dare to dream of. Before Yu Qingtan could speak, Shi Kuang loudly said, "Hmph, to poach someone right before their eyes is truly a deed befitting the Demon Sect. However, our All-World Academy has more God Transformation Honorables than your Red Dust Demon Sect, and if Miss Qingtan wishes to join, bing a personal disciple of a God Transformation Honorable is well within reach." Yu Qingtan also said, "I have already taken Real Person Rou Jia of Tianxiang Valley as my master." Ye Rujun''s green pupils flickered as he pondered the possibility of abducting her on the spot. Feng Qiao also watched Yu Qingtan with a smile, her beautiful eyes curious, wondering what she was thinking. At this moment, Ye Rujun looked up in a certain direction. "Such actions from Young Master Ye might not be appropriate here, for this is Tianxiang Immortal City of Tianxiang Valley." A cold voice apanied a white Escape Light, transforming into the figure of a woman in a white dress. This person had white hair and a figure graceful and lithe, bewitching as a blooming flower. "Greetings to True Person Xueying!" Yu Qingtan and the Four Great Talents, among others, all paid their respects. "Haha, as they say, a good bird chooses a tree to perch. I was merely offering this Miss Qingtan a better ce to go. Since she is unwilling, so be it. Qiao''er, these so-called Four Great Talents of the All-World Academy are indeed not as good as they im. But encountering someone interesting makes this trip worthwhile." As he spoke, he already had the carriage ready. The two got on and flew off into the sky. "Miss Qingtan, feel free to visit the Red Dust Sect anytime!" That was the only sound left behind. Completely disregarding True Person Xueying of Tianxiang Valley. Little did they know, Ye Rujun only likeddies younger than him. True Person Xueying felt slightly uneasy, but showed no particr reaction. After all, with their influential backing, what could she do to them? At this moment, Yu Qingtan tucked away that drop of Third Stage Spirit Dew, feeling very satisfied in her heart. This was definitely not a loss. Just then, Zhong Yao and Jing Hao came up to Yu Qingtan, each holding a jade bottle and bowing deeply, they said, "Miss Qingtan''s calligraphy and painting are unparalleled. Yao and Hao wish to take Miss Qingtan as our master and hope for your consent." Yu Qingtan thought that epting one was the same as epting three, seeing as it was only going to be a nominal discipleship anyway. She said, "You need not be so formal, gentlemen. I ept." "Teacher Yu, these are our gifts for bing your disciples. Please ept them!" Yu Qingtan took them, and indeed, they were two bottles amounting to one hundred drops of Second Stage Spirit Dew. It seemed Zhou Lan had already informed them of her preferences. "You''ve been thoughtful." "You seem determined to take Qingtan to the All-World Academy!" True Person Xueying quipped. "The All-World Academy is not a Sect Gate. After studying there for a while, Miss Qingtan will still return," said Shi Kuang. True Person Xueying was well aware of this fact. "Why doesn''t Miss Qingtane back with us to the All-World Academy?" Shi Kuang invited Yu Qingtan outright. "Yes, Teacher Yu,e with us to the All-World Academy," Zhou Lan and Jing Hao chimed in. Zhong Yao didn''t speak, but the look in his eyes clearly held hope. Chapter 114 Host another conference to fleece investors Hearing the invitation from Zhou Lan, Zhong Yao, and Jing Hao, Yu Qingtan smiled and said, "I won''t be going this time. After my Foundation Establishment, once I have paid respects to my master, I''ll find time to go." "That''s fine!" Shi Kuang said. "Many thanks to Lady Xueying, the City Lord, and all the friends from Tianxiang Immortal City. Our quartet''s exchange meeting has officially ended. Thank you!" After Shi Kuang gave his speech, everyone started to leave the square, including Miss Xie Yun of the Xies, who felt somewhat disheartened. Lady Xueying turned into a streak of escape light and left, while the Four Talents directly followed Yu Qingtan, Xiang Ru, and Xiang Yu back to the Raoliang Tea House. Xiang Ru was so excited that she almost tripped over when entering the door. Back in the building, Yu Qingtan generously taught Jing Hao the knowledge of light and shadow in sketching and the rule of halves and taught the running script calligraphy to Zhong Yao. The Four Talents stayed at the Raoliang Tea House for ten days, deeply exchanging knowledge in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting with Yu Qingtan, and asionally Shi Kuang would y the zither for her during business hours. From then on, the Raoliang Tea House was packed with guests every day. After ten days, the Four Talents went back to the All-World Academy, having gained a lot in Tianxiang Immortal City, they decided not to continue their exchanges elsewhere. Yu Qingtan then discovered that one more person had been added to her list of devotees, Shi Kuang. "No wonder when Jing Hao jokingly suggested that Shi Kuang should also take me as his master, Shi Kuang refused outright; he must not have wanted to have the embarrassment of surpassing his master," Yu Qingtan mused somewhat speechlessly. "However, having Foundation Establishmentte-stage cultivator Shi Kuang add 60 affection points directly to myself is still very pleasing!" ... One monthter, Yu Qingtan received an invitation. It was sent by Deacon Meng Xiyao from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. It turned out that not long ago, Meng Xiyao had also been transferred from Suichuan Immortal City to Tianxiang Immortal City. She invited Yu Qingtan because she had heard of Yu Qingtan''s various performances in Tianxiang Immortal City and wanted to hold a solo performance there. Yu Qingtan dly epted. If it weren''t for Meng Xiyao''s invitation, she would have wanted to approach Hundred Treasures Pavilion herself. After all, upon bing a first-rank guest schr of Hundred Treasures Pavilion, she was obliged to hold solo performance meetings wherever there was a Hundred Treasures Pavilion branch and the Pavilion would organize it, with the earnings, eighty percent of which would go to her. Now that she was somewhat famous in Tianxiang Immortal City, it was time to "reap the harvest." After consultations with Meng Xiyao, Yu Qingtan''s solo performance meeting in Tianxiang Immortal City was sessfully held for five days. The reason was that Tianxiang Immortal City had an immensely huge performance venue that could amodate a hundred thousand people at a time. The schedule for the performance meeting was basically the same as that in Suichuan Immortal City, but this time there were chess and calligraphy performances too. The performance still adopted a free reservation system and a tipping system, with approximately four hundred and seventy thousand cultivators of the Immortal City watching. Yu Qingtan earned eight hundred and twenty thousand Spirit Stones in tips, four hundred thousand charm points, and about seven hundred affection points. On thest day of the performance meeting, Yu Qingtan announced that all her Spirit Stone ie would be used for mortgage loans, with an interest rate of 0.5%. Indeed, the mortgage scheme proposed by Yu Qingtan in Suichuan Immortal City had spread, and most Immortal Cities that knew about it had implemented it. Unfortunately, the mortgage interest rates were higher than one; for example, Tianxiang Immortal City''s was at 1.7%, so there were still arge number of loose cultivators living in slums outside of Tianxiang Immortal City. The outskirts of Tianxiang Immortal City were not that dangerous, so only about one-tenth of slum-dwelling loose cultivators chose to take out mortgage loans and move into the city. Yu Qingtan handed over the matter of mortgage loans to Xiang Yu, and Xiang Yu agreed. Suddenly, arge number of Loose Cultivators from the shanty areas came to Raoliang Tea House to process loans and rent houses within the city. Because the density of spiritual energy inside the city was high and the safety was greater. The strategy for mortgages, proposed by Yu Qingtan, spread rapidly without anyone promoting it. Although Yu Qingtan''s 520,000 spirit stones were a drop in the bucket, the City Lord''s Mansion and the Xies soonunched mortgages with an interest rate as low as 0.6 percent. Yu Qingtan gained the favor of the Loose Cultivators of Suichuan Immortal City, especially those from the shanty areas, and her Charm Points rose by another three hundred thousand. This irritated those who had previously offered mortgages. They were none other than the families backing Tianxiang Valley, such as the Luos and the Yans, and most of the real estate in Tianxiang Immortal City was in their hands. However, those concerns were no longer Yu Qingtan''s worry. She happily opened the System Panel and went on a shopping spree, the excitement of which was indescribable. [Name: Yu Qingtan] [Gender: Female] [Age: 15/237] [Cultivation Level: Foundation Establishment Mid Stage 500/50000, Body Refinement Foundation Establishment Early Stage 20/20000] [Cultivation Technique: Greenwave Technique, Ice Skin Jade Bone Art] [Spells: Second Stage Purification Spell, Water Escape Technique, Water de Technique, Water Curtain Technique, Object Controlling Technique, Breath-Concealing Technique, Decay and Flourish Technique, Blood Control Technique, Soul Cleansing Techniqueplete, Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique minor achievement, First Stage Wood Escape Technique, Illusion Dance Technique and other First Stage Spellsplete] [Charm Points: 7245] [Affection Value: 66] [Skills: Dance Artistry, Zither Art, Chess Skill, Calligraphy, Painting Skillplete, First Stage Spiritual Tailoring Skillplete, Second Stage Talisman Making Skillplete] [System Space Slots: Third Stage Spell Upgrade Card 3 pieces, Third Stage Escape Talisman 1 piece, High Grade Spirit Stone 7 pieces, Medium Grade Spirit Stone 289 pieces, Lower Grade Spirit Stone 30,000 pieces, Second Stage Spirit Dew 201 drops, Third Stage Spirit Dew 1 drop, Mysterious Seed, Uninscribed Token 2 pieces, Spiritual Artifacts such as the Crimson Abyss Sword, Xuan Crimson Armor, Flying Spirit Sword, Message-Transmitting Flying Sword, Magic Artifacts such as the Cherry Red Sword and Xuan Turtle Shield, Foundation Establishment Pills, Purple Spirit Pills, Spirit Revitalizing Pills, Healing Pills and other Second Stage Elixirs, Ascension Pills and Spirit-Condensing Pills and other First Stage Elixirs, Second Stage Purifying Heart Talismans and other Talismans, Heavenly Spirit Fruit and other Spiritual Medicines, Snow Silkworm Thread and other Spiritual Materials, Deep Sea Blue Crystal and Sun me Jade and other Spirit Ores, Second Stage Alert Defense Formation and other Array gs, Ruan Fan, Little Tao and others] [System Shop: Immortal Body Activation Card 0/1 (100000 Affection Value), Innate Divine Ability Upgrade Card 0/1 (100000 Affection Value), Advanced Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (10000 Affection Value), Third Stage Cultivation Upgrade Card 0/3 (1000 Affection Value), Second Stage Cultivation Upgrade Card 3/3 (100 Affection Value), Third Stage Spell Upgrade Card 10/10 (100 Affection Value), Second Stage Spell Upgrade Card 10/10 (10 Affection Value), Third Stage Skill Upgrade Card 5/5 (100 Affection Value), Second Stage Skill Upgrade Card 5/5 (10 Affection Value)] [Lucky Draw: 10 Charm Points to draw once (up to ten consecutive draws)] Among the Devotees, the main addition was Shi Kuang. [Shi Kuang, Foundation Establishment Late Stage, 5,000 spirit stones for a quarter-hour, can replicate: Complete Second Stage Spell Great Resonant Sound, 300,000 spirit stones, Complete Second Stage Spell Devil''s Prating Sound, 300,000 spirit stones] This meant that Yu Qingtan could use "Love''s Protection" to wield thebat power of a Late Foundation Establishment stage. "If only I had a Golden Core Stage Devotee!" thought Yu Qingtan, always desiring more. Unfortunately, Golden Core Stage Cultivators were rare, and either they already hadpanions or their hearts were set on the greater path. After reviewing the System Panel, Yu Qingtan began to create talismans again. She sold a batch of unmarked spoils of war from Ruan Fan at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, then bought a Second Stage high-quality talisman brush, a variety of Second Stage talisman drawing methods, and many talisman-making materials. Thanks to her recent dedication to skill improvement and copying through spending, she had be a Second Stage Talisman Master with a sess rate as high as eighty percent. Soon, it would be the day when the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm would emerge, and she had to make more preparations. Chapter 115 The Myriad Beasts Secret Realm Finally Appears Tianxiang Immortal City. Recently, the news about the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm has been the focal point of everyone''s discussions. It is said that in the skies above Qingyuan Marsh, which lies ny thousand li from the Immortal City, brilliant rosy light filled the heavens recently, apanied asionally by the rumbling sound of thunder. This is a sign of the imminent emergence of the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, and many cultivators have already set off for Qingyuan Marsh. Raoliang Tea House. "Master Xiang, I''ll be leaving for Qingyuan Marsh soon and will be away from the Immortal City. I''ll have to trouble you with the lending and the sect tasks," said Yu Qingtan to Xiang Yu. "Don''t worry, the ie you''ve brought in as a zither master is so high, I''ll count you as havingpleted half a year''s worth of sect tasks. When the timees, I''ll issue new tasks. As for the lending, with your Zhi Lan Pavilion''s earnings and the subsequent interest ie, there won''t be any problems," replied Xiang Yu. Recently, Li Xingruo had the person in charge of Tianxiang Immortal City''s Zhi Lan Pavilion deliver Yu Qingtan''s share of the earnings directly to her. Yu Qingtan simply reinvested them into her mortgage funds. After all, she wasn''t in need of a mere hundred thousand or eighty thousand Spirit Stones; what shecked were farrger quantities of Spirit Stones, so she treated it purely as an investment, which could also earn her Charm Points or even Affection Value. "Alright, then I''ll set off right away," said Yu Qingtan and slipped away from the Raoliang Tea House, undercover, taking advantage of the night. After leaving Tianxiang Immortal City, Yu Qingtan took out her Flying Spirit Sword and flew directly towards Qingyuan Marsh. Very few people knew she was going to brave the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, and because she had disguised herself as an early-stage Foundation Establishment male Loose Cultivator, her journey went very smoothly. Qingyuan Marsh, stretching tens of thousands of li, lies close to Yunhua Mountain Range. It has a harsh environment and scant spiritual energy, perennially shrouded in toxic miasma, with low-ranking Demonic Beasts roaming freely. Usually, only a few cultivatorse here in search of Qingyuan Marsh''s unique Spiritual Medicine and Spiritual Materials, but now, the silhouettes of cultivators, including some Foundation Establishment Cultivators, could asionally be seen active within. As Yu Qingtan flew on her sword, she felt extremely exhrated. This was her first time flying on a sword so freely¡ªthis was the true style of an unbound cultivator. Flying on a sword with the wind, she roamed between heaven and earth. Even before reaching Qingyuan Marsh, she could see the brilliant light high in the sky from afar, with the misty Qingyuan Marsh hidden beneath a haze. Yu Qingtan stopped to appreciate the aurora-like scenery for a while. At that moment, two figures approached in Yu Qingtan''s direction. Without much action from Yu Qingtan, they were just Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and she was confident she could handle them with ease. The middle-aged male cultivator in a purple robe saluted Yu Qingtan from twenty zhang away to show no hostility, saying, "Greetings, fellow Daoist. May I ask how to address you? My name is Lu Dehua, a Loose Cultivator from Yi Yang Immortal City, and this is Chen Ziyu, a Loose Cultivator from Ming Yang Immortal City. Presumably, Daoist friend is also here to brave the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. How about we team up? It''ll provide mutual support." "I''m Qing Mu, a Loose Cultivator from Tianxiang Immortal City. What are the details of this team-up?" Yu Qingtan asked in a masculine voice. "So you''re Daoist Qing. Presumably, you''re also aware that the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm is an ancient trial ground for the disciples of the great Myriad Beasts Sect. Inside, Demonic Beasts roam and dangers lurk at every turn. It''s more likely for us Loose Cultivators to survive if we band together for warmth," he exined. "We have already gathered more than a dozen Foundation Establishment friends; what do you think, Qing Mu?" Lu Dehua lightly twisted his short beard and spoke. Qing Tan naturally knew some basic information about the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. The Myriad Beasts Secret Realm had a very high mortality rate, but as long as you came out alive, you were basically guaranteed a handsome reward. However, she had no intention of forming a team with others; after all, her main goal was to go there, obtain a coating of gold, so to speak, and return as a natural course of events to be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Thus, she responded indifferently, "No need, I''m ustomed to going alone." Having said that, she steered her Flying Spirit Sword around Lu Dehua and Chen Ziyu and headed towards the Qingyuan Marsh. "Hmph, such a terribly rude person. She''s ''ustomed to going alone''? I wager she won''tst a day in the Secret Realm." After Qing Tan left, Chen Ziyu snorted coldly, and Lu Dehua''s face also showed disapproval, but he didn''t say anything. Qing Tan certainly wouldn''t know about theirments, and even if she did, she would just dismiss them with a smile. With the effect of a Second Stageplete Purification Spell, the mere miasma of the Qingyuan Marsh could do her no harm. To avoid trouble, Qing Tan used her Divine Sense to scout ahead, avoiding other Cultivators. She reached the depths of the Qingyuan Marsh, where she dug a temporary cave dwelling, waiting for the arrival of the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. Outside, the number of Cultivatorsing to Qingyuan Marsh continued to increase, though conflicts broke out only asionally. In the Southeast Region nowadays, the pressure from demonic beasts on Human Cultivators was still considerable. The higher echelon Cultivators of the Human Race generally reached a consensus to minimize internal disputes, so there was a generally harmonious atmosphere between Cultivators. A few dayster, a thunderous rumbling erupted from the sky above Qingyuan Marsh, with lightning and a spectrum of colors intertwining among the clouds. After continuing for an hour, a rainbow glow cascaded from the sky, covering most of the Qingyuan Marsh. The Human Cultivators in the marsh, including Qing Tan, suddenly felt a force pulling at them, followed by a slight dizziness. When they came back to their senses, they found themselves in a vast desert. This was the effect of a Teleportation Formation. Qing Tan had experienced it once before when entering the Trial Demon Tower, but this time the range of teleportation was much broader. Moreover, this time the teleportation brought everyone to one ce, so Qing Tan looked around and saw that the ce was teeming with Cultivators, possibly numbering in the hundreds of thousands. The teleporting light of the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm was aimed only at Human Cultivators below the Golden Core Stage; even those at the false Core Stage weren''t eligible. If they were within the range of the teleporting light, they would be directly eradicated by the killing array carried by the teleportation Great Array, so there were no Cultivators above Foundation Establishment in Qingyuan Marsh at all. Now in the desert, although there were many people, Qi Practitioners and Foundation Establishment Cultivators were segregated on opposite sides, with an invisible barrier in between. The entire Myriad Beasts Secret Realm was elongated in shape; they were now in the middle, with Qi Practitioners heading one way and Foundation Establishment Cultivators the other. As soon as everyone entered the Secret Realm, they didn''t hesitate and began to spread out in the direction of leaving the desert. Because this desert was not safe ¨C tornadoes formed without warning, blowing for a while before disappearing. This was the Bone Erosion Storm; Foundation Establishment Cultivators caught in it almost certainly faced death, and Qi Practitioners would be reduced to ash. The Myriad Beasts Secret Realm contained many simr dangers; encountering them was simply bad luck. Thus, thoserge forces did not send many talents to venture into the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm because even if yourbat power wasparable to the Golden Core Stage, if you were unlucky in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, death was still certain. Previously, there were often cases where prodigies with exceptional Single Spiritual Roots in thete stages of Foundation Establishment considered themselves as favored by destiny, unassable in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, only to end up buried there. Those who came to brave the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm were mostly Loose Cultivators who wished to bet their lives for a slim chance of fortune, ounting for sixty to seventy percent. The rest were mostly individuals who had mediocre or poor standings in their respective factions, with only a few being elites from various factions. After all, with such a significant opportunity at hand, it made sense to send to people in to share in the spoils. Tianxiang Valley naturally also had a team present, which included some acquaintances of Qing Tan. Chapter 116 A Relaxed and Joyful Adventure into the Secret Realm Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. In the vast desert, Yu Qingtan flew on her sword, casting the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique continuously, observing her surroundings. "Ah~ Ah~" In the distance, a Foundation Establishment early-stage Cultivator also flying on his sword was suddenly struck by a Bone-Corrosive Tornado. Though he tried to elerate immediately, the tornado''s suction was too strong, and he was swept into it. Twisting and spiraling into the sky, he let out a cry of despair. An hour had passed since entering the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, and this was already the third unfortunate soul Qing Tan had seen. The appearance of the Bone Erosion Storms waspletely unpredictable; not even the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil could detect any signs of them. She could only pray that she wouldn''t be so unlucky. Although she was just a clone entering for a formal appearance, she didn''t want to lose this clone needlessly. Fortunately, her luck held. After another hour of flight, Qing Tan finally left the desert and came upon a Gobi. Other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were arriving one after another; those who had agreed to team up in advance waited here for theirpanions. Qing Tan also saw a few familiar faces. When sheid eyes on one of them, her eyes suddenly narrowed. After observing for a while, Qing Tan released Xiao Tao and began to walk into the Gobi. Beyond the desert, it was practically impossible to fly on swords because of therge numbers of flying Demonic Beasts, such as the fierce Huwu Vultures in this Gobi. As for Xiao Tao, no outsider had yet seen it. It was permissible for Cultivators to bring Spiritual Beasts into the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. In fact, in the first part of the journey, Cultivators without Spiritual Beasts had to tame at least one Demonic Beast as their Spiritual Beast, because theter stages required both personnel and Spiritual Beasts to tackle together. "Ao ao... ao ao ao ao..." Xiao Tao, perhaps having not been out in the wild for a long time, was excitedly running around in a frenzy. Qing Tan didn''t bother to manage it; there were no uncontroble dangers like Bone Erosion Storms in this Gobi. A woman and a wolf walking through the Gobi; it brought back a sense of pleasure like that of traveling in her previous life. But this pleasant feeling disappeared quickly. As they passed a small rise, a worm as thick as a man''s thigh suddenly burst from the ground, its sharp fangs aiming for Xiao Tao. "A Second Stage Death Worm!" Qing Tan''s expression changed abruptly; she had been scouting ahead with her Divine Sense, and Xiao Tao with its keen sense of smell, but neither had detected this lurking danger. The Death Worm was a natural master of concealment, indistinguishable from the surrounding soil to her Divine Sense. Faced with the sudden attack, Xiao Tao was startled and quickly ran towards Qing Tan. Although it had advanced to the Second Stage, it didn''t know any spells and still relied solely on its sharp teeth and ws for attack. Confronted by the hideous and terrifying Death Worm, it decisively chickened out. As useless as this wolf cub was, Qing Tan loved to dote on it. "So disgusting!" said Qing Tan with distaste, looking at the Death Worm, her mood was no longer as beautiful. As Spiritual Power coursed within her, a thick earthen wall appeared between Xiao Tao and the Death Worm, and then the ground underneath the Death Worm sprouted countless Earth Spikes, skewering the creature. Earth Wall Technique, Earth Spike Technique. Qing Tan raised her right hand in a shooting pose and soon, balls of fire appeared at her fingertips, shooting towards the Death Worm that was not yet dead. Fire Bullet Technique. It didn''t take long to reduce it to ash. "This feeling of overkill against a weakling is so satisfying!" Qing Tan said, blowing non-existent smoke from her fingertips and chuckling. Although they were only first-level spells, with her proficiency at theplete level and using mid-stage Foundation Establishment Spiritual Power, a low-level Second Stage Death Worm couldn''t withstand it. After nearly another half hour of progressing, Xiao Tao barked a few times. Qing Tan carefully examined with her Divine Sense and, sure enough, there was amotion of battling in the distance. Without hesitation, Yu Qingtan headed towards the direction of the spell battle. Soon, she saw that on a small hillside, over twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators were besieging a group of brown Demonic Beasts. "Gobi Bears!" Yu Qingtan recognized these Demonic Beasts and among the besieging cultivators, she also spotted two people she knew. Lu Dehua and Chen Ziyu. There were over a dozen Gobi Bears, but only six were Second Stage Demonic Beasts, and they were being pushed back by the crowd''s assault. Lu Dehua and the others clearly intended to capture them alive, as they weren''t using lethal force. On another side, there was arge cave emitting tri-colored glows, and twote-stage Second Stage Gobi Bears were desperately defending at the entrance. Some opportunities in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm were very hidden and required seeking out, while others would directly emit a glow. The more colors the glow had, the more precious the opportunity. Seeing Qingtan, dressed as a Loose Cultivator, appear, ate-stage Foundation Establishment burly man shouted at her, "The Secret Exploration Alliance is handling this, please stand back!" Lu Dehua and Chen Ziyu also saw Qingtan, but they had no reaction. "What''s in the cave, I''m taking it!" Yu Qingtan dered outright. "Where did this madmane from, looking for death!" The burly man who shouted at her was furious upon hearing her words and directlymanded his spiritual sword to stab at Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan did not speak, and behind her appeared numerous Water des, more than a thousand in a blink of an eye, and with a wave of her hand, twenty Water des shot out, colliding with the burly man''s spiritual sword. "Ding ding dong dong~" The burly man''s spiritual sword flew back to him, with more than a dozen notches added to it. "I''m taking whatever is inside the cave. Does anyone object?" Yu Qingtan spoke again. Everyone internally cursed, and the cultivators attacking the Gobi Bears stopped their assault, looking at each other in dismay. "Who does this prodigy belong to, topete with us Loose Cultivators over such trifling rewards?" "And these thousands of Water de Techniques, which mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator can condense so many Water des at once, especially in the Gobi?" "Fellow Qingtan, please help yourself! Once we capture this group of Gobi Bears, you can take whatever is inside the cave at your leisure!" The atmosphere grew tense, and ate-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator leading the group exchanged divine senses with Lu Dehua for a moment before speaking out. "There''s no need for such trouble!" Yu Qingtan said, then with a sweep of her hand, the thousands of Water des flew towards the cave. The two Gobi Bears by the entrance and the cultivators attacking them scrambled frantically to the sides to avoid them. "Bang bang bang bang~" In the midst of the dense sounds, dust flew everywhere. After the dust settled, the top of the cave had disappeared. Yu Qingtan strolled leisurely to the cave, employing the Object Controlling Technique to pull a box emitting the glow from fifty yards away into her hand. She then departed directly. The people and bears present didn''t dare to breathe loudly. Once Yu Qingtan''s figure had vanished, the leadingte-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator asked Lu Dehua, "Do you know her?" "I saw her before entering the Secret Realm, and had thoughts of inviting her to join the alliance, but she refused!" Lu Dehua said with some embarrassment. "A perfected Second Stage Water de Technique and Object Controlling Technique, I wonder which sect she belongs to?" Chen Ziyu was also somewhat afraid after the fact, as she had cursed the person earlier. "A thousand Water des, that''s not something that can be done with just a perfected Second Stage Spell. In any case, this person is not to be provoked!" the leadingte-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator said. Everyone agreed fervently and then continued their attack on the Gobi Bears. After this event, the defensive resolve of the Gobi Bears weakened significantly, and soon they were all captured. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 A Chance Encounter with Ru Yao and a Fierce Battle Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. Yu Qingtan walked while tossing a yellow crystal in her hand. This was a Second Stage Wastnd Crystal, one of the gains from that box. There was also a Jade Slip in the box, which recorded a method for contracting Spiritual Beasts, but she found no immediate use for it and threw it into a corner of the System Space. Once the box was opened, the halo vanished. Aside from the foolish wolf Xiao Tao, she hadn''t encountered any particrly satisfying Spiritual Beasts, and she preferred to win others over with virtue; she felt contracts were unreliable. "Ao ao~" As they walked, Xiao Tao, scouting ahead, had found something new. Approaching closer, there was a formation emitting a light pink mist not too far ahead. Under the envelopment of the formation, it was impossible to see inside, but clearly, this was a formation set by an outside Cultivator, not part of the Secret Realm itself. Yu Qingtan was considering whether to leave when the mist tumbled, and the formation opened; a female Cultivator wearing revealing, sinfully captivating attire walked out holding a red-furred fox, with a box emitting multicolored halos in her hand. The foxy contentedly on her ample chest, while the woman looked at Yu Qingtan with a seductive gaze. "Eh, it turns out to be another female Cultivator!" the woman eximed. "Gobi Fire Fox!" Yu Qingtan couldn''t help butment, recognizing the Demonic Beast the woman was holding. The Gobi Fire Fox was a breed that was naturally proficient in fire-rted spells and charm techniques, and with its good looks, it was favored by many. "Which Sect''s junior sister are you, dressing up like a young brother?" the female Cultivator asked with a coquettish voice. "A Loose Cultivator named Qing Mu. It''s simply more convenient to move about this way. I wonder, could sister part with the box in her hand?" Yu Qingtan said, her face expressionless. "Pfft~ You''re actually setting your sights on me, do you know who I am?" The female Cultivator seemed amused by Yu Qingtan''s audacity. "May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" Yu Qingtan politely asked, fearing nothing in this Secret Realm. As for being seen as a woman, Yu Qingtan was not surprised; her disguise was crude and could be seen through upon close examination. "I am Ru Yao from the Extreme Dao Sect, in thete stages of Foundation Establishment. You might not have heard of me, but you must have heard of the Extreme Dao Sect," Ru Yao said with a smile, noting the shock in Yu Qingtan''s eyes, and continued, "Hand over your Storage Bag, let me ce a Soul Constraint on you to be my maid, and I won''t hold your earlier words against you. How about it? I am quite magnanimous, aren''t I?" Ru Yao from the Extreme Path Demon Sect, Yu Qingtan naturally knew of her, the third disciple of the Cmity Crossing Old Scoundrel, in thete stages of Foundation Establishment, rumored to be involved with her master. There was no portrait in the information from the Heavenly Secret Tower, which is why Yu Qingtan hadn''t recognized her immediately. Encountering this woman was indeed a great opportunity. "Extreme Path Demon Sect, truly the behavior of a demon cultivator. Then today, let me experience the thrill of vanquishing demons and upholding righteousness," Yu Qingtan said with a coldugh, the Spiritual Power within her body circting as thousands of Water des formed behind her, shooting out. She also believed in the principle that if you can fight, there''s no need for chatter, so she led with her favorite standard move, the Water de Technique. Though only cast with the Spiritual Power of someone in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, the power of each Water de was not weaker than a strike from someone in thete stages and could not be withstood by an ordinary Cultivator in thete stage of Foundation Establishment. Did one not see how more than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators dared not even breathe under this attack? "Some skill!" Ru Yao''s expression turned serious, she put away the Gobi Fire Fox, and as her Spiritual Power surged, a thick Water Sphere formed, enveloping her entirely. The Water de struck the water sphere, causing ripples to spread across its surface like raindrops falling into a river. The Water Sphere Spell was also at a perfected level. Then, Ru Yao reached into her chest and pulled out a spiritual artifact in the shape of a lute. Her fingers strummed, and the sound of the lute entered Yu Qingtan''s mind. Yu Qingtan immediately felt a burning sensation throughout her body, with a sense of emptiness in her heart and below. Images of Luo Xiang, Fu Nian, Fang Ling, and other devotees involuntarily surfaced in her mind. This was a longing for a man. Yu Qingtan felt a wave of shame; she, who was once a male college student in her previous life, now craved a man. At that moment, Stupid Wolf Xiaotao charged at Yu Qingtan with eyes reddened, only to be knocked unconscious by a p from her and stowed away. "Demon Sect witch, truly detestable!" Yu Qingtan didn''t attempt to use spiritual power to block her hearing because such spells usually target the soul directly. She took out the Roaming Zither from her storage bag. Her fingers moved swiftly, and as she yed the Soul Cleansing Technique, her mind immediately cleared up, bing calm and still. The zither music, imbued with the power of the Soul Cleansing Technique, reached Ru Yao''s mind, making her feel peaceful and contemting the idea of stopping the fight. Biting the tip of her tongue, Ru Yao put away the lute spiritual artifact and took out an exquisitely crafted talisman, pouring spiritual power into it to activate. As a disciple of the Extreme Path Demon Sect, Ru Yao was skilled in Sound Path spells. The Sound of Sang was countered by Yu Qingtan''s Soul Cleansing Technique. One should know that she had once seduced a False Core Cultivator with this technique of burning desire. Now she had to rely on an external object to win. It was time to let this person witness the true depth of a Divinity Transformation level Sect disciple. Once the talisman was activated, Yu Qingtan felt a sense of impending danger, as if a thorn were at her back, and her rm bells were ringing. In an instant, four water curtains formed, enveloping her entirely. At that moment, a massive bolt of lightning appeared out of nowhere, striking right where Yu Qingtan was. A Second Stage Superior Thunder Summoning Charm. However, the cubic water barrier acted like a mage''s cage, so the lightning did not harm Yu Qingtan. Being passive was not Yu Qingtan''s style. She touched the system panel with her consciousness, and "Love''s Protection" from Shi Kuang was activated. Her spiritual power instantly reached the level ofte Foundation Establishment stage, and then an extremelypressed giant Water de formed and shed towards Ru Yao in the air. Ru Yao''s face turned ugly; she wasn''t sure her Water Sphere Spell could withstand the power of this Water de. With a clench of her teeth and a push of her legs, she vanished from the spot. A perfected Second Stage Water Escape Technique. Yu Qingtan sneered, employing the perfected-level Second Stage Water Escape Technique, moving two parts faster than Ru Yao. Wielding the giant Water de, she fiercely struck at Ru Yao''s location. A huge gap was cut into the water sphere surrounding Ru Yao, who managed to block the Water de''s continued assault with a blue shield. Yu Qingtan, pressing her advantage, gathered another giant Water de for an attack, as she didn''t need to worry about the consumption of spiritual power. After several rounds, the water sphere around Ru Yao had dissipated, and the premium-quality blue shield was left with several dents. She was gasping for breath, her chest heaving violently, and she swayed unsteadily while evading the attacks. "Stop, I admit you''re strong. How about we stop here? Otherwise, I''ll have to use thest resort my master gave me. Then you''ll surely die, and I don''t want to waste it on you," Ru Yao transmitted urgently to Yu Qingtan after blocking another Water de. Yu Qingtan paid no attention; today, she was determined to exact some repayment from the disciple for the cmity the Cmity Crossing Old Scoundrel had brought upon Wanning. "You''re forcing my hand!" As Yu Qingtan gathered another giant Water de, a sh of hatred appeared in Ru Yao''s eyes. She took out a ck talisman and infused it with spiritual power. Experience new stories with empire Yu Qingtan''s soul shuddered, and her body hair stood on end; she felt an overwhelming sense of disaster looming. "Charm Treasure!" Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Charm Treasure Clashes and Ru Yao Falls Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. With spiritual power injected, the charm treasure in Ru Yao''s hand emitted a grey light, forming a grey slender arrow that locked onto Yu Qingtan and shot out. Yu Qingtan dared not neglect,yering over a dozen Water Curtain Techniquespressing them together, and donned the golden armor from Ruan Fan in an instant. However, the power of the charm treasure wasparable to an attack from a Golden Core Cultivator, and this was a Cmity Bolt made by the True Monarch of Crossing Cmities himself, its power almostparable to that of the mid-Golden Core stage. The grey slender arrow reached Yu Qingtan, and the thick Water Curtains only blocked it for a moment before being prated. Yu Qingtan then used the unconscious Ruan Fan to block in front of her, but the grey slender arrow effortlessly pierced through his chest. In the blink of an eye, pustules appeared all over Ruan Fan''s body, blood flowed from his seven orifices, his body emitted a foul odor, like an old man who had been severely ill for years, and then he stopped breathing altogether. A strange red light emitted from Ruan Fan''s body and shot towards Ru Yao. After passing through Ruan Fan, the superior-quality Spiritual Armor also failed to stop the grey slender arrow, which prated it, leaving a fine hole and dimming the spiritual light. However, after passing through the Water Curtain, Ruan Fan, and the golden armor, the grey slender arrow had lost much of its might. While defending, Yu Qingtan''s body was also rapidly executing the Water Escape Technique to evade, but the grey slender arrow, as if equipped with navigation, struck Yu Qingtan''s chest. Yu Qingtan was well-prepared, continuously using a First Stage Rejuvenation Spell, Second Stage Purification Spell, and the Decay and Flourish Technique on herself. Combined with her early Foundation Establishment stage of Body Refinement, the greatly weakened Cmity Bolt only caused a red swelling on her chest, which then immediately disappeared. At this time, Ru Yao had also condensed a Water de, shing towards Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan executed the Earth Escape Skill, and the instant before vanishing into the ground, she employed the Second Stage Breath-Concealing Technique. "Bang~" The Water de hit the ground, creating a crack about three meters long, but clearly did not hit Yu Qingtan. Ru Yao looked upset; she had thought that once the charm treasure was used, Yu Qingtan would surely die, and her additional Water de attack was to ensure absolutely no mistakes. Yet Yu Qingtan had unexpectedly blocked the Cmity Bolt without injury and even used her own hand to resolve an enemy linked by a Blood Tether. She wanted to attack again with the charm treasure, but she lost her divine sense''s lock on Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan admitted that she had been somewhat arroganttely, directly choosing to face up against a disciple from the Daoist Sect at the Divinity Transformation stage who was a minor realm higher than herself. The result was almost disastrous. Fortunately, she had numerous techniques at her disposal, which spared her the loss of this avatar. As Yu Qingtan escaped underground, Ru Yao once again formed a water sphere around herself, popped a Second Stage Spirit Revitalizing Pill, and floated mid-air on her flying sword. As she ascended, numerous Earth Spikes suddenly shot out of the ground beneath her feet, aiming for Ru Yao. However, being only First Stage Earth Spike Technique, they failed to prate the defense of the water sphere. Ru Yao attempted to lock onto Yu Qingtan''s position with her divine sense, but was unsessful. After using a spell, Yu Qingtan immediately switched locations. Yu Qingtan continued to attack with the Earth Spike Technique, aiming to conduct guerri warfare that exhausts her opponent. This was a tactic she often used. Your next chapter is on empire After failing to lock onto Yu Qingtan over a dozen times, fine sweat appeared on Ru Yao''s pretty face. Her spiritual power was already half-depleted, reaching a dangerous level. But to let this detestable female cultivator go, she felt reluctant. "Fellow Daoist Qing, my master is the True Monarch of Crossing Cmities of the Extreme Dao Sect, and my grandmaster is the Six Desires Venerable of the Extreme Dao Sect. Do you really want to fight with me to the death? Our issues seem to be a few misunderstandings, so how about we stop here? As the saying goes, ''No fight, no acquaintance.'' As long as you agree, we both can make a Heavenly Oath not to attack each other again, and we can settle our disputes amicably." Her eyes darted to the side to dodge another flurry of Earth Spikes as Ru Yao shouted aloud. Yu Qingtan, hearing this, only sneered in her heart. A Heavenly Oath was far from reliable, especially for high realm cultivators and those belonging to great powers¡ªit was nothing but a ploy to lure her out. Relocating to a different spot, she unleashed another volley of Earth Spikes as a response to Ru Yao. Ru Yao became frantic, but worse was yet toe. Far off in the sky, a dozen ck dots appeared and rapidly grewrger. They were Huwu Vultures. Having stayed in mid-air for too long, she had finally drawn the attention of the rulers of this desert sky. In her current state, facing both Yu Qingtan and a flock of Huwu Vultures, she feared she might not escape unscathed. She pulled out an Escape Talisman, hesitating whether to strategically retreat. However, using an Escape Talisman in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm wasn''t the best option; if she were unlucky enough to teleport into a deadly spot or amidst a horde of Demonic Beasts, the trouble would be significant. Yu Qingtan, who had been observing her with clear green eyes, made the choice for her. As Ru Yao reached for the Escape Talisman, Yu Qingtan made up her mind. In her hand appeared a Charm Treasure with a painting of a small cyan sword, targeting Ru Yao. She channeled Spiritual Power into it, and a cyan de burst forth from the ground, shooting straight at Ru Yao. This Charm Treasure was also a gift from the generous lecher Ruan Fan. Yu Qingtan had been reluctant to use it, but now it seemed she could not afford to hold back. Ru Yao, in mid-air, felt a chill run down her spine. She realized toote that her opponent had also used a Charm Treasure and didn''t have enough time to activate the Escape Talisman. To activate and perform the escape required the space of half a breath, but with the Charm Treasure''s speed, half a breath was already up. She quickly channeled Spiritual Power into the Cmity Bolt Charm Treasure she had been holding, and a gray thin arrow shot out. The gray arrow struck the cyan sword five yards in front of her, shattering the cyan de into dispersed spiritual light. But Ru Yao''s face turned deathly pale. For following the first cyan de were two more, and after the gray arrow broke the first, it was already half-transparent. A Charm Treasure typically had three uses, and her Cmity Bolt Charm Treasure had already been used once before. The key point was that a Foundation Establishment Cultivator expended a huge amount of Spiritual Power in an instant when using a Charm Treasure, making it difficult to activate another one consecutively without a pause. Yu Qingtan, who seemed to cheat when fighting with spells, never needed to worry about Spiritual Power consumption. Noticing that Ru Yao constantly held a Charm Treasure, she decided to exhaust all three uses in one go. Although the Cmity Bolt Charm Treasure was a fine piece crafted by a Venerable who had ovee tribtion, it was still only at the level of early Golden Core power. Indeed, the second cyan de shattered the gray arrow and pierced through Ru Yao''s water sphere defense before vanishing. In Ru Yao''s eyes, which overflowed with despair, the third cyan de followed closely, piercing through the inneryer of her superior Spiritual Armor and into her abdomen, leaving a hole the size of a bowl. "Bang," Ru Yao fell to the ground, dead. A streak of red light bizarrely shot into Yu Qingtan''s body as well, the result of a Blood Tether. For the time being, she didn''t concern herself with this. Yu Qingtan immediately used the Earth Escape Skill to get closer, collecting a ne from Ru Yao''s neck before cing the body into System Space. The Huwu Vultures in the sky had already arrived, with the leading one swooping down toward where Ru Yao''s body was. Although Yu Qingtan did not have to worry about depleting her Spiritual Power, the battle had taxed her energy greatly, and she was not keen on another fight with the Huwu Vultures. After collecting the body, she swiftly maintained the Breath-Concealing Technique and employed the Earth Escape Skill to leave. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Counting the Harvest and Meeting Fellow Sect Members Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, somewhere underground. Yu Qingtan woke from his meditative rest. After a brief nap, he had finally regained his spirits. He used a Purification Spell on himself, but the Blood Tether inside his body had hardly weakened. Only with continuous use of the Purification Spell did it show signs of diminishing. "It will probably take about seven days topletely cleanse it, luckily I''m in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. Those disciples from the big sects really aren''t easy to kill." The Myriad Beasts Secret Realm would be open for a whole month, during which he would definitely be able to cleanse the Blood Tether. He took out Ru Yao''s body, stripped off her clothes and essories, especially that damaged Spiritual Armor, which could still be exchanged for some Spirit Stones¡ªit would be a waste not to. Looking at her hot figure and delicate face, a fireball appeared and fell onto the corpse. "me your fate for joining the wrong sect, for pledging to the wrong master." After a moment of reflection, Yu Qingtan took Ru Yao''s ne. It was an exquisite Hard tinum Ne. The ne had a double ring structure, and at the bottom of each loop was a pendant made of two crystals,rge and small, surrounded by a circle of sparkling, transparent Spirit Diamonds. Therger crystal was blue, a Space Stone, while the smaller one was green, a Life Space Stone. This was Ru Yao''s storage equipment, equivalent to a Storage Bag and a Spirit Beast Pouch. Engraved with tiny characters on the ne, "Connecting Beads to Bi," it was likely its name. This was much more expensive than ordinary Storage Bags and Spirit Beast Pouches; many Golden Core Cultivators wouldn''t use it. Because other than being attractive, it did not offer more functions than Storage Bags and Spirit Beast Pouches, but its price was hundreds of times greater. Yu Qingtan liked it very much¡ªwho doesn''t like beautiful things? After removing the Spiritual Power marks with the Purification Spell, Yu Qingtan counted the gains from this battle. A Second Stage Medium Grade Gobi Fire Fox, and a Second Stage Lower Grade Spirit Crane. Since he had a master-servant contract with Ru Yao, both Spiritual Beasts had died when she did. A whole pile of clothes and essories, mainly Magic Artifacts, including three Spiritual Artifacts. Some of the fabrics were very rare, bearing the ir of attire from previous worldly trends. Yu Qingtan even considered whether to introduce such products at the Sky Wolf Gang through Han Daniu, butter thought better of it. Han Daniu might be alright selling Golden Spear Pills, but this kind of product would probably be too much for him. As for Zhi Lan Pavilion, he still wanted to maintain a good reputation. One Second Stage Medium Grade Spirit Boat. One hundred and thirty thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones, three hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones, and two High Grade Spirit Stones. One Second Stage High Grade Escape Talisman. One top-notch Spiritual Artifact, the White Desire Lute. Three drops of Second Stage Spirit Dew, one Second Stage Purple Spirit Pill. One Golden Core. "What a haul, this Ru Yao must have really been involved with that Cmity Crossing Old Scoundrel. She''s not even at the peak of thete Foundation Establishment stage yet, and she already had a Golden Core prepared." Yu Qingtan had been thinking of getting a Golden Core for himself and unexpectedly got one now. One Uninscribed Token. "What exactly is this token for? Why did Ru Yao have one too?" Gazing at the token in his hand, identical to the two in his System Space, Yu Qingtan murmured, s, still clueless. Two sets of Second Stage Formations. Then there was that box emitting a glorious, multicolored light; inside were ten Wastnd Crystals and a Jade Slip. The Myriad Beasts Secret Realm was also made from fragments of thend from the Deste Era; it was normal for Wastnd Crystals to be found there, though the Deste Beasts within had been exterminated by the Myriad Beasts Sect. Wastnd Crystals were a secondary objective for Yu Qingtan''s journey in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, as her cultivation of the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art required arge quantity of them for assistance. The Jade Slip contained information about spiritual beasts and a manual for their cultivation, even involving Fourth Stage spiritual beasts, making it quite a valuable resource. Among the other items that Yu Qingtan had no use for were several dozen story and illustration books. The rather adult kind. Having taken stock of the spoils of war, Yu Qingtan, as usual, used the Purification Spell to cleanse everything before putting the useful and important items into the System Space. The rest were ced back into the Hard tinum Ne, which she then tucked away close to her chest. Satisfied, Yu Qingtan left the underground cavern and continued on her journey. Before long, she had traversed the Gobi and entered the grasnd region. On the grasnds, there were many demonic beasts, but the key point was the presence of a Third Stage Heavenly Demon. In the past, some peerless talents had entered the secret realm and in the Heavenly Demon against the odds. Yet, when the secret realm was essible again, another Heavenly Demon would appear on the grasnd. Ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators who encountered one could only consider themselves unlucky. Yu Qingtan did not release Xiao Tao but instead used the Breath-Concealing Technique and Purification Spell to continue her journey at a slow pace. She carefully used her Divine Sense and the Clear Green Spiritual Eye to scout the path, trying her best to avoid demonic beasts and human race cultivators. Two dayster, Yu Qingtan, with considerable interest, concealed herself underground, watching a good show ying out not far away. By a smallke, ten beautiful female cultivators were confronting more than twenty male cultivators. Among the women, one wore a goose-yellow dress; Yu Qingtan recognized her. It was Yan Xi, which meant they must be from Tianxiang Valley. It was just unclear why Yan Xi, a direct descendant of a Golden Core family, would venture into the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. Moreover, there was also a man in ck robes among their group. The ones confronting them were a bunch of Loose Cultivators. Behind the Loose Cultivators were the bodies of more than a dozen grasnd crocodiles. "Do the friends from Tianxiang Valley really want to fight us over this?" the leader of the Loose Cultivators, ate-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, asked in a deep voice. "As long as you hand over the Prairie Golden Lotus, we can live in peace," Yan Xi said, although she was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment but was apparently the leader of the Tianxiang Valley cultivators. "That''s right, a treasure like the Prairie Golden Lotus should only belong to a beauty like Xi''er!" the man in ck beside Yan Xi roared, exuding the peak spiritual power fluctuations of ate-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Upon hearing his words, Yan Xi''s face blushed slightly, but her beautiful eyes still fixedly stared at the leading Loose Cultivator. The Prairie Golden Lotus was a Second Stage deste nt, an excellent main ingredient for concocting Eternal Youth Pills. Just moments earlier, there had been one here, but unfortunately, she arrived a step toote. This man in ck had met Yan Xi and the others after they entered the grasnds, iming to be the scion of a cultivator family, who fell in love with Yan Xi at first sight and shamelessly insisted on following her. Yan Xi also found him quite attractive and half-heartedly agreed to let him apany her. Her venture into the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm was because her family wanted to arrange another political marriage for her, much to her displeasure, so she ran away. It happened that the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm had emerged, so she entered. She deeply understood that only with great strength could she control her own fate, and the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm was the opportunity she was determined to seize. As for the dangers, although she was the rightful daughter of a Golden Core family, from the moment she started on the path of cultivation, she had been prepared to devote her life to it. After entering the secret realm, she contacted her sect mates, and leveraging her identity and trump cards, she gained a say in the group''s decisions. "Hmph, is this how scions of great sects act, by bullying others to get what they want?" the leading Loose Cultivator said with a sullen face. "Treasures naturally belong to those with virtue. Moreover, opportunities in the secret realm are to be contested for, not given based on who came first," Yan Xi retorted. "Xi''er, why bother with words? If they don''t want to hand it over, then I''ll fetch it for Xi''er!" the man in ck said softly, and then charged towards the Loose Cultivators. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Third Stage Heavenly Demon Black Lick Dog The man in ck moved incredibly fast, and even when Yu Qingtan used her "Bi Qing Ling Tong," she could only catch brief afterimages. In an instant, the man in ck had already appeared in front of the leading Loose Cultivator in thete Foundation Establishment stage,unching a fierce punch with a sharp aura, executing the "ck Tiger Heart Pluck." The Loose Cultivator in thete Foundation Establishment stage hadn''t expected his opponent to strike as soon as he said he would, and hurriedly used an Escape Technique to dodge backward while a shield appeared in his hand. "Thud~" The punch from the man in ck dented the medium-grade spiritual shield, causing the Loose Cultivator, along with his shield, to be sent flying backward, his internal energy surging chaotically. "A Body Cultivator in thete Foundation Establishment stage!" The onlookers were astonished, but Yu Qingtan always felt something was off. Yet, even when using her "Bi Qing Ling Tong" to observe closely, she couldn''t detect anything amiss. By this time, the man in ck had once again appeared in front of the Loose Cultivator at an incredible speed, and threw another punch. The other Loose Cultivators wanted to help, but the man in ck was too fast, and their attacks might not hit. Besides, he was too close to the Loose Cultivator in thete Foundation Establishment stage, and they were wary of identally hitting the wrong target. Being approached by a Body Cultivator of the same stage sealed the Loose Cultivator in thete Foundation Establishment stage''s fate. Under the impact of the second punch, a deep fist-shaped dent appeared in the shield, and the Loose Cultivator was smashed into the ground, coughing up blood. "Stop, I am willing to hand over the Prairie Golden Lotus!" The Loose Cultivator in thete Foundation Establishment stage shouted desperately. The third punch halted in front of the shield. The Loose Cultivator in thete Foundation Establishment stage sighed in relief. "Bang~" The fist of the man in ck smashed right through the shield, striking directly at the heart of the Loose Cultivator in thete Foundation Establishment stage, shattering his heart. He smiled, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, as he tore the Storage Bag from the waist of the Loose Cultivator with an unblinking dead stare. "You! He had clearly agreed to hand over the Prairie Golden Lotus. Why did you still deal such a lethal blow?" The other Loose Cultivators were infuriated beyond measure, and another in thete Foundation Establishment stage stepped forward to question him. "If you want to fight,e on!" The man in ck turned his head, ring ominously at this man. The challenged Loose Cultivator suddenly felt as if he was being stared down by an ancient ferocious beast and involuntarily stepped back. Remembering the dreadful end of their team leader, he stammered and dared not speak. The man in ck easily erased the markings in the Storage Bag, pulled out a golden lotus, and approached Yan Xi. "Xi''er, see how beautiful this flower is? It''s a perfect match for you," he said, smiling while holding the Prairie Golden Lotus. Looking at his handsome face, there was no smile on Yan Xi''s face. "Ziru, why did you have to kill him? He had already agreed to surrender the Prairie Golden Lotus," Yan Xi, being from a righteous Sect Gate and still quite young, was somewhat unable to ept such wanton killing, and so she asked. As soon as she spoke, the smile on the man in ck''s face froze, and the atmosphere turned a little colder. The others from Tianxiang Valley looked nervous; this cultivator who called himself Wang Ziru was exceptionally powerful. "Xi''er, if you cannot bear to see such things, then next time I won''t kill in front of you. Take this Prairie Golden Lotus for now," he said, recovering his smile and cing the Prairie Golden Lotus in Yan Xi''s hand two breathster. Yan Xi and the others present were somewhat speechless ¨C so he still intended to kill anyway. Could this be a Demonic Path cultivator? Yan Xi struggled for a moment in her heart, but still stowed the Prairie Golden Lotus in her Storage Bag. The Eternal Youth Pill, such a pricelessmodity, her mother and grandmother had never managed to buy one in their lifetimes. With this Prairie Golden Lotus, finding an Alchemist of at least Third Stage would mean she could, at the very least, produce three Eternal Youth Pills. "Xi''er, since you like my gift, will you agree to dual-cultivate with me tonight?" the man in ck said, smiling radiantly. Yan Xi''s pretty face instantly turned crimson, and she took a step back, saying, "Ziru, what are you talking about? Only... only daopanions can..." She was quite satisfied with the man in ck''s appearance and strength, but he seemed a bit too hasty. Last night, he secretly gave himself a second-stage bright pearl and asked if he could dual cultivate with himself. Rejected by himself, he didn''t expect him to say these things in public today. It''s truly embarrassing to death. "Wang Ziru, don''t spout nonsense. If you truly fancy Junior Sister Yan, after leaving the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, you cane to our Tianxiang Valley to propose," said a Tianxiang Valley female disciple at theter stages of Foundation Establishment beside Yan Xi. In her opinion, Wang Ziru, who imed toe from a Golden Core cultivator family, was somewhat worthy of Yan Xi. Yan Xi''s face turned even redder, and she turned her head away. "Haha... Haha..." "As expected, everyone is like this. I clearly pleasured you sofortably, yet you can''t even fulfill such a small request of mine." "Haha... Then I won''t fake it anymore, I''m not ying, I''mying my cards on the table!" "Xi''er, and all you mothers, although a bit ugly, this master wants to taste each and every one of you." "Haha..." Unexpectedly, Wang Ziru suddenly burst into a wildugh and, while uttering shocking words, emitted the pressure of a third-stage Heavenly Demon. The members of Tianxiang Valley who were close by were directly pressured by the might and stumbled, falling to the ground. Everyone looked at the exploding Wang Ziru in disbelief, their hearts filled with despair. The loose cultivators were also scared to death, but after all, being able to mix in the ranks of Foundation Establishment among loose cultivators, quite a few of them used various techniques, braving the pressure of the third-stage Heavenly Demon to flee outside. Yu Qingtan naturally also used the Earth Escape Skill and Breath-Concealing Technique to flee. "Hmph, thinking of escaping in front of this Heavenly Demon, dreaming you are. Just stay obediently and be my snack!" While speaking, Wang Ziru rose to mid-air and transformed into a five-zhang-tall giant ck dog, opening its enormous mouth. "Woof~" With a bark, everyone''s minds felt as if they were struck by a blunt stick. The few loose cultivators flying in the air dropped to the ground like dumplings, and several at the initial stages of Foundation Establishment directly died from bleeding from all orifices. The rest also fainted on the spot, with only Yan Xi and Yu Qingtan remaining unharmed. Yan Xi had a precious Soul-Protection Secret Treasure in her Sea of Consciousness, and Yu Qingtan had a system dad in her Sea of Consciousness. "Third-stage Heavenly Demon ck Lick Dog, Heaven-Howling Technique!" Yu Qingtan recognized Wang Ziru''s identity and the spell he used, a kind of soul attack spell. The records described that ck Lick Dogs were adept at disguising as human race cultivators, fond of human race female cultivators, had strong physical bodies, and could use soul-centric and earth-centric spells. "There''s still a little mouse!" Although Yu Qingtan wasn''t harmed, due to this attack, Wang Ziru discovered her underground. After transforming into his original form, Wang Ziru''s speed increased drastically, instantly appearing above where Yu Qingtan was situated, pressing his right front paw downwards. "Sky-Stepping Technique!" Yu Qingtan instantly felt the surrounding earth bing stagnant and pressing against her, helpless but to emerge from the ground. Just as Wang Ziru was about to attack again, a sharp green giant sword shadow cleaved at him. It was the enraged Yan Xi who directly used a Charm Treasure, taking action against Wang Ziru, who deceived her. Facing the Charm Treasure''s attack, Wang Ziru did not dare to underestimate it, stood upright, and thick yellow armoryers appeared on his front two paws. Earth Armor Technique. "Pfft~Ding~" The Earth Armor only hindered the green giant sword for a moment before it was broken, then it collided with Wang Ziru''s sharp ws. Ultimately, all of the ws were cut off, but the green giant sword only prated three inches into the flesh before it ran out of force and dissipated into spiritual light. Chapter 121 Bootlicker Wang Ziru Self-Destructs Yan Xi wanted to continue attacking with charm treasures, but Wang Ziru didn''t want to give her the chance. In less than a breath''s time, the enraged Wang Ziru, due to injury to its front paws, had already appeared in front of Yan Xi, punching towards her abdomen. He intended to ruin her dantian and then y with her at his leisure. However, the ancient bracelet in Yan Xi''s hand shone brightly, forming a protective barrier. Wang Ziru''s fist struck the barrier but failed to shatter it; it merely indented slightly upon impact. Seizing the opportunity, the charm treasure in Yan Xi''s hand lit up once again, and the phantom of a giant azure sword materialized. Wang Ziru rapidly retreated while spitting out a turtle shell, two sets of armor, and three shields. Yellow earth armor appeared again on his front paws. The giant azure sword easily broke through the defenses of the six spiritual artifacts and the earth armor, then severed the two front paws Wang Ziru crossed in front of his chest to defend himself, leaving a long gash on his abdomen. Unfortunately, Wang Ziru was, after all, a third-stage Heavenly Demon, and these were far from fatal injuries. Yan Xi, her spiritual power depleted, slumped to the ground. She was only in the early stages of foundation establishment, and using the charm treasure twice in a row had drained most of her spiritual power. If it weren''t for a second-stage Spirit Revitalizing Pill she had taken, she would have already copsed. But she no longer had the strength to unleash a third strike with the charm treasure. The red-eyed Wang Ziru noticed this as well and, ignoring his injuries, charged at Yan Xi once more, his hind leg fiercely kicking out at her. "You little wretch, daring to cause me such serious injury, let''s see how I''ll treat youter!" Wang Ziru roared. Fortunately, Yan Xi''s ancient bracelet was quite reliable. The spiritual power it consumed came from the high-grade spirit stones within it, managing to block the kick once more. But the force of the kick still shook the weakened Yan Xi into unconsciousness. Just as Wang Ziru was about to continue his attack and break the barrier, suddenly, blood started to spurt from his wound. He had already sealed the wound with his demonic power as quickly as he could. Wang Ziru didn''t have time to deal with it before a strange fluctuation entered his body along the wound. Wang Ziru felt his life force slipping away. Using his divine sense, he carefully scanned the surroundings and discovered a transparent figure moving about ten zhang away. This was naturally Yu Qingtan, who had cast the Invisibility Technique and Breath-Concealing Technique. Just now, she had approached Wang Ziru and used the Blood Control Technique copied from Fang Ling and the Decay and Flourish Technique copied from Luo Xiang. When she was forced out to the surface earlier, Yu Qingtan had considered using a third-stage Escape Talisman to flee, but using an Escape Talisman in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm was too risky. Besides, she hadn''t expected Yan Xi to be so effective, seriously injuring the ck-licking dog with the charm treasure. She had in an injured third-stage Heavenly Demon before. Determinedly using Shi Kuang''s Love''s Protection, she took advantage of the opportunity when Wang Ziru attacked Yan Xi and rushed to the surface of the smallke with the Water Escape Technique. With arge body of water at her disposal, this was her homeground. Then, she cast the Breath-Concealing Technique and the Invisibility Technique, waiting for the chance tounch a surprise attack. Unfortunately, the Invisibility Technique was only first-stage, and Wang Ziru easily found her. However, it didn''t matter; the Blood Control Technique and Decay and Flourish Technique, which had been upgraded to the second stageplete by the system, were not as immediately effective against a higher stage or same stage enemy but were nheless impressive. Wang Ziru was too preupied to attack Yu Qingtan, instead using his demonic power to suppress and neutralize the effects of the Blood Control Technique and Decay and Flourish Technique inside his body. Even so, blood still seeped from his wound, and his fur began to be rough. Naturally, Yu Qingtan would not miss this opportunity. Standing above theke''s surface, she formed threepressed water des, which sheunched at Wang Ziru. Each water de possessed the power of a peakte-stage foundation establishment cultivator, and they were followed by three more des, and then three more after that... In a war of attrition, Yu Qingtan was most skilled. Facing the iing water des, Wang Ziru easily blocked the first wave with his earth armor. But he changed expression as the continuous attacks from the sessive water des kepting. "Wang~" Wang Ziru directed a more concentrated Heaven-Howling Technique at Yu Qingtan. ``` Unfortunately, it still had no effect. "Woof~" Another shot. Yu Qingtan didn''t even frown. "How does every single one of them have such strong soul-protection secret treasures?" Wang Ziru was going crazy inside, then, with a burst of ferocity, she charged at Yu Qingtan despite the water de attacks. She wanted to bite through this person''s neck with her sharp fangs. Yu Qingtan naturally wouldn''t let her have her way, immediately jumping into the smallke and casting the Water Escape Technique and the Breath-Concealing Technique, switching ces after sending out three water des. Wang Ziru, powerless and furiously attacking the surface of theke for some time, was in even worse condition, and Yu Qingtan''s water des could now prate her earth armor, leaving new wounds on her body. A chill crept into her heart. "I can''t keep this up, I need to retreat." With that thought, Wang Ziru turned into an escape light and headed towards the depths of the prairie. Yu Qingtan was certainly not going to let it go, taking out the Cloudflow Boat she got from Ruan Fan and chasing after her. The speed of the Second Stage high-quality spiritual artifact, the Cloudflow Boat, was not slower than the escape speed of an ordinary early Golden Core cultivator. Now that Wang Ziru was heavily injured, her speed was only a tad faster than the Cloudflow Boat''s. After chasing for fifteen minutes, an increasingly weakened Wang Ziru was now slower than the Cloudflow Boat. Seeing that Yu Qingtan was about to catch up, Wang Ziru, while running away, shouted, "Human girl, if you chase me any further, I''ll detonate my demon core, and we''ll both be destroyed! You better think clearly." With Wang Ziru''s Third Stage Heavenly Demon divine sense, she naturally could tell that Yu Qingtan was a woman in disguise. Upon hearing this, Yu Qingtan hesitated for only a moment, then continued the pursuit. She began attacking with water des from a distance of one hundred ny zhang, without getting closer. One hundred ny zhang, the range of her divine sense coverage, was also the distance she could control the Water de Technique. Wang Ziru, furious, hadn''t expected this person to be so cunning, not only ignoring her but also deliberately maintaining a distance. But she was already out of tricks, with no way to counter Yu Qingtan''s attacks. After just a few rounds of attacks, many new wounds appeared on her body, and her speed slowed down even more. "As long as you give up resistance and sign a spiritual beast master-servant contract with me, I can spare your life." Yu Qingtan also shouted, using her normal female voice. She did want a Third Stage spiritual beast. Upon hearing this, a fierce light burst from Wang Ziru''s eyes. "I, a noble Third Stage Heavenly Demon, who has yed with countless human females, how could I possibly be a spiritual beast for a female cultivator? I, the ck-Lick Dog, shall never be a ve!" Experience new stories on empire Then, Wang Ziru abruptly stopped and quickly flew in the opposite direction. At the same time, she poured violent demonic power into her demon core. Seeing this, Yu Qingtan also controlled the Cloudflow Boat to back away, while all her defensive spells, such as the Water Curtain Technique and the Earth Wall Technique, were fully activated. "Boom..." A thunderous explosion, and Wang Ziru vanished into nothingness. The violent shock wave directly tore the Cloudflow Boat apart, and Yu Qingtan was flung backward. All her defensive measures were breached; her body was like a shattered porcin doll, crashing onto the ground. A three-foot-deep human-shaped crater appeared on the ground. But at least she was still alive. Barely managing to swallow the Second Stage Healing Pill she had kept in her mouth, she let it slowly repair her meridians. Then, she released Xiao Tao to help protect her while she healed. ``` Chapter 122 Vengeance for the Whip Finally Achieved "I''ve really taken a loss this time!" In the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, Yu Qingtan, whose injuries had mostly healed, thought. With the foundation of Body Refinement at the stage of Foundation Establishment and after consuming a Healing Pill, it took only the time it takes an incense stick to burn for Yu Qingtan to be able to barely channel her Spiritual Power. Under the effects of the Rejuvenation Spell, the Purification Spell, and the Decay and Flourish Technique, after less than the time it takes another incense stick to burn, her injuries had essentially healed. Especially the Decay and Flourish Technique, "Decay" could cause enemies to age rapidly while "Flourish" could make one''s own vitality burst forth. As long as Yu Qingtan wasn''t killed in an instant, her recovery ability was unspeakably strong. Regrettably, due to Wang Ziru''s self-destruction, she had lost many Spiritual Artifacts, including the Cloudflow Boat and the golden armor, but hadn''t managed to salvage any spoils of war from Wang Ziru''s body. Even if it was just a Third Stage Heavenly Demon''s self-destruction through its Demon Core, the power wasparable to a strike from a Late Stage of the Golden Core Cultivator. If not for the cunning Yu Qingtan keeping enough distance, this incarnation would have definitely been annihted. After dealing with traces of the battle, Yu Qingtan picked up Xiao Tao and flew on her sword toward the earlier direction of that smallke. Upon arrival, as expected, Yan Xi and the others were still unconscious. Luckily, the previous presence of the Third Stage Heavenly Demon was so formidable that, for the moment, no other Cultivators or Demonic Beasts hade by. The protective shield formed by Yan Xi''s Ancient Treasure bracelet had also dissipated. Yu Qingtan gathered up all the Storage Bags belonging to the Loose Cultivators and Yan Xi. "Consider thispensation for rescuing you from the Heavenly Demon." After all, she still did not take Yan Xi''s Charm Treasure and Ancient Treasure bracelet. Looking at Yan Xi''s face, Yu Qingtan overcame her scruples, stripped off Yan Xi''s goose yellow dress, leaving her exposed and in disarray. "Smack¨Csmack¨C" Two resounding psnded on Yan Xi''s face. Then, she cast the Invisibility Technique and Breath-Concealing Technique and hid in the waters of theke. She had always remembered the grudge of Yan Xi''s whip. Yan Xi''s face bore the prints of two palms, and her cheeks swelled. Feeling the pain, Yan Xi gradually came to her senses. Her face felt scorching with pain. She took a look at herself. "Ah¨C" Yan Xi let out a piercing, high-pitched scream. Feeling that something was amiss, she carefully checked herself. Seeing that the dreadful things she imagined hadn''t happened, Yan Xi breathed a sigh of relief. She surveyed her surroundings and only saw many unconscious Cultivators. Wang Ziru and the man she had forced up from the ground had vanished without a trace. "What happened?" Yan Xi was somewhat confused but seemed to have temporarily escaped danger. "Could it have been that male Cultivator who rescued us? But who took my Storage Bag and hit my face?" Yan Xi was in turmoil, but she pushed those thoughts aside, tidied up her clothes and used a Rejuvenation Spell to heal the palm prints and swelling on her face. Afterward, she started to help her fellow sect members recover. By this time, Yu Qingtan, who enjoyed the show, had already left the smallke and continued to explore the Secret Realm. On her way, she counted the contents of the Storage Bags belonging to Yan Xi and the others. In total, there were 500,000 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, 800 Medium Grade Spirit Stones, three Second Stage Wastnd Crystals, fifty drops of Second Stage Spirit Dew, along with a pile of Spiritual Artifacts, Magic Artifacts, Elixirs, and Talismans. Yan Xi''s contributions alone ounted for about forty percent, including the Prairie Golden Lotus. "Quite the little rich girl, with this, my battle with Wang Ziru is barely not a loss." Leaving behind the Charm Treasure and Ancient Treasure for Yan Xi was mainly because she fearedplications if Yan Xi were to fall in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. Moreover, she and Yan Xi did not have a deadly feud. Yu Qingtan smiled as she spent 300,000 Spirit Stones to copy Shi Kuang''s Second Stage perfect "Devil''s Prating Sound" Spell. When she used "Love''s Protection" previously, she also learned two of Shi Kuang''s Spells, "Great Resonant Sound" and "Devil''s Prating Sound", which were a defensive and offensivebination of sound and soul system spells. Unfortunately, they required ying the zither to cast, and she hadn''t had the chance to use them inbat before. Read exclusive adventures at empire After a day''s travel, Yu Qingtan left the prairie area and entered the forest area. In the distance, one could vaguely see a thousand-foot-tall High Mountain. Thousand Beasts Mountain. For Qi Refining Cultivators, there was a Hundred Beasts Mountain. Both were the endpoints for exploring the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. In the forest area, there were several Third Stage wild nts. The kind that could move; if encountered, one could only consider themselves unlucky. Yu Qingtan advanced cautiously, and then, a rainbow radiance appeared in her sight. The range of the radiance was vast, likely visible within a ten-mile radius. Yu Qingtan instinctively felt that there must be something fishy about this. Her exploration of the Secret Realm wasn''t very fast; it was unusual that other Cultivators hadn''t discovered and taken the treasure emitting such radiance yet. In hesitation, a small group of Loose Cultivators not far away also spotted the radiance and excitedly moved towards it. Yu Qingtan, who had concealed herself behind arge tree using the Breath-Concealing Technique, chose to follow them. Soon, a box emanating a rainbow glow came into everyone''s sight. The box was under arge tree so wide that it required several people to encircle it, its branches covered in vines, with numerous, uncounted snakes resting on them. "Sharp Snouted Viper!" Someone among the Loose Cultivators recognized this ck, highly venomous species of Demonic Beasts. Sharp Snouted Vipers, with their ck color and reverse-pointing nasal tips, had hooked teeth that struck like swift arrows, and their sting caused instant death. Gazing closely, there were thirteen Second Stage Sharp Snouted Vipers on this tree, plus hundreds of First Stage ones. Yu Qingtan, hiding in the shadows, felt goosebumps all over her scalp. She disliked snakes the most, especially so many of them. Moreover, she faintly felt that something wasn''t quite right. If it was only these Sharp Snouted Vipers present, the rainbow box wouldn''t have remained until now. Regrettably, the group of Loose Cultivators couldn''t care less, as they each picked up their Spiritual Artifacts, Talismans, or cast Spells to attack the Sharp Snouted Vipers. While dodging the attacks, the Second Stage Sharp Snouted Vipers revealed their fangs and sprayed venom in retaliation, but the Loose Cultivators were prepared. Protected by defensive Spells, Talismans, or Spiritual Artifacts, the venom posed no threat to them, and instead, twenty or thirty First Stage Sharp Snouted Vipers died in the first wave of attacks. Just as the Loose Cultivators were about tounch a second wave of attacks, tough vines suddenly shot out from the ground they stood on, piercing through their defenses easily, entering through their rear ends and emerging out of their mouths, turning them into skewered bodies. "Ah~" "Ugh~" After a brief series of screams, all the Loose Cultivatorsy dead. Their bodies were then dragged underground by the vines, causing the surface to tremble and then settle, indistinguishable from before. From a distance, Yu Qingtan frantically cycled her Breath-Concealing Technique, not even daring to breathe too loudly. "Third Stage wild nt, Man-Eating Snake Vine, actually using treasure as bait!" Yu Qingtan was shocked to her core, and after waiting for another quarter of an hour with no abnormal movement, she cautiously left the area. Afterward, Yu Qingtan proceeded even more carefully, trying her best to avoid both Demonic Beasts and Cultivators. Luckily, she didn''t encounter any more Third Stage wild nts and, after two days, she sessfully exited the forest area and arrived at the foot of Thousand Beasts Mountain. Unfortunately, new trouble emerged. The perimeter of Thousand Beasts Mountain was bordered by a bottomless Nameless Abyss, with only one path leading up the mountain. Currently, the path was blocked by people who had set up a checkpoint, and beside it flew a g that read: "Loose Cultivators wishing to ascend the mountain, the toll fee is 10,000 Spirit Stones per person." Chapter 123 Conflict at the Foot of Thousand Beasts Mountain At the foot of Thousand Beasts Mountain, the atmosphere was tense. Over twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators set up a checkpoint to collect tolls, and by the side of the road in front of the checkpointy seven or eight Cultivators'' corpses in tragic states, while over a hundred Loose Cultivators were discussing countermeasures in front of the checkpoint. Yu Qingtan was dressed in a ck skirt, had changed her face with a Disguising Mask to amon appearance, and pretended to be a female Loose Cultivator at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment as she entered the group of Loose Cultivators. "Fellow Daoist, I am Tian Xiang, a Loose Cultivator from Tianxiang Immortal City. Who are those people over there? They actually dare to charge us Loose Cultivators a toll." Yu Qingtan sent a telepathic message to a middle-aged Loose Cultivator with a benevolent face. "s, I am the Loose Cultivator Chen Sheng. Those are disciples of Extreme Path Demon Sect, Red Dust Demon Sect, Yin Corpse Demon Sect, Blood Shadow Demon Sect, and many other Demon Sects, bullying us Loose Cultivators with their strong powers!" Yu Qingtan suddenly understood; Extreme Path Demon Sect and Red Dust Demon Sect were two of the powerful Divinity Transformation-level Demon Sect forces in the Southeast Region, and under them were many other weaker Demon Sect forces, such as Yin Corpse Demon Sect and Blood Shadow Demon Sect. "Don''t those righteous Sect Gates care at all?" Yu Qingtan asked Chen Sheng through telepathy. "Heh, righteous Sect Gates, they don''t have to hand over Spirit Stones, so naturally, they won''t stand up for us Loose Cultivators." The middle-aged Loose Cultivator Chen Sheng replied, indignant. "Indeed infuriating!" Yu Qingtan felt a strong distaste for the Extreme Path Demon Sect. As they spoke, a group of Cultivators arrived at the scene, nced at the situation, and then walked straight towards the passageway. "Halt, which force are you from?" asked a red-dressed male Cultivator from the blockade. The leading Cultivator took out a piece of Identity Jade and said, "Tri-Sun Sect." The red-dressed male Cultivator nced at it, waved his hand, and a few Cultivators cleared the way. Although the leading Cultivator from Tri-Sun Sect felt displeased, he said nothing and led his Sect members through the passageway. Actually, Demon Sects often acted like this in various open Secret Realms; although the righteous ones looked down on such behavior, they were toozy to bother with these trivial matters. At this moment, a white-dressed male among the Loose Cultivators sent a telepathic message to Yu Qingtan, "Fellow Daoist Qing, Fellow Daoist Chen Sheng has just introduced me to you, I am the Loose Cultivator Wu Guang. As you can see, the Demon Sect is wantonly oppressing us Loose Cultivators. My White Sky Cult wishes to rise up in resistance, and I wonder if you would be interested in joining us." Yu Qingtan''s eyes narrowed, and she thought, "White Sky Cult, huh, it''s more like the Cang Sky Cult!" She knew that the protector Gong Ping of the Cang Sky Cult had obtained a Jade Slip with information about the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm at an auction in Suichuan Immortal City and would surely send arge number of people into the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. "Fellow Daoist Wu, naturally I am interested. But the other side consists of disciples fromrge Sect Gates with formidable strength, and we Loose Cultivators are likely no match!" Yu Qingtan sent a telepathic message back. