Disciples in the lower stages of the Qi Refining realm could only maintain that feeling of comfort for a few days. The bloodlust was becoming increasingly obvious.
It seemed that the stronger the person, the longer that feeling of comfort could be maintained after absorbing their opponent’s essence, qi, and blood!
Lu Guichen’s expression shifted. He pressed his lips together and gazed at the exquisitely crafted ceiling overhead. After a long while, he murmured in a low voice,
“Sect Master, I had no choice. They forced me into this…”
…
“Yes, it was Leng Shuxue of Qingyun Peak, Senior Brother Leng! He’s already climbed onto the Advancement Platform and is about to break through to the Deity Transformation realm!”
At the entrance to Ziyang Hall, the young disciple delivering the news called out loudly. Ji Yun’s expression changed at once.
He had heard the name Leng Shuxue before.
He had once been the sect’s supreme prodigy, but later, his legs were afflicted by demonic poison. He became unable to walk, and his cultivation plummeted.
It had only been a short while since his legs had been cured and he had managed to stand again. Yet now, he was actually about to break through to the Deity Transformation realm?
Surely this wasn’t a joke?
Ji Yun thought as much, and he asked the question aloud.
The young disciple at the door smiled at that. “Would the Sect Master personally announce it if it were fake? Besides, Senior Brother Leng has already taken his seat on the Advancement Platform!”
“Senior Brother Ji Yun, hurry over! A sect disciple breaking through to the Deity Transformation realm is an opportunity that only comes once in several decades. I have to go notify the other senior brothers!”
With that, the sound of the young disciple’s departing footsteps rang out.
Ji Yun was stunned. He turned his head and saw Yuan Shu sitting beside the table. She seemed to have thought of something amusing, for a smile graced her face as she leisurely sipped her tea.
Her relaxed and composed demeanor inexplicably gave him a sense of reassurance.
His heart stirred. He stepped forward, gently wrapped his arms around her, and rested his head on her shoulder.
“Shushu, are all the disciples of Qingyun Peak this fierce? How do they advance so quickly?”
Yuan Shu glanced at him. “If you worked harder, you could advance quickly too.”
“Really?” Ji Yun scratched his head. “But I was born without a talent for cultivation. I prefer tinkering with poisonous insects and herbs.”
Yuan Shu turned sideways, reached out to touch his face, and said with a light laugh, “Even without liking cultivation, you still managed to reach the Nascent Soul realm. If you put in a little more effort, why couldn’t you be the next one on the Advancement Platform?”
“Shushu, do you want me to cultivate and advance?”
“Of course.”
After the Acacia Divine Tree advanced, it gained a special ability: dual cultivation with it could improve one’s cultivation aptitude.
Leng Shuxue had been able to advance to the Deity Transformation realm for two reasons. First, his original cultivation had already reached the peak of the Nascent Soul realm. Second, he had dual-cultivated with her.
Now that he had dual-cultivated with her after her advancement, Ji Yun had naturally received the enhancement provided by the Acacia Divine Tree as well.
His cultivation speed would be much faster than before.
Moreover, whenever her cultivation partners advanced, the benefits would be fed back to her, causing her own strength to increase even more rapidly.
Naturally, she hoped that her cultivation partners would improve as much as possible!
…
The Advancement Platform of the Fallen Immortal Sect was located near the Cliff of Reflection where Yuan Shu had been imprisoned when she first arrived in this world.
It was built upon a steep mountain shaped like a calligraphy brush.
The Advancement Platform occupied the central eye of the Fallen Immortal Sect’s sect-protecting grand formation. With the aid of the Spirit-Gathering Formation, the area was brimming with spiritual energy, making it the perfect place for advancement.
The sect had long established a rule: any disciple breaking through from the Nascent Soul realm into the Deity Transformation realm could ascend the Advancement Platform and enjoy the wondrous effects of the sect’s Spirit-Gathering Formation.
By the time Yuan Shu and Ji Yun arrived, the area around the Advancement Platform was already packed with a sea of disciples.
On the platform not far away, Leng Shuxue sat cross-legged facing the crowd, circulating his spiritual energy.