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Qing, our numbers are several times theirs, and we will also have some expertsing over soon, so the advantage is ours. When we take actionter, I hope Fellow Daoist Qing will lend a hand." Wu Guang confidently responded. "Good!" Yu Qingtan agreed, and she was also curious about who the experts Wu Guang mentioned were. Yu Qingtan then waited with many other Loose Cultivators not far from the checkpoint, and the Demon Sect Cultivators who set up the blockade didn''t bother with them. From time to time, Cultivators emerged from the forest. Cultivators fromrge forces were directly let through, while smaller sects and family cultivators at the Foundation Establishment level were treated as Loose Cultivators by the Demon Sect Cultivators and required to pay a toll. Although furious, most still handed over the Spirit Stones. While ten thousand Spirit Stones weren''t a small sum, for Foundation Establishment Cultivators with the support of powers behind them, it didn''t amount to much, considering it as feeding Spirit Stones to dogs. Some Loose Cultivators also gritted their teeth and paid the toll, entering the perimeter of Thousand Beasts Mountain. However, many Loose Cultivators couldn''t produce the ten thousand Spirit Stones and could only watch helplessly at the checkpoint. Half a day had passed, and surprisingly, over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators had gathered here, among them were two acquaintances of Yu Qingtan. Fu Nian and Fang Ling. Although both had disguised themselves somewhat, Yu Qingtan still recognized them by their figures, yet he didn''t approach to acknowledge them. At this moment, Yu Qingtan''s disguise was more meticulous, and the two did not recognize her, but they also mingled among the groups of Loose Cultivators. Just then, a troop of beautiful female cultivators arrived at the scene, led by a woman in a goose-yellow dress¡ªit was none other than Yan Xi and others from Tianxiang Valley. "Stop, which power do you belong to?" A red-d demon cultivator asked routinely. "Tianxiang Valley!" Yan Xi responded coldly, as she too had heard of the demon cultivators'' shameless acts of highway robbery. "Your Identity Jade?" Asked the red-d demon cultivator. Yan Xi stiffened upon hearing this, as her Storage Bag had been stolen by Yu Qingtan, thus her Identity Jade was naturally lost as well. Continue reading at empire "This is my Identity Jade," said ate-stage Foundation Establishment female cultivator from Tianxiang Valley, presenting her Identity Jade as she spoke. The red-d demon cultivator''s eyes rolled, his lewd gaze fixed on Yan Xi as he chuckled, "You, the leader, don''t have your Identity Jade, that won''t do. You must pay a toll then!" He was deliberately looking for trouble, intending to harass the beautiful female cultivator a bit. "You!" Yan Xi was furious, her fist clenching tight. "What''s the matter, want to start a fight? Even if it''s Qunfang Pavilion''s, you''d still have to follow my rules here." The red-d demon cultivator''s mouth curled up disdainfully. "Ximen Qing, a mere inner sect disciple of Red Dust Demon Sect, dares to bark and howl in front of us orthodox cultivators. If others don''t strike you, it is only because they fear being disgusted by that thing you have. Today, I, Li Daoyi, will y you right here, eliminating a scourge from the Southeast Region." Then, a resounding voice came from the forest. A youth in white Daoist robes appeared in everyone''s sight ¨C a young man with thick eyebrows,rge eyes, a fairplexion devoid of any facial hair, and his hair arranged in a Daoist bun, carrying five long swords on his back, exuding an imposing aura. "Cangqiong Sword Sect, Li Daoyi, such grand words! One would think the venerated Wu Di of the Cangqiong Sword Sect himself had descended. You, an outer sect disciple of Cangqiong Sword Sect, also dare to speak so boldly to me, aren''t you afraid of making othersugh aloud? Today, I will take your head and return to my sect to im a reward." Ximen Qing, the red-d demon cultivator, retorted with scorn. He had heard of Li Daoyi, for this man abhorred evil and would often act against cultivators of demon sects, and had already been ced on the kill list of the Red Dust Demon Sect. Li Daoyi stopped talking, the five swords on his back unsheathed, forming an arcane formation as he lunged toward where Ximen Qing was. "Five Elements Linked Sword Formation, Outer Sword Sword Cultivator!" Seeing this, Ximen Qing''s expression changed, but he remained undaunted, taking out a ck three-legged cauldron to meet the attack. At this moment, Yu Qingtan also received a mental message from Wu Guang. "Friend Qing, this is the moment, let''s make our move!" Simultaneously, Yu Qingtan saw over sixty Loose Cultivators begin to utilize their abilities,unching an assault on the other twenty or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were setting up the blockade. "Humph! I wondered why Li Daoyi dared to make a move, turns out he has colluded with this bunch of Loose Cultivators. Sadly, however many there are, they are just trivial, like chickens and dogs. Since they court death, let''s go, my friends Chen and Xue. Join me in ughtering them!" That was when another pale-faced red-d demon cultivator snorted coldly. Yu Qingtan had also inquired about the basic information of these leader demon cultivators from Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, and others before. The red-d demon cultivator who just spoke was named Gao Shen, an inner sect disciple of the Extreme Path Demon Sect, specializing in the Fire Dao. The two Gao Shen mentioned were Chen Shi, an inner sect disciple of Yin Corpse Demon Sect, and Xue Mei, an inner sect disciple of Blood Shadow Demon Sect. Chapter 124 Blood Shadow Xue Mei Unlucky At the foot of Thousand Beasts Mountain, facing the attackunched by over sixty Loose Cultivators, Gao Shen took out a red, cover-shaped treasure. He poured his Spiritual Power into it, and the cover expanded to a circumference of twenty zhang, with nine python-shaped crimson mes flickering on it, enveloping all the demonic cultivators except for Ximen Qing, who was engaged in a magic duel with Li Daoyi. The attacks initiated by the Loose Cultivators fell upon it, causing no harm whatsoever. Then the cover shrank to envelop only Gao Shen, and the nine fiery pythons on it surged toward the Loose Cultivators. "Fellow Daoist Gao''s Nine Python Profound Fire Cover, worthy of being an ancient treasure forged in imitation of the Immortal Artifact Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover, indeed possesses remarkable power. However, I cannot let Fellow Daoist Gao hog all the limelight. Come out, my beloved ones!" While speaking, Chen Shi of the Yin Corpse Demon Sect took out ten coffins from his Storage Bag. As the lids opened, ten delicately beautiful female corpses leaped out and charged towards the Loose Cultivators. Xue Mei of the Blood Shadow Demon Sect didn''t waste words. A red light emanated from her body, and in the blink of an eye, three identical Xue Meis appeared, all wielding blood-colored long knives and speeding towards the Loose Cultivators with great velocity. The other demonic cultivators also employed their own methods,unching attacks on the Loose Cultivators. Despite being outnumbered, they still dared to take the initiative to attack. None of the present parties found this strange, acknowledging the vast gap between Sect Cultivators and Loose Cultivators. On the side of the Loose Cultivators, following the whispered messages from Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, and others, including Yu Qingtan, over eighty Loose Cultivators chose to engage the oing demonic cultivators. The remaining Loose Cultivators opted to flee back into the forested area. The melee between both sides began. There were twenty-seven demonic cultivators: ten were at thete stage of Foundation Establishment, eleven at the mid-stage, and six at the early stage. On the side of the Loose Cultivators, there were one hundred forty-two people: only thirty at thete stage, seventy at the mid-stage, and the rest at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. The nine fiery pythons released by Gao Shen''s Nine Python Profound Fire Cover were all at thete stage of Foundation Establishment battle strength, and ordinary Spiritual Artifacts and talismans couldn''t withstand them. Within a few breaths, several early-stage Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators were devoured. The so-called Ancient Treasures were third-stage magical artifacts refined by cultivators of antiquity, which one could barely activate with the help of Spirit Stones during the Foundation Establishment Stage. Chen Sheng wielded an upper-grade Spiritual Artifact Fiery g, and together with several dozen cultivators who specialized in fire-based spells, they barely managed to fend off the assault of the nine fiery pythons through an aggressive defense. The ten Yin Corpses of Chen Shi of the Yin Corpse Demon Sect had four that possessedte-stage Body Cultivation battle strength of Foundation Establishment and six at the mid-stage. The Loose Cultivators were only able to hold them back by relying on their numbers. The technique Xue Mei of the Blood Shadow Demon Sect used was the Bloodshadow Clone Technique, where each clone possessed the strength of the original body. Unfortunately for Xue Mei, she was very unlucky. Among the Loose Cultivators who besieged her three clones were Fang Ling, Fu Nian, and Yu Qingtan. Fang Ling and Fu Nian, it turns out, had also broken through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. "Hehehe, these demonic brats are degenerating more and more, stooping so low as to rob on the roads. And this Bloodshadow Clone Technique, without the support of good Soul cultivation methods, each clone''s soul is as weak as can be. Ling''er, use the Blood Xi Soul-Cleaving Sword to give them a lesson in humility." The voice of Ancestor Blood Xi echoed in Fang Ling''s mind. Not long ago, when Fang Ling had his breakthrough to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, Ancestor Blood Xi awoke from his slumber. "Understood!" Fang Ling replied in his mind. Then, a faint red sword phantom formed in his Sea of Consciousness. While Xue Mei''s clone was engaged inbat with twote-stage Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators using her blood sword, heunched it straight at her head. Around Xue Mei''s clone was a cocoon-shaped protective shield formed by the Blood Cocoon Technique, which allowed her topletely ignore the attacks from mid-stage and early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. Thus, she nned to first eliminate the twote-stage cultivators before wiping out these ants. Suddenly, she sensed a fluctuation from the direction of the back of her head through her Divine Sense. Upon close inspection, it turned out to be a tiny red Divine Sense sword. "Soul Attack Spell!" Xue Mei''s clone was engulfed in shock, as there was actually someone among this despicable group of loose cultivators who knew the rare Soul Attack Spell. Not only were these spells extremely rare, but they were also incredibly difficult to cultivate. However, once mastered, one could look down upon their peers and even fight across levels. Most defensive measures were ineffective against Soul Attack Spells; one could only rely on their Divine Sense to withstand them. Because of the clone, he used a secret technique to split his soul into three parts, leaving the Divine Sense of the clone at only a mid-Foundation Establishment stage level. "Ah~" The Divine Sense de pierced directly through the Blood Cocoon and into Xue Mei''s clone''s Sea of Consciousness. Xue Mei clutched his head, crying out in pain, nearly fainting. The Blood Cocoon shattered and the encircling loose cultivators wouldn''t miss such an opportunity¡ªattacks of spells and Spiritual Artifacts rained down upon him. "Bang~" Xue Mei''s clone exploded, turning into a blood shadow and swiftly returned to the body of the clone that was battling against Yu Qingtan and the others. Discover hidden content at empire Almost at the same time, another blood shadow also returned to the body of Xue Mei''s clone that was inbat with Yu Qingtan and the others. It turned out that Fu Nian had deployed a Four Directions Thunder-Fire Talisman Formation using arge number of Second Stage Fireball Talismans, Fire Net Talismans, and Summon Lightning Talismans. He took advantage of the moment Xue Mei''s clone was preupied battling twote-Foundation Establishment loose cultivators tounch a bold ambush and trapped him within the formation. Among the many cultivation skills, Talisman science was rtively easy to learn, while the art of Formations was extremely difficult to master. The art of Talisman Formations was something even ordinary cultivators dared not dream about. Formations were powerful, but setting them up was quite difficult; the art of Talisman Formations used talismans to lower the difficulty and speed of deploying a Formation to an extreme. What drove Xue Mei to rage was that his blood-type spells were naturally countered by fire-type and thunder-type spells. Trapped within the Four Directions Thunder-Fire Talisman Formation, his Blood Cocoon only endured the attacks of fireballs and lightning strikes for three breaths before shattering. The surrounding loose cultivators naturally unleashed their techniques in unison, coordinating with the attacks of the Formation to turn this clone of Xue Mei into a blood shadow. Xue Mei''s clone engaged in a battle of spells with Yu Qingtan and the others was also in a dire situation. While there was only e-Foundation Establishment loose cultivator in this small skirmish, Yu Qingtan had taken out two standard longsword Spiritual Artifacts from his previous loot and rubbed them against each other in a specific way to execute the spell, Devil''s Prating Sound, which he had copied from Shi Kuang. The unpleasant sound went straight into Xue Mei''s clone''s soul, causing great difort, while the others only found the sound somewhat unpleasant. She (Yu Qingtan) wielded the power of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage of Spiritual Power, but used the Breath-Concealing Technique to hide the unique aura of her own Spiritual Power. Devil''s Prating Sound was a sonic and soul-type attack spell. Although not as deadly to Xue Mei''s soul as Ancestor Blood Xi''s Soul-Cleaving de, it still caused the Xue Mei clone to use most of his Divine Sense to suppress the impact of the Devil''s Sound on his soul. Xue Mei''s clone cursed his bad luck, then decisively charged towards Yu Qingtan. The other loose cultivators naturally wouldn''t let him have his way, intercepting him at every turn, while Yu Qingtan also used a highly aplished Water Escape Technique to evade and avoided directbat. Under the influence of Devil''s Prating Sound, Xue Mei''s clone found it somewhat difficult to handle the attacks from the other loose cultivators. At that moment, the other two blood shadows merged into this Xue Mei''s clone, causing the strength of his soul to surge dramatically. Feeling the effect of the Devil''s Sound diminish significantly, he manifested a dozen or so tiny blood-red swords around him, shooting them towards the surrounding loose cultivators. Second Stage Blood Sword Technique. In a sh, he appeared three yards away from Yu Qingtan, with a bloody long knife in his hand that carried a fierce red qi, shing towards Yu Qingtan. Second Stage Blood Escape Technique. "Damn wretch, die!" Chapter 125 The End of the Battle Against the Demon by Dao One Facing the furious strike of a supreme spiritual artifact long knife wielded by Xue Mei, a Foundation Establishmentte-stage cultivator from the Blood Shadow Demon Sect, Yu Qingtan was not the slightest bit flustered, maintaining a distance with her fully developed Water Escape Technique. Because Fang Ling''s second Blood Sword Technique strike was already on its way, and Fu Nian too had activated a second-stage lightning charm, summoning a thundercloud above Xue Mei''s head. The speed of both the soul attack and the lightning strike was swift; Xue Mei instantly felt a pain in her brain, and the blood cocoon around her shattered into spiritual light due to the lightning strike and the dy in the supply of spiritual power. Her strike with the blood knife was affected, easily evaded by Yu Qingtan. However, it was not that Fang Ling and Fu Nian had recognized Yu Qingtan, they were simply pursuing their advantage. It was Fang Ling and Fu Nian who recognized each other''s spiritual power aura since both of them had helped Yu Qingtan when Yan Xi came to Tianxiang Pavilion to cause her trouble. But the two were not acquainted and did not speak to each other, choosing instead to continue their attacks. Fang Ling condensed a small blood-red sword and shot it electrically at Xue Mei, also a second-stage Blood Sword Technique. As for the Blood Sword Technique, Fang Ling, who had only recently reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, found it somewhat strenuous to use two consecutively and deemed it unnecessary to use it again for the time being. Fu Nian was forming a spell with hand signs, and a dense array of fire dots materialized above his head, raining down on Xue Mei, which was a fully developed second-stage Rain of Fire Technique. The attacks from the other dozen or so loose cultivators had also arrived. Faced with such attacks, Xue Mei showed fear, barely suppressing the pain in her soul, and sacrificed a blood-red bead, forming a red protective barrier. At the same time, she took out a second-stage Escape Talisman and infused it with spiritual power. However, after the Escape Talisman shone brightly, Xue Mei was not transported away. It turned out to be a fake talisman¡ªa failure so rare that even the talisman master themselves would think had been sessfully created. It looked just like a regr talisman, but it was ineffective. The probability of such a failure urring was about the same as the appearance of an exceptionally talented cultivator with a single spiritual root. "Bang~" In disbelief, Xue Mei watched as the paper in her hand, targeted by the multitude of attacks, disintegrated into fragments. Only her storage bag and spirit beast pouch were spared by being deliberately avoided and were captured by Fang Ling using the Object Controlling Technique. "Let''s support the other fellow cultivators first; we''ll discuss the spoils of war after the battle," Fang Ling said, and the others had no objections. The situation in the other smaller battle zones looked grim, with over twenty loose cultivators having fallen, and a dozen more had fled back to the forest in terror. However, including Xue Mei, the demonic cultivators had also lost five of their own, two of whom were heavily injured by loose cultivators'' self-destructs and then killed by a group. Clearly, there was deep hatred between many of the loose cultivators and the demonic cultivators. The battle situation immediately improved with the addition of Fang Ling, Fu Nian, and a dozen other Foundation Establishment cultivators. Yu Qingtan then found the injured loose cultivators who had retreated from the battlefield. He cast a Rejuvenation Spell on each and a Purification Spell, giving a second-stage Healing Pill directly to those with severe injuries. The injured dozen or so cultivators were suddenly revived, with nearly half of them returning to the battlefield. Afterward, Yu Qingtan took out two spiritual artifact long swords and cast a group Devil''s Prating Sound on the twenty-some demonic cultivators. The three Foundation Establishment early-stage demonic cultivators who were still alive immediately became unstable in their souls, their spells disrupted, and their opponents seized the opportunity to beat them to death. Since it was cast on a group, the power of Devil''s Prating Sound was considerably reduced, but the middle-stage demonic cultivators had to divide their attention to suppress it, and thete-stage ones were also irritated. The bnce of victory suddenly tipped in favor of the loose cultivators. After a dozen breaths, three fire pythons released by Gao Shen of the Extreme Path Demon Sect had been shattered, and four of the ten corpse puppets released by Chen Shi of the Yin Corpse Demon Sect had been broken. Two middle-stage demonic cultivators were also annihted. Both Gao Shen and Chen Shi themselves were being besieged by loose cultivators, fighting side by side with their respective spiritual beasts. One was a zing Fire Lion and the other a Corpse Vulture. Aside from beastmasters, generally, cultivators with the means would only cultivate one or two spiritual beasts as their assistants. Most of the cultivators here had spiritual beasts with them, as they were necessary to brave Thousand Beasts Mountain; however, many cultivators had only found temporary spiritual beasts in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. Moreover, precisely because braving Thousand Beasts Mountain required spiritual beasts, Gao Shen and Chen Shi were initially reluctant to summon their own spiritual beasts to aid them, fearing they might get injured. But at this moment, they could no longer care about that. "Ah~" Just then, a scream rang out from another battlefield. Gao Shen and Chen Shi''s expressions changed as they simultaneously extended their divine sense in that direction. They saw, in another fighting ring, Ximen Qing from Red Dust Demon Sect lying on the ground, with five different-colored spiritual swords stuck in his forehead and abdomen, dead as dead can be. The key point was that Ximen Qing was still clutching an activated second stage Escape Talisman in his hand. "A Stabilizing Void Talisman!" Seeing the used talisman in Li Daoyi''s hand from Cangqiong Sword Sect, Gao Shen and Chen Shi felt a jolt in their hearts. Ximen Qing''s Escape Talisman was not a fake; it had been countered by the very talisman that could subdue it, the Stabilizing Void Talisman. Standing behind Li Daoyi were Yan Xi and others from Tianxiang Valley. Yes, Yan Xi and the others had also taken action, or perhaps it was Yan Xi who had acted. At the critical moment of the fight between Li Daoyi and Ximen Qing, she activated the final strike of her azure giant sword charm treasure, allowing Li Daoyi to use a powerful move and to prevent Ximen Qing from escaping with the Stabilizing Void Talisman, which led to Ximen Qing''s death. Li Daoyi withdrew his long sword and turned to look at Gao Shen and Chen Shi, clearly having enough energy left for another fight. Gao Shen looked grim, then cast a spell on the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover to call back the six fire pythons from the battlefield to the cover, before leaping onto the back of the zing Fire Lion. The zing Fire Lion charged towards Thousand Beasts Mountain with Gao Shen on its back. He had chosen to take the best course in a desperate situation¡ªretreat. Seeing this, Chen Shi inwardly cursed, hastily calling back his Corpse Vulture, preparing to flee as well. But at this moment, the loose cultivators were not about to let him off so easily, and in the end, Chen Shi could only call back three Corpse Vultures and make his way into Thousand Beasts Mountain. The other demon cultivators, seeing their leaders dead or fleeing, also lost the will to fight and each used their abilities to escape. The loose cultivators, with their morale greatly boosted, desperately tried to obstruct them, and in the end, only six demon cultivators managed to flee into Thousand Beasts Mountain. But it was a pyrrhic victory for the loose cultivators, with over thirty fallen and nearly everyone wounded. Yu Qingtan once again took on the role of a medical cultivator, using Rejuvenation Spells, Purification Spells, and Healing Pills to treat the wounded. Many of those who had fought with Chen Shi''s Corpse Vultures were poisoned with corpse poison, which ordinary Detoxification Pills couldn''t cure, but Yu Qingtan''s second-stageplete Purification Spell could just cleanse it away. "Many thanks, Qing Daoist Friend!" Amidst the gratitude of the loose cultivators, Yu Qingtan harvested a batch of charm points. It should be noted that the charm points contributed by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator were dozens of times that of a Qi Refining Cultivator. Explore stories at empire "Many thanks, Li Daoist Friend!" The cultivators from Tianxiang Valley, including Yan Xi, thanked Li Daoyi and then entered Thousand Beasts Mountain. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, on behalf of the loose cultivators, also thanked Li Daoyi and then requested that he oversee the distribution of the spoils ording to contributions. Li Daoyi agreed readily, and the cultivators epted. In the end, the distribution of the spoils satisfied almost everyone. The rtives and friends of the fallen received a muchrger share of the spoils. Those without rtives or friends got nothing. The Cultivation World was always this brutal. Afterwards, everyone entered Thousand Beasts Mountain together. Chapter 126 Heart Sensing Technique in Thousand Beasts Mountain Thousand Beasts Mountain. Though called a mountain, it is actually a middle-grade Dao Artifact. Legend has it, the Myriad Beasts Sect''s Myriad Beasts Mountain in ancient times was an Immortal Artifact, but its whereabouts are now unknown. The Hundred Beasts Mountain on the other side of Myriad Beasts Secret Realm is also an inferior Dao Artifact. Magic Artifacts, Spiritual Artifacts, Treasure Artifacts, Dao Artifacts, and Immortal Artifacts are the ss distinctions of equipment in the Cultivation World. Among them, the Qi Cultivation Stage is suited for Magic Artifacts, the Foundation Establishment Stage is suited for Spiritual Artifacts, the Golden Core Stage is suited for Treasure Artifacts, and the Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, Void Refinement, and Body Integration Stages are respectively suited for inferior, middle-grade, high-grade, and supreme Dao Artifacts, while only those above the Tribtion Crossing Stage are suited for Immortal Artifacts. Dao Artifacts contain their own Dao Artifact spaces, and most have Artifact Spirits within. Tianxiang Valley only has one Dao Artifact publicly known, which is the Insightful Mirror of the Ancestral Master Hall, illustrating the rarity and preciousness of Dao Artifacts. As for Immortal Artifacts, they are even more so a legendary existence. For thousands of years, numerous cultivators have tried to im the two Dao Artifacts in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, and obviously, they all failed. Yu Qingtan and others entered Thousand Beasts Mountain, not to climb a mountain, but to enter the Dao Artifact space of Thousand Beasts Mountain. The Myriad Beasts Secret Realm is used by the Myriad Beasts Sect to test its disciples, and Thousand Beasts Mountain and Hundred Beasts Mountain are the ultimate trial grounds. Yu Qingtan passed through the channel previously guarded by Ximen Qing and others and saw a thick white fog in front of her. Walking into the fog, she unconsciously arrived at a ce shrouded in grey haze all around. Her Divine Sense reached out but could only probe up to thirty feet, with nothing else in sight. At this moment, a little girl''s voice appeared overhead. "Release your Spiritual Beast!" Yu Qingtan did as instructed and let out Xiao Tao. About Thousand Beasts Mountain and Hundred Beasts Mountain, there is scant information circted in the outside world, but there are many conjectures and spections. For instance, that both Dao Artifacts have Artifact Spirits and preside over the trials within. "That voice just now must have been issued by the Artifact Spirit of Thousand Beasts Mountain," Yu Qingtan thought to herself. After Xiao Tao came out, Yu Qingtan felt her body, Spiritual Power, and Divine Sense were all suppressed and confined. Then, from the dense fog around, a huge scorpion appeared. "A Second Stage early phase Demonic ck Thick-Tail Scorpion." A moment of tension seized Yu Qingtan''s heart; after all, she detested scorpions! The ck Thick-Tail Scorpion charged straight for Yu Qingtan, who remained motionless. Xiao Tao seemed to understand the situation and stood in front of Yu Qingtan, baring his teeth at the ck Thick-Tail Scorpion that was only slightly smaller than him. Clearly, the intention of Thousand Beasts Mountain was to have the Spiritual Beast battle this ck Thick-Tail Scorpion. Yu Qingtan was somewhat worried about the foolish wolf but felt at ease upon realizing she could still control the System Space and could recall Xiao Tao at any moment. Moreover, Yu Qingtan had been feeding Xiao Tao the meat from a Third Stage Heavenly Demon Eagle, Jiukong. Despite the slow digestion, Xiao Tao had already reached the peak of the early Second Stage and was on the brink of breaking into the mid-Second Stage. Although he couldn''t cast spells, Xiao Tao was very fast and agile, with sharp fangs and teeth for attack and fur for defense, both of which were considered superior within his rank. At this moment, the ck Thick-Tail Scorpion had moved its four pairs of walking legs and charged at Xiao Tao with its front pincers raised swiftly. The ck Thick-Tail Scorpion''s body was covered with hard carapace, and its long tail, which contained the poison nd, was extremely flexible. Not to be outdone, Xiao Tao also revealed his sharp wolf ws and charged forward. The ck Thick-Tail Scorpion tried to mp down on Xiao Tao''s front legs with its pincers, but Xiao Tao was agile enough to dodge the attack and managed to sh the ck Thick-Tail Scorpion''s right front pincer with his ws. Unfortunately, it only left a mark before being pushed back by the stabbing tail. After several bouts, neither could gain the upper hand over the other. Xiao Tao was more agile, but the defense of the ck Thick-Tail Scorpion far surpassed that of Xiao Tao. Discover exclusive content at empire "Xiao Tao, take out the Sun Luminous Stone," Yu Qingtan suddenly remembered from the information she read and called out to Xiao Tao. Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao created distance, came to Yu Qingtan''s side, and took out a dazzlingly bright stone from the Storage Bag on her waist. Normally, Yu Qingtan mainly used the System Space, and the Storage Bag on her waist only contained some daily necessities and items of low value. She had not even branded it with her Divine Sense, so Xiao Tao was able to use it as well. ording to the information, scorpion-type demonic beasts hide during the day ande out at night, afraid of strong light. The Sun Luminous Stone is a type of stone that can emit strong light. The reason why Moonlight Stones are mainly used for illumination is that Sun Luminous Stone is a kind of spirit ore, less abundant, and the light it produces is too strong. Indeed, under the strong light of the Sun Luminous Stone, the ck Coarse-Tailed Scorpion didn''t move a muscle. Xiao Tao, gripping the Sun Luminous Stone in his mouth, charged towards the ck Coarse-Tailed Scorpion, plunging his sharp ws into its brain through the eyes on its back, killing the scorpion. "Xiao Tao, well done!" Yu Qingtan praised. "Ao ao, ao ao ao ao¡«" Xiao Tao was also very excited, as this was the first time he had killed a Second Stage opponent. The restrictions on Yu Qingtan''s body lifted, and she collected the corpse of the ck Coarse-Tailed Scorpion. Yu Qingtan felt a slight dizziness, and then she found herself in a huge square, with Xiao Tao by her side. "Congrattions on reaching the secondyer of Thousand Beasts Mountain, please learn the Heart Sensing Technique within three days." At that moment, the little girl''s voice rang in her ears again. Yu Qingtan looked around and saw quite a few people on the square, each with at least one spiritual beast by their side. Yu Qingtan also spotted some of the cultivators she had battled demon cultivators with previously, though each cultivator and their spiritual beast were enclosed within a transparent barrier. The cultivators were either looking at the jade pir in the center of the square or deeply contemting. Yu Qingtan also looked towards the central jade pir, and sure enough, it recorded a spell, the Heart Sensing Technique. After carefully reading the introduction, Yu Qingtan learned that the Heart Sensing Technique is a Second Stage spell used tomunicate with spiritual beasts. If she learned the Heart Sensing Technique, Yu Qingtan would be able tomunicate directly with Xiao Tao. Yu Qingtan was instantly intrigued, carefully read the cultivation method, and then began toprehend it. Having decentprehension skills, two dayster, Yu Qingtan had learned the Heart Sensing Technique, and the system panel also disyed the introduction to the Heart Sensing Technique. "Xiao Tao, I''ve learned the Heart Sensing Technique!" Yu Qingtan said happily. "Ao ao, ao ao ao ao ao ao?" This time, she understood Xiao Tao''s chirping, rather than purely guessing as before. "Master, what is the Heart Sensing Technique?" This was Xiao Tao speaking. "The Heart Sensing Technique is a spell. Once I''ve learned it, I''ll be able to understand what you''re saying." "Really, Master?" Xiao Tao looked at Yu Qingtan with bright eyes, chirping excitedly. "Of course it''s true, but Xiao Tao, you don''t have to call me master." "Then, my lord?" A line of ck appeared on Yu Qingtan''s forehead, then her eyes twinkled, and she said, "How about calling me princess?" "Alright, Princess!" Wow, being called Princess sure felt awesome. Somebody had probably forgotten that he used to be a guy. At that moment, a strange noise arose in her ears, and Yu Qingtan understood it. "No way, no way, can there really be someone who hasn''t learned the Heart Sensing Technique in three days!" Yu Qingtan said somewhat speechlessly. Then, after another bout of slight dizziness, "Congrattions on reaching the thirdyer of Thousand Beasts Mountain, please decide whether to administer the Awakening Pill to your spiritual beast." Chapter 127 Xiao Tao Awakens the Ice-Cold Breath The thirdyer of Thousand Beasts Mountain was still a square, where each cultivator and his spiritual beast were encircled by a transparent barrier. "Awakening Pill!" Yu Qingtan looked at the small jade bottle floating in front of her, lost in thought. As the name implies, the Awakening Pill was used to stimte the awakening of a spirit animal''s bloodline abilities, but it was neither guaranteed to seed nor without danger. She took the jade bottle, opened it, and extended her divine sense into it. Indeed, it was just an ordinary Second Stage inferior Awakening Pill. The chances of awakening an average spiritual beast were only ten percent, with a fifty percent chance of severe difort and a formidable forty percent risk of bursting open. "Bang¨C" Not far away, a male cultivator''s leopard-shaped spiritual beast inted like an overfilled balloon and then exploded into fragments with a loud bang. The dazed male cultivator, sttered with blood, was then whisked away by a sh of white light, teleported out of the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. Yu Qingtan exined the situation to Xiao Tao. "Xiao Tao, do you want to take the Awakening Pill?" Xiao Tao fell into contemtion, but soon his gaze grew firm. "Princess, please give me the Awakening Pill!" He needed to grow stronger so he could protect her, rather than remain a mere pet. Yu Qingtan rubbed Xiao Tao''s head with her hand and said, "I disagree with you taking it." At that moment, another spiritual beast''s agonizing cry echoed throughout the square, clearly indicating an awakening failure, though it hadn''t died. "Three more Awakening Pills for me, I still have three spirit animals." The master of the screaming beast, a burly cultivator, shouted loudly. "Everyone gets only one pill." The crisp voice of a young girl rang out, and the burly man was teleported away with a reluctant look on his face. "Hiss¨C" A high-pitched neigh sounded across the square; Yu Qingtan looked over to see Fang Ling''s horse-shaped spiritual beast radiating red light, growing a sharp horn on its head, rearing on its hind legs, and letting out a long cry to the sky. "Heh heh heh, little Ling, with the intervention of Ancestor Blood Xi, this originally extraordinary Blood Qiongsu could hardly fail to awaken. With its aid, even an ordinary Golden Core cultivator won''t be able to catch up with you." The sleazy voice of Ancestor Blood Xi echoed in Fang Ling''s mind again. "Thank you!" Fang Ling said inwardly. A sh of white light, and both Fang Ling and the Blood Qiongsu disappeared, presumably entering the fourthyer. Yu Qingtan didn''t recognize this type of spiritual beast; its handsome appearance and the aura that seemed quite impressive made her a bit envious. Considering the possibility that her journey in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm might end here, Yu Qingtan wasn''t disheartened and quietly observed her surroundings. Fu Nian, Li Daoyi, Yan Xi, Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, Gao Shen, Chen Shi, and others were all absent, unclear if they had not arrived yet, gone to a higher level, or left the secret realm altogether. Periodically, cultivators'' spiritual beasts that had ingested the Awakening Pill would either die miserably or suffer greatly, with the asional lucky one sessfully awakening. However, very few cultivators, like Yu Qingtan, chose not to let their spirit animals consume the Awakening Pill. Discover exclusive content at empire As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold, especially when the risk isn''t theirs to bear. After an incense stick''s worth of time, a sect gate cultivator''s spiritual beast looked about to explode; the man pulled out a token and shouted, "I have a Myriad Beasts Token that can let me pass directly through oneyer." "Bang¨C" His spiritual beast burst open, but he had prepared defenses early, so he wasn''t teleported away immediately. "Oh, it really is a Myriad Beasts Token!" The female voice rang out in the space once more, and the Myriad Beasts Token in the cultivator''s hand flew up into the air. "You may proceed to the fourthyer." As the voice faded, the cultivator disappeared from the spot. Yu Qingtan was ecstatic inside; that Myriad Beasts Token was identical to the three Uninscribed Tokens in her System Space. Three uninscribed tokens, acquired from the Misty Rain Tower assassin Poison Needle, Suichuan Immortal City ck market stall owner Tian Changfeng, and the Extreme Path Demon Sect''s Ru Yao. I didn''t expect them to be Myriad Beasts Tokens. "You say your fine Myriad Beasts Token, but you didn''t think to draw some beast pattern or even write the word ''beast'' on it? How would I recognize it?" Yu Qingtan grumbled inwardly and took out a Myriad Beasts Token, shouting, "I also have a Myriad Beasts Token, I want to go up a level." "Oh, another token, not bad, not bad. Since your spiritual beast hasn''t taken an Awakening Pill yet, here''s another top-grade Awakening Pill for you." As the Myriad Beasts Tokens were drawn into the sky, a new jade bottle appeared in front of Yu Qingtan. "Thank you!" Yu Qingtan was overjoyed; she took the jade bottle, opened it, and insidey a transparent elixir, unlike the previous greyish-brown ones. A second-stage top-grade Awakening Pill, the odds of stimting a spiritual beast''s awakening were close to one hundred percent. Yu Qingtan poured out the elixir, and Xiao Tao, smelling the fragrance, came over and couldn''t wait to lick the top-grade Awakening Pill from Yu Qingtan''s palm with a flick of his tongue. Soon, Xiao Tao began to tremble, his body emitting cold air, and then he started shedding fur. Watching worriedly, Yu Qingtan was reassured by the calm look in Xiao Tao''s eyes. Soon, Xiao Tao''s original fur fell out, and new blue fur grew in. The coldness on his body intensified, and ice started forming on his surface, transforming him into a sculpture of ice in just a few breaths. "Crack~ Crack~" The ice shattered, and Xiao Tao, now a blue-furred wolf, opened his mouth and released a breath of piercing cold. "Hahaha, Princess, I''ve awakened my bloodline talent spell, Ice-cold Breath, and have even broken through my bottleneck to reach the mid-stage of the second stage." "You''re very awesome!" Yu Qingtan responded yfully upon hearing Xiao Tao''s happy howls. At that moment, a sh of white light shone, and amidst the envious stares of other cultivators, Yu Qingtan and Xiao Tao disappeared from their spot. When they reappeared, they were already on the fourth level of the Thousand Beasts Mountain. "Congrattions on reaching the fourth level of the Thousand Beasts Mountain. Please try to survive for an hour; those who can''t endure can call out to give up." Here, the surroundings were once again empty of people, reced by thousands of ck rats with crimson eyes staring at Yu Qingtan and Xiao Tao, who had suddenly appeared. Red-eyed ck Rats. Among them, ten were at the mid-stage of the second stage, fifty at the early stage of the second stage, and the rest were at the first stage. "Why is it always my least favorite type? And them swarming like that, I have a fear of clusters!" Yu Qingtan''s body was covered in goosebumps. Luckily, she wasn''t restrained this time, and there were no other cultivators around. "Squeak~ Squeak~" The Red-eyed ck Rats swarmed towards Yu Qingtan and Xiao Tao in the center. Yu Qingtan''s spiritual power flowed within her, protecting herself and Xiao Tao with a Water Curtain Technique. Then, above her head appeared thousands of densely packed Water des. Yu Qingtan''s least fear was mass attacks. Just two rounds of Water de Technique sweeping, and the Red-eyed Rat horde was already annihted. Xiao Tao, who had just awakened his talent spell, didn''t even get a chance to show off before the battle was over. "Go collect the bodies." Throwing a few empty Storage Bags to Xiao Tao, shemanded. Disgusting as it was, the materials from these Red-eyed ck Rats were still worth quite a few Spirit Stones. No waste allowed. Xiao Tao didn''t seem to mind and dutifully went to carry out the task. Deep within the Thousand Beasts Mountain, a woman in a white dress, upon seeing the returned image, was utterly astonished. "Such a Water de Technique, the Water Spirit Root must be of top quality, very good, indeed!" The woman in the white dress murmured to herself. Chapter 128 Rogue Forest Saves the Poisonous Snake Enjoy more content from empire After collecting all the red-eyed ck rats, a box emitting a five-colored radiant light fell from the sky. Yu Qingtan used the Object Controlling Technique to catch it, and upon opening it, she found fifty second-stage Wastnd Crystals. "It seems this is the reward for passing the fourth level!" Yu Qingtan happily stored it into the System Space. After another moment of dizziness, Yu Qingtan and Small River arrived in the sky of the fifth level. "Congrattions on reaching the fifth level of Thousand Beasts Mountain. Please strive to survive until the end in Rogue Forest!" Apanied by the voice of a little girl, Yu Qingtan and Small River began to fall downwards. Then, Yu Qingtan realized that her storage equipment and Divine Sense were being suppressed. The height they were at was great, but fortunately, their descent was not rapid, not like a free fall, but at a constant velocity. In the distance, she could vaguely see other cultivators falling from the sky as well. "Bang~" Yu Qingtan and Small Rivernded in an open space. From mid-air, she saw that the ground was covered by a vast forest. Rogue Forest. She was about to criticize what a terrible name it was when she found out the reason behind it. From the bushes outside the clearing, eleven rabbit-like creatures as tall as a person emerged. With red eyes, grey fur, long ears, short tails, pink lips, and white teeth; if not for their size being toorge, they would have been quite cute. But these were Rogue Rabbits, herbivorous yet carnivorous. It was said they would dare confront lions in desperation, but they preferred human cultivators even more. They mated with their own kind only for reproduction, but humans were their true love. Moreover, Rogue Rabbits reproduced extremely quickly, and nearly all the forests in the Southeast Region had Rogue Rabbits in them. During the beast tide in Suichuan Immortal City, there was a considerable number of Rogue Rabbits involved. Seeing Yu Qingtan in her ck dress with her fair skin, eight of the Rogue Rabbits'' eyes gleamed red, and with a push of their hind legs, they charged at her. Yu Qingtan was exactly their preferred type. The other three pounced towards Small River; these three were the females. All eleven Rogue Rabbits were in thete phase of the second stage. Yu Qingtan felt a wave of nausea and could not wait to deploy the Water Curtain Technique and the Water de Technique. Unfortunately, the Rogue Rabbits had strong fur defenses, fast speeds, and great strength; the dozens of condensed water des could only injure a few of them. This was still after Small River had used its Ice-cold Breath, significantly slowing down those Rogue Rabbits. "Gugu~" The injured Rogue Rabbits became even more excited, pounding their front legs against the Water Curtain, causing it to ripple. Yu Qingtan gritted her teeth, and used Shi Kuang''s "Love''s Protection", bringing her strength to thete phase of the Foundation Establishment. Then, she cast a wide-reaching Decay and Flourish Technique, followed by another wave of the Water de Technique. All eleven Rogue Rabbits dropped dead. She then cast the Fireball Technique to burn the bodies cleanly. Under the effect of the Decay and Flourish Technique, the most valuable fur of the Rogue Rabbits had all aged and shed, so she decided to simply burn them all. If she did not use "Love''s Protection" and instead relied on wearing down the enemy, Yu Qingtan was confident that she could grind these Rogue Rabbits down to death, but she felt ufortable all over. It would be strange to feel at ease when targeted by Rogue Rabbits. After eliminating this group of Rogue Rabbits, a box suddenly fell from the sky. She opened it with the Object Controlling Technique, and inside was a blue, second-stage superior quality spiritual sword with the words "Luoyu" on its hilt. Yu Qingtan felt something odd, as if experiencing a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. However, she still put away the Luoyu Sword, briefly refined it, and imprinted her Divine Sense upon it. Taking advantage of her current Foundation Establishmentte-phase strength, she put the Luoyu Sword on her back, mounted Small River, and headed in the direction where she had seen other cultivators fall earlier. "Let me know right away if you spot a rogue rabbit!" "Mhm!" Xiao Tao naturally agreed, as he had just been utterly rattled by the madness of those few female rabbits. At this moment, Yu Qingtan''s divine sense was suppressed, capable of probing only around a three-zhang radius, which was even less than what her eyes could see. Xiao Tao''s sense of smell wasn''t affected and could detect rogue rabbits in advance. In a quarter of an hour, Yu Qingtan had eliminated two more groups of rogue rabbits, obtaining a second-stage high-quality amulet and a teleportation talisman respectively. The teleportation talisman could be activated to transport the user outside of the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, as mentioned in its description. "Fellow Daoist, save me!" When they reached the bank of a small river, five rogue rabbits were assaulting an elderly loose cultivator who was at the Foundation Establishment stage. Seeing Yu Qingtan appear, the elderly cultivator, as if grasping at a lifeline, cried out with all his might. Among the five rogue rabbits, one was at thete second stage, while the other four were at the mid-second stage. When Yu Qingtan arrived, she encountered elevente second-stage rogue rabbits, which was a particrly unlucky situation; the two groups she met after that had only two or threete second-stage rogue rabbits each. Using Object Controlling Technique, Yu Qingtan directed the Luoyu Sword to sh at thete second-stage rogue rabbit, while simultaneously shooting out over a dozen water des to attack the other four mid-second-stage rogue rabbits and block the movements of thete second-stage rogue rabbit. Thete second-stage rogue rabbit, caught in the act and suddenly ambushed, was slow to react and was struck in the back by the Luoyu Sword. The sword qi shredded its internal organs to pieces. The four mid-second-stage rogue rabbits were directly beheaded by the water des. "Thank you, fellow Daoist, for the life-saving grace!" The elderly loose cultivator tidied his ragged clothes, barely covering his body. Meanwhile, Yu Qingtan was using Object Controlling Technique to open the fallen box. At this moment, the "Love''s Protection" duration ended, and Yu Qingtan''s spiritual power fluctuation abruptly dropped fromte Foundation Establishment to mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Inside the box was a set of men''s armor, a second-stage high-quality spiritual artifact. "Fellow Daoist, since we cannot use our storage bags at present, and this is a set of men''s armor, why not lend it to me temporarily? On this level, I will definitely follow your lead," said the elderly loose cultivator with eager eyes, shamelessly moving closer. He also didn''t forget to pull open his tattered clothes a bit more, revealing scars on his body, presenting a pitiful look. "Alright then!" Yu Qingtan raised an eyebrow and casually tossed the spiritual artifact armor to the elderly loose cultivator. "I am Pang Hui, thank you, fellow Daoist! May I ask for your esteemed name?" After donning the armor, Pang Hui bowed in thanks once again. "My name is Qing Shuang. Where is your spiritual beast? Why didn''t it help you fight the rogue rabbits?" Yu Qingtan asked. Without a spiritual beast, one couldn''t make it through Thousand Beasts Mountain. "My spiritual beast is of a special kind, not adept atbat," Pang Hui said with a forced smile, ncing at the imposing Xiao Tao. Suddenly, Yu Qingtan felt an unbearable heat and a surge of primitive desires within her body, as scenes from various movies from her previous life flooded her mind. With bloodshot eyes, Xiao Tao lunged at Yu Qingtan, only to be trapped by her Binding Technique. "Hahaha, Qing Daoist, weren''t you curious why my spiritual beast didn''t help me fight the rogue rabbits? Because my spiritual beast is a silver thread beast! Since you''ve seen me being bullied by rogue rabbits, now you can enjoy watching the fight between you and your spiritual beast. Soon, you''ll temporarily forget even how to use your spiritual power, hahaha!" Upon seeing this, Pang Huiughed heartily while stroking his two strands of white hair. These were not actually white hairs, but were his spiritual beast. The silver thread beast, a rare and special kind of spiritual beast, excels at disguising itself as white hairs or white fur and is adept at using a colorless and odorless toxic substance; it is also known as the Lewd Thread Beast. Rogue rabbits are inherently full of desire, and if the silver thread beast took action, Pang Hui would have likely been drained to death by now. Chapter 129 Good Fortune, Suitable for Eating Chicken Yu Qingtan leaned on the Luoyu Sword, her cheeks flushed red, and her eyes gradually grew hazy. Just as Pang Hui smugly drew near, ready to enjoy a human-wolf spectacle, Yu Qingtan''s eyes suddenly cleared, and in a sh, she appeared beside him, resting the Luoyu Sword against his neck. At the same time, sheunched a Decay and Flourish Technique at Pang Hui and the Silver Thread Beast on his head. "You... How are you unaffected?" Pang Hui trembled as he asked, being only at mid-Foundation Establishment, he began to age under the Decay and Flourish Technique, his hair turning white in an instant. The Silver Thread Beast on his head let out a strange cry and, struggling contortedly, turned into lifeless white hair, its vitality gone. As a creature with poor offense and defense, and merely being at the mid-Second Stage, the reason Pang Hui was still alive was mainly that Qing Tan had held back. "Take off your armor!" Yu Qingtan was in a terrible mood, never expecting to y out the story of "The Farmer and the Viper" herself. Had it not been for her perfected Purification Spell and Soul Cleansing Technique, she might have actually fallen for his scheme. "I''ll take it off right away. Spare my life, fellow cultivator, spare me! I was just momentarily bewitched." Pang Hui stripped off his armor, begging for mercy. Yu Qingtan sealed Pang Hui''s cultivation level, pulled off his Storage Bag, used the Purification Spell to treat the lust poison on Silly Wolf Xiao Tao, and had him carry Pang Hui and the armor. "Princess, this man is so detestable, why not let me tear him to shreds?" Xiao Tao bared his teeth at Pang Hui, although in his heart he did have feelings for Qing Tan that transcended species. "You''ll understandter." Yu Qingtan revealed a wicked smile. The two continued on their way and soon encountered a group of five Rogue Rabbits. Yu Qingtan used the Decay and Flourish Technique to rejuvenate Pang Hui a bit and fed him ten Golden Spear Pills, then used the Object Controlling Technique to toss him in front of those Rogue Rabbits. Soon, the sounds of pitiful screams and curses towards Qing Tan could be heard. "This is what they call turning the tables on someone with their own tricks." Xiao Tao watched Yu Qingtan''s sinister smile and shuddered. After the screaming ceased, Yu Qingtan made a move and wiped out the group of Rogue Rabbits. To her surprise, what dropped was a usable Storage Bag. "Finally don''t have to carry the Luoyu Sword. Although it looks cool, it''s really heavy." Just as they were about to move on, the sky in the distance suddenly darkened. Yu Qingtanmanded the Luoyu Sword to fly ten zhang high, only to see dense ck fog spreading towards them, a sight that sent chills down her spine. The reason they only flew ten zhang high was due to some form of sky-restricting formation that seemed to prevent them from climbing higher. "Even the poisonous circle is here, indeed this is simr to a certain survival game from my previous life." Yu Qingtan was speechless, and quickly led Xiao Tao away from the direction the ck fog was spreading. ... "Pfft~" The Luoyu Sword pierced the neck of a mid-Second Stage Rogue Rabbit. As Yu Qingtan was using the Object Controlling Technique to collect a fallen box, four high-quality Second Stage spirit swords suddenly darted up from the ground and, swirling around, formed a mysterious array that ensnared both Yu Qingtan and Xiao Tao. The praying mantis stalks the cicada, but the oriole lies in wait. Little did she expect that these few Rogue Rabbits were bait set by someone else. She didn''t recognize this sword array, but sensing its power, she knew it far exceeded the attack strength of a normal cultivator at thete stage of Foundation Establishment. She immediately raised her cultivation level to thete stage of Foundation Establishment and cast severalyers of Water Curtain Technique on herself and Xiao Tao. The sharp qi of the swords hacked away at the water curtains, shattering oneyer after another, but each time a newyer quickly formed in its stead. Nearby, under the ground, a short-haired young cultivator also felt rather frustrated. His name was Fang Xiangming, an outer sect disciple of the Golden Core level Sword Array Sect. His talent was not high, but he had cultivated up to thete stage of Foundation Establishment through some underhanded methods. Ultimately restricted by his innate ability, he resolved to take a risk in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, making his way to the fifthyer of Thousand Beasts Mountain. He quickly understood the situation and then decided to ambush other people. It wasn''t that he couldn''t beat the Rogue Rabbit, but hunting cultivators was more cost-effective. He had already seeded several times, but he didn''t expect this female cultivator''s Water Curtain Technique to be so formidable, withstanding the attack of the Four Symbols Sword Formation. To avoid any unnecessaryplications, Fang Xiangmingmanded his spirit beast, the Stink Mink, to release poison gas within the Sword Array. "Found you!" Yu Qingtan, who had been observing with the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique, was thrilled to have found him. The opponent had been hiding all along, but she spotted him when he sent the Stink Mink into the Sword Array. Right beneath the ground on one side of the Sword Array. She took out the Roaming Zither and directed a full-force Second Stage Devil''s Prating Sound spell toward that direction, while simultaneouslyunching an extremelypressed Water de at the Sword Array. As for the mere poison gas, it hadn''t yet prated through the Water Curtain. Even if it did, she wasn''t worried with the Purification Spell at her fingertips. At that moment, Fang Xiangming only felt a buzzing in his head and his soul shaking, almost losing consciousness. "This is a Second Stage Soul Attack spell. How can she perform so many powerful spells simultaneously!" Realizing this, Fang Xiangming had to fully contend with the soul attack of the Devil''s Prating Sound. With Fang Xiangming no longer in control, the Four Symbols Sword Formation lost much of its potency and was dispersed by Yu Qingtan''s Water de. Immediately afterward, Yu Qingtanunched a sweeping attack of the Water de Technique in the direction where Fang Xiangming was located. Fang Xiangming, already in a dazed state, was reduced to nothing, his spirit beast, the Stink Mink, perishing alongside him. "Princess is mighty!" Xiao Tao said with ttery, feeling somewhat disappointed in his heart. Yu Qingtan was too strong, and he felt his own awakened bloodline divine skills might only be good for a supporting role. After collecting the spoils of battle, Yu Qingtan quickly left the area. The poison circle was getting smaller, and Yu Qingtan had ughtered quite a few Rogue Rabbits and eliminated six cultivators. They were the ones who made the first move. Two of them used a Teleportation Talisman to leave the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, but Yu Qingtan had not exposed too much of her abilities. Eventually, the poison circle left only a hundred-zhang safety zone. Yu Qingtan inspected the ck fog up close and discovered it was ck Sha Poison¡ªsomething even Golden Core cultivators would find troublesome. However, the ck Sha Poison had no effect on the Rogue Rabbits and nts within the Rogue Forest. Among the equipment dropped by the Rogue Rabbits and cultivators, she found a Spirit Beast Pouch and put Xiao Tao inside, then used the Breath-Concealing Technique and Earth Escape Skill to go into hiding. Lying low was the essence of iming victory. It was silent within the hundred-zhang area; however, a sleazy middle-aged man in a grey robe walked into the safe zone from the ck Sha Poison. "Gugu~ Gugu~" The middle-aged man made the sound of a Rogue Rabbit, and the sound waves spread. It turned out to be a Third Stage Rogue Rabbit currently utilizing its Innate Divine Ability, the Howl of Desire. Yu Qingtan suddenly felt a heat all over her body. She was speechless. What was wrong with the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm? This was the third time she had experienced burning desires since entering. She silently performed the Purification Spell and the Soul Cleansing Technique, immediately feeling calm andposed. After the Soul Cleansing Technique was perfected, it could be used without the Soul Cleansing Melody, although the effect was greatly reduced. However, it was sufficient for the moment. Soon, another cultivator hiding couldn''t withstand it any longer, rushing out of the hiding ce with red eyes. And then he was tragically killed by the Third Stage Rogue Rabbit. The Rogue Rabbit didn''t discriminate against gender. Eventually, two cultivators, one male and one female, died disgracefully, while five cultivators teleported out of the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm using Teleportation Talismans. A sh of white light, and Yu Qingtan disappeared from her spot. Chapter 130 Bloodthirsty Black Bat Wei Sanxiao "Congrattions on reaching the sixth level of Thousand Beasts Mountain. Please decide within thirty breaths whether to let your spiritual beasts enter the Thousand Beast Blood Pool. Those who give up will be sent out of the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm." "The Thousand Beast Blood Pool has a sixty percent chance of death, a thirty percent chance of strength enhancement, and a ten percent chance of obtaining a trace of Demon Saint bloodline." Arriving at the sixth level of Thousand Beasts Mountain, Yu Qingtan found herself beside a massive blood pool that, surprisingly, did not emit any pungent smell of blood. A familiar female voice reached her ears. From first to ninth rank, demonic beasts are referred to as Minor Demon, Major Demon, Heavenly Demon, Demon King, Demon Venerable, Demon Emperor, Demon Saint, Demon Emperor again, and True Spirit respectively. The bloodline of a Demon Saint is equivalent to that of a Body Integration Realm powerhouse of the Human Race. Yu Qingtan looked around and noticed several cultivators here, though they were still separated by barriers from each other. It seems there were many battlefields in the fifth level. Yu Qingtan saw Fang Ling, Gao Shen, and Wu Guang, three acquaintances of hers. All three of their spiritual beasts were already in the Thousand Beast Blood Pool. Fang Ling''s Blood Qiongsu, Gao Shen''s zing Fire Lion, and Wu Guang''s Five-Headed Stubborn Donkey were separated from the spiritual beasts of other cultivators. "It seems the Thousand Beast Blood Pool isn''t limited in the number of spiritual beasts, but a sixty percent mortality rate is still too high." After considering for only ten breaths, Yu Qingtan took out another Myriad Beasts Token. After entering the sixth level, the restrictions on Divine Sense and storage equipment were lifted. "I have a Myriad Beasts Token and want to safely go up a level!" Those who knew of the Myriad Beasts Token cast envious nces her way. Thedy in white within the depths of Thousand Beasts Mountain was somewhat surprised, "What''s going on this time, so many Myriad Beasts Tokens have been collected! When they were first scattered, there were a thousand tokens, and now just over a hundred remain outside." As expected, the Myriad Beasts Token flew into the high sky, and a jade bottle appeared in front of Yu Qingtan. "This is a Thousand Beast Blood Pill, refined from the essence of the Thousand Beast Blood Pool without any side effects, with a thirty percent chance of obtaining the Demon Saint bloodline." The pleasant female voice entered Yu Qingtan''s mind, making her feel extremely delighted. Yu Qingtan immediately released Xiao Tao and, after a brief exnation, Xiao Tao eagerly licked up the Thousand Beast Blood Pill. Soon, a faint blood light radiated from Xiao Tao''s body, and his aura gradually elevated. In a moment, the blood light converged, and Xiao Tao let out a long howl to the sky, growing a blue tail, with his realm directly breaking through to thete Second Stage. In a sh of white light, and amid the envious and resentful gazes of the other cultivators, Yu Qingtan and Xiao Tao arrived on the seventh level. This was a huge cave that seemed to bepletely empty inside. The familiar female voice did not sound. After confirming there was no immediate danger, Yu Qingtan looked carefully at Xiao Tao. "This doesn''t look anything like Erha anymore, the appearance is quite good, did you obtain the Demon Saint bloodline?" Yu Qingtan asked. "Ao Ao, I have obtained a trace of the Demon Saint Frost Giant Wolf''s bloodline. Not only has the power of my Ice-cold Breath greatly increased, but my growth potential has also surged. Given time, achieving the status of a Demon King will be within reach." Xiao Tao excitedly wagged his tail, clearly quite pleased with his newly grown tail. "Unambitious, you''re satisfied with being a mere Demon King. Stick with your sister, and bing a Demon Emperor one day might not be impossible!" "Mhm, Xiao Tao will follow the Princess''s footsteps." Suddenly, two figures appeared in the cave. Gao Shen of the Extreme Path Demon Sect and his spiritual beast, the zing Fire Lion. "It''s you, lucky girl!" Gao Shen said upon seeing Yu Qingtan, unable to hide the flicker in his eyes. Before Yu Qingtan could respond, another figure draped in a ck cloak with an ugly face suddenly appeared. "Miss Bai said she would reward me with a Thousand Beast Blood Pill if I drained two humans within fifteen minutes. You must be the ones! Don''t resist, I''ll make it quick for you!" The cloaked figure radiated the oppressive aura of a Third Stage Heavenly Demon, revealing two sharp fangs as he spoke with a grin. The expressions of both Gao Shen and Yu Qingtan changed abruptly, while fur on the bodies of the zing Fire Lion and Xiao Tao stood on end as they tensely stared at the figure. "Third Stage Heavenly Demon!" At that moment, the transmission from the woman finally reached their minds. "Congrattions on reaching the seventhyer of Thousand Beasts Mountain. Please endure fifteen minutes against the Bloodthirsty ck Bat Wei Sanxiao. If you cannot hold on, use the Teleportation Talisman acquired on the fifthyer to leave the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. A friendly reminder: Activating the Teleportation Talisman takes half a breath, so please pay attention to the timing of its use!" Both Gao Shen and Yu Qingtan immediately put away their Spiritual Beasts, then Gao Shen took out the Nine Python Profound Fire Cover to protect himself, while Yu Qingtan raised her cultivation level to thete Foundation Establishment stage, and used the Earth Escape Skill and Breath-Concealing Technique to burrow underground. "The more you struggle, the more excited I get! Hahaha~" Wei Sanxiao licked his lips with his tongue,ughing heartily. The Nine Python Profound Fire Cover around Gao Shen trembled violently, startling him into quickly inserting two top-grade Spirit Stones to fend off most of the destructive power of theughter attack, though Gao Shen still felt an unbearable headache. Underground, Yu Qingtan attempted to escape the range of the cave and, unsurprisingly, failed. She then felt the soil around her vibrate andpress, with her soul shaking, also causing a splitting headache. "This must be the innate spell of the Bloodthirsty ck Bat, the Ultrasonic Shock Wave." Yu Qingtan thought to herself, formting a n. She emerged from underground and condensed a thickyer of water around herself, then split it in the middle to create a vacuumyer. As expected, the effect of Wei Sanxiao''s Ultrasonic Shock Wave on Qing Tan dissipated because sound waves cannot propagate in a vacuum. "Interesting,e out, my minions! Hahaha~" Seeing that both Gao Shen and Yu Qingtan had temporarily withstood his first wave of attack, Wei Sanxiao continued to deploy the Ultrasonic Shock Wave, simultaneously shaking his ck cloak and releasing a dense swarm of bats. The bats surrounded both Gao Shen and Yu Qingtan, spitting out one Blood Sword after another at them. When the Blood Swords met water and fire, they dissolved into a bloody mist, merging into it. Soon, both the Nine Python Profound Fire Cover and the water screen were stained blood red. Once all the smaller bats had spat their Blood Swords, Wei Sanxiao opened his huge mouth and spat out tworge Blood Swords towards them, then continued to emit Ultrasonic Shock Waves. In an instant, the blood vapor developed severe corrosiveness and toxicity, damaging both the Nine Python Profound Fire Cover and the water screen. Yet the Nine Python Profound Fire Cover, being an Ancient Treasure, possessed stronger defenses. Yu Qingtan''s outer water screen was quickly corroded away. However, Yu Qingtan had already added a newyer of water screen inside before the outer one was corroded. After fifteen minutes like this under the mountain of Thousand Beasts, only two of the six fire pythons on the Nine Python Profound Fire Cover remained, and Gao Shen was utterly exhausted due to resisting part of the Ultrasonic Shock Wave that prated the cover. In contrast, even though Yu Qingtan''s water screen was continuously being worn down, she was always able to form a newyer before the outer one was eroded away. "Has it been over a hundred water screens by now? Howe there''s no sign of her spiritual power depleting?" Both Wei Sanxiao and Gao Shen were puzzled. Wei Sanxiao, as a Third Stage Heavenly Demon, possessed abundant demonic power, and Gao Shen''s Nine Python Profound Fire Cover mainly relied on Spirit Stones for energy, but Yu Qingtan depended solely on her internal Spiritual Power. Little did they know, the ''cheating'' Yu Qingtan was essentially powered by Spirit Stones as well. "I can''t keep this up any longer!" Thinking thus, Wei Sanxiao transformed into a giant bat with a wingspan of ten feet, flying towards Yu Qingtan. The ws on its forelimbs, sharp as curved sabers, shed at Yu Qingtan''s water screen. The smaller bats also showed their sharp fangs and teeth, diving towards Yu Qingtan. Chapter 131 Trapping Gao Shen and the Slaughter Demon Order Facing the aggressive attack from Wei Sanxiao and the swarm of bloodthirsty ck bats, Yu Qingtan executed the Water Escape Technique and quickly moved behind Gao Shen. The dense array of Water des shot out in all directions except towards the ground, using the Blood Control Technique to draw the blood energy outside the Water Curtain towards the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover. Her main strategy was "better a friend dead than me," since she had a grudge against the Extreme Path Demon Sect anyway. Gao Shen was fuming with rage, but his condition was not good, and with the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover, his escape speed was not fast, so he simply continued to defend with all his strength. Since her Water Spirit Root had advanced to the level of the immortals, Yu Qingtan¡¯smand over water attribute spells had be even more effortless. With the Water Curtain aiding her Water Escape Technique, her speed remained undiminished, and her concentrated Water de Technique also ughtered the bats, causing them to scatter and dodge. Unfortunately, Wei Sanxiao was a Third Stage Heavenly Demon, and the Water des only slightly hindered him. Just as Yu Qingtan had redirected the blood energy, Wei Sanxiao¡¯s ws had already prated Yu Qingtan¡¯s Water Curtain. The twoyers of Water Curtain were directly shattered by the ws. "Ding~" In Yu Qingtan¡¯s hands, two ws appeared as well, blocking Wei Sanxiao¡¯s ws. What Yu Qingtan pulled out were a pair of ws from the Heavenly Demon Eagle Jiu Kong. Wei Sanxiao was only in the early phase of the Third Stage, and he was skilled in the Ultrasonic Shock Wave and the Corrosive Poison Blood Sword, making his ws not as sharp and sturdy as Jiu Kong¡¯s, and his Power Dao was only slightly stronger than the Foundation Establishment of Yu Qingtan, who had undergone Body Refinement. As she blocked Wei Sanxiao¡¯s w attack, Yu Qingtan already executed her strongest Decay and Flourish Technique and Water de Technique against the approaching Wei Sanxiao. Wei Sanxiao felt an aging breath wandering within his body and the oing Water des held a faint sense of threat. He hurriedly pped his wings to retreat and adjust his position to scatter the Water de with his ws while using his demon power to suppress that breath within his body. "Decay and Flourish Technique! Blood Control Technique! Water de Technique! Water Curtain Technique! Water Escape Technique! To simultaneously execute so many perfected Second Stage spells! And possess the ws of a Third Stage Heavenly Demon, very well, very well, I want to see how long your spiritual power canst?" Wei Sanxiao said this, sneering as he charged again. Yu Qingtan took advantage of his retreat to set up twoyers of Water Curtain defense again. This time, after Wei Sanxiao broke through the Water Curtain with his ws, he immediately hit Yu Qingtan with an Ultrasonic Shock Wave and then pulled back the distance once more. Yu Qingtan was prepared this time and directly executed the Soul Cleansing Technique and the Great Resonant Sound, a Second Stage spell from Shi Kuang, along with her Divine Sense strength, which far exceeded that of her peers, to once again emerge unharmed from Wei Sanxiao¡¯s attack and reestablished the Water Curtain. Wei Sanxiao clenched his teeth and continued his onught, but each time Yu Qingtan barely managed to withstand it, only losing many defensive spiritual artifacts she had obtained from enemies or on the fifth level of Thousand Beasts Mountain. Seeing that just a quarter of an hour was running out, Yu Qingtan showed no sign of her spiritual power weakening, and she hadn¡¯t even consumed a single Spirit Revitalizing Pill. Wei Sanxiao¡¯s eyes rolled as he prepared tounch another attack, but suddenly he turned and his de-like ws grabbed onto Gao Shen¡¯s Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover. Thest two pythons on it were directly shattered by his ws. Then, while hitting Gao Shen with an Ultrasonic Shock Wave, he continued to strike at the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover. Deprived of the reinforcement from the nine pythons, the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover began to deform under Wei Sanxiao¡¯s assault. It seemed like it wouldn¡¯t hold much longer, and the potency of the Ultrasonic Shock Waves that passed through increased. Gao Shen was covered in sweat, indecisive about whether to use a Teleportation Talisman to leave or to bet on the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Coversting until the quarter-hour mark. Yu Qingtan also noticed that Gao Shen intended to leave. She merged the twoyers of Water Curtain into one and quietly took out the Roaming Zither. Your journey continues on empire In a serene moment, Yu Qingtan used the Second Stage spell Devil¡¯s Prating Sound on Gao Shen. Gao Shen, already struggling against the Ultrasonic Shock Wave, felt as if his Sea of Consciousness had exploded, and he couldn¡¯t help but scream in pain, nearly losing consciousness and also losing control over the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover. Wei Sanxiao took the opportunity to give a full-powered p, flipping the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover over and gently slicing his ws across Gao Shen¡¯s neck, causing arge head to tumble to the ground. The blood spurting from the neck turned into a red liquid flow, streaming into Wei Sanxiao¡¯s mouth. A red light shot from Gao Shen¡¯s body onto Wei Sanxiao, who was unbothered by it. Soon, Gao Shen¡¯s blood waspletely drained. Then, Wei Sanxiao and his followers vanished into thin air. A quarter of an hour had passed. Yu Qingtan breathed a sigh of relief and hurried forward to collect the Nine Python Profound Fire Cover and Gao Shen¡¯s storage bag. At that moment, a box emitting a six-colored halo appeared in the cave. Yu Qingtan used the Object Controlling Technique to open it, and to her astonishment, it contained an umbre. "Ancient Treasure!" Yu Qingtan was overjoyed, took it out and opened it. The umbre was made of oiled paper, painted with ancient inkndscapes of wind and mountains, with a raging river bursting forth from among the peaks. Engraved in the middle of the umbre handle were the characters "Cann," and at the bottom of the handle was a groove iid with spirit stones, somewhat resembling the design of a shlight¡¯s batterypartment from her previous life. After a brief consecration, Yu Qingtan was even more delighted to discover that it was an ancient treasure equivalent to a superior quality treasure, and hidden within the handle was a fine sword that served as abined offensive and defensive weapon. Cann Sword within the Cann Umbre. Just as she was about to draw the Cann Sword to take a look, a familiar sense of dizziness hit her, and in an instant, Yu Qingtan found herself in a new ce. "Congrattions on reaching the eighth floor of Thousand Beasts Mountain, please decide within thirty breaths whether to ept the ughter Demon Order and withstand a small-scale beast tide for one day." This was a great hall with ten people present, including Yu Qingtan. Li Daoyi, Fu Nian, and Fang Ling were all there, but to Yu Qingtan¡¯s surprise, Wu Guang was also present, obviously having kept a very low profile. The other five people were strangers to Yu Qingtan, three men and two women, none of whom looked particrly old. The ughter Demon Order, Yu Qingtan knew, was a type of heavenly contract produced by the ancient Myriad Beasts Sect. Those who epted the ughter Demon Order were required to y ten demonic beasts of the same stage or one demonic beast one minor stage or higher for each minor realm breakthrough before the Divinity Transformation Stage, otherwise, the breakthrough would surely fail. The Myriad Beasts Sect was founded on the numerous bones of the demon race and its might overshadowed both the Southeast and the Southern Regions. Unfortunately, it was ultimately destroyed by a coalition of demon races from the two regions, along with those from the Southwest Domain and the Sea n. Still, the Myriad Beasts Sect harbored the deepest hatred for the demon race. Having experienced the beast tide in Suichuan Immortal City and witnessed the various bloody and cruel scenes of demonic beasts ughtering humans, Yu Qingtan naturally had no aversion to the ughter Demon Order. "Yes!" Yu Qingtan uttered a single word, and immediately a contract descended in front of her, then ignited without me, turning into an unknown force that imprinted itself into Yu Qingtan¡¯s soul. This time, the Fairy Nurturing System did not interfere to erase this heavenly contract, presumably considering it harmless to Qing Tan. After thirty breaths, the other nine people had also epted the ughter Demon Order. "The beast tide will arrive in one day. Please make your preparations! You can still use the teleportation talismans avable from the fifth floor to leave this ce." The female voice echoed once more in everyone¡¯s minds. Yu Qingtan¡¯s divine sense reached out beyond the hall and discovered that it was located in the center of a small fortress. The fortress was circr, with a diameter of only a hundred paces, and with no other traces of people within. Thick fog enveloped the outside of the fortress, obscuring the view. "Fellow cultivators, it seems we need to join forces to confront a small-scale beast tide. Let¡¯s get to know each other first, gaining an understanding of one another so that we may cooperate effectively. My name is Li Daoyi, a disciple of the outer sect of Cangqiong Sword Sect, in thete stage of Foundation Establishment, and an Outer Sword Sword Cultivator! I possess ate second-stage spiritual beast, the Sword Wing Bird." Li Daoyi, wearing a white Taoist robe and carrying five long swords, said. Chapter 132: Ten People Cooperate to Prepare for the Tide of Beasts In the grand hall of the eighth level of Thousand Beasts Mountain, Li Daoyi spoke, and the rest of the nine people all looked towards him, no one offering a rebuttal. Small beast tides generally have three to ten Third Stage Heavenly Demons leading andmanding them, and without cooperation, blocking them would almost be impossible. The beast tide that had previously struck Suichuan Immortal City was a rtivelyrge-scale small beast tide, led by six Heavenly Demons from Skyscraping Ridge and Shanjun Valley, with a count of five million demonic beasts. The number of demonic beasts attacking this small castle surely wouldn¡¯t be that high because there simply wouldn¡¯t be enough space, but the number of Third Stage Heavenly Demons was the most critical factor. "I am Star Moon Sect disciple Jiang Yueli, at the Late Stage of the Foundation Establishment, skilled in water and wood element spells, with a Second Stage Late Period White Pig Spirit Beast." A petite female cultivator in a blue dress with an amiable face, yet even more impoverished than Yu Qingtan, said. "I am Wendao Sect disciple Yin Cen, at the Late Stage of the Foundation Establishment, skilled in earth element spells, with a Second Stage Late Period Pangolin Spirit Beast." A sturdily built male cultivator with short hair and wearing a yellow robe said. "I am Hundred Beasts Sect disciple Zhu Yan, at the Late Stage of the Foundation Establishment, a beastmaster, with a swarm of Purple Gold Bees Spirit Beasts!" A tall, fiery woman dressed in a wild leopard print off-shoulder dress and sporting tanned skin said, even throwing Li Daoyi a flirtatious wink. Everyone was taken aback, not only because the Hundred Beasts Sect was reportedly founded by a predecessor who had gained tremendous fortunes in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, but also because Hundred Beasts Sect was from the Southern Region. The Myriad Beasts Secret Realm would emerge in turns between the Southeast Region and the Southern Region, and it would be unusual for cultivators to cross regions just to brave the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. Inter-regional activities, Golden Core Stage cultivators would asionally do such, but it was moremon only among Nascent Soul and above cultivators. That¡¯s because the boundaries between different regions were perilous ces, and the cost of inter-regional teleportation formations was extremely high. Facing everyone¡¯s gazes, Zhu Yan puffed out her chest and met their eyes with her head held high. Nobody said anything, and even Li Daoyi chose to ignore her flirtatious wink. "I am Huang Zhangjie of the Great Mist Mountain Huang Family, at the Late Stage of the Foundation Establishment, a Third Stage Array Master, with a Second Stage Late Period Green Phoenix Spirit Beast." Everyone¡¯s hearts stirred; the Great Mist Mountain Huang Family was the only Divinity Transformation level cultivator family in the Southeast Region, and moreover, Huang Zhangjie was a rare Third Stage Array Master. "I am Barbarian Sect¡¯s Dongye Chuhua, a Body Cultivation cultivator at the Late Stage of the Foundation Establishment, possessing a Second Stage Late Period White Jade Barbarian Elephant Spirit Beast." The Barbarian Sect was the only Nascent Soul level body cultivation sect in the Southeast Region. "I am Loose Cultivator Fang Ling, at the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment, skilled in Blood Dao spells, possessing a Second Stage Late Period Blood Qiongsu Spirit Beast." The ck-robed Fang Ling introduced himself. Enjoy new adventures from empire "I am Heavenly Talisman Sect¡¯s Fu Nian, at the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment, skilled in talisman arrays, with a Second Stage Late Period Red Falcon Spirit Beast." The short-statured Fu Nian said, his sect being Heavenly Talisman Sect; however, it was a small sect that hardly anyone had heard of, with just one old Golden Core Stage cultivator at the helm. "I am Loose Cultivator Wu Guang, at the Late Stage of the Foundation Establishment, also a beastmaster, with five Second Stage stubborn-skinned donkey Spirit Beasts, please look after me, fellow Daoists!" The round-faced, short-bearded Wu Guang in white clothing said, even making a formal bow to everyone, disying great humility. "I am Loose Cultivator Qing Shuang, at the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment, skilled in Sound Path spells, and also a Medical Cultivator, with a Second Stage Late Period Ice Wolf Spirit Beast!" Yu Qingtan followed suit with a self-introduction. As for Xiao Tao¡¯s species, she had always been secretive about it. After awakening, it was nearly an eight or nine out of ten match to the Ice Wolf species, so Yu Qingtan introduced it as such. Then she nodded in greeting to Li Daoyi, Wu Guang, Fang Ling, and Fu Nian, as they were consideredrades who had fought side by side. Fang Ling and Fu Nian felt this Qing Shuang seemed familiar, especially those eyes. However, the height, build, skin, face shape, hair style, eyebrows, eyshes, and such were all different from the person in their minds, and that person should not have reached Foundation Establishment yet. "I wonder if Huang Daoist knows how to set up a small Third Stage Protective City Formation?" After the ten people got to know each other, they stepped outside the hall, and Li Daoyi asked Huang Zhangjie. "If we have enough second-stage five elements spiritual materials, I can try my best to set up a Five Elements Rotation Array. However, given the time constraints, it might not reach the third stage. Additionally, I wonder which Daoist friend has experience in artifact refining?" Huang Zhangjie spoke up. "I am a second-stage artifact refiner." Yin Cen from the Wendao Sect said. "Then I hope Daoist Yin won¡¯t mind helping to refine the array gs." "Of course!" The group discussed in detail and decided that each person would contribute five second-stage five elements spiritual materials for setting up the array. Fu Nian indicated that he could arrange a Great Four Directions Thunder Fire Talisman Array outside the Five Elements Cycle Array, which could effectively damage third-stage Heavenly Demons. The third-stage Five Elements Rotation Array¡¯s main function was defense. The talisman array could only be used once, but its materials and time costs were much lower than those of the Five Elements Rotation Array. Formation arrays have always been powerful weapons for the weak to control the strong. Despite the difficulty in learning and setting them up, array masters are still highly sought after by all major forces. Everyone couldn¡¯t understand why the Huangs would be willing to let such a treasure venture into the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. Afterward, Li Daoyi also collected all the spirit stone cannons from everyone¡¯s hands, totaling eight. Yu Qingtan contributed two, both of which were spoils of war obtained from the enemy. Spirit Stone Cannons are not very useful alone, but they work well against a beast horde and are not considered expensive to Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Some people like to collect one or two. Originally, they were worried about not having enough manpower to use the Spirit Stone Cannons, but Wu Guang surprisingly produced sixteen first-stage puppets. Although they were only first-stage and not very strong, operating the cannons was no problem for them. While Huang Zhangjie, Yin Cen, and Fu Nian were preparing the formation, Li Daoyi and the others conducted a tactical discussion. In the end, it was decided that Li Daoyi would team up with Yin Cen, Jiang Yueli and Fang Ling, Dongye Chuhua and Fu Nian, and Zhu Yan and Wu Guang to form fourbat teams, each dealing with the beast tide from different directions. Huang Zhangjie was tasked with controlling the Five Elements Cycle Array, while Qing Shuang, who was Yu Qingtan, was responsible for providing support and acting as a healer. Although everyone¡¯s self-introductions were rather simple, having reached the eighthyer meant they each held numerous trump cards. Thus, everyone was confident they could hold out for a day amidst a minor beast tide. After arranging their tactics, the six people found small rooms within the small castle to prepare for battle. Li Daoyi stayed with Huang Zhangjie, Fu Nian, and Yin Cen outside; while ostensibly helping, there was also an implicit element of surveince. Between the ten of them,petition remained. Though the atmosphere was harmonious for the moment, who knew if anyone would y dirty trickster on. Inside the small room, Yu Qingtan set up a vignt protective array. Only then did she have the time to properly understand the Cann Umbre. The surface of the umbre could be used as a shield, and the Cann Sword was also a third-grade treasure of the highest quality. In addition, the Cann River depicted on the umbre could release water sufficient to cover a thousand square feet, generating a huge impact when released, and the power was no less than the strike of a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator. However, this move required the direct consumption of ten top-quality spirit stones, which was the maximum single-load capacity of the Cann Umbre. Yu Qingtan directly loaded ten top-quality spirit stones into it and then put away the Cann Umbre. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 133 The Great Array Is Formed and the Beast Tide Arrives After putting away the Cann Umbre, Yu Qingtan took out Gao Shen''s Nine Python Profound Fire Cover. After purifying it with the Purification Spell, she refined it into her own ancient treasure. The Nine Python Profound Fire Cover was only equivalent to a Lower Grade ancient treasure, and its power had greatly diminished since the nine fire pythons were shattered. Using Spirit Stones could slowly restore it, and it would probably take about three years to return to its original state. To elerate the recovery process, Third Stage fire-attributed Spiritual Materials would be needed, and Third Stage Spiritual Fire would be even better. "This is also a good treasure!" Yu Qingtan stored it away with satisfaction, then she proceeded to check the Storage Bags and Spirit Beast Pouches she acquired from the previous floors, including those from Gao Shen, Pang Hui, and others. The Spiritual Beast zing Fire Lion that belonged to Gao Shen had also perished with Gao Shen''s death, as most spirit beast contracts are master-servant contracts. Altogether in these Storage Bags, there were six hundred and thirty thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones, three hundred and sixty Medium Grade Spirit Stones, and eight Upper Grade Spirit Stones. Thirty drops of Second Stage Spirit Dew and forty-five pieces of Second Stage Wastnd Crystal. Various equipments, Elixirs, Talismans, and Spiritual Materials worth over one million Spirit Stones in total, most of which Yu Qingtan had no use for. There weren''t any Cultivation Techniques or Spell Jade Slips, but there were some cultivation books that could be of some use to Qingtan. Yu Qingtan''s knowledge of cultivation came from various books, such as the time when she obtained three pieces of Soul Nurturing Wood from old Taoist Gao of the Extreme Path Demon Sect, which she did not recognize at the time. It was onlyter, after seeing it in a book, that she knew it was the precious Soul Nurturing Wood. The Soul Nurturing Wood could be made into Nourishing Soul Incense, which had a growth effect on Divine Sense. When she was in Tianxiang Immortal City, Yu Qingtan often burned Nourishing Soul Incense while ying the Soul Cleansing Tune and casting the Soul Cleansing Technique to nourish her soul. Now her soul had beparable to that of a Cultivator at the peak ofte Foundation Establishment, with a Divine Sense coverage of up to one hundred and ny zhang. Speaking of old Taoist Gao, from Gao Shen''s belongings, Yu Qingtan also deduced that Gao Shen was a rtive of Real Man Huoyun from the Extreme Path Demon Sect. Destroying the Identity Jade and other identifiable items, Yu Qingtan collected the purified spoils of war into her System Space or the Qianzhu Lianbi Ne. After sensing for a while, she finally cleaned away the Blood Tether that had been ced on her due to the killing of Ru Yao. Yu Qingtan took out the supreme quality Spiritual Artifact Baiyu Pipa and a Pipa Music Score obtained from Ru Yao and started to practice ying the pipa. Although she had never yed before, her mastered level Zither Art made it easy for her to learn and she picked it up quickly. After practicing for half a day and achieving a basic level of proficiency, she stopped. After casting a Purification Spell and Soul Cleansing Technique on herself, Yu Qingtan began to close her eyes and rest her spirit. ... Inside Thousand Beasts Mountain, there was no distinction between day and night. When nearly a day''s time was about to pass, Li Daoyi called everyone out. "Mission aplished, we have sessfully set up the Third Stage Five Elements Rotation Array and the Great Four Directions Thunder Fire Talisman Array," said Huang Zhangjie of the Huangs, unable to hide his pride on his face. This was his first time independently setting up a Third Stage Great Array. "The Spirit Stone Cannons have also been set up, and the Puppets are ready," added Wu Guang, who hade out earlier. "You have all worked hard," said Li Daoyi, even though the costs had been shared. "Here are the Jade Tokens for entering and exiting the Great Array, everyone can try them out!" Huang Zhangjie handed out a Jade Token to each person; they all tried them and indeed were able to smoothly pass in and out of the light membrane formed by the array. After a brief conversation, everyone''s expression turned grave as they looked towards the small castle''s exterior. Dense footsteps approached from all around, sending slight tremors through the ground. "They''reing!" As the sound grew louder, the dark mass of beasts became faintly visible in the thick fog outside the small castle and then gradually came into focus. Leading the beast horde were five enormous saber-toothed tigers, three zhang tall, with their drooping eyes, white foreheads, and protruding tusks, exuding the aura of Third Stage Heavenly Demons. "Five Heavenly Demons, saber-toothed tigers!" Behind the five Heavenly Demons, there was an endless swarm of demonic beasts, with about forty thousand gathered below the small castle because only so many could fit. Among them, there were roughly four hundred Major Demons of the Second Stage, and the rest were of the First Stage. The quality of the beast horde far surpassed the one that attacked Suichuan Immortal City before. The group was mainlyposed of ferocious beasts like saber-toothed tigers, ck-Backed Bears, Two-tailed Leopards, Thornwood Jackals, Carapace Wolves, and flying demonic beasts such as Tiger Sparrows following the saber-toothed tigers. Of the five saber-toothed tiger Heavenly Demons, four were at the early stages of the Third Stage and one was at the mid-stage. The four Third Stage early saber-toothed tigers approached from the east, south, west, and north, while the mid Third Stage saber-toothed tiger was also in the west. Each Third Stage saber-toothed tiger was followed by three Tiger Sparrows in thete stages of the Second Stage. The Third Stage Five Elements Rotation Array had been activated earlier, but although it could block the attacks of Third Stage Heavenly Demons, it had its limits. If left to the assault of the five saber-toothed tiger Heavenly Demons, it was feared the formation would notst even a quarter of an hour before it broke. "Brother Yin, dare you join me in meeting the enemy to the west?" Li Daoyi asked. "What''s there to fear!" Yin Cen said with a solemn face. "Then let''s leave the other three sides to Brother Jiang, Brother Fang, Brother Dongye, Brother Fu, Sister Zhu, and Brother Wu. The other demonic beasts below the Third Stage will be left to Brothers Huang and Qing! Come, drink to victory!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Li Daoyi took out a jug of Spiritual Wine and ten cups, opened the lid, and the clear liquid divided itself into ten streams to fill the ten cups. The other nine each took a cup, and Li Daoyi, picking up thest cup, was the first to drink it all in one go. Only then did the others follow suit and drink. It turned out to be a Second Stage Spiritual Wine. Then, Li Daoyi and Yin Cen flew west on their swords, Jiang Yueli and Fang Ling flew east, Dongye Chuhua and Fu Nian flew south, while Zhu Yan and Wu Guang flew north. Seeing that their side had just arrived and had not yet had the chance to attack, the Second Stage humans on the other side had the audacity toe out to meet the battle. The mid Third Stage saber-toothed tiger roared, "You measly Second Stage humans, how dare you act so rampant in front of me, Hu Sanniang! Hu Chi, Hu He, Hu Wan, Hu Le, finish them quickly for me. Roar~" It turned out to be a rugged female voice; after speaking, arge roar issued forth, bringing with it a gust of wind filled with cutting vigor that blew towards Li Daoyi and Yin Cen. At the same time, with a wave of her front paws, des of white gold followed the gusts of wind and enveloped Li Daoyi and Yin Cen. Saber-toothed tigers are among the top tier of demonic beasts, with physical strength exceeding that of ordinary cultivators in Body Cultivation for the same tier, and they are also proficient in gold, wind, and sound Spells. Hu Sanniang was currently using the Tiger Wind Technique and White Tiger Golden Light sh. Hu Le, who was at Hu Sanniang''s side, did the same and released both Spells. The moment they exited the formation, Li Daoyi released his Spiritual Beast, the Sword Wing Bird, to deal with the Tiger Sparrows, while he and Yin Cen focused on Hu Sanniang and Hu Le. Confronting the Tiger Wind Technique and White Tiger Golden Light sh, Yin Cen took out a small yellow tower. The tower instantly grew in size, blocking in front of Li Daoyi and Yin Cen. The Spell attacks from Hu Sanniang and Hu Le hit the tower, causing it to shake but without any damage. It turned out to be an Ancient Treasureparable to a mid-stage Third Stage precious instrument, the Mini Profound Yellow Tower. ording to legend, the Profound Yellow Tower is also an Immortal Artifact. Clearly, the Mini Profound Yellow Tower was a replica crafted in the likeness of the Profound Yellow Tower. Many Ancient Treasures, ancient Taoist Instruments, are replications of Immortal Artifacts, as if the ancient human race instrument refiners liked to do such things. As Yin Cen blocked the attacks, the five swords of Li Daoyi had also been unsheathed, forming the Five Elements Linked Sword Formation. As the Mini Profound Yellow Tower rose, angling towards Hu Sanniang and Hu Le, Li Daoyi also charged into the fray. Chapter 134 Eight People Struggle Against the Heavenly Demon Sword Cultivators, imed to be the number one cultivator category in offensive prowess, were matched only by Thunder Cultivators in their strength. Sword Cultivators, focused on the sword, were further divided into Inner Sword Sword Cultivators and Outer Sword Sword Cultivators. Inner Sword Sword Cultivators nurtured Sword Pills within their bodies, their sword energy concealed in stillness and thunderous in motion. Zhuge Jian of Sunset Gate was such a cultivator. Outer Sword Sword Cultivators kept their swords close, nurturing them on their person. They were gentle and elegant in peace but showed fierce brilliance in battle, boasting that with a long sword in hand, they owned the world. Li Daoyi of Cangqiong Sword Sect was an Outer Sword Sword Cultivator.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Li Daoyi, whose Five Elements Spirit Roots all reached a medium grade, didn''t have great natural talent. He had barely managed to enter the Cangqiong Sword Sect and be a sword attendant disciple. However, Li Daoyi had a determined mind and had obtained a great opportunity once,ter sessfully reaching Foundation Establishment and advancing to an outer sect disciple. Still not valued by the sect, he secretly joined the Sect of Commoners, whose philosophy he agreed with much, and came to venture into the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, seeking an opportunity for Core Formation. "Hu Le, I''m going to tear this Sword Cultivator apart. Hold the other one back for me!" Facing the counterattack from Li Daoyi and Yin Cen, Hu Sanniangmanded. Yin Cen obviously specialized in earth element spells and had an Ancient Treasure for defense, making him a tough nut to crack. So Hu Sanniang had Hu Le keep him upied first. As for Sword Cultivator Li Daoyi, if they were of the same stage, she would still fear him somewhat, but a mere Second Stage, she didn''t take him seriously. "Yes, big sister!" Hu Le responded, leaping forward, his right front paw already against the mini Xuanhuang Tower, while a roar from his mouth formed a sonic wave attack that lunged at Yin Cen. Tiger Howl Forest Technique. A yellow light shield appeared around Yin Cen, and he donned a set of yellow full-body armor, looking like a yellow Iron Man, bringing his defense to the extreme. The Tiger Howl Forest Technique only caused him a slight headache. Then he leaped to the top of the mini Xuanhuang Tower and deployed the Xuanhuang Suppressing Earth Technique. "Roar~" Hu Le suddenly felt a surge in pressure, raised both front paws, and resisted with all his might to hold off the mini Xuanhuang Tower''s suppression. Both sides began to be locked in a stalemate. On the other side, Hu Sanniang faced Li Daoyi''s Five Elements Linked Sword Formation with her tiger ws manifesting, directly shing with the sword formation. Li Daoyi''s five spirit swords corresponded to the five elements. Although they were still merely high-grade Spiritual Artifacts, they were made from Third Stage Spirit Ore. Once he reached Core Formation, they were to be refined into his Lifebound Magical Treasures. However, Hu Sanniang, as a mid-stage Third Stage Heavenly Demon, had ws that were both sharper and tougher than Li Daoyi''s spirit swords. Despite Li Daoyi''s formation of the swords, she gained no advantage from the sh. Where w met sword, sparks scattered, and Li Daoyi was forced back step by step. He was neither as strong nor as fast as Hu Sanniang. Under such circumstances, Li Daoyi took a deep breath, and his aura suddenly changed, like a peerless divine sword emitting endless sharpness, with five-colored sword energy swirling around, forming a sphere with a twenty-zhang diameter. "Five Elements Sword Domain Embryo!" Hu Sanniang was surprised internally. This was the rhythm of starting on the Dao. As long as he did not fall, Nascent Soul was hopeful. She was enveloped within it, and the five-colored sword energy kept attacking her. Although the power was merely at thete stage of Foundation Establishment, the frequency of the attacks was relentless. She tried to exit the Sword Domain Embryo, but Li Daoyi continued sticking to her with the Five Elements Linked Sword Formation. "Hmph, what good is a genius? Without reaching the Third Stage, you''re still an ant!" Hu Sanniang thought coldly, her resolve hardening as she continued to exchange blows with her ws. Two Saber-Toothed Tigers came loose from her mouth, moving in coordination with her ws like flying swords. Under the enhancement of the Sword Domain Embryo, Li Daoyi just managed to maintain a no-loss status. ... To the east of the small castle, Jiang Yueli and Fang Ling fought against Hu Chi, with Fang Ling''s Spiritual Beast Blood Qiongsu also resisting the Tiger Sparrow''s assaults. Blood Qiongsu is an exotic species, wingless, yet at the Second Stage, it had already awakened the technique of stepping through the void. Jiang Yueli, a member of the Jiangs from Star Moon Sect, possesses medium-grade dual Spirit Roots of water and wood. Her Spirit Roots are decent, but since she''s the illegitimate daughter that the Family Head brought back from outside, she has been quite ostracized. In recent years, she has been traveling abroad,peting for quite a few opportunities. At this moment, she stood on a shell-shaped flying Spiritual Artifact, holding an Ancient Treasure Trident in her right hand, with a bubble-shaped protective shield enveloping her body. She was exchanging blows with Fang Ling and Hu Chi. The Trident released a vast mist, enveloping the eastern battlefield, making the air incredibly sticky,pletely negating the speed advantage of the Saber-Toothed Tiger. Meanwhile, Jiang Yueli''s left palm was continuously forming spinning water stingers that she thrust towards Hu Le. Second Stage Spell, Spinning Water Stinger Technique. Fang Ling stood on a flying sword, also encased in a water bubble enhanced by Jiang Yueli. With this bubble, Jiang Yueli and Fang Ling''s speed increased rather than decreased in the mist. Fang Ling''s hands formed seals, and blood swords shot towards Hu Le, looking for opportunities to deliver two sessive Blood Sword Technique strikes to Hu Le. Hu Le''s Sea of Consciousness sustained light injuries in an instant and, furiously using techniques such as Tiger Wind, Tiger Roar Mountain Forest, and White Tiger Golden Light sh, he began to subtly fall into a disadvantage against Jiang Yueli''s Spinning Water Stinger Technique and Fang Ling''s Blood Sword Technique. ... Southern side of the small castle, East Ye Chuhua from Barbarian Sect and Fu Nian were battling Hu He, with Fu Nian''s Spiritual Beast Red Falcon dealing with the Demonic Beast Tiger Sparrow. The East Ye n originates from the ancient Emperor Ji Xuanyuan, with a descendant of Ji Xuanyuan settling in the East Ye farming area, changing their surname to East Ye and continuing their lineage to this day. However, to this day, the East Ye n had dwindled in number, their strength sparse, and were even mistaken by some as wild cultivators of some remote ind. To revive the East Ye n, East Ye Chuhua resolutely decided to enter the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm in search of fortune. East Ye Chuhua is a robust man, seven feet tall, donning a suit of dark-colored battle armor, engaging Hu He head-on. The armor covered his entire body, with double horns on his head and double wings on his back, and spikes protruding outward all over. This is the Ancient Treasure Flying Sky Green Bull Armor, which is said to be the reason for the saying "boasting like the Green Bull." Fu Nian, of course, wasn''t idle either, controlling his flying sword beside him, continuously attacking Hu He with a square lightning fire rune formation, harassing him. Compared to the enormous Hu He, East Ye Chuhua was still quite nimble, taking the opportunity to dodge Hu He''s tiger ws and saber teeth, targeting his eyes and neck for attacks. ... North side of the small castle, Zhu Yan and Wu Guang were battling Hu Wan. Zhu Yan sat atop a Late Second Stage Spiritual Beast, Winged Money Leopard, with three more Late Second Stage Winged Money Leopards and a group of over a hundred Purple Gold Bees attacking Hu Wan. The hundred were all Late Second Stage Purple Gold Bees; First Stage Purple Gold Bees would not even be able to fly when up against a Third Stage Heavenly Demon due to the sheer force of its aura. Early and Middle Second Stage Purple Gold Bees could not prate the skin of a Third Stage Saber-Toothed Tiger. Wu Guang was controlling his flying sword nearby, holding an Ancient Treasure shield, helping Zhu Yan fend off Hu Wan''s magical attacks. Zhu Yan had an antique metal bracelet on her left wrist and a bell on her right. The bracelet was the Ancient Treasure Beast Controlling Bracelet, and the bell was the Ancient Treasure Soul Shaking Bell. Zhu Yan shook the Soul Shaking Bell, forcing Hu Wan to split his focus to suppress the tremors in his Sea of Consciousness. Over a hundred fist-sized Late Second Stage Purple Gold Bees, relying on their agility, constantly dodged Hu Wan''s magical attacks, stinging him on his belly, face, and other areas where the skin was thinner. Not only did it cause Hu Wan to suffer intense pain, but it also introduced toxins into his body. Under normal circumstances, a violent shake of his body could shake off these damned bugs. Unfortunately, at this moment, he was also forced to suppress the Soul Shaking Bell''s assault and defend against the rotational attacks of the three Winged Money Leopards. Hu Wan''s situation was truly difficult to bear. Chapter 135 Demon鈥檚 Sound Shows Off as Enemy Reinforcements Arrive Thousand Beasts Mountain, eighthyer. The battlefield on the ground, forty thousand Demonic Beasts appeared oppressively outside the small fortress. Although the fortress walls were three zhang wide, they were only five zhang high. Even though the beast tide was mainlyposed of fierce Demonic Beasts, those below the Third Stage could not fly, but without the Five Elements Rotation Array, the Second Stage ones could easily leap onto the walls. When the beast tide was still sixty zhang from the wall, Huang Zhangjie issued themand to fire the cannons because sixty zhang was within the range of the Spirit Stone Cannons. Wu Guang had temporarily entrusted the control of sixteen Puppets to Huang Zhangjie, with one Puppet responsible for firing each cannon and another for loading the Medium Grade Spirit Stones. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that everyone had some wealth, they really wouldn¡¯t have been able to afford using the Spirit Stone Cannons. Beams of white light shot out from the muzzles, striking the group of Demonic Beasts and exploding into a shower of blood. The First Stage Demonic Beasts died upon contact; if directly hit, the Second Stage ones were hard-pressed to survive, and even a slight graze would result in severe injuries. While firing, Yu Qingtan took out the top-grade Spiritual Artifact, the White Desire Lute, that she got from Ru Yao, and strummed a noisy tune. It was the Second Stage spell, Devil¡¯s Prating Sound. Such Sound Path Spiritual Artifacts as the White Desire Lute generallye with a sound amplification effect, which, under the stir of Yu Qingtan¡¯s Spiritual Power, had the sound waves reaching into the horde of beast tides from all directions. Suddenly, the advancing beast tide halted, with Saber-Toothed Tigers, ck-Backed Bears, Two-tailed Leopards, Thornwood Jackals, Carapace Wolves, Tiger Sparrows, and others stopping to cover their ears. "Awoo~" "Roar~" "Chirp chirp~" The First Stage Demonic Beasts clutched their heads and wailed miserably; after a few breaths, they began to bleed from all seven orifices, with the early First Stage ones starting to die. Because the power was too dispersed, the mid andte First Stage Demonic Beasts didn¡¯t die immediately, but even the mid First Stage ones felt as if their heads were about to explode. Some mid First Stage Demonic Beasts, unable to bear the pain, actually plunged their ws into their own heads, ending their miserable lives. This scene reminded Yu Qingtan of a past life version of Journey to the West, where Elder Tang incessantly talked about Minor Demonsmitting suicide. Fortunately, she herself could block out the Devil¡¯s Sound. She had tried listening to it before but gave up after enduring it for only three breaths. Huang Zhangjie was also clicking his tongue in wonder beside her. His family had a profound heritage, and he naturally recognized the spell Yu Qingtan was using, but it was the first time he had seen someone else perform it with such explosive effects. Huang Zhangjie simply stopped firing the Spirit Stone Cannons for the time being because nearly twenty thousand early First Stage Demonic Beasts were about to die out, and it was too wasteful to use them as the cannons were not urate enough at this time. Despite suffering heavy losses, only the early and mid First Stage Demonic Beasts in the thick fog halted their advance and moved to the side, while thete First Stage and Second Stage Demonic Beasts continued to push forward. Soon, nearly twenty thousand more Demonic Beasts, all abovete First Stage, appeared within visible range. It was then that Huang Zhangjie resumed firing the Spirit Stone Cannons. Even with the obstacle of the Spirit Stone Cannons and the Devil¡¯s Sound, the Demonic Beasts still surged to the base of the small fortress. Then, Second Stage Demonic Beasts directly climbed onto the battlements and attacked the membrane of light of the Five Elements Rotation Array. Late First Stage Demonic Beasts piled up the corpses of the early First Stage ones that had died earlier at the base of the wall, creating a mountain of flesh, then climbed up to the top to attack. A few hundred Tiger Sparrows also attacked the Five Elements Rotation Array from low in the sky. For lower-rank Demonic Beasts, physical attacks were generally more powerful than spells. The Five Elements Rotation Array was a Third Stage Great Array, cycling perpetually through the five elements, creating and sustaining life without end. However, it was hastily set up after all and just barely reached the Third Stage, so with so many Demonic Beasts continuously attacking, it was uncertain how long it could hold. When the walls were densely covered with Demonic Beasts, both above and below, and the number of visible Demonic Beasts again reached over forty thousand, Huang Zhangjie activated the Great Four Directions Thunder Fire Talisman Array that Fu Nian had arranged outside the Five Elements Rotation Array. Because a Stealth Talisman had been added, and linked with the light membrane of the Five Elements Rotation Array, the Demonic Beasts didn¡¯t detect it in advance. The Great Four Directions Thunder Fire Talisman Array activated, and in an instant, mes engulfed the skies outside the small castle, interspersed with thunder striking down, as the demonic beasts wailed and fled backward. Unfortunately, there were too many demonic beasts. Those that caught fire ran back, igniting the others. The scene quickly became extremely chaotic and noisy, with the demonic beasts trampling and attacking each other. Yu Qingtan smelled a strong scent of burning flesh and couldn¡¯t help but intensify her use of Devil¡¯s Prating Sound. In the end, fewer than three thousand demonic beasts managed to safely escape back to the foggy area, most of which were Second Stage demonic beasts. A thickyer of demonic beast corpses piled up outside the small castle, the fierce fire still burning atop them. Yu Qingtan pretended to copse to the ground,cking spiritual power, while the Spirit Stone Cannon was also on the verge of overload and urgently needed to be shut down for a while. In the high skies, Hu Sanniang noticed the situation below and tried to join the fray several times, but Li Daoyi fiercely held her back. Hu Chi, Hu He, Hu Wan, and Hu Le were also blocked, even being at a disadvantage. After more than thirty thousand demonic beasts in theter stages of the First Stage perished in the Great Four Directions Thunder Fire Talisman Array, Hu Sanniangpletely lost herposure; her nsmen were among the fallen. "Damn Human Race, roar¨C roar¨C roar¨C" Hu Sanniang roared towards the direction of the fog, as if calling out for something. Hu Chi, Hu He, Hu Wan, and Hu Le also howled in that direction. All ten of them knew the Heart Sensing Technique, but the technique required the spiritual beasts to be willing tomunicate with the human heart to be used normally. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om However, they soon found out. An Escape Light broke through the fog, transforming into a yellow-robed figure, appearing above the small castle. Disheveled yellow hair draped over his shoulders, with high forehead and nose, a piece of withered grass at the corner of his mouth, and a pair of red pupils that were extraordinarily seductive. Though in human form, he emitted the aura of a peak Third Stage Major Demon. "Sanniang, I told you to let me take action, but you insisted on showing off your strength. Look now, you still need me to make a move." As he spoke, his right leg raised and then chopped downward. A yellow light de appeared, slicing through the air; the cut quickly extended forward, reaching the nascent sword domain of Li Daoyi. Then, Li Daoyi¡¯s nascent sword domain crumbled like tofu under the de, shattering into spiritual light. Li Daoyi immediately tried to dodge using his sword Escape Technique, but the yellow light de relentlessly pursued him. Helpless, Li Daoyi used the Five Elements Linked Sword Formation with a solemn expression to defend. "Crack¨Ccrack¨C" Li Daoyi¡¯s yellow earth-attributed spiritual swords and golden metal-attributed spiritual swords broke in two, barely stopping the yellow light de, shattering it into spiritual light. Find more to read at empire Li Daoyi was knocked backward, flying through the air and spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. "Third Stage spell, Xuan Huang Space Cleaving sh; with such power, the Earth Path is feared to have already been mastered." Everyone¡¯s expression turned grave; they momentarily disengaged from the battle. Fang Ling voiced the words of Ancestor Blood Xi from his mind. Previously, even though Hu Sanniang and the other demonic beasts were Third Stage Heavenly Demons, their Tiger Wind Technique, Tiger Roar Forest Technique, and White Tiger Golden Light sh were only Second Stage spells. Third Stage spells are powerful, few in number, and difficult to learn. Many Golden Core Cultivators could only grasp a Third Stage Spell after practicing Core Formation for a decade or two. For demonic beasts to master a Third Stage Spell was even more difficult. Seeing that Li Daoyi was knocked backward, Yin Cen quicklymanded the little Xuan Huang Tower to catch him and retreat to the inside of the Five Elements Rotation Array. Chapter 136: Everyone Reveals Their Trump Cards Against Liu Mang Yin Cen brought Li Daoyi back to the Five Elements Rotation Array, as the man in the yellow robe struck down thrice with his right leg; three Space Cleaving shes in a mystic yellow hue headed east, south, and north towards the three smaller battle circles respectively. Jiang Yueli, Fang Ling, Dongye Chuhua, Fu Nian, Zhu Yan, and Wu Guang, being prepared, left the battle circle as he lifted his leg and, together with their Spiritual Beasts, fled into the Five Elements Rotation Array. The three yellow light des shed onto the Formation¡¯s light membrane, causing it to indent, but not to break. At that moment, Hu Sanniang transformed into a beautiful woman in a yellow dress and appeared beside the man in the yellow robe. "Liu Mang, since you¡¯vee, I¡¯ll leave these humans to you!" Saying this, she intended to escape into the sky. The man in the yellow robe, Liu Mang, grabbed Hu Sanniang¡¯s hand and with a pull, brought her into his embrace. His other hand cupped Hu Sanniang¡¯s pert buttocks. N?v(el)B\\jnn "Sanniang, don¡¯t be angry. Haven¡¯t I already sworn not to go after that Hu Mei¡¯er anymore?" "Let go of me!" Hu Sanniang¡¯s face flushed red as she roared at Liu Mang. However, the effort in her struggle was minimal, and she could not free herself from Liu Mang¡¯s grasp. Liu Mang didn¡¯t say a word and just kissed her directly. The human Cultivators and Demonic Beasts present chose to silently watch the drama unfold. The human Cultivators took the opportunity to consume Spirit Revitalizing Pills; Li Daoyi also took a Healing Pill. Yu Qingtan used a Rejuvenation Spell and a Purification Spell on him, but unfortunately, his injuries were too severe, and he likely couldn¡¯t fight again for a short time. Only after a full thirty breaths did Hu Sanniang get released by Liu Mang. The fierce tigeress Hu Sanniang now appeared like a shy bride with blushed cheeks and lowered head. "Alright, you go rest for now. Eat, drink, and be merry. Come over to protect your big sister!" "Okay, brother-inw." "Brother-inw, help us take vengeance!" Hu Chi, Hu He, Hu Wan, and Hu Le came to Hu Sanniang¡¯s side. Hu Chi was okay, but Hu He, Hu Wan, and Hu Le were all injured, especially Hu Le, whose face and body were covered in welts from the Purple Gold Bees¡¯ stings. Liu Mang moved above the small fortress, sweeping his gaze across everyone, lingering longer on the figures of Jiang Yueli and Zhu Yan. He lifted his right hand, and a yellow great stick appeared, looking like an enormous carrot. The carrot-like great stick expanded and swelled in size, then, with the force of ten thousand jun, it smashed toward the small fortress. Judging by its formidable power, it was much stronger than the previous Space Cleaving shes. If they let Liu Mang continue his assault, the Five Elements Rotation Array might not hold out for much longer. Yin Cen immediately maneuvered his Mini Mystic Yellow Tower, bursting out of the Five Elements Rotation Array, and met the carrot-like great stick head-on. Dongye Chuhua also flew next to Yin Cen, ready to help withstand the blow. Jiang Yueli, Fang Ling, Fu Nian, Zhu Yan, and Yu Qingtan all moved outside the array. A beam of starlight appeared on Jiang Yueli¡¯s forehead. As the starlight twinkled, her aura grew massively, approaching that of an ordinary False Golden Core Cultivator. The Trident hovered in front of her. Her hands moved like a butterfly weaving through flowers as she formed hand seals, the Trident began to spin violently, and then a spinning blue Trident shadow shot towards Liu Mang. Fang Ling brought out a drop of blood exuding a wild aura and forced out a drop of his own essence blood to merge with it, then formed a blood sword, thrusting at Liu Mang. The drop of blood was from the Fifth Stage blood essence of a Blood Jiao that Fang Ling had obtained in the Blood Jiao Secret Realm, after absorbing most of its power. Fu Nian, with a pained expression, took out a quaint, finely made Talisman, infused it with Spiritual Power, activating the Talisman, turning it into a streak of light that, setting off after, arrived above Liu Mang first. A Third Stage premium-grade Immobilization Talisman. Zhu Yan attacked with the Soul Shaking Bell, while Yu Qingtan used the "Devil¡¯s Prating Sound" from her white Ruan to strike. The carrot-like great stick seemed slow but in actuality descended rapidly; the Mini Mystic Yellow Tower and Dongye Chuhua touched it, causing a slight pause before it continued to press down. "Bang¨C Bang¨C" Yin Cen and Dongye Chuhua were smashed into the Five Elements Rotation Array, spitting out fresh blood, but they managed to dissipate some of the force from the great stick. The great stick struck the light membrane of the Formation, causing the membrane to dip down three feet, rippling with waves, yet it didn¡¯t break. On the other side, Liu Mang was first struck by the Soul Shaking Bell and the Devil¡¯s Prating Sound, which made him feel dizzy. Suddenly, the Third Stage Immobilization Talisman from Fu Nian arrived, causing Liu Mang¡¯s rising hands and feet to falter, and his whole body became stiff in ce. Immediately after, the trident phantom projected by Jiang Yueli and the Blood Sword wielded by Fang Ling reached him. "Pfft¡ªpfft¡ª" Two prating wounds appeared in Liu Mang¡¯s chest. The crowd was overjoyed, while Hu Sanniang and the other Demonic Beasts were shocked, and they quickly rushed to Liu Mang¡¯s side. "Grr¡ª" Once the effect of the Immobilization Talisman wore off, Liu Mang let out a loud cry and transformed into a giant yellow-furred, red-eyed rabbit, ten zhang tall. It turned out to be ate Third Stage Rogue Rabbit. After assuming his true form, the two wounds in his chest visibly started to regenerate new flesh, and the injuries began to heal. Such formidable physical strength and vitality weighed heavily on everyone¡¯s hearts. "Sanniang, I¡¯m fine. These Human Race individuals have some strength, but that is all," he said. No sooner had he spoken than he sprung up with his hind legs, wielding a carrot club with his front paws and smashing it down towards the people below. Fang Ling, Yu Qingtan, and the others swiftly retreated back into the Five Elements Rotation Array. The club hit the light membrane, sinking five feet into it, causing the light membrane to tremble. "The Great Array can¡¯t hold on much longer. Ate Third Stage Heavenly Demon, we can¡¯t fight it, the gap is too big, I¡¯m withdrawing, take care!" Wu Guang decisively took out a Teleportation Talisman, infused it with Spiritual Power, and vanished on the spot. "I toock the strength to continue fighting, I must retreat!" Li Daoyi also activated his Teleportation Talisman. Yin Cen, Dong Ye Chuhua, Fu Nian, Huang Zhangjie also chose to leave one after another. Coming here, their haul had already been very substantial; there was no need to continue to risk their lives. If others brought out their trump cards capable of countering Liu Mang, they shouldn¡¯t reap the benefits of someone else¡¯s sess. At this moment, the second strike from Liu Mang¡¯s club had descended, and the light membrane of the array shook violently, even developing a thin crack. Read new adventures at empire However, it was quickly repaired by the unceasing regenerative properties of the array. The remaining Fang Ling, Yu Qingtan, Jiang Yueli, and Zhu Yan looked at each other and then, with an unspoken understanding, stepped outside the light membrane of the array. Facing the third strike from Liu Mang, Jiang Yueli took out a deep blue talisman. Upon stimting it with Spiritual Power, a hand phantom twinkling with starlight grasped it. A high-grade Third Stage Charm Treasure sealed with a high-grade Third Stage spell, the Star Plucking Hand. After the Star Plucking Hand grasped the carrot club, thetter didn¡¯t budge an inch and could no longer advance. Fang Ling¡¯s aura climbed steadily, shockingly reaching the mid-stage of the Golden Core. "Heh heh heh, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve tasted the spicy vor of Rogue Rabbit head," the voice of Ancestor Blood Xi excitedly taunted in his mind. "Grr¡ª" Liu Mang let go of the carrot club, pped his paws over his head, and cried out in pain. Yu Qingtan took out the Cann Umbre and used her move named Cann Water Tornado directly toward Liu Mang. The surging river water formed a column as thick as the umbre¡¯s surface, carrying immense force as it struck towards Liu Mang. On the other side, Zhu Yan released a mid-Third Stage Azure Serpent from her Spirit Beast Bracelet to intercept Hu Sanniang and her group, who were ready to provide support. "Boom¡ª" Liu Mang was hit by the Cann Water Tornado and hurled diagonally into the sky, his chest visibly caved in, and fresh blood sprayed from his mouth. "Roar¡ªMang Bro!" "Brother-inw!" Hu Sanniang and herpanions roared in anger, but they couldn¡¯t break through the Azure Serpent¡¯s blockade and could only rage impotently. Chapter 137 The End of Demon Venerable Bai Chens Secret Realm "p~" Liu Mang heavily fell to the ground, and the water of the Cann River flowed back into the Cann Umbre. "Cough cough~" Liu Meng spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with viscera. "Let us go, or else, I will fight you to the death!" Just as Fang Ling and the others were about to continue their attack, Hu Sanniang, who had transformed back into her saber-toothed tiger form, spat out her demon core, which exuded wild demonic power. She shouted loudly. Hu Chi, Hu He, Hu Wan, and Hu Le didn''t hesitate to spit out their demon cores as well, assuming the posture to self-detonate them. Zhu Yan''s green dragon hurriedly distanced itself from them. Though distance wouldn''t do much good, as if the five heavenly demons were to self-detonate their demon cores, it''s feared that none of the present humans or demons, except those who were freakishly strong, would survive. "Fine!" After exchanging nces again, Fang Ling was the one who finally agreed to Hu Sanniang''s demand. The five saber-toothed tigers came to Liu Mang''s side, lifted the weakened man, and retreated back into the foggy area. As for that carrot-shaped staff, it was taken by Jiang Yueli into her possession.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om It was a middle-grade ancient treasure of the Third Stage. The four entered the small castle, retracted the Five Elements Rotation Array, and the array gs were evenly divided between Fang Ling, Yu Qingtan, and Zhu Yan. Jiang Yueli, having taken Liu Mang''s carrot-shaped staff, had taken a great advantage. However, Yu Qingtan and the other two didn''t mind and tacitly left her owing them a favor. Yu Qingtan really wanted all the array gs but unfortunately didn''t have anything suitable to exchange for them. When Huang Zhangjie left earlier, he had also transmitted a message to everyone that he wanted to take the array gs of the Five Elements Rotation Array, but Fang Ling and hispanions all refused. With the situation pressing, although Huang Zhangjie was regretful, he didn''t insist. He had already seeded once, and with materials in the future, crafting and arranging them again wouldn''t be difficult. At that moment, four boxes emitting rainbow-colored halos appeared in front of the four. Each found a small room and checked their loot. Yu Qingtan opened her box to find a jade slip inside. When her divine sense explored it, it turned out to be a body refining technique. The Demon Blood Refinement Technique, which could be cultivated directly up to the Divinity Transformation Stage. Yu Qingtan was overjoyed as the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art she was currently cultivating could only be cultivated up to the Foundation Establishment Stage. It was like being offered a pillow as she dozed off. Without dy, Yu Qingtan began to examine it thoroughly. ... After a day had passed, with a sh of white light, Yu Qingtan and the others disappeared from the spot. "Congrattions on reaching the ninthyer of the Thousand Beasts Mountain!" Yu Qingtan and the others appeared in a grand hall. The hall was several timesrger than the one on the eighthyer, with dragons and phoenixes carved on the beams, very majestic. At the head of the hall, a woman in white clothes with white hair stood with her back to them, giving off an aloof and transcendent aura. The voice came from the woman in white. "You, if you can withstand a single palm strike from me without perishing, you may pass the ninthyer of the Thousand Beasts Mountain and receive the final reward of the Thousand Beasts Mountain trial. Would you care to try?" The woman turned around and spoke indifferently. Yu Qingtan looked over and saw that the woman had phoenix eyes, willow-leaf eyebrows, and long hair that cascaded over her shoulders, her presencemanding an unforced dignity, so beautiful that it made Yu Qingtan feel inferior. Fang Ling, Jiang Yueli, and Zhu Yan all marveled at the woman''s beauty, but as her words fell, an overwhelming and boundless aura emanated from her. Yu Qingtan and the others felt like a tiny boat in the midst of raging waves, about to be capsized at any moment. "A Fifth Stage Demon Venerable!" The four fell silent, as their chances of surviving under the hand of a Fifth Stage Demon Venerable were less than one percent. That one percent chance was still hoping that the opponent would only strike casually. Even the usually sleazy and arrogant Ancestor Blood Xi did not speak up in Fang Ling''s mind this time, as if falling back into slumber. Fifth-Stage Demon Venerable, an existence that could rival the Human Race''s God Transformation Honorables¡ªtheir majesty was not something that these Foundation Establishment Cultivators could fathom. The Myriad Beasts Secret Realm that Fang Ling had entered before had witnessed the fall of a Fifth-Stage Blood Jiao; after who knows how many tens of thousands of years, a single drop of essence blood continued to benefit Fang Ling to this day, and the residual lustful aura rendered Golden Core Cultivators utterly defenseless. Now, a living Fifth-Stage existence stood before them, and Yu Qingtan and the others couldn''t even muster any thoughts of resistance. "I''ll give you three more breaths'' time, and if you don''t leave, I will have to make a move!" The white-haired woman casually yed with a folding fan in her hand, speaking indifferently. The first breath, Jiang Yueli and Fang Ling did not hesitate to activate their Teleportation Talismans. The second breath, after the two disappeared, Zhu Yan and Yu Qingtan almost simultaneously each took out an Uninscribed Token. The two women exchanged surprised nces. The white-haired woman''s eyes lit up, and she praised, "Not bad, you even have Myriad Beasts Tokens." "Senior, may I ask if with this token one can pass the ninth level and acquire the qualification for the Myriad Beasts Sect''s legacy trial?" Zhu Yan inquired. "Little one, the Myriad Beasts Token can certainly count as your passage through the ninth level. Unfortunately, since that person, numerous Cultivators from the Hundred Beasts Sect have obtained the qualification for the Myriad Beasts Sect''s legacy trial, but they all failed. Are you sure you want to forgo the final reward and still choose the legacy trial qualification?" The white-haired woman beckoned, and the two Myriad Beasts Tokens flew into her palm. "I am sure!" Zhu Yan said firmly. She had traveled countless miles from the Southeast Region to the Eastern Region, primarily for this purpose. "And you?" The white-haired woman turned to Yu Qingtan. "I also choose the legacy trial qualification." Although she wasn''t clear on the specifics, it was obvious that this qualification was extremely precious, and passing it meant acquiring the status of the Myriad Beasts Sect''s legacy. Even if the probability of passing seemed extremely low, she had to try. "You have passed the nine-level trial of Thousand Beasts Mountain and earned the right to know my name; I am Bai Chen. If you break through to the Nascent Soul Stage before you turn thirty, crush this Bai Chen Order, and you will be able to enter the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm to participate in the legacy trial." The white-haired woman, Bai Chen, took out two white jade tokens and tossed one to each, Zhu Yan and Yu Qingtan. On one side of the token was the character "Bai," and on the other side was the character "Chen." Much more identifiable than the Myriad Beasts Token. "Qing Shuang, that''s a good name you''ve taken; I have high hopes for you!" Bai Chen looked at Yu Qingtan again and uttered this cryptic remark. After speaking, she waved her sleeve lightly, and both of their figures disappeared. Stay tuned for updates on empire ... Thousands of miles away from Qingyuan Marsh on a certain mountain peak, Yu Qingtan appeared abruptly in the low sky. She quickly deployed the Breath-Concealing Technique,nded, and then used the Earth Escape Skill to hide underground. A realization shed through her mind: that Teleportation Talisman was not just for teleporting, it also came with a heavenly contract forbidding the disclosure of any information about Thousand Beasts Mountain. If vited, one would not only suffer retribution from the heavenly way but would also be entangled in massive karma. With a few days left before the next month''s end of emergence from the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, Yu Qingtan rested briefly before heading towards the direction of Yunhua Mountain Range. ... In a certain cave, Zhu Yan was sitting in meditation on a cushion. Soon after, two green-robed elders arrived there. "Young Sect Master, you have emerged from the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm; how went your trip?" "It went fairly smoothly. Uncle Ma,e back to the sect with me; Uncle Niu, stay here and find a young female Cultivator named Qing Shuang, and eliminate her." "Yes, Young Sect Master!" Then, Zhu Yan ryed all she knew about Yu Qingtan to the two men. Chapter 138 An Unexpected Encounter Between Fang Ling and Xiao Yan Combat In the Yunhua Mountain Range, within a secluded valley. Xiao Tao was fighting a pack of Carapace Wolves while Yu Qingtan provided support and finished off any stragglers. With the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm event over, she nned to return to Tianxiang Valley and enter seclusion to cultivate until reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment. She had epted the ughter Demon Order and needed toplete the demon-ying tasks to break through, so she ventured into the Yunhua Mountain Range before going back. An hourter, the pack of over two hundred Carapace Wolves had all fallen prey to Yu Qingtan. This was the result of Xiao Tao''s wish to train his practical experience in battle; otherwise, Yu Qingtan could have taken them down in a matter of minutes. Having met the requirements of the ughter Demon Order, Yu Qingtan put away Xiao Tao and headed toward Tianxiang Immortal City. She encountered many conflicts along the way but avoided them all. Cultivatorsing out of the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm would be randomly teleported to somewhere within twenty thousand li of the realm''s emergence point, a very wide range that made it difficult to be ambushed. However, there were still many rogue cultivators, demon cultivators, and members of the Demon Race hunting in the vicinity, as thoseing from the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm were generally seen as easy prey. As Yu Qingtan traveled underground, she sensed intense battle fluctuations from the front and above, notably there were the waves of a Golden Core Cultivator''s spiritual power, and among them was a familiar energy. She stealthily approached the area. In the sky not far away, Fang Ling was engaged in a battle with a man in a red robe.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om On the ground, Jiang Yueli from the Star Moon Sect was sitting against arge tree with a weary expression and tense demeanor, watching the fight above. It turns out that as soon as Jiang Yueli had left the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, she was ruthlessly ambushed by an early Golden Core Cultivator. She couldn''t use any of her trump cards in time and was seriously injured. This was after she revealed her identity as a disciple of the Star Moon Sect, which caused her attacker not to strike a deadly blow. Just as the Golden Core Cultivator was about to capture Jiang Yueli, Fang Ling, who had been teleported not far away, arrived in time and intercepted the Golden Core Cultivator. Currently, Fang Ling was once again emitting waves of mid-stage Golden Core spiritual power. The early-stage Golden Core man in the red robe, however, faced him fearlessly, wielding a heavy ruler magical treasure and pressed Fang Ling inbat. "Fang kid, this guy not only has a Soul-Protection Secret Treasure, but his fire element is close to attaining Dao, and his lifebound magical treasure even incorporates a fourth-stage Spiritual Fire¡ªthe Sun ze Profound Gold me. I''m afraid we''ll have a hard time taking him down!" In Fang Ling''s mind, Ancestor Blood Xi spoke somewhat helplessly. His signature move, the Blood Xi Soul-Cleaving Sword, was being countered and his other techniques were too weak to execute due to his low cultivation level. "Can we flee with Fellow Daoist Jiang?" "We cannot. But what''s the big deal? It''s just helping her out once. We can repay herter, besides, she''s unlikely to die." Fang Ling remained silent. A female cultivator falling into the hands of a demon sect''s cultivator would likely not be able to preserve her chastity, even if her life was spared. "Forget it, forget it. I owe you one." Fang Ling''s eyes hardened, and his aura surged once again, astonishingly reaching the level of ate-stage Golden Core. At the same time, a red glow emanated from his body, forming a massive blood-colored sphere that enveloped the red-robed man. "Blood Dao domain, huh. I''ll see how long your secret technique canst!" The man in the red robe radiated mes of a reddish-gold color, brandishing his ruler-shaped lifebound magical treasure and defending against the Blood Sword attacks with all his might. It was a battle to see whose spiritual power would deplete first or whose secret technique would end sooner¡ªhe believed victory would be his. Read chapters at empire As they fought, the heavily injured Jiang Yueli suddenly received a Divine Sense transmission in her mind. "Fellow Daoist Jiang, I am Qing Shuang. What''s happening here? Who is that person?" Jiang Yueli was initially startled, then overjoyed. Though she had only interacted with Qing Shuang briefly, Qing Shuang did not seem like a bad person to her. She replied to the transmission from the underground direction it originated from. "That person is Xiao Yan from the Extreme Path Demon Sect. He despicably ambushed me with his lifebound magical treasure¡ªthe Sun ze Profound Gold Ruler¡ªas I exited the secret realm. If it weren''t for Fang Daoist''s intervention, I would probably have fallen into his hands. Qing Daoist, please, help Fang Daoist!" In the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, she had witnessed Yu Qingtan''s Cann Umbre. Xiao Yan, the head disciple of the Extreme Path Demon Sect''s Cmity Crossing Old Scoundrel. Yu Qingtan''s eyes narrowed, not expecting to encounter another disciple of the Cmity Crossing Old Scoundrel so soon. "Perhaps he came with Ru Yao, but the Cann Umbre uses up too many Spirit Stones." With that thought, Yu Qingtan sent a telepathic message in response. "My Ancient Treasure requires ten top-grade Spirit Stones each time, and I don''t have that many now. Have you used your Charm Treasure?" The implication was clear, either give me Spirit Stones or give me your Charm Treasure. "Fellow Qing, I don''t have that many top-grade Spirit Stones either. My Star Plucking Hand Charm Treasure can still be used once, but my meridians are severely injured and I can''t use it for the time being. It would trouble Fellow Qing to use it to help Fellow Fang." Jiang Yueli very cooperatively took out the Star Plucking Hand Charm Treasure and ced it beneath her. Yu Qingtan darted over to take the Charm Treasure, then sneaked toward the battlefield below. As "Fang Ling" once again condensed a massive Blood Sword to cleave at Xiao Yan, Yu Qingtan burst out of the ground andunched the Star Plucking Hand Charm Treasure at Xiao Yan. A palm shadow twinkling with starlight directly grasped Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan was greatly startled and exerted his full strength to resist the colossal force of the palm shadow. Due to the immense pressure, the Sun ze Profound Gold Ruler failed topletely block the Blood Sword''s attack, leaving a deep gash over a foot long on his left shoulder. At the same time, Yu Qingtan used her Object Controlling Technique to direct her Cann Sword at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan had no choice but to turn aside and use the Sun ze Profound Gold Ruler to parry. "Fang Ling" seized the opportunity to unleash another strike of the Blood Sword Technique, closing the distance and employing the Blood Control Technique. Blood spurted from Xiao Yan''s wound, and the blood within his body surged violently as if boiling. The might of the Star Plucking Hand had yet to fade when the second wave of attacks from the Blood Sword and Cann Sword was already upon him. Xiao Yan was seething with anger in his heart; he still had a trump card, but using it against a few Foundation Establishment juniors would be far too wasteful. Immediately, he took out two top-grade Second Stage Firebird Charms. Upon activation, they transformed into two firebirds that flew towards the Blood Sword and Cann Sword respectively. He also produced a top-grade Second Stage Escape Talisman, and with a surge of Spiritual Power, Xiao Yan''s figure vanished instantly. He had actually fled directly, leaving the Blood Sword and Cann Sword that were intercepted by the firebirds to strike at empty air. Both Fang Ling and Yu Qingtan inwardlymented the missed opportunity. However, both were aware that killing a Golden Core Cultivator was extremely difficult. If the enemy detonated their Golden Core, their deaths would be almost certain. "Thank you, Fellow Qing, for your assistance!" Yu Qingtan nodded as a response, put away her Cann Sword, and continued to escape using earth movement. As Qing Shuang, she didn''t have much to say to Fang Ling. Fang Ling, helpless, could only descend, lift Jiang Yueli, and also quickly leave the area. ... Three dayster, Yu Qingtan finally returned to Tianxiang Immortal City. Inside Raoliang Tea House, Xiang Ru rushed excitedly to Yu Qingtan upon her return, hanging on her eagerly. Xiang Yu also revealed a smile, but she had bad news for Yu Qingtan. "Qingtan, you''re finally back. A few days ago, True Person Qiuyue and True Person Duowen came to Tianxiang Immortal City and ordered us to stop issuing mortgages under the charge of unauthorized business operations, imposing a fine of five hundred thousand Spirit Stones." True Person Qiuyue, the mother of Yan Xi, Yan Qiuyue. True Person Duowen, the father of Luo Xiang, Luo Duowen. Chapter 139 The Splendor of Yu Qingtans Beauty Yu Qingtan clenched her fists tightly, somewhat regretting not handling Yan Xi back in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm. "I am still too kindhearted," she said. Taking a deep breath, Yu Qingtan said, "Let''s put this matter aside for now, I need to return to the valley as soon as possible." Early the next morning, Yu Qingtan bid farewell to Xiang Ru, who was reluctant to see her go, and set off to return to Tianxiang Valley. The Roaming Zither stayed temporarily at the Raoliang Tea House. To avoid any trouble, Yu Qingtan changed her appearance and kept a low profile. She made it back to Tianxiang Valley without any issues, first went to the Task Hall to turn in her assignment, then directly headed back to her residence at the Xiangfei Elegant Courtyard. After sending a Communication Talisman to Li Xingruo, Yu Qingtan began her seclusion in her own courtyard. Now that she was notcking in Spirit Dew or Wastnd Crystals, it was time to cultivate in earnest. Cultivation knows no years. In the blink of an eye, another year passed, and snowkes began to flutter from the sky. Yu Qingtan finally came out of seclusion. Having used up all the Second Stage Spirit Dew, Yu Qingtan brought her cultivation level to the peak of thete Foundation Establishment period. All the Second Stage Wastnd Crystals were consumed. The Ice Skin Jade Bone Art barely reached thete Foundation Establishment period, but with her cultivation of the Demon Blood Refinement Technique using the blood of a Third Stage Heavenly Demon Eagle¡ªcoupled with the foundationid by the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art¡ªshe directly reached the peak of thete Foundation Establishment period. However, using the Third Stage Heavenly Demon blood for further refinement yielded diminishing returns, and demon blood merely reduced the amount of Wastnd Crystal needed, not recing it entirely. Even so, the strength of her physical body was now no less than that of a Golden Core Cultivator in the mid-stage who had not undergone Body Refinement. In terms of her soul''s strength, with the help of Nourishing Soul Incense and the Soul Cleansing Technique, there had been great progress, and her Divine Sense could now reach as far as two hundred and thirty zhang. She spent less time on spell cultivation, but leveraging her fairy-grade Water Spirit Root''s affinity with water, she had stepped onto the threshold of mastery in the water element and sessfully constructed the initial form of her own water domain. Before leaving her seclusion, Yu Qingtan decided to celebrate with a long-overdue treasure draw. She had 178 Affection Points in her system, mostly converted from Charm Points, with over thirty thousand Charm Points remaining. She cleansed herself with the Purification Spell and silently recited, "To the Dao Ancestor, eternal." Yu Qingtan went all in with her Charm Points, ready for more than three thousand consecutive draws. "Third Stage Breath-Concealing Technique, beginner level!" Yu Qingtan was overjoyed. To get such a good item within just over two hundred draws meant that even if she got nothing else worthwhile, it was still a win. The spells acquired from the system came not only with the cultivation methods but also directly at the beginner level. A Third Stage spell is not only hard toe by, but also hard to learn, requiring high soul strength, and usually only a Golden Core Cultivator could control it. This meant that if it were just the cultivation method for the Third Stage Breath-Concealing Technique, it would be very difficult for Yu Qingtan to learn at her current level. She decisively imed it, and various insights about concealing her spiritual power''s presence emerged in her mind. She controlled her spiritual power''s presence to match the early phases of the mid Foundation Establishment stage with very low consumption of spiritual energy. Continuing the treasure draw, at around the two thousand seven hundred mark, she struck gold again. "Face Shaping Pill!" After seeing its effects, Yu Qingtan was absolutely delighted. In the Cultivation World, it is very hard for cultivators to adjust their facial features through spells or cultivation techniques, and any enforced change is easily detected as unnatural and will gradually revert. Yu Qingtan didn''t know why, but the Face Shaping Pill could change that. She immediately imed it and, using her spiritual power to adjust her face in front of the mirror, consumed the Face Shaping Pill after getting the desired look. ```n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Yu Qingtanughed heartily without any concern for her image. "Hahaha, this beats any stic surgery from my past life''s Korea by a thousand times, this pretty little face, once again charmed by my own beauty." You see, she had always been troubled by her resemnce to Fairy Yuan Qianrou, but now, after a slight adjustment, coupled with her previously tweaked eyebrows and eyshes, they only looked two or three parts alike. At this point, she actually bore a six or seven-parts resemnce to the ssic image of Lin Daiyu from her previous life, yet she was even more beautiful than them. Furthermore, her age increase and the effects of body refinement caused her to develop a bit more, reaching nearly five feet in height with a perfectly proportioned chest. "Hehehe, from now on I''ll be Fairy Qingtan, with this flourishing age''s grace. I''ll give myself a score of 9.9, leaving a 0.1 margin to avoid bing too proud." Yu Qingtan grinned at her reflection in the mirror. After a long while, she calmed down and continued to finish off her remaining draws. As expected, nothing good came out again. She slightly concealed her beauty and happily stepped out of the courtyard, heading towards Li Xingruo''s residence. Li Xingruo was at home, not in seclusion. As Yu Qingtan entered the house, she found three other people inside. Li Xingruo, Wen Jin, and two female cultivators she did not recognize. All four had furrowed brows, but upon seeing Yu Qingtan, who was emitting mid-stage Foundation Establishment spiritual power fluctuations, Li Xingruo''s face finally brightened with a smile. "Junior Sister Yu, you''ve actually made a direct breakthrough to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and have be so much more beautiful. It seems you gained a lot from the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, good, good, good!" "All thanks to Senior Sister Li''s care!" Before entering seclusion, Yu Qingtan had sent a Communication Talisman to Li Xingruo, mentioning she had prepared Foundation Establishment Pills and some cultivation resources, ready to break into Foundation Establishment and dedicate time to intensive cultivation. "Come, let me introduce you. Before you, our master had taken four personal disciples, all of whom are here. You already know Wen Jin, your Fourth Senior Sister. This is your Second Senior Sister, Gao Yue; this is your Third Senior Sister, Ni Shuyu. This is the Fifth Junior Sister Yu Qingtan I''ve mentioned to you, who just turned sixteen after the new year, already at mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and who has a deep understanding of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She has debated with the four great schrs of the All-World Academy and is also a Spirit Tailor genius brimming with creativity." "Fifth Junior Sister Qingtan greets Second Senior Sister Gao, Third Senior Sister Ni, Fourth Senior Sister Wen." "Junior Sister shines like the stars!" Second Senior Sister Gao Yue was half a head taller than Yu Qingtan. Umonly sporting short hair, she looked vibrant and vigorous, taking a keen look at Yu Qingtan and praising her. "Junior Sister is truly exceptional!" Third Senior Sister Ni Shuyu, with her long pink hair, clung to Gao Yue''s arm, only reaching up to her shoulder, and meekly made herment, a hint of jealousy in her eyes. "Junior Sister is indeed formidable," the demure Wen Jin sincerelyplimented. "Junior Sister Yu, you''ve arrived at a good time. Our master sent a message back earlier, saying she won''t be returning for the new year, sigh." Li Xingruo sighed. "Where has Master gone for tasks? Is there a problem with noting back for the new year?" Yu Qingtan was curious; in the Cultivation World, there was no need to take holidays for the new year. "In usual years, Master would spend the new year at Xiangfei Garden. Noting back this time, I''m afraid she might be trapped." Gao Yue was somewhat clenched her teeth, but Yu Qingtan was still puzzled. "It''s like this. After Master broke through to thete stage of the Golden Core, she went to Wendao Sect to settle the score with that person. But she hasn''t returned up to now." "That person?" Experience new stories on empire "Yong Li, the real person from Wendao Sect. He once shared a sweet past with Master, but for reasons unknown, they separatedter. Whenever Master asionally mentions him, it''s with deep resentment. Right after her breakthrough, she said she was going to show him what for." Li Xingruo exined, as everyone else showed a look of helplessness. ``` Chapter 140: Real Person Shui Yun, Huangfu Yun "Just this year, Master Xinghe from Wendao Sect sessfully reached Nascent Soul stage. In fifteen days, on the night of the Lantern Festival, we¡¯ll be holding the Nascent Soul Ceremony, and a group from the valley will be attending." "We¡¯ve been discussing whether we should let Junior Sister Wen go, to enquire about our master¡¯s condition and, if possible, bring her back. Now it seems, you¡¯re the only option!" Seeing Yu Qingtan¡¯s confusion, Li Xingruo took the initiative to exin. "During the Nascent Soul Ceremony, there¡¯s usually apetition among the juniors to showcase talents. The more outstanding our disciples are, the more benefits both the sect and the disciples will receive. Therefore, the valley has decided to send cultivators under thirty who are at the Golden Core stage, those under twenty at the Foundation Establishment stage, and those under sixteen in thete stages of Qi Cultivation to participate." "Among the four of us, the youngest, Junior Sister Wen, will turn neen after the New Year. Although she is at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, she¡¯s not adept atbat, and she isn¡¯t interested in participating in such events, so it would be best if you went." "Okay, I¡¯ll go!" Yu Qingtan agreed without a second thought, as she was now starting to consider Core Formation and needed to prepare in all aspects. The Affection Value is crucial among these preparations, and she wouldn¡¯t miss such an opportunity to make an appearance. "Now that you¡¯ve entered Foundation Establishment, I¡¯ll first take you to handle the formalities for bing a true disciple of Tianxiang Valley, receive the corresponding benefits, and to meet the Valley Master. We can report your participation in Wendao Sect¡¯s Nascent Soul Ceremony directly to the Valley Master." "Thank you for the trouble, Senior Sister Li!" After Gao Yue and the others took their leave, Li Xingruo used her willow-leaf-shaped flying spirit artifact to take Yu Qingtan to the General Affairs Hall. On the way, Li Xingruo transferred to Yu Qingtan the earnings of Zhi Lan Pavilion for the past six months, 350,000 Spirit Stones, and asked about Yu Qingtan¡¯s cultivation progress in spells. Yu Qingtan stated that she had already cultivated the Second Stage Object Controlling Technique, Purification Spell, Water de Technique, Water Escape Technique, and Water Curtain Technique. "Yurong was right, you truly are an exceptional talent in the art of techniques. But, ¡¯the taller the tree, the stronger the wind it attracts.¡¯ Remember to keep a low profile." "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister Li. Qingtan understands." She didn¡¯t even reveal how proficient she was, as she also didn¡¯t mention that she had mastered those techniques to perfection. Li Xingruo assumed that based on the foundation of first-stage spells, at most these would only be at a level of minor proficiency by now. "Being promoted to a true disciplees with a reward of one thousand Contribution Points, which you can use at the Scripture Pavilion to exchange for Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art and Heavenly Fragrance Illusory Dance. These are our Tianxiang Valley¡¯s signature techniques. You can exchange for other techniques as you see fit." "Mhm! But Senior Sister Li, why do I feel like Sister Ni doesn¡¯t like me very much?" "Ha, that... don¡¯t mind her; she¡¯s just a bit jealous. She and Second Sister Gao Yue are a couple, and seeing how interested Gao Sister seemed in you, Ni Sister got a little envious. But Gao Sister was just amazed by your talent and appearance. I know their temperament; they won¡¯t hold it against you." "I see!" No wonder the two of them were so affectionate with each other. The two arrived at the General Affairs Hall, where the same Ye-named deacon took care of the true disciple Jade Token and distributed benefits. The deacon was extremely impressed with how quickly Yu Qingtan reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and was very enthusiastic in his service. The benefits included one hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones, a standard-issue second-stage lower-grade spirit sword, a second-stage lower-grade flying spirit sword, a second-stage lower-grade message transmission spirit sword, and one thousand Sect Contribution Points. There was no spiritual garment of the Spiritual Artifact level. She was still issued two sets of pink first-grade superior-quality sect uniforms, which were more intricately embroidered than the previous inner sect disciple¡¯s attire. Since spiritual garments and items above that level are extremely difficult to refine and the materials are scarce, such items are precious and rare. Typically, moremon items are inner armors and armor, which are also on the pricier side among same-level equipment. There were no second-stage Spirit Tailor dresses, as a second-stage Spirit Tailor would surely be a second-stage artifact refiner, so Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t focus on this aspect for the time being. After all, she just wanted to look good; she wasn¡¯t counting on her dress for defense. For example, today, she wore a first-grade superior-quality Spiritual Artifact level pink dress named "Peach Branch Dream", adorned with peach blossoms, which was very pretty. After receiving her items, Yu Qingtan went directly with Li Xingruo on a sword to the Tianxiang Hall, where Valley Master Huangfu Yun practiced and conducted official business. Valley Master Huangfu Yun of Tianxiang Valley, also known as Water Rhyme, a true person at the mere age of twenty-two, is in the early stages of her Golden Core, with a superior grade single Water Spirit Root. She ranks eighty-sixth on the Pride of the Heavens List and twenty-third on the Hundred Flowers List¡ªa being where the attainment of the Nascent Soul is expected. After being reported, Yu Qingtan and another were led by servants into the Tianxiang Hall. The hall was grand, yet exhibited a gentle charm. It was adorned with various exotic flowers and herbs in pots, and seated at the head was a young female cultivator. Her beautiful and imposing features wereplemented by a gorgeous dress, decorated with various pearls and gems. This person, who bore some resemnce to the Queen of the Women¡¯s Kingdom from Yu Qingtan¡¯s previous life, was naturally the Valley Master of Tianxiang Valley, the true person Water Rhyme, Huangfu Yun. "We pay our respects to the Valley Master!" Li Xingruo and Yu Qingtan bowed in salutation. "You may rise! Xing Ruo, this must be Rou Jia¡¯s fifth disciple, Yu Qingtan, I presume. She truly possesses exceptional talent and unrivaled beauty. She is certain to secure a spot in the next Hundred Flowers List." "You tter me, Valley Master!" "Valley Master, my fellow disciple Yu has recently been promoted to a true disciple and hase to pay her respects. Moreover, we would like to have her attend the Nascent Soul Ceremony of Sage Xinghe from the Wendao Sect in fifteen days, to broaden her horizons." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "I remember your record, and I have also heard of your deeds in Tianxiang Immortal City. Not even sixteen and already at the mid-stages of Foundation Establishment¡ªclearly, you are someone of profound fate. It¡¯s indeed good to take this opportunity to see more of the world. Join me in fifteen days for a trip to the Wendao Sect. I notice that the water vapor around you is quite active; you must be focusing on cultivating water attribute spells and techniques, and to a deep level at that. I have a drop of Innate Water of Gui here that will aid inprehending the Path of Water. Let it be a gift upon our first meeting." As she spoke, a jade bottle floated towards Yu Qingtan. "Thank you, Valley Master, for your generous gift." Yu Qingtan was both shocked and delighted, shocked at the true person Water Rhyme¡¯s exceptional insight¡ªthe Path of Water must be near perfection¡ªand delighted to be gifted such a rare treasure. Innate Water of Gui, regardless of grade and in extremely scarce quantity, was invaluable to cultivators pursuing the Path of Water. Even the bottle containing the Innate Water of Gui was made from Deep Sea Soft White Jade, a Second Stage spiritual material. She would not exchange it for a Third Stage high-grade ancient treasure if it was offered to her. Li Xingruo was also envious, but she understood that this was Valley Master Huangfu Yun¡¯s way of wooing and cultivating Yu Qingtan. Thus, even if Yu Qingtan were to join Qunfang Pavilion, All-World Academy, or another ce in the future, she would always remember the kindness of Tianxiang Valley. After leaving Tianxiang Hall, Li Xingruo returned first, and Yu Qingtan went to the Scripture Pavilion. At this time, there were one thousand and forty Sect Contribution Points on her Identity Jade. She went directly to the second floor and exchanged two Second Stage spells, the Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art and Heavenly Fragrance Phantom Dance, each costing two hundred Contribution Points. Continue your adventure at empire She also exchanged for the Second Stage Earth Escape Technique and Invisibility Technique, each costing one hundred Contribution Points. Upon her recent promotion to a true disciple, she had gained ess to the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion. Once there, she found that the selection was much reduced, and there were no more texts avable for free borrowing. Borrowing them also required Contribution Points. Aside from that, there were some Third Stage cultivation techniques and spells. A quick nce by Yu Qingtan revealed that the cheapest were all three thousand Contribution Points. Having no choice, she left the third floor behind. Other Second Stage spells were not urgent for her, so she decided not to exchange Contribution Points for them at the moment. She could copy them from devoteester in exchange for Spirit Stones. Speaking of devotees, she had previously discovered that Song Zhenbo, Qi Hong, Ge Wenxiong, and Hao Can had all established their Golden Cores, while You Xiwang had reached the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation. Chapter 141 Old Friends Come to Visit Trivial Matters Indeed, Ge Wenxiong, the once Wastnd Crystal genius with a single Metal Spirit Root from the Ges, had finally fallen under the pomegranate skirt of Yu Qingtan. The three Second Stage Wastnd Crystals she had given himst time yed a key role in his breakthrough in Body Refinement and Foundation Establishment. Through the system¡¯s information, Yu Qingtan knew that Ge Wenxiong¡¯s Body Refining Techniques were called Shura Body Refinement Art, which had the corresponding Shura Fist Technique, but Yu Qingtan did not copy it. This mode of cultivation through fierce battle was not suitable for a beautiful girl like her. It wasn¡¯t surprising to Yu Qingtan that Qi Hong and Song Zhenbo could achieve Foundation Establishment. She was waiting for their Second Stage Fire Bullet Technique and Second Stage Green Wood Sword Technique to be cultivated to perfection before copying them. What surprised Yu Qingtan the most was Hao Can. As a Loose Cultivator with mediocre talent, it was not easy for him to reach thetter stages of Qi Cultivation, yet he had broken through consecutively in the past year, reaching Foundation Establishment. "Could it be that his luck turned after taking care of his sister-inw Jiang Jinyue?" That¡¯s what Yu Qingtan thought. Logically, Hao Can and Jiang Jinyue were only allowed to enter Tianxiang Valley as apanying persons for Jiang Jinyue¡¯s son, Shen Tinn. Tianxiang Valley wouldn¡¯t have given Hao Can any resources, yet Hao Can made a directeback. Not dwelling on what she couldn¡¯t figure out, Yu Qingtan returned to her small courtyard and started a semi-closed-door cultivation mode, diligently learning the four newly obtained Second Stage Spells. The next day, the first day of the lunar new year, Yu Qingtan and Li Xingruo, among others, gathered for a meal and dined splendidly. The cooking was done by Yu Qingtan and Wen Jin, as it turned out that the three senior sisters were all only good at eating. Meanwhile, the news of Yu Qingtan bing a True Disciple spread within Tianxiang Valley. After all, a True Disciple is the backbone of a sect gate, who might shoulder the responsibility of passing on the sect¡¯s legacy in the future, so the entire sect had to be notified. Luo Xiang, who had just finished a year of confinement, heard the news on the second day of the new year and came to visit Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t turn him away, but Luo Xiang felt a mix of disappointment and an indescribable fondness upon seeing Yu Qingtan¡¯s current appearance. Feeling awkward, Luo Xiang, whose cultivation level was now lower than Yu Qingtan¡¯s, chatted briefly with her before taking his leave. It was said that upon hearing this, Yan Xi sneered repeatedly and publicly belittled Luo Xiang again. On the third day of the new year, Gongsun Yurong, the Tower Master of Tianxiang Pavilion from Suichuan Immortal City, ended her three-year tenure and returned to Tianxiang Valley. Yu Qingtan went to pay a visit to her ¡¯Sister Yunrong¡¯ at the first opportunity and also to meet Qing Wei, the True Master. Gongsun Yurong and the True Master Qing Wei were full of praises for Yu Qingtan¡¯s progress and growth. Gongsun Yurong and Qing Wei were senior and junior disciples of the same lineage, both disciples of True Master Linglu, who had unfortunately passed away. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om True Master Linglu and True Master Rou Jia were close friends in their lifetime, and the two lineages belonged to the same master-disciple sect, having a close rtionship. On the fourth day of the new year, Hao Can, Jiang Jinyue, and Shen Tinn brought a pink-dress loli for a visit. Your next read awaits at empire This pink-dress loli was the one who had previously tried to sell Sound-recording Jade Slips to Yu Qingtan in the Lecture Hall. Yu Qingtan had inquired about her identity from Li Xingruo. The Valley Master¡¯s chief disciple, Xiao Youwei, just like Water Rhythm, the True Master, possessed a superior single Water Spirit Root. She had just turned fourteen years old after the new year and was said to have cultivated to thete stages of Qi Cultivation. Shen Tinn had a superior single Thunder Spiritual Root and had also be a disciple of Water Rhythm, the True Master, making him Xiao Youwei¡¯s junior brother. At eleven years of age, he had just started his cultivation and barely reached the Second Stage of Qi Cultivation. "Sister Yu, do you still remember me?" the young and petite Xiao Youwei asked with a smile upon seeing Yu Qingtan. "Of course, I remember. I also want to thank you for the Sound-recording Jade Slip you sold me, Sister Xiao." "Hehe, but Sister Yu, you¡¯ve be even more beautiful, even more than my master!" "Those words should not be said." On the side, the bun-faced little boy Shen Tinn was staring at Yu Qingtan, his eyes brimming with affection. "This Sister Yu has be so beautiful. It¡¯s really right toe to Tianxiang Valley; if only there were no demon senior sister¡­" Before he could finish his thought, his ear was pinched by Xiao Youwei. "Little brat, get a grip, and greet her properly!" "Ouch~ Sister, please let go!" "Tinn greets Sister Yu!" "What Sister? You should call her Martial Uncle!" His ear was pinched again. "Tinn has seen Uncle-Master Yu." It was so difficult for him. Since True Master Shuiyun and Li Xingruo were of the same generation, which was also the same generation as Yu Qingtan, and Yu Qingtan was one major realm higher than Shen Tinn, being called Uncle-Master was technically correct. However, people generally didn¡¯t fuss over these confusing generational issues. Xiao Youwei took Shen Tinn to one side, and finally, Hao Can and Jiang Jinyue had the chance to join the conversation, "We¡¯ve met Fellow Daoist Yu, congrattions to Fellow Daoist Yu on bing a True Disciple!" "Brother Hao and Fellow Daoist Jiang are too kind, I also congratte Brother Hao on his Foundation Establishment." Hao Can had not specifically cultivated a technique to conceal his aura, so it was not surprising that his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment was noticed. "Thanks to Fellow Daoist Yu¡¯s blessing!" "How is Fellow Daoist Jiang faring in the valley?" "I mainly take care of this child, Tinn. I¡¯m living very well!" After chatting for over an hour, Hao Can and the others took their leave. Yu Qingtan could see that Hao Can still harbored affection for her, and nothing had happened between him and his sister-inw, Jiang Jinyue. On the fifth day of the new year. Two named disciples of True Master Rou Jia, Bai Xun and Fang Qi, came to plead guilty. "Sister Yu, we were disrespectful to you before, having eyes but failing to recognize Mount Tai. We earnestly beg for Sister Yu¡¯s forgiveness!" Bai Xun and Fang Qi knelt down and begged for mercy. Yu Qingtan had also inquired about these two from Li Xingruo. They were both descendants of ancestors from within the valley who had passed away, and because their aptitudes were decent, they were taken in as named disciples by True Master Rou Jia. Unfortunately, both werezy in their cultivation and not very useful. After the conflict with Yu Qingtanst time, Bai Xun kept pestering the deputy master of the Law Enforcement Hall, Pang Zaisi, ate-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Because of her considerable dowry, Pang Zaisi ultimately could not resist the temptation and took Bai Xun as a concubine. Yes, Pang Zaisi already had a Daopanion, but it was unknown how he managed to appease her. Pang Zaisi belonged to the neutral faction; it wouldn¡¯t hurt Yu Qingtan to give him some face, especially since she didn¡¯t lose out much during the conflict at that time. "Sister Bai, get up. Just be more careful with your behavior and actions in the future!" "Thank you for forgiving me, Sister Yu. Bai Xun will definitely keep in mind your teachings." Bai Xun felt relieved; although she had the backing of Pang Zaisi, if she offended this True Disciple with boundless prospects, Pang Zaisi might not necessarily be willing to protect her. "Fang Qi, you know exactly what you¡¯ve done. Get lost, and don¡¯t show up before me again!" Yu Qingtan then looked at Fang Qi with disgust and said coldly. From the belongings left by Ruan Fan, she knew that Fang Qi had long been involved with Ruan Fan. It was likely that Fang Qi was the one who had reported her whereabouts when Ruan Fan ambushed her. For such a traitor who had sided with n factions, if she were not so harmless and weren¡¯t for the rules of the sect, Yu Qingtan would have even wanted to kill her; how could she possibly choose to forgive? Upon hearing this, Fang Qi¡¯s face turned deathly pale, and she twisted her head to look at her close friend, hoping that Bai Xun would speak on her behalf. Unfortunately, Bai Xun pretended not to see her. Although Bai Xun was not clever, Pang Zaisi had already made her realize her so-called close friend¡¯s true nature, and they hadn¡¯t been in close contact recently. If it weren¡¯t for Fang Qiing to her today, insisting that they go together to beg for Yu Qingtan¡¯s forgiveness, Bai Xun was nning toe on her own in a couple of days. After leaving the house, Fang Qi nced back at Bai Xun and Yu Qingtan¡¯s courtyard resentfully and left. Chapter 142 The Arrival of Tian Xiang at Wendao Sect In the following days, Yu Qingtan wasn''t disturbed by anyone anymore. Before the tenth day of the month, Yu Qingtan finally managed to grasp the basics of the Second Stage Earth Escape Skill, Invisibility Technique, Heavenly Fragrance Illusion Dance, and Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art. With the First Stage Earth Escape Skill, Invisibility Technique, and Illusion Dance Technique as a foundation, and after using the remaining three Third Stage Spell Upgrade Cards, she reached perfection directly. As for the Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, thanks to the muscle memory from using Luo Xiang''s "Love''s Protection," her cultivation went smoothly. She currently didn''tck offensive methods, so she could practice slowly in her spare time. On the eleventh day of the first month, Yu Qingtan received a summon from the Valley Master and hurried to Tianxiang Hall. When she arrived inside the hall, there were already quite a few cultivators present, and more were continually arriving. Lady Shui Yun, still sitting in the foremost position, silently waited after everyone paid their respects to the Valley Master. After waiting the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, Lady Shui Yun, seeing that everyone had arrived, stood up and said, "Now that everyone is here, we will set off for Wendao Sect." With that, she went outside Tianxiang Hall and brought out a small boat. The boat expanded in the breeze, transforming into a massive flying boat thirty zhang long and three zhang wide, with three floors in height. The flying boat was styled in various shades of pink and decorated with a variety of floral patterns, rightfully named the Tian Xiang, Tianxiang Valley''s inherited Third Stage Flying Boat. Yu Qingtan had already learned about those who were heading to Wendao Sect this time. Three Golden Core cultivators led the group, including Valley Master Huangfu Yun, Deputy Hall Master of the Battle Hall Zixin True Person, and Deputy Hall Master of the Daoist Hall Luo Youzhi True Person. Zixin True Person was the same one who had lectured at the Lecture Hall when Yu Qingtan visited¡ªthe Zixin Sword''s Zixin who, at the age of twenty-six, formed his Golden Core and became a True Person with the Daoist name Zixin, a neutral party member. Luo Youzhi True Person, Luo Youzhi, the youngest Golden Core Cultivator of the Luos at twenty-eight years old. His two n brothers, Luo Youliang and Luo Duowen, were also Golden Core Cultivators, with Luo Duowen True Person, Luo Duowen being Luo Xiang''s father. There were ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Among those Yu Qingtan knew were only Yan Xi and Lin Fengmian. Yan Xi, neen years old, had suffered great losses in the early stages in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm but made a full recovery in Thousand Beasts Mountain and had already broken through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Yan Xi''s beautiful eyes asionally nced at Yu Qingtan, who in return red back, causing Yan Xi''s chest to heave with emotion. Lin Fengmian, the mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator who hade to Suichuan Immortal City with Li Xingruo, Yan Xi, and Wen Jin, had just turned neen and was the prime disciple of Tianxiang Immortal City''s City Lord Li Xueying, a member of the neutral party. Lin Fengmian nodded to Yu Qingtan as a greeting, to which she responded with a slight smile. As for the remaining seven people, Yu Qingtan only knew their basic information, which included: Xiang Yiyi, the disciple of Qing Wei True Person, eighteen years old, early-stage Foundation Establishment; Shui Qingrou, the younger martial sister of Valley Master Shui Yun, neen years old, mid-stage Foundation Establishment; Yan Shu from the Yan family, Yan Xi''s n brother, neen years old, early-stage Foundation Establishment; Luo Ren of the Luos, neen years old, early-stage Foundation Establishment, Luo Xiang''s n cousin; Ou Lu of the Ou family, eighteen years old, early-stage Foundation Establishment, from a family faction; Luo Chen, a disciple of Danxia True Person, Hall Master of the Elixir Hall, neen years old, early-stage Foundation Establishment, a member of the neutral party, with no rtion to Luo Xiang''s Luo family; Jing Ke, a disciple of the Battle Hall, neen years old, early-stage Foundation Establishment, part of the neutral party.N?v(el)B\\jnn Twenty Qi Practitioners, with Xu Youwei being the only one Yu Qingtan recognized. Shen Tinn, who was too young and had just started practicing, did note. Once the Tian Xiang stabilized, a gangnk was lowered, and everyone began to board the flying boat one after the other. As they arrived on the deck, Valley Master Shui Qingrou, also known as Huangfu Yun, said, "On this trip to the Wendao Sect, everyone should perform well and showcase the elegance of Tianxiang Valley. Those who perform exceptionally will be handsomely rewarded." For this visit, the Sect Gate automatically assigned tasks to the chosen disciples'' Identity Jades, and upon Yu Qingtan''s return to the Sect, he would be able to receive a reward of a thousand Sect Contribution Points. Stay updated via empire After Shui Qingrou finished speaking, she transformed into an Escape Light and disappeared onto the third floor of the Tianxiang vessel. Zixin, also known as Zixuan the Genuine, followed her to the third floor, while Luo Youzhi, also known as Youzhi the Genuine, took out a Communication Talisman and a Jade Token and said to the crowd, "I will handle some of the minor matters of this visit; you can contact me through this Communication Talisman if needed. Now, Foundation Establishment Cultivators, go to the second floor; Qi Practitioners, stay on the first floor. Use the Formation Jade to find your own rooms by their assigned numbers and cultivate well." As he spoke, he distributed the Communication Talismans and Jade Tokens to everyone using the Object Controlling Technique. Everyone received them and did as instructed. Yu Qingtan, controlling his sword, arrived on the second floor and, using his Formation Jade, found and entered his own room. Inside was a neat little room with a toothed bed and a square table. "Hummm~" With a clear hum, the Tianxiang vessel was enveloped by a transparent shield and then shot towards the sky, speeding forward. A good third-stage Flying Boat can typically reach the escape velocity of a newly-advanced Nascent Soul Cultivator, which is about a hundred thousand miles per hour. Tianxiang Valley is approximately two million five hundred thousand miles from the Wendao Sect, so even at the speed of the Tianxiang vessel, it would take two days to fly there. At a flying altitude of around a hundred miles, the third-stage Flying Boat is so high and fast that you can''t see anything outside. During the flight, the interior was very stable, and Yu Qingtan continued to cultivate the Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art. The journey was smooth, encountering no twists or hindrances. Two dayster, the Flying Boat finally arrived at its destination. The Wendao Sect was located atop Mount Wendao. Mount Wendao, rising fifty thousand ren high, approximately one hundred seventy miles, was surrounded by the massive walls of Wendao Immortal City. As they neared Wendao Immortal City, the Tianxiang vessel slowed down and Yu Qingtan and the others promptly left their rooms, heading to the deck to look up at the towering Wendao Mountain and the majestic Wendao Immortal City. After disembarking from the Flying Boat and looking at the distant city walls that stood two hundred zhang high, Yu Qingtan and the others felt an ant-like insignificance. Compared to Suichuan Immortal City and Tianxiang Immortal City, Wendao Immortal City made them seem like nothing more than remote backwaters. Wendao Immortal City, circrly encircling Mount Wendao, has a diameter of about three thousand miles and covers approximately two million five hundred thousand acres where more than a billion Cultivators reside. The Flying Boatnded at a Flying Boat field in the Outer City, after which everyone boarded a gigantic triangr horse-drawn carriage, traveling along a broad, smooth road towards the Inner City. The carriage, arranged specially by the Wendao Sect to receive guests attending the Nascent Soul Ceremony, was drawn by triangr horses three zhang tall, emitting the aura ofte-stage Second Stage Major Demons. The coachman, surprisingly, was an elderly Foundation Establishment Cultivator in theter phases. Apart from the three Genuine individuals, everyone else peered out of the windows, their eyes shining with excitement, as if they were Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. Even Yu Qingtan was no exception. Even in her previous life, she had never seen such a colossal city. Upon thinking of the more than a billion Cultivators within it, Yu Qingtan''s heart surged with excitement, for she was determined to cash in on this ''crop.'' However, due to the presence of Golden Core Genuine individuals, everyone refrained from chatting freely. As the carriage passed through the city wall and entered the Inner City, Shui Qingrou spoke up, "That''s about enough. From now on, do not act too surprised or rmed to avoid bing the subject of ridicule." Everyone immediately straightened their expressions and assented repeatedly. Chapter 143 Beating Up Fatty Tiger Inside the Pavilion of Listening Waves The triangr carriage continued to dash for more than an hour after it entered the Inner City, before finally stopping next to a five-story tall inn. On the way, Real Person Shuirun gave a brief introduction to the basic situation of Wendao Immortal City. "Wendao Immortal City, with its Inner City protected by a Fourth Stage Ten Extremes Protective Array, central Mount Wendao has a Fifth Stage Ten Extremes Protective Array. Whether it''s the Outer City, Inner City or Mount Wendao, private dueling is prohibited, but there are a lot of Dueling tforms. Most areas within the city prohibit flying for Cultivators below the Nascent Soul, and one needs to use beast-drawn carriages within the city and the Sect''s Flying Boat to go to Mount Wendao. ... When everyone arrived at the entrance of the inn, they saw a signboard hanging over the doorway with the words "Pavilion of Listening Waves" written on it. To either side of the door was a couplet: Only fitting for an immortal''s abode, ask a fellow Daoist, from which seas or peaks do youe; And bestow the spiritual rain, taste myriad forms of life, kept within this cave of heaven. Upon entering the Pavilion of Listening Waves, the first thing that caught the eye was a waterfall in the center of the hall that flowed upwards from below, with misty water vapor drifting from the falls and filling the air. The surrounding buildings and houses were embedded into the stone walls, embellished with various exotic flowers and nts, making one feel as though they were in an immortal''s cave heaven. "Yo, isn''t that Real Person Shuirun? Howe you''re sote, did some young master trip you up?" While Real Person Youzhi was handling check-in procedures for the group, a line of people emerged from a sightseeing elevator nearby, and the mboyantly dressed leading female Cultivator, seeing Real Person Shuirun, immediately issued a provocation. "Ying Dang, wasst time''s swelling not enough for you?" Real Person Shuirun stared coldly at the neer, speaking icily. Since attending the Wendao Sect''s Nascent Soul ceremony was a group event, Yu Qingtan and the others were all wearing their Sect''s uniform, as other Sects generally did. From the distinctive but more coquettish pink uniforms of Ying Dang Real Person and her group, Yu Qingtan recognized them as Cultivators from Charm Immortal Cave. "Humph,st time you merely took advantage of your Magical Treasures. Now that I have mastered my Lifebound Magical Treasure as well, the situation is entirely different." The Cultivator from Charm Immortal Cave, Ying Dang, ced her left hand on her slender waist while pointing at Shuirun, responding with a snort. "So much nonsense, if you''re brave enough, let''s settle it on the Dueling tform!" Real Person Shuirun replied with disdain. "Why not, but since the Pavilion of Listening Waves only has a Second Stage Dueling tform, why not let a couple of juniors take our ces. If your side loses, you return the Third Stage Spiritual Fire you took from me, and if we lose, I won''t pursue the matter of that Spiritual Fire anymore." "You really have some nerve, bringing this up so directly. I agree to the conditions for the juniors dueling, but if you lose, you have to give me another portion of Third Stage Spiritual Fire." Real Person Shuirun replied with a coldugh. "Good, let''s agree to that!" Ying Dang Real Person revealed a triumphant smile, eagerly agreeing. By now, Real Person Youzhi hadpleted the registration, and many guests who had already checked in came out upon hearing themotion to watch the excitement. The group moved to a huge hall-like building in the backyard of the Pavilion of Listening Waves; in the center was a hundred-yard diameter stage, a smaller Dueling tform, always guarded by enforcers from the Immortal City. "Fat Tiger, you''re up. Win and I''ll reward you tonight." Ying Dang Real Person said to a burly young man standing behind her. Fat Tiger''s eyes sparkled at this, and he leapt onto the Dueling tform, unabashedly releasing his own powerful aura. "Ate-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator with Body Refinement? Isn''t this guy even older than you?" Real Person Shuirun''s expression changed as she challenged. It was generally assumed that the Cultivators participating in this Nascent Soul ceremony were the Sects'' geniuses, and Fat Tiger obviously didn''t fit that category. "If you can''t beat him, just admit defeat, don''t make excuses." Ying Dang smiled, her mouth almost splitting with glee. Real Person Shuirun, at a loss for words, realized that without shame, one truly is invincible. Initially, she thought her junior sister disciple, Shui Qingrou, was almost unbeatable among the genius Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Golden Core level Sects. But faced with a Foundation Establishmentte-stage body cultivator, under the constraints of the dueling tform, she stood no chance of victory. The Second Stage dueling tform does not permit the use of Charm Treasure, Ancient Treasure, or any other means above the Third Stage, and the cramped space obviously favored those body cultivators who fought at close quarters. Ordinaryw cultivators, when approached by body cultivators of the same stage, were almost certainly doomed, let alone when the opponent was a small realm higher. Shui Qingrou also understood that her senior sister initially wanted her to step forward. Clenching her teeth, she moved one step ahead, and then she couldn''t move any further. Shui Yun, the truth-seeker, stopped her because she knew that Shui Qingrou was no match for Fatty Tiger, and it didn''t matter if she gave away the Spiritual Fire since she wouldn''t be able to use it anyway. Then, she saw Yu Qingtan leap straight forward and jump onto the dueling tform. "Tianxiang Valley, Yu Qingtan, please enlighten me!" "Charming Fairy Cave, Han Fatty Tiger, please enlighten me!" Fatty Tiger revealed a big white-toothed grin and leered at Yu Qingtan as he spoke. A formation barrier formed on the tform. Below the tform, Shui Yun, the truth-seeker, felt somewhat relieved but also anxious. Shui Qingrou, Xiang Yiyi, and others admired Yu Qingtan greatly, while only Yan Xi, Yan Shu, and Luo Ren frowned. "Loves to show off, overestimating her own abilities!" Yan Xi even muttered under her breath. The onlookers all secretly felt it was a pity, such a beauty shouldn''t be damaged in the fight. Enjoy more content from empire On the tform, Fatty Tiger had alreadyunched the first attack. With a thrust of his hind legs, he was in front of Yu Qingtan in the blink of an eye, delivering a ck Tiger Heart Pluck straight toward her chest.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Seeing that Yu Qingtan neither used an Escape Technique to dodge nor a talisman or spiritual artifact to defend or counterattack, Fatty Tiger''s face revealed a smug smile, as he changed his punch into a palm strike. Immediately, his smile froze on his face as he let out a pained growl. Because Yu Qingtan''s slender left fist swung out, hitting Fatty Tiger''s palm, stopping it dead in its tracks, while her right leg fiercely kicked out, delivering a Dynasty-Ending Kick. "She''s actually a Foundation Establishmentte-stage body cultivator, and this youngdy can''t be older than twenty, right?" The onlookers were shocked. Body refinement was not only excruciatingly painful but also slow to advance, and it required a lot of resources. Reaching this stage of body refinement at such a young age was no easy feat. Moreover, everyone present knew that Tianxiang Valley was a sect ofw cultivators. "Could it be that Yu Qingtan is practicing dual Cultivation of Law and Body?" From the expressions of those from Tianxiang Valley, such as Shui Qingrou''s admiration, Yan Xi''s discontent, and Xiao Youwei''s excitement, the onlookers knew their guess was correct and in their hearts, they gasped in awe. On the tform, although Fatty Tiger was kicked, he was still a Foundation Establishmentte-stage body cultivator with no weak points on his body, not enough to be taken down instantly. Grimacing, he retreated to create distance. Yu Qingtan took the initiative to chase after him using the Water Escape Technique,bining punches and kicks in her attack. Although she didn''t practice any specific body techniques, she had copied a lot of mortal martial arts using "Love''s Tribute" from her devotee, so her moves had form and style. Additionally, her divine sense was strong, and she always used the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique, allowing her to predict her opponent''s moves and strike at his weak defenses. Below the tform, everyone watching Yu Qingtan dominate Fatty Tiger couldn''t help but smile, while the face of Ying Dang, the truth-seeker, was as dark as pot ash. "Fatty Tiger, if you lose, don''te to see me anymore!" Ying Dang, the truth-seeker, shouted angrily with clenched teeth. "Ah~" On hearing this, Fatty Tiger let out a loud roar, his blood qi surged, and his power and momentum greatly increased, shaking off Yu Qingtan who was attacking him, and he took out a set of armor and a pair of gauntlets to wear. "Blood Ignition Secret Technique, huh?" Yu Qingtan''s cute eyes narrowed. Chapter 144 Testing Skills and Gaining Spiritual Fire Wendao Immortal City, inside the Pavilion of Listening Waves, upon the Dueling tform. Facing the fat tiger who had used the Blood Ignition Secret Technique and was decked out in a Second Stage top-grade Spiritual Artifact suit raging with power, Yu Qingtan chose to temporarily avoid his sharp edge. The Blood Ignition Secret Technique was amonly seen secret technique among body cultivators, with rather severe aftereffects and a duration not exceeding a quarter of an hour. Therefore, Yu Qingtan decided to drag it out since she would conceal her tactics as much as possible. At this moment, she simply employed the fully proficient Water Escape Technique. Her speed was slower by a marginpared to the fat tiger post-rage. Given the constraints of the Dueling tform, logically speaking, the fat tiger should have easily closed in on her. Unfortunately, under the guidance of the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique, Yu Qingtan was always able to predict hisnding point in time by observing the fat tiger''s muscle exertions and pre-movements, causing him to miss. Faced with such an elusive adversary, the fat tiger became increasingly agitated and impulsive. Readtest stories on empire "Just knowing how to dodge, what kind of hero is this!" He actually started talking nonsense, eliciting a round of snickers from the onlookers, while Yu Qingtan simply turned a deaf ear. Her flowing dress gave no hint of a humiliating escape; instead, she resembled a sprite dancing among the flowers, effortlessly toying with her opponent. Of course, the beauty filter yed a crucial role. No matter where, it was a world that looks at the face. Finally, after a quarter of an hour, the fat tiger''s momentum plummeted. Before Yu Qingtan even had to counter-attack, the fat tiger leaped down from the Dueling tform. "Hmph~" True Person Ying Dang snorted coldly and, casting a Spiritual Fire towards True Person Shui Qingrou, walked towards the exit. The people of the Wonderful Sound Pavilion quickly followed suit. Yu Qingtan performed a Purification Spell on herself and gracefully floated down from the Dueling tform. Although her beauty was at its peak at this time, she didn''t stand out particrly among the surrounded beauty; at this point, one needed strength, talent, temperament, etc., to further distinguish oneself. Undoubtedly, at this moment, Yu Qingtan was the most dazzling in the arena. "Qingtan, well done! This Third Stage Spiritual Fire you have won shall be yours." True Person Shui Qingrou smiled brightly as she took a red jade bottle out of her Storage Ring, ced the Spiritual Fire given by True Person Ying Dang into it, and presented it to Yu Qingtan. "Thank you, Valley Master, for the reward!" Yu Qingtan did not demur; one of the key reasons she had stepped onto the tform was for this Spiritual Fire. The Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover she obtained from Gao Shen of the Extreme Path Demon Sect had just recently recovered two pythons. Surely, with the Third Stage Spiritual Fire, it would recover quickly. "Shui Qingrou, your Tianxiang Valley sure has raised a good seedling!" "Shui Qingrou, well done! I''ve found Ying Dang unpleasant for a long time." "Shui Qingrou, shall we go shopping in the Immortal City togetherter?" "..." The Golden Core True Persons among the crowd began to converse with True Person Shui Qingrou. This Pavilion of Listening Waves was specially set up by the Wendao Sect for Nascent Soul level sects like Qunfang Pavilion and its affiliated forces. The cultivators of Qunfang Pavilion hadn''t arrived yet; other than Tianxiang Valley, there were cultivators from Lotus Gate, Wonderful Sound Pavilion, Heavenly Garment Pavilion, in Pill Sect, Parasite Groom City, and other forces. Wonderful Sound Pavilion also belonged to Qunfang Pavilion''s affiliated forces, dealing in the trade of the flesh and tacitly ostracized by other affiliated forces. Lotus Gate specialized in the dual cultivation of women; Wonderful Sound Pavilion was primarily formed of sound cultivators; Heavenly Garment Pavilion mainly dealt in cultivator garments; in Pill Sect focused on pill refinement; Parasite Groom City mainly trained parasite grooms for the Qunfang Pavilion and its affiliated forces. After some polite exchanges among the several Golden Core Cultivators, True Person Shui Qingrou excused themselves citing freshness from travel and the need for rest, leading the Tianxiang Valley group away to their amodation. Golden Core Cultivators lived on the third floor, Foundation Establishment on the second, and Qi Cultivation on the first. Only Xiao Youwei followed True Person Shui Qingrou to the third floor, to stay together. ``` There was no helping it, who could me them for being the favored personal disciples? In the guest room, adorned with a naturally scenic decor, Yu Qingtan paid no attention to the surroundings as she set up a warning formation and took out the Third Stage Spiritual Fire and the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover to begin the repair work. Previously when Gao Shen used it, the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover was supposed to have nine Second Stage Spiritual Fires, barely exhibiting the power of a low-grade treasure. ording to Yu Qingtan''s half-year of refining, she understood that when the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover was initially made, the nine fire pythons wereposed of one Fourth Stage Spiritual Fire and eight Third Stage Spiritual Fires, reaching the power of a Supreme Treasure. As the Third Stage Spiritual Fire was infused, the weakest of the Second Stage Spiritual Fires was devoured, and under the guidance of Yu Qingtan''s Spiritual Power, a fire python radiating intense heat took form, coiling itself atop the Nine Pythons Mysterious Fire Cover. "Indeed a precious treasure! If I could also get the Third Stage Spiritual Fire from Senior Sister Shui Yun, I''d be able to restore it to a low-grade treasure." Afterpleting the refining, Yu Qingtan was quite satisfied. At that moment, there was a knock on the door.N?v(el)B\\jnn When Yu Qingtan opened the door, she found Xiang Yiyi and Shui Qingrou hade together. "Junior Sister Yu, wee uninvited, please forgive us!" Shui Qingrou was as beautiful as a distinguished youngdy from the water towns of the Jiangnan region in a previous life, and her voice was very gentle. "Not at all, I should have visited the two Senior Sisters first." "Hehe, let''s not be so formal, Junior Sister Yu, are you really only sixteen years old, as the master said? You''re too strong!" Xiang Yiyi was like the girl next door, seemingly more lively by nature. "I had some opportunities in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, and I was lucky in Tianxiang Immortal City thanks to Uncle Qing Wei''s care." "So you dared to venture into the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, no wonder you have such cultivation. You call this a ''small opportunity,'' but Yan Xi also went to the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm and only slightly raised one realm." "..." Girls naturally found it easy to talk with each other, and the three of them quickly became engrossed in conversation, discussing cultivation, clothing, experiences, men, and more for over an hour. This was also due to all three of them being from the same master-disciple tradition; had it not been for the training during the operations of Tianxiang Pavilion in Suichuan Immortal City, Yu Qingtan might not have been able to keep up with their pace of conversation. After they finished chatting, it was nearly midday, and the three women decided to take a stroll around Wendao Immortal City. They arrived at the Pavilion of Listening Waves front desk to inquire and found that the city had thoughtfully provided maps for sale, a thousand Spirit Stones each. Without even blinking, the wealthy Shui Qingrou bought one, and then the three headed to the nearest market street. Just as they were about to leave, six male Foundation Establishment Cultivators sitting in the lobby approached them. "Three beauties, are you about to browse the Immortal City? Would you need somepany? We guarantee to be more professional than local guides!" The six men were disciples from Parasite Groom City, presumably waiting for an opportunity to present itself; it was apparent they had put considerable effort into their proposal. "No, thank you!" Shui Qingrou declined gently, while Xiang Yiyi and Yu Qingtan also shook their heads; they had no intention of seeking parasite grooms, despite the possibility that some among them could be hidden dragons or crouching tigers. Watching the trio, especially Yu Qingtan, walk away, the six men sighed in unison. To their seasoned eyes, Yu Qingtan was the most beautiful in the Pavilion of Listening Waves. All three were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and as they walked, looked around, and chatted, they reached the nearest market in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Unexpectedly, just as they entered the market, a figure exuding a bloody aura and dressed as a shopkeeper sped toward them. Based on the presence of Spiritual Power, it was clear the figure had reached the False Golden Core cultivation level. Behind the figure was a team of cultivators from the Enforcement Team of Wendao Immortal City, chasing after this person. ``` Chapter 145 Building the Dream Path, but in the End, Its Just a Dream The cultivator being pursued had a face filled with despair and frenzy, deliberately crashing into the stalls beside the street and the pedestrians on the road. The people on the street scrambled to get out of the way, but still over a dozen Qi Practitioners were struck, their blood scattering across the marketce in pieces. His external pill wasn''t strong, and his power barely reached the Golden Core level, and since the Ten Extremes Protective Array in the Inner City had an effect of prohibiting flight, he did not dare to escape using flight; instead, the disciples of the Enforcement Team rode their swords in pursuit. The disciples of the Enforcement Team were only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and even while riding swords, they were still just a notch slower than him. "Quick, get out of the way!" Shui Qingrou urgently said and quickly darted to one side, Xiang Yiyi also promptly moved away from her original position without any hesitation. Yu Qingtan also moved, but not to get away¡ªinstead, she charged towards the faux Golden Core cultivator. The faux Golden Core cultivator saw a Foundation Establishment Cultivator daring to rush at him and a Wolverine-like w appeared on his right fist, only it was blood red in color. Blood w Technique. In response to the w, a pair of ws also appeared on Yu Qingtan''s hands, shing against the opponent''s ws. Continue your journey with empire It was that same pair from the Heavenly Demon Eagle Jiu Kong. With her Body Refinement Foundation Establishmentte-stage strength, she unexpectedly managed to halt him. Just as the Enforcement Team cultivators were about to catch up, the faux Golden Core cultivator''s eyes filled with bloodshot veins, and his face revealed a crazed smile, his Dantian emitting a violent aura. Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi''s faces were filled with anxiety. In reality, they too could stop this man, even with several Golden Core Cultivators present on the scene. However, a desperate faux Golden Core Cultivator, if he were to self-destruct his false core, it would be difficult even for Golden Core Cultivators to easily withstand it, and there was little benefit to be had¡ªwhy should anyone step forward to take the lead? However, Yu Qingtan, seeing Qi Practitioners torn to pieces, simply couldn''t stand by¡ªafter all, these were human lives! She wasn''t senselesslypassionate either; after all, even if the false core were to explode, she had means to block it. Otherwise, even if she had the kindest heart, she would not have acted. Just as she was preparing to use the Cann Umbre, which had undergone a simple exterior modification, to block the faux Golden Core cultivator''s self-destruction, a cyan Escape Light shifted to the airspace not far behind the man as if it had teleported. "Stabilizing Spirit!" As the words fell, the faux Golden Core cultivator not only became immobilized but the process of his false core''s self-destruction also seemed as though it had been frozen. Immediately afterward, a Wind de arrived in an instant, slicing the man into two halves; a pigeon egg-sized external pill covered with blood veins and a storage bag flew into the hands of the neer. Mind Immobilizing Spell, Stabilizing Spirit Spell, Spirit Fixation Spell¡ªthese are all rare, difficult to learn, and exceptionally powerful spells, capable of immobilizing the body, spiritual power cirction, and soul consciousness, respectively, with thetter including the effects of the former spells. The one used just now was the Stabilizing Spirit Spell. The neer was dressed in a low-cut green shirt, with long green hair on his head, a pair of cyan wings on his back, handsome features, and a debonair appearance¡ªit was Feng Buji from Wendao Sect. Ranked thirty-first on the Pride of the Heavens List, at the early Golden Core stage. The effectiveness of Mind Immobilizing Spell, Stabilizing Spirit Spell, and Spirit Fixation Spell increases with a greater disparity in realms of cultivation. For a Golden Core on the Pride of the Heavens List dealing with a mere faux Golden Core cultivator, it was naturally a piece of cake. "It''s you, Tianxiang Valley''s Yu Qingtan, you''ve already reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment¡ªand eventer stage in Body Refinement. Tsk tsk, you''ve certainly grown quite a bit!" Feng Buji sized up Yu Qingtan, crossing his arms in front of his chest, and said. "Qing Tan pays respects to Senior Feng. Thank you for showing mercyst time," Yu Qingtan said, still feeling that his green hair was too ring and rebellious.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Whatever you''ve imed is yours, no need for any senior title, just call me senior brother. Hmm, would you like to join Wendao Sect? I can take disciples on behalf of my teacher; that way, you''d truly be my junior sister." "My master, the Venerable Shenfeng of Wendao Sect, you should have heard of him," Yu Qingtan had indeed heard of Venerable Shenfeng, known as Feng Wuyue, whose power ranked in the top three of Wendao Sect. "Thank you for your generous affection, Senior Brother Feng, but I already have a master, and besides, I do not possess the Wind Spirit Root." "That''s true, we''ll talk about it another time. However, it''s a waste to simply use the ws of Ying Jiukong as a weapon; it''s extravagant and not pleasing to the eye. You give it to me, andter, I''ll ask Old Fire to help refine a set of Treasured Swords for you as a reward for intercepting that person this time." "Thank you, Senior Brother Feng." Yu Qingtan did not hesitate to take out the ws of Ying Jiukong that he had just put away and hand them over to Feng Buji, thinking to himself that Feng Buji was indeed generous! Even his green hair seemed less irritating now. By this time, the Enforcement Team members had finished processing the scene, and a squad leader came over to report the situation to Feng Buji. Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi also returned to Yu Qingtan''s side, and Feng Buji merely nodded to them as a greeting. Feng Buji''s conversation with the squad leader wasn''t concealed from Yu Qingtan and the others, allowing Yu Qingtan to learn about the situation. It turned out that a month before the Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony, Wendao Sect had already started a crackdown within the sect and Wendao Immortal City, weeding out many corrupt andw-breaking elements, as well as undercover agents from enemy forces and members of wicked powers. The major part of the crackdown had essentially concluded before the New Year, but asionally, a few fish would slip through the. The fake pill cultivator today was the shopkeeper of the Dream-weaving Dao Lottery Pavilion in the market. Dao Cai refers to the lottery in the Cultivation World, which ims: "Whether you buy a lot or a little, make sure you buy, for early orte, eventually you will win." Because a jackpot of over a hundred million Spirit Stones would surface every few years, and even tens of millions were won annually, countless cultivators went crazy over it. To protect the safety of the winners, those who imed the prize would wear fourth-stage cloaks and masks that concealed their spirit and appearance. However, a few winners of the tens of millions in Spirit Stones chose to reveal their identities, and those who won smaller prizes appeared from time to time, making the Dao Cai business extremely booming. As a result, today in Pleasant Fragrance Courtyard, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator got drunk on Spiritual Wine and bragged to thedies that he was the nephew of the shopkeeper from the Dream-weaving Dao Lottery Pavilion. He had already won the hundred-million Spirit Stones Dao Cai jackpot three times, and although he could only take one percent, he was already a man of substantial Spirit Stones, urging thedies to serve him well. Then, one of thedies from Pleasant Fragrance Courtyard went to the Enforcement Team to report this matter because they had also bought quite a few Dao Cai tickets. Upon investigating, the Enforcement Team found the im to be true and promptly went to arrest the individual. However, the shopkeeper of Dream-weaving Dao Lottery Pavilion, upon realizing that his cover was blown, revealed his concealed fake pill cultivation, injured an Enforcement Team member, and fled. The Enforcement Team immediately ignited a sect distress signal and set out after him. Feng Buji, who was nearby on other business, saw the distress signal and rushed over. "That''s enough, there are definitely people backing him; I will report to the Sect Leader and thoroughly investigate this matter," said Feng Buji. He then exchanged the spiritual power signature for their Message-Transmitting Flying Swords with Yu Qingtan before leaving. "Wow, Qing Tan, you actually know Senior Feng, I''m so envious, Senior Feng is so handsome!" Xiang Yiyi said with admiration in her eyes. "A God Transformation Venerable as your master, and you turned him down!" Shui Qingrou was shocked by another aspect. "It''s mere coincidence. Tianxiang Valley has been incredibly kind to me; how could I casually switch allegiances? Yiyi, Qing Rou, let''s continue our stroll in the market!" Having two great beauties apany me on a shopping spree is something I wouldn''t have even dared to dream of in my past life. Chapter 146 A Regretful Incident at Taste of the Sea "Taste of the Sea, let''s choose this ce; I''ve never tried seafood before?" After browsing for a while, Yu Qingtan pointed to a restaurant slightly ahead on the left, rmending it. Xiang Yiyi and Shui Qingrou dly epted, and the three of them stepped into the store named "Taste of the Sea," where a young waiter''s eyes lit up as he approached. "Wee, three beauties, would you like the hall or a private room?" "Private room!" "Alright, thank you for choosing our restaurant. We have a variety of seafood, most of which is made to order, ensuring your satisfaction..." The waiter showed the three women to a second-floor private room while introducing them to the ce. In the center of the main hall of the restaurant, there was a cylindrical, three-story-tall transparent aquarium filled with various types of fish, shrimp, shellfish, and crabs moving about. "All of the seafood in our restaurantes from the Sea n, which possess exceptional spiritual energy and delicious vors. We have sashimi, cured fish, stir-fry, soup, barbecue, and all kinds of cooking methods. Since all three of you are Foundation Establishment Cultivators, I rmend..." The Sea n is actually sea monsters, which after who knows how many years of evolution, have developed quite a few differences from thend-based demonic beasts, hence called the Sea n, distinguishing them from the Demon Race. The vast Lichuan Inner Sea spans a wide area and has nurtured countless members of the Sea n, which have always been a great enemy to the Human Race. Wendao Immortal City is not too far from the coastline, so there are quite a few products from the Sea n. Eventually, Yu Qingtan and her two friends ordered a Third Stage tuna sashimi, a steamed Second Stage sea bass, a salt-baked Second Stagerge shrimp, and three portions of Second Stage sea cucumber Spirit Rice porridge. The portions were substantial, and the prices were indeed high, amounting to eighty thousand Spirit Stones. If the three women weren''t the type who were not short of Spirit Stones, they would hardly be able to afford it. After the dishes were served, the vors were indeed extremely delicious, especially the Third Stage tuna sashimi, which melted in the mouth and left asting taste one couldn''t forget. While enjoying the delicious food, Yu Qingtan once again remembered the time she and Shen Wanning went to the Drunken Fairy Building in Suichuan Immortal City. When she had first arrived in this world, it was Wanning who had always been encouraging and apanying her. "Damn Cmity Crossing Old Scoundrel!" After cursing the Cmity Crossing True Monarch who had kidnapped Wanning, she transformed her longing into appetite and continued to revel in the delicacies before her. "Qing Tan, how did you meet Senior Feng?" "..." The three were chatting while eating when the waiter who had greeted them came over again. "Beauties, would you like to enjoy the dance service? We have cool and handsome guys, wolf-like young men, cute little boys, and various styles to choose from, and the key point is that it''s free!" Yu Qingtan waspletely baffled and recalled something from her previous life rted to a certain Topic Three. She nced at Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi and immediately declined. Considering Yu Qingtan''s strength and extensive experience, the three of them had already tacitly acknowledged her as the leader, even though Shui Qingrou was the close junior sister of Valley Master Shui Yun of Tianxiang Valley. Your journey continues on empire After they had finished eating, the three women exited the private room. As they walked down the staircase that wrapped around the aquarium, a golden sea carp inside "thumped" against the tank wall at the same level as the women.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om As Yu Qingtan and the others descended, it relentlessly rammed into the corresponding spots. "Ladies, there''s no need to worry, this aquarium is a treasure, and a Third Stage formation is arranged on it, so this Second Stage member of the Sea n can''t break it." The waiter was escorting them out and hurriedly exined when he saw what was happening. "Does this fish always do this?" "This fish was just brought here a few days ago and has always been very well-behaved; I don''t know what got into it today?" Yu Qingtan looked at the golden sea carp and noticed that it was also looking at her; there was a pleading look in its eyes. "This fish looks quite pretty and lively; is it for sale?" "Yes, it''s for sale, but the golden sea carp is extremely rare and its flesh is exceptionally tasty, so the price..." "How much for the Spirit Stones?" "Three hundred thousand Spirit Stones!" "Three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, I''ll take it!" Yu Qingtan was about to consider the bid for a moment, but before he could speak up, someone descending from the stairs shouted loudly. Everyone looked over, and it turned out to be True Person Ying Dang from the Charm Immortal Cave, followed by four male Golden Core Cultivators, none of whom were staying at the Pavilion of Listening Waves. "It''s such a small world!" Yu Qingtan sighed inwardly and said: "Senior, I didn''t say I wouldn''t buy it!" "Then let''s bid, my brothers. I just want to enjoy Golden Sea Carp soup. Can you grant me this small wish?" "Of course, just a Golden Sea Carp. Youngster, how many Spirit Stones can you offer?" The four male Golden Core Cultivators looked at Yu Qingtan. Although they were amazed by Yu Qingtan''s beauty, they recognized the clothing of Tianxiang Valley, and they preferred True Person Ying Dang, who was mature and skilled. Yu Qingtan was somewhat frustrated. She had only seven hundred thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones, two thousand three hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones, and twelve High-Grade Spirit Stones on her, most from the spoils of the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, with a part being the earnings from Zhi Lan Pavilion. This amount of Spirit Stones was substantial for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator but was not much in the eyes of a Golden Core Cultivator. Moreover, True Person Ying Dang was not only the master of the Charm Immortal Cave, but she also had four Golden Core admirerspeting to spend Spirit Stones on her. Perhaps noticing Yu Qingtan''s dilemma, True Person Ying Dang felt greatly pleased. She had quite a grudge against this girl who had disrupted her ns and was also so pretty. The Golden Sea Carp, meanwhile, battered the tank walls even harder, looking pitifully at Yu Qingtan with its eyes. "Nine hundred thousand Spirit Stones." Yu Qingtan, with an expressionless face, reported a price to the shopkeeper who had hurried over, a middle-aged Foundation Establishment Cultivator in theter stage. "One million Spirit Stones." One of the male Golden Core Cultivators quickly called out a higher bid and looked at the other three with a proud expression. True Person Ying Dang''s face broke into a smile, and she cast a flirtatious nce at him. Yu Qingtan continued down the stairs; she hadn''t intended to buy the fish anymore and had only quoted a price to irk the others. It was just a Golden Sea Carp that seemed somewhat mystical. She couldn''t save it or help with the circumstances; it was not her kin, not her concern. Watching Yu Qingtan''s "difited" retreat, True Person Ying Dang felt a sense of triumph in her heart. "Shopkeeper, please prepare this fish into a soup, and send it up to the private room on the third floor. I want to enjoy the Golden Sea Carp soup with Brother Qin properly." After speaking, she returned upstairs, Qin Surnamed Golden Core Cultivator followed with a sunny disposition, and the other three, though reluctant, had no choice but to take their leave. "Alright! Just a moment, Senior!" So saying, the shopkeeper performed some maniptions outside the tank, and a stone projectile urately hit the head of the Golden Sea Carp, stunning it, then instructed the chef to take it and prepare soup. ... In the southeastern sea. Under the sea, within a beautifully crafted underwater pce, a figure with two horns on his forehead paced back and forth. Just then, a person with fins on his back, walked in. "How is it? Did you find anything?" The horned figure asked anxiously. "Your Majesty, following the direction indicated by your Bloodline Tracking Technique, we haven''t found anything up to the coast." "Useless, all useless! How could so many from the Sea n fail to watch over a single child." "Aaargh~" Suddenly, the horned figure roared to the sky, emitting a terrifying aura. The finned figure was sent flying out, and the whole pce trembled. Waves of sorrow came through his bloodline, and he understood¡ªhis child had met with harm. Chapter 147 Sakura Island Wild Repairs Arrogance Southeastern sea territory, Undersea Pce. "Ahhh¡ª Who exactly is it that harmed my child, I will make sure you regret evering into this world! It''s all my fault for thinking you were still young, that you should properly cultivate within the pce, and I didn''t even give you any means to protect your life; I me myself! It''s all my fault for not swallowing my pride earlier to seek out that wretch Heitun to divine your location, oh how I hate myself! But, I will go find him now, I must avenge you and erase this hatred!" Having said this, the horned figure disappeared from the spot. ¡­ Wendao Immortal City, after Yu Qingtan and her twopanions finished their meal, they continued to stroll through the marketce. They bought quite a few items, such as the hot peppers, cumin, and Sichuan peppercorns that Yu Qingtan had been longing for, which were surprisingly all on sale here, even cultivated into First-Stage spiritual nts. Apart from that, Yu Qingtan discovered that there was also a Hundred Treasures Pavilion here and it was even thergest shop in the marketce. Yu Qingtan went in and presented her Hundred Treasures Pavilion first-level Guest Jade Token, and received the enthusiastic hospitality of a high-level Foundation Establishment Stage attendant. Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi went to select goods while Yu Qingtan promptly disposed of a batch of unmarked spoils of war that she didn''t need¡ªmainly some spiritual materials, spirit ores, and spiritual medicines¡ªrequesting to settle the ount with superior-grade spirit stones, receiving a total of twenty-one superior-grade spirit stones. Then she purchased a Second-Stage Rejuvenation Spell and fifty Second-Stage Wastnd Crystals. The Second-Stage Rejuvenation Spell had not been recorded in the Scripture Pavilion of Tianxiang Valley before, and there were no stocks of Second-Stage Wastnd Crystals in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion of Tianxiang Immortal City. She didn''t expect to find them on sale here, truly worthy of Wendao Immortal City. She inquired if there were any Core Formation spiritual objects or Fourth-Grade Demon King blood avable, but none were to be found. Such items were even in short supply in Wendao Immortal City and would generally only be avable at auction events. There were several fine water attribute cultivation techniques that could be cultivated up to the Nascent Soul Stage, but they were too expensive and didn''t meet Yu Qingtan''s expectations, so she didn''t buy any. After all, she still had a master. Yu Qingtan stepped out of the reception room and noticed that Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi were confronting someone. Yu Qingtan walked over and nced at the few oddly dressed and looking men on the opposite side, and quickly asked, "Qing Rou, Yiyi, what''s going on?" "Qing Tan, these cultivators from an outer ind insulted us with their words and won''t let us leave!" Explore stories at empire Xiang Yiyi said, her little face flushed with anger, to Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan looked towards the attendant, who exined with a sense of helplessness, "The two beauties fancied a pair of spiritual artifact bracelets, and these gentlemen from an outer ind happened to be nearby. They took it upon themselves to buy them and intended to present them to thedies. The beauties epted them, seeing they were quite polite and earnest in their request, and it would have been rude to refuse. They didn''t expect these men toe up with such an unreasonable demand. When they wished to return the gifts, however, these men still lingered around and harassed them." Shui Qingrou added her exnation. The leader of the cultivators opposite, seeing Yu Qingtane out, immediately brightened up and began exuding the aura of an early-stage Golden Core Cultivator as he approached and said, "This beautifuldy, on our Sakura Ind, when a young woman epts a gift of such value, it signifies her willingness to share joyous times together. I''ve also heard that your Tianxiang Valley engages in the business of courtesanship, so why refuse? Could it be the price isn''t right? You''re so beautiful, miss, so just name your price. I, Shichi Kozotarou, am quite wealthy and believe I can satisfy your needs." The more Yu Qingtan listened, the darker her face became. She also knew from the annals that along the southeastern coast were many inds with many humans residing on them, among whom some lived by customs quite like those from a certain ind nation in her previous world. Ouyang Wenjian, the City Lord of Suichuan Immortal City, had a concubine named Qiao Huannai, whom he brought from one of those inds¡ªapparently, this Sakura Ind. Seeing their chonmage hairstyle, Yu Qingtan instinctively felt averse, and not to mention that they were insulting them in such a manner. "Scram!"N?v(el)B\\jnn Yu Qingtan suddenly shouted. "You¡ª" Shichi Kozotarou''s face turned ugly as his pressure bore down on Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan, with herte-stage Foundation Establishment body refinement and an exceptionally strong divine sense, was not afraid of such petty intimidation. "You don''t dare to make a move and just release the aura of a senseless brute to frighten who? Good dogs don''t block the way, get lost now!" Facing Yoruqitanoshirou, Yu Qingtan, usually very polite, directly transformed into a war god of ancestral might. At this time, the cultivator presiding over the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, a man at the mid-stage of Golden Core, finally stepped forward. "Let''s all calm down. It''s just a misunderstanding. Give me, Song, some face. Everyone takes a step back, and we''ll consider the matter settled. How about that?" Yu Qingtan bowed to him in agreement, though she said nothing. But Yoruqitanoshirou wouldn''t have it. "Hmph, how can a warrior of Sakura Ind endure such a great insult? I demand a duel with you!" Yu Qingtan rolled her eyes, devoid of any desire to exchange another half-word with this double-standard dog. "Humph, you, a Golden Core cultivator, have the shame to challenge a Foundation Establishment girl." The Song-surnamed Golden Core''s face also turned unsightly, as the rules of Wendao Immortal City''s Dueling tform require the consent of both parties for a duel. "Ankisarou, you go and defend the honor of the Sakura Ind warriors! Little girl from Tianxiang Valley, he is at the Foundation Establishment Stage; do you dare to ept the challenge?" Yoruqitanoshirou called out to a ck-robed cultivator behind him and said to Yu Qingtan. Although he sensed that Yu Qingtan possessed extraordinary strength in body cultivation, he had great confidence in Ankisarou. "What''s there to fear!" Yu Qingtan replied without hesitation. "Qingtan, Master told me that the wild cultivators from the outer inds have strange methods and formidable strength. Let''s just let it go. With Senior Song here, they wouldn''t dare to do much." At this moment, the voice transmission from Shui Qingrou reached her ears. "Don''t worry, I have my own measures!" "The loser will be at the other''s disposal?" Yoruqitanoshirou swept his gaze over Yu Qingtan''s delicate body, his intentions clear. "Of course!" Yu Qingtan wanted to ughter them, too. The crowd moved from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to the nearest Dueling tform, where they registered with the Enforcement Team officers and signed the contract. Ankisarou was the first to leap onto the Dueling tform. Upon leaving the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Shui Qingrou had already sent a Message-Transmitting Flying Sword to her senior sister Shui Yunzhen. Yu Qingtan lightly tapped with her right foot and drifted onto the Dueling tform. The Enforcement Team officer announced the start of the contest, and in an instant, Ankisarou''s figure vanished. This was the specialty of the Sakura Ind cultivators, the Stealth Technique. Yu Qingtanughed. "ying the game of invisibility before me is like swinging a broadsword before Guan Yu or wielding an axe in front of Lu Ban!" Suddenly, Ankisarou appeared behind and to the left of Yu Qingtan. A long saber, shing with cold light, chopped towards Yu Qingtan''s back. As the de passed through the air, it gave off no trace of breath, almost without stirring the atmosphere. de Stealth Technique. The de was a top-quality second-grade Spiritual Artifact; the technique was a fully mastered second-grade spell. Then, Ankisarou''s fierce smile froze. For Yu Qingtan had vanished into thin air as well, leaving his saber to strike at nothing. Yu Qingtan had simultaneously employed a fully mastered third-grade Breath-Concealing Technique, aplete second-grade Invisibility Technique, and aplete second-grade Water Escape Technique. Having recently achieved entry-level mastery of the third-grade Breath-Concealing Technique, thanks to her solid foundation in the fully mastered second-grade technique, she had recently advanced her third-grade Breath-Concealing Technique to a high degree of proficiency. Even a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator''s ordinary probes couldn''t detect her breath. Ankisarou was confused and hastily employed the Stealth Technique again, rendering his form invisible once more. Chapter 148 Anki Saburous Restless Dilemma On the dueling tform, a bizarre scene unfolded; two people were dueling, yet not a single figure was visible. The crowd below also had strange expressions, only Ye Qi Xiaotarou and his group had ugly looks on their faces. Ye Qi Xiaotarou''s heart was pounding because he also couldn''t detect Yu Qingtan''s whereabouts at all. On the tform, Yu Qingtan looked rxed, but she didn''t want to drag this out any longer. The opponent''s Stealth Technique was indeed remarkable; even with her divine sense close to the Golden Core Stage,bined with the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique, she couldn''t find him. However, she was proficient in the Second Stage Blood Control Technique at a perfected level; on the rtively small dueling tform, as long as she used it, the opponent''s blood would surely be affected and fluctuate, allowing her to locate him. Additionally, she couldunch a wide-area attack with her favorite Water de Technique; with Water des sweeping across, the opponent would have nowhere to hide. But at this moment, it wasn''t necessary to use the Blood Control Technique or Water de Technique. She had cultivated the rudimentary form of a water domain, and her understanding of the Path of Water was profound. By delicately feeling the distribution of water vapor in the air, Yu Qingtan pinpointed the location of An Xi Sang. Enjoy exclusive content from empire Executing the perfected Water Escape Technique, she appeared behind An Xi Sang and threw a punch. Her delicate fist, carrying immense power, smashed directly onto the back of his head. An Xi Sang''s head split open like a watermelon, red and white matter sttered everywhere. It should be known that for the sake of the Stealth Technique''s concealment, An Xi Sang had no defense other than the Spiritual Armor on his body, and being hit in the head by Yu Qingtan, who was at theter stages of Body Refinement and Foundation Establishment, the result was naturally such. Despite Yu Qingtan''s slender, delicate hands, a small punch to your chest could still be lethal. After taking his Storage Bag and long saber, a First Stage fireball floated from her fingertip, igniting his corpse, and then Yu Qingtan turned towards Ye Qi Xiaotarou and his group. "Are there any more Foundation Establishment cultivators who dare toe up and seek death?" The remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators dared not look into Yu Qingtan''s eyes, all turning their gaze to Ye Qi Xiaotarou at the front. With smoke nearlying out of his seven orifices, Ye Qi Xiaotarou red at Yu Qingtan and challenged her, "Damn it, do you dare to fight me?" Yu Qingtan cast a Purification Spell to deal with the remains of An Xi Sang, also taking his Spiritual Armor into her bag, and said indifferently, "This, naturally, I dare not." "Ah, damn it, I will kill you!" Ye Qi Xiaotarou could no longer hold back, a long saber appeared in his hand, drawn and shed forth. A massive saber qi rapidly headed towards Yu Qingtan, seemingly intending to shred both the Second Stage dueling tform and Yu Qingtan altogether. Yu Qingtan remained motionless, coldly smiling at Ye Qi Xiaotarou as if watching a clown. For her divine sense had already detected that Huangfu Yun, the real person of Water Rhythm, had arrived at a high building nearby. Sure enough, a thin transparent water wall appeared in front of the dueling tform; the raging saber qi struck the water wall, did not pass through, and vanished within it. A momentter, the saber qi reflected off the water wall and rushed back towards Ye Qi Xiaotarou and his people. A Third Stage spell, Grand Water Mirror Shift. Ye Qi Xiaotarou had no choice but to sh again, and the two waves of saber qi collided, neutralizing each other and kicking up a cloud of dust. "The gall of an outsider rogue cultivator, daring to take action in Wendao Immortal City, picking on someone weaker at that. It seems you do not take the Wendao Sect seriously. Dare you face me in a Third Stage duel?" Water Rhythm real person descended from the sky,nding in front of Yu Qingtan, imposing a cap on Ye Qi Xiaotarou and challenging him. Upon hearing this, Ye Qi Xiaotarou''s furious expression dissipated, and he began to defend himself. "Hmph, it was that young girl who disrespected me first!" Ignoring Water Rhythm real person''s challenge, he was well aware of some strong figures in the Southeast Region and recognized Water Rhythm real person. Any Golden Core Cultivator on the Pride of the Heavens List was someone he could not defeat. At this moment, a yellow Escape Light flew over rapidly, revealing a Golden Core Cultivator dressed in the Enforcement Team uniform. The Enforcement Team of the Wendao Sect, naturally, was not influenced by the anti-flight formation. Yu Qingtan looked over, and it turned out to be an acquaintance, Yin Cen. Who had once fought against a beast tide with Yu Qingtan and others in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, and to think he had already condensed his Golden Core. However, Yu Qingtan was acting under Qing Shuang''s alias at that time, so when Yin Cen arrived and scanned the crowd, he did not recognize Yu Qingtan. The members of the Enforcement Team guarding the Dueling tform immediately transmitted a message to report the situation to Yin Cen. "A Golden Core Cultivator acted without permission, and although it hasn''t led to severe consequences, ording to the rules of Wendao Immortal City, the penalty is the forfeiture of one thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones andpensation to the attacked party of one thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones. Do you ept the penalty?" Yin Cen looked toward Ye Qi Xiao Taro with no emotional fluctuations in his voice, but in his heart, he felt no kindness toward these uncultivated outsiders from the inds. Ye Qi Xiao Taro, knowing he was in the wrong and on someone else''s turf where he had no sway, took out two Storage Bags and tossed one each to Yin Cen and Yu Qingtan, then left in a huff. Yin Cen greeted Shui Yun Zhenren with a nod and transformed into an Escape Light to depart. "Valley Master!" "Valley Master!" "Senior Sister!" Yu Qingtan, Xiang Yiyi, and Shui Qingrou approached Shui Yun Zhenren. "Qing Tan, you did well. You two should learn more from her!" "Senior Sister, it''s just that Qing Tan is too strong!" "Humph, you''ve been nurtured by Tianxiang Valley since childhood and are older than Qing Tan. If your abilities are not up to par and your attitudes are not correct, how can you not aspire to emte the worthy?" "Yes!" "Yes!" The two women blushed from the reprimand. Yu Qingtan also felt somewhat embarrassed; she never thought that in the Cultivation World she would be the "other people''s child" mentioned by elders. "Qing Tan, if there''s anything, just send me a Message-Transmitting Flying Sword. As long as you don''t provoke a Nascent Soul Cultivator, I''ve got your back," Shui Yun Zhenren transmitted. "Thank you, Valley Master!" "Valley Master, may I inquire where my master is and what the situation is?" Since Shui Yun Zhenren had spoken, Yu Qingtan directly transmitted her question. "Uh, Sister Rou Jia is on Mount Wendao, visiting the Wendao Sect''s earth vein; I am unable to make the visit, so you should find an opportunity to go yourself at ater time," Shui Yun Zhenren transmitted back somewhat awkwardly, having just delivered a promise and then immediately encountering something she couldn''t handle.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Alright, I have to go now. Don''t wander around toote," Shui Yun Zhenren added before drifting away. "Qing Tan, you''ve caused us trouble," Xiang Yiyi said, feigning distress. "Alright, here''s a secret for you two, I''m also a first-stage Spirit Tailor. I''ll make you both a couple of dressester, and I promise they''ll be prettier than those from Heavenly Garment Pavilion." Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi exchanged looks but couldn''t muster any excitement. With you being so outstanding, how are we supposed to get by? "Then we shall look forward to it!" However, the two quickly adjusted their mood and continued to wander the market. Along the way, they happened to see a Heavenly Secret Tower there. Asking Shui Qingrou and the other girl to wait outside, Yu Qingtan went inside and bought three pieces of intelligence. Recent situations of the Extreme Path Demon Sect''s Disaster Crossing Peak and simple intelligence about Wendao Sect''s Yong Li Zhenren and Tianxiang Valley''s Rou Jia Zhenren. ording to the intelligence, Shen Wanning had already reached Foundation Establishment, which gave Yu Qingtan both joy and concern. "Wanning, wait for me to reach Core Formation," she decided in her heart and restored her spirits; then continued to roam with the two girls before returning to Pavilion of Listening Waves. As she entered the pavilion, just then, the team from Qunfang Pavilion arrived. Chapter 149 The Exquisite and Delicate Seventh Qi Xun Within the Pavilion of Listening Waves, Yu Qingtan looked over and saw a line of figures from the Qunfang Pavilion d in fairy-like white dresses, all of them beauties, each with their own unique qualities. Especially the three leading Golden Core female cultivators, they shone radiantly, irresistibly drawing gazes toward them. Yu Qingtan had looked through the Pride of the Heavens List and the Hundred Flowers List and naturally recognized them. "Qi Xun, with a delicate jade-like face, number seven, at the age of twenty-one, at the mid stage of Golden Core, possessing a superior-grade Water Spirit Root, ranked third on the Hundred Flowers List, ninth on the Pride of the Heavens List." "Fairy Duan Qingying, age twenty-two, at the mid stage of Golden Core, with a top-grade Wood Spirit Root, fourth on the Hundred Flowers List, twenty-first on the Pride of the Heavens List." "Fairy Yuan Qianrou, twenty-one years old, at the initial stage of Golden Core, with a top-grade Fire Spirit Root, sixteenth on the Hundred Flowers List, forty-seventh on the Pride of the Heavens List." The Pride of the Heavens List and the Hundred Flowers List werepiled every three years, generally released by the Heavenly Secret Tower in the golden autumn of October. Thest iteration of both lists was two years ago, which meant that this October, both lists would be updated. By that time, the current top ranker of the Pride of the Heavens List from the Cangqiong Sword Sect, Wu Di, would have surpassed thirty years of age, and the descending celestial being from the Star Moon Sect, Xu Fang, was very likely to im the top spot on the Pride of the Heavens List. However, since she was over twenty-five, she would be removed from the ranking of the Hundred Flowers List. The just-turned-twenty-four-years-old Qi Xun was thus very likely to move up to the second ce on the Hundred Flowers List. Yu Qingtan observed carefully, only to see Qi Xun with long hair draped over her shoulders, a face as fine as jade, and eyes filled with intelligent light, exuding an air of a cultivated schr, yet notcking in delicate and elegant beauty. In fact, Qi Xun, in addition to being a disciple of Qunfang Pavilion, was also the legitimate daughter of the seventh family of the Heavenly Secret Tower, with outstanding strength and unparalleled strategic intelligence. Four years ago, during Qi Xun''s travels when she reached Zhangpu Immortal City, she chanced upon an invasion by the Sea n. Qi Xun took the initiative to volunteer,manded the battle, and eventually turned the tide to decisively defeat the stronger Sea n, ying ate-Third Stage Sea Beast that tried to sneak attack her. There is a poem in her praise: With a flick of a flower, she decides life and death, her feather fan gently waves, outshining armies of ten thousand. Where can the elusive secrets of heaven leak when the delicate jade-like Qi Xun is at her peak? When Yu Qingtan looked toward Qi Xun, Qi Xun also nced at her, smiling lightly with the corner of her mouth, before shifting her gaze away. Yu Qingtan, however, felt as if she had been seen through entirely. "A female Zhuge Liang indeed, I must keep my distance from this woman!" Yu Qingtan thought to herself, her secrets being far too numerous. Yu Qingtan then looked toward Yuan Qianrou and sure enough, she resembled her by about sixty to seventy percent from before, but now the resemnce was only about thirty to forty percent, and Yu Qingtan was confident that she was more beautiful. However, a Golden Core cultivator possesses an indescribable quality, and she also gave off a pure and gentle air¡ªno wonder she could be Luo Xiang''s past love. Afterwards, Yu Qingtan turned to look at Duan Qingying on the other side, with looks pure and fair, long hair like a waterfall, exuding a refreshing and elegant charm, yet also concealing a sharp and formidable presence, only to be admired from a distance but not to be frivolously approached. Following the three women were ten Foundation Establishment and twenty Qi Cultivation female cultivators, each with their own distinctive beauty. Almost all members of the outer factions of Qunfang Pavilion were present, especially the cultivators from Parasite Groom City, whose eyes gleamed as they looked at the female cultivators of Qunfang Pavilion. "A woman who outranks you by three years is like a golden brick, and a woman who outranks you by three thousand is like the ranks of immortals." If one could win over a beauty, how many years of struggle could be spared? The father of Yan Xi, Ruan Fan, was said to be from Parasite Groom City, living a life offort¡ªwhat a pity that he crossed paths with Yu Qingtan. Afterpleting the check-in procedures, Qi Xun''s melodic voice rang out. Continue reading stories on empire "Everyone, you may disperse. Fellow Golden Core cultivators, pleasee to the third floor in a quarter of an hour for a gathering." With that, the crowd began to disperse. Yu Qingtan also said goodbye to Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi, and returned to her own room. ... On the third floor of Pavilion of Listening Waves, in a room resembling a conference hall. Nearly twenty Golden Core cultivators gathered together, with Fairy Qi Xun sitting at the prime position. "Has everyone arrived?"N?v(el)B\\jnn "Reporting to senior sister, our Charm Immortal Cave''s master, Ying Dang, has not returned yet, and the Message-Transmitting Flying Sword that we sent to her couldn''t get through." A female Golden Core cultivator of Charm Immortal Cave said somewhat awkwardly. "Disciples of Tianxiang Valley once encountered her together with four male Golden Core cultivators, maybe she''s still fooling around with men." Water Charm the True Person spoke indifferently, and Shui Qingrou also mentioned in her message that Taste of the Sea had encountered True Person Ying Dang. "That''s enough, if she hasn''te, then we won''t wait for her." Fairy Qi Xun''s voice betrayed neither joy nor anger. "As soon as I entered Wendao Immortal City, I felt a sense of panic, and I divined." Fairy Qi Xun nced around at everyone before continuing gravely. "The result showed signs of likely death with a slight chance of survival. Just now, I observed the faces of the people in the Pavilion of Listening Waves, including all present here, and it seems there is an omen of impending disaster above us all." "Except for that girl!" Fairy Qi Xun thought to herself. Everyone was in an uproar. "How can this be? Wendao Immortal City has a Fourth Stage Great Array, and Wendao Sect is at its center, so why would this happen? Could it be that the Demon Race or Sea n or maybe some demonic sect is going to attack? But even if they attack, Wendao Sect would not fear them, right? Moreover, why would they pick the time of the Nascent Soul Ceremony to attack?" A female cultivator from Lotus Gate spoke, and everyone else was also puzzled, specting amongst themselves. "Silence! My cultivation level is still shallow, and I do not know from where the danger wille, but I have already sent a message to Wendao Sect, hoping they will take it seriously. Unfortunately, there are no seniors from Heavenly Secret Tower in Wendao Immortal City. The tower master Yun Huang will only arrive a day before the ceremony; otherwise, it would have been easier to make Wendao Sect believe. Nevertheless, we must prepare ourselves for the unexpected, and before the ceremony, you and your disciples should not go out anymore. Also, this matter must not be spread." "Understood!" Just as everyone was about to leave, a loud noise came from outside. "Roar~" All the Golden Core cultivators'' faces changed, and they leaped directly from the windows to the rooftops. Not far in the sky, a dragon-shaped creature, three hundred zhang long, was hanging upside down in midair, emitting an unparalleled terrifying pressure that caused the space around it to seem unstable. Its left front w was on the ground, under whichy the ttened Taste of the Sea restaurant, and in its right front w, it held three figures, one of whom was True Person Ying Dang. "Canglong, the Sea Lord!" Fairy Qi Xun spoke the name of the dragon-shaped creature bitterly, realizing where the danger came from. ... Time rewound to not long before, when True Person Ying Dang alone had drunk a portion of Golden Sea Carp soup, finding it extremely delicious. Her spiritual power surged, indicating signs of a breakthrough. Overjoyed, True Person Ying Dang thought she had stumbled upon a great fortune, considering the Golden Sea Carp to be so nourishing that it might be some kind of special sea beast. She immediately joined forces with a Qin surnamed Golden Core male cultivator to indulge in sensual pleasures while also practicing the great ceremony of cultivation. Shortly, she realized one wasn''t enough, so she sent a Message-Transmitting Flying Sword to call back the three male Golden Core cultivators who had left in disappointment. The three men happily returned to the luxurious private room of Taste of the Sea. After an intense battle, True Person Ying Dang managed to break through directly to the mid-stage of Golden Core. And there was still room for improvement. Excited, True Person Ying Dang took out four precious elixirs and administered them to her four "brothers," then continued the battle. Because an Istion Formation was arranged, the female Golden Core cultivator from Charm Immortal Cave could not receive the message she had sent. Immersed in the waves of pleasure from her rising cultivation level, True Person Ying Dang waspletely unaware that danger had already quietly descended upon her. Chapter 150 Canglong Seeks Revenge on the Wendao Sect The ck Pig Sea Sovereign, a rare Fifth Stage Middle Period cultivator of the Sea n from the southeastern sear region who excelled in deduction and divination, had a terrible temper and was on bad terms with all other Fifth Stage members of the Sea n. Canglong Sea Sovereign had no intention of seeking him out, but then his only kin bloodline met with trouble. The higher one''s cultivation level, the more difficult it became to produce offspring; this was true for the Human Race, Demon Race, and Sea n alike. His kin had not yet leapt over the Dragon Gate to achieve a dragon''s form and was still akin to an infant when it met its untimely demise, nearly driving Canglong Sea Sovereign insane. He found the ck Pig Sea Sovereign and traded a Fifth Stage Spirit Ore for his assistance. Seeing him in a frenzy, ck Pig did not make things difficult and began the divination immediately. The vision that unfolded was that of Wendao Immortal City, where the owner of "Taste of the Sea" knocked out the Golden Sea Carp¡ªwhich was his kin¡ªfished it out, and handed it over to the kitchen. Then, the head chef swung his knife, and after a bloody scene, the Golden Sea Carp was turned into arge pot of soup, which was thenvishly consumed by Ying Dang. It was mainly because the Canglong itself evolved from the Golden Sea Carp leaping through the Dragon Gate; the Golden Sea Carp poption was immense, and though few ventured near the shore, some were asionally caught. The owner and head chef of "Taste of the Sea" never thought to connect their catch to the Canglong. "Roar¡ªWendao Sect, Wendao Immortal City, I will make you pay!" Canglong Sea Sovereign let out a grieving roar, before returning to his n and issuing a series ofmands. Without further dy, he retrieved the Canglong n''s treasure, the Canglong Gate, and opened a spatial passageway. A Fifth Stage being could barely shatter space, but traversing it directly was impossible without the aid of a Teleportation Formation or certain treasures with teleportation capabilities, like the Canglong Gate, a Middle-grade Dao Artifact. The coordinates of the teleportation destination were also deduced by the Venerable ck Pig. Thus, as Ying Dang was still revelling in delight, an abrupt, enormous ck void appeared above "Taste of the Sea." Canglong Sea Sovereign emerged from the void, and without a word, he furiously wed down, reducing "Taste of the Sea" to rubble, leaving a w-shaped pit over ten zhang deep. Had it not been for the light membrane of the Ten Extremes Protective Array of Wendao Immortal City, which absorbed much of the w''s potency, the pit would have been much deeper. However, Canglong Sea Sovereign had intentionally spared the manager, the head chef, and Ying Dang. He captured the three men within another w, and from his zhang-high huge pupils, a blue light shone upon the three, who were trembling in terror. Three human-shaped shadows were extracted from their bodies and ced into a bottle-shaped magical treasure, then their bodies were thrown into his gaping maw filled with sharp teeth. Extracting souls and refining spirits, he consumed their bones and flesh. The souls of cultivators, before reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, are quite fragile; Canglong Sea Sovereign expended some effort to extract their souls. Yet his hatred had not abated by much, and the void above expanded and grewrger. Just as Canglong Sea Sovereign was about to continue his assault on Wendao Immortal City, four figures appeared around him. "Canglong Sea Sovereign, by intruding and attacking Wendao Immortal City, do you wish to dere war on the Wendao Sect?" A middle-aged woman wearing a male golden brocade robe sternly questioned Canglong Sea Sovereign. She was the leader of the Golden Vein of the Wendao Sect, the Yulu Honored One, Jin Yulu. The Wendao Sect is divided into ten veins: gold, wood, water, fire, earth, ice, thunder, wind, light, and darkness; and currently, five veins are led by God Transformation Honorables. Four of them had already arrived at this location. The other three present were: The Wind Vein leader, Venerable Shenfeng Feng Wuyue, was a young girl dressed in a green gown, with an immature face yet remarkably well-developed pectoral muscles, the mentor of Feng Buji; The leader of the Earth Vein, Venerable Houde, was a middle-aged schr with the appearance of a schoolteacher. Dressed in a moon-white robe, he exuded an aura of refined gentleness and amiability. The leader of the Dark Vein, Venerable Zhiqin, waspletely indiscernible in form; he appeared as a humanoid shape of utter ckness, simr to an unrevealed culprit from a detective anime Qing Tan had seen in a previous life. "Hahaha, my son was killed in your Wendao Immortal City, and today I will bathe it in blood, extinguish the Wendao Sect, and avenge my son''s death!" "Could there be some misunderstanding here? Your actions have already severely vited the treaty between our two races. Aren''t you afraid that the entire human race will band together to exterminate your n?" Venerable Yulu frowned. "No misunderstanding. Today, my Canglong n deres war on the Wendao Sect to avenge the murder of my offspring!" While speaking, the transmission channel formed by the Canglong Gate above the Canglong Sea Venerable had expanded to a hundred miles in diameter before it stopped erging. Waves of roaring tides could be heard from within. Immediately after, the overwhelming sea water gushed forth, teeming with members of the Sea n. The Wendao Immortal City had only activated a small fraction of the Ten Extremes Protective Array''s power, which is why the Canglong Sea Venerable was able to easily break arge hole through it. Now, the formation was running at full power, and the previous breach had been instantly repaired.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Seeing that the Canglong Sea Venerable was serious, Venerable Yulu and the others were about to use their powers to stop the transmission of the seawater and the Sea n. "Your opponent is me." As the Canglong Sea Venerable spoke, his massive dragon w once again struck down upon the Wendao Immortal City. If a fully activated Ten Extremes Protective Array was breached, repairing it would be difficult. Venerable Yulu and the others had to first intercept the Canglong Sea Venerable. The Canglong Sea Venerable, being close to thete Fifth Stage as a mid Fifth Stage Sea n member with partial true dragon bloodline, boasted strength that could look down upon his peers. Venerable Yulu, Venerable Shenfeng, Venerable Houde, and Venerable Zhiqin were all only at the Initial Nascent Soul Stage. Generally, the higher the realm, the greater the gap between minor stages. Even with the four of them joining forces, they might not be a match for the Canglong Sea Venerable, which is why Venerable Yulu had previously tried reasoning. Venerable Yulu took out a decagonal metal disc which rapidly erged, positioning itself below the Canglong Sea Venerable. The dragon w struck the enormous metal disc, causing only a slight tremor. Venerable Yulu and the others appeared atop the metal disc at a speed invisible to the naked eye. "Canglong, since you seek battle, let us have it in the sky. Wendao Sect will surely make you regret your decision today!" Venerable Yulu dered solemnly from atop the decagonal metal disc. "The Ten Extremes Disc, a middle-grade Dao Artifact. If you had ten cultivators at the Divinity Transformation Stage, I would flee at the sight of you. But the four of you alone¡ªhow many of you will survive today? Moreover, he hasn''t shown up yet. It seems Han Jiangxue has indeed gone to the Central Domain. Come, let us battle!" After the Canglong Sea Venerable finished speaking, he soared into the sky. Venerable Yulu and the others, with grave expressions,manded the Ten Extremes Disc to ascend in pursuit. Han Jiangxue was the leader of Wendao Sect''s Ice Vein and a Deification Mid Stage cultivator known as Venerable Jiangxue. Above Wendao Immortal City, the Nascent Soul True Lords from Wendao Sect had also arrived. However, faced with the immense water pouring down, they were powerless to stop it, not to mention the innumerable members of the Sea n within it. All they could do was send ate-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from each vein to the Wendao Immortal City to enhance the Ten Extremes Protective Array''s strength, protecting the Wendao Immortal City. Chapter 151 The Great Battle of the Wendao Sects Command Begins As for Mount Wendao, with the Fifth Stage Ten Extremes Protective Array in ce, even the Canglong Sea Lord himself couldn''t break through the formation. His im to have annihted Wendao Sect earlier was purely boasting. In the sky, the torrential seawater had already reached the protective membrane formed by the Fourth Stage Ten Extremes Protective Array. The membrane sessfully blocked the seawater, causing it to scatter in all directions. However, the scope of the Fourth Stage Ten Extremes Protective Array only covered the Inner City of Wendao Immortal City. The vast Outer City was protected only by some disconnected lower-order formations, which couldn''t withstand the impact of such an enormous volume of seawater. Fortunately, at that moment, a massive and incredibly long sword aura of blue and gold descended from the sky, striking a river that flowed down from Mount Wendao and was a hundred yards wide. It carved out a trench in the riverbed that was one mile deep and several dozen yards wide, extending far into the distance. A strike from a Divine Transformation Cultivist was terrifying indeed. The river water immediately poured into the trench and continued to flow downstream. The people of Wendao Sect also manipted the shape of the membrane formed by the Fourth Stage Ten Extremes Protective Array, guiding the pouring seawater into this river. With Wendao Immortal City situated on higher ground and with the river''s guidance, the seawater could be dispersed into the extensive water system between Mount Wendao and the coastline. While the seawater issue wasrgely resolved, the Sea n had already begun attacking the Ten Extremes Protective Array and the cultivators of the Outer City. Even though the main body of water was diverted, a small portion still flowed into the Outer City. The Outer City was mainly inhabited by Qi Practitioners, numbering up to seven or eight hundred million. The First Stage Sea n often couldn''t live away from seawater, so due to the limited amount of water, there were only about eighty million of them present. The Human Race Qi Practitioners lived scattered throughout thend and, when faced with the surging tide of First Stage Sea Beasts, prioritized escape. More critical were the Second Stage Sea n, approximately one million and ten thousand in number, many of whom were rampantly ughtering the Human Race Qi Practitioners. Third Stage and Fourth Stage Sea n were even fewer, numbering only about eight thousand and one hundred fifty, respectively. Wendao Sect was barely able to maintain the situation. That''s because Wendao Sect had over a hundred Nascent Soul Cultivators, more than two thousand Golden Core Cultivators, and only about one hundred twenty thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators. ...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Inside the Pavilion of Listening Waves. Yu Qingtan and the others had heard themotion when the Canglong Sea Lord attacked "Taste of the Sea" and hade out to check the situation. They then witnessed the situation deteriorate step by step, with everyone feeling frightened and apprehensive. Most cultivators, including Yu Qingtan, had never seen a Fifth Stage being before. They hadn''t expected to directly witness a Fifth Stage Sea n in action, followed by the involvement of Human Race Divine Transformation Cultivators. Next, a vast amount of seawater fell from the sky, striking the formation membrane above their heads. Since the Pavilion of Listening Waves wasn''t too far from "Taste of the Sea," the area was quickly coveredpletely by seawater, giving Yu Qingtan the impression of being in a giant underwater aquarium. However, swimming in the water weren''t captive marine creatures, but dense swarms of ferocious Sea n. There were three-yard-long Fanged Fish, vibrantly colored me Squids, Lion''s Mane Jellyfish waving their several dozen yards long tentacles, twenty-yard Giant-Toothed Sharks, swarms of Golden Sea Carps, and more. There were also many unrecognizable Sea n, making Yu Qingtan''s scalp tingle. These were just the First Stage and Second Stage ones; the Third Stage and Fourth Stage Sea n had already left the water surface and engaged with Wendao Sect''s cultivators. "I am Kongbei, the Sect Master of Wendao Sect. I am very sorry for the sudden catastrophe, but rest assured, our Wendao Sect will surely repel the attackunched by the Canglong n. "Given the current emergency, I issue the order of Wendao Sect: All Foundation Establishment and higher-level cultivators within the range of our Sect''s influence muste out of the Inner City to participate inbat; other cultivators may freely choose whether to join the battle outside the city; "Those participating will receive Wendao Sect temporary Sect Contribution Points ording to our Sect''s rules. The rtives and friends of those who fall in battle will bepensated in ordance with Wendao Sect''s standards." "The ban on flying within the Inner City is temporarily lifted. All Cultivators participating in the war must report to the nearest Inner City gate within a quarter of an hour. Those who fail to do so will bear the consequences themselves!" At that moment, a loud voice echoed through the half-empty sky above the Inner City. It was the voice of True Lord Kongbei, the Sect Leader of Wendao Sect. Upon hearing this, most of the Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages who were required to join the battle looked grim. Despite their vision being obscured by the water, everyone could still surmise that the current battle conditions were unfavorable for Wendao Sect. Although the temporary Sect Contribution Points offered by Wendao Sect were enticing, one had to be alive to im them. In general, during such wars,batants of higher tiers would try to avoid shing with those of lower tiers to prevent friendly fire, but this was not absolute. Furthermore, if one side had a significant advantage, they could free up their high-tierbatants to deal with lower-tier ones. In any case, it was extremely dangerous. "So the omen of disaster pertains to this ce!" On the roof of Pavilion of Listening Waves, Fairy Qi Xun also had a grave expression. Everything unfolded too quickly, and she had no time to respond adequately. As the Qunfang Pavilion and its surrounding forces were all within the influence of Wendao Sect, they were obligated to leave the Inner City to join the battle. Everyone had seen the tragic state of True Person Ying Dang and,bining it with the words of the Sea Lord Canglong, they had some guesses about the cause of the incident. They silently cursed True Person Ying Dang in their hearts. "Perhaps things are not as simple as they seem on the surface," Fairy Qi Xun and Yu Qingtan both thought to themselves. Putting her thoughts aside, Yu Qingtan listened as Fairy Qi Xun addressed the people inside Pavilion of Listening Waves. "All Qi Practitioners must stay within Pavilion of Listening Waves; none may leave before I return. All Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Cultivators must immediately apany me to the nearest East City Gate." After she finished speaking, the leading Golden Core Cultivators from each power summoned their Flying Boats, allowing their respective Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Cultivators to board. Yu Qingtan boarded the Tian Xiang with Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi. At this moment, Yu Qingtan was not overly anxious but even felt a little excited. Chaos breeds heroes, and in tumultuous times, she saw more opportunities to disy her elegance. Previously, when she casually checked her system pane, she discovered a pleasant surprise that gave her another strong trump card. Most importantly, she was still only a Shadow Clone at this time. Ahead, Fairy Qi Xun scanned the area with her Divine Sense to make sure everyone was assembled. "Let''s move out!" The speed of the Third Stage Flying Boats was swift, and soon they arrived at arge open space within the East City Gate. Already, thousands of Cultivators were gathered there, others continued to arrive, and some left through the city gates. The area outside the city gate had already been cleared by high-tier Wendao Sect Cultivators and was guarded by Golden Core Cultivators. Moreover, the Protective City Formation often fulfilled a one-way transmission function. There were a few Golden Core Cultivators from Wendao Sect arranging battle assignments. Yu Qingtan saw Fairy Qi Xun approach one of the Wendao Sect''s Golden Core Cultivators, have a brief conversation, and then return. "Golden Core Cultivators will follow me to the aerial battlefield to eradicate Third Stage Sea Beasts. Foundation Establishment Cultivators will be on the ground battlefield, tasked with clearing First and Second Stage Sea Beasts close to the ground. It is rmended that the Foundation Establishment Cultivators form groups of three to four, with each group assigned a specific area to clear. The details and your specific missions will be provided in a Jade Slip after you have formed groups," exined Fairy Qi Xun as she returned. Yu Qingtan naturally formed a group with Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi; Fairy Qi Xun assigned them an area to clear based on their cultivation levels. Soon, Fairy Qi Xun had arranged everything and led the group out of the East City Gate. Chapter 152 Water Blade Sweeps Clean the Sea Clan "Take care, everyone!" Shui Yun and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Tianxiang Valley bid farewell, then along with True Master Zi Xin and True Master You Zhi, they turned into a streak of Escape Light and shot up into the sky. Yu Qingtan also rose on her sword, heading to the target area with Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi. At this moment, the Outer City of Wendao Immortal City had turned into a marsnd, with water depths ranging from three feet to ten feet, a result of the Diversion River''s existence. Otherwise, the majority of the Qi Practitioners would have been washed away into the water to be fodder for the Sea n.