Wisps of spiritual energy swirled around him, making his already flawless and handsome face appear divine and untouched by worldly dust.
All around him, the disciples watched the platform with curiosity and envy, wishing they were the ones advancing.
On a rocky outcrop nearby, the Sect Master and Shen Jingyuan, Peak Master of Lingyun Peak, stood quietly as they spoke.
“As expected of the sect’s former supreme prodigy. Even after being crippled in both legs for several years, he recovered and stood again, only to cultivate at such an astonishing speed. Truly remarkable!”
Shen Jingyuan stroked the goatee on his chin as he spoke.
Qu Qing also smiled. “Your disciple is impressive as well. I hear Yin Ruobai advanced to the Nascent Soul realm some time ago, and he’s improved even more recently. I’m sure it won’t be long before he can take his place on this Advancement Platform too!”
“That is thanks in large part to the Sect Master taking him out of the sect to gain experience some time ago. He has indeed reached the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm.”
“Congratulations!”
“Likewise, likewise!”
After exchanging a few words of mutual praise, Shen Jingyuan brought up the matter of the underground spirit vein.
“How did things go with Yuan Shu giving rise to a spirit source within the underground spirit vein last time?”
He had happened to be away from the sect on business during that period and had missed the major event.
“Yuan Shu did exactly as she promised. The spirit vein can now slowly produce new spirit-source energy!”
“Really?” Shen Jingyuan’s eyes widened slightly. He slapped his palm excitedly. “Excellent! Impressive!”
“To be able to communicate with an underground spirit vein, Yuan Shu’s soul power must be extraordinarily strong. She really is remarkable!”
Qu Qing nodded and continued,
“Lu Guichen truly was blind. He actually drove her out of Qingyun Peak back then! Hah, I wonder how much he would regret it if he learned how capable Yuan Shu is now.”
Speaking of Yuan Shu reminded Qu Qing of several matters that had occurred in the sect recently. He turned to give an instruction.
“Peak Master Shen, the sect has been unsettled lately. Since you’re back, please help keep an eye on the affairs of the other peaks as well.”
Shen Jingyuan’s expression turned solemn. He cupped his fists and said, “Understood.”
As the two spoke, a surging wave of spiritual energy suddenly erupted from the Advancement Platform. It gathered into a single mass and began swirling around Leng Shuxue like a tangible substance.
“It’s starting!” Qu Qing announced.
The entire area around the platform fell silent. One by one, the disciples raised their heads and looked upward.
At that moment, the Spirit-Gathering Formation emitted a dazzling green light, pouring all the spiritual energy it had accumulated over the years into the surging current.
The tremendous force formed a whirlwind that lifted everyone’s hair and fluttering robes.
Leng Shuxue sat cross-legged. Sensing that the spiritual energy had accumulated sufficiently, he shifted the seals formed by his hands. The surging spiritual energy immediately rushed into his body in its entirety.
At the same time, the Fallen Immortal Sect’s sect-protecting formation reacted to the breakthrough and slowly emerged.
As golden light flowed through the formation, countless golden specks of spiritual energy rose into the air before drifting down toward everyone in a glittering shower.
“It’s the Deity Transformation Spirit Baptism! Quickly, sit down and cultivate!”
Someone shouted from within the crowd. Some disciples who had witnessed such grand occasions before immediately sat down cross-legged and began cultivating, borrowing the golden rain to improve their strength.
The other disciples, realizing what was happening a moment later, hurriedly sat down as well and began cultivating.
This was a grand Spirit Baptism that every cultivator who advanced to the Deity Transformation realm would trigger under the influence of the sect-protecting grand formation.
The more golden light one absorbed during this period, the faster one’s strength would grow!
That was why, after learning that a disciple was advancing to the Deity Transformation realm, the Sect Master had ordered all disciples at the Core Formation realm and above to come.
This was an opportunity—a chance to increase one’s cultivation through one’s own ability.
No one was willing to miss it!
The golden light drifted down in a glittering shower, landing on every cultivating disciple and transforming into pure spiritual energy that enhanced their strength.
The entire area around the Advancement Platform fell silent.
Seeing this, Yuan Shu followed local custom and pulled Ji Yun down to sit in a corner.