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Now, most of the Qi Practitioners were still able to find some higher structures to settle on and fought desperately against the Sea Beasts in the water. Shui Qingrou was still calm; she was coping well. Xiang Yiyi, having little experience inbat, was obviously nervous. Along the way, whenever they encountered the Sea n, Yu Qingtan wouldn''t hesitate to raise her hand and unleash a dense barrage of Water des, while shouting fiercely, "Tianxiang Valley''s Yu Qingtan is here, Sea n, meet your demise!" "Qing Tan, you need to conserve some Spiritual Power. Leave these First Stage Sea Beasts for the Qi Practitioners to kill. We won''t get any Contribution Points for killing them." After repeating this three times, Shui Qingrou couldn''t help but advise her. As for thete-stage Foundation Establishment Spiritual Cultivation Level that Yu Qingtan had revealed, she simply exined it away as a Secret Technique. Whether Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi believed it or not, she wasn''t sure, but she believed it herself. "It''s alright, it won''t take up much time. As for the consumption of Spiritual Power, don''t worry Qing Rou, I know my limits," Yu Qingtan said with a light chuckle. This confidence andposure, along with the gantry she showed in action and the tenderness when saving others, couldn''t help but make Xiang Yiyi look up to her, easing her nerves as well. Shui Qingrou sighed inwardly, resigning herself to being Qing Tan''s safety. "Tianxiang Valley''s Yu Qingtan is here, Sea n, meet your demise!" Under her Water de Technique, a group of ugly Fanged Fish perished. Using the Object Controlling Technique, Qing Tan collected the fangs of the three Second Stage leader Fanged Fish into her Storage Bag, to serve as proof for earning temporary Contribution Points from the Wendao Sect. Her Water de Technique grew in power by ten percent in the water, making this marsh her home ground. "Thank you, Senior Yu, for saving our lives!" Yu Qingtan cast a beginner Second Stage Rejuvenation Spell on the injured among the group of saved Qi Practitioners, which would help them slowly recover as long as their vital areas weren''t damaged. Then, amidst the Qi Practitioners'' tearful gratitude, Qing Tan and herpanions continued their journey. After taking action more than ten times, the trio finally arrived at the mission area. A residential area for Cultivators. The more Cultivators gathered in a ce, obviously, the more numerous the Sea n became. Seeing ahead a massive school of Water Bullet Fish attacking thousands of Cultivators atop a huge three-story stone house, Yu Qingtan''s eyes shone with excitement. Enjoy more content from empire "Tianxiang Valley''s Yu Qingtan is here, Sea n, meet your demise!" Dense like rainfall, her Water des descended, turning the First Stage Water Bullet Fish into mush, and the Second Stage ones were riddled with holes, the water turning instantly red. She then performed arge-area Second Stage Rejuvenation Spell on the injured Cultivators on the roof. "Yiyi, help me collect the Second Stage materials. Qing Rou, keep Yiyi protected," she instructed. After that, she rushed to the next building. Along the way, she nced at her system panel and saw her Charm Points and proficiency in the Second Stage Rejuvenation Spell rising; Qing Tan felt even more motivated. Xiang Yiyi''s eyes sparkled as she efficiently collected the scales of the Second Stage Water Bullet Fish. Shui Qingrou had an expression of resignation, her Divine Sense constantly scanning the surroundings. She neither attacked the Sea Beasts nor gathered materials. Under Yu Qingtan''s relentless assault of Water des, the Sea n in the mission area were ughtered to thest within just half an hour. Yu Qingtan continued casting spells with high intensity and frequency without any sign of Spiritual Power exhaustion, which astonished Shui Qingrou, prompting her secret spection. "Is that the legendary Soul Devouring Physique?" However, she did not ask directly, as cultivators more or less all have their own secrets. "Qing Tan, are we going back now?" Xiang Yiyi asked, her admiration for Qing Tan had grown to the point where she even harbored some other kind of feelings for her. The mission Jade Slip mentioned that one could return to the Inner City for a rest afterpleting the task, killing ten sea creatures of the same stage, or fighting for an hour. Yu Qingtan nced at the half-open space channel formed by Canglong Gate, which was still spewing out seawater, though there were hardly any Sea n left in it. "I''m not going back yet, I want to continue fighting in other areas, do you guys want to go back first?" One should know that the longer one stayed in the Outer City, the more dangerous it could be. Xiang Yiyi naturally refused, as she wanted to continue admiring Yu Qingtan in action. Shui Qingrou also did not agree, she had not yet made a move and was not at ease with just the two of them, Yu Qingtan. So, following the simple map in the mission Jade Slip, the three of them continued to sweep through the areas where cultivators gathered. Yu Qingtan was confident; even if they encountered a Fourth Stage Sea n, she could ensure the safety of all three of them. Otherwise, she would not have wanted Shui Qingrou and the others to take risks with her. In the process, half an hourter, Yu Qingtan had rescued more than a million Qi Practitioners, and more than ten thousand had been healed by the Rejuvenation Spell. In some areas, other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were carrying out missions, and they were grateful, rather than opposed, to the help provided by Yu Qingtan and herpanions. Not all Foundation Establishment Cultivators could y Sea n as effortlessly as Yu Qingtan; they were fighting at the risk of their lives, and in some cases, the Sea n were formidable foes. Xiang Yiyi and Shui Qingrou were both dumbfounded by what they saw, yet Yu Qingtan was still not satisfied. There were perhaps seven or eight hundred million cultivators in the Outer City, and since Wendao Immortal City was circr, approximately half had been affected, amounting to about three hundred million ¨C imagine how many Charm Points that would be. However, this time, Yu Qingtan finally met a tough opponent. They encountered a giant octopus with hundreds of long tentacles, which had captured dozens of Human Race girls. The girls were all naked, entwined by the tentacles of the octopus, emitting sounds of pain and some tititing cries, while the giant octopus''s eyes showed a satisfied look, seemingly enjoying the process. "Tianxiang Valley''s Yu Qingtan is here, you perverted octopus, prepare to die!" However, when the dense Water des rained down on the giant octopus''s head, a huge arc-shaped water shield covered the octopus, deflecting the Water de attacks. Seeing Yu Qingtan and her twopanions, the giant octopus''s eyes did not show anger but emitted an excited gleam as several of its tentaclesshed out like swords toward where the three women were. The giant octopus, though emitting the aura of a Second Stage, possessed defensive power from its water shield and the speed and strength of its tentacle attacks that all reached the Third Stage standard. This was an old sixth-level perverted octopus from the Sea n who was adept at ying weak. Facing the rapidly attacking dozen tentacles, Xiang Yiyi''s face turned a touch pale, yet she believed Yu Qingtan could fend them off. Shui Qingrou had a grave expression as she pulled out an Ancient Treasure, a flexible sword, and charged forward. As her Sword Art flickered, a pale blue sword rushed toward the giant octopus''s tentacles. She was executing the fifth form of the Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, the All-Epassing Net; even Luo Xiang had not mastered this final move. Empowered by the Ancient Treasure sword, the''s power also reached the Third Stage standard, instantaneously slicing one of the giant octopus''s tentacles into pieces. The pained giant octopus immediately withdrew its tentacles and avoided the sharp edge for the time being. "Qingrou, what a fine sword technique!" Yu Qingtan praised, her figure vanished in an instant as she deployed the Water Escape Technique to appear beside the octopus''s withdrawn tentacles. Seeing the beautiful womane willingly, unarmed, the giant octopus didn''t hesitate to entangle Yu Qingtan with two of its tentacles and drag her towards itself. "Qing Tan!" Seeing this, Xiang Yiyi''s face changed dramatically and she urgently called out. Chapter 153 Slaying the Third Tier upon Encountering Injustice Shui Qingrou was not worried and closed the distance, continuing her attacks on the giant octopus with the Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art. She had realized that Yu Qingtan had a profound foundation and was a genius, definitely not there for a fruitless disy; not to mention, she was also a Body Cultivator in theter stages of Foundation Establishment. "Yiyi, protect yourself!" Shui Qingrou shouted, her offensive growing even more intense. After being entangled by the tentacles, Yu Qingtan immediately felt spikes within them trying to prate her body. However, her body, at theter stages of Body Refinement and Foundation Establishment, was not something that could be easily breached by a tentacle of a Third Stage Sea Beast. The giant octopus was not annoyed; when its tentacles brought Yu Qingtan closer, it sprayed a thick, stinky ck paralyzing ink at her. Although its ink was not highly toxic, it had strong paralytic and prative properties. Several Late Third Stage Sea Beasts had been dealt with by this tactic before, and it believed that this beautiful maiden definitely couldn''t withstand it. Yu Qingtan saw that the distance was close enough and suddenly burst forth with tremendous strength, breaking free from the entangling tentacles while simultaneously creating a pale blue water sphere around herself, enveloping her and the main body of the giant octopus, including its head. The paralyzing ink of the giant octopus was expelled by the water sphere, not affecting Yu Qingtan in the slightest. Then, in front of Yu Qingtan, a water de that had turned dark in color condensed and shot towards the giant octopus''s head. Shui Qingrou, who was entangled with the tentacles, and Xiang Yiyi, who was nonchntly watching, were once again shocked. "A nascent water domain, half a step into the Dao! What kind of freak is this?" One should know that even Real Person Shui Yun had only understood how to construct a nascent water domain after condensing her Golden Core. With the enhancement of the nascent water domain, the water de that Yu Qingtan had put all her efforts into condensing had also reached the attack power of a Third Stage. The giant octopus condensed its water shield defense again, yet it only held for a moment before being prated by the water de. That moment barely allowed the giant octopus to avoid a vital spot, but a bloody hole was still punched in its head. Having chosen to use its tentacles to get close to the giant octopus, Yu Qingtan did so for three reasons: first, her nascent water domain had a limited range; second, to prevent the tentacles from retracting in time for defense; and third, to continue attacking with spells that required closebat. As the first water de struck true, Yu Qingtan''s second water de had already taken shape, while at the same time, she used the Water Escape Technique to close in further. "Blood Control Technique! Decay and Flourish Technique!" The blood in the giant octopus''s body began to flow rapidly, blood spouting from the wound, even erging the hole. The eerie fluctuations of the Decay and Flourish Technique then entered its body through the wound. The giant octopus, now panicked, released the youngdies, retracting all its tentacles to its side to defend against Yu Qingtan''s water de andunch attacks at her. Shui Qingrou moved the girls to the side for Xiang Yiyi to take care of and then went back to continue her own attacks. The giant octopus was attacking Yu Qingtan with its tentacles while trying to escape the range of the nascent water domain. It wanted to flee. Yu Qingtan, however, was not about to let it have its way and closely pursued it with her attacks. "Human Race, I admit defeat, don''t push me too far, or I will detonate my inner core." After having more than a dozen tentacles chopped off and with its internal condition worsening, the giant octopus cowered, employing the old but effective threat of self-detonation. Yu Qingtan paid no heed and continued her attack, merely sending a message to Shui Qingrou, instructing her to retreat temporarily. Shui Qingrou did not insist on being brave and moved back to Xiang Yiyi''s side. Half an hourter. "I''ll fight you to the death!" The eyes of the giant octopus were filled with madness as it used its remaining twenty-plus tentacles to block Yu Qingtan''s retreat, then detonated its body and inner core together. "Boom~" A loud explosion sent water spraying into the sky, and a gigantic wave several meters high formed on the surface, spreading in all directions like a miniature tsunami. A fierce shock wave rippled through the air, toppling buildings all around, and Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi who were further away had no choice but to use their defensive spiritual artifacts to fend off the shock wave. Momentster, the sky poured with a majestic rain, with the remnants of flesh and blood faintly visible within it. Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi, with worried expressions on their faces, saw through the rain a lovely young woman in a light pink dress, holding a pinkish oiled paper umbre, floating on her sword mid-air. Below her was a giant pit, over thirty feet deep, with sea water pouring into it. This umbre was none other than the Cann Umbre, a high-grade ancient treasure that Yu Qingtan had slightly altered in design and color. The alterations were mainly because she didn''t yet want others to know that she and Qing Shuang were the same person. With a Third Stage being detonating its inner core at such close range, even though the giant octopus had just entered Third Stage and despite Yu Qingtan having the Cann Umbre to protect her body, she was still so shaken that her internal organs disced, causing her to vomit arge mouthful of fresh blood. But such injuries, under the influence of herte-stage Foundation Establishment body refinement, the Decay and Flourish Technique, and the Rejuvenation Spell, more or less healed within a few moments of standing. "What a pity to lose a Third Stage inner core!" Yu Qingtan sighed in her heart, but the Contribution Points she would earn from ying a Third Stage Sea n member was far more than what she would get from a hundredte-stage Second Stage members, which was an important reason why Yu Qingtan was determined to kill it. Xiang Yiyi, seeing the gracefully umbre-holding Yu Qingtan, couldn''t help but be infatuated, her heart racing. She knew, at that moment, she had fallen in love. If Yu Qingtan knew, she would probably just regret that females couldn''t provide Affection Value. Shui Qingrou also felt a sense of unreality, a Third Stage Sea n member had just fallen by the hands of Yu Qingtan. A few breathster, Yu Qingtan was essentially healed, and the water had settled. She put away the Cann Umbre and approached the two girls. "Qing Tan, you''re too incredible!" Xiang Yiyi had already run out of words to praise Yu Qingtan. "Qing Tan, you''re sure to take a ce on the Hundred Flowers List this year." Shui Qingrou alsoplemented. "Hehe, may your words bring fortune. I need to help them first!" Yu Qingtan looked at the girls lying on the rooftop and cast a Second Stage Rejuvenation Spell and a Second Stage Purification Spell on them. These girls had all been paralyzed by the neurotoxin of the giant octopus, and since Xiang Yiyi only knew the First Stage Rejuvenation Spell, she was unable to awaken them. However, being a Third Stage toxin, Yu Qingtan''s Second Stage Purification Spell couldn''tpletely purify it, but it did remove the threat to their lives. So the three decided to return to the Inner City first and rest for a while. Although Yu Qingtan''s spiritual power was still full, after a long time of casting spells and fighting, her soul was indeed fatigued. Fortunately, Shui Qingrou had a pagoda-shaped Spatial Treasure that could contain living beings, so they gathered up the girls and then hurried towards the Eastern City Gate. On the way, whenever they encountered members of the Sea n, Yu Qingtan still used the Water de Technique to clear the field. If there were Cultivators in distress, before stepping in to help, she would loudly announce her own name. Shui Qingrou and the other girl had already gotten used to this. Halfway there, the three women encountered something that made them quite angry. On the roof of arge building, a few Sakura Ind Foundation Establishment Cultivators were collecting valuables from the rescued Cultivators. These Foundation Establishment Cultivators were theckeys of the Golden Core Cultivator, Ye Qi Xiao Taro. Seeing Yu Qingtan and herpanions approaching on their swords, their expressions changed, clearly recognizing the female devil who had taken down An Xi San Lang.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "What are you doing here?" Yu Qingtan directly demanded. One of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators replied with a stiff face, "This friend from Tianxiang Valley, we helped the Cultivators here by eliminating the Sea Beasts that surrounded this ce, and they voluntarily offered half of their belongings to express their gratitude!" Yu Qingtan nced around at the thousands of Qi Practitioners on the rooftop, many of whom appeared disgruntled. Your next chapter is on empire She sneered and said, "It looks to me like you forced them to give up half of their belongings aspensation, right?" Chapter 154 Exterminate the Wild Cultivators and Encounter Yan Xi "That is, we saved them, so it''s only right they give us some reward." The Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Sakura Ind had no choice but to continue making excuses. "Doesn''t the Wendao Sect award Contribution Points?" At that moment, a middle-aged woman burst from the crowd and kowtowed before Yu Qingtan, pleading, "Fairy, please help us seek justice!" "Madam, please stand up and tell me, what''s the matter? I am Yu Qingtan from Tianxiang Valley, and I will seek justice for you." Yu Qingtan stepped forward and asked. This was the first time she had ever been addressed as a fairy. "Fairy Yu, my husband and some fellow Daoists previously tried to negotiate with these people too. Knowing the rules of the Wendao Sect, they hoped to give less or no reward. After a few words of dispute, my husband and hispanions were murdered, and their bodies were fed to that brute." The woman looked at a giant blue snake Spirit Beast next to a Sakura Ind Cultivator, its eyes blood-red and tail split into eight, and used with hate in her eyes. Yu Qingtan recognized this type of Spirit Beast, ate Second-Stage Orichi, a mount-type Spirit Beast. Previously in Suichuan Immortal City''s ck market, Tian Changfeng sold first-stage Orichi. After Tian Changfeng was dealt with by her, the first-stage Orichi were fed to Xiao Tao. It is said that Orichi mainlye from Sakura Ind. "Friends from Tianxiang Valley, are you really willing to make enemies with us over a mere few Qi Practitioners?" The previously speaking Cultivator from Sakura Ind interjected. There were eight of them, and Yu Qingtan''s side had only three at the Foundation Establishment level; perhaps a fight was not impossible. Yu Qingtan did not waste any more words. Water des formed above her head and shot out like lightning, attacking the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Sakura Ind. She had never had a shred of goodwill for these rogue Cultivators from Sakura Ind, and now that they had acted in such a way, what was there to discuss? ughter them, it wasn''t like she hadn''t done it before. Enraged, Xiang Yiyi decided not to stand idly by any longer. She pulled out a Spiritual Artifact longsword andunched an attack with sword Qi. Shui Qingrou skimmed the edges of the battle, ensuring that the rooftop Qi Practitioners were not affected while she kept watch. Faced with Yu Qingtan''s thousands of Water des, the Sakura Ind Foundation Establishment Cultivators felt their scalps tingle. The one who had spoken took out a turtle-shell-shaped shield. The shield quickly grewrger, shielding everyone behind it. The Water des and sword Qi struck it but failed to make it budge even slightly. This was a lower-grade Treasure Level ancient treasure, the Green Xuan Turtle Spirit Shield. Seizing the opportunity, the Sakura Ind Cultivators leapt onto the back of the Orichi and began to flee toward the eastern gate of the Inner City of Wendao Immortal City. They were aware that Yu Qingtan was still ate-stage Foundation Establishment body cultivator and was skilled in the art of invisibility and breath concealment, but they hadn''t expected her to have such a terrifying Water de Technique. Unable to fight, they could do nothing else but escape back to the Inner City, where she wouldn''t be able to take action. However, Yu Qingtan was not one to let them off easily. In a sh, she was already in pursuit. The Orichi''s speed in water was even three parts faster than that of ate-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator on a Flying Spirit Sword, but Yu Qingtan''s Water Escape Technique was equally unmatched in such a watery environment. Unable to increase the distance, the Sakura Ind Cultivators could only rely on the Green Xuan Turtle Spirit Shield to block the iing Water des, hoping to lose Yu Qingtan by taking advantage of the Spirit Beast''s stamina. Yu Qingtan didn''t need to worry about her Spiritual Power draining, but she didn''t want to waste too much time either. Without Shui Qingrou and the other person following her, and with no one around, she took out the Cann Sword, stepped onto it, activated a high-grade Spirit Stone, and sped forward on the sword. Although the Cann Sword wasn''t specifically a Flying Spirit Sword, as a third-stage high-grade ancient treasure, catching up to a second-stage Orichi was a breeze. In the blink of an eye, Yu Qingtan appeared directly above the fleeing Orichi. Spiritual Power surged within her, and a wall of water formed on all sides, encircling the Orichi. Then, countless Water des shot out in a 360-degree, no dead-angle attack toward both the Orichi and the Cultivators from Sakura Ind. The Qingshield Tortoise Shield was strong, but it could only barely withstand attacks from one direction. Yu Qingtan didn''t directly use the Cann Sword to attack because she feared damaging this ancient treasure shield, which she had alreadye to regard as her own. Soon, the water curtain was filled with sounds of cursing, pleading for mercy, and cries of pain, all of which Yu Qingtan ignored. Explore stories on empire After a dozen or so breaths, the voices disappeared, and the Sakura Ind cultivators and the Second Stage Orichi had all turned into minced meat. When Yu Qingtan ceased her attack, she deliberately spared the storage bags and the Qingshield Tortoise Shield and used another Fireball Technique to destroy the corpses and erase all traces before returning to where Shui Qingrou and the otherdy were. Taking out the storage bag she had earlier taken from the man who collected the valuables, she returned the items to the many Qi Practitioners and then healed the injured cultivators. Afterward, the three women continued to hurry towards the eastern city gate. The way was uneventful. The trio entered the city, reported thepletion of their mission, and submitted proof of their kills from the Second and Third Stages. "You actually also killed a Third Stage Sea n member." The Foundation Establishment Cultivator responsible for registration from the Wendao Sect couldn''t help but exim in surprise, causing a stir among the nearby cultivators. Only by listening to the discussions of the surrounding cultivators did they learn that among the twenty-odd teams responsible for scouring the nearbynds, most of them had encountered Third Stage Sea n members and werepletely wiped out. It wasn''t until local cultivators noticed and escaped back to the Inner City to request aid from the Golden Core cultivators on standby that they were able to defeat the Third Stage Sea n member. A few teams managed to escape back to the Inner City on their own, and then two teams seeded in killing Third Stage Sea n members. Paying no mind to these matters, the trio of Yu Qingtan handed over the girls they had rescued from the Third Stage giant octopus to the cultivators of the Wendao Sect. Then they found an open space nearby, set up a simple warning Protective Array, and began to meditate and recuperate. About half an hourter, Yu Qingtan opened her eyes, refreshed, and took out the ancient treasure shield engraved with the words "Qingshield Tortoise Shield." She used a Purification Spell to cleanse the previous Divine Sense imprint, branded it with her own, and performed a simple consecration process, which took precisely one hour toplete. Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi also finished their rest, and the three of them epted another sweeping mission before departing through the eastern city gate. By this time, it was the evening of the thirteenth day of the first month, and although the moonlight in the sky was somewhat dimmed by the high-ranking battles above, it posed no issue for the cultivators'' vision. Once outside the city, Yu Qingtan employed the same tactic, directly pushing with her perfected-stage Water de Technique. As they neared their destination, Yu Qingtan heard a loud shout ahead of them, "Yan Xi sister, run fast!" Yu Qingtan and herpanions ascended to a higher elevation to get a clearer view, only to see a figure rushing in their direction from a distance. Dressed in the familiar pink skirt uniform of Tianxiang Valley, it was indeed Yan Xi. Having seen the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Yan Xi sped up even more and hurried over. After a moment''s consideration, Yu Qingtan headed in the direction of Yan Xi. Upon seeing that it was Yu Qingtan and the others, Yan Xi did not hesitate to shout, "Senior Sisters, please, I beg you to save Big Brother Shu. He''s in a life-threatening battle against a Third Stage Sea Beast Mantis Shrimp." Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi looked towards Yu Qingtan. Seeing this, Yan Xi realized that Yu Qingtan was the decision-maker and spoke hurriedly without thinking:N?v(el)B\\jnn "Yu Junior Sister, I was wrong before, and I apologize to you. As long as you can save Big Brother Shu''s life, I''ll let you hit and scold me as you please." "Then serve me as a maid for a year!" As her words fell, she had already vanished from her spot. Chapter 155 Exterminate 3rd Rank and Take a Maid Servant Yu Qingtan employed the Water Escape Technique and soonid eyes upon the battlefield. Yan Shu, who was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment and also Yan Xi''s n brother, was emanating spiritual power fluctuations of thete stage of Foundation Establishment. Wielding an ancient treasure, a long staff of a third-stage low-grade, he was struggling to fend off the attacks from an early third-stage mantis shrimp. His body was stained with red blood, and some of his hair had turned white, clearly indicating that he had used a secret technique that consumed his lifespan to temporarily boost his cultivation level, and he had already sustained serious injuries. The third-stage, early-stage mantis shrimp was only about ten feet long, but its shell offered extreme defensive capabilities. Its second pair of raptorial appendages was like iron fists, capable ofunching powerful attacks and excelling in concealing its presence for sneak attacks. A full-force attack from the mere third-stage creature could even shatter a very small area of space. Even ate third-stage member of the Sea n hit directly in a vital spot by its mantis shrimp punch would perish on the spot. The injuries on Yan Shu''s body were the result of not being able to dodge one of the mantis shrimp''s punches, which hit his staff and caused a shock injury to him. Before Yu Qingtan arrived at the scene, she had already used Divine Sense and the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique to assess the situation and recalled the recorded weaknesses of mantis shrimps from ancient texts, formting abat n in her mind. The mantis shrimp could burst forth with extreme speed in an instant, but normally it was very slow, and bursting forth required a two-breath interval. Besides, its physical defense was astonishing, but it virtually had no soul defense, and the strength of its soul was rtively weak. The arrival of Yu Qingtan did not cause the mantis shrimp any concern, and Yan Shu had no energy to spare to take notice. After the mantis shrimpunched another burst of speed to attack Yan Shu, Yu Qingtan instantly approached the mantis shrimp using Water Escape Technique, and unfolded the nascent form of a water domain to envelop it within. The surface of the water domain''s nascent form had rapid water currents forming a white wave barrier, blocking outside vision and Divine Sense probing from the inside. Although Yan Shu was shocked by Yu Qingtan''s strength and her arrival to rescue him, he also understood that he was running out of steam. He mustered a bit of spiritual energy and headed in the direction where Yan Xi had left. Inside the water domain''s nascent form, Yu Qingtan''s spiritual cultivation level instantly rose to the early Golden Core stage, and she took out the high-quality spiritual artifact, the White Desire Pipa, gifted by Ru Yao, and started ying the Devil''s Prating Sound.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om This was one of Yu Qingtan''s trump cards, the devoted, All-World Academy''s zither master, Shi Kuang. Although the "Love''s Protection" by Shi Kuang had increased in price to a hundred medium grade spirit stones per quarter hour, it was still more cost-effectivepared to the Cann Umbre which required top grade spirit stones to activate. The Devil''s Prating Sound, cast with Golden Core level spiritual power, drove the weak-souled mantis shrimp into a frenzy, attacking Yu Qingtan wildly, aiming to crush this detestable human to death. But with the assistance of Water Escape Technique powered by Golden Core spiritual power, the nascent form of the water domain, and the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique for predictive purposes, the mantis shrimp''s burst speed could not catch up to Yu Qingtan. After evading for about half a quarter hour, the mantis shrimp finally came to a halt. It had no choice but to resist the invasion and harm to its soul by the Devil''s Prating Sound with all its might. Seizing the opportunity, Yu Qingtan closed the distance and yed the Devil''s Prating Sound with even more effort. Just before the quarter hour was up, the mantis shrimp finally lost its vitality. Its soul had been shattered by the Devil''s Prating Sound. "A pristine third-stage mantis shrimp body, plus a third-stage inner core, this is a windfall." Yu Qingtan collected it satisfactorily into her System Space. It was precisely because she wanted to kill it subtly, like boiling a frog in warm water, to avoid it blowing up like the previous giant octopus, that she directly used Shi Kuang''s "Love''s Protection" trump card. After tidying up the battlefield, Yu Qingtan hurried back to where Shui Qingrou and Xiang Yiyi were. She had already sent them a message before arriving, telling them not toe over and just wait where they were. Seeing her return safely, both women showed joy on their faces. Yan Xi was surprised but also delighted, and within that delight, there was also awkwardness. Meanwhile, Yan Shu was sitting in meditation, healing his injuries. Shui Qingrou transmitted a message to Yu Qingtan, briefly exining the situation as recounted by Yan Xi. Originally, the team consisting of Yan Xi, Yan Shu, Luo Ren, and Ou Lu from their family faction, managed toplete their first mission quite easily. Although only Yan Xi was at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, they all had the support of their families and had many trump cards at their disposal. After resting and recuperating in the Inner City, they ventured out to undertake their second mission, only to encounter a school of golden bulging-forehead bumphead fish in the mission area, led by a male that was Third Stage. The golden bulging-forehead bumphead fish is a peculiar species of the Sea n that practices polygyny, with males muchrger than females, protruding lower jaws, raised foreheads, and sharp teeth. However, this is not what sets them apart; if a female''s cultivation level approached that of a male, she would secretly hide away, transform into a male and experience a significant increase in cultivation level, then kill the original male and take his ce. When Yu Qingtan first learned about this species of Sea n, she was stunned; why couldn''t she just turn back into a male? But at this moment, did she truly want to be a male again? Returning to the encounter of Yan Xi and her party with the golden bulging-forehead bumphead fish, a fierce battle ensued. Yan Xi had the ancient treasure bracelet and two Charm Treasures renewed by her elders, Yan Shu possessed an ancient treasure staff, Luo Ren wielded an ancient treasure sword and a Charm Treasure, while Ou Lu only had a Third Stage lightning summoning charm. Despite their rtively low cultivation levels, under the numerous Third Stage techniques, Yan Xi and the others managed to kill the Third Stage golden bulging-forehead male fish and a few Second Stage females after a hard fight. Just as they were about to take their spoils back to fulfill their assignment, a Third Stage mantis shrimp lurking in the underwater mud suddenlyunched a sneak attack, killing Ou Lu on the spot. The Charm Treasures of the three survivors were left with only one use each. Yan Xi made a decisive move to use hers, but the attack only lightly injured the mantis shrimp when it struck its shell. The trio fought valiantly with their ancient treasures, but soon Luo Ren''s arm was shattered by the impact. Yan Xi and Yan Shu covered his retreat from the battle, only for Luo Ren to activate an Escape Talisman and flee in the midst of the chaos. Yan Shu had no choice but to use the Life-Burning Secret Technique to cover their escape, buying time for Yan Xi to flee. "After Yan Shu came back, Yan Xi immediately embraced him. From the words they exchanged, it seems that their rtionship might not be purely that of siblings," Shui Qingrou concluded in her message. Experience tales with empire Upon hearing this, Yu Qingtan was somewhat astonished. She knew that although Yan Xi and Yan Shu were not biological siblings, they shared the same maternal grandmother and thus were direct blood rtives within three generations. The Lichuan Cultivation World had also recognized the drawbacks of close kin marriage and had prohibited it. "Thank you so much, Senior Sister Yu, for your assistance. I cannot express how grateful I am. I am willing to serve you for the next year to repay this kindness," Yan Xi, who had finally collected herself and made up her mind, came before Yu Qingtan, bowed deeply, and said. Tear streaks still marked her face from crying, and she changed her address from Junior Sister to Senior Sister. Seeing the once high-and-mighty Miss Yan lower herself in this way was quite satisfying for Yu Qingtan. Although she had exacted a measure of revenge in Myriad Beasts Secret Realm with a singlesh, the continued targeting by the Yan family had left her feeling quite unhappy. Regretting not having killed Yan Xi was just something said in anger; this turn of events, however, was quite delightful. She was somewhat looking forward to seeing the expressions of those in the Yan family when they saw their legitimate daughter be her servant. "Hmm, Yan Xi, you will indeed be taking on a lot thising year," Yu Qingtan responded with an expressionless face, her heart filled with immense satisfaction. Chapter 156 Forbidden Love and the Cang Lei Ding Seeing Yan Xi be Yu Qingtan''s maidservant, Xiang Yiyi by her side couldn''t help feeling a bit envious. Since Yan Xi had lowered her head, Yu Qingtan came to the side of Yan Shu, who was in the process of assimting the healing power of an elixir, and first performed a Second Stage Purification Spell and Second Stage Rejuvenation Spell on him. Then she cast the Second Stage Decay and Flourish Technique. Yan Shu''splexion visibly improved, and all his hair turned back to ck. The Decay and Flourish Technique, a Second Stage spell of the Wood Element, was extremely difficult to learn. Both Yan Xi and Xiang Yiyi possessed dual Spirit Roots of Water and Wood, but neither had yet mastered this spell. This showed that Luo Xiang had a real talent for the Decay and Flourish Technique. The crowd once again marveled at Yu Qingtan''s talent. Yan Xi bowed deeply again, "Thank you, miss!" She didn''t say much, but her fondness had clearly increased a lot. However, the term "miss," was not friendly to her as a person from another world, but there was nothing she could do about it¡ªmaids here referred to their employers in that way. She couldn''t possibly let Yan Xi call her "princess," right? Well, "princess" is also ambiguous; her previous life was indeed a messy society. Yan Xi and Yan Shu grew up together, with Yan Shu always doting on her, but she had only ever seen him as a brother who loved his sister. After she became engaged to Luo Xiang, Yan Shu, who was still in the Qi Cultivation Stage, left Tianxiang Valley to travel. When he returned, he had reached Foundation Establishment, while Yan Xi and Luo Xiang had not yet done so. Having set aside some matters, Yan Shu continued to silently protect his sister until Yan Xi and Luo Xiang fell out and dissolved their engagement. Later, when Yan Xi secretly went to the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm and was deceived emotionally by a Third Stage Heavenly Demon, the ck Lick Dog Wang Ziru, Yan Shu finally made up his mind and confessed his feelings to her. Yan Xi was also somewhat bewildered. She was naturally fond of the brother who had always taken care of her, but they were siblings. She could only prevaricate and put off his confession. Today, when Yan Shu desperately covered her retreat, that sense of pain and fear made her finally understand her own feelings. Blood rtions of siblings, what does that matter? As Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the difficulty of conceiving offspring was high. Why not simply choose not to have children? As for the forbidden love between Yan Xi and Yan Shu, Yu Qingtan had noment. It was none of her concern. At that moment, a streak of Escape Light rapidly approached from the distance, and in the blink of an eye, it had already arrived before everyone. It turned out to be Venerable Youzhi and Luo Ren. "Brother Yan, Sister Yan, it''s so good to see you''re both unharmed!" Find more chapters on empire Luo Ren, with a drooping arm, spoke with some excitement. "It was Sister Yu who saved us!" Yan Xi said somewhat coldly. She harbored some resentment towards Luo Ren, who had fled the battle. However, he had his arm disabled and even called for Venerable Youzhi toe to the rescue. He was notpletely heartless, although if Yu Qingtan had not been there, Venerable Youzhi''s arrival would have only been in time to collect Yan Shu''s corpse. "What about that Third Stage member of the Sea n?" Hearing Yan Xi''s words, both Venerable Youzhi and Luo Ren were taken aback and turned to look at Yu Qingtan before Venerable Youzhi asked. "Back to Uncle Master, I''ve already killed it." Venerable Youzhi and Luo Ren both stared nkly at Yu Qingtan, and after a long moment, Venerable Youzhi finally said, "Niece, well done!" "Uncle Master tters me. How are the Valley Master and Venerable Zixin, and what''s the situation with the battle above?" Upon hearing this, Venerable Youzhi''s face showed worry and he spoke with some shame, "The situation is not optimistic; after all, the number of Third Stage members of the Sea n is four times that of our Golden Core cultivators. The Valley Master is extraordinarily strong and has in three Sea n members of the same stage, but since Venerable Zixin and I have just entered the Golden Core, I could barely defend myself against three opponents of the same stage, while Venerable Zixin, despite severe injuries, killed one Third Stage member of the Sea n. We three had just rotated out to rest." Everyone fell silent. With demonic beasts and the Sea n, the higher their level, the less the disparity with the Human Race. Upon reaching the Third Stage, the difficulty of killing them escted dramatically. With the strength of the eighty-sixth ranked individual on the Pride of the Heavens List, Real Person of Watery Grace, it was only possible to kill three of the same stage in a short time. Previously, Ouyang Wenjian, the City Lord of Suichuan Immortal City, was able to fight alone against six great Heavenly Demons because he was too strong, but he didn''t kill even one. "Don''t worry, Nascent Soul cultivators who came to attend the Nascent Soul Ceremony are arriving one after another, so the situation is not too terrible at the moment. The key is still that battlefield." Real Person You Zhi''s gaze shifted towards the distant sky where the battle between Canglong, the Sea Lord, and the four God Transformation Honorables from Wendao Sect was taking ce, which was already very far from here." "Uncle Master, won''t the other Venerables of the Human Racee to help?" Yu Qingtan asked curiously. "It''s difficult. This great battle must have attracted attention from all sides. If other God Transformation Honorablese to our aid, there is no guarantee that their strongholds won''t be attacked by fifth-stage members of the Sea n or the Demon Race. Moreover, the internal affairs of the Human Race are notpletely united." Real Person You Zhi said leisurely. "Alright, these are not things we should be concerned about. I''m going to take Cultivator Yan and the others back first. Would you like to go back with us, Cultivator Yu?" Knowing Yu Qingtan was able to kill third-stage members of the Sea n, Real Person You Zhi was quite courteous towards her. "We took on a mission and haven''tpleted it yet." Yu Qingtan replied. "I''ll join them too." Yan Xi said and exined to Real Person You Zhi through a secret transmission, making his face twitch slightly. In the end, Real Person You Zhi took Yan Shu and Luo Ren back to the Inner City. Both of them were seriously injured and likely wouldn''t need to participate in the battle afterwards. Yu Qingtan, Shui Qingrou, Xiang Yiyi, and Yan Xi continued to rush towards the mission area. "Yu Qingtan of Tianxiang Valley is here, Sea n, prepare to die!" Hearing Yu Qingtan''s loud shout and seeing her Water de washing the ground tactics, Yan Xi was also somewhat stunned. Was Yu Qingtan always this domineering, so terrifyingly strong? She had actually fought her before. Thinking of this, Yan Xi decided she must dutifully serve as a maid, otherwise once Yu Qingtan reached Core Formation, even her mother and both grandparents, all three Golden Core cultivators, might not be able to protect her. Thus, Yan Xi took over the task of collecting materials from the Sea n for Yu Qingtan, which irritated Xiang Yiyi, but she couldn''t do anything about it, since Yan Xi was the official maid. After quickly clearing the mission area, Yu Qingtan continued to advance to other ces. More than an hourter, in front of the trio, there was a figure falling from the sky with three Canglongs, each about fifteen meters in length, charging down from above. They simultaneously spat out ck water arrows, aiming at the figure below. As the attack was about to strike, the figure barely managed to flip over, switching from head-down to feet-down, and spat out a green tripod with cracks and flickering with lightning. The tripod expanded rapidly, covering the figure inside it as a defense against the attack from above. "Bang¡«" The giant tripod smashed onto the water surface, creating an enormous ssh andpletely discing the water around it.N?v(el)B\\jnn The tripod continued to crash into the ground, creating a deep pit, with only parts of its legs sticking out from the ground. Fortunately, it was a covered tripod that protected the person within. "The Three-Legged Cang Thunder Tripod, Real Person Baili Ya from Cang Thunder!" Through this tripod, Yu Qingtan and the others identified the figure''s identity. Baili Ya, the outstanding figure of the thunder spiritual lineage from Wendao Sect, possessed a high-grade Thunder Spiritual Root, was ate-stage Golden Core cultivator, had the honorific title Real Person Cang Thunder, and ranked fifth on the current Pride of the Heavens List. Chapter 157 Cang Ding, Cang King, Baili Ya Baili Ya, originally a member of the royal family of the Cang Country in the Mortal Realm, was detected to possess a superior Thunder Spiritual Root and was admitted into the Wendao Sect. The royal family of Cang Country then directly conferred upon him the title of Cang King. He cultivated the Thunder Vein Cultivation Technique "Cang Thunder World Subduing Scripture" of the Wendao Sect, achieving a Golden Core at the age of twenty-one, and forging his Lifebound Magical Treasure, the three-legged Cang Thunder Cauldron. At the age of twenty-three, he entered the Yunhua Mountain Range alone, ying ten Third Stage Heavenly Demons, thousands of Second Stage Major Demons, and several hundred thousand First Stage Minor Demons. At twenty-four, he was stationed to oversee the coastal Immortal City under the jurisdiction of the Wendao Sect, Yueqing Immortal City, and ughtered more than nine hundred small Sea n tribes. Nearby Sea n trembled at the mention of his name. On the Pride of the Heavens List, a poem praised him: Singly he rides into the demon forest, ten steps to kill, with lightning hemands the sea, destroying nine hundred ns. Who dares contend throughout the world alone, Cang Cauldron, Cang King, Baili Ya. However, now Baili Ya was surrounded by threete-stage Third Stage Canglong, relying on his severely damaged Lifebound Magical Treasure, the three-legged Cang Thunder Cauldron, to hang on desperately. Those three Third Stage Canglong were also not in good shape, with numerous ckened wounds on their bodies; one had lost a w, another had a bloody hole in its head, and one had its tail bent at a ny-degree angle. The ck water arrows they fired struck the three-legged Cang Thunder Cauldron, causing it to shudder repeatedly, and as the ck water arrows turned into ck water upon hitting the cauldron, clinging to it and eroding its body, making a sizzling noise. This was the innate spell of the Canglong, the ck Water Dragon Breath Arrow. The so-called ck water, also known as decay water, is a kind of precious Spiritual Water, second only to such kinds as Innate Ren Water and Innate Gui Water. At this moment, the three Canglong had reached the ground, pulling up the three-legged Cang Thunder Cauldron and striking it with their ws. With each strike, the body of the cauldron violently shook, emitting a "thud thud" sound. "Baili Ya,e out obediently and meet your death, and I may grant you a swift end!" Between attacks, one of the Canglong even said in a potbellied voice. Inside the cauldron, Baili Ya was wrapped in a ball of lightning, focusingpletely on healing his wounds and paying no heed. He had fought alone against fourte-stage Third Stage Canglong, fighting fiercely for a long time, killing one and severely injuring three, but he too was now at hisst gasp. But he wouldn''t give up; he was going to try his best to grasp a sliver of survival, for he was the Cang King, Baili Ya. Afar, Yu Qingtan and the other three women were also greatly shocked at this scene. They had not expected the person ranked fifth on the Pride of the Heavens List, the Cang Thunder True Person Baili Ya, to end up in such a sorry state. After observing the situation for a while, Yu Qingtan quickly made a decision. "Qing Rou, Yiyi, Yan Xi, you three find a ce about twenty miles away to hide and wait for me; I''m going to help Cang Thunder True Person," she said. When she used Shi Kuang''s "Love''s Protection" to upgrade to the Golden Core Stage, her Divine Sense covered a range of three hundred zhang, or about two miles. After reaching the Golden Core Stage, one can perform some delicate controls over their Divine Sense, such as dispersing it in one direction to increase its detection range tenfold. Thus, Yu Qingtan could use her Divine Sense to understand the situation within twenty miles. In this way, even if anything unexpected happened to the three women, she could respond in time. Regarding Yu Qingtan''s decision, Shui Qingrou and the other two women had no objections; they no longer knew the limits of Yu Qingtan''s strength. If Yu Qingtan told them she could fight against Fourth Stage opponents, the three women might choose to believe her. The three women quickly flew away on their swords, while in the blink of an eye, Yu Qingtan''s figure had already disappeared. Read exclusive adventures at empire She first used the Breath-Concealing Technique and Invisibility Technique, and then she applied Shi Kuang''s "Love''s Protection" to raise her Spiritual Power and Divine Sense to the initial stage of Golden Core. She dived into the water and headed in the direction of the three Canglong. The three Canglong did not pay any attention to the actions of Yu Qingtan and the other women, considering them merely as a few Second Stage Human ants. The sudden disappearance of Yu Qingtan somewhat surprised them, but they soon put it out of their minds and continued hitting the three-legged Cang Thunder Cauldron. A Second Stage, even if they let it attack without resistance, could not break through their defense. The Canglong resembled a snake but had a pair of forews and grew antler-like horns on its head, its body covered in dense scales. Soon, they paid the price for their arrogance. Yu Qingtan felt under the Canglong that had a w severed and, using the "Bi Qing Ling Tong," stared at it intently. As it tried to strike once more with its remaining right w at the San Zu Cang Lei Ding, Yu Qingtan made her decisive move. Wielding the Cann Sword, she burst forth from below, thrusting straight at the axi of its severed w, one of the weakest spots in its defense. The technique she used was the first form of the "Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art," Silver Toad Spitting Water. For a Canglong in thete Third Stage, even the spiritual power of the Golden Core Stage, casting Second Stage spells like the "Decay and Flourish Technique" and the "Blood Control Technique," would hardly cause it much harm. The most substantial "Water de Technique" might prate its defense, but using the Third Stage top-grade Cann Sword was a better choice.N?v(el)B\\jnn This Canglong had just made a move and was caught between the stages where the old force had not dissipated, and new force was hard to muster, and being too close. Even so, it managed to adjust its body in time, and the Cann Sword failed to pierce its heart. But under the cutting of sword energy, a huge prating wound opened in the chest and abdomen of the beast, and Yu Qingtan followed the Cann Sword straight through. The force of a Golden Core Stage wielding a Third Stage treasure was four to five times greater than that of a Foundation Establishment Stage relying on Spirit Stones. Then, Yu Qingtan immediately took out the Qing Xuan Turtle Spirit Shield to protect herself, as the ck Water Dragon Breath arrows of the other two Canglong were already arriving. Although the Qing Xuan Turtle Spirit Shield was only of a lower treasure grade, the main material used in its craft was likely the turtle shell of ate Third Stage turtle demonic beast, making it hard even forte Third Stage attacks to break through easily. Not to mention that these Canglong were only at about twenty to thirty percent of their peak strength. With the impact of the ck water arrows, Yu Qingtan was sent flying far away and then vanished again. "Roar~ You despicable human ant, I will devour you alive!" The Canglong, once again grievously injured, let out a pain-filled roar, furiously uttering a threat to Yu Qingtan. Its huge eyes swept the surroundings determinedly, but it found nothing. Its wound began to grow grantion tissue, slowly healing. The other two Canglong also stopped attacking the San Zu Cang Lei Ding and vigntly scanned the area, ready tounch their attacks at any moment. In this water-rich environment, Yu Qingtan was confident that almost no one at the Third Stage could detect her concealed by the "Breath-Concealing Technique." After a dozen breaths, Yu Qingtan didn''t make a move; the enemy was very cautious, and she saw no opportunity to attack. Both sidesmenced a stalemate, the three Canglong growing increasingly restless, as their injuries were far more severe than they appeared on the surface. The attacks of the thunder arts from Baili Ya had gravely damaged both their flesh beneath their scales and their souls. After another dozen breaths, a streak of Escape Light shot towards their location from the distance. Before the person arrived, the clear sound of a qin resonated, and the three Canglong immediately felt a bout of dizziness. Identifying the faint residual sounds, Yu Qingtan recognized the familiar sound-based spell, "Devil''s Prating Sound." A Third Stage spell. Shi Kuang might only know the Second Stage "Devil''s Prating Sound" because he had just advanced to the Golden Core Stage and, since Yu Qingtancked a treasure-grade qin, she had not used "Devil''s Prating Sound" to attack. The effect would be limited, and it might give away her position. However, such an excellent opportunity was not to be missed. Her figure appeared above the previously prated Canglong, plunging from the sky, the Cann Sword in her hand aimed diagonally towards the previous wound. The third form of the "Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art," Crane Piercing the Clouds. Chapter 158 The Babbling Brook Flows Indifferently By The sharp blue sword energy carried Yu Qingtan relentlessly forward, piercing directly through her back and out her lower jaw. The neer seized the opportunity,unching another concentrated sound wave straight at the Canglong''s Sea of Consciousness, taking advantage of its extreme weakness. It shattered the dragon''s soul, also thwarting any chance it had to self-destruct its inner core. The technique used was a Third Stage spell of the Sound and Soul Systems, titled "Sand Falling, Geese Dropping," with the sound waves diving straight at the enemy''s soul like a cyanwoodrk. The person resembled a peach blossom, graceful as a swimming dragon; her slender eyebrows framed her rippling eyes; dressed in a in-colored long dress, she exuded an elegance far removed from the mundane; her proud chest added a hint of ancient charm to her beauty. However, the beauty''s face was covered in frost at the moment, cradling an ancient zither, her quick pace making her dress cling tightly to her body, showcasing her exquisite figure and the rise and fall of her chest. "Fairy Su Qin, Tan Suqin!" The other two Canglongs recognized the person and decisively turned their heads, twisting their bodies to flee at high speed.N?v(el)B\\jnn With their current condition, facing Fairy Su Qin head-on meant certain death. Fairy Su Qin, Tan Suqin, a prodigy of the Wood Path from the Daoist Sect, a mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator, possessing a high-grade Wood Spirit Root, ranked sixth on the Hundred Flowers List and twenty-eighth on the Pride of the Heavens List. She primarily practiced the Wood Path, with a secondary practice in the Sound Path. Her lifebound magical treasure was the Green Parasol Phoenix Tail Zither, forged from millennium thunderstruck parasol tree wood and millennium purple wisteria silk. Observing the two Canglongs fleeing in panic, Fairy Su Qin did not pursue, only after they''d escaped her line of sight did her imposing aura copse. She went to the side of the Three-legged Cang Thunder Cauldron and shouted, "Senior Brother Baili, how are you doing?" Yu Qingtan also revealed her figure. She saw that Fairy Su Qin seemed to have expended a great deal of spiritual power. "Boom~ This king is not dead yet, cough cough~" The lid of the Three-legged Cang Thunder Cauldron opened, and a young man in a tattered yellow brocade robe climbed out. The man had thick eyebrows and big eyes, a broad face, and a majestic chin; he was imposing and handsome, truly the Real Person Cang Thunder, Baili Ya. Fairy Su Qin used thest bit of her spiritual power to cast a Third Stage spell on him, the "Wood Lifeforce Revival." It was an advanced spellbining the Decay and Flourish Technique with the Rejuvenation Spell, and its healing effects were outstanding; Baili Ya''splexion visibly improved. Fairy Su Qin almost couldn''t stand steady, and Baili Ya took out a spiritual artifact couch to support her. "Junior Sister, why bother healing this king when you are like this yourself?" Real Person Cang Thunder admonished his junior sister, but Fairy Su Qin simply looked at him with a face full of tenderness, saying nothing. Yu Qingtan watched speechlessly from the side. ording to records on the Pride of the Heavens List and the Hundred Flowers List, Real Person Cang Thunder liked to call himself "this king," and Fairy Su Qin had long harbored unrequited love for him, but he had always rejected her, iming his heart belonged to the Great Dao. Thus, the praise poem for Fairy Su Qin was: Skilled fingers pluck, shattering jade melodies, sand falls and geese drop, enemy souls lost. The incessant stream flows relentlessly away, when will it circle back andmit to Su Qin? At this moment, Real Person Cang Thunder looked at Yu Qingtan, his eyes brightening as he cupped his fist and said, "I am grateful for the aid of a fellow Daoist!" "The junior from Tianxiang Valley, Yu Qingtan, greets Real Person Cang Thunder and Fairy Su Qin." Yu Qingtan returned the greeting, using her Breath-Concealing Technique to adjust the aura of her spiritual power to the level of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Seeing Yu Qingtan introducing herself as a junior and disying the cultivation level of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment, Cang Thunder and hispanion naturally assumed that she had temporarily boosted her cultivation level through a secret technique. Such secret techniques often require a significant sacrifice, so Real Person Cang Thunder felt even more favorably towards this beautiful cultivator from Tianxiang Valley. "So it is a fellow Daoist from Tianxiang Valley. This king owes you a favor; if ever you need something, do not hesitate to seek me out." Real Person Cang Thunder said with a smile. Yet Yu Qingtan felt a sharp gaze fixed on her, feeling somewhat helpless in her heart. This time she took action, her main purpose was to make a name for herself. At a distance from the battlefield, there were quite a few Qi Practitioners on rooftops, who could barely see what was happening. To get on the Hundred Flowers List, one needs not only beauty, but also talent, strength, and reputation. Rescuing the fifth-ranked Pride of the Heavens List''s Surnamed Cang from the ws of threete-stage third-tier Canglongs¡ªdidn''t that give her both the achievements and the reputation? However, she didn''t expect to make Fairy Su Qin jealous, so she quickly said, "Real Person Surnamed Cang is being too serious, we all stand against the Sea n, and it''s only right to help each other out. Now that the enemy has retreated, and I havepanions waiting, I will take my leave first." As she spoke, she was about to use her flying sword and leave. "Wait a moment, this wicked beast was in by you and Junior Sister Su Qin working together, Junior Sister Su Qin contributed the most, so the inner core belongs to her, but you, Daoist Yu, also did a lot, the body is yours, what do you think?" Real Person Surnamed Cang said. "Brother, if it weren''t for you and Daoist Yu severely injuring this creature first, how could I have killed it so easily? Daoist Yu has saved Brother, so why not give both the inner core and body to Daoist Yu as thanks?" At this moment, Fairy Su Qin made such a suggestion. "Thank you both, then Qing Tan won''t decline ungraciously!" Yu Qingtan picked up the underlying message in Fairy Su Qin''s words: "Now that she''s repaid, don''te looking for her Brother Surnamed Cang anymore." This was exactly what Yu Qingtan wanted, and she was even a bit surprised, for she hadn''t nned to share the spoils of this battle in the first ce. Seeing that Real Person Surnamed Cang had no objections, she swiftly stowed the body of the Canglong into her Storage Bag, then bowed to Real Person Surnamed Cang and took her leave. By now, Fairy Su Qin, having recovered some spiritual power thanks to a third-stage Spirit Revitalizing Pill, was escorting Real Person Surnamed Cang back to the Inner City of Wendao Immortal City. Real Person Surnamed Cang was gravely wounded, his Lifebound Magical Treasure seriously damaged, and the Decay and Flourish Technique had only a marginal healing effect on his injuries; he urgently needed to return to the Inner City to recuperate. Meanwhile, Yu Qingtan checked her system panel and saw that her Charm Points had increased by six hundred¡ªit must have been contributed by Real Person Surnamed Cang. Although it was a lot, it was just so-so. She had gained about that much for saving more than two thousand Qi Practitioners. "If only they were Affection Value," Yu Qingtan sighed, thinking that she wouldn''t easily win over a Golden Core Cultivator who was said to be intent on pursuing the great Dao. Putting that aside, when Yu Qingtan regrouped with Shui Qingrou and the other two women, she naturally received a barrage of praise. Yan Xi also came to hold a new sense of respect for Yu Qingtan. Afterward, Yu Qingtan continued on her own mission of, ahem, culling leeks¡ªno, purging the Sea n and saving the Human Race. "Boom¨C" At one point, violent explosions rang out from afar in the sky, creating a mushroom cloud. The massive shockwave spread in all directions, forcing Yu Qingtan and others, despite their distance, to use their spiritual power to stabilize themselves. Looking at the force of it, it was no less powerful than a small-yield nuclear explosion from Yu Qingtan''s former life. "Fourth-stage Sea n self-destructing!" Yu Qingtan murmured to herself, knowing that if she had been nearby, she would have been reduced to ashes. Yu Qingtan could not get involved with high-level battlefields, so she kept up the sweep, not only rescuing many residents from the Outer City of Wendao Immortal City but also helping and making acquaintances with Foundation Establishment Cultivators from various forces. Her Charm Points kept refreshing, and she also made some gains in Affection Value. During this period, she encountered a third-stage crab-type Sea n beast, Mantou Crab, which she defeated with her powerful attacks, once again harvesting aplete set of third-stage materials. It wasn''t until the dawn of the fourteenth day that Yu Qingtan and herpanions returned to the Inner City to rest. Upon registration, they caused quite a stir once more. How rare it was for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to have in a third-tier Sea n beast multiple times! Chapter 159: Qing Tan Seriously Injured in Another Attack Inside the east gate of the inner city of Wendao Immortal City. Yu Qingtan and her threepanions had just finished registering when they saw a team of sixteen Golden Core Cultivators walking through the city gate, their faces etched with exhaustion. Stay updated via empire The group appeared weary, some bearing obvious injuries, even two being carried by others. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The person at the forefront was none other than Qi Xun Fairy of the Qunfang Pavilion. Yu Qingtan and the four women, along with some other Foundation Establishment Cultivators belonging to the Qunfang Pavilion, hurried forward to greet them. After Qi Xun Fairy and herpanions nodded in response, another Qunfang Pavilion Golden Core went to register their battle results. Each sect found its own ce to rest and recover. Shui Qingrou took out a small, house-shaped Spiritual Artifact, which upon activation with Spiritual Power, expanded into a house of normal size, then summoned everyone from Tianxiang Valley to enter. Zixin had incurred severe injuries earlier and had already returned to the Pavilion of Listening Waves to recuperate. Neutral faction disciples Lin Fengmian, Luo Chen, and Jing Ke formed a team to take on the sweeping task and were lucky enough not to encounter any formidable enemies. They were also resting within the city at this time. Luo Ren and Yan Shu had been healing themselves on the spot near the city gate since their return. Inside the Spiritual Artifact house, everyone took their seats, and Shui Qingrou scanned her eyes across the group. "I deeply regret the unfortunate passing of my niece disciple Ou Lu. However, the path of cultivation is fraught with adversity. I hope everyone will encourage one another. "Rou Jia¡¯s disciple Qing Tan, young and promising, with her Foundation Establishment cultivation level, annihted three Third Stage early-phase Sea nsmen and more than eight hundred Second Stage Sea nsmen. The count of First Stage Sea n is innumerable. She coordinated with Su Qin Fairy of the Wendao Sect to y ate-phase Third Stage Canglong, saving Real Person Cang Lei of the Wendao Sect. "Such feats of valor make me feel inadequate. I hope everyone will learn from and seek counsel from Qing Tan." Real Person Youzhi and Shui Qingrou had already tone-transmitted a report to Shui Qingrou about Yu Qingtan¡¯s team, and she was quite astonished. Luo Ren, Yan Shu, Lin Fengmian, Luo Chen, and Jing Ke all turned their gazes toward Yu Qingtan upon hearing this. "This beautiful young girl is actually such a formidable force!" This gap could no longer be attributed to envy. Xiang Yiyi wore an expression of shared pride, while Yan Xi also inexplicably felt a sense of pride. "Qing Tan, you¡¯ve done very well. Before you came, it was said that those who perform excellently and bolster the renown of Tianxiang Valley will be rewarded. What would you like?" Shui Qingrou smiled at Yu Qingtan, envious in her heart that her senior sister Rou Jia was not present yet had acquired such an excellent disciple. "I heard that the Valley Master still has a Third Stage Spiritual Fire? Qing Tan has a treasure that needs nurturing by a Third Stage, even Fourth Stage, Spiritual Fire." Yu Qingtan didn¡¯t hesitate. "Alright, this Spiritual Fire is yours, and in the future, I will also help you look out for high-stage Spiritual Fires." The fact that Yu Qingtan, who mainly practiced water system Spells and Cultivation Techniques, was refining a fire-type treasure did not surprise anyone. It¡¯s likely an Ancient Treasure, primarily driven by Spirit Stones. "The performance of the others was also eptable, but Luo Ren fled during battle. Although it was due to the situation at hand, it was still inappropriate. Considering your severe injuries, you will not be punished, but you should reflect on your actions." "Thank you for your guidance, Valley Master!" "This time, our twenty-three Golden Core Cultivators, led by Qi Xun Fairy, faced off against ny Third Stage Sea n members. Qi Xun Fairy used her Lifebound Magical Treasure andid out the Luoluo Heavenly Battle Formation, employing a divide-and-conquer strategy. We in thirty-six Sea n members, and the remaining were severely injured and fled. "Yet, we still lost one of our own, two¡¯s physical bodies were destroyed, four were seriously injured, and the others were also wounded. "Mainly in the end, ate-phase Fourth Stage Sea n memberunched a sneak attack on us. We almost faced total annihtion and paid a heavy price to block that single strike." Fortunately, at the critical moment, Master Yun Phoenix of the Qunfang Pavilion arrived, and we were able to avoid disaster. Other Nascent Soul cultivators who were supposed to attend the ceremony arrived one after another, which significantly improved our situation." Shui Qingrou, a True Person of cultivation, volunteered to recount the details of their battle, which filled Yu Qingtan and the others with shock and rm. The peril of a Fourth Stage ambush on a Third Stage could well be imagined. "Alright, everyone should go rest now. We¡¯ll have to join the battleter." Shui Qingrou said, waving her hand to create many smallpartments within the room. Yu Qingtan entered one of them,id down a simple warning formation, and took out the Nine Python Profound Fire Cover and the newly acquired Third Stage Spiritual Fire to begin refining. An hourter. Excluding the severely wounded who were no longer able to fight, the rest received orders from Fairy Qi Xun to continue the battle. As usual, Yu Qingtan set off from the east gate with Shui Qingrou, Xiang Yiyi, and Yan Xi on a new mission. A short whileter, Yu Qingtan sensed a sudden warning in her heart and without hesitation, took out the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield to guard below her. "Bang~" The Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield, bearing Yu Qingtan, shot straight upwards; crashing against Yu Qingtan¡¯s body, her legs snapped instantly. She bent over forcibly to prevent the broken bones from piercing her abdomen. But the great force shattered her internal organs, blood flowed from her seven orifices, and nearly half of her meridians broke. A buzzing sounded in her head, and this blow nearly cost her half her life. A dent appeared on the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield. Without a second¡¯s hesitation, Yu Qingtan used Shi Kuang¡¯s "Love¡¯s Protection," which immediately healed most of the damage to her meridians. She frantically circted the Rejuvenation Spell and the Decay and Flourish Technique to recover from her injuries. At the same time, she infused her Golden Core Stage spiritual power into the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield, forming a cyan protective shield around her. Because the second blow from the assant had already arrived, this time Yu Qingtan saw it clearly ¨C a pitch-ck Third Stage medium-grade conical Magical Treasure. "Bang~" The conical Magical Treasure struck the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield again. This time, powered by Yu Qingtan¡¯s Golden Core Stage spiritual power, the conical Magical Treasure only left a mark on the shield, but the attached tremendous force sent Yu Qingtan flying upwards again. At this moment, the attacker revealed himself ¨C a ck-robed old man with a sinister face, white and ck hair, dry and wrinkled skin, looking as if he was at death¡¯s door, yet emitting the fluctuations of mid-Golden Core Stage spiritual power. Everything happened in the blink of an eye; Shui Qingrou, Xiang Yiyi, and Yan Xi had only just reacted. Shui Qingrou quickly reeled in the two women and retreated at high speed, heading back towards the eastern city gate. Shui Qingrou recognized this person: Dark Cone, a killer from Misty Rain Tower, a prominent figure on the wanted list, elusive and highly skilled. If the three of them were targeted by this person, even with Ancient Treasures and Charm Treasures on their person, they would not escape death. Determined, Shui Qingrou trusted in Yu Qingtan¡¯s strength. Fleeing was the best strategy, as staying could potentially be a hindrance to Yu Qingtan. Xiang Yiyi and Yan Xi understood the reasoning; although worried, they didn¡¯t rashly go forward to help but instead followed suit and fled. Dark Cone paid them no attention and continued attacking Yu Qingtan with his Lifebound Magical Treasure, the Shadow Awl. At the same time, he formed hand seals, and suddenly the area around Yu Qingtan darkenedpletely, losing sight and divine sense perception, her consciousness beginning to feel drowsy. A Third Stage dark and soul system spell, "Darkness Without Sunlight." Her Sea of Consciousness came under attack, and mysterious fluctuations stirred within the depths of her consciousness. The system acted, and Yu Qingtan regained rity. However, in that brief moment of absent-mindedness, Yu Qingtan¡¯s control of the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield momentarily ceased, and the Shadow Awl took advantage to bypass the front of the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield, striking directly at the back of Yu Qingtan¡¯s head. In the nick of time, the Cann Umbre unfolded above her, safeguarding Yu Qingtan¡¯s head. But the Shadow Awl took a sinister turn, changing direction to move diagonally downwards. Yu Qingtan had no time to adjust the Cann Umbre or the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield, and the Shadow Awl stabbed straight into her back, piercing out between her chest and abdomen. Chapter 160: I Am Invincible in Lichuan鈥檚 Outer Realm ``` "Pu~" Yu Qingtan spat out a mouthful of blood, a sinister ck aura emanating from her wound and spreading outwards, corroding her meridians. Her spiritual power cirction was severely affected, making the casting of spells like the Rejuvenation Spell and the Decay and Flourish Technique, as well as the control over the Qing Xuan Turtle Spirit Shield and the Cann Umbre, extremely strenuous. "Bang~" With difficulty, she blocked another attack from the Shadow Awl with the Cann Umbre, but Yu Qingtan knew she couldn¡¯t hold out much longer. As the effect of the pitch-ck darkness dissipated, Yu Qingtan regained her sight and the Dark Cone did not attempt that technique again, but continued to control the Shadow Awl for its assault. Yu Qingtan looked towards the eastern city gate and saw that the figures of Shui Qingrou and the two other women were no longer there. Yu Qingtan felt considerably relieved. Her eyes fixed fiercely on the ck-robed elder, Dark Cone, Yu Qingtan blocked two more attacks, buying a moment of time, and then took out an ancient and exquisite talisman, immediately activating it with her spiritual power. Cursing that she had to expend a Third Stage Escape Talisman, she swore to pulverize this man into dust at the next opportunity. The moment Dark Cone saw Yu Qingtan take out the Escape Talisman, he knew it was bad news. Regrettably, he was powerless to stop it¡ªif he had a way to instantly kill Yu Qingtan, he would have used it long ago. Dark Cone was the leader of the Wendao Immortal City branch of the Misty Rain Tower; after the outbreak of the great battle, he had taken notice of Yu Qingtan. He happened to know about the Monkey-faced Eagle tribe of the Yunhua Mountain Range offering the Longevity Fruit as a bounty for Yu Qingtan. With his limited lifespan, he was naturally extremely interested. When he noticed Yu Qingtan, she had already demonstrated the ability to y Third Stage Sea n members, which made him, skilled in assassination, doubt his chances of capturing her alive. He attempted a sneak attack, hoping to severely wound Yu Qingtan and then take her captive. After failing, he decisively opted to eliminate her instead, not expecting Yu Qingtan to possess a Third Stage Escape Talisman. Looking at the ce where Yu Qingtan had vanished, Dark Cone couldn¡¯t help but sigh with regret. A Third Stage Escape Talisman could transport one a thousand li away; it was impossible for him to locate her immediately. He had no choice but to leave and find another opportunityter. ... Outside Wendao Immortal City, in the high skies where dense clouds gathered, the atmosphere was exceptionally oppressive. "Wu Di, merely a Mid-Nascent Soul Cultivator, yet you dare face us three Shark Kings alone¡ªtruly the height of arrogance. It seems the Human Race has boasted of your invincibility and you¡¯ve taken it to heart. Since you¡¯re so ignorant of your own limitations, we shall feast on you, this young child of the Human Race, today. Your Nascent Soul will surely taste especially delightful." Three Fourth Stage Late-Stage Giant-Toothed Sharks, each sixty zhang long, hovered in mid-air. Their immense size, sharp teeth, and the oppressive aura they radiated exerted an endless pressure on all around them. Across from them hovered a young man in white robes. The young man was five chi and six inches tall, slightly lean, with deep and handsome facial features, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes. His waist-length ck hair was simply tied with a white ribbon. Standing with his hands behind his back, the young man emitted no aura whatsoever, yet he imposed a great psychological pressure on the three Giant-Toothed Sharks opposite him, forcing them to make fierce derations to bolster their own courage. This was because the young man in front of them was none other than Wu Di, the invincible gentleman of the Cangqiong Sword Sect from the Southeast Region, another Sect Gate possessing one with Divinity Transformation. He was first on the Pride of the Heavens List, a Cultivator with an exceptional Thunder Spiritual Root, whoprehended the Sword Dao; he condensed his Nascent Soul at twenty-six, and now at thirty-one, he was already a Mid-Nascent Soul Cultivator, known by the Daoist name ¡¯Invincible¡¯. Ever since Invincible Gentleman had stepped onto the path, he quelled the uprising of Demonic Beasts, subdued disasters of the Sea n, extinguished the mes of demonic cultivators, and had never been defeated. His reputation was imposing. The Pride of the Heavens List even featured a poem praising him: A realm ascended every year on the road to immortality, a Nascent Soul formed at twenty-six is a rarity of ancient times. Unparalleled mastery over thunder spells quelled the beastly chaos, his sword skills supreme, forging the dyke against the demonic tide. ``` The notorious Elder Hai Qi had lost his soul, and the Demon Infant ceased his cries. Undefeated in sweeping across the Southeast, in the Outer Realm of Lichuan, I am invincible. Facing the Giant-Toothed Shark¡¯s threats, Wu Di showed disdain and said indifferently, "Sha Bi, Sha Diao, Sha Cai, with such a huge body size and giant teeth, yet incredibly foolish. I reckon you are nothing but chickens and dogs, mere trash that stakes their heads in exchange for some reputation. Today, you shall taste the vor of the Giant-Toothed Shark¡¯s fins." The three Giant-Toothed Sharks were instantly enraged, as rulers of the Sea n, they had never been so belittled. However, they had been battling with threete-stage Nascent Soul masters from the Wendao Sect and were only at sixty to seventy percent of their peak strength; facing this renowned invincible master, they indeed felt somewhat intimidated and dared not initiate the fight. At that moment, a ripple went through the space in the middle area of the standoff, and a woman in a pink dress suddenly appeared¡ªit was Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan was in a rather sorry state, and although she had been continuously using the Purification Spell to cleanse the dark and eerie aura of the Shadow Awl, the purification was not fast, which made the effect of the Rejuvenation Spell and Decay and Flourish Technique slow as well. Although her severed leg was barely reattached, the flesh and bones had not yet fully healed, and the prating wound from the Shadow Awl had begun to form grantion and heal slowly, but one could still see through from the front to the back. If she hadn¡¯t been so far away, she would have preferred to destroy this avatar and condense it again. While still considering how to make the Dark Cone and Misty Rain Tower pay in the future, she found herself appearing in such a peculiar ce. The altitude here was noticeably much higher than before; usually, an Escape Talisman wouldn¡¯t show such a big difference in altitude before and after teleportation, but most things have their exceptions. As soon as she appeared, Qing Tan was overwhelmed by the aura of the fourth-stage Giant-Toothed Sharks and sent flying backward, vomiting another mouthful of fresh blood, which further aggravated her injuries. However, a momentter, Qing Tan felt the pressure on her body suddenly disappear, as she was enveloped by a spherical lightning. The fine lightning strikes hitting her body caused no harm but instead drove the dark, eerie aura from her body and elerated the healing of her wounds. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Qing Tan finally saw the situation clearly: threeter-stage fourth-stage Giant-Toothed Sharks were confronting the invincible master. Qing Tan recognized him at a nce, as the Pride of the Heavens List had a portrait of the invincible master. Explore more at empire At that moment, Qing Tan was overwhelmed with shock, wondering how she had been teleported by an Escape Talisman to such a ce. Fortunately, the invincible master did not allow her to be casually wiped out by the Giant-Toothed Sharks, even using the Spring Thunder to heal her injuries. The Invincible Master, practitioner of the Four Seasons Thunder Sword technique. Spring Thunder brings creation; Summer Thunder is extremely quick and fierce; Autumn Thunder harbors lovesickness; Winter Thundermands execution. Seeing Master Wu Di protect this human girl, Sha Bi¡¯s not-so-abundant intelligence lit up, and hemunicated telepathically with Sha Diao and Sha Cai. Then Sha Bi, Sha Diao, and Sha Cai writhed their bodies, forming a massive yellow barrier, and then swiftly advanced towards Qing Tan¡¯s location, shielding with the barrier. Although Giant-Toothed Sharks are part of the Sea n, their innate spells mainlyprise earth attributes, and the Dao Domains theyprehend are also of the earth attribute. Wu Di had to treat the attack from the Giant-Toothed Sharks with caution. Strategically belittle the enemy, but tactically value them. With a sh, he appeared not far from Qing Tan, surrounded by thunder, forming a hundred-zhang-wide Thunder Domain in the sky, lightning continuously striking down into it. The two Dao Domains collided, making crackling noises at the junction. The Giant-Toothed Sharks opened their mouths and spewed out huge teeth, shooting them towards Qing Tan¡¯s position. Giant Tooth Sword. The teeth of the Giant-Toothed Sharks could easily regrow, thus Sha Bi and the others used them as amon long-range attack method, each attack possessing the power of ate-stage fourth level. Chapter 161 Invincible True Monarch Slashes Sha Bi Yu Qingtan was now within the Thunder Domain of the invincible True Monarch, and the Giant Tooth Sword attacks from Sha Bi and itspanions easily broke through, heading straight for her. Entering the Dao Domain is often easy, but leaving is not. Once the Giant Tooth Swords entered, they were frequently struck by thunder, some being directly knocked down, and the power of those that weren''t fell sharply. Nevertheless, these were attacks that Yu Qingtan could not withstand, as she was just a junior Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and even with Shi Kuang''s "Love''s Protection," she was only at the early Golden Core stage. Yet, the invincible True Monarch, who had always considered himself as the future leader of the Human Race in the Outer Realm, would not tolerate a member of the Sea n harming a humanpatriot right before his eyes, especially such a beautiful girl. With a mere thought, a long sword shing with lightning appeared and split into four. One of those shot in front of Yu Qingtan, weaving and dancing to form a of swords radiating with lightning. The Giant Tooth Swords heading towards Yu Qingtan collided with the sword and turned into dust. The other three swiftly rotating swords also shot out, targeting the gaping mouths of three Giant-Toothed Sharks. This was the invincible True Monarch''s Lifebound Artifact, the Four Seasons Thunder Sword. No sooner had the Four Seasons Thunder Sword struck out than spiritual power surged within the invincible True Monarch, and the dark clouds overhead roiled, sending down bowl-sized lightning bolts targeting the three Giant-Toothed Sharks. Dao Technique, Thunder Movement Across the Heavens. Techniques used by Nascent Soul Cultivators already contain the essence of the Dao and are called Dao Techniques. Above Dao Techniques, there are Immortal Techniques. The three Giant-Toothed Sharks mped their mouths shut, their giant teeth acting like shields protecting their gaping maws, while ayer of earthy yellow light appeared close to their bodies, shielding thempletely. The innate divine ability of the Giant-Toothed Sharks, the Earth Kun Armor, was said to be due to the bloodline of the True Spirit Five Elements Kun within their bodies. The fierce lightning struck the bodies of the Giant-Toothed Sharks, their surface shing with lightning but causing no harm. The three Four Seasons Thunder Swords barely broke through the defenses of the Earth Kun Armor, but had no strength left to shatter the giant teeth and had to retreat for the time being. The sword that blocked the Giant Tooth Sword attack for Yu Qingtan also returned to the invincible True Monarch''s side, the four swords merged into one, and at the same time, the invincible True Monarch''s hair moved without wind as his body emanated an iparably chilling sword aura. Interwoven with lightning sword qi, the Four Seasons Thunder Sword formed a hundred-zhang tall giant sword phantom that stood erect above the invincible True Monarch''s head. The invincible True Monarch grasped the hilt with both hands and shed downwards, shouting loudly, "Four Seasons Thunder Sword sh!" The giant sword phantom shed down, the tip drawing a pitch-ck arc that seemed to tear open space itself. "Malleable Sword Domain!" Sha Bi, Sha Diao, and Sha Cai were greatly shocked, their souls trembling wildly in warning. They controlled the Earth Path Dao Domain to retract, almost clinging to the Earth Kun Armor, to defend against this strike. The first level of Dao Domain is a spherical domain centered on oneself; the second level allows some control in shape and size; the third level can take on the same shape and size as the entity, reaching the threshold of the source. The Four Seasons Thunder Sword sh used by the invincible True Monarch was not merely sword qi but a sword-shaped sword domain, the second level of the Dao Domain. The giant sword phantom cut through the Earth Path Dao Domain formed jointly by Sha Bi, Sha Diao, and Sha Cai with almost no effort, then struck Sha Bi''s head. Amidst a grating sound, the Earth Kun Armor was also cleaved open, and thereafter, Sha Bi''s massive body was split into two. No blood flowed because the edges of the cut had been scorched by the apanying lightning. An inner core the size of a basketball from Yu Qingtan''s previous life flew out of the body before the head was severed and quickly fled towards the distant Canglong Gate. Sha Diao and Sha Cai moved even faster than Sha Bi''s inner core, hurriedly choosing to flee, cursing the Sea n member who had told them that "the invincible True Monarch is only nominally powerful, and you three together will definitely be able to stop him." The invincible True Monarch also did not choose to pursue, as the other party still had the method of self-destructing their inner cores; it would be very difficult for him topletely annihte them. "The invincible True Monarch''s might overshadows the world, Tianxiang Valley''s Yu Qingtan thanks the invincible True Monarch for the rescue!" With the help of the Spring Thunder, Yu Qingtan had already cleared the dark and eerie aura emitted by the Shadow Awl that had entered her body. Combined with her own Rejuvenation Spell and Decay and Flourish Technique, her injuries were no longer serious, and the prating wounds had healed. The strength of the invincible True Monarch left her feeling overwhelmed, wondering when she herself would attain such power. "If he were to be..." Shaking off thoughts that shouldn''t exist, Yu Qingtan lifted her skirt hem, and gave Invincible True Monarch a respectful curtsy, first licking her wounds and then expressing her gratitude. "A rare talent from Tianxiang Valley, indeed, assisting you was no trouble at all, there''s no need for thanks. Judging by your injuries, were you harmed by someone of the Human Race?" "True Monarch has discerning eyes, I was indeed injured by an assassin''s Dark Cone from Misty Rain Tower." "Misty Rain Tower, nothing but mice hiding in the shadows, one of these days I''ll make sure to exterminate them. But I must go to battle now, you should return to the Inner City first." Invincible True Monarch looked at Yu Qingtan, then with a wave of his sleeve, Yu Qingtan felt the world spinning. When she came back to her senses, she found herself already outside the south gate of Wendao Immortal City. This wasn''t teleportation, but rather she had been swiftly brought here by Invincible True Monarch using the Object Controlling Technique. "How rough, not knowing at all how to cherish the fairer sex." Yu Qingtanined inwardly, but upon checking her system panel, she discovered that her Charm Points had increased by two thousand, and immediately praised the Invincible True Monarch as a good person in her heart. The Invincible True Monarch, who had just stowed away the body of Sha Bi, heard a giggling sound by his ear. "Brother, you yed the hero to save the damsel, don''t you seek some form of repayment? The girl is so pretty, if she were to give herself to you in gratitude, you wouldn''t be at a loss." Invincible True Monarch murmured, "She is indeed quite to my liking, but s, only the most excellent female cultivators are worthy of me, Wu Di." "Brother, but didn''t the descended fairy Xu Fang reject you? Unlike me, Ah Ji, who only feels heartache for you, Brother." "Shut up!" ...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Upon reaching the city gate, Yu Qingtan showed her Identity Jade to the Golden Core True Person from Wendao Sect guarding the ce, briefly exined her situation, and then entered the Inner City. After that, she immediately sent a Message-Transmitting Flying Sword to Shui Qingrou and headed towards Pavilion of Listening Waves. Soon, she received a reply from Shui Qingrou''s Message-Transmitting Flying Sword; they were with two True Persons from Wendao Sect searching near the site of the ambush for Yu Qingtan. Overjoyed after receiving Yu Qingtan''s message, they too made their way back to the Inner City. Yu Qingtan arrived first at Pavilion of Listening Waves, and not long after, Shui Qingrou and the other twodies arrived as well. "Qingtan, you''re really okay." "I just narrowly escaped death thanks to a Third Stage Escape Talisman!" Yu Qingtan did not tell them that she was severely injured and had been brought before the Invincible True Monarch. "Those assassins from Misty Rain Tower are detestable!" Xiang Yiyi said through gritted teeth. "Miss, you shouldn''t venture out of the city anymore. The True Persons from Wendao Sect have spoken¡ªour squad has contributed a lot and has encountered an assassin from Misty Rain Tower, so there''s no need for us to participate in the battle anymore." Yan Xi actually took Yu Qingtan into consideration. "Okay, I won''t go, and neither should you." Yu Qingtan chatted with them a bit more about her grievances with the Monkey-faced Eagle n, and she was almost certain that the Shadow Awl hade for the bounty of the Longevity Fruit. After their conversation, the fourdies prepared to return to their rooms to rest. At that moment, a loud dragon cry came from the high sky. "Ao¡«" Then there came the furious roar of Canglong, the Sea Sovereign, enraged and defeated. Chapter 162 Ming Jing Lends a Hand, Sea Calamity Ends "Huang Mingjing, despicable scoundrel, how dare youunch a sneak attack!" At the highest battlefield of the fifth stage, the physical body and soul of the Canglong Sea Venerable were both broken, his aura in turmoil, as his enormous dragon eyes stared at the figure of a young man in a blue and white robe ahead. This person was handsome with a noble aura, and a divine light shone from his eyes as he looked at the Canglong Sea Venerable with an icy gaze. "Canglong, if you retreat now, we can still talk. But if you continue to be stubbornly misguided, then even at a certain cost, I will ensure you stay here." "Hmph, Wendao Sect has killed my only direct descendant, how can I retreat without avenging this enmity?" The Canglong Sea Venerable''s eyes seemed ready to spit fire as he roared. He had severely suppressed the four Divinity Transformation cultivators of Wendao Sect, just waiting for them to show a weakness so he could use his powerful move to annihte one and break them apart. Unexpectedly, Huang Mingjing quietly arrived and brazenlyunched a sneak attack. The Honored One, Huang Mingjing, was the Supreme Elder of the Great Mist Mountain Huang Family at the Divinity Transformation Mid Stage. The Huang family lineage hailed from the ancient and mighty Unsurpassed Sect and held a deep-seated enmity toward the Demon Race and Sea n, as the story of their rise was intertwined with battles against these nnish enemies. Previously, the Honorable Mingjing had unleashed the Dao Technique of the Golden Extreme Void Sword with his Lifebound Artifact, the Innate Geng Metal Sword, infused with the powers of the Third Level of the Golden Dao Domain and the Void Dao Domain, carrying out a sneak attack and hoping to decapitate the Canglong Sea Venerable in one fell swoop. Regrettably, as a five-stage being who had lived for tens of thousands of years, the Canglong Sea Venerable reacted in time and avoided the lethal strike, but his tail was severed. The Golden Extreme Void Sword could cut both flesh and soul, and although it only hit the tail, it dealt heavy damage to the Canglong Sea Venerable, reducing his strength by at least two levels, with no hope of recovery within twenty or thirty years. In response to the Canglong Sea Venerable''s words, the Honorable Mingjing scoffed and retorted, "What''s with the barking here? Your petty schemes may deceive the three fools of the Shark n under yourmand, but you make aughingstock of yourself here. "Everyone knows you, Canglong Sea Venerable, arescivious by nature. Although it''s extremely difficult for a fifth-stage creature to produce offspring, you''ve sown countless seeds. Over tens of thousands of years, you have hundreds, if not a thousand direct descendants, just carefully hidden in the Canglong Secret Realm. "This aggressive move is merely a trial against the Human Race and an attempt to see if you can crush the Wendao Sect. Now you''ve seen that indeed, certain people would like to see Wendao Sect struggle and have chosen to stand by and watch. But that certainly doesn''t include me, Huang Mingjing!" "Hmph¡ªThis grudge today, I will remember, and I shall return the favor generously one day! Aoo¡ª" With a cold snort, the Canglong Sea Venerable threw down a harsh statement and then issued a retreat order to his subordinates with a dragon chant. Reluctantly, but wary of the formidable strength of the Honorable Mingjing¡ªa caution influenced by the precedent of several high-ranking creatures of the Demon Race and Sea n¡ªhe withdrew. The Honored One Yulu alsomunicated through divine sense, informing the cultivators to cease fighting and not to pursue. The four Divinity Transformation cultivators of Wendao Sect were in poor condition at this point, and Wendao Sect had suffered heavy losses; they only wanted to end this cmity brought about by the Sea n quickly. All the Sea n members of the third stage and above gradually withdrew from the battle, returning towards the direction of the Canglong Gate. As for the second and first stage, aside from those with significant backing who received assistance for part of the way, the rest could only stay in Wendao Immortal City. Once all the retreating members of the Sea n had passed through the Canglong Gate back to the southeastern sea area, the Canglong Sea Venerable also transformed into a streak of escape light and flew back to the Canglong Gate. Subsequently, the pathway formed by the Canglong Gate slowly shrank until it disappearedpletely. "Many thanks to the Honored Mingjing for his valiant support, helping our Wendao Sect through this crisis!" The Honored One Yulu bowed to the Honorable Mingjing, expressing her gratitude. The other three Divinity Transformation cultivators also showed their thanks with a bow. "Fighting the Sea n and Demon Race is a great righteous cause for the Human Race. Furthermore, Elder Sister Jiang Xue treated me with great kindness in the past. I only regret that my power fell short, and I couldn''t keep that scoundrel Canglong here." "You overstate, Honored Mingjing. Why note to Mount Wendao to stay for some time as our guest to honor our host-guest rtionship?" The Honored One Yulu invited him with a smile. "With many trivial matters to tend to after such a battle, I shall not disturb your Sect further. I will visit another day." After speaking, the Honorable Mingjing took his leave, while the Yulu and the other three went back to Mount Wendao to heal. ... The conversation between the Sea Lord of Canglong and the Mingjing Honored One was very loud, and the entire Wendao Immortal City could hear it. Upon seeing the high-ranking members of the Sea n withdrawing one after another, everyone knew that the cmity of the Sea n had ended. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, as the battle was quite fierce and all wished for it to end soon. "It''s surprisingly the Great Mist Mountain Huang Family, the furthest from the Wendao Sect, that extended a helping hand," Shui Qingrou remarked emotionally. "The grudges between the Great Mist Mountain Huang Family, the Demon Race, and the Sea n run deep, so their involvement is not unexpected. Besides, with the Mingjing Honored One''s unmatched strategies, even if they came here to help, those rivals of the Huangs would hardly dare to take advantage of the situation, as they''ve all been duped by this before," Yu Qingtan said, recalling the records about the Great Mist Mountain Huang Family in the ancient texts. Soon, Cultivators like Master Shui Yin and Fairy Qi Xun had also returned to the Pavilion of Listening Waves, and the master of Qunfang Pavilion, Venerable Yunhuang, went directly to visit Mount Wendao. In the aftermath, no further Golden Core Cultivators from Qunfang Pavilion fell, but about half of their Foundation Establishment Cultivators had perished in the battle. With True Masters and Venerable Masters from the Wendao Sect handling the aftermath, they no longer needed to exert themselves. "Tomorrow, the Nascent Soul grand ceremony for Venerable Xinghe will go on as scheduled, you all go rest first!" Fairy Qi Xun dered, her gaze finally resting on Yu Qingtan for a moment. Everyone went back to rest. Yu Qingtan returned to her room and slept soundly throughout the afternoon. As evening approached, Yu Qingtan was awakened by a knock on the door. She changed into a spare uniform of the sect, cast a Purification Spell on herself, and opened the door. "Miss, the three young masters Zhou Lan, Zhong Yao, and Jing Hao from the All-World Academy havee to visit." The visitors were Yan Xi and Xiang Yiyi, their eyes filled with reverence. Having heard a bit about the events in Tianxiang Immortal City before, they were still quite shocked to hear the three young masters from the All-World Academy refer to Yu Qingtan as their master. Yu Qingtan followed the two women to a guest hall on the second floor, where Zhou Lan and the others were waiting.N?v(el)B\\jnn Seeing Yu Qingtan, their eyes lit up and they stood up. "Greetings to Master Yu!" the three greeted in unison. "Master Yu, you look even more distinguished than before," Jing Hao couldn''t help but praise. Thest time they had seen her, she was a Qi Cultivation ninthyer Cultivator, and now she had be a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator who could y Third Stage Sea n warriors, and she had grown even more beautiful and captivating. Even the unparalleled Venerable Invincible, ranked first on the Pride of the Heavens List, couldn''t possibly cultivate this fast, could he? "You tter me too much. Howe Shi Kuang didn''te along?" Yu Qingtan asked knowingly. "Shi Kuang, our senior brother, has entered seclusion to condense his Golden Core, so he couldn''te. We were staying at an inn near the northern city gate, wanting to visit you, but then the cmity of the Sea n urred, and that''s why we''ve only now arrived," they exined. "I see!" Yu Qingtan responded. She introduced Yan Xi and Xiang Yiyi to them, and just as they were about to discuss chess, literature, and painting, a loud shout came from below. "Where is Yu Qingtan of Tianxiang Valley? You recklessly killed a brave warrior from Sakura Ind and treat my Sakura Ind as nothing!?"ined a voice, which Yu Qingtan recognized as that of Yayoi Kotaro, a rogue cultivator from Sakura Ind. Chapter 163 Scolding the Numerous Wild Practitioners of Sakura Island Yu Qingtan wasn''t surprised that Yamamoto Jiro woulde looking for her.N?v(el)B\\jnn Many had witnessed her pursuing and killing those Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Sakura Ind, andter she had frequently used the trophy, the Green Xuan Turtle Spirit Shield, in public. But she didn''t care, a few rogue cultivators from Sakura Ind, ughtered, were merely ughtered. Among the spoils of war, other than the Green Xuan Turtle Spirit Shield, there wasn''t much of value, but it was still worth quite a few Spirit Stones. The rogue cultivators of Sakura Ind in the Southeast Region had always been restless, often harassing the coastal areas¡ªthis was still the case now that Sakura Indcked a Divine Transformation Cultivator. Thousands of years ago, a genius emerged from Sakura Ind, who seeded in Divinity Transformation and united the ind. After several hundred years of development, they waged war on the Southeast Region, at one point upying one-tenth of its territory. Therefore, Cultivators from the Southeast Region generally held no fondness for the rogue cultivators of Sakura Ind, but the rtions between the two sides had been rtively harmonious in recent centuries, maintaining a decent facade. Setting aside her thoughts, Yu Qingtan and the six of them left to go to the first-floor hall. They saw three Golden Core Cultivators from Sakura Ind in a standoff with Shui Qingrou. "Fairy Qing Rou, our brave warriors from Sakura Ind havee to be guests at Wendao Sect, even helping hold off the Sea n, yet they tragically fall victim to the poisonous hands of your disciple from Tianxiang Valley. Do you not think you owe us an exnation?" The leading, portly Golden Core Cultivator, exuding the fluctuations of Spiritual Power of the Late Stage of the Golden Core, asked, his voice filled with indignation. Typically, only female cultivators who have been listed on the Hundred Flowers List can be addressed as Fairy. Shui Qingrou herself had been on the list, but was automatically removed after she turned twenty-five years old. "Tufei Yuan, it clearly was your rogues from Sakura Ind who acted recklessly, leading to these dire consequences." Frowning, Shui Qingrou replied, Shui Qing Rou having already informed her about the incident. "Humph, a few mere Qi Practitioners of lowly status, how can their lives possibly be more valuable than those of my Sakura Ind''s Foundation Establishment warriors? At most, make some reparation with Spirit Stones, but I did not expect such vicious action from you. Hand over the murderer, and we might not hold this against you and Tianxiang Valley." Another lean Golden Core Cultivator, at the Mid Phase, named Yamamoto Jiro, also mored. "You rogue cultivators from Sakura Ind demand payment by force first, and afterwards murder the cultivators of Immortal City, yet still have the audacity toe here and bark so insolently. I have never seen such shameless scoundrels!" Yu Qingtan stepped forward as she spoke out. "You¡ªah¡ªYu Qingtan, do you dare to engage in a duel to the death with me?" Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Jiro, looking at the beautiful Yu Qingtan, found herpletely detestable and became so infuriated that he yelled out, demanding a life-and-death duel with her. "Why would I not dare?" Unlike before when she declined, Yu Qingtan epted without hesitation. "Fine, let''s resolve this on the Dueling tform!" All of this happened so quickly that Shui Qingrou didn''t have time to intervene, though she believed that if Yu Qingtan dared to ept the challenge, she must be confident. The very fat Tufei Yuan and the very thin Yamamoto Jiro exchanged looks, barely concealing the joy in their hearts. They hadn''t expected Yu Qingtan to be so easily provoked. Naturally, they had also heard about Yu Qingtan''s achievement of ying early Third-Stage members of the Sea n, but they were confident in Yamamoto Jiro''s strength, and had even prepared a trump card for him. The group made their way to the third-tier Dueling tform closest to Pavilion of Listening Waves, and nearly half of the cultivators residing in the pavilion followed to spectate. On the way, they attracted many onlookers, and the number of cultivators beneath the Dueling tform grew considerable, with even more arriving after hearing about the event. After hearing the whole story, public opinion naturally favored Yu Qingtan, and although there were those who thought that a Qi Practitioner''s life was worth less than a Foundation Establishment Cultivator''s, if it were a rogue cultivator from Sakura Ind, even the life of a Divine Transformation Cultivator couldn''tpare to that of a Qi Practitioner from Wendao Immortal City. There was also a very important point, would they support a beautiful girl, or an ugly rogue cultivator from Sakura Ind? The third-stage Dueling tform had a diameter of one mile and was protected by a third-stage Great Array, making it the highest-level Dueling tform in Wendao Immortal City. After Yu Qingtan and Yamamoto Jiro stepped onto the tform, the supervising cultivator waved his hand downward, and the two started fighting immediately without any superfluous words. Before stepping onto the tform, Yu Qingtan had already used Shi Kuang''s "Love''s Protection," and right after the fight began, she immediately cast Invisibility Technique and Breath-Concealing Technique, taking out the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield for defense. Yamamoto Jiro, learning from the lesson of Yamamoto Saburo, wore a set of middle-grade Treasure Grade full-body armor. This was the trump card prepared by Tsuchinoko. Then, without turning invisible, he sped his hands together and cast arge-scale third-stage spell. Third-stage spell, Darkness Descending. Employing this spell, he expanded the nascent form of his Path Domain of Darkness to epass the entire Dueling tform, which instantly became shrouded in a hazy gray. Since the Protective Array isted the probing of Divine Sense, the audience below could no longer see the situation on the tform clearly and felt quite disappointed, yet they did not leave. They could still guess at the battle by listening to the sounds. Yamamoto Jiro used his Divine Sense to carefully sense the slight changes within his domain, and soon his eyes brightened, He swung his hand, and countless ck arrows densely shot out en masse toward a certain direction. Third-stage spell, Wounding Shadow Arrows. Yu Qingtan knew she had been discovered and did not panic, instead casting Water Escape Technique to increase her distance and using the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield to defend. "Ding ding ding ding~" Some Shadow Arrows struck the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield, creating a colliding sound and revealing Yu Qingtan''s figure. Seeing Yu Qingtan using the spoils of war taken from the hands of a Sakura Ind warrior against him, Yamamoto Jiro grew even more furious. Shadow Arrows continued to be shot toward Yu Qingtan''s location. The original owner of this Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield was a junior of one of his superiors. If he didn''t kill Yu Qingtan, he might be forced tomit seppuku upon returning. Yu Qingtan, of course, wouldn''t just passively take hits. She continuously condensed andpressed high-speed rotating Water des to attack Yamamoto Jiro. With her previous life''s experience, Yu Qingtan knew that high-speed rotation would increase the power of Water des, but such precise control was only possible with the Divine Sense of someone at the Golden Core Stage. Although it was only a second-stage spell, its power had reached that of the third-stage. It could mutually annihte with the Shadow Arrows but was entirely unable to shake Yamamoto Jiro, who was wearing the Treasure Grade armor. After a dozen or so breaths, both parties were still unharmed. Even as Yamamoto Jiro controlled Shadow Arrows to attack from multiple directions simultaneously, Yu Qingtan could still avoid some with Water Escape Technique and block some with her shield and Water des. Feeling that a tenth of his Spiritual Power had been depleted, Yamamoto Jiro took out his Lifebound Magical Treasure, the Shadow Bow, along with one Shadow Arrow. His Divine Sense locked onto Yu Qingtan''s location, pulled the bowstring to the full, and the Shadow Arrow was released, tracking after Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan put away the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield, switched to the high-grade Treasure Cann Umbre, and used the umbre to block the Shadow Arrow. The standoff continued once more. "I refuse to believe your Secret Technique canst this long!" Yamamoto Jiro thought to himself as the Shadow Arrow continued its assault. However, half an hourter, Yu Qingtan was still lively and dodging, defending against the Shadow Arrow attacks while asionally sending a Water de his way, whereas he had already spent the majority of his Spiritual Power. Unwilling to settle for a draw, Yamamoto Jiro clenched his teeth, exhaled a breath of Golden Core essence onto his Lifebound Magical Treasure, and the speed and power of the Shadow Arrow increased dramatically. Chapter 164 Slaying Night 7 Little Taro Facing the bewitched Shadow Arrows, Yu Qingtan''s embryonic form of water domain expanded, and her Water Escape Technique became even faster. After the Shadow Arrows entered the water domain''s embryonic form, they were suppressed but still managed to bypass the defense of the Cann Umbre and hit Yu Qingtan. Yamamoto Jiro took out a drop of Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk from his Storage Ring, sucked it into his mouth, and instantly felt spiritual power fill his body, returning him to his prime condition. This was another trump card prepared for him by Tofu Yuan. "Today, I''ll exhaust you to death even if it takes all my energy!" In Yamamoto Jiro''s heart, he was determined; the two had signed up for a life-and-death duel, which wouldn''t end until one of them died. However, to prevent self-destructing one''s Golden Core, life-and-death duels at the Third Stage usually end when one party''s physical body is destroyed. Yu Qingtan was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, which was indeed very unfair to her, but she still went ahead. Seeing Yamamoto Jiro take medicine to recover his spiritual power, Yu Qingtan felt greatly relieved, as this indicated that her opponent had run out of tricks and was preparing to drain each other''s energy. "Let''s see who will exhaust whom!" After another half an hour, Yu Qingtan''s breath began to weaken, and she was "identally" grazed by a Shadow Arrow on her left shoulder, removing a chunk of flesh. The audience filled the surroundings below the tform. Although they couldn''t see the specifics, the intense collision sounds and asional shes of figures still enabled them to feel the intensity of the duel above. Tofu Yuan and Yamamoto Jiro both looked uneasy; after such a long time, Yamamoto Jiro still hadn''t killed his opponent. The people of Tianxiang Valley were also looking worried; although they had confidence in Yu Qingtan, after all, this was a Foundation Establishment fighting against a Golden Core. Another half an hourter, Yu Qingtan''s breath faintly showed signs of falling below Foundation Establishment, covered with multiple arrow wounds. Yamamoto Jiro, with only fouryers of spiritual power left and his soul exhausted, had eyes that became brighter and more ferocious. "You''re finally going down, aren''t you!" Just as the Shadow Arrows were shot again, Yu Qingtan took out the White Desire Lute, plucked the strings with her fingers, and the piercing demonic sound rushed into Yamamoto Jiro''s mind, causing him a moment of daze. In that brief moment of daze, a surge of overwhelming water column had already collided with his body. It was Yu Qingtan activating the big move of the Cann Umbre, the Cann Water Tornado, whose power reached the Late Stage of the Golden Core. Even though he was protected by a mid-grade treasure armor, Yamamoto Jiro, who had never practiced Body Refinement, was hit by this attack and was directly sted away, hitting the formation''s light screen with crazy friction. Yu Qingtan was also pierced through the chest from behind by a Shadow Arrow, but she adjusted her position to avoid the vital points, and the perforated wound caused by the Shadow Awl reappeared exactly where it had been before.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om After dozens of breaths, the water column finally lost its strength, and the Cann Umbre began to automatically retract the river water. Yamamoto Jiro''s whole body bones were shattered, his internal organs ruptured, and his meridians severed. He barely hung onto a breath of life thanks to the robust vitality of a Golden Core Cultivator. The embryonic form of the Path Domain of Darkness could no longer be maintained and had dissipated. The Cultivators watching from below discussed the tragic state of the battle, mostly eximing at the strength of Yu Qingtan. Xiang Yiyi and others had anxious expressions, Tofu Yuan and Yamamoto Jiro had faces as dark as water. Tofu Yuan gave Yamamoto Jiro a look. Yamamoto Jiro, who should have admitted defeat and preserved his life by having his soul enter his Golden Core, received a look from Tofu Yuan, and with a ruthlessness in his heart, spit out a pigeon egg-sized Golden Core from his mouth and chose to self-destruct without hesitation. "Bang~" A dazzling white light filled the Dueling tform, dust rolled, and obscured everyone''s vision while the Third Stage protective formation trembled. "Qingtan~" Xiang Yiyi, Shui Qingrou, and others shouted and rushed forward, tears brimming in Yiyi''s eyes. The Cultivator on duty hurriedly opened the formation, and True Person Shuiyun rushed onto the Dueling tform, waved his sleeve, and dust disappeared. Yu Qingtany in a corner of the Dueling tform, clutching the opened Cann Umbre, struggling to squeeze out a faint smile towards the approaching cultivator Shui Yun Zhenren. Yao Qi Xiaotarou''s strength was also among the strong ones in the early stages of the Golden Core, and the self-destruction of his Golden Core was several times more powerful than that of the earlier self-destructing third-stage giant octopus inner core. Moreover, Yu Qingtan had already been injured before this, and even with the protection of the Cann Umbre, she was on the verge of physical copse from the shock. Shui Yun Zhenren took out a soft couch, ced Yu Qingtan on it with the Object Controlling Technique, fed her a third-stage Healing Pill, collected Yu Qingtan''s spoils of war, and rushed towards the Pavilion of Listening Waves. After the battle, the no-fly order over Wendao Immortal City was reinstated. Tu Fei Yuan and Yamamoto Jiro heaved a sigh of disappointment as they failed to kill Yu Qingtan and had to leave dejectedly. The onlookers cheered, while Xiang Yiyi and others also quickly made their way to the Pavilion of Listening Waves. After telling Shui Yun Zhenren that she was not seriously hurt, Yu Qingtan was sent back to her room to heal. Her injuries seemed severe, but with the absence of the dark and sinister aura fromst time, under the effects of the Rejuvenation Spell, Purification Spell, and Decay and Flourish Technique, she recovered very quickly, not to mention the third-stage Healing Pill Shui Yun Zhenren had fed her. As for pain, through consistent Body Refinement, Yu Qingtan had developed a high tolerance for it. There shouldn''t be anyone who still thinks that all her strength came from cheating, as she had also been extremely diligent in her cultivation. About an hourter, Yu Qingtan''s injuries hadrgely healed, and then she took out the middle-grade ancient treasure armor, refined it for a while, and imed it as her own. Although it was a bit ugly, she still had to use it when necessary. If she had such armor on her today, she would not have been seriously injured. As for Yao Qi Xiaotarou''s Storage Ring, it was destroyed in the self-destruction, which caused Yu Qingtan to secretlyment the loss. ... The next morning, after a good night''s sleep, Yu Qingtan pushed open the door and saw Yan Xi, Xiang Yiyi, and Shui Qingrou already waiting outside. The three had kept watch all night, which, though not much to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, still touched Yu Qingtan. Zhou Lan and the others, after being informed that Yu Qingtan was unharmed, had gone back to their amodations. "Qingtan, are you okay?" "I''m fine now, thanks for your concern." The four women went to the ground-floor hall, where many people had already arrived. Soon, everyone arrived and followed Fairy Qi Xun towards the East Square of Wendao Immortal City. Zixin Zhenren, Yan Shu, Luo Ren, and other injured parties appeared to be mostly recovered. Xiao Youwei also approached Yu Qingtan, expressing her admiration for Yu Qingtan''s strength, seemingly bing a little fan of hers in the process. The rest of the Qi Practitioners and Foundation Establishment Cultivators showed a hint of awe towards Yu Qingtan, as she was now fully viewable as a Golden Core Cultivator, if not even more formidable. The crowd arrived at the East Square and from afar, they saw a gigantic Flying Boat measuring two hundred zhang in length, twice as long as an aircraft carrier from Yu Qingtan''s previous life. The Fourth-Order Flying Boat of Wendao Sect, Tian Wen No. 2. Standing tall with five decks, it was majestic and magnificent, far more imposing than Tianxiang Valley''s Tian Xiang. Today was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, and as scheduled, the Nascent Soul ceremony of the Star River True Monarch of Wendao Sect took ce. Guests staying in the eastern area of Wendao Immortal City would board this Flying Boat to travel to Mount Wendao. However, these third and fourth-order Flying Boats were not merely transportation; they were also instruments of war. In the previous cmity with the Sea n, these Flying Boats of Wendao Sect yed a crucial role, otherwise, it would have been difficult for Wendao Sect to stabilize the situation when the number of enemies at the third and fourth stages outweighed theirs in the early stages. Chapter 165 Cultivating the Law, Cultivating the Mind, Cultivating the Great Way Yu Qingtan, along with the main force, boarded the "Heavenly Inquiry No. 2" and couldn''t help but marvel at the magical and mighty power of the Cultivation World in his heart. Soon, all the cultivators had boarded the flying ship. Due to therge number of people, everyone simply stood on the deck. Then, with a rumbling sound, the flying ship slowly ascended, and then flew toward Mount Wendao at an unhurried pace. Facing Mount Wendao, whose peak could not be seen with a single nce, even the enormous Fourth-Order Flying Boat seemed not sorge. Between Wendao Immortal City and Mount Wendaoy a vast chasm known as the Wendao Abyss, stretching five miles wide. In Wendao Abyss, bizarre and violent Gang Winds often urred, resistible only by cultivators of Golden Core and above. Therefore, even with the means of the Cultivation World, no stable bridge could be constructed over it, so everyone had to travel to Mount Wendao by flying boat. After about a quarter of an hour''s flight, Yu Qingtan and the others could see a massive gateway not far away, with the words "Wendao Sect" written at the top. On both sides of the gateway was a couplet: Cultivate thew, cultivate the heart, cultivate the great Dao, Query heaven, query earth, query immortality. The writing was bold and powerful, with an imposing aura, clearly the work of a predecessor who had reached enlightenment in Calligraphy, inspiring deep reflection in Yu Qingtan. This was the entrance to the Wendao Sect. The Wendao Sect was a great sect with an extremely long heritage, its founding patriarch and the ancestor responsible for its revival were said to have ascended to immortality. Soon, the "Heavenly Inquiry No. 2" docked above a vast clearing not far from the entrance to Wendao Sect, where one flying boat had already stopped. Two more could be seen flying in this direction. Guided by the Wendao Sect cultivators, all the cultivators disembarked and crossed through the entrance of Wendao Sect, then beheld a vastplex of buildings constructed along the mountainside. Pavilions, towers, and terraces¡ªthough not excessively exquisite, bore a grand and ancient presence. All around were various spirit nts with asional appearances of birds and beasts wandering among them. The group climbed the steps for the time it would take to drink a cup of tea and then were led into a grand pce called the "Heavenly Inquiry Hall." From its outward appearance, the Heavenly Inquiry Hall was built against the mountain, seemingly shallow in depth. It was only upon entering that one could see it was a vast arenaparable to therge sports stadiums from Qing Tan''s previous life.N?v(el)B\\jnn The diameter was about one mile, with twenty rows of seating, able to amodate up to a million people. The people from Tianxiang Valley were seated in one area, with seat cushions made of the pelts of Second Stage Demonic Beasts and a small table in front of each seat, bearing a te of spirit fruits. While chatting telepathically, Yu Qingtan, Xiang Yiyi, Shui Qingrou, and Yan Xi looked around at the cultivators who were continuing toe in. Among them, they saw many familiar faces. For instance, there were Jiang Yueli from Star Moon Sect, Huang Zhangjie from the Huang Family, Zhou Lan from All-World Academy, Invincible True Lord and Li Daoyi from Cangqiong Sword Sect, Dongye Chuhua from Barbarian Sect, Ge Wenxiong who was with the Barbarian Sect cultivators, Zhuge Jian from Sunset Gate, and his girlfriend Ouyang Zhen. There were also characters who had portraits on the Pride of the Heavens List and the Hundred Flowers List, such as Liu Maocai from All-World Academy, Jiang Yousi from Star Moon Sect, and Leng Yihan from Cangqiong Sword Sect. Many Wendao Sect cultivators were also seated in one area, among whom Yu Qingtan spotted Feng Buji, Baili Ya from Cang Lei Zhenren, Fairy Su Qin Tan Suqin, Yin Cen, and his nominal master, Rou Jia True Lord Lin Roujia. True Lord Rou Jia sat next to a simple and honest man with slightly yellowish skin, whom Yu Qingtan recognized from a portrait as True Lord Yong Li from the Earth branch of Wendao Sect. Feeling Yu Qingtan''s gaze, True Lord Rou Jia looked over and then broke into a smile. "My good disciple, it''s not convenient now. I will look for you after the ceremony ends." A voice gentle as water reached her ears. Yu Qingtan''s Divine Sense could not transmit that far, so she could only bow respectfully from a distance to show that she understood. She had not expected her first meeting with her nominal master to be like this. Shui Qingrou then introduced Yu Qingtan to some other Cultivators she knew, such as the Pavilion Master of Qunfang Pavilion, True Lord Yunhuang, and Pei Lie, the Supreme Elder of Tri-Sun Sect. True Lord Yunhuang was an elegant and noble woman, while True Lord Pei Lie was azy old man with fiery red hair. Previously, during the bicentennial celebration of Ge Lian, the great elder of the Ges in Suichuan Immortal City, Howling Moon Demon King tried to take the opportunity to cause trouble with the Trial Demon Tower and nearly got killed by the City Lord Ouyang Wenjian. It was True Lord Pei Lie who intervened when Howling Moon Demon King tried to rescue the Heavenly Demon Eagle Jiukong and also deal with Ouyang Wenjian. Two quarters of an hourter, all the Cultivators attending the ceremony had arrived, and the great hall was almost filled. The majority of the Cultivators were disciples of Wendao Sect and residents of the Inner City of Wendao Immortal City. At that moment, a middle-aged Cultivator in a ck robe and short beard, with a dignified face, appeared above the central tform of Heavenly Question Hall and descended onto the tform. "Honored guests and residents of Wendao Immortal City, wee to Wendao Sect. I am Mo Kongbei, the Sect Master of Wendao Sect. The situation of this ceremony will be recorded by the Sound and Image Preserving Formation and transmitted to Wendao Immortal City via the Communication Array, and it will be broadcast in real-time through Projection Arrays in various regions of Wendao Immortal City." As True Lord Kongbei''s voice rang out, what had been a slightly noisy scene fellpletely silent. In her heart, Yu Qingtan could hardly contain her joy at the fact that the ceremony would have a live broadcast feature. This was just too wonderful. What Yu Qingtan didn''t know was that the relevantplete set of technologies had been developing for a hundred years in the Upper Realm, that is, the Central Domain, and had be increasingly mature. It was only now that they were slowly spreading to the Outer Realm. "First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their contributions during the disaster with the Sea n two days ago. This ceremony not only celebrates the Nascent Soul Ceremony of Star River True Lord of our Wendao Sect but also serves as a post-war summary of the recent catastrophe with the Sea n. The disaster caused by the Sea n under the leadership of Canglong Sea Lord began with a mistaken killing of his own bloodline by ''Taste of the Sea,'' but that was merely an excuse for starting the war. After a tough and extraordinary battle, with the aid of the Great Mist Mountain Huang Family, we sessfully repelled the Sea n, annihting eleven Fourth-Order, twelve hundred Third-Order, nine hundred thousand Second-Order, and seventy-five million First-Order members of the Sea n. It was a great victory. However, we also paid a heavy price, with one Nascent Soul Cultivator, thirty-one Golden Core Cultivators, five thousand eight hundred seventy-six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and eight hundred sixty thousand Qi Practitioners perishing. They are all heroes of the Human Race, and their families will receive the appropriate constion. Let us now observe a moment of silence for thirty breaths for them." After True Lord Kongbei finished speaking, all the Cultivators stood up, closed their eyes, and observed silence. After thirty breaths, they opened their eyes and sat down again. At the same time, in the sky above the Inner City walls of Wendao Immortal City, eight huge screens appeared. The screens showed what was happening inside Heavenly Question Hall, with Mo Kongbei''s voice also spreading throughout the entire city. Although it was their first time seeing such arge broadcast screen, technologies like the Sound Preserving Formation and Image Preserving Formation were already widespread, so the residents of Wendao Immortal City didn''t find it strange. Instead, they also stood solemnly and observed a moment of silence for the deceased. In the Outer City of Wendao Immortal City, the remaining low-level members of the Sea n had already been cleaned out by the high-level Cultivators of Wendao Sect, and the flood damage had also beenrgely repaired by the high-level Cultivators. Residents who had suffered losses also received warpensation from Wendao Sect. The life of the Outer City residents returned to normal, but the pain of losing loved ones was difficult to heal in the short term. Fortunately, the warpensation from Wendao Sect helped them recover some of their lost property. Chapter 166 Asking Heaven, Asking Earth, Asking for Immortality After a moment of silence, True Lord Kongbei continued to speak. "Additionally, I would like to extend a special thanks to those who assisted the Wendao Sect in the fight against the Sea n. As previously stated, participants in this battle may receive temporary Sect Contribution Points, and the points for all contributors have been recorded. After the ceremony, you may visit the Hall of Merit to exchange your points for the items you need. Furthermore, for those who earned the most contribution points at each level of strength, our sect will provide additional rewards. They are: At the Nascent Soul Stage, the Invincible True Lord of the Cangqiong Sword Sect, who slew one mid-Fourth Stage, three early-Fourth Stage Sea n members, and destroyed the physical body of e-Fourth Stage Sea n member, earning 70,000 contribution points; At the Golden Core Stage, Fairy Qi Xun of the Qunfang Pavilion, who together with others slew fourte-Third Stage, twelve mid-Third Stage, twenty-six early-Third Stage Sea n members, contributing over half the effort, earning 28,000 points; At the Foundation Establishment Stage, Yu Qingtan from Tianxiang Valley, who slew three early-Third Stage, eight hundred sixty-seven Second Stage, countless First Stage Sea n members, assisted in the killing of ate-Third Stage Canglong, and saved more than two million cultivators from the external city of the Wendao Sect, earning 110,000 contribution points. Pleasee to the stage now, the three of you, to receive the rewards prepared by our sect." Yu Qingtan, with graceful steps, moved toward the stage. On the other side, both the Invincible True Lord and Fairy Qi Xun also stepped forward, their gazes toward Yu Qingtan carrying an obscure meaning. "Greetings to Sect Leader Mo!" The Invincible True Lord offered a casual salute, while Fairy Qi Xun and Yu Qingtan bowed respectfully, holding up the hems of their skirts. The crowd below was filled with amazement; they refrained from making noise due to the solemnity of the asion, but cultivators at or above the Foundation Establishment Stage began to discuss amongst themselves through transmitted messages. "It''s expected of Fairy Qi Xun, but why does Yu Qingtan from Tianxiang Valley have to be so strong when she clearly could just rely on her looks?" "This Yu Qingtan is definitely making it onto this year''s Hundred Flowers List; she may well be called Fairy Qingtan." "Despite being at the mere Foundation Establishment Stage, the contribution points Yu Qingtan has earned are even higher than those of the Invincible True Lord and Fairy Qi Xun; how terrifying!" "It''s said that Yu Qingtan has been fullymitted to sweeping the Sea n aside to rescue more cultivators from the lower strata of the Immortal City; what a kind and beautiful girl!" "They say that Yu Qingtan, capable of casting the powerful Water de Technique for extended periods without draining her spiritual power, might possess the legendary Soul Devouring Physique that allows instant absorption of spiritual energy from spirit stones." "Yu Qingtan also has an explosive secret technique with a minimal cost and long duration that can elevate her from the mid-Foundation Establishment stage to the Golden Core Stage; it''s fearful this could be a legendary heaven-grade technique." "The taller the tree, the harsher the wind; with such talent, Yu Qingtan is not inferior to the Invincible True Lord in his early days. I''m afraid Tianxiang Valley won''t be able to keep her!" "Aren''t there also Qunfang Pavilion and the Wendao Sect?" The discussions among the crowd were mostly focused on Yu Qingtan; after all, the strength of the Invincible True Lord and Fairy Qi Xun was to be expected. The cultivators of Wendao Immortal City, especially those from the outer city whom she had rescued, were even more excited at the sight of Yu Qingtan, enthusiastically singing her praises to those around them. "Invincible True Lord, this is a Jade Slip containing the insights into Divinity Transformation from a venerable senior of our sect''s Thunder Vein who ascended years ago. I''m entrusting it to you, in the hope that you will achieve Divinity Transformation soon and protect our Human Race." At that moment, True Lord Kongbei produced a Jade Slip and addressed the Invincible True Lord. The invincible True Lord, who had appeared nonchnt, now looked solemn as he respectfully took the Jade Slip with both hands. "Thank you!" True Lord Kongbei then turned toward Fairy Qi Xun. "Fairy Qi Xun, here are the Core Formation insights and a Turtle Shell of a Fourth Stage Gui Turtle from a Nascent Soul True Lord of our sect''s Water Vein; they should be useful to you." "Thank you, Sect Leader Mo!" Finally, True Lord Kongbei looked at Yu Qingtan. "Young friend Yu, it would not be out of ce to call you Fairy Qingtan at this point; your future is indeed formidable! These are the aforementioned Core Formation and Nascent Soul insights from a Nascent Soul True Lord of my Water Vein, along with a drop of Innate Ren Water and a bloom of Innate Bing Fire." ``` "Thank you, Sect Leader Mo!" Yu Qingtan suppressed the excitement in her heart, epted the reward, and said. The Innate Five Elements objects all belong to the Fourth Stage spiritual materials. Previously, True Master Shuiyun had given her a drop of Innate Gui Water, which she had hardly contemted. She had not expected to receive two more portions now. The importance of the insights into Core Formation and Nascent Soul needs no further mention. With these, she could avoid many detours and even affect the sess or failure of her advancement. "Additionally, you may now be recorded as a named true disciple of the Wendao Sect Water Vein and may join our Wendao Sect at any time!" True Lord Kongbei announced another significant reward, though the status of a named true disciple must have been out of consideration for the sentiments of Tianxiang Valley and Qunfang Pavilion. The rtionships between orthodox sects are generally harmonious; they do not forcibly take away disciples. However, as cultivators improve their cultivation levels, they naturally migrate torger sects because only therger sects possess spirit veins for major realm advancements. For example, cultivators from Tianxiang Valley who wish to form their Nascent Soul must go to the Fourth Stage spirit vein of Qunfang Pavilion or Wendao Sect. Cultivators from Qunfang Pavilion desiring to achieve Divinity Transformation must rely on the Fifth Stage spirit vein of Wendao Sect. After a sessful advancement, they generally stay because their cultivation still requires the corresponding spirit vein. "Thank you, Sect Leader Mo!" Yu Qingtan knew that giving her the status of a named true disciple was also a form of protection for her. The three returned to their seats, and True Lord Kongbei continued to speak. "True Lord Xinghe, Meng Xinghe, joined the Wendao Sect in the year 7020 of the Lichuan Calendar, bing a disciple of the Water Vein. It has been eighty years to date, and he formed his Nascent Soul earlier this year. True Lord Xinghe has driven back the beast tide for our sect, pacified the Sea n, and fought against the Demon Sect, achieving great merit through toil. Just a few days ago, during the cmity caused by the Sea n, True Lord Xinghe faced two opponents, ying one early Fourth Stage Sea n member and severely injuring another. Today, we hold the Nascent Soul Ceremony to celebrate his achievements! Next, please let True Lord Xinghe share his insight into cultivation." Yu Qingtan''s heart stirred; this newly promoted True Lord Xinghe was indeed a fierce individual. Although it took him over eighty years to form his Nascent Soul, which was considered quite young among Nascent Soul cultivators, hisbat achievements immediately after his advancement were impressive, and he must have been renowned on the Pride of the Heavens List during his Golden Core Stage. As for the Lichuan Calendar, more precisely known as the Lichuan Ancient and Modern Calendar, it was divided into eras based on significant events, and this year was 7100 on the Lichuan Calendar. This was also one of the reasons the Wendao Sect chose to hold the Nascent Soul Ceremony. Typically, such significant sects would hold such ceremonies only once every hundred or two hundred years. True Lord Kongbei stepped down from the stage and took a seat in the front row while a woman in a pale blue dress gracefully stepped onto the stage. "I am Meng Xinghe, the newly advanced Nascent Soul of the Wendao Sect Water Vein. Thank you all for attending my Nascent Soul Ceremony. Next, I will share some of my cultivation experiences. Cultivation is the practice of the Great Dao of immortality. It involves cultivating both the body and the heart. Thew of man is linked to the earth, the earth to the heavens, the heavens to the Dao, and the Dao to nature.N?v(el)B\\jnn The beginning of Qi Cultivation¡­" True Lord Xinghe, with a jade hairpin at her temple, light brows, bright eyes, and attractive features, looked like a woman in her thirties as she eloquently shared her cultivation path from the stage. Yu Qingtan listened intently, enraptured. She also primarily cultivated water-based cultivation techniques and spells, and True Lord Xinghe''s speech was full of insights for her. The speechsted an entire hour, and after True Lord Xinghe stepped down, the crowd felt an unfulfilled longing and thus, took a fifteen-minute break. After the break, it was time for the well-anticipated juniorpetition segment. ``` Chapter 167 A Boat Full of Clear Dreams Pressing On the Milky Way The Nascent Soul Ceremony''spetition for the juniors was once again hosted by True Lord Kongbei, divided into two events: Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment. Qi Practitioners were split into ten First Stage Dueling tforms, using a king-of-the-hill format for the contests, where the fights were stopped upon contact, creating a very harmonious atmosphere. Yu Qingtan watched with great interest, as there were many spells and magic artifacts she had only heard of but never seen. This was truly an eye-opening experience for her. The little loli, Xiao Youwei, also took to the tform, and with the strength of the eighthyer of Qi Cultivation, relying on her proficient Water de Technique and a top-quality longsword magic artifact, she sessfully challenged a ninthyer Qi Practitioner and defended her position for seven matches. Eventually, she was defeated by Di Yan, a ninthyer Qi Practitioner of the Fire Vein from the Wendao Sect, and after stepping down from the tform, she flew into Yu Qingtan''s arms, looking forfort. With no one challenging them anymore, the ten champions fought among themselves, and in the end, the Fire Vein practitioner Di Yan emerged victorious, earning a Foundation Establishment Pill as a reward. For the Foundation Establishment stage, only two Dueling tforms were set up. Yu Qingtan stepped up without hesitation and entered one of them. The corners of the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators'' mouths twitched. With her record, which Foundation Establishment Cultivator would dare to duel her? Perhaps an undefeated cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage could spar with her, but there were no such geniuses present. As a result, Yu Qingtan contentedly watched the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators duel on the other tform, while being a quiet and beautiful girl herself. Both the audience in the hall and the cultivators from the Wendao Immortal City found it amusing yet greatly admired her. With her already peerless demeanor, even the undefeated cultivators couldn''t help but take a fresh look at Yu Qingtan. "Brother, you weren''t much different during your Foundation Establishment Stage, right? This girl will sooner orter top the Hundred Flowers List, why not take her under your wing now? Ah Ji won''t get jealous, right?" The voice echoed again in the mind of the undefeated cultivator, but he did not respond. Yu Qingtan enjoyed watching the duels, and it seemed to her that she could hear the sound of "whoosh" as the Charm Points came pouring in, her mood joyous and her face breaking into a sweet smile. Finally, after about an hour, the dueling on the other tform concluded. Jiang Yueli from the Star Moon Sect was the victor. She was also someone Yu Qingtan knew. This sort of contest, especially one aimed at sparring, did not allow the use of ancient treasures, charm treasures, and other external objects beyond one''s own realm, but secret techniques were not included in this prohibition.N?v(el)B\\jnn However, most cultivators would not use such secret techniques, as the cost was too high. It wasn''t worthwhile just for a sparring match, but that didn''t include Yu Qingtan. It''s just a Medium Grade Spirit Stone, just sprinkle some water. So, when Jiang Yueli looked at her, Yu Qingtan unhesitatingly showed off the spiritual power fluctuations of the Golden Core Stage, disying her nascent water domain. Jiang Yueli felt helpless, as any fighting spirit that had arisen was instantly doused. "Fairy Qingtan, I concede!" Jiang Yueli consoled herself with the thought that there were decent rewards foring in second ce. "Thank you for yielding!" Yu Qingtan courteously replied with a smile, then retracted her water domain. Yu Qingtan happily took her reward of yet another Golden Core Pill and returned to her seat. Even though she had already received one from Ru Yao, a Golden Core Pill, which helped with advancement, was more valuable than a spirit stone, a solid and useful currency. At the end, True Lord Kongbei disyed a Fourth Stage Dao Technique she had created. Dream Star River. Drunk, not knowing the sky in the water, a boat full of clear dreams pressing down the starry river. A huge river phantom appeared mid-air in the hall, its water shimmering and reflecting starlight, beautiful yet incredibly dangerous. This is a Dao Technique thatbines the ways of water, dreams, and stars. Although no overt power was disyed, the demise and injury of those Fourth Stage Sea n members were due to this technique. s, Yu Qingtancked sufficient proficiency and deep understanding, merely finding it beautiful. Subsequently, the ceremony concluded. Groups of attendees were led by Wendao Sect cultivators towards the Hall of Merit of the Wendao Sect. The Hall of Merit was also a massive structure built against Mount Wendao, upying about a quarter of the area of the Heavenly Question Hall. Upon entering the Hall of Merit, Yu Qingtan was received by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator woman from the Wendao Sect. The woman handed her an Identity Jade representing a registered true disciple of the Wendao Sect Water Vein, which contained one hundred and ten thousand Wendao Sect Contribution Points. Then, the woman led her to the third floor, a ce usually reserved for Golden Core Cultivators, and waited outside the door for her. Inside were rows of treasure shelves simr to bookshelves, each equipped with a Treasure Catalogue Jade Slip on its side, and adorned with jade slips, ancient books, storage bags holding treasures, and more. Yu Qingtan began to examine each catalog one by one. Among the Golden Core Cultivators selecting treasures to exchange, they simply nodded at Yu Qingtan as a form of greeting upon seeing her. Because of the abundance of treasures, it took Yu Qingtan two quarters of an hour to check all the catalogues before she selected the items she wanted to exchange for. Aplete blood sample from ate-stage Fourth Order Demon King, costing sixty thousand Contribution Points. A small piece of Fourth Stage Soul Nurturing Wood, costing fifty thousand Contribution Points. Her Contribution Points werepletely used up, but Yu Qingtan was very satisfied. The Demon King''s blood was for practicing the Demon Blood Refinement Technique, and the Soul Nurturing Wood was for nurturing and strengthening her soul. The Soul Nurturing Wood Yu Qingtan had previously received from Gao Lao of the Extreme Path Demon Sect was only Second Stage, but it had greatly helped her, though it was nearly used up. After leaving the Hall of Merit, the others from Tianxiang Valley were already waiting for her. Among them was her nominal master, Madame Rou Jia. Madame Rou Jia was dressed in a light green patterned dress with an exposed neckline, her face as lovely as a peach blossom, her eyebrows gracefully arched, a white peony adornment in her hair, which was pulled up with a white shawl draped over the back, and around her neck was a ne studded with red gems, highlighting her magnificent and dazzling bust. When Yu Qingtan came out, Madame Rou Jia was chatting andughing with Madame Shui Yun. Yu Qingtan hurried forward, bowing deeply and saying, "Disciple Yu Qingtan pays respect to Master, the Valley Master, and to the two Martial Uncles!" Madame Rou Jia stepped forward to pull Yu Qingtan up, looking her over carefully while praising her, "Good girl, my dear disciple, with such high talent and so beautiful too." Madame Shui Yun could not help but interject, "It''s only because of you, Sister Rou Jia. If someone else had such a precious disciple, she''d be at home every day, not leaving the house; I would have poached her long ago. You should make the most of the time you have to teach her, don''t wait until youe back to find Qing Tan has surpassed you." Madame Rou Jia was a bit embarrassed and chuckled awkwardly, "My fault indeed. You alle with me to the Earth Vein first." "That would be good!" Madame Shui Yun nodded, acknowledging that the front of the Hall of Merit was indeed not the ce for an extended stay. "May I ask Master and the Valley Master to wait just a moment?" Because Yu Qingtan saw Zhou Lan, Zhong Yao, and Jing Hao approaching her. Madame Rou Jia and Madame Shui Yun nodded, and Yu Qingtan went to greet them. After exchanging greetings, Zhou Lan exined the purpose of their visit. "Master Yu, our leader for the World Academy Southeast Branch this time is Master Yan Ziqing from the Chess Academy. He and some teachers from the Qin, Book, and Painting Academies are very interested in you and would like to invite you to the All-World Academy for an exchange. However, he and other Nascent Soul Cultivators are currently discussing some affairs with Sect Master Mo, so he sent us to deliver a formal invitation. With this invitation, Master Yu can travel to Qu Fu Immortal City for free using the teleportation arrays in the cities that connect to Qu Fu Immortal City." Chapter 168 Xiangfei Sword and Maid Outfit Qu Fu Immortal City, which is located in the northern part of the Southeast Region, near the Eastern Region, is the seat of The World Academy Southeast Branch. The distance from Wendao Immortal City is very far, and even a Third Stage flying boat would have to fly for over a month¡ªmost importantly, one must cross the territory of the Extreme Path Demon Sect. Therefore, if Yu Qingtan wanted to go, the best way would be through a teleportation formation. Wendao Immortal City has a formation leading to Qu Fu Immortal City, unlike Tianxiang Valley and Suichuan Immortal City, where no such formations exist. "Many thanks to True Disciple Yan Ziqing for the invitation. I, Qingtan, will surely find time to visit this year." Yu Qingtan epted the invitation. "Then we''ll be waiting for you at The World Academy. We are going to board the flying boat and head towards Wendao Immortal City now. Once Master Yan Ziqing has finished his business, he will be teleported directly back to Qu Fu Immortal City. So, Master Yu, this is goodbye for now." Jing Hao said. Without the invitation of a person from Wendao Sect, outsiders are not allowed to stay on Mount Wendao for long. It was True Disciple Rou Jia who invited the people of Tianxiang Valley in the name of Master Yong Li. "Until we meet again!" The three of them bowed to True Disciple Rou Jia and the other Golden Core Cultivators and said their farewells. True Disciple Rou Jia piloted the flying boat with everyone inside towards the Earth Vein.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Look, Qingtan has already started takingte-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators as students." On the way there, True Disciple Shui Yun kept praising Yu Qingtan, and True Disciple Rou Jia was also astonished, thinking that she had found quite a treasure of a disciple. The Earth Vein of Wendao Sect is located in an even higher and deste area of Mount Wendao, almost devoid of vegetation, with only rocks and dirt. Once everyone disembarked from the flying boat, they followed True Disciple Rou Jia to a hall named Earth Path Hall, where Master Yong Li, a simple and honest-looking man, greeted them at the entrance. "Salutations to Master Yong Li!" Everyone from Tianxiang Valley paid their respects, and after a warm exchange, they entered the hall and took their seats. Master Yong Li and True Disciple Rou Jia made no attempt to hide their intimate rtionship with exchanged nces. Yu Qingtan was speechless, recalling how her senior sister Li Xingruo had told her that her master, True Disciple Rou Jia, had gone to settle ounts immediately after her breakthrough to the Late Stage of the Golden Core. It seemed she had included herself in those ns. True Disciples Shui Yun, Zixin, You Zhi, Rou Jia, and Master Yong Li had a brief chat before Master Yong Li took the people from Tianxiang Valley to visit the Earth Vein, leaving only True Disciple Rou Jia and Yu Qingtan in the Earth Path Hall. "Master, when will you return to Xiangfei Elegant Garden? The senior sisters miss you very much." Yu Qingtan asked directly. "I too miss Xing Ruo and the others. Tell you what, I''ll head back at the end of the month. You can stay here as a guest with me for a while." She had been enjoying her sweet days recently and didn''t really want to go back. "Master, when will you and the grandmaster be Daoistpanions?" "When Xing Ruo forms her Golden Core. It''s not your ce to concern yourself with such matters. Since this is the first time we meet, we should properlyplete the ritual of epting a disciple." Yu Qingtan dared not overstep again and hurriedly poured a cup of spiritual tea for True Disciple Rou Jia, respectfully offering it with a bow. "Please have some tea, Master." True Disciple Rou Jia epted the cup with satisfaction and drank it. "Now then, you officially be my fifth personal true disciple. I will teach you my self-created Xiangfei Sword Technique. Before that, do you have any questions about your cultivation?" "Thank you, Master! When I cultivate, the meridian under my armpit..." Yu Qingtan asked some questions about issues she had encountered during her cultivation, which True Disciple Rou Jia patiently answered. Upon hearing that Yu Qingtan''s current cultivation technique was still only the Greenwave Technique, True Disciple Rou Jia said she would take her to the Wendao Sect Water Veinter on. After all, she was still the recorded True Disciple of the Wendao Sect Water Vein, and it should not be a problem to request a more advanced cultivation technique. By this time, Master Yong Li had returned with the people from Tianxiang Valley. Yu Qingtan informed True Disciple Shui Yun that she would be a guest at Wendao Sect for some days and would return to Tianxiang Valley with her master at the end of the month. True Disciple Shui Yun then took everyone with her except Yan Xi, who stayed behind as Yu Qingtan''s servant. Xiang Yiyi looked reluctantly at her friend but had no choice but to follow True Disciple Shui Yun and leave. After arranging a guest room for Yan Xi to cultivate in, True Disciple Rou Jia began to teach Yu Qingtan the Xiangfei Sword Technique. The first technique, Xiao Xiang Misty Rain; The second technique, Lord of Xiang Shedding Tears; The third technique, Spotted Bamboo Bursting; The fourth technique, Endless Xiang River; The fifth technique, Unbreakable Lovesickness. Among them, the first three techniques belonged to Second Stage Spells, while thest two were already Third Stage Spells, Yu Qingtan couldn''t learn them yet. Time silently passed, and after nightfall, Yu Qingtan was arranged to rest in the guest room next to Yan Xi. As usual, after setting up the Protective Array, Yu Qingtan opened the system panel and, upon seeing the high Charm Points amounting to over 87 million, his heart blossomed with joy. He exchanged most of the Charm Points for Affection Value, bringing it close to 90,000. Yu Qingtan then purchased the advanced Spiritual Root Upgrade Card and three Third Stage Cultivation Upgrade Cards, leaving him with 77,000. "Even the Immortal Body and Innate Divine Ability upgrades seem within reach!" Afterughing for a long time, Yu Qingtan managed to calm his excited emotions, collected the upgrade cards, and decided to save them for use back at Tianxiang Valley. Next, Yu Qingtan took out the Nine Python Profound Fire Cover and the Innate Bing Fire, and then refined the Fourth Stage Innate Bing Fire into the Nine Python Profound Fire Cover. Soon enough, the Innate Bing Fire devoured a Second Stage Spiritual Fire, transforming into a ferocious fire python. "It''s almost at the quality of a mid-grade magical artifact!" Yu Qingtan said contentedly as he put away the Nine Python Profound Fire Cover. Remembering Yan Xi in the neighboring room, Yu Qingtan''s face revealed a mischievous smile as he took out a pile of fabric and got busy with it. After some time, Yu Qingtan looked at his creation with satisfaction, put it away, and then took out the Core Formation insights from that Nascent Soul master to study in detail. Having finished studying, he took out the Innate Ren Water, Innate Gui Water, and the Cann Umbre toprehend the Path of Water contained within the Innate Spirit Water and tried to refine it into the Cann Umbre. ¡­ The next day, it wasn''t fully light yet, and after a brief rest, Yu Qingtan left his room and went to the door of the next room, knocking on it. "Yan Xi! Yan Xi!" Yan Xi, who liked to sleep in during the mornings, was annoyed to be woken up, but upon hearing it was Yu Qingtan''s voice, she jolted awake, hurriedly got out of bed, opened the door, and weed Yu Qingtan in. "Miss, good morning!" Seeing the groundswell of sin beneath Yan Xi''s sleeping gown, Yu Qingtan pursed his lips, not expecting Yan Xi to be so capable; it seemed that she had been too constrained usually. "Yan Xi, this is for you, it''s a servant outfit I made. From now on, you''ll wear the clothes I make for a year!" As he spoke, Yu Qingtan took out a set of clothes and ced it on the table in the room, which was precisely his masterpiece from the previous night. "Hurry and change into it!" Yu Qingtan sat down and poured himself a cup of tea. After savoring a cup of tea, Yan Xi, her face blushing, came out from behind the screen, and Yu Qingtan''s eyes lit up. Before him, Yan Xi was wearing a ck and white maid costume with a pure white headband on her head, and the fabric on her chest couldn''t hide the colossal sanctity. "Miss!" Yan Xi said in a low voice, her head bowed. She felt this dress was so shameful, but she dared not refuse such a moderately unreasonable request from Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan sighed and had no choice but to let her change out of it, temporarily making it a bitrger, and then letting her put it on again, otherwise, it really wouldn''t be convenient for going out. "Hmm, not bad! Let''s go!" After making the adjustments, Yu Qingtan nodded with satisfaction, maintaining a poker face but inwardly jubnt. "That''s for hitting me before, hmph!" Yu Qingtan, taking Yan Xi with him, headed towards Real Person Rou Jia''s residence. They walked there with a particrly light step, indicating Yu Qingtan''s cheerful mood. However, as they approached their destination, strange noises came from inside. "Hmm, exert yourself, exert yourself!" Chapter 169 Five Elements Primordial Cultivation Technique Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi wore peculiar expressions. They recognized it as the voice of Venerable Yong Li. Yu Qingtan wondered whether to disturb them when the voice of Rou Jia Venerable reached her ears. "Qing Tan,e on in." Yu Qingtan pushed open the door of the courtyard hesitantly, leading Yan Xi inside. There, they saw Rou Jia Venerable sitting in a lounge chair, wielding a spiritual artifact-level metal hammer, her forehead beaded with sweat. Venerable Yong Li, wearing a set of short training clothes, held a pair of huge hammers in both hands, his body covered in bruises. The stone ground bore impressions from Venerable Yong Li''s feet, evidently, the hammers were terrifyingly heavy. After all, this was a cultivator in the Late Stage of the Golden Core. By this time, both Venerable Yong Li and Rou Jia Venerable''s faces were flushed. "Is this their idea of courtship? They know how to lighten the mood!" Yu Qingtan inwardly ridiculed, keeping her eyes down in respect, bowing in greeting. "Greetings to my master and martial granduncle!" "Greetings to Rou Jia Venerable and Yong Li Venerable." Yan Xi also pretended not to notice anything unusual and followed with a bow. Hearing Yu Qingtan publicly refer to Venerable Yong Li as martial granduncle, Rou Jia Venerable''s cheeks turned redder, but she did not retort, instead, she put away her metal hammer, stood up, and addressed the two. "Qing Tan, that''s a pretty dress you have on today!" Yu Qingtan was wearing a light blue knee-length dress with flesh-toned stockings that day, looking very fresh and clean. She had long grown tired of the pink long dress that was the uniform of Tianxiang Valley. "It''s still not as beautiful as your dress, Master!" "Alright, now that you''re here, let''s go! You continue practicing on your own!" Rou Jia Venerable said. She had arranged to take Yu Qingtan to the Water Vein today and did not expect her to arrive so early; thetter part was directed at Yong Li Venerable. Venerable Yong Li was slightly annoyed at Yu Qingtan for interrupting his and Rou Jia Venerable''s cultivation, but it wouldn''t do to quarrel with a junior, especially since she had called him martial granduncle, so hemunicated telepathically to Rou Jia Venerable. "Come back early!" Upon leaving the courtyard, the three of them took Rou Jia Venerable''s small flying boat to the Water Vein. On the flying boat, Yu Qingtan couldn''t help but ask, "Master, was martial granduncle practicing some sort of body refining technique?" "You have quite an eye. He is indeed practicing a body refining technique known as the ''Thousand Hammer Refining Technique'', which involves continuously hammering the body like forging a tool to strengthen it." "I see!" After that, Rou Jia Venerable further introduced some basic information about the Wendao Sect to Yu Qingtan. For example, Yong Li Venerable was the direct disciple of the Houde Honored One, the chief of the Earth Vein, and Yin Cen, who had recently returned from the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm, also became Houde Honored One''s youngest direct disciple. Soon, the three of them arrived at a buildingplex next to a river flowing from the peak of Mount Wendao, with a waterfall standing three thousand feet tall beside it, a magnificent sight. The scene made Yu Qingtan think of a verse from her previous life by the poet Li Bai: "A waterfall cascading down three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way had tumbled from the ninth heaven." When they set off, Rou Jia Venerable had sent a message via a Message-Transmitting Flying Sword, so there were disciples from the Water Vein to greet them upon arrival. The three arrived at the Hall of Waterways, where, to their surprise, they were met by Meng Xinghe, the true monarch of the Star River. "Sister Meng, I''vee to see you." Rou Jia Venerable said, seemingly having a close rtionship with the true monarch of the Star River. There were no Divinity Transformation stage cultivators currently in the Water Vein, and the chief was in the Nascent Soul Late Stage, spending most of the time in seclusion. Meng Xinghe had considerable influence in the Water Vein and also had a good rtionship with Rou Jia Venerable, so it was natural for Rou Jia Venerable toe to her. "Ha, don''t you spend all your time sweet-talking with Yong Li? When do you ever think of visiting me? You must havee today for your disciple, right?" Meng Xinghe teased. "Sister Meng, you jest. Just yesterday, I saw Sister Meng in all her glory. Qing Tan,e greet your Master Meng." "Disciple Yu Qingtan pays respect to Master Meng." Yu Qingtan quickly followed with a bow. "Mmm, what a good girl, and her talent is much stronger than your cheap master''s, why note directly to our Water Vein and be my disciple?" Venerable Star River was very gentle with Qing Tan. "Sister Meng, poaching my disciple right in front of me is rather unscrupulous of you." "Who says you can''t have two masters?" "Thank you, Venerable Meng, for your generous affection. My master is very kind to Qing Tan, and with my master, Qing Tan is already very content." Yu Qingtan quickly declined. Although having a powerful master as a backer was good, the more powerful they were, the greater the risk of her secret being exposed. "Good disciple, you do not disappoint your master''s careful instruction." Real Person Rou Jia was somewhat moved. Venerable Star River gave her a white look, knowing well that Yu Qingtan had only met Real Person Rou Jia for the first time yesterday. "Since that''s the case, let''s leave it for now. After all, you are also a registered true disciple of our Water Path. Your master has already told me of your intent. As a true disciple of the Water Path, you naturally have the right to choose a suitable cultivation technique from our path. Come with me." After speaking, Venerable Star River led Yu Qingtan and the other two out of the Hall of Waterways, through winding corridors, and arrived at the Scripture Pavilion of the Water Vein. Venerable Star River asked Real Person Rou Jia and Yan Xi to wait in the first-floor hall, then took Yu Qingtan directly up to the fourth floor, which only had two rows of shelves. Venerable Star River pointed to the top row on one of the shelves and said, "Here are some of the cultivation techniques of our Water Path that can be cultivated up to the Late Phase of Divine Transformation. You can choose one from among these. The outermost one is the Jade Slip with descriptions of these techniques." Yu Qingtan stepped forward, picked up the Jade Slip, and started to inspect it. Tide-Born of Azure Sea Canon. Water Source Sutra. Nine Elements Heavy Water Scripture. Blissful Union of Water and Milk Canon. Two Realms of Water and Fire. Canon of Dark Water and Withered Wood. Move Mountains and Overturn Seas Canon. Splendor of Water, Wood, and Metal Canon. Canon of the Five Elements and Primordial Chaos. All were cultivation techniques suitable for cultivators with a main Water Spirit Root, including single attribute, dual attributes, and multiple attributes, and there was even a dual cultivation technique. After reviewing them, Yu Qingtan considered for a few moments and then made her decision, looking towards Venerable Star River. "Have you made your choice?" "Venerable Meng, I choose the Canon of the Five Elements and Primordial Chaos." Venerable Star River was quite surprised and asked, "What is your Spirit Root?" "To answer Venerable Meng, I originally have the Water, Wood, and Earth Spirit Roots. By chance, I used Stone Marrow Milk, which brought my Water Spirit Root to superior quality, and the others to inferior quality." Yu Qingtan naturally could not tell the whole truth and chose to share only a part of it. "I see, I thought you were at least a superior single Water Spirit Root. However, even so, choosing a single Water attribute technique would still be a better option.N?v(el)B\\jnn This Canon of the Five Elements and Primordial Chaos is most suitable for cultivators who have all five-element Spirit Roots at least at medium quality, and moreover, its cultivation speed will be very slow." Venerable Star River advised. "Venerable Meng, I have another opportunity. I feel that this Canon of the Five Elements and Primordial Chaos is quite suitable for me." Considering Yu Qingtan''s current age and strength, Venerable Star River refrained from continuing to persuade her. In the Cultivation World, there were all sorts of opportunities, and it was not her ce to probe too deeply. If Yu Qingtan felt it was suitable for herself, then so be it. Venerable Star River took out her own Identity Jade Token, used it to open the formation, and took out the Jade Slip for the Canon of the Five Elements and Primordial Chaos, allowing Yu Qingtan to learn it on the spot. This Jade Slip was just a copy, for one-time use. Chapter 170 Feng Buji, The Disrespectful and Ungrateful The content of the Five Elements Primordial Scripture was imprinted into Yu Qingtan''s Sea of Consciousness. However, she could currently only ess the content up to the thirdyer, meaning up to the cultivation technique content for the Golden Core Stage. Yu Qingtan was very satisfied and followed Venerable Xinghe down the stairs. "Work hard on your cultivation and form your Golden Core soon!" After giving these words of encouragement, Venerable Xinghe arranged for a Water Vein disciple to show Yu Qingtan and the other two around the Water Vein, and then she left, as she was quite busy. After the visit, True Disciple Rou Jia led the two women back to the Earth Vein. Upon learning that Yu Qingtan had chosen the Five Elements Primordial Scripture, Venerable Xinghe sent a message to True Disciple Rou Jia. Although Rou Jia also felt it was somewhat inappropriate, she ultimately didn''t say anything. Then True Disciple Rou Jia sent a message summoning Yin Cen and asked him to take Yu Qingtan and the two women on a thorough tour of the Earth Vein while she went back to find Venerable Yong Li. Yin Cen, with short hair and no beard, wore a simple expression and donned a yellow robe. He did not dare to look too much at the beautiful and charming Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi, leading the way and introducing as they walked. "Junior Sisters, this is our Earth Vein''s Five-Colored Soil Cultivation Garden. The Five-Colored Soil inside is suitable for nting various types of spiritual nts and spiritual medicines, and it is very popr with the Wood Vein''s nt cultivators..." Yu Qingtan knew that this seemingly simple and honest Yin Cen was in reality quite profound and enigmatic, having once withstood a Third Stage Saber-Toothed Tiger Heavenly Demon in the Myriad Beasts Secret Realm with a Third Stage mid-grade ancient treasure, the Mini Xuanhuang Pagoda,bined with the Xuanhuang Stabilizing Earth Spell. Thus, she asionally examined him closely. Seeing his difort, Yu Qingtan took the initiative to start the conversation. "Brother Yin, do you know about the past between my master and Venerable Yong Li?" "Ah, that, I know a little." "Brother Yin, could you share it with Qingtan, please?" Without realizing it, Yu Qingtan''s tone took on the feeling she had when she was doing business in Suichuan Immortal City. This was an upational hazard, no doubt about it. Yan Xi, who was nearby and heard this tea-vored conversation, also secretly scoffed that it was not surprisinging from someone who had been at Tianxiang Pavilion. However, she did not dare to show it on her face and, moreover, was also quite interested in the gossip about True Disciple Rou Jia and Venerable Yong Li. Yin Cen, who was a devoted cultivator, had never encountered such a situation before. How could he refuse when his sweet junior sister was asking so softly? "I''ve also only heard a little, and you must not spread this around. It''s said that during his Foundation Establishment Stage, Brother Yong Li went to the Yunhua Mountain Range for training and encountered a Third Stage Heavenly Demon, barely surviving the encounter. Eventually, he was rescued by two Foundation Establishment female cultivators from Tianxiang Valley, one of whom is now True Disciple Rou Jia. Therefore, the three of them joined together to travel and train at various ces, and afterward..." Yin Cen paused. Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi, who were deeply engrossed in the story, were left hanging by this sudden interruption. "What happened next?" Yu Qingtan urged impatiently. Yin Cen had a strange expression and struggled for a moment before continuing. "Later, it is said that True Disciple Rou Jia and the other Tianxiang Valley Foundation Establishment cultivator both fell in love with Brother Yong Li. The Tianxiang Valley cultivator expressed her feelings first and ended up together with Brother Yong Li. One monthter, True Disciple Rou Jia chose to leave the small team. However, upon her departure, Brother Yong Li caught up with her and said that he hade to realize over the past days that the one he truly loved was True Disciple Rou Jia. Eventually, the three of them parted ways unhappily." "Ah, this?" Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi were shocked, especially Yu Qingtan, who felt that the story was both melodramatic and strangely familiar. "Brother Yin, howe True Disciple Rou Jia and Venerable Yong Li are together now?" Yan Xi couldn''t help but ask. "I''m not clear about that myself. It''s said that previously, True Disciple Rou Jia sought him out and had a fight with Brother Yong Li, and afterward, stayed in the Earth Vein. I was not at the sect at that time, so I don''t know the details." "Thank you, Brother Yin, for clearing up our questions." Yu Qingtan ced her hands behind her back and gave Yin Cen a sweet smile, thanking him. Yin Cen''s heart swelled with joy, sumbing to one of the three great illusions of life, "She likes me." "Compared to Senior Brother Yong Li, I''m not bad either!" Yin Cen thought to himself as he continued to show the two women around. In the following days, Yu Qingtan immersed herself in the cultivation of the Five Elements Mixed Yuan Scripture, Innate Ren Water, and Gui Water, as well as in practicing the Xiangfei Sword Technique. Yin Cen naturally became Yu Qingtan''s sparring partner. His defense was incredibly strong due to his cultivation of earth-attribute techniques and spells, making him an excellent target for sword practice, and Yin Cen enjoyed it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The Xiangfei Sword Technique, when executed, was also a sight to behold. Yin Cen felt that he was starting to understand why Senior Brother Yong Li often shouted, "Harder, even harder!" He now found himself silently shouting the same words in his heart. ... On the twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month, the sun shone brightly. Yu Qingtan decided to visit the Wendao Sect''s wind vein because Feng Buji had taken the ws of her Heavenly Demon Eagle, promising to seek assistance in refining them into a flying sword. However, he had not provided any updates and had left no way to contact him. She had also asked Venerable Rou Jia to send a message-transmitting flying sword to Feng Buji, but it had not been dispatched, which suggested he might be in seclusion. With her return to Tianxiang Valley approaching, Yu Qingtan decided to check on the wind vein. So Yin Cen led Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi, traveling with their swords to a higher area of Mount Wendao, arriving at a valley between two steep cliffs. Tianfeng Valley, where the Wendao Sect''s wind vein is located. Wind, thunder, ice, light, and dark spirit roots are very rare, so the five veins of the Wendao Sect have few members. Yet, since these spirit roots represent excellent cultivation aptitude, these five veins, despite their small numbers, are notcking in strength. For instance, two of the Wendao Sect''s four Divinity Transformation Venerablese from these five veins¡ªVenerable Shenfeng, Feng Wuyue, and the Zhiqin Honored One, Hei Zhiqin. No sooner had the trio arrived at Tianfeng Valley than they heard a shrill crying from within. "Feng! Bu! Ji! You traitorous fiend, your death is certain, I will beat you to death!" Simultaneously, a terrifying pressure emanated from within Tianfeng Valley, bearing down directly upon Yu Qingtan and herpanions. Yin Cen quickly took out the small Xuanhuang tower, positioning it in front of them, protecting the trio as they descended to the ground. Tianfeng Valley was known for its year-round gales, but at that moment, a figure emerged from the wind, walking at a leisurely pace, and the pressure the three felt immediately eased. "Grandma Feng." Yin Cen called out. "Little Cen, howe you have the time to visit today, and you''ve even brought along two beauties?" Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi then saw the person approaching; an old woman with graying hair. "It is Sister Yu, a water vein named true disciple, who wishes to find Senior Brother Feng Buji." "Qing Tan pays respects to Grandma Feng." Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi quickly bowed, as this Grandma Feng, unaffected by the wild winds, not even a hair out of ce, must certainly be a highly skilled master. "Looking for Buji, eh? Hehe, he''s currently getting disciplined by Wuyue!" At that moment, Yin Cen also transmitted a message to Yu Qingtan that Grandma Feng was ate-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, the oldest member of the wind vein, whom he had only met once before. "Grandma Feng, why is Brother Feng being disciplined by his master?" Yu Qingtan, relying on her charming looks and sweet voice, asked directly. She knew full well that Feng Buji''s master was the head of the wind vein, Venerable Shenfeng, Feng Wuyue. "Hehe, all because that boy Buji had the audacity to dishonor his master and ancestors." As expected, Grandma Feng did not take offense to Yu Qingtan''s forthrightness and instead answered with a mysterious smile on her face. Chapter 171 Receiving the Divine Object, Self-Hiding Pearl "Come with me!" Old Lady Feng said as she turned and walked into Tian Feng Valley. Yu Qingtan and the other two hurried to follow, soon spotting a dozen or so buildings embedded in the cliff face. The four arrived at the base of a cliff and Yu Qingtan only felt a breeze on her face as she suddenly found herself in front of a building a hundred feet up, with the words "Wind Way Hall" inscribed above. "Lady Qing Tan, please go in!" Old Lady Feng received a message, and then spoke to Qing Tan. Yu Qingtan stepped into the hall and saw Feng Buji, recognizable by his trademark green long hair, sprawled on the floor, without his wings on his back; his right cheek against the ground, the left one swollen,cking his usual dashing and carefree demeanor. At the uppermost seat of the hall sat a child-faced grande dame Lolita dressed in a green dress, Venerable Shenfeng, Feng Wuyue. "Tianxiang Valley''s Yu Qingtan, a True Disciple recorded in the Water Vein, pays respects to Venerable Shenfeng!" This was the second time Yu Qingtan faced a Fifth Stage existence, and she couldn''t help but feel somewhat nervous. Feng Wuyue looked at Yu Qingtan and spoke with a young girl''s voice, but her words carried the weight of age. "Sixteen years old,te Foundation Establishment, Celestial-grade Water Spirit Root, not bad. You could very well be the next Divinity Transformation of the Water Vein." Yu Qingtan''s pupils contracted¡ªshe hadn''t expected her Celestial-grade Spirit Root to be exposed. Feng Buji''s eyes widened in shock as well; he had never imagined that the legendary Celestial-grade Spirit Root would appear right before his eyes. "Don''t be nervous. Celestial-grade Spirit Roots, although extremely rare, have indeed surfaced from time to time over the ages. I won''t do anything to you, and this disaster won''t leak your secret either. I see you understand the principle of hiding your talents, but you still can''t hide them from a Fifth Stage presence. Here, I have a Self-Hiding Pearl. Wear it close to you, and even a Body Integration powerhouse won''t be able to discern your Spirit Root." Venerable Wuyue took out a grey pearl and tossed it to Yu Qingtan. "Thank you for your generosity, Venerable. Qing Tan will certainly treat the Wendao Sect as her own home." Yu Qingtan caught it and briskly expressed her loyalty. "Hmm, I''ll also give you a Fourth Stage Wind Evasion Talisman, which should save your life from anyone below Divinity Transformation." Seeing how well Yu Qingtan was behaving, Venerable Wuyue took out a Jade Talisman and tossed it to her. Feng Buji, still on the ground, felt a pang of jealousy¡ªsuch treasures had never been given to him. For Venerable Wuyue, this was naturally an investment. Although she remainedposed, a Celestial-grade Spirit Root was almost a guaranteed path to Divinity Transformation, unless felled prematurely, and this filled her with surprise. This cmity brought by the Sea n was, after all, due to the declining strength of the Wendao Sect because of the departure of Venerable Jiang Xue. Venerable Wuyue had also heard of Yu Qingtan''s performance during this disaster. "Thank you, Venerable Shenfeng!" Yu Qingtan was genuinely moved. "All right, what did you want with this disaster?" Venerable Wuyue nced at Feng Buji on the floor and asked. Yu Qingtan quickly exined the matter of the eagle''s w. Venerable Wuyue stretched out a small hand and pointed a finger, lifting the restraint on Feng Buji, allowing him to speak. "Master, the old firehead must have finished crafting it by now. I will now take junior sister Qingtan to the Fire Vein to retrieve her flying sword." Feng Buji quickly bowed and spoke with urgency in his voice. "Be gone!" Venerable Wuyue turned her head away, refusing to look at Feng Buji. As he looked up at her and then walked out, Yu Qingtan bowed and quickly followed. When they left the hall, the injuries on Feng Buji''s face had already disappeared. "Grandma Feng, I''m taking Sister Yu and the others to the Fire Vein," Feng Buji took out a flying boat, gestured for Yu Qingtan and the other two toe aboard, and then left Tianxiang Valley in a puff of smoke. After the disaster with the Sea n had ended, he still hadn''t left Tianxiang Valley. "Brother Feng, what''s the situation between you and your master?" Yu Qingtan sent a telepathic message to ask, sensing that Feng Buji was an easygoing person. After learning about Yu Qingtan''s celestial-grade Spirit Root, Feng Buji didn''t dare to underestimate her, and so he replied telepathically. "Ah, it''s nothing much, just that I fell in love with my master. She was gravely injured during the Sea n disaster, and I''ve been taking care of her ever since. I couldn''t help but confess my feelings to her," Feng Buji replied telepathically; he knew Grandma Feng would definitely reveal some things, and he felt there was nothing that couldn''t be said. Of course, he certainly wouldn''t tell Yu Qingtan about stealthily kissing his master while she was healing from her injuries. A master-disciple romance wasn''tmon in the Cultivation World but also wasn''t rare; it was Yu Qingtan''s first encounter with such a thing, and she found it very intriguing. "Brother Feng, it seems Venerable Shenfeng hasn''t epted you yet!" "She''s just too proud to let her guard down for the moment, but she surely has feelings for me too," Feng Buji, feeling as if he was pricked by Yu Qingtan''sment, reassured himself as he exined via telepathy. "I''ll write a story of ''The Condor Heroes'' for Brother Fengter; it might be helpful for you." Feng Buji didn''t have the chance to ask what ''The Condor Heroes'' was, because they had already arrived at the Fire Vein. This was aplex of buildings near the bottom of Mount Wendao, and surprisingly, there was a small volcano next to it. As they flew over, Yu Qingtan saw magma flowing within it. It was an active volcano. The Fire Elder, also known as Old Man Fire, the Elder of the Fire Vein, Venerable Refiner Tian Huolian, had already received news of their arrival and sent a disciple to wee them at the gate. This time, they didn''t meet in the Wind Way Hall but in a huge forging room, where they saw Venerable Refiner Tian instructing a disciple on artifact forging. Venerable Refiner Tian was tall and burly, with bronze-colored skin and short stubble. At a nce, he could have been mistaken for a cksmith from the Mortal Realm. "Old Man Fire, have you finished forging that flying sword I asked forst time?" Feng Buji called out directly. "Kid Feng, a Third-Stage item also worth my personal effort? Refiner Jian made it long ago¡ªdid you think we''d deliver it to you?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The Fire Elder seemed to have a bad temper, but his conversation revealed that he was quite amiable. At that moment, the young cultivator who was forging plunged the red-hot long sword he held into a pool of liquid next to him for quenching, emitting a "sizzling" sound and giving off white smoke. After two breaths, he took it out, satisfied with a nce, and set it aside for the moment. He then took out six small flying swords from his storage bracelet and handed them over to Feng Buji. "Junior Brother Feng, they were ready long ago. They''re all nearly Third-Stage mid-grade treasures." "Thank you, Refiner Zhu, but these are for Sister Yu," said Feng Buji, turning and tossing the swords to Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan quickly caught them and took the opportunity to express her gratitude. "Qing Tan greets Venerable Refiner Tian and Brother Refiner Jian. Many thanks to Brother Refiner Jian!" True Lord Zhu Jian, the True Disciple from the Fire Vein and a talented artifact refiner, was also well-known to Yu Qingtan. "Not bad, young girl! Feng kid, you sure know how to be generous with others'' kindness. Qing Tan, wasn''t it? If you need forging in the future, juste straight to me or Refiner Jian," Of course, Venerable Refiner Tian and others knew about Yu Qingtan, and her natural talent and the esteem of True Lord Kongbei led them to befriend her without hesitation. "Thank you, Venerable Refiner Tian. Speaking of which, I indeed have some materials here that need processing," said Yu Qingtan with a sweet smile, taking out the early Third-Stage Sea Mantis Shrimp and Sea Bun Crab shells, and thete Third-Stage Sea n Canglong''s scales and ws. "These are all great materials, enough to forge quite a few items!" True Lord Zhu Jian''s eyes lit up, aware that Yu Qingtan had killed several Third-Stage Sea n creatures. He was surprised at how well the materials were preserved. "What would you like to forge out of them?" Chapter 172 Conspiracy Returns to the Valley "Sword Master, in a couple of days, I will be returning to Tianxiang Valley. Could I use these materials to exchange for a ready-made treasured sword and inner armor?" Yu Qingtan''s beautifulrge eyes looked at the real person Sword Master, pleadingly. "You, girl, really do suit this old man''s taste. How about this, I''ll help you refine the Canglong''s w into a flying sword and its scales into inner armor. The remaining materials can be considered the processing fee. Go stroll around the Fire Vein for a while; it will be ready in an hour." At this moment, Refiner True Lord interjected. "Thank you, True Lord!" Yu Qingtan said excitedly, hastily thanking Refiner True Lord. An hourter, Yu Qingtan returned to the Earth Vein, satisfied with a set of upper Third Stage flying sword and upper Third Stage inner armor. She named them Canglong Flying Sword and Dragon Scale Soft Armor, respectively. Two dayster, Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi, following Real Person Rou Jia, left Mount Wendao under the reluctant gazes of Real Person Yong Li and Yin Cen, and returned to Tianxiang Valley. On the flying boat, Yu Qingtan took out arge pot of Five-Colored Soil that Yin Cen had given her, thinking of the seed she got from the Phantom Mist Deste Butterfly''sir within Trial Demon Tower, and buried it within the Five-Colored Soil. "Once home, I''ll water it to see if it will sprout!" Yu Qingtan pondered, vaguely feeling that the mysterious seed was a live one, but having consulted many books, she couldn''t identify it, and her attempts to grow it had so far been fruitless. As for Yin Cen, he ultimately still fell for her, yielding his Affection Value. The higher the realm of a cultivator, generally the older they are, and such individuals either already have a Daopanion, or their Dao heart is steadfast, making it difficult for Yu Qingtan to win their affection, thus making these young geniuses easier targets. It''s a pity that Feng Buji likes his master, no matter the age difference. Anyway, thesest few days, Yu Qingtan engraved the story of "The Condor Heroes" onto a Jade Slip and gave it to Feng Buji. Of course, she changed a little bit, omitting the Knight Yin Zhiping''s part, which had upset her stomach in her previous life. Even though Feng Buji was wearing a green hat, Yu Qingtan didn''t wish for it to be real. Yu Qingtan wouldn''t forcefully pursue affection from high-ranking cultivators either. It''s good to have it, but it''s not a big deal without. The Charm Points of the vast majority of lower-level cultivators were what she cherished most. Time quietly passed during the journey, and soon, the trio returned to Tianxiang Valley. "Miss, Real Person Rou Jia, I would like to go visit my mother, maternal grandmother, and maternal grandfather," Yan Xi requested to Yu Qingtan and her master after returning to Tianxiang Valley, to which Yu Qingtan naturally had no objections. These days, her anger towards Yan Xi had mostly subsided. She would not have said anything even if Yan Xi did not return to serve as her maid. Back at the Xiangfei Elegant Courtyard, Li Xingruo, Gao Yue, Ni Shuyu, and Wen Jin were all very happy. Especially Li Xingruo, who had been saved by Real Person Rou Jia from the battlefield when she was ten. To her, Real Person Rou Jia was both a master and a motherly figure. After a long separation, the master and disciple reunited. Yu Qingtan took the time to switch out her true self and then prepared a seafood hot pot with the meat of the mantis shrimp and steamed bun crab, as well as some meat from Second Stage Sea n members. The six of them ate while chatting, mostly about Yu Qingtan''s recent experiences. After all, Yu Qingtan had dazzled on her journey, and her four elder martial sisters kept singing her praises. The praises extended equally to the seafood. Yu Qingtan also made a spicy dipping sauce, relishing the meal as her first truly satisfying feast since her transmigration. While the master and disciple were gathered and enjoying their meal, back at the Yan home. Yan Xi had intended to first visit the grandparents who doted on her the most, but as soon as she entered the Yan home, she was summoned by her mother, Real Person Qiuyue Yan Qiuyue. "Xi''er pays respects to mother!" "p¨C" Just as she raised her head, Yan Xi''s face was struck by a p, immediately swelling and a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. "You still know toe back? You''ve nearly lost all of my face! Look at you, the youngdy of the Yan family, yet you''ve be a maid for our enemies and you dress so indecently. Do you realize that Yu Qingtan is your father''s killer!" After delivering a p, True Person Qiuyue began to scold furiously. Yan Xi was terrified in her heart, her mother had always been strict with her, as for her father, she looked down on him and he barely interfered in her life, so she felt little father-daughter affection. "Mother, didn''t you go to Tianxiang Immortal Cityst time to investigate? It wasn''t her who did something to father, was it?" Yan Xi weakly retorted. "p¨C" Another pnded on the other side of her face. "You fool, that Yu Qingtan in Wendao Immortal City can even kill a Third Stage, who knows how deeply she''s hiding her power. You know well the kind of man your father is. He must have gone after her for sure. I had dropped my suspicions, but now it seems clear, it must have been that little wench''s doing." True Person Qiuyue shouted, while Yan Xi''s eyes brimmed with tears, not daring to argue anymore. However, she disagreed in her heart. Everyone had made a Heavenly Oath, and with her father''s character offending so many, who knew who had secretly finished him off. Besides, Yu Qingtan saved Brother Shu. Even if it really was her doing, so what? That cheapskate father ogled her more than once with lecherous eyes; she was thoroughly disgusted. In her heart, Ruan Fan was nowhere near as important as a single fingernail of Yan Shu. "p¨C" Thinking of Yan Shu, another p struck her face. "Also, how dare you act lovey-dovey with your own brother, making it known to all in Tianxiang Valley. I can''t even hold my head up when I go out now. I should never have let your maternal grandparents spoil you, leading to the broken engagement with the Luo''s boy." Yan Xi''s face was burning with pain, but she didn''t dare use Spiritual Power to alleviate it, simply bowing her head to endure the scolding. Yan Shu was the son of True Person Qiuyue''s mother and Yan Xi''s maternal grandmother, True Person Yan Qiulight, and some unknown man from outside the family. True Person Qiuyue had always disliked him. However, since Yan Shu had decent talent and was nurtured by the family, she could not interfere. "Alright, she''s just a child. What is aplished by hitting and scolding her like this? Xi''er,e to your grandmother." Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrived, as an elderly woman with grey-streaked hair and a middle-aged, bearded, and handsome uncle entered. Yan Xi''s maternal grandmother, True Person Qiulight, and grandfather, True Person Zhang Yizhi. True Person Zhang Yizhi was also married into the Yan family. "Maternal grandmother, maternal grandfather!" Seeing her saviors arrive, Yan Xi threw herself into True Person Qiulight''s arms, and her tears could no longer be held back, streaming down. "My dear granddaughter, you''ve suffered on this trip. Qiuyue, it''s just a small matter, yet you hit and scold her." While speaking, she used a Rejuvenation Spell to heal the wounds on Yan Xi''s face. "It''s just that, my child, that Yu Qingtan is indeed our adversary." Upon hearing this, Yan Xi lifted her head to look at her maternal grandmother''s face. "However, I also heard she saved you all. Given that, we should simply turn her into one of our own. Here is a Third Stage Deep Affection Gu, a fine item from the Southern Region. This little creature is extremely subtle, Xi''er, find an opportunity to have that Yu Qingtan swallow it, and she''ll bepletely devoted to the Luo boy. When she marries into the Luo family, won''t she be one of our own then? The Luo boy has been diligently cultivatingtely, having reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. It''s a pity you don''t think highly of him, Xi''er." Yan Xi felt that her always kind and amiable grandmother seemed unfamiliar, and she did not reach out to take the small bottle her grandmother was holding. Seeing Yan Xi staring nkly at her, True Person Qiulight caressed Yan Xi''s cheek with her other hand.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Xi''er, you don''t want to never see your Brother Shu again, do you?" Chapter 173 Discussing Core Formation with Spirit Root Upgrade Yan Xi turned pale when she heard the words and struggled for a moment before finally reaching out and taking the small bottle. "Alright, Xi''er, you just got back. Let''s go have something tasty," Real Person Qiu Qing said, leading the somewhat wooden Yan Xi out. Real Person Yi Zhi also left, but before stepping out the door, he exchanged a nce with Real Person Qiu Yue. Their eyes met with an indistinguishable meaning. ... Back in her small courtyard within Xiangfei Elegant Garden, after having her fun, Yu Qingtan took out the pot of Five-Colored Soil and watered it with a bit of the Third-order Spiritual Water obtained from the spoils of battle. She had wanted to let Xiao Tao out for some fresh air, but he was still in a deep sleep. Xiao Tao had consumed a lot of Third Stage Demonic Beast meat, and Yu Qingtan had simply fed him the Demon Core of Eagle Nine Skies; it didn''t take long for him to fall into a deep slumber, likely digesting the energy from the Demon Core. Within the Vajra Protective Spirit Array inside the house, Yu Qingtan adjusted her condition and then took out an advanced Spiritual Root Upgrade Card and chose to use it. This time the system didn''t offer Yu Qingtan a choice; it automatically upgraded her Spiritual Root. Yu Qingtan immediately felt an increase in her understanding of the Five Elements attributes, techniques, and so on. After deeply reflecting for a while, Yu Qingtan opened the system panel. [Name: Yu Qingtan] [Gender: Female] [Age: 16/299] [Spirit Root: Water 100/100; Wood 83/100; Earth 70/100; Metal 70/100; Fire 70/100] [Cultivation Level: Late Foundation Establishment Stage 100,000/100,000; Body Cultivation Late Foundation Establishment Stage 100,000/100,000] After using the advanced Spiritual Root Upgrade Card, herpatibility value for the Spiritual Roots jumped by 150 points. Her Water Spirit Root had reached the pinnacle of Immortal Quality, her Wood Spirit Root had reached Superior Quality, and the Earth, Metal, and Fire Spiritual Roots had also reached High Quality. "Hahaha~ Just as I expected!" Yu Qingtanughed unrestrainedly. This was why she chose the Five Elements Prime Essence Sutra as her cultivation technique. Calming her surging emotions, Yu Qingtan began to cultivate the Five Elements Prime Essence Sutra, which she had been contemting for many days. Perhaps because all her Spiritual Roots were above High Quality, switching her cultivation technique went incredibly smoothly. In just three days, she retrained using the Five Elements Prime Essence Sutra to reach the peak of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. The liquid Spiritual Power in her Dantian was extremely concentrated, faintly disying an interwoven state of gold, cyan, blue, red, and brown-yellow colors, but the hues were subtle, almost colorless unless inspected closely with Divine Sense. The amount of liquid Spiritual Power had increased by thirty percentpared to before and was purer, her Divine Sense had further expanded, and the range of exploration had reached two Li, equivalent to the level at the beginning of the Golden Core Stage. Yu Qingtan had a vague feeling that if she chose to form her Golden Core now, she would have a high chance of sess. However, she did not opt to form her Golden Core immediately for several reasons: first, she was still under the restrictions of the ughter Demon Order; second, the concentration of Spiritual Energy in the area was insufficient; and third, she felt she could umte more foundation. Opening the system panel, she replicated a series of Second Stage Five Elements spells that were liked during the Foundation Establishment period, such as Yin Cen''s fully mastered Second Stage Earth Spike Technique. Now, even though she no longer had Spell Upgrade Cards, since all her Five Elements Spiritual Roots had reached High Quality, she would also be highly efficient in cultivating these spells on her own, and couldn''t always think of copying only the fully mastered spells. [Cultivation Technique: Five Elements Prime Essence Sutra, Demon Blood Refinement Technique] ``` [Spell: Third Stage Breath-Concealing Technique fully aplished, Second Stage Purification Spell, Water Escape Technique, Water de Technique, Water Curtain Technique, Object Controlling Technique, Decay and Flourish Technique, Blood Control Technique, Soul Cleansing Technique, Invisibility Technique, Earth Escape Skill, Heavenly Fragrance Illusory Dance perfected, Second Stage Rejuvenation Spell, Heavenly Fragrance Sword Art, Consort Sword Technique, Earth Spike Technique fully aplished, Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique partially aplished, First Stage Wood Escape Technique and other First Stage Spells perfected, Heart Sensing Technique fully aplished] [Charm Points: 4497]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om [Affection Value: 77068] [Skills: Dance Artistry, Zither Art, Chess Skill, Calligraphy, Painting Skill perfected, First Stage Spiritual Tailoring Skill perfected, Second Stage Talisman-Making Skill perfected] [System Space Grid: Three Third Stage Cultivation Upgrade Cards, one Fourth Stage Wind Evasion Talisman, 76 Upper Grade Spirit Stones, 1378 Medium Grade Spirit Stones, 1.34 million Lower Grade Spirit Stones, one drop of Third-order Spirit Dew, 50 Second-order Wastnd Crystals, one Third-order Superior Ancient Treasure Cann Umbre, one Third-order Superior Artifact Dragon Scale Soft Armor and Canglong Flying Sword, one Third-order Medium Ancient Treasure Nine Python Profound Fire Cover, one Third-order Medium Artifact Little Tarou Armor, one Third-order Inferior Artifact Rift-Space Flying Sword, one Third-order Inferior Ancient Treasure Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield, two Golden Cores, one Foundation Establishment Pill, Fourth Stage Nourishing Soul Incense, etc.] [System Shop: Immortal Body Activation Card 0/1 (100,000 Affection Value), Innate Divine Ability Upgrade Card 0/1 (100,000 Affection Value), etc.] [Lucky Draw: 10 Charm Points for one draw (can do a ten-draw)] Satisfied, Yu Qingtan closed the system panel, ending this brief period of seclusion. Arriving at the small courtyard, she found two Communication Talismans at the door. These were Second Stage Communication Talismans, capable of waiting at the recipient''s location even if the recipient was in seclusion. Yu Qingtan infused her spiritual power into them, and after the talismans recognized the target''s spiritual energy fluctuations, they emitted sound. The two Communication Talismans were from Xiang Yiyi and Yan Xi, indicating they hade to see her, but since Yu Qingtan was in seclusion, they had left. Yu Qingtan replied to both of them with Message-Transmitting Flying Swords, and then went to pay respects to her master, True Person Rou Jia, only to find that all four senior sisters were also there. "Qing Tan pays respect to Master, and greets my senior sisters!" "Look at you all, it''s Qing Tan who cultivates the hardest. She went right into seclusion upon returning. No wonder her cultivation strength is so outstanding," said True Person Rou Jia, addressing her four disciples. "Master''s teaching is correct, your disciple will surely cultivate even more diligently." The four senior sisters were silently frustrated; they had already been putting in a lot of effort, but the path of cultivation requires both tension and rxation; relentless hardship is not suitable for most cultivators. Moreover, True Person Rou Jia herself was much morex in her cultivation than they were. How could she say such a thing with a straight face? "Alright, Qing Tan, you''vee at just the right time. Xing Ruo is preparing to go to the center of the Third-order Spirit Vein in the valley tomorrow to try to break through to Core Formation. I was about to share my insights into Core Formation with you all; you should listen as well," said True Person Rou Jia. "Congrattions to the eldest senior sister. I wish her immediate sess!" "Alright, you always have the sweetest words. Take a seat." "Core Formation, like Foundation Establishment, consists of three aspects: spiritual power, the physical body, and the soul. Yet, these three aspects are even more closely linked¡ªso closely, in fact, that they might be considered one. Core Formation is more dangerous and more difficult to achieve than Foundation Establishment. The foundation for attempting Core Formation is the spiritual power in the dantian condensed to the extreme, almost reaching a solid state. During the Core Formation process, the spiritual power continues topress and condense, forming the embryonic shape of the Golden Core in the dantian. Then, one must guide half of their essence blood and half of their soul into it, refining the Golden Core embryo. Simultaneously, thews of the Great Dao will descend upon the individual, tempering the embryonic Golden Core, the physical body, and the soul. The process is extremely perilous; sess results in the formation of the Golden Core, while failure leads to death and the dissipation of one''s way. The stronger the body and the soul, the more advantageous it is for Core Formation. That''s why I asked you all to also practice body refinement. However, your progress in body cultivation falls short of Qing Tan''s, although with the help of the Golden Cores, even Xing Ruo''s initial stage of body cultivation for Foundation Establishment should be barely sufficient. As for the soul, since Tianxiang Valley doesn''t have any soul cultivation techniques, we can only rely on some external items to enhance it. Nevertheless, with the protection of the rented Third-order Superior Ancient Treasure, the Soul Purifying Bell, Xing Ruo should be safe. In the process of Core Formation, one must cast aside all distracting thoughts, forget the distinction between self and objects, and fully immerse oneself,pleting the process with the most steadfast faith and will..." ``` Chapter 174 Retrieve the Zither and Ascend Mount Dali Alone ``` "The Golden Core that is formed without ws is considered top-grade; with slight ws, it is medium-grade; and if it is not even round in shape, it is low-grade. If there are no other opportunities, it is very difficult for those with a low-grade Golden Core to transform into a Nascent Soul, for those with a medium-grade Golden Core to achieve Divinity Transformation, and only those with a top-grade Golden Core have the hope of stepping into Divinity Transformation and walking further on the path of cultivation. Given Xing Ruo''s foundation, the likelihood of forming a medium-grade core is high, and top-grade would depend on luck. However, among the tens of trillions of cultivators in the Southeast Region, how many can achieve Divinity Transformation?" After saying this, Master Rou Jia couldn''t help but nce over at where Yu Qingtan was. The potential of this little disciple of hers to reach Divinity Transformation was very likely. "Thank you for the teaching, Master!" Master Rou Jia lectured for nearly an hour, and all five of them learned a great deal. Although Yu Qingtan had read the Insights into Core Formation by a True Monarch of the Wendao Sect Water Vein, it was not as clear and straightforward as what her own master had exined in person. The five of them raised several questions, which Master Rou Jia patiently answered one by one. Not until noon did the five disciples take their leave. When leaving, Yu Qingtan gave Li Xingruo a stick of Nourishing Soul Incense. The piece of Fourth-Stage Soul Nurturing Wood she had exchanged for in the Hall of Merit of the Wendao Sect had been crafted into ten sticks of Fourth-Stage Nourishing Soul Incense by her, which were remarkably effective for nourishing the soul. Li Xingruo had taken good care of her, so Yu Qingtan naturally wanted to repay the kindness. This was all she could do to help with the other''s Core Formation, and Li Xingruo did not refuse. On returning to her own courtyard, Yan Xi and Xiang Yiyi were already waiting at the door. Yan Xi was still dressed as a maid, her face carrying a hint of unease, but she covered it up well. "It seems you have decided to continue to fulfill your promise?" "Yes, miss." "Come in, both of you." Once inside, Yu Qingtan made a seafood barbecue to treat Xiang Yiyi, and Yan Xi voluntarily helped out. Xiang Yiyi didn''t really have any serious matters to discuss with Qingtan, she just wanted to see her and took the opportunity to seek guidance on Technique cultivation. After the barbecue, Yu Qingtan gave Xiang Yiyi some pointers, and Yan Xi found them very enlightening while listening at the side. Both of them possessed dual Spirit Roots of water and wood, and with Yu Qingtan''s current mastery in these two types of Spells, guiding them was no pressure at all. By evening, Xiang Yiyi left reluctantly, while Yan Xi was arranged by Yu Qingtan to stay in a guest room in the courtyard. The next day, Yu Qingtan took Yan Xi to pay respects to Real Person Qing Wei and Gongsun Yurong. However, when they came out, Xiang Yiyi had joined them. The three of them went to the Task Hall, where Yu Qingtan took on a team task to hunt the Mount Dali Ape and then left Tianxiang Valley, flying on their swords towards Tianxiang Immortal City. Yu Qingtan and the other two arrived at the Raoliang Tea House. "Ah, Fairy Qingtan, you''re here!" Little Xiang Ru was thrilled and rushed over to cling to Yu Qingtan''s arm. "I missed little Xiang Ru, so I came to see you." After introducing Xiang Yu, Xiang Ru, Xiang Yiyi, and Yan Xi to each other and chatting for a while, Yu Qingtan and Xiang Yu talked privately in a quiet room. "Miss Qingtan, the Sectter sent two cultivators who had achieved great mastery in Zither Art to act as zither masters, but unfortunately, they could not y the Roaming Zither music. I followed your suggestion and went to the valley to ask Real Person Qing Wei for help. It cost a huge amount of Spirit Stones and a top-quality Spiritual Artifact-level zither to redeem the Roaming Zither from the Sect." Xiang Yu took out the Roaming Zither and handed it to Yu Qingtan, saying. "You have gone to great lengths, Uncle Xiang. As for Spirit Stones, I can certainly give them to you. However, I have two items here that might be more suitable for you." Yu Qingtan put away the Roaming Zither and then took out two small jade bottles. Xiang Yu scanned the contents with his Divine Sense and stood up in shock. "Golden Cores! A Third-Stagete phase inner core of the Sea n!" "Uncle Xiang, do you choose to take a chance, or would you prefer the more secure option?" ``` Yu Qingtan lifted the teacup, took a sip, and slowly asked. Xiang Yu''s face was full of conflict. She was only a Three Spirit Root, having barely managed to cultivate to theter stages of Foundation Establishment through her family''s support, but she was already unable to exchange Merit Points for a Golden Core Pill from the sect, and she had also passed the optimal age for Core Formation. Even with the aid of a Golden Core Pill, her chances of sessfully forming a core were no more than ten percent. Thinking of Xiang Ru, who had a Dual Spirit Root, Xiang Yu made up her mind and picked up the jade bottle containing a Third Stage Late Phase Canglong inner core. "From now on, I will follow Miss Qingtan''s lead! I only hope that Miss Qingtan will take good care of that girl, Xiang Ru." By saying this, Xiang Yu was decisively siding with Yu Qingtan, shiftingpletely away from the neutral faction. With the help of this Third Stage Late Phase Canglong inner core, she could achieve the status of a Pseudo-Core Cultivator, and her strength would not be weaker than that of an average Golden Core Early Stage Cultivator. Her lifespan could also be extended to around 280 years. The Pseudo-Core Technique, much easier than forming a real Golden Core, could be achieved by almost anyone as long as they weren''t extremely unlucky. The main limitation was finding a good Pseudo-Core Technique and the right Externa Pill materials, but good Pseudo-Core Techniques were not scarce in Tianxiang Valley and were also quite affordable. "Hmm, if you serve me well from now on, I will keep this Golden Core Pill for Xiang Ru." "I will not disappoint you!" "Alright, tomorrow I''m going to the Yunhua Mountain Range. I won''t bring Yiyi and Yan Xi with me, so please take good care of them for me." "Yes!" "Keep an eye on the auctions at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. If there are any Third Stage Spirit Dew or Third Stage Wastnd Crystals, notify me in time or buy them for me." Yu Qingtan took out a Storage Bag containing one million Lower Grade Spirit Stones and handed it to Xiang Yu. "Yes!" "Also, send someone to Suichuan Immortal City. Give this item to Han Daniu of the Sky Wolf Gang. Then, go to the You family and bring back a girl named ''Jiang Lai''. Be discreet, but make sure they know it''s my order." Yu Qingtan took out another Storage Bag and handed it to Xiang Yu, making arrangements. "Yes!" ... The next day, before dawn, Yu Qingtan left the Tianxiang Immortal City by herself. Upon arriving at the Yunhua Mountain Range, Yu Qingtan no longer hid and restrained her presence as she had before. Instead, she flew directly with her sword, donning a beautiful light blue dress. Now, confident that she could handle anything short of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, she wanted to see what kind of riffraff would dare toe after her. Sure enough, she arrived at Mount Dali without any incident. On Mount Dali lived a group of mighty ape Demonic Beasts. The mighty apes, as their name suggested, were incredibly strong and had a taste for human brains. The group of mighty apes that lived on Mount Dali once numbered over forty Second Stage creatures, but after participating in the beast tide attack on Suichuan Immortal City, only twelve returned. Due to an agreement between the high-ranking members of the Demon Race and the Human Race during non-war periods, higher beings were not allowed to casually harm lower beings of the other side, which is why these apes had managed to survive until now. Yu Qingtan arrived at the foot of Mount Dali, opting to wear dragon scale armor and carrying two Canglong Flying Swords as she boldly ascended the mountain.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om With a single kick, she killed a grinning First Stage mighty ape charging at her and shouted. "Mighty apes of Mount Dali, Fairy Qingtan hase for your lives,e down and meet your fate!" After shouting, she felt a bit embarrassed, as it didn''t suit her fairy-like demeanor, and was d there was no one else around. "It seems I need to find someone skilled in this area in the future!" As Yu Qingtan thought this, she continued up the mountain. Seeing such an intimidating figure, the First Stage mighty apes didn''t dare to advance further and instead ran to report to their superiors. Soon, two Second Stage Mid Phase mighty apes appeared above Yu Qingtan on a tree, then leaped towards her. Chapter 175 Shelving Speech Dear reader darlings, hello! I am Yu Qingtan, the author of "My Fairy Development System," and I am deeply grateful for everyone''s support. I have received notification from my editor that the book went online this noon. As my first book, there are many areas where it might not meet expectations, so I''m extremely grateful to all the darlings who have persisted in reading up to this point. Only after writing 300,000 words did I get a contract, and I''m very thankful to the editor who plucked me from obscurity. Please rest assured, regardless of how it performs, this book will not be abandoned unfinished. Additionally, this book is a niche transformation text, and mightter have a feel more fitting of a female lead-focused narrative. Once again, I''d like to emphasize that the protagonist will not marry, fall in love, or be involved in a yuri rtionship. A special thanks to my author friend Ling Yun for his ongoing support, and I strongly rmend his book "Family Cultivation: Rebirth in the Demon Race Breeding Farm." Special thanks to Ben Shi Ren Jian Ke Chi Jian Wei Cang Sheng for the contributed Easter Egg chapter.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om A special thanks to the author friends and reader darlings who supported me before the contract. Thank you, everyone! A heartfelt thanks to Ling Yun, the disciple who came from Earth, woxinyin, Qian Rou, Jiuyou Xianhuang, Wen Ce, Bie Ye Jing Chan, Yano De Chengzi, Leng Leng Ningmeng Fan, Jing Ting Feng Mian, Book Friend 161115212602068, Da Li Suan Xiang Huasheng Mi, Yan Xie, Hunzhan Youmeng, Erxian Jutou, Niepan, Swastika Hen, Book Friend 20231214193445644, Jiujiu Xian Chong, Qianlou Ye, Qi Xun, Qian Rou, Meng Fei Meng Ke Meng, Xingjian Zhi Yu, Zhan Bian Tian Di Wu Cheng Wang, Causality Law Weapon, Qiong Kong Zhi Zhuo Xiao, Hong Zhang Liao Qing Bo, Bu He Sha Bi Zheng Lun, Yu Da Yu Da Wo Huan Hao Zhui Geng La, Xian Ren Zhong Shu, Luodi Xiang Zhi Yanhui Yi Da Dui, Bian Huang, Xiaomaliya De Hunluan Zhi Zhu, Ting Budong 3, Book Friend 20190528225836771, Muye Guoying, Ying Zui Hao Le, Book Friend 20181104160500436, Yi Yang Qianxi De Ao Ao, Yuan Xiao Yu, Qing Jiao Lao Gong, Qiche Yuzhou, Tian Ji Yi Ge Ba Gu Fu, Jie Jie Jie De Xiaoshihou, Sui Xin Yuan Ran, Benpao De Song Song, Book Friend 160329231045187, Gudu Piaoling no Luoye, Book Friend 20180906213601768, Jiu Jiu De Wufu, Shang Qianqiansui, Yi Nannu Jixiangsi, Jade Spirit Lotus Splendor, Anying Ru Fei, Liang Sheng Mo Ran Qing Cheng, YINGTOBABY, and so many other darlings. Qing Tan is deeply moved and bows in thanks from the bottom of my heart! PS: The additional chapter is at noon, usually two more around 6 p.m. in the evening. Chapter 176 Robbing the Rich to Aid the Poor Monkey-faced Eagle Deep within a cave dwelling beneath the Yunhua Mountain Range, Yu Qingtany healing herself on a soft couch. After consuming a Third Stage Healing Pill, it took a whole day before Yu Qingtan could barely mobilize her spiritual power to perform the Rejuvenation Spell and the Decay and Flourish Technique to elerate her healing process. "My physical body is still not strong enough!" Yu Qingtan sighed, feeling that she had been sustaining serious injuries too frequently ofte. Even though it was just a clone, she did not wish to be this reckless. "Fortunately, before I came to the Yunhua Mountain Range, Xiao Tao had awakened; otherwise, this clone would have been done for. I should act low-key from now on and avoid a real encounter with a Fourth Stage, or I might be pped to death." After reflecting on her actions, Yu Qingtan continued her healing. Three dayster, no longer seriously hindered, Yu Qingtan used the Earth Escape Skill and made her way sneakily towards the territory of the monkey-faced eagle tribe. Having already traversed the route once, she had a clear sense of direction, and five dayster, Yu Qingtan reached her destination. The solitary peaks inhabited by the monkey-faced eagle tribe. However, she was not there to pick a fight with the monkey-faced eagles; she was there to steal from them. The most important reason, of course, was her grudge against the monkey-faced eagle tribe. Furthermore, because the tribe had a slight connection to a Demon Venerable, they lived near the central region of the Yunhua Mountain Range, despitecking a Fourth-Stage Demon King in their midst. In Yu Qingtan''s eyes, such coveted territory was normally enjoyed only by Demon King-level forces, which made the monkey-faced eagle tribe look like fat sheep awaiting ughter. As Yu Qingtan approached her target, she activated "Love''s Protection" to elevate herself to the Golden Core Stage and then employed the Third Stage Breath-Concealing Technique and Earth Escape Skill to carefully advance toward the central solitary peak. She tunneled through the earth, relying on the surface of the mountain peaks and employing her B¨© Q¨©ng Spiritual Pupil to watch for demonic energy. If she encountered a Third Stage Heavenly Demon, she made sure to avoid them and continued her earth tunneling from a safe distance. As for using Divine Sense to probe around, she dared not risk it for fear of being detected. Continue your journey with empire Thanks to the information learned in advance, Yu Qingtan knew that the monkey-faced eagle tribe had seven great Heavenly Demons. She spotted six formidable demonic auras, which indicated that six Heavenly Demons were in theirir, leaving one absent. Moreover, there was a dense spiritual energy within the central solitary peak; this particr peak housed a spirit vein that barely reached the Fourth Stage. Soon, Yu Qingtan was thrilled to discover that the monkey-faced eagle tribe indeed had a treasure trove, located in a cave near the peak of the solitary mountain. A Third Stage monkey-faced eagle was cultivating at the cave entrance, which was also shielded by a formation. However, the formation was merely Second Stage and very crudely constructed, amon shortfall of the Demon Racepared to the Human Race. This Second Stage formation was likely plundered from humans. The Second Stage Array Breaking Talisman technique that Yu Qingtan had copied from Fu Nian would finally be put to good use. Yu Qingtany in ambush, waiting for an opportunity, since the monkey-faced eagles would leave to hunt and patrol their territory. When she was lying in wait without moving, there was no need for the expensive Love''s Protection or the Third Stage Breath-Concealing Technique, since the monkey-faced eagles did not meticulously search the ground beneath theirir. After spending seven days as an ambush predator, her chance finally arrived. The Third Stage monkey-faced eagle guarding the treasury and another nearby Third Stage monkey-faced eagle had both left, leaving only two Second Stage monkey-faced eagles as guards. Yu Qingtan had long been lurking beneath the treasury. She took out the prepared Second Stage Array Breaking Talisman and effortlessly tore a hole in the Protective Array. She then used the Invisibility Technique and the Third Stage Breath-Concealing Technique to slip inside. Inside the cave was a spiritual spring with several green lotuses growing in it. The piles of Wastnd Crystals, Spirit Dew, Spirit Stones, Spirit Ore, spiritual herbs, and spiritual fruits made Yu Qingtan''s eyes gleam with greed, and she eagerly began to transfer the items into her System Space. The two Second Stage monkey-faced eagle guards, feeling secure in their ownir and believing an intrusion to be impossible, chose not to enter the cave to check but rather chatted idly at the entrance. Yu Qingtan naturally would not miss such a golden opportunity. Piles of treasures were moved into the System Space, as if she were a diligent giant rat. Yu Qingtan worked swiftly. In less than thirty breaths, she had emptied out the treasury. Even a real rat that stumbled upon the scene would have wept, but s, neither the spiritual spring nor spirit vein could be taken, and she didn''t dare uproot the spiritual lotuses. Not daring to linger, Yu Qingtan exited through the original hole in the formation and immediately continued her earth tunneling to escape. "Monkey-faced eagles, consider this just a collection of some interest! I''ll be back for moreter." ... Half a dayter, deep under a river within the Yunhua Mountain Range, Yu Qingtan dug out a temporary cave dwelling where she purified all her looted treasures with the Purification Spell and then stored them back in her System Space, to ensure nothing was traceable. In that river, Yu Qingtan was confident that even if the seven great Heavenly Demons of the monkey-faced eagles pursued her, she would be able to escape. Of course, no pursuers came. Although the monkey-faced eagles had left some mechanisms on their treasures, they were crudely made, and under the Second Stage consummate Purification Spell driven by her Golden Core spiritual power, they vanished instantly. After finishing, Yu Qingtan felt a sense of relief and used the Water Escape Technique and Earth Escape Skill to return to Tianxiang Immortal City. Among the treasures obtained: Twelve Third-Grade Wastnd Crystals, three hundred and sixty-one Second-Grade Wastnd Crystals, and over ten thousand First-Grade Wastnd Crystals. One drop of Fourth-Grade Spirit Dew, one hundred and fifty drops of Third-Grade Spirit Dew, ten bottles of Second-Grade Spirit Dew, and fifty bottles of First-Grade Spirit Dew. Two hundred and eighty top-grade Spirit Stones, seventeen thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones, and two million three hundred thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones. One piece of Innate Jia Wood and one piece of Innate Geng Metal. One piece of Fourth-Grade Spirit Ore Lanthanide Stone. Seven Fourth-Grade Spirit Spring Green Lotus Seeds. One Fourth-Grade Spirit Fruit Blood Vine Fruit. The rest of the treasures below the Third Stage piled up to eight heaps, worth at least thirty million Spirit Stones. "Indeed, the fattest of sheep!" Yu Qingtan couldn''t help but sigh. Her main goal of the trip was the Third-Grade Wastnd Crystals. With the Third-Grade Wastnd Crystals, her chances of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage of Body Refinement would be much greater. Such treasures were not for sale in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion of Wendao Immortal City. While the Wendao Sect''s Hall of Merit did offer them in exchange, the price was steep, and she had other items she preferred to exchange for, such as Demon King blood and Soul Nurturing Wood. As for getting Xiang Yu to try to obtain them through auction in Tianxiang Immortal City, she didn''t hold out much hope for that in the short term. So she set her sights on the Monkey-faced Eagle, as the Demon Race needed Wastnd Crystals even more for their cultivation, and their territories naturally produced more of it. The result was exceptionally smooth. Not only did she harvest Third-Grade Wastnd Crystals, but she also gained so many additional treasures, fattening up Yu Qingtan''s wealth in a single stroke. Additionally, there was the Medium Grade Magical Treasure Dark Cone and a Third-Grade top-notch Ancient Treasure, Blood God Peak. However, the Dark Cone didn''t have many other valuable items, which suggests that their resources were likely nearly depleted. "This feeling of robbing the rich to aid the poor is truly delightful. Why bother earning cultivation resources? Just rob again when something is needed." "No, no, no, ''often by the river''s side, eventually your shoes will get wet.'' We must be stable!" "What''s there to fear when it''s just the clone taking the risks!" Caught in the dilemma of whether to make robbing the rich a regr tactic, Yu Qingtan returned to Tianxiang Immortal City, Raoliang Tea House. "Qing Tan, you''re finally back. Why did youplete the joint mission alone? Are you hurt?" Xiang Yiyi pouted her lips, looking like a wifeining about a husband who seldomes home, yet showed great concern.N?v(el)B\\jnn "I went to carry out an important task. The mission was just along the way, and it wasn''t convenient to take you with me." Yu Qingtan felt somewhat troubled by Xiang Yiyi''s clear affections towards her. Even though a beauty was pleasing to the eye, she wasn''t into women. "It seems I need to have a good talk with her," Yu Qingtan thought to herself. "Miss, you''ve worked hard!" Yan Xi nced at Yu Qingtan with a bit of evasion in her eyes, but Yu Qingtan was preupied with thinking about Xiang Yiyi and didn''t notice. Next, Yu Qingtan handed over the humans she had rescued from Mount Dali to Xiang Yu to deal with. Tianxiang Valley had relevant regtions, which were fairly reasonable. Xiang Yu just needed to follow the rules. In the evening, Yu Qingtan took out some Second-Grade Demon Deer meat and Second-Grade Spirit Fruit Wine from the Monkey-faced Eagle''s treasure vault, and held a banquet. Yan Xi, as usual, came to help. While Yu Qingtan was busy serving the meat, Yan Xi secretly flicked Deep Affection Gu, hidden under her fingernail, into Yu Qingtan''s cup of Spiritual Wine. Then, she served the wine. Real Person Qiuyue had already urged her twice. Chapter 177 Yan Xi Takes Action and is Punished Tianxiang Immortal City, Raoliang Tea House, evening banquet. "Cheers!" Xiang Yu, Xiang Ru, Xiang Yiyi, Yan Xi, Yu Qingtan raised their sses. Because it was fruit wine, the alcohol content was very low, allowing Xiang Ru to also join in. Yu Qingtan held her wine ss, drained it in one gulp, and then continued to eat meat. "Yan Xi, you should eat more too, this Second Stage deer meat is really good." Yu Qingtan, in high spirits, also called out to a somewhat dazed Yan Xi to eat more meat. Suddenly, Yu Qingtan''s body stiffened, and she closed her eyes. She felt something foreign traveling along her meridians into her sea of consciousness. She immediately used her Divine Sense to carefully investigate and found that it was a tiny, transparent insect, very ugly in appearance, causing goosebumps all over Yu Qingtan''s body. She hurriedly used the Purification Spell to purify herself, but it had no effect. She invoked "Love''s Protection" to elevate herself to the Golden Core Stage and performed the Purification Spell again, still to no avail. The tiny insect had already entered her Sea of Consciousness. Blood Control Technique, useless. Decay and Flourish Technique, also useless. Discover hidden stories at empire System father, did not intervene. Yu Qingtan found herself involuntarily thinking of Luo Xiang''s figure. Yu Qingtan fiercely opened her eyes, and her sharp gaze turned towards Yan Xi, as her Golden Core Stage might bore down on her. "Speak, what did you do?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Yan Xi copsed on the ground, hands covering her face, and said, "I''m sorry, miss, they forced me!" "Speak up, what is it?" Yu Qingtan shouted. "Deep Affection Gu." Yan Xi, not daring to look at Yu Qingtan, spoke these words and theny prostrate on the ground. The others, taken aback by the sudden turn of events, were confused. After hearing these words, they understood what had happened. Xiang Yu and Xiang Yiyi''s expressions changed drastically, looking angrily at Yan Xi. Only Xiang Ru, with her cheeks puffed out, was pulled behind by Xiang Yu to avoid being affected by the slight leakage of Yu Qingtan''s Golden Core might, still not quiteing to terms with what was happening. Yu Qingtan''s expression was also grim as she vanished in the blink of an eye. Using the Water Escape Technique, she arrived in her room, quickly set up a defensive and alert Formation, then took out the Roaming Zither and began to y the tune of the Soul Cleansing Technique. The Deep Affection Gu had already bitten onto her soul, and she had a premonition that even if she detonated this avatar, the Deep Affection Gu would still follow the soul back to the main body. Fortunately, the Soul Cleansing Technique was effective. Under the influence of the Soul Cleansing Technique, Yu Qingtan''s thoughts became calm and peaceful, not dwelling on the chaotic things, and the Deep Affection Gu also stopped moving. She continued to use the Soul Cleansing Technique, and the Deep Affection Gu became agitated, beginning to back away. Yu Qingtan intensified her efforts, unceasingly employing the Soul Cleansing Technique, and after more than an hour, finally forced the Deep Affection Gu out of her Sea of Consciousness. It crawled out through her ear. Yu Qingtan acted quickly and took out a jade bottle, trapping it inside and sealed it with a Second Stage sealing talisman. "Phew~" Letting out a long breath, Yu Qingtan finally felt relieved. Ever since the seclusion room incident at Tianxiang Pavilion in Suichuan Immortal City, where she nearly ate the tampered meal prepared by Xiao Yan, Yu Qingtan''s main body had not eaten food made or touched by anyone else. Only her avatar had not been so careful, and given that she possessed the Second Stage Rejuvenation Spell, Decay and Flourish Technique, and Detoxification Pills, she figured the avatar would not normally encounter any issues. However, this time she nearly stumbled. Even the main body was almost affected. "It seems I need to be even more careful and cautious in the future. I must also n to upgrade my Divine Skills as soon as possible." Yu Qingtan reflected deeply once more and then walked out of the room with a menacing look on her face. "Yan Xi,e here!" In the courtyard, Yan Xi, with her cultivation level sealed, was tied up andying on the ground, sporting a p mark on her face. Upon hearing Yu Qingtan''smanding shout, Yan Xi trembled. Xiang Yiyi and the two other women hastily asked. "Qing Tan, how are you?" "Unharmed, I''ve suppressed it." Yu Qingtan did not mention that the Gu insect had already been forced out, but her words still greatly relieved Xiang Yiyi and Xiang Ru, while Xiang Yu still furrowed her brows tightly. "Don''t worry, I have a n. I''ll first have a good chat with Miss Yan Xi!" Yu Qingtan said to Xiang Yu. After speaking, she used the Object Controlling Technique, and Yan Xi flew towards Yu Qingtan, who lifted her up and returned to the room. After throwing her on the ground, Yu Qingtan said with a cold voice. "Start talking. What happened?" Even though Yan Xi was dressed as a maid, her body tied with ropes that entuated her curves, and her eyes filled with tears, presenting a pitiable sight. It was unclear whether Xiang Yu or Xiang Yiyi had done the tying, but the rope-tying technique was ssic, disying the sinfulness to the full extent. But Yu Qingtan did not feel the slightest pity; she almost became lovesick, and the idea of little bugs crawling into her body and even her mind was just too disgusting. She still felt goosebumps just thinking about it. "It was... it was my mother and grandmother. They wanted you to fall in love with Luo Xiang and then be Daopanions to have you as one of our own. If I didn''t do as they said, they threatened to ensure I''d never see Shu Ge again. I''m sorry, miss." Yan Xi said without daring to look at Yu Qingtan, her head lowered. Upon hearing that Yu Qingtan had suppressed the Deep Affection Gu and had a way to deal with it, she felt both relieved and worried. Her grandmother had said that once the Deep Affection Gu was nted, usually no cultivator at the Golden Core Stage could do anything about it. Yan Xi''s words made Yu Qingtanugh in anger. So, in order to be together with your Shu Ge, I can be sacrificed, huh? As her spiritual power surged, several Water des appeared, flipping and flying above and below, causing Yan Xi to feel a chill as her maid''s outfit turned into shredded cloth. Then Yan Xi, whose spiritual power was sealed, was thrown onto the bed by Yu Qingtan. "Smack--Smack--" Yan Xi''s upturned buttocks were fiercely spanked by Yu Qingtan. "Ah--" "Don''t you dare cry out in pain. It''s only because I''m a good person that I won''t kill you, but I could strip you naked and throw you into a brothel to stay for a few days." Frightened, Yan Xi closed her mouth. ... After a long while, Yu Qingtan walked out of the room. "Qing Tan, what happened to Yan Xi, that bad person?" Xiang Yiyi, who was waiting outside the door, hastily asked. Yu Qingtan was speechless. Xiang Yiyi, who had grown up in Tianxiang Valley since childhood, was almost the same as a youngdy who didn''t know how to curse. "She received the punishment she deserved." "Uncle Xiang, help me check who from the Luos and Yan family have been in Tianxiang Immortal City recently." Yu Qingtan said to Xiang Yu standing beside her. "Okay, I''ll take care of it right away." Xiang Yu responded and left with Xiang Ru. Yu Qingtan then looked towards Xiang Yiyi. "Yiyi, I didn''t mean to worry you. But my heart is set on the Great Dao, with no interest in the affections between men and women, or women and women. You shouldn''t get involved." Upon hearing this, Xiang Yiyi''s face darkened and she remained silent for a long while. Raising her head to look at Yu Qingtan, her eyes once again shone with brightness. "Qing Tan, I understand, and I won''t be a burden to you. You are destined to shine brightly, and I will work hard to follow in your footsteps." Yu Qingtan sighed, unsure whether she had truly let go or not. After the incident, neither of them was in the mood to eat. Yu Qingtan took out a recliner to sit on and looked up at the brilliant starry sky. In her previous life, Yu Qingtan had only ever seen such beautiful starry skies on screens. Xiang Yiyi also sat down quietly beside Yu Qingtan, apanying her. ... During thetter half of the night, Xiang Yu returned. "Qing Tan, I''ve found out everything. From the Luo family, True Person Luo Youliang, Luo Xiang, and Luo Ren; from the Yan family, True Person Qiu Yue and True Person Yi Zhi are all in Tianxiang Immortal City, located at Tianxiang Instrument Pavilion and Tianxiang Talisman Pavilion respectively." "What a lively scene, indeed!" Chapter 178 The Luo Brothers Have True Affection ``` Yu Qingtan stood up, her eyes shing with dangerous light. "I''m stepping out for a bit!" Yu Qingtan said, and then her figure disappeared directly. Using the Breath-Concealing Technique, Invisibility Technique, and Water Escape Technique, she left the Raoliang Tea House. Tianxiang Weapon Pavilion was a business property of Tianxiang Valley in Tianxiang Immortal City, dealing with magic artifacts and spiritual artifacts, and was primarily controlled by the Luos. Such shops were usually presided over by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the protective arrays were only Second Stage. Yu Qingtan approached the back door, observed the inside situation with the Blue Clear Spiritual Pupil Technique from atop arge tree, then found a secluded corner and used a Second Stage Array Breaking Talisman to break the formation and snuck inside. Inside the pavilion, there was only one Golden Core Cultivator, Friend You Liang, and four Foundation Establishment Cultivators; at the moment, all were cultivating, making it easy for Yu Qingtan to identify Luo Xiang and Luo Ren''s room, as the other two Foundation Establishment Cultivators were at thete phase. Yu Qingtan first went to the outside of Luo Ren''s room, used a Second Stage Array Breaking Talisman to open a small hole in the protective array, and blew in a colorless and odorless smoke. Dream Inducing Incense. This was the powerful mesmerizing drug that Xiang Yu had given Xiang Jin to knock her out, which Yu Qingtan had obtained from the storage bag of some hapless soul cultivated from her victories. In fact, among her spoils of war, there were many useful little gadgets that she had kept and not sold, and today they had found their use. Soon, Luo Ren, who was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, fell into a deep sleep. Yu Qingtan used an Array Breaking Talisman to open an evenrger hole and entered the room through the window, then poured the Deep Affection Gu into Luo Ren''s mouth with water and then took Luo Ren into the System Space. Then, she went to the outside of Luo Xiang''s room and did the same thing, first drugging then sneaking in. She ced Luo Ren and Luo Xiang on the bed and then fed them a sufficient amount of Second Stage aphrodisiac, another little gadget among her spoils of war. "Young Master Luo, you were the one who harbored ulterior motives first, so you can''t me me!" After finishing her task, Yu Qingtan revealed a sinister smile and left the ce to return to the Raoliang Tea House, hiding her involvement. The Deep Affection Gues as a pair; one is the master, and the other is the subordinate. From the situation described by Yan Xi and her own involuntary thoughts of Luo Xiang at the time, it was evident that the master gu had been nted inside Luo Xiang. Clearly, even if Luo Xiang wasn''t one of the schemers, he was a participant and knew about the plot. As for Luo Ren, although Yu Qingtan had been to Wendao Immortal City with him before, she hadn''t had much interaction with him. She looked down on him somewhat for abandoning Yan Xi and Yan Shu in battle and fleeing when things got tough. Now that he fell into her hands, he could only me his misfortune for being a Luo and for appearing at this unfortunate time. Yu Qingtan returned to the Raoliang Tea House, where Xiang Ru and Xiang Yiyi were still waiting for her. "Remember, I didn''t go anywhere today. Just wait and watch the show tomorrow," she told them, and the two women understood immediately. ... The next day, a scream came from Tianxiang Weapon Pavilion, shattering the tranquility of Tianxiang Immortal City. It turned out that Friend You Liang wanted to discuss something with Luo Ren and Luo Xiang, but since neither had gotten up, he sent a clerk to call them. "Ahh~" As a result, a scream came from Luo Xiang''s room. "Ahh~" Stay connected via empire Another scream followed. However, a disheveled Luo Xiang burst out of the door, followed by the equally disheveled Luo Ren. "Big Brother Xiang, wait for me!"N?v(el)B\\jnn Luo Ren shouted from behind. "Don''t youe any closer!" ``` ``` Luo Xiang, with pain throbbing in his front and back, yelled and reflexively flung back a Fireball Technique. Luo Ren formed a fire shield to block it, but was still pushed back several steps. "Brother Xiang, are you going to abandon me after all we''ve shared? You''re so heartless!" "Enough, stop messing around!" True Person Youliang appeared, suppressed the two, took them back to the room to find out what happened, and imposed a gag order. Unfortunately, by this time, Tianxiang Weapon Pavilion had already opened for business, and many customers heard themotion. Some sensed trouble and slipped away. ... All morning, the gossip that Luo Ren and Luo Xiang, the Foundation Establishment brothers from the Luo family of Tianxiang Valley, had a romantic rtionship, spread like wildfire, causing a huge uproar. Wherever they are, humans have an innate love for gossip, especially involving high-profile figures. It''s almost as if it holds a magical power that draws in the general public. Tianxiang Talisman Pavilion, Tianxiang Valley''s shop for talisman business in Tianxiang Immortal City, is mostly controlled by the Yan family. After just sharing her feelings with her stepfather, True Person Zhenren, True Person Qiuyue heard about the Luo brothers and smashed several vases in anger before rushing to Tianxiang Weapon Pavilion with Zhenren. By the time they arrived, Youliang True Person had already knocked Luo Ren unconscious, while Luo Xiang went back to his room with a dark expression to heal his wounds. "Youliang, what''s going on here?" True Person Qiuyue asked anxiously as soon as she came in. "Qiuyue Sister, I''d like to ask you the same question. Didn''t you say you would ce the Deep Affection Gu into Yu Qingtan? How did it end up inside Luo Ren?" True Person Youliang was also quite fired up as his family had suffered significant losses, and their reputation was now in tatters. "What exactly happened?" True Person Zhenren asked, as the message from the Message-Transmitting Flying Sword only gave a rough idea. "Ah,st night, someone sneaked into the pavilion, knocked out Luo Ren and Luo Xiang, nted the Deep Affection Gu inside Luo Ren, and then left the two in a room together with arge dose of aphrodisiacs." True Person Youliang sighed. Upon hearing this, True Person Zhenren also inhaled sharply. Was someone really that ruthless? "It must have been that little bitch Yu Qingtan. Yan Xi, that useless thing, might have already betrayed us! I''m going to settle the score with that little bitch right now!" True Person Qiuyue said with a somewhat fierce look on her face. "All right, that Yu Qingtan is already capable of killing third-stage members of the Sea n and can carry out such deeds right under the nose of Youliang without making a sound. Besides, she has the support of people like Rou Jia and Qing Wei above her. She''s not someone we can easily manipte, and if this matter blows up, we don''t have the upper hand." True Person Zhenren said. "Then how do we remove the Deep Affection Gu?" True Person Youliang asked, still feeling disgusted by Luo Ren''s behavior¡ªseeing a fine young man of their Luo family reduced to such a state by a Gu insect. "For that, we might need a Nascent Soul predecessor to safely remove it." True Person Qiuyue said helplessly, not wanting to pay the fee for such a service and continued, "I''ll go back first and dispatch that boy Yan Shu away!" With that, she left directly, leaving True Persons Zhenren and Youliang behind to discuss the cost of hiring a Nascent Soul predecessor. ... Inside Raoliang Tea House. "Hehe, to think that Luo Xiang and Luo Ren would do such indecent things, it really serves them right!" Xiang Yiyi said excitedly to Yu Qingtan, her eyes full of admiration as she looked at her. Indeed, Qing Tan''s methods were sharp and ruthless¡ªjust to her liking. "Sister Yiyi, what is a romantic rtionship between men?" Xiang Ru, who was sitting beside them, asked innocently. The news about the Luo brothers was something she had heard from the guests at the tea house, but she didn''t fully understand it. "Those are matters for adults, children shouldn''t pry." Xiang Yiyi covered her mouth and said. At this moment, Xiang Yu came in from outside and transmitted a message to Yu Qingtan, "Miss Qingtan, the person we sent to Suichuan Immortal City has returned. The item was delivered to Han Daniu, but Jiang Lai was not brought back." ``` Chapter 179 Breakthrough to Body Refinement Golden Core Realm ``` "What''s going on?" ``` Yu Qingtan frowned. Given her rtionship with the You family and the token of trust she had given, there shouldn''t have been any issues with something as simple as receiving Jiang Lai. "The person we sent said that the Family Head You Xiantong and the Young Master You Xiwang received her warmly, but they told her: ''Just ten days ago, Jiang Lai, who was cultivating at a very slow pace, finally made a breakthrough to the firstyer of Qi Cultivation. Then, a thick green light appeared on her body, and outsiders couldn''t approach her. Ten breathster, a pitch-ck spatial passage suddenly appeared in front of her, and Jiang Lai was directly sucked into the passage.'' Because the event was so extraordinary, the You father and son did not dare to make it public. They suppressed the news, wanting to inform Miss Qingtan as soon as possible, but they hadn''t made contact with you yet when our person arrived." "What?" Yu Qingtan couldn''t help but stand up and exim. Xiang Yiyi and Xiang Ru looked at her, and she took a deep breath to steady her emotions. "It''s okay!" "It seems that Jiang Lai is quite extraordinary! I hope it''s not bad news!" Yu Qingtan sighed internally, realizing that encountering such a rare event in the Cultivation World definitely indicated Jiang Lai''s uniqueness. "In that case, Master Tianxiang, I n to return to Tianxiang Valley as soon as possible. Would you like toe back with me?" Yu Qingtan asked, since it would be safest for Xiang Yu, who was condensing a Pseudo-Core, to return to Tianxiang Valley. "I will go back with you. A few days ago, I had already asked a senior sister from the Battle Hall to temporarily take care of the Raoliang Tea House for a while." Xiang Yu said. Yu Qingtan knew that Raoliang Tea House had always had an elderly female cultivator at thete stage of Foundation Establishment in charge, but she had been in seclusion, and Yu Qingtan had never met her. Having made their decision, in the afternoon of the same day, Yu Qingtan, Xiang Yiyi, Yan Xi, Xiang Yu, and Xiang Ru set out to return to Tianxiang Valley. As for Yan Xi, Yu Qingtan had visited her in the morning and found her crying. After scolding her, Yan Xi stopped crying and regained some spirits. "Cry, what''s the use of crying? Yan Shu is a young Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Yan family; it''s not like they could just kill him outright. Wait until you be a Golden Core, or even a Nascent Soul cultivator, then who among them could stop you? Stick with me, and I guarantee you''ll reach Core Formation within twenty years." Recalling the moment she had just traveled to this world and attended the Tianxiang Pavilion assessment when Luo Xiang assured her she would reach Foundation Establishment before fifty, Yu Qingtan sneered internally. Of course, this was also because Yan Xi possessed dual spirit roots of wood and water and was already at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. The five of them returned to Tianxiang Valley without incident. Xiang Yiyi went back to Qing Wei''s residence, while Yu Qingtan took Xiang Yu and Xiang Ru to pay respects to True Master Rou Jia. Yan Xi, meanwhile, returned to the small courtyard where Yu Qingtan lived. Xiang Ru had always been cultivating with Xiang Yu, but now that Xiang Yu had chosen to follow Yu Qingtan, True Master Rou Jia also epted Xiang Ru as a nominal disciple and arranged for Wen Jin to take care of her. Afterward, True Master Rou Jia lent arge number of Contribution Points to Xiang Yu, allowing her to exchange for the Pseudo-Core Technique and time to cultivate with a Third-order Spirit Vein, so she could go into seclusion and condense her Externa Pill. After visiting True Master Rou Jia, Yu Qingtan first went toplete her mission, then used Contribution Points at the Scripture Pavilion to exchange for a secret technique, a formation set, and the Third Stage Water de Technique before returning to her own small courtyard. ... "Yan Xi, given your previous actions, if you wish to continue staying by my side, you will need to be subjected to a Soul Constraint by me,sting until the Nascent Soul Stage. During this time, you will have to work for me, and I will cultivate you with great effort. As for the Yan family, as long as they don''te looking for trouble, I won''t bother dealing with them. How does that sound?" ``` The Soul Constraint Secret Technique was what Yu Qingtan exchanged from the Scripture Pavilion, spending four hundred Sect Contribution Points. For the task of hunting the great strength apes, she earned one thousand one hundred and twenty Contribution Points, and as it was a team task, Yu Qingtan received eight hundred points. Attending the Nascent Soul Ceremony at the Wendao Sect, she gained one thousand Contribution Points, spending six hundred to exchange for a Third-order Water de Technique and eight hundred for a superior Third-order Minor Dual Prity Formation. Yan Xi thought about the situation she would face when returning to the Yan family and considered Yu Qingtan''s talent and character. In the end, she nodded and agreed. "You''ll be d about today''s choice," Yu Qingtan said as she took out a bottle with ten drops of Third-order Spirit Dew and handed it to Yan Xi. "Thank you, Miss!" Yan Xi epted it with some surprise. Even as the young miss of the Yan family, she rarely used treasures for cultivation like Third-order Spirit Dew. A few dayster, after mastering the not-so-difficult Soul Constraint, Yu Qingtan nted it on Yan Xi and then began her seclusion for cultivation. Inside the Vajra Protective Spirit Array, Yu Qingtan took out a Spiritual Artifact level cauldron and added Fourth-Grade Demon King blood, which she had exchanged from the Hall of Merit at the Wendao Sect. Yu Qingtan''s body, stripped of clothes, showed off her smooth, delicate, and fair skin, a result of cultivating the Ice Skin Jade Bone Art. But this was not the time to admire her own figure. She took out two pieces of Third-order Wastnd Crystals and held them in her hands, entering the cauldron. Employing the Demon Blood Refinement Technique, she absorbed the power of the Fourth-Grade Demon King blood and the Third-order Wastnd Crystals into her body and began refining her physique. The path of Body Refinement has the following stages: First Stage, Skin Refining; Second Stage, Bone Refining; Third Stage, Blood Refining; Fourth Stage, Organ Refining; Fifth Stage, Golden Body; Sixth Stage, Soul Merging; Seventh Stage, Dao Integration. However, these are just the main aspects refined at each realm; the realm names still use the terminology from spell cultivation. At this time, Yu Qingtan was striving to break through to the Third Stage of Body Refinement in the Golden Core Stage, which is Blood Refining. During the process of refinement, Yu Qingtan felt as if all the blood in her body was boiling, and her blood vessels were reaching a dangerous bnce between rupturing and repairing. The process was excruciatingly painful, and Yu Qingtan''s teeth were repeatedly crushed and regrown. After cultivating for eight hours, Yu Qingtan started to practice spells andprehend the Dao. After the upgrading of her Spirit Root, her understanding of the Five Elements spells became more profound, and her cultivation efficiency was very high. She also began to develop her unique insights, deepening herprehension of the Path of Water and the Path of Wood. Two hourster, Yu Qingtan would sleep for an hour. Continuous intensive cultivation was harmful and not beneficial to the soul. Upon waking, Yu Qingtan lit the Nourishing Soul Incense and began ying the Soul Cleansing melody while casting the Soul Cleansing Technique. This was considered a method of soul cultivation. In this way, time passed during Yu Qingtan''s intensive training. "Ah~" A monthter, Yu Qingtan shouted from within the cauldron, exhaling her turbid qi, and leaped out of the cauldron. At this moment, the qi and blood within her were abundant, her blood as heavy as mercury, and her body seemed to be filled with inexhaustible strength. She chopped with her palms, one after the other. With sharp qi, she struck the Vajra Protective Spirit Array, which could withstand a hit from a Golden Core. The array trembled and eventually shattered. Having consumed eighty percent of the Demon King blood and four Third-order Wastnd Crystals, she finally broke through to the Body Refinement Golden Core Stage, enabling her to contend directly with early stage Golden Core spells using just her physical body. "How strong, and finally, the Vajra Protective Spirit Array has fulfilled its purpose. Time to rece it," Yu Qingtan thought. The Minor Dual Prity Formation she exchanged was a recement for the Vajra Protective Spirit Array. It could withstand a strike from a Nascent Soul and was primarily used to protect spirit nts, so it was rtively cheap. Not leaving her seclusion immediately, she continued for another ten days, using up the rest of the Demon King blood to stabilize her Body Refinement Cultivation Level. Only then did Yu Qingtan leave the Cultivation Room. In the courtyard, Yan Xi, dressed as a maid, was practicing the Water de Technique. She had also grown fond of the dozen or so sets of clothes made by Yu Qingtan for her.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Chapter 180 Going to the Academy, Encountering Baili Ya Yan Xi saw Yu Qingtane out and hurriedly stopped toe forward. "Congrattions, Miss, on your cultivation progress!" She wasn''t sure if it was true, but congrattions seemed right. She had also grown a lot these days. "Miss, a few days ago, Sister Li Xingruo sessfully formed her Golden Core, and Uncle Xiang also sessfully broke through to the External Pill stage." Yu Qingtan was overjoyed at the news and immediately took Yan Xi to pay a visit to True Lord Rou Jia. As expected, Li Xingruo and Xiang Yu were both there, with True Lord Rou Jia imparting some knowledge about cultivation at the Golden Core Stage to them. Seeing Yu Qingtane over, they stopped. "Congrattions to Sister Li on sessfully forming your Golden Core, and congrattions to Uncle Xiang on achieving an External Pill." Yu Qingtan said, offering her congrattions with sped hands. "Thanks to Junior Sister''s Nourishing Soul Incense, I barely managed to form a high-grade core." Li Xingruo was very happy. "Thanks to Qingtan''s blessing, I was able to glimpse the elegance of the Third Stage. Although I envy Sister Li Xingruo, I''m already very content." Xiang Yu was also smiling from ear to ear. True Lord Rou Jia called over Gao Yue, Ni Shuyu, Wen Jin, and Xiang Ru, and also invited True Lord Shui Yun, True Lord Qing Wei, Gongsun Yurong, Xiang Yiyi, Shui Qingrou, Xiao Youwei, Shen Tinn, and other close associates from their Master-Disciple Sects, hosting a small internal banquet as a celebration. After the banquet, True Lord Rou Jia summoned her five disciples. "Now that Xing Ruo has be a True Lord, I''ll be going back to Wendao Sect. After this, Xing Ruo, please take good care of the Xiang Fei Garden." Everyone was silent, feeling reluctant to part, but in the end, it was Li Xingruo who spoke up. "I will not let you down, Master, and may you reach Core Formation soon." "Master, I will apany you to Wendao Immortal City, as I wish to visit The World Academy." Yu Qingtan said. As cultivators often lead free-spirited lives, after exchanging a few more instructions, everyone went their separate ways. The next day, Yu Qingtan''s clone took Yan Xi aboard True Lord Rou Jia''s wind-riding Flying Boat to Wendao Immortal City. Upon arrival, True Lord Rou Jia went straight to Mount Wendao to find her paramour, while Yu Qingtan and herpanion did not follow but instead went to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Wendao Immortal City. They sold a batch of resources recently obtained from the Monkey-faced Eagle n''s treasure vault and enemies'' Storage Bags, acquiring over two hundred thousand Medium Grade Spirit Stones. They also purchased a Storage Ring to hold some less important items. Since Yu Qingtan was already a celebrity in Wendao Immortal City, and the transaction was quiterge, the Foundation Establishmentte-stage manager of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion personally received Yu Qingtan. They upgraded her status from a first-ss associate of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to a third-ss one, allowing her to enjoy a fifteen percent discount when purchasing items and also a bonus when selling. Hearing that Yu Qingtan wanted to buy Third Stage Spells, the manager immediately brought out all the Third Stage Spells that the Hundred Treasures Pavilion had. They even sent someone to the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion to purchase some Third Stage Spells for Yu Qingtan that the Hundred Treasures Pavilion didn''t have, still with a fifteen percent discount. "Hundred Treasures Pavilion sure knows how to do business!" When leaving the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, only thirty percent of the Spirit Stones earned from Yu Qingtan''s resource sale remained, with the rest spent on various Third Stage Spell Jade Slips. After leaving the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi went to the Teleportation Hall in Wendao Immortal City. Of course, such an important ce as the Teleportation Hall was operated and guarded by cultivators of the Wendao Sect. Upon recognizing that it was Yu Qingtan, they also gave Yan Xi a ten percent discount for the teleportation fee ¨C one thousand eight hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones ¨C a price difficult for ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators to afford. Yu Qingtan had an invitation from The World Academy Southeast Branch, allowing her to ride for free this time. "Fairy Qingtan, what a coincidence! Are you also heading to Qu Fu Immortal City?" As Yu Qingtan entered the teleportation waiting room, a young man in a yellow brocade robe approached her, followed by an elegant woman in a in dress. "Yu Qingtan has seen Senior Brother Baili and Sister Tan. I am taking my servant to visit The World Academy Southeast Branch at their invitation." The World Academy Southeast Branch is located in Qu Fu Immortal City, or it might be said that Qu Fu Immortal City was built around The World Academy. These two individuals were none other than the sky prides of the Wendao Sect''s Thunder Vein, Real Person Baili Ya, and the Wood Vein, Fairy Tan Suqin. Yu Qingtan was currently a registered true disciple of the Wendao Sect''s Water Vein, and with Golden Core stagebat capabilities, it was perfectly appropriate for her to call others Senior Brother and Senior Sister. Moreover, Yu Qingtan''s title as a fairy was endorsed by Sect Master Kongbei Zhenjun of the Wendao Sect. Although she had not yet made it onto the Hundred Flowers List, she was widely recognized as such.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "What a coincidence, this prince and Tan Junior Sister were also about to head to the All-World Academy to take on the challenge of the All-Under-Heaven Peak. We might as well travel together," Baili Ya said with a boomingugh. Next to him, Fairy Tan Suqin, however, wore a nk expression. She gave a slight nod to acknowledge Qing Tan, clearly displeased with Yu Qingtan for suddenly showing up and disturbing the world she had with her senior brother. As for Yan Xi, although quite beautiful and her maid outfit quite eye-catching, as an attendant of Yu Qingtan, Real Person Baili Ya and the others naturally did not pay much attention to her. "Qingtan is most honored," Yu Qingtan said with a smile, her chest-high dress adorned with peony flower patterns and flesh-tinted stockings paired with small leather shoes caused Real Person Baili Ya''s heart to stir. Now, she no longer concealed her face, and to say her smile could captivate an entire city was no exaggeration. "Senior Brother, Junior Sister Yu, everyone is here, we should be going!" Fairy Tan Suqin secretly cursed "seductress" and then called out to the others. The teleportation formation at this location could transport ten people at a time, and indeed the tenth person had just arrived. Under the guidance of a cultivator on duty from the Wendao Sect, the group of ten entered an octagonal pavilion, which was then enveloped by a white light screen. With the surge of spiritual power, Yu Qingtan felt slightly dizzy, and Yan Xi couldn''t help but grasp a pir for support. Thirty breathster, the difort disappeared, the white light screen dissipated, and outside the pavilion was apletely different scene. The hall, previously austere and majestic, was now filled with cultural ambience. Scrolls of calligraphy and paintings adorned the walls, and pots of spiritual nts were ced around. At the exit of the hall, there was also a banner, "Wee to Qu Fu Immortal City!" "Junior Sister Yu, you haven''t been to Qu Fu Immortal City before, have you?" Once they left the Teleportation Pavilion, Real Person Baili Ya asked again. "Being young, Qingtan has never traveled so far," "Haha, this prince has been here quite a few times and can show you around. Here is a map jade slip of Qu Fu Immortal City. I''ve made a copy for you, to save you the trouble of buying one," "Qingtan thanks Senior Brother Baili!" "Senior Brother Baili, Junior Brother is waiting for us, let''s head to the World Academy first," Fairy Tan Suqin interrupted once more; previously, whenever they came to Qu Fu Immortal City, it was only because she dragged Baili Ya with her to stroll around, but now he was actively inviting Yu Qingtan, which was quite infuriating. "Tan Senior Sister is right, I too must first visit some old friends at the World Academy," Yu Qingtan said, specting that the "Junior Brother" mentioned was probably Shi Kuang. "Very well!" The four of them left the Teleportation Hall, with Real Person Baili Ya leading the way to the World Academy. The streets were bustling with an energetic crowd. Foundation Establishment cultivators could be seen frequently, and even Golden Core cultivators could asionally be encountered. Although heading straight to the World Academy, the group did not rush but instead took their time to observe their surroundings as they walked. As they neared the World Academy, they saw that several circles of people had gathered on the road ahead. A desperate male voice could be heard from the center of the crowd. "Don''t take her away, I don''t me her at all. Are our five years of feelings not worth the mere two million spirit stones? Don''t take my Yan''er away! Without her, how can I live?" Chapter 181 Sentimental Always Leaves Excess Sorrow The four of them heard this and all began to imagine the exciting storyline, with True Lord Changwan of Baili Ya heading straight for the crowd. "Wait for me, this king will go and see what has happened." Leaving Yu Qingtan and the two otherdies by the roadside, Fairy Su Qin nced at Yu Qingtan, probably sneering in her heart before turning her head to continue watching the crowd. It wasn''t long before Baili Ya returned, and Fairy Su Qin approached him. "Brother, what happened?" The fragrance of the wind was intoxicating, and her ball-handling skills were excellent, but s, Baili Ya remained unmoved. "Sister Tan, sister Yu, this is truly a fascinating affair. The man who was crying just now is named Liu Qiming, a genius disciple from the Formation Institute of All-World Academy, able toy down a Third Stage mid-quality formation in thete stage of Foundation Establishment. Five years ago, in Qu Fu Immortal City, he chanced upon a beautiful cultivator named Liu Yan. The two hit it off and became confidants, eventually falling in love. Over the five years, Liu Qiming has spent more than two million Spirit Stones on Liu Yan, a small part of which Liu borrowed from his ssmates. Sadly, even after five years, the two have yet to be Daoistpanions and practice dual cultivation together. One of his seniors who lent him arge sum of Spirit Stones suspected him of being scammed and reported it to the Enforcement Team. Upon investigation, they found out that Liu Yan was indeed a scammer. Not only did Liu Yan already have a Daoistpanion, but her son was also approaching Foundation Establishment. Her whole family was sustained by the cultivation funded by the Spirit Stones Liu Qiming had given her. Just now, the Enforcement Team came to take Liu Yan away, and Liu Qiming even fiercely defended her¡ªa truly unheard-of and eye-opening event for this king." Yu Qingtan, Tan Suqin, and Yan Xi also marveled at the story, with Tan Suqin even feeling a bit moved by Liu Qiming''s infatuation. "Oh no, he''s about to demonize!" At that moment, another shout of rm came from the crowd, and the onlookers scattered like birds and beasts. "Ah~" Two Qi Practitioners who ran too slowly were caught by Liu Qiming and harshly mmed against the wall at the side of the road. After the crowd dispersed, Yu Qingtan saw a Qing-robed cultivator with disheveled hair not far away, his eyes blood-red, punching ate-stage Qi Practitioner into the air. "It''s all your fault, why did you have to take my Yan''er away? You all deserve to die, you all deserve death!" As he spoke, a Second Stage Rain of Fire Technique took form, scattering hot, burning embers toward the crowd. Within the crowd were a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had run far away but stopped upon seeing this, using spells or Spiritual Artifacts to defend against the Rain of Fire Technique. This was because the righteousness of the cultivators of Qu Fu Immortal City was quite strong. Liu Qiming threw out three Array tes, and in the midst of the shing spiritual light, a Third Stage mid-quality Wind Fire Rampart Formation waspleted, engulfing more than a dozen cultivators, including three Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Baili Ya frowned, ready to take action to eliminate this man. "Baili Brother, let me do it!" Yu Qingtan quickly stopped Baili Ya, for if he took action, under the might of the thunderous power, Liu Qiming would turn to ash. At this point, Liu Qiming hadn''t caused any deaths yet, and Yu Qingtan felt that there might still be a chance to save him. If a cultivator''s Dao heart breaks, they could demonize, turning into beings craving for blood and ughter. High-stage cultivators bing demonized was a truly terrifying matter, but since Liu Qiming was only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, his demonization would only lead to being killed by the Enforcement Team. She took out her Roaming Zither, raising her Spiritual Power to the Golden Core Stage, first casting the Devil''s Prating Sound on Liu Qiming, causing him to clutch his head and cry out in pain, halting his control of the Wind Fire Rampart Formation''s attacks on the cultivators within. Then she began to y the Soul Cleansing Tune, casting the Soul Cleansing Technique. The Wind Fire Rampart Formation was a lethal formation with almost no defense against Sound Path Dao Techniques. As the serene music seeped into his mind, Liu Qiming''s soul, influenced by the devilish sound, slowly calmed down, and his violent emotions seemed to be smoothed by a pair of warm hands. Tan Suqin was secretly amazed¡ªbeing a master of the Sound Path herself, she could sense Yu Qingtan''s Zither Art level was almost catching up to her, and to her surprise, Yu Qingtan was also versed in the Devil''s Prating Sound spell, although it was still only a Second Stage technique. Baili Ya had not expected this sister Yu to have this trick up her sleeve. Moreover, the song she was ying now was calming to the heart, far more pleasant to the ear than what sister Tan usually yed. At this moment, two figures in purple robes flew from the direction of All-World Academy. "Silly child, wake up already!" one of the figures shouted at Liu Qiming. Liu Qiming jolted awake, leaped to his feet, his eyes nowpletely clear. "A Nascent Soul Cultivator, Fourth Stage Dao Technique, Deafening Technique!" Yu Qingtan stopped ying the zither and recognized the technique used by the neer. Another figure waved a sleeve, the Wind Fire Rampart Formation shattered, three Array tes flew into the sleeve, while specks of spiritual lightnded on the wounded cultivators, rapidly healing their injuries. Seeing the two figures in purple robes, Liu Qiming immediately knelt down: "Instructors Yu and Zhou, your disciple fell into a demonic trance and nearly caused a great disaster, and is willing to ept punishment." Yet his face was expressionless, his eyes empty, obviously still not recovered from his emotions. "Greetings to True Lord Qing and True Lord Changwan, thank you both for your rescue," the previously injured cultivators said, bending over to show their gratitude. "Disperse!" With the True Lords'' word, the bystanders involved all dispersed. At this moment, Yu Qingtan heard Baili Ya''s voice in her ear: "Junior Sister Yu, these are teachers from the All-World Academy''s Formation Institute, True Lord Qing, Yu Zhiqing, and from the Zither Institute, True Lord Changwan, Zhou Changwan." "To be so trapped by sentiments of love, how can one ascend the great path? Ah~" True Lord Qing sighed, his tone full of disappointment, as Liu Qiming was a Formation Institute disciple he had high hopes for. But Liu Qiming just knelt there, saying nothing. "Deep emotions have always been nothing but regrets, and beautiful dreams have always been the most intoxicating. Endless sorrows and endless grievances, all because of weak power and poverty. If you were a Nascent Soul True Lord today, a million spirit stones would be nothing to speak of, and all worldly rites andws would be a joke. Unfortunately, you are only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, so here you can only indulge in self-pity and self-loathing. In such a state, Qing Tan is truly disappointed in you." At this moment, Yu Qingtan could no longer bear it and stepped forward to speak to Liu Qiming. Liu Qiming''s body stiffened, his fists clenched tight, as if wanting to rebut, yet unsure of how to begin.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Finally, he raised his head to look at Yu Qingtan, seeing such a beautiful female cultivator. His words eventually softened a bit. "I have been instructed." Then, Liu Qiming stood up and said to the two Nascent Soul True Lords, "Instructors Yu and Zhou, I will go into seclusion. If I do not achieve Golden Core, I shall not emerge." "Hmm, that''s the genius of the Formation Institute, Liu Qiming, that I know. Here is a Core Formation, your instructor wishes you sess in forming your Golden Core," True Lord Qing said with a smile, taking out a jade bottle and tossing it to Liu Qiming. "Thank you, Instructor Yu. However, your disciple does not need this item. I shall take my leave," Liu Qiming said, then summoned his Flying Spirit Sword and flew towards the All-World Academy. True Lord Qing took back the Core Formation, feeling both relieved and worried, and in the end, all he had left were his blessings. "Thank you, young friend, for enlightening Qiming. Your words are more effective than the Dao Technique, Deafening Technique, in some ways," at this moment, True Lord Changwan said, stroking his beard as he praised Yu Qingtan. "Junior Wendao Sect Water Vein registered True Disciple Yu Qingtan greets True Lord Changwan and True Lord Qing. I have been rash, and I hope the seniors will forgive me," Yu Qingtan said, as she bent over to pay her respects. "Eh, so you are Yu Qingtan, whom theds have been talking about ¨C I have great expectations of you. Seeing you today, you really are extraordinary!" Chapter 182 The Great Dao Transcends 3000 Lives "True Lord, your words are too kind; you truly humble your junior!" At this moment, Baili Ya, Tan Suqin, and Yan Xi also came forward to offer their respects.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Yad and Suqin, it''s been a while since youst visited. Old He and Old Kuang still talk about you guys often. Come, let''s go back to the Academy." True Lord Changwan had noticed Baili Ya and Tan Suqin earlier but hadn''t had the chance to speak with them. The two had previously studied at the All-World Academy, and both teachers were acquainted with them. After speaking, True Lord Changwan waved his sleeve and, in a sensation akin to riding the clouds and cutting through the fog, Yu Qingtan and the other three felt themselves lifted, and in the next moment, they were on the ground. Before them was a majestically wide and ancient gate adorned with dragons and phoenixes, guarded by a pair of three-zhang-tall jade kylin statues. On the beam above the grand gate, the four characters for "All-World Academy" shone resplendently, upon first nce they were brilliant, and upon a second simple and unadorned, but at a third look, they seemed to contain infinite truths of the great way. On both sides of the gate, a couplet was hung: In Lichuan and throughout the Nine Domains, immortalw is passed, The Great Dao spans three thousand, ferrying all living beings. This was the reputed All-World Academy, founded by several ascended immortals. Before their ascension, they all enjoyed the reputation of "sages," intent on spreading the Dao throughout the world and teaching all beings. It''s important to note that not every realm in Lichuan and the eight outer domains was dominated by the Human Race. For example, the Northern Domain was ruled by the Demon Race, and the Southwest Domain was a paradise for the Insect Tribe. Stepping through the gate, Yu Qingtan felt a rich surge of Spiritual Energy rush over him. The World Academy Southeast Branch is built atop a Fifth-order Spirit Vein. Unlike the Wendao Sect, which is situated on the towering Mount Wendao and only has Spiritual Energy concentrated at specific key locations, the entire area of the All-World Academy boasted Spiritual Energy close to that of a Third-order Spirit Vein. Aftering through the gate, True Lord Qing first returned to the Formation Institute, while True Lord Changwan led Yu Qingtan and the other three towards the Zither Court. Midway, the four talented young men Shi Kuang, Zhou Lan, Zhong Yao, and Jing Hao, having received the news, came out to greet them. Of course, they were referred to as the four talents by outsiders during their travels; within the Academy, they wouldn''t dare to call themselves so. "Master Yu, you''re finally here! Wee, wee!" The four approached Yu Qingtan, with Jing Hao, the sunny boy, Zhou Lan, and Zhong Yao addressing him as Master Yu, Jing Hao being the most enthusiastic. "Fairy Qingtan, wee to the All-World Academy!" Shi Kuang, having heard about the Nascent Soul Ceremony at the Wendao Sect from Zhou Lan, was particrly impressed upon meeting her and said. "Thank you!" Yu Qingtan could only express his thanks. "You young folks go ahead and chat; this old man won''t get in the way." After saying this, True Lord Changwan''s figure vanished. It was only then that Shi Kuang and the others moved over to Tan Suqin and Baili Ya. "Greetings to Sister Tan and Brother Baili." Seeing the usual equanimity of Shi Kuang shift upon encountering Fairy Qingtan, Tan Suqin couldn''t help but feel a sense of defeat. "Let''s head over to the Zither Court first!" Once at the Zither Court, everyone took their seats in arge reception hall. "Congrattions to Master Shi on achieving the Golden Core! The great path lies ahead!" Yu Qingtan was the first to offer congrattions. "Congrattions to Brother Shi on achieving the Golden Core! May you look forward to longevity!" Tan Suqin and Baili Ya joined in as well. "Many thanks!" They chatted at length about the Nascent Soul Ceremony at the Wendao Sect and the disaster involving the Sea n, such as how Baili Ya bravely fought against three Third-order Cang Dragons, Fairy Suqin with a single melody vanquished a Third-order Deep Sea Crocodile Turtle, and Fairy Qingtan counter-attacked a Third-order Sea n and defeated a Golden Core rogue cultivator on Sakura Ind. As the conversation went on, a good portion revolved around the matters concerning Yu Qingtan. "Does Master Junior Brother have any newpositions?" Tan Suqin felt that she could no longer keep a low profile, so she took the initiative to ask. "During Core Formation, I was inspired andposed ''Longing for Each Other.'' I invite everyone to appreciate it." Shi Kuang said and then took out his zither, the Nine Heavens Ringing Zither, and began to y. The sound of the zither was ethereal and enchanting; the melody was distant and beautiful. As he yed, it seemed as if everyone was transported to an illusionary realm where, amidst a boundless sea of flowers, a young master gazed longingly at the silhouette of a fairdy in the distance. Then the young master ran towards her, but her figure gradually dissipated... After the piece ended, Shi Kuang raised his eyes and looked at Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan felt somewhat embarrassed; this was clearly an expression of his longing for her. Moreover, he deliberately looked at her, which was almost like a public confession. "Excellent, the zither sound transforms the scene. Young Kuang, you have truly entered the path. Enchanted by the beautiful music, us old men came uninvited. I hope the young friends won''t find it amiss," Just then, True Lord Changwan and three senior zither teachers arrived at the scene, with True Lord Changwan singing praises. "Please take your seats, elders," Shi Kuang and everyone rose to their feet to seat them. Shi Kuang introduced to Yu Qingtan and the others that among the three zither teachers, there was one Nascent Soul and two at the Late Stage of the Golden Core, who were True Lord Hexin, True Lord Junjing, and True Lord Jiagu. This interruption allowed Yu Qingtan to simply pretend she didn''t understand Shi Kuang''s intentions and continue to sit there smiling. Tan Suqin naturally also understood the intent behind Shi Kuang''s piece; she was both upset and a little thrilled. If Yu Qingtan and Shi Kuang became involved, it would not interfere with her and Brother Baili''s affair. "Recently, I have alsoposed a new piece called ''Looking South of the River,'' which I invite you all to listen to." Tan Suqin took out her Green Phoenix Tail Zither, her jade fingers lightly plucked the strings, and the sound of the zither wound its way through the air like a intive sob. As the notes of the zither drifted, the illusion returned. On the broad expanse of the river, hundreds of ships sailed, while a gorgeously dressed beauty leaned against the railing of a high tower by the river, watching the passing sailboats from sunrise to sunset. After dressing and make-up, she leans alone on the high tower overlooking the river. Every passing ship was not the one she sought; the nting sun''s rays indistinctly cast over the meandering waters. At the end of the piece, Fairy Su Qin''s autumn-like eyes turned to Baili Ya, brimming with tender emotion. Baili Ya felt a bit of a toothache; he was not unaware of Tan Suqin''s feelings for him, but she was too assertive. Certainly, Tan Suqin wouldn''t want him to have a harem, yet he, a prince, after all. Moreover, he didn''t like women with toorge chests; he preferred ones that were just right, like Fairy Qingtan for instance. Thus, he merely assumed an attitude of detachment, overlooking Tan Suqin''s amorous nces. "Su Qin, this piece is deeply emotional and has reached the realm of entering the path. It seems you have put in a lot of hard work; well done, well done!" True Lord Changwan''s face was full of smiles as hevished praise. "You tter me too much, True Lord! Previously, Sister Yu''s piece managed to awaken Brother Liu Qiming who was bewitched, suggesting that Zither Art is quite extraordinary. However, that piece could hardly showcase Sister Yu''s true skills in the craft of zither. I wonder if Sister Yu has any wonderfulpositions for us all to appreciate." Fairy Su Qin looked towards Yu Qingtan; now with cards on the table, she had already sensed that Yu Qingtan''s skill in zither was still inferior to hers, and her current actions seemed only intended to press her even further. Yu Qingtan hade to All-World Academy fully prepared, naturally not to be trifled with. Since others had thrown down the gauntlet, she was not one to always retreat. She immediately took out her Roaming Zither and said, "Master Brother Shi and Sister Tan''s aplishments in zither are profound, and I, Qingtan, am far from their equal. However, I have witnessed the Demon Race and Sea n brutally torment our human cultivators. I harbor deep hatred for this. Recently, Iposed a piece called ''Ambush from Ten Sides,'' aspiring to refine it into a Sound Path offensive technique, to wash away the blood of the Demon Race and Sea n. It is still in its infancy, so I hope for your guidance." No sooner had she spoken than she pressed and plucked the strings with her delicate hands. With a "ng," an aura of stern ughter rushed forth. Chapter 183 The Bet Involving a Song Overwhelming Su Qin Begins The melody of the zither undted, valiant with an undertone of tragic grandeur, the intent to kill lurking everywhere. Above Yu Qingtan, tense, fierce, and cruel visions of war materialized, vividly depicting scenes of the "Ambush from Ten Sides," "Surrounded on All Sides," shes of des and shadows of swords, and bloody battles to the death. As the piece concluded, the lingering sounds echoed off the beams, yet the murderous aura remained. "Excellent! Young friend Yu''s y has a majestic presence, pervaded with murderous intent. It''s a rare ''Way of ughter'' zither piece. Polish it well, and it will surely be a powerful weapon for ying demons and ughtering the evils of the sea in the future," True Lord Changwan praised. "True Lord tters me too much." Yu Qingtan had recently been busy with cultivation, and since she had spent little time practicing the zither and her Skill Upgrade Card had been used up, she had not yet reached enlightenment. However, this new piece was sufficient proof of her capabilities. Shi Kuang simply appreciated the piece, while Baili Ya, a born killer, was particrly fond of it and still savored it with his eyes closed, stirring a deep sense of defeat in Tan Suqin''s heart. She clearly had a higher level of skill in zither y! She was clearly the one who arrived first! The crowd discussed Zither Art further, and Tan Suqin said to Baili Ya, "Senior brother, shall we go to visit Handsome Brother now?" "Hmm, it''s been a while since I saw that rascal. I do miss him a bit." Baili Ya and Tan Suqin said their farewells to the others present and headed towards the Thunder Courtyard of the All-World Academy. The person they were going to see was none other than the Real Person Handsome He of the Thunder Courtyard, ranked forty-first on the Pride of the Heavens List and a good friend of Baili Ya. As they were leaving, Fairy Su Qin didn''t forget to send a challenging nce Yu Qingtan''s way. Yu Qingtan was speechless about Tan Suqin''s jealous antics and couldn''t be bothered to pay any attention. After the two left, Yu Qingtan expressed her desire to visit the Chess Institute''s True Lord, Yan Ziqing, as her invitation hade from him, and it was impolite of her not to pay a visit right away. "Teacher Yu, the timing is just not right. These past few days, Teacher Yan has been hosting some guests from Sakura Ind, or else I would have taken you to meet him earlier. It''s best if you visit him in a few days," Zhou Lan exined, a hint of displeasure evident on his face when mentioning the guests from Sakura Ind. "Indeed, the old masters of the Four Institutes of Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting were all looking forward to young friend Yu''s visit, but they are currently tied up with the guests from Sakura Ind. For now, only Shi Kuang and the other three can join us in extending hospitality to you," True Lord Changwan added. "I see!" Yu Qingtan nodded in understanding, and the conversation once again became lively. Although Yu Qingtan had not yet reached Dao Comprehension, her insights from her previous life made the discussions with several zither institute teachers and Shi Kuang deeply engaging. True Lords Changwan and Hexin also demonstrated their profound skills in zither y, which earned Yu Qingtan''s deep admiration. That night, Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi were arranged to stay in the guest rooms of the Zither Institute. However, the next morning, a lightly sleeping Yu Qingtan was awakened by the urgent knocking on her door. "Teacher Yu, something terrible has happened. Just now, Teacher Yan lost to a chess yer from Sakura Ind, Sato Masafumi. He spat blood on the spot, and his Nascent Soul was in danger of copsing. Teacher Yan is the number one in chess strength at the Chess Institute and to be defeated by a junior at the Golden Core Stage is an outrage. The cultivators from Sakura Ind are insufferably arrogant, and we need Teacher Yu to step in." The visitor was Zhou Lan, who hade seeking aid. "Alright!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Yu Qingtan''s brows furrowed slightly at the mention of the cultivator from Sakura Ind. She assented, called on Yan Xi, and followed Zhou Lan to the Chess Institute. Qu Fu Immortal City, slightly smaller than Wendao Immortal City, spanned an area of two thousand eight hundred miles in circumference, with All-World Academy upying about thirty percent of Wendao Immortal City. Although the Zither Institute and the Chess Institute were adjacent, it still took the three of them deploying their Escape Technique half a quarter of an hour to rush there. Upon arriving outside the Chess Institute, Yu Qingtan heard a deep voice from within. "Yan Ziqing, so long as you honor the bet to give us three spots to enter All-Under-Heaven Peak, we''ll agree to change to best two out of three rounds, and end thest game in a draw. You wouldn''t want to tarnish yourte reputation, would you?" Zhou Lan led the two into the Chess Institute to see that within arge hall, two groups of people were confronting each other across a chessboard. On one side were more than a dozen wild cultivators from Sakura Ind with chonmage hairstyles, among whom Yu Qingtan spotted the round and corpulent figures of Baili Ya and Yamamoto Jiro. The other side consisted of a group of teachers and students from All-World Academy; True Lord Changwan, Shi Kuang, Zhong Yao, Jing Hao, and others were also present. The Sakura Ind wild cultivators were led by a handsome young man and a middle-aged man with sideburns standing in the forefront. On the academy''s side, an elderly man with snowy white hair and bloodstains on his clothes was being supported at the front by a young disciple. On the way, Zhou Lan briefly exined the situation, and Yu Qingtan learned that the elderly man with white hair was the Nascent Soul cultivator True Lord Yan Ziqing, the middle-aged man with sideburns leading the group of wild cultivators from Sakura Ind was the Nascent Soul cultivator Ozu the Tavern Keeper. The young man beside Ozu was Sato Masafumi, the chess yer who defeated True Lord Yan Ziqing. All-Under-Heaven Peak was a magical ce within All-World Academy, greatly beneficial to Dao Comprehension. Typically, cultivators could only enter All-Under-Heaven Peak once in their lifetime. The primary reason Baili Ya and Tan Suqin visited All-World Academy was to tackle All-Under-Heaven Peak, but they never expected that the wild cultivators from Sakura Ind shared the same goal. "Convince Master Yan to agree!" Yu Qingtanmunicated to Zhou Lan through a transmission, and Zhou Lan immediately ryed the message to True Lord Yan Ziqing. The others also noticed the arrival of Yu Qingtan and her twopanions. Baili Ya and Yamamoto Jiro immediately recognized her and transmitted a message to Ozu the Tavern Keeper. "Alright, I agree to the best two out of three rounds. However, I''m too weak to continue, so I will have the honor lecturer of our Chess Institute, Yu Qingtan, y in my stead. How does that sound?" Although True Lord Yan Ziqing was an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, he had little life left and disyed clear signs of old age. Having been shaken just now, his im of being too weak was not entirely an excuse. "The junior, Yu Qingtan, shall have the honor of facing you all," said Yu Qingtan, wearing the same peony-patterned qipao, as she approached and bowed to True Lord Yan Ziqing before turning towards the group of wild cultivators from Sakura Ind and speaking. "So, you''re Yu Qingtan, the one who ruthlessly killed our brave warriors from Sakura Ind. You know how to y chess too?" Ozu the Tavern Keeper eyed Yu Qingtan sharply as the pressure of an early-stage Nascent Soul radiated towards her. Yu Qingtan''s hair fluttered, but her body stood firm and unmoved. As a cultivator in the Golden Core Stage of Body Refinement, she had no fear of a mere Nascent Soul''s pressure. "I may notpare with the seniors of the Chess Institute, but educating the likes of you is still well within my abilities," Yu Qingtan replied provocatively, her sidelong nce infuriating the wild cultivators of Sakura Ind. "Such arrogance from a youngster; I''d like to see if your chess skills are as strong as your tongue. But, given your confidence, let''s add a little wager. If you lose, in addition to giving us the spots to enter All-Under-Heaven Peak, both you and the maid behind you will be at our disposal," Ozu the Tavern Keeper said, eyeing both Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi. Zhou Lan and the others were furious, and Yu Qingtan was speechless at Sakura Ind wild cultivators'' pettiness. She directly epted: "Fine. But if I win, you will hand over Sato Masafumi and one other person at our disposal." "Agreed!" Yu Qingtan looked to True Lord Yan Ziqing, who nodded in approval. The two parties signed the agreement, and Yu Qingtan took a seat opposite Sato Masafumi at the chess table. Chapter 184 The Failure of the Honorary Lecturer Ma Shi True Lord Ziqing thought that, if Yu Qingtan loses, he would discard his old face without hesitation, pay a price, and still protect the two of them. Although the rtionship between the Southeast Region and Sakura Ind is currently decent, that does not mean the wild cultivators of Sakura Ind can act recklessly in the All-World Academy. More importantly, he had an inexplicable confidence in Yu Qingtan, who could unravel the intricate chess situation. The Path of Chess is the one among the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting that Yu Qingtan is most confident about, and it was for this reason that she came to the All-World Academy, having been invited by True Lord Ziqing of the Chess Academy. During her previous seclusion, Yu Qingtan had spent time every day for Dao Comprehension, and aside from the Paths of Water and Wood, she had delved most into the Path of Chess. Besides, the Path of Chess doesn''t rely solely onprehension. After the memories of her past life became clear, Yu Qingtan recalled many chess positions and games that she had only nced over in her past life, like the previous intricate chess situation. In addition, the development of artificial intelligence in her previous life greatly impacted the game of Go but provided significant inspiration to Qing Tan. At its core, the Path of Chess is a method of extraption. Although Yu Qingtan couldn''t createputers in the Cultivation World, as her cultivation level increased and her soul strengthened, a cultivator''s ability to extrapte grew rapidly. Yu Qingtan primarily drew from the algorithmic logic of artificial intelligence in her past life, practicing Dao Comprehension through self-y, adopting the thought processes of machine learning, andbining it with many ssic games she remembered, which greatly advanced her chess skills. Therefore, after drawing lots and securing the right to move first, Yu Qingtan held a ck piece and began cing it confidently using the Object Controlling Technique. As for someone pretentiously ying what''s called the "Emperor''s Chess," with the first move named "Domination of All-Under-Heaven" and obligatorily cing the first piece on the central point¡ªsuch a foolish act was naturally not what Yu Qingtan would do. "ck~ ck~ ck~" As the sound of the pieces being ced continued to echo, everyone also held their breath and watched the game intently. In the first few dozen moves, thepetitors seemed equally matched, but Yu Qingtan yed two unexpected idle moves in two different spots. As more pieces were yed, Sato Masafumi began to sweat profusely. Finally, with a "ck," Yu Qingtan ced a piece on a critical spot, and inbination with the previous two idle moves, she instantly captured arge dragon belonging to Sato Masafumi, determining the oue of the game. Around the chessboard, illusions appeared once more. In the middle of a vast grasnd, the white-d army of Sakura Ind faced off against the ck-d army of cultivators from the Southeast Region. Initially, the battle was evenly matched, but after two surprise attacks by special forces from the ck-d army, the white-d army was thrown into disarray and suffered a crushing defeat. "You lose!" With Yu Qingtan''s voice, the illusions disappeared. Sato Masafumi looked at his white pieces, which now seemed to be no longer white, but stained with fresh blood, a bloody defeat. Impossible, this could not be happening. How could he, the top young chess master of Sakura Ind, lose to a little girl?N?v(el)B\\jnn "Puh~" Sato Masafumi spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, which the quick-reacting Yu Qingtan swiftly blocked with a small screen of condensed water. The people of the All-World Academy all showed joy, and Zhou Lan''s eyes were filled with admiration when looking at Yu Qingtan. Awe filled Yan Xi''s eyes. The longer she followed Yu Qingtan, the more terrifying she found Yu Qingtan''s talent to be. In contrast, the wild cultivators from Sakura Ind all had grave expressions. "How is it, will he take part in the third game?" Yu Qingtan asked indifferently. The bar owner, who was helping out, nced at Sato Masafumi who was still doubting himself, cursed him internally as useless, and said, "You do have some skills. Now that Masafumi is unable to continue fighting, let''s consider it a draw and nullify the wager." Yu Qingtan nced at True Lord Zi Qing and, upon receiving a secret message advising him to agree, he said to the head bouncer Zheng Zhu, "Fine, since you are guests here, I''ll let you off this time. Remember to keep a low profile in the future and don''t go hopping around everywhere." "Hmph!" The head bouncer Zheng Zhu snorted coldly and walked towards the entrance of the Chess Academy. The other Sakura Ind cultivators quickly followed, with Sato Masafumi being carried by a fat man, trailing at the end. "Thank you, young friend Yu, for helping us out of a difficult situation!" True Lord Zi Qing sped his hands in gratitude. "You''re too kind, True Lord. I should be the one thanking you for the invitation," Yu Qingtan hurriedly returned the gesture. "I have been befuddled by the Zhen Long chess game for my entire life, yet you, young friend Yu, managed to solve it with ease. I have long admired your spirit. Today, seeing you y, your moves were unrestrained and unconventional, yet you nned your strategy across the entire board, with careful thought and foresight, making me feel quite inferior." True Lord Zi Qing was overjoyed with the game, whichpletely dispelled the gloom of his previous loss. "Young friend Yu, I am Teacher Mi Pei from the Calligraphy and Painting Academy of All-World Academy, and I''m very interested in your sketching and perspective techniques!" "Young friend Yu, I am Teacher Wang Xi Zhi from the Calligraphy and Painting Academy of All-World Academy, and I really admire your slender-gold script calligraphy." At this moment, the teachers and students from the Calligraphy and Painting Academy, including True Lords Mi Pei and Xi Zhi, also came forward to exchange with Yu Qingtan. Several True Lords decided to hold an exchange event with Yu Qingtan on the topics of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The exchangested an entire day, and although Yu Qingtan''s calligraphy and painting were not yet fully developed, the event went very smoothly. After the exchange ended, True Lords such as Changwan, Zi Qing, Mi Pei, and Xi Zhi jointly sent a message to All-World Academy''s Dean True Lord Shou Yi, inviting Yu Qingtan to be an honorary lecturer at the Zither Academy, Chess Academy, and Calligraphy and Painting Academy, making good on the previously made statements by True Lord Zi Qing and head bouncer Zheng Zhu. Soon, True Lord Shou Yi replied, agreeing to the request, and also approved Yu Qingtan''s visit to All-Under-Heaven Peak. The only one feeling somewhat gloomy at the event was Shi Kuang, who ultimately became Yu Qingtan''s student. Thankfully, he had already achieved Core Formation and could leave at any time. Additionally, through the exchange, Yu Qingtan learned that the delegation led by head bouncer Zheng Zhu had been invited by the Commerce Academy of All-World Academy. After visiting the Commerce Academy, they had gone to the Calligraphy and Painting Academy to issue a challenge but were unable to defeat True Lords Mi Pei and Xi Zhi. After that, they went to the Chess Academy and defeated True Lord Zi Qing. "In three days it will be the open day for All-Under-Heaven Peak. They will certainly get entry slots from the Commerce Academy. I''m concerned they will target young friend Yu. Would you like to wait half a year before entering?" True Lord Zi Qing suggested to Yu Qingtan, as All-Under-Heaven Peak opened every half a year and fighting was not prohibited there. "It''s not a problem. Since Nascent Soul cultivators can''t enter, I''m not afraid of them targeting me. Or rather, I hope they do target me." Yu Qingtanughed lightly. Seeing Yu Qingtan so confident, True Lord Zi Qing and the others refrained from persuading further and proceeded to thoroughly brief her on the many aspects of All-Under-Heaven Peak. ... All-World Academy, Commerce Academy, atop a high building. "Mmm~back there~" "Wen Ying, do you really like this pavilion so much?" "Zheng Zhu, the view from this little pavilion is broad, epassing hundreds of miles. Don''t you find it especially thrilling?" "Wen Ying, as long as you are happy! However, this time at the Calligraphy and Painting Academy and the Chess Academy, we were almost sessful, but that little bitch Yu Qingtan spoiled our ns." "Hmph, I''ll go get some slots from a few old men tomorrow. As for that little girl, if she doesn''t enter All-Under-Heaven Peak, fine, but if she does and you guys still can''t take her down, ugh!" "Wen Ying, you''re the best!" Chapter 185 Shi Kuang Confesses and is Given a Hairpin True Master Wen Ying, Xia Wenyin, a teacher from the Commerce Department of the All-World Academy, was unexpectedly collecting silver debts from the big bartender in this tall building on a bright day. ... On the other side, the exchange meetingsted for a day and a night, noting to an end until the evening of the next day when Yu Qingtan returned to the Qin Academy, apanied by Shi Kuang. After escorting Yu Qingtan to the guest room, Yan Xi went back to the adjacent room, and Shi Kuang suddenly said, "Fairy Qingtan, Kuang hasposed a new piece and would be honored if you could give it your appraisal." "Qingtan is most honored!" Shi Kuang approached the table, took out the Nine Heavens Ring Pei Qin, and looking at Yu Qingtan who had taken a seat in front of him, he began to y. The music was tender and yet passionately unrestrained. There were no shy special effects, only the most sincere emotions. There is a beauty, unforgettable upon sight; not seen for a single day, thoughts of her drive one mad. It turned out to be a rendition of "A Phoenix Seeks His Mate". Yu Qingtan felt her cheeks heat up as she listened, and she lowered her head to look at the tips of her little leather shoes. "Fairy Qingtan, Kuang admires you deeply; I wonder if you could ept Kuang''s affection?" After finishing the piece, Shi Kuang stared at Yu Qingtan as he directly confessed his feelings. Yu Qingtan sighed inwardly; why was cultivating affections in the Cultivation World so challenging? Everyone liked to make grand gestures. Why couldn''t they be restrained and shy like she had been in her previous life? Perhaps cultivators were simply more unrestrained. Luckily, she had conducted a test: once the Affection Value was offered, even if the other person fell out of love, they would not take it back. So she also lifted her head to look at Shi Kuang and said, "Thank you, Young Master Shi, for your misguided affection. Young Master Shi is a kind person, but Qingtan is devoted to seeking the Dao and has no interest in romantic rtionships. I hope you will forgive me."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om She had said simr things to Fang Ling and Xiang Yiyi, and she might need to say them to even more people in the future. She intended to be a heartless distributor of friendship tokens. "It''s not that I wish to attract admirers; it''s the system forcing my hand. My dear fish, do not me Qingtan!" Shi Kuang likely had some mental preparation, and upon hearing these words, he did not react too strongly, though his mood noticeably dropped. "If that is the case, then it is Kuang who has been presumptuous. I wish Fairy Qingtan a smooth path in the Dao. From now on, we shall be fellow Daoists." Yu Qingtan felt that perhaps Shi Kuang only wanted to experience the taste of love; though it wasn''t perfect, the lesson was profound. What is love in this world that can turn so many cultivators into fools? Yu Qingtan, in her previous life, had also experienced the sweetness and bitterness of love. In this life, as a youngdy with the prospect of eternal life, naturally, she did not want to be burdened by emotions again. Suffering the setback of unrequited love, Shi Kuang left Yu Qingtan''s guest room in a somewhat deste state, and before long, Zhou Lan, Jing Hao, and Zhong Yao stopped him. "Big brother Shi, I have some wine. Would you like a drink?" Zhong Yao offered a wine sk. "We treat you as a brother, but you wanted to be our teacher''s husband. Seems like that''s not happening now, huh." Jing Hao teased pretendingly. Shi Kuang gave him a thump on the shoulder, "Let''s go drink!" ... The next day, Jing Hao came over and gave Yu Qingtan and herpanion a thorough tour of the All-World Academy and Qu Fu Immortal City. Qu Fu Immortal City is home to over two billion Cultivators and, as far as Yu Qingtan was aware, it was the only Immortal City not divided into Inner and Outer Cities. Qu Fu Immortal City had no city walls either, but there was the Qu Fu River that encircled the entire city, five miles wide, serving as a moat. A series of watchtowers were built along the river, and with these towers and the Qu Fu River, Qu Fu Immortal City had arranged an immensely powerful Fourth Stage Protective City Formation, the Azure Water Reaching Sky Great Array. In suchrge Immortal Cities teeming with Cultivators, Yu Qingtan felt right at home, yet she didn''t immediately stir up schemes to gather Charm Points. That was because attempting All-Under-Heaven Peak was an excellent way to harvest Charm Points. Not only because everyone in Qu Fu Immortal City knew about All-Under-Heaven Peak, but also because the city had four giant steles called "All Under Heaven", which recorded the achievements of those who excelled in the challenge. All-Under-Heaven Peak opened every six months, and most of those who entered were Golden Core Cultivators, with a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The All Under Heaven steles recorded the names of Cultivators who had been in the top hundred historical achievements over the past thousand years, as well as the names and portraits of the top ten achievers from the current year. Under the guidance of Jing Hao, Yu Qingtan also visited one of the All Under Heaven steles. It was a thirty-foot tall stele with the top half of the front showing a hundred names and the bottom half disying ten names and their corresponding portraits. The back, however, featured an epitaph. The epitaph detailed the origin and history of All-Under-Heaven Peak. ording to the recording, in ancient times, a starry sky meteorite fell into Lichuan Cultivation World, and one of the founders of the All-World Academy, the sage Confucius, struck it with divine powers. The starry sky meteorite shattered into ninerge pieces, which Confucius collected and then refined into nine peaks known as the All-Under-Heaven Peaks, one of which was the one located in the Southeast Branch of the Qu Fu Immortal City''s All-World Academy. The All Under Heaven steles, on the other hand, were made from the smaller fragments of the starry sky meteorite. "If a thirty-foot tall stele is merely a small fragment, the original meteorite must have been gigantic. Had it collided squarely, the Lichuan Cultivation World would''ve been finished," Yu Qingtan estimated in her mind, deducing that the meteorite med for the extinction of the dinosaurs paled inparison to this starry sky meteorite. Over the past thousand years, the best historical score on the All Under Heaven stele belonged to a man named Wu Di, known as the Undefeated True Monarch of Cangqiong Sword Sect. Second ce went to Huang Mingjing, the Supreme Elder of the Great Mist Mountain Huang Family. The third ce was upied by Xu Fang of the Star Moon Sect, who topped the Hundred Flowers List and came second on the Pride of the Heavens List as a fairy banished to the mortal world. The rest were mostly individuals who had been on the Pride of the Heavens List, such as Liu Maocai and Gong Zhaoqing from the All-World Academy. In particr, Gong Zhaoqing, ranked thirty-ninth on the Pride of the Heavens List and a student from the Calligraphy and Painting Academy, was currently traveling abroad and Yu Qingtan did not have the chance to meet him. The All-World Academy is a very unique power, with its ideal of enlightening the world not just being an empty phrase. Any young person with a talent for cultivation and a decent temperament can be a student of the All-World Academy for free. However, due to limited resources, students who do not meet the assessment requirements after a certain period of study are asked to graduate. Nevertheless, it is difficult for people with cultivation talent from other forces to traverse the perilous uninhabited areas to reach the All-World Academy to seek the path of cultivation. Even so, there were twice as many Cultivators living in Qu Fu Immortal City than in Wendao Immortal City, most of whom had studied at the All-World Academy. In addition, the All-World Academy also weed amicable forces to send their disciples for exchange and learning. For instance, Baili Ya and Tan Suqin had studied at the All-World Academy, and Yu Qingtan was also considered to be visiting for study purposes now. The top ten achievers of the current year recorded on the All Under Heaven stele shockingly included a Cultivator from Lotus Gate, named Xue Shuangsu, also known as Real Person Shuangsu. As for the other nine, Yu Qingtan had not heard of them before. After viewing the All Under Heaven stele, Jing Hao also took Yu Qingtan and herpanion to the Treasure Pavilion, the amusement park, the arena, the grand theater, and other ces. Overall, Cultivators from Qu Fu Immortal City seemed to have a more vivid sense of life, such as Yu Qingtan experiencing the Cultivation World''s amusement park for the first time. Things like thousand-foot bungee jumping, spinning flying horses, and Demonic Beasts acrobatics, brought great joy to Yu Qingtan. Furthermore, Qu Fu Immortal City even had Spirit Stone-driven vehicles, although they were still quite rare. "This is a technology that was transmitted from the Central Domain not long ago, known as the automobile, and it''s currently being tested on a small scale," Jing Hao exined as they sat in a luxurious four-wheeled automobile. Chapter 186 Qing Tans First Entry into All-Under-Heaven Peak Looking at the driver in front, Yu Qingtan felt as if she were experiencing a d¨¦j¨¤ vu from a past life. Actually, Yu Qingtan had thought before that it was quite unbelievable for carriages in the Cultivation World, with such developed flying boats, to still be drawn by Demonic Beasts. About the issue of self-driving vehicles, Yu Qingtan did not delve too deeply; things developed this way naturally for a reason. Moreover, the fact that they weren''t named "spiritual vehicles" made Yu Qingtan secretly heave a sigh of relief. ... In the central region of The World Academy Southeast Branch, there stood a peak tens of thousands of feet tall, known as All-Under-Heaven Peak. However, when Yu Qingtan arrived at Qu Fu Immortal City, she did not see such a towering peak within the city. This was because All-Under-Heaven Peak was a Taoist Instrument containing the pathway of space, usually hidden within the void, not easily seen by themon eye. ording to rumors, the main peak of All-Under-Heaven Peak at the headquarters of The World Academy in the Central Domain was an Immortal Artifact. That day, the sky was clear and bright. Apanied by Shi Kuang and his three associates, Yu Qingtan and Yan Xi arrived at the foot of All-Under-Heaven Peak, where many Cultivators had already gathered, with a constant stream arriving. Among them, there were not many Cultivators from The World Academy. Shi Kuang introduced them all one by one to Yu Qingtan but did not approach them for a greeting, except for one real monarch of The World Academy. The Mountain Guardian Real Monarch, an elder Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator responsible for guarding and opening All-Under-Heaven Peak, had both hair and beard white, with a face as red as jujube.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om In response to the greetings from Yu Qingtan, Shi Kuang, and the others, he simply nodded with closed eyes. The World Academy was vast, and many people there were not very familiar to Shi Kuang and hispanions, and moreover, most were from other forces. As expected, Yu Qingtan saw the wild cultivators from Sakura Ind, led by the prominent tavern keeper. Sensing Yu Qingtan''s gaze, the cultivators from Sakura Ind also looked back with unfriendly expressions. Yu Qingtan couldn''t be bothered to conflict with them at this moment and turned to look at others, including some Cultivators she had encountered at Wendao Sect, such as Jiang Yousi from Star Moon Sect and Leng Yihan from Cangqiong Sword Sect. Yu Qingtan faintly felt a few malicious gazes directed at her, not from the cultivators of Sakura Ind, but she couldn''t discern their sources. At this moment, Baili Ya and Tan Suqin arrived with a handsome, blond young man who first paid respects to the Mountain Guardian Real Monarch, and then approached the group of six including Yu Qingtan. "Is this the Fairy Qingtan you spoke of? Indeed, she appears detached from this world. Fairy Qingtan, hello, I am Shuai Ge from the Thunder Courtyard of The World Academy, pleased to meet you!" said the blond young man upon setting eyes on Yu Qingtan. "Fairy Qingtan has seen Brother Shuai, and I am also very pleased to meet you!" Although Yu Qingtan had inwardly ridiculed the name upon hearing it previously, upon seeing the man himself, Yu Qingtan felt that Shuai Ge indeed lived up to his name. Moreover, Shuai Ge was ranked ny-ninth on the World Stele historical list, indicating his strong talent for Dao Comprehension. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they heard the resonant voice of the Mountain Guardian Real Monarch. "All-Under-Heaven Peak will open in ten breaths'' time, those entering should be prepared!" All-Under-Heaven Peak, also known as Enlightenment Peak, requires at least a basic understanding of one Path of Dao as an entry requirement. However, after reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, those not core members nurtured by The World Academy were no longer permitted to enter All-Under-Heaven Peak. Furthermore, typically, each person was only granted one opportunity to enter, which is why many would choose to enter All-Under-Heaven Peak when they hit a bottleneck in their Dao Comprehension, like Baili Ya and Tan Suqin. Yu Qingtan, eager to enhance her strength, didn''t consider these restrictions, but Shi Kuang chose not to enter All-Under-Heaven Peak this time; he felt it was not yet the right moment. After the Mountain Guardian Real Monarch finished speaking, Yu Qingtan and the others took out a jade token provided by The World Academy. "Sister Yu, I will reach a higher level than you!" Before being teleported to All-Under-Heaven Peak, Fairy Su Qin had exchanged sound transmissions with Yu Qingtan. She didn''t understand why a Golden Core mid-stage cultivator like her waspeting with a Foundation Establishment cultivator like herself. After the familiar sensation of teleportation, Yu Qingtan appeared at the foot of a towering dark mountain peak. There were no other people around, only an endless flight of stone steps in front of her. Inside All-Under-Heaven Peak, flying was forbidden, and Divine Sense was suppressed within a ten-zhang radius. Without any hesitation, Yu Qingtan stepped onto the stone staircase. Instantly, a neutral voice resonated in her mind. "Choose the path you wish to temper!" "The Path of Water, the Path of Wood, the Path of Chess," Yu Qingtan said. "Are you sure?" "Yes!" After herst closed-door cultivation, Yu Qingtan''s Water Path had reached the first level, sessfully condensing a true domain of water; her Wood Path had also made a start, just a step away from forming the rudimentary shape of a wood domain; her Path of Chess had also just reached the threshold of entrance. Most cultivators would only choose one or two paths for Dao Comprehension, and even moremonly, they choose one since it is extremely difficult toprehend these paths. Furthermore,prehension is closely tied to the advancement to the Nascent Soul Stage and cultivation thereafter. With the limited lifespan of cultivators, it''s a wise decision to focus on mastering one path, and the cultivators from Extreme Path Demon Sect are a typical example of focusing on just one. Moreover, at the same cultivation realm, a cultivator who hasprehended several paths at the first level might not be able to defeat one who has mastered a single path at the second level. However, if the levels ofprehension are the same, a cultivator who hasprehended more paths has a significant advantage, and these various paths can alsoplement and even merge with one another. For example, the Four Seasons Thunder Sword sh from the Invincible True Monarchbines the Thunder Path and the Sword Dao; the Dream Star River from Star River Daoist is a fusion of the Dream Path, Water Path, and Star Path, and their powers are extremely terrifying. As a genius with extraordinary talent, Yu Qingtan naturally chose to pursue multiple paths simultaneously. After Yu Qingtan confirmed her choice, no more voices were heard, and she began to climb upward. She had just stepped onto the first step when an attack from the void shot towards her. It was a Water de, the technique she was most familiar with, infused with a hint of Dao essence. Yu Qingtan also began tobine the Dao with her spells and had made some progress; facing the iing Water de attack, she didn''t even blink as she condensed a Water de of her own and shot it out. The two Water des collided, dissolving into mist. Yu Qingtan continued to climb, facing an iing Water de every ten steps. Although their power gradually increased, she easily blocked them all with her own Water des. However, Yu Qingtan noticed that the Water des attacking her werebined with the Water Path in a manner different and more exquisite than her own. Yu Qingtan slowed down, observing attentively with her Divine Sense and pondering carefully. By the time she reached the 3,500th step, Yu Qingtan felt a significant improvement in her understanding of the Water Path and gained a deeper insight into the integration of water-based spells with the Water Path. After advancing another step, the attack transformed into the Green Wood Sword Technique, which was essentially Wood Sword Art. Recently, Qi Hong and Song Zhenbo''s Second Stage Fire Bullet Technique and Second Stage Green Wood Sword Technique had finally been perfected, and Yu Qingtan had copied them for her own use. Thus, Yu Qingtan too condensed a small green sword and shed with the small green sword that came from the void. Because her level ofprehension in the Path of Wood wasn''t as advanced as the Water Path, Yu Qingtan slowed down even more, not to waste this excellent opportunity for enlightenment. After spending three times the effort, Yu Qingtan reached the 7,000th step and significantly improved herprehension of the Wood Path, managing to sessfully condense the rudimentary form of the Wood Dao Domain. As she set foot on the 7,001st step, as expected, a chessboard materialized in the void. To Yu Qingtan''s surprise, the toneless voice spoke again. "Lose and you must remove an item of clothing or leave All-Under-Heaven Peak." Chapter 187 Refining the Dao Domain to Battle the Waters of Lai Miao "Are you really ying such a fancy game?" Yu Qingtan was at a loss for words. She was only d in a dress, beneath which was the dragon scale soft armor and her underwear. Though referred to as armor, the dragon scale soft armor was extremely thin and flexible, nearly indistinguishable from a baseyer once worn. Little did she know that an entity of All-Under-Heaven Peak considered her attempt toprehend three paths while merely at the Foundation Establishment stage to be overestimating her own ability, thus this predicament. Somewhere on the chessboard, a ck piece appeared, and in another spot, Yu Qingtan deployed her spiritual power to manifest a white piece. The two sides began their game. Before long, Yu Qingtan realized her opponent wasn''t very skilled. She didn''t dare to be careless, ying steadily and soon secured the victory. The chessboard disappeared, and Yu Qingtan continued upwards. This time, she climbed a hundred steps before the chessboard appeared again. After a few rounds, Yu Qingtan felt that the opponent resembled a low-level artificial intelligence. After each game, she carefully reviewed it in her mind, analyzing the other side''s moves. Even so, by the thirtieth game, Yu Qingtan was still feeling a great deal of pressure. Her pace slowed down, but fortunately, the opponent did not urge her. Yu Qingtan even took out her Roaming Zither to y the Soul Cleansing melody for herself, using the Soul Cleansing Technique to keep her mind clear. With this, Yu Qingtan barely managed to win, and simultaneously, illusions of battling armies appeared around her. However, this time, the illusions were controlled by her, the beginnings of her Chess Domain. Opening her eyes, Yu Qingtan stepped onto a tform. On the tform was a table with three cups of tea set out. "Enlightenment Tea!" True Lord Changwan and others had thoroughly briefed Yu Qingtan about the basics of All-Under-Heaven Peak, so she knew this was the reward for the first segment. Yu Qingtan drank the first cup of Enlightenment Tea, and immediately her mind was filled with various insights into the Path of Water. She promptly sat cross-legged, took out her Cann Umbre, and closed her eyes to deeplyprehend. Aplete water domain formed, with water des crisscrossing with water curtains within the domain and Yu Qingtan''s figure moving about in the water domain using Water Escape Technique, almost as if teleporting. In the end, Yu Qingtan''s water domain began to alternately expand and contract and showed a tendency to change shape. Under the effect of the Enlightenment Tea and her excellent Water Spirit Root, signs appeared that Yu Qingtan''s Water Dao Domain might reach the second stage. Unfortunately, when the effects of the Enlightenment Tea wore off, Yu Qingtan''sprehension efficiency significantly decreased, making it difficult to further improve in a short time. Yu Qingtan opened her eyes and drank the second cup of Enlightenment Tea, which enhanced her understanding of the Path of Wood. The third cup improved her insight into the Path of Chess. After consuming all three cups of Enlightenment Tea, Yu Qingtan was still longing for more. However, her earth, metal, fire, zither, books, painting, and dance had not yet reached the threshold required by All-Under-Heaven Peak for refinement. Yu Qingtan was not an insatiable person; she stood up and walked to the base of a cliff. Next, Yu Qingtan was to climb this cliff. Since there were many protrusions on the cliff, it would be easy for her to climb, being a Body Cultivation Golden Core Stage cultivator. Toozy to change her outfit, she simply started climbing in her dress. The difficulty here was that from time to time on the cliff, the Gang Wind of the Nine Heavens would blow, which even Yu Qingtan''s Golden Core Stage cultivated body could only withstand for a short while. The Dao Domain was the key to resisting the Gang Wind of the Nine Heavens, which in turn could temper the Dao Domain, allowing the cultivator to find its deficiencies and make improvements. Sure enough, just climbing for a dozen or so breaths, a fierce st of Gang Wind swept up, blowing Yu Qingtan''s dress. Even though she was wearing safety shorts, Yu Qingtan immediately gathered her nascent Water Domain, the embryonic Wood Domain, and the embryonic Chess Domain. With her Water Dao Domain approaching the second level, it wouldn''t be difficult for her to traverse this cliff, but she wanted to utilize the Gang Wind from the upper reaches of the firmament to temper her Dao Domain. To stay within the outer realm''s Gang Windyer for an extended period of time required at least the cultivation of the Nascent Soul Stage. Thus, only after Yu Qingtan tempered her three Dao Domains to the limits of herprehension did she manage to climb to the peak of the cliff, which was also arge tform. The reward for the second segment was the Dao Domain tempering effect gained during the climb. In front of the tform, there was a two hundred zhang high waterfall with turbulent waters rushing down, sshing waves several zhang high at the bottom, where one could vaguely make out a cultivator swimming upwards against the current. On the tform, there were also three cultivators. One was True Lord Jiang Yousi from Star Moon Sect, another was the rogue cultivator Shuise Miao from Sakura Ind, and the third was True Lady You Anxiang from Jinjiang Sect. The three of them were originally meditating with closed eyes, but upon sensing someone ascending, they all opened their eyes.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "You''ve finally made it up here, so slow, prepare to die!" Seeing that it was Yu Qingtan, Shuise Miao, a tall woman with a frosty expression, spoke before directly taking action. Yu Qingtan spent a long time tempering her three Paths during the first segment and was at ease in the second, but still took a considerable amount of time to refine her Dao Domains, which made Shuise Miao grow impatient from waiting. Her water domain expanded as her hands swiftly formed seals, summoning a blue spear apanied by a serpent-shaped water column to attack Yu Qingtan. Shuise Miao turned out to be a Late-Stage Golden Core cultivator who had also solidified a true Water Dao Domain. The spear was her lifebound magical treasure, a mid-grade Third-Stage artifact, and the spell she cast was the Third-Stage Water Serpent Technique, indeed unleashing a deadly move right from the start. Yu Qingtan raised her cultivation to the Early Stage of Golden Core, forming her water domain swiftly around her, holding the Cann Sword in hand, Water Curtain Technique forming a shield of water armor, and Water de Technique forming a water de attached to the Cann Sword as she used the Water Escape Technique to quickly advance forward. Jiang Yousi and You Anxiang watched the two engage without intervening, seeming to have no inclination to take part in the fray. Yu Qingtan, not having the advantage in terms of cultivation level and being suppressed in divine sense, decided that contesting in physical prowess was her best choice, immediately closing the distance as her first course of action. She also held the advantage in terms of the Dao Domain. She contracted her Water Dao Domain to a radius of one zhang around her, easily breaking into Shuise Miao''s domain that spanned over a hundred zhang. "Ding~" The Cann Sword parried away Shuise Miao''s blue spear and split the iing water serpent in two, before lifting the sword to thrust at Shuise Miao. In a single breath, she struck out over a hundred times, the tip of the sword creating a dense swarm of fine sword radiance, carrying the immense strength from her Body Refinement at the Golden Core Stage, enveloping all the space around Shuise Miao. The second form of Xiangfei Sword Technique, Xiang Jun''s Scattered Tears. Shuise Miao hadn''t expected Yu Qingtan''s Dao Domain to be manipble in size, its intensity surpassing her own by more than a notch. Now that Yu Qingtan easily blocked her attack and countered, she chose to use the Water Escape Technique to increase the distance and manipted her lifebound magical spear to provide aid. "A Golden Core cultivator with Dual Cultivation of Law and Body!" She felt the immense strength wrapped within Yu Qingtan''s sword techniques; even her Minor-Achievement Third-Stage Water Escape Technique couldn''t create enough distance, so she caused the spear to spin rapidly in flight. "Ding ding ding ding~" The Cann Sword stabbed against the shaft of the spear, failing to break through. Yu Qingtan, now taking the lead, changed her sword strokes, interweaving sword energy and light, resembling misty rain attacking Shuise Miao from all angles like drizzle. The first form of Xiangfei Sword Technique, Xiao Xiang Misty Rain. Gaining the initiative, she aimed to overwhelm her opponent with relentless, continuous attacks like a sudden fierce storm, not having to worry about depleting her resources. In terms of spiritual power, she had plenty, and in physical strength, cultivators of Body Cultivation were known for their endurance. Facing Yu Qingtan''s fierce onught, Shuise Miao used a blue gauze shawl, a high-grade defensive magical treasure, and her lifebound magical spear to defend herself. Chapter 188 Defeated Waters, A Faint Fragrance Assaults the Senses Although it wasn''t particrly strenuous, she still couldn''t find an opportunity to counterattack. Shuisai Miao''s cold brows furrowed as she pulled out a scarlet pill and tossed it into her mouth. Instantly, her aura surged, and she effortlessly widened the distance between herself and Yu Qingtan. Shuisai Miao''s body roiled with spiritual power as a ferocious water dragon took shape, with her lifebound magical treasure transforming into the ws of the water dragon,unching an attack at Yu Qingtan. The perfectly mastered Third Stage Water Dragon Spell, the earlier Water Serpent Technique was simply a sign of her iplete mastery. Facing the frenzied Shuisai Miao, Yu Qingtan immediately took out the Cann Umbre and deployed its powerful move, the Cann Water Tornado. The thick water column and the ferocious water dragon collided; although the water column was more powerful, it ultimatelycked agility and sustainable force, managing to obstruct the water dragon for only a moment before its power diminished. The waters of the Cann River were manipted by Yu Qingtan to form a thick water sphere enveloping her. With her current understanding of the Path of Water, it was easy for her to achieve the effect of the Water Sphere Spell with the Water Curtain Technique. However, Yu Qingtan''s Water Curtain Technique was still only a Second Stage spell and couldn''t withstand the Third Stage Water Dragon Spell. But in the time it took to block for a moment, Yu Qingtan had already donned the armor of little Taro and, together with the Cann Umbre, fended off the water dragon''s assault. Seeing Yu Qingtan defending herself with equipment from the warriors of Sakura Ind, Shuisai Miao controlled the water dragon to attack even more fiercely. Half a quarter of an hourter, Yu Qingtan''s Cann Umbre danced in the air,pletely blocking the water dragon''s attack. Shuisai Miao grew ruthless, spitting out a breath of her lifebound Golden Core energy onto her lifebound magical treasure. The water dragon''s next w strike sessfully pierced a hole in the surface of the Cann Umbre, causing Yu Qingtan much distress. Yu Qingtan covered the surface of the Cann Umbre with the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield to reduce the damage to the umbre. Half a quarter of an hourter, the Qingxuan Turtle Spirit Shield was riddled with holes andpletely ruined, and the Cann Umbre had over a dozen punctures. Several times, Shuisai Miao''s spear had prated through the surface of the umbre and struck Yu Qingtan, piercing the armor of little Taro and inflicting wounds on Yu Qingtan. But Yu Qingtan was still wearing dragon scale soft armor, and she only suffered some injuries to her arms, which were only light wounds to someone with her formidable physique and strong recovery abilities. In contrast, Shuisai Miao''s spiritual power was mostly spent, and the effects of the explosive elixir she had taken had passed, with the aftereffects kicking in, causing her water dragon to vanish and her aura fell to that of a mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator. Although unwilling to ept defeat, Shuisai Miao knew she had failed to live up to the high expectations of the great tavern keeper, so she charged towards Yu Qingtan, her spiritual power bing wildly turbulent. Yu Qingtan''s expression changed, she was trying to self-destruct. The only thing that had a slight mitigating effect on self-destruction for her now was the ice-cold breath of little Tao, but within the confines of All-Under-Heaven Peak, the Spirit Beast Pouch was also prohibited. Although her System Space wasn''t suppressed, she wouldn''t be able to exin it afterward. Moreover, the open time of All-Under-Heaven Peak was three days, but the internal time was one month; one could only leave when the time was up, and they could only voluntarily move upwards, not downwards. Given Shuisai Miao''s current state, her chances of scaling that waterfall were nearly impossible, which meant she had nowhere to escape to and therefore chose self-destruction. Just as Yu Qingtan was on full defensive alert and preparing herself for the possibility of severe injuries again, a heptagonal light shone on Shuisai Miao, causing her body to halt momentarily, even the raging spiritual power ceased flowing for an instant. Then, Shuisai Miao smelled a strange fragrance, her soul became drowsy, and the cirction of spiritual power within her body involuntarily slowed down. The Spirit Calming Talisman and the Drunken Soul Fragrance¡ªthese were the interventions of True Lord Jiang Yousi and True Lord You Anxiang. They had initially been organizing their gains from Dao Comprehension, preparing to climb the waterfall, but seeing Yu Qingtan and her opponent engaged in a fierce battle, with Shuisai Miao even preparing for self-destruction, had to act. The spot was not particrly spacious, and if ate-stage Golden Core Cultivator self-destructed, they would undoubtedly be affected, so they chose to intervene. With her rich experience in spellbat, Yu Qingtan immediately took out the Roaming Zither and performed the Third Stage spell, Devil''s Prating Sound. That''s right, Shi Kuang had finally mastered the Third Stage spells of Devil''s Prating Sound and Great Resonant Sound. Actually, both spells were derived from Dao Techniques, with formidable power. Shi Kuangprehended it, which means that Yu Qingtan did as well. Shui Laimiao had not yet recovered from the Drunken Soul Fragrance, and with his soul under attack, he was even less able to control his self-detonation, and was decapitated by a sword strike from Yu Qingtan wielding the Cann Sword with her Object Controlling Technique. Yu Qingtan rushed forward immediately, extracted Shui Laimiao''s Golden Core, purified it with a Purification Spell, and then stored it in the System Space. She then collected Shui Laimiao''s spear, shoulder mantle, and Storage Ring. A fireball formed at her fingertips, incinerating his body to ashes. Real persons Jiang Yousi and You Anxiang showed no intention of sharing in the spoils. Real person Jiang Yousi was the n elder of Jiang Yueli, bearing a six to seven resemnce to her, dressed in a white robe with a cold demeanor, usually giving off an air of keeping others at a thousand miles distance. Real person You Anxiang had a spring-likeplexion and eyes full of luster. Dressed in a red gown with a thin shawl draped over her, her shoulders were partially exposed, revealing seductive contours. "Fairy Qingtan, subduing ate-stage Golden Core Cultivator is truly worthy of being the chosen talent True Lord Kongbei is fond of. Such a gift truly makes us ashamed," said the person from Canng Sect, praise in her voice but her heart sneering continuously. "No matter how talented you are, you will still fall into my hands, hehe," she thought, having already set a trap on Yu Qingtan, which, regrettably, Yu Qingtan waspletely unaware of. The Jinjiang Sect belonged to the sphere of influence of the All-World Academy. It counted as an affiliate force, hence Yu Qingtan was still very courteous towards them. "Real person You Anxiang tters me. I also have to thank both of you for lending aid," she said.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Fairy Qingtan, you are too polite. Had that rogue cultivator from Sakura Ind self-detonated, we would have been affected as well. Please don''t me me for not lending a hand, truly it''s a matter of inadequate strength," Real person You Anxiang said, while Real person Jiang Yousi had already closed her eyes again. Yu Qingtan didn''t feel anything in particr regarding theirck of help. After all, they were under no obligation to assist her. The rogue cultivators on Sakura Ind were annoying, but they had yet to be universally hunted. "In any case, thank you," she said. "Ah¡ª" At this moment, the cultivator who had been climbing up the waterfall suddenly fell, crashing into the pool below the waterfall. Shortly after, a woman leaped onto the tform,pletely dry despite the water, but with a defeated look on her face. She paid no attention to the three people including Yu Qingtan, walked straight to one side, and set up an Alert Defense Formation before sitting down to meditate with closed eyes. "Fairy Qingtan, with that Dao Companion also failing, I wonder how confident are you in ascending the heavy waterfall?" Real person You Anxiang asked with a smile. The cultivator who had just failed was Real person Song Zhiyi, a Golden Core Cultivator from Canng Sect. "I will only try my best!" Yu Qingtan felt that Real person You Anxiang''s smile was a bit forced, and she wasn''t sure why, but she felt some dislike for this person, so she responded perfunctorily. The waterfall before her was not flowing with ordinary water but with heavy water. Although it was only first-grade Yuan Heavy Water, its densitypared to that of molten iron. Such a massive amount of Yuan Heavy Water cascading down was not something Yu Qingtan could endure with her Golden Core physical body. At this moment, Real person Jiang Yousi stood up, and a water domain appeared around her. She walked on the waves and approached the base of the heavy waterfall to begin her climb. "Dao Companion You Anxiang, I will first regte my breathing!" Yu Qingtan also set up a simple formation and began to meditate with closed eyes, having sustained minor injuries in the previous battle and feeling somewhat drained. "Please make yourselffortable, Fairy Qingtan!" Real person You Anxiang watched Yu Qingtan with closed eyes, a yful look in her eyes and a smile on her lips, as if she was contemting something. Chapter 189 Heavy Water Falls and Falling Wood Cliff About two hourster, Master Si''s figure disappeared at the top of the waterfall, having sessfully crossed the Chongshui Falls. Yu Qingtan had also rested and stood up, opening her Water Dao Domain as she stepped onto the water''s surface. Arriving at the bottom of the waterfall, Yu Qingtan immediately felt as if a weight of ten thousand jun pressed atop the water domain, distorting its shape. Yu Qingtan reflected profoundly. In this world, nothing is softer than water¡ªsilky and smooth, ultimate in softness and beauty. Yet, nothing is as hard as water either¡ªsplitting mountains, carving stones, and rushing forth for thousands of miles. The softness of water lies in its gentle nourishment of all things, as if cultured jade, while its hardness lies in its thunderous waves crashing against the shores, rolling on for thousands of miles. The Chongshui Waterfall here embodied the hardness of water, which, if guided properly, could also be transformed into softness. Yu Qingtan controlled her Dao Domain, allowing the heavy water to flow in. The Dao Domain, filled with heavy water, no longer felt the pressure. However, Yu Qingtan''s physical body was subjected to the scouring of the heavy water. Yu Qingtan attempted to manipte this Yuan Heavy Water, dispersing its force so that only a portion exerted pressure on her body; she rapidly achieved sess. As her burden lightened, Yu Qingtan tried to exert pressure on her Water Dao Domain with the Yuan Heavy Water, tempering her own Dao Domain. After half an hour, Yu Qingtan had fully adapted to the scouring of the Yuan Heavy Water at the bottom of the waterfall and began to climb up the smooth rock wall. Although the rock wall behind the waterfall was as firm as metal due to the water''s impact, Yu Qingtan''s tender jade fingers could still easily pierce into it.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Generally, the force of the water at the bottom of a waterfall was the strongest. However, it was not the case here; the higher Yu Qingtan climbed, the stronger the pressure she felt. Finally, as she neared the top of the waterfall, Yu Qingtan''s water domain underwent a transformation, bing a fish swimming upwards, and the pressure she felt immediately lessened by a significant amount. This was the second-level Dao Domain, the Shapeable Dao Domain. Yu Qingtan did not immediately summit, but continued to graduallyprehend, feeling the mysteries of the second-level Dao Domain. After another half an hour, Yu Qingtan reached the top of the waterfall. At this moment, that androgynous voice reached her ears again. "Do you wish to climb the third segment, Falling Wood Cliff?" "Yes!" As soon as she responded, Yu Qingtan''s figure shed and she appeared on another tform. In front of the tform was a cliff with a huge tree at the top, from which yellow leaves asionally fluttered down and vanished into the soil below in just a few moments. This tree was known as the Life and Death Tree; its leaves, a small part of which could increase the lifespan of beings whoprehended the Path of Wood, while a majority could decrease their lifespans. "Endless falling leaves drift down mournfully, life and death fleeting as the Dao bes adder." This was the Falling Wood Cliff. Below Falling Wood Cliff, three cultivators sat cross-legged. Yu Qingtan didn''t recognize two of them, but the third one was none other than Banta Kibun from Sakura Ind, an independent cultivator from Wood Vige. Seeing Yu Qingtan, Banta Kibun''s expression changed. "She cultivates the Path of Water, why has shee here?" He was only at the early stages of the Golden Core, unable to defeat this female demon, "I hope she won''t care about a minor character like me." Banta Kibun held his breath, trying to minimize his presence as much as possible. Unfortunately, his unique hairstyle made him instantly recognizable to Yu Qingtan. Without any nonsense, Yu Qingtan immediately raised her spiritual power to the Golden Core Stage. Her Water Dao Domain unfolded, enveloping Banta Kibun within it. The appalled Mikimura B¨¥itar¨­ tried to resist with theplete Wood Dao Domain he had justprehended, but sadly it was to no avail. Then, Yu Qingtan took out the Roaming Zither and began to cast the Third Stage Spell, Devil''s Prating Sound. "Aaaaah~" Still in the panic of having his Dao Domain invaded, Mikimura B¨¥itar¨­ suddenly heard the devilish sound and clutched his head in a wretched scream. Yu Qingtan multitasked, continuing to y the prating sound of the Devil''s Prating Sound while simultaneously shooting out a condensed small Water de that passed directly through Mikimura B¨¥itar¨­''s forehead, piercing his brain and ending his suffering. Swiftly gathering the spoils of war, Yu Qingtan stepped under Falling Wood Cliff amid the reverent gazes of the two other cultivators. The falling leaves of the Life and Death Tree were indistinguishable even by Divine Sense and Biqing Spirit Eyes, and it was impossible topletely avoid them while climbing Falling Wood Cliff. Only after enduring the baptism of two hundred falling leaves could one reach the top of Falling Wood Cliff. Yu Qingtan unfolded her nascent Wood Dao Domain and stepped on a protruding rock, beginning her climb up Falling Wood Cliff. Two falling leaves drifted towards Yu Qingtan''s head, ignoring the resistance of the Dao Domain, and when they came close to Qingtan''s skin, they turned into two streams of gray mist that entered her body. Yu Qingtan frowned slightly, checked her system panel, and found that she had lost two years of lifespan. She stopped to meditate on the two dissipating streams of gray mist inside her body. "Senior Brother, although Fairy Qingtan has powerfulbat strength, her mastery of the Path of Wood is quite ordinary. I''m afraid she''ll also find it difficult to climb Falling Wood Cliff." The two cultivators on the tform were from Yellow Maple Valley, the True Person Han Shu and the True Person Qiao Qian, siblings in their cultivation path. They had previously attempted to climb Falling Wood Cliff and, after losing decades of lifespan, they wisely chose to give up. There, they waited for All-Under-Heaven Peak to send them away. Looking at Yu Qingtan, whose Wood Dao Domain was still not fully condensed, True Person Han Shu agreed with his sister''s opinion. "This Fairy Qingtan must primarily cultivate the Water Dao Domain, yet she came to Falling Wood Cliff, obviously overconfident. Nheless, the way she slew the wild cultivators from Sakura Ind was so heroic, and her figure climbing the cliff so graceful!" "Hmmph!" "Ah, sister, let go, I was wrong. You''re the most heroic and most beautiful." Under the might of his sister, True Person Han Shu spoke words that went against his conscience. Above Falling Wood Cliff, Yu Qingtan began to climb slowly and steadily upward. Every so often, falling leaves drifted to her side, nine-tenths of them turning into gray mist, and one-tenth turning into green mist, with the ones that be green mist adding one year to her lifespan. She continued to operate the Decay and Flourish Technique. Although it couldn''t nullify the effects of the gray mist on reducing her lifespan, the unique aura of the Decay and Flourish Technique had a mysterious harmony with the gray mist and green mist formed from the falling leaves. Yu Qingtan fully engaged inprehension. After her Wood Spirit Root was enhanced to the highest quality, her ability toprehend the Path of Wood increased significantly, it was just a matter of insufficient time. Furthermore, with the experience ofprehending the Water Dao Domain, she wasn''t worried about the loss of lifespan. At most, losing one hundred sixty or seventy years was nothing to her, a peerless prodigy who breaks through realms as easily as drinking water. The Path of Wood, Jia Wood corresponds with yang and is associated with the galldder, above-ground wood that grows upward and outward, such as trunks, branches, leaves, and spores. Yi Wood corresponds with yin and is associated with the liver, underground wood that grows downward and inward, such as root systems. When Yi Wood flourishes, Jia Wood thrives, bursting with vitality; when Yi Wood is diminished, Jia Wood withers, wilting and decaying. The liver and galldder reflect each other, yin and yang are harmonized, Qing Mu enjoys longevity. The Path of Wood pertains to life. Wood contains yang essence, born from yin. Thus, water is the mother of wood, as in water nourishes wood. In Yu Qingtan''s mind emerged variousprehensions, her understanding and perception of the Path of Wood deepening continuously. Finally, after climbing partway up Falling Wood Cliff, Yu Qingtan''s Wood Dao Domain was no longer merely a fledgling form but aplete Wood Domain. Furthermore, she gained a deeper understanding of the gray mist and green mist formed by the falling leaves and could vaguely use her Wood Domain to sense the leaves'' state. Leaves that turned into gray mist were blocked by the Wood Domain, preventing them from approaching and drifting downwards; leaves that turned into green mist were epted by the Wood Domain, increasing her lifespan. This was also the correct approach to climbing Qing Mu Cliff, and as the green mist entered her body, Yu Qingtan felt herprehension of the Path of Wood quicken, as if she had drunk Enlightenment Tea. Chapter 190 Battle Against the Yin-Yang Enlightenment Mirror "What, Fairy Qingtan has already perfected the Wood Dao Domain so quickly, and even mastered the method to select the falling leaves of the Life and Death Tree!" eximed Han Shu in surprise. "Is this what they call a genius? Although she''s not quite on par with Su Qin of the past, she''s primarily skilled in the Path of Water!" Realizing that her senior brother was once again fixated on Fairy Qingtan, Qiao Qian, who alsoprehended the Wood Dao Domain as a cultivator of the Wood Path, couldn''t help but ignore him. They were unable to deal with these leaves as well. They, too, could use the Wood Domain to push the leaves aside, but doing so would not get them to the top of the cliff no matter how they climbed. "Junior Sister, I want to try again." Han Shu stood up, his gaze resolute as he spoke. Qiao Qian also stood up and hugged her senior brother tightly. "Senior Brother, is it so hard to admit one''s mediocrity? Don''t go, it''s just a wasted lifespan for nothing; it breaks my heart." Feeling the softness on his back, Han Shu clenched his fists and struggled for a long, long time before finally unclenching them and turning around to embrace his junior sister. ¡­ Yu Qingtan finally reached the summit of Falling Wood Cliff, her Wood Dao Domain growing even more solid. "Do you wish to challenge the third segment of the Chess Dao Pavilion?" "Yes!" As soon as her words fell, Yu Qingtan found herself in front of a pavilion with no other figures in sight. Yu Qingtan entered, and inside the elegant pavilion was a chessboard, beside which sat a long-haired beauty with a round face that was quite charming despite its plumpness. This person breathed evenly but emitted no spiritual power. Yu Qingtan initially wanted to greet her but then felt it was wrong and took a closer look. "It''s actually a puppet!" Yu Qingtan clucked in amazement and took a seat opposite the puppet. Then, this "person" began to speak, and its voice was indistinguishable from that of an ordinary person. "Hello, I am Zhan Ge. y twenty rounds of chess with me. If I''m satisfied, you will have passed." Yu Qingtan didn''t waste any words and started to y chess. As a result, she barely won the first game; after that, she lost seven games in a row. Yu Qingtan was a bit frustrated; after she had solved the Zh¨¨nl¨®ng chess puzzle, she had never lost, thinking she was also a saint in the Path of Chess. She did not expect to encounter her Waterloo here. Yu Qingtan unfolded the fledgling Chess Domain, carefully pondering over the previous games. Then in the ninth game, she took each step with extreme caution, enduring a fierce battle for two hours before winning the round with difficulty. However, she began to lose again. After eighteen rounds, she had only won twice, with a record of two wins and sixteen losses. Although the record did not look good, Yu Qingtan''s understanding of the Path of Chess deepened significantly. The arrangement of chess pieces requires deep nning and forethought, as well as the ability to remain humble in victory and undaunted in defeat. Yu Qingtan immersed herselfpletely in the game, unaware that her Chess Domain had also be fully cohesive. Just as Yu Qingtan, with bloodshot eyes, was preparing for the next round, the puppet Zhan Ge opposite her spoke up. "Let''s stop here. I understand your level in chess; you''ve still got a long way to go. Go back and practice for a few more years and then return." Although Zhan Ge''s face was expressionless and its tone devoid of any emotional fluctuation, Yu Qingtan still felt somewhat humiliated and angry. "Hmph, look down on me? I just started learning chesste. Wait till I''ve practiced for a few years; you''ll have nothing to do with it!" No matter what Yu Qingtan thought, her figure disappeared from the Chess Dao Pavilion. Another tform appeared before her, along with the Enlightenment Tea. It was contained in two teapots. It seemed that the challenge in the Chess Dao Pavilion was a failure. Yu Qingtan was slightly disappointed, but since she noticed that she had gathered aplete Chess Domain and her chess skills had greatly improved, she did not dwell on it. ``` With some excitement, she poured a cup of Enlightenment Tea and drank it in one gulp. Sure enough, herprehension of the Path of Water significantly improved. Yu Qingtan immediately expanded her domain and took out the Cann Umbre to meditate. ... After exhausting two pots of Enlightenment Tea, Yu Qingtan had made substantial progress in herprehension of both the Path of Water and the Path of Wood. Additionally, she finally learned the Third Stage Water de Technique, Water Curtain Technique, and Water Escape Technique. The Third Stage spells involve extremely intricate spiritual power circuits, which generally require the Divine Sense and spiritual power control of a Golden Core Stage cultivator to learn. The Third Stage Breath-Concealing Technique she learned before was acquired through a system lottery. Now that Yu Qingtan had reached the spiritual awareness strength of an average Golden Core Stage cultivator and aprehensive understanding of the Second Layer of the Path of Water, she finally mastered the Third Stage''s signature spells, even reaching the level of great achievement directly. Third Stage spells are not only more powerful but also easier to integrate with the Dao Domain, thus unleashing greater strength. After finishing the Enlightenment Tea, Yu Qingtan looked at the mountain wall ahead that was not very steep, and started walking up. Soon, a giant mirror, two zhang high, appeared before her. Yu Qingtan looked into the mirror and saw her reflection. But it was not exactly the same. The face, hair, and clothes were all the same. However, the chest was t, and there was an Adam''s apple, it was a man. He bore an eight-point resemnce to Yu Qingtan in her previous life. Yu Qingtan''s mouth twitched, she knew what this was. This mirror was called the Yin-Yang Enlightenment Mirror. Yu Qingtan approached, and as the Yin-Yang Enlightenment Mirror emitted a white light, she disappeared on the spot and entered the Yin-Yang Enlightenment Mirror. Opposite her was the feminine "Yu Qingtan" she had just seen. "Defeat brother me within two hours, and you shall pass!" The voice was also the same as Yu Qingtan''s. Yu Qingtan suppressed the urge to retort, elevated her cultivation to the Golden Core Stage, took up the Cann Sword in her hand, and as she brandished the long sword, it emitted "crackling" bursts of sound. The third form of the Xiangfei Sword Art, Bursting Bamboo. The sword qi fused with the Water de, wrapped in the de-shaped Water Dao Domain, ruthlessly struck at the effeminate "Yu Qingtan." Her opening move was Yu Qingtan''s current strongest standard offensive technique. The effeminate "Yu Qingtan" opposite her was half a beat slower, but her cultivation level was also adjusted to the early Golden Core Stage, and her moves, spells, and Dao Domain were all exactly the same as Yu Qingtan''s,unching an attack almost simultaneously. The two streams of sword qi and Water des collided between them, and Yu Qingtan''s were directly shattered, while the attack with the remaining power targeted Yu Qingtan. Yu Qingtan had no choice but to take out the damaged Cann Umbre to defend herself. The strength of the effeminate "Yu Qingtan"y in her Dao Domain. After blocking that strike, Yu Qingtan continued her assault, closely observing and understanding her opponent''s Dao Domain and usage techniques, and then learning from them. Taking turns attacking with the Water Dao Domain-boosted Water de Technique, the Wood Dao Domain-boosted Decay and Flourish Technique and Green Wood Sword Technique, and the Chess Domain-boosted Water de Array, Yu Qingtan''s understanding of all three Dao Domains advanced another step, particrly the Water Dao Domain and Wood Dao Domain. Of course, the cost was that the fabric of the Cann Umbre was nearly gone, leaving only the frame, the Kotaro armor was also scrapped, Yu Qingtan''s skirt was tattered and revealing, and there were over a dozen wounds on her body. But with the protection of the dragon scale armor, the injuries were only on her limbs. Yu Qingtan''s eyes shone brightly, emitting a radiant light. Herprehension of the Wood Path had given her a strong vitality and regeneration ability. The wounds on her body were new additions; older injuries had already healed, and the new ones were also recovering rapidly. The effeminate "Yu Qingtan" was unscathed, but the damage inflicted by Yu Qingtan was getting lower and lower. His increase in Dao Domain strength was fixed, but Yu Qingtan''s rate of improvement was elerating. As the two-hour limit was about to expire, Yu Qingtan held her breath and concentrated, wielding the Cann Sword. Spiritual power surged around her, and several rapidly spinning Water des formed next to the Cann Sword. ```n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!