Your Spell Version is Too Low!

Holding the translated Jade Scroll, Qi Yun returned to his sprawling and somewhat empty residence in the Inner Mansion.

He felt surprisingly out of place amidst the grandeur of the halls and pavilions.

He strolled over to the shore of a clear lake, one that was several times larger than the flower pond back in the Outer Mansion.

Sitting down on a bluestone boulder by the shore, he unrolled the Jade Scroll containing the Wood Element Command Skill.

Its contents, now translated into a common script, were laid out clearly before him.

As its name suggested, this was a scroll of magic techniques specializing in the manipulation of the Wood Element.

Its core purpose was to incite and control all manner of plants, using them to attack and ensnare enemies through a variety of complex transformations.

The Jade Scroll’s contents were vast, but Qi Yun scanned through them, taking in ten lines at a time.

In his previous state, it would have likely taken him several days just to read and comprehend it all.

But after the transformative rebirth of his aptitude by the Crimson Cicada Embryo Storage, his current comprehension—while not necessarily the best of his generation—far surpassed that of an ordinary cultivator.

As an ancient magic technique, the Wood Element Command Skill’s concepts were archaic yet profound. Its methods were vastly different from those of modern skills, making it exceptionally difficult to master.

Fortunately, it was just within the limits of what Qi Yun could currently comprehend and attempt to practice.

Holding his breath and focusing his spirit, he silently recited the profound incantations and Qi-channeling routes from the Jade Scroll, word by word, becoming completely absorbed in the process.

Guided by his will, the True Qi in his body began to slowly circulate along unfamiliar, ancient meridians and acupoints, attempting to resonate with the Wood Element Daoist Intent of Heaven and Earth.

At first, the flow was sluggish; his True Qi moved as if mired in a swamp. But Qi Yun was exceptionally patient, constantly making adjustments and running simulations in his mind.

He repeatedly mulled over the profound meaning of each verse in his mind.

Gradually, faint motes of green light began to appear around him, gathering toward him as if drawn by some unseen force.

The plants by the lakeside seemed to be pulled by this invisible force as well, their leaves stirring without a breeze, making a soft, rustling sound.

Deep within Qi Yun’s pupils, a verdant light gradually condensed and began to swirl.

Suddenly, a green glint flashed in his eyes. His hands rapidly formed an ancient Dharma Seal before his chest as he barked, "Come!"

Before the word had even left his lips, the Daoist Intent above the lakeside clearing fluctuated violently!

A massive, illusory wooden pillar, condensed from pure green light and shaped like ancient stocks, materialized from thin air. Carrying a heavy, oppressive aura, it came crashing down from above.

BOOM!

The illusory pillar smashed down hard upon the half-foot-thick layer of Abyssal Iron Sand that Qi Yun had laid out in advance.

With a muffled thud, the tough Iron Sand—durable enough to withstand a fierce assault from a Sixth Layer Qi Refining Cultivator—was forcefully dented, leaving a clear impression.

’It really is powerful!’ A look of satisfaction appeared in Qi Yun’s eyes.

’A cultivator at the same realm as me, without a powerful Protective Magical Artifact or a special Body Refining Technique, would probably have their bones shattered and their brains splattered by a single hit.’

However, the steep price for the magic technique’s immense power quickly became apparent in the next moment.

Qi Yun pushed up the sleeve of his right arm, revealing a patch of flesh on his forearm that had become shriveled and withered. It had lost its luster, as if a portion of its vitality had been instantly siphoned away, forming a stark contrast with the healthy skin around it.

’It draws upon the caster’s own Life Force as a catalyst and a price... This ancient magic technique really lives up to its reputation. It’s as domineering as it is cruel.’

Qi Yun muttered to himself, looking at the damage on his arm.

For an ordinary cultivator, such a side effect was akin to drinking poison to quench one’s thirst.

He, however, wasn’t too concerned.

With a mere thought, he activated the Gathering Form and Scattering Qi technique, transforming into a state of Pure Qi. His True Qi surged, focusing on his right arm.

Nourished by the refined True Qi, the withered flesh began to slowly but visibly regain its fullness.

The process wasn’t fast, but it was definitely working.

Once the side effect was dealt with, Qi Yun took out the gift from the old man by the lake: half of a Wood Element Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object that was shaped like a pomegranate.

The half-pomegranate was crystal-clear, its seeds as plump and lustrous as jade, containing an incredibly pure and immense amount of Wood Essence Qi.

Without hesitation, he gripped the half Spiritual Pear in one hand.

The Magic Technique Panel appeared, and he instantly began its refinement.

BOOM!

An incomparably pure torrent of Wood Essence Qi surged into his body, like a river bursting its dam.

This power was gentle yet brimming with vitality. It flowed swiftly through his entire body, drawn toward the ethereal Magic Technique Panel.

In his Sea of Consciousness, behind the recently appeared text for the [Wood Element Command Skill], a virtual progress bar—previously empty—was instantly filled to the brim with the pure energy from the Wood Element Spiritual Object, as if flooded with a green elixir!

With a flash of light, the bar reached Perfection.

[Magic Technique automatic update complete. This is a minor version update. The following adjustments have been made to the magic technique’s effects:]

[Wood Element Command Skill 2.0: Casting cost removed!]

’Just as I thought!’

A small smile touched Qi Yun’s lips as he looked at the new version of the Wood Element Command Skill.

He had guessed correctly. The magic technique updates had always seemed to follow a pattern: first patch the flaws, then add new mechanics, and finally boost the numbers.

The mechanics and stats of the Wood Element Command Skill were already decent; its only flaw was the need to use one’s own lifeblood and Essence Qi as a catalyst.

And just as he’d expected, the new version had removed that requirement entirely.

This made the Wood Element Command Skill much closer to perfect.

After successfully gaining a preliminary mastery of the Wood Element Command Skill and using the half Wood Element Spiritual Object to fill the update bar on his Magic Technique Panel, Qi Yun did not rest.

With a thought, he retrieved the Treasure Medicine Altar—the very one he had "uprooted" from Fuluo Province—from his Storage Bracelet.

The ancient altar, dozens of meters tall, appeared with a thunderous crash in the vast courtyard, occupying a huge patch of open ground.

It was a good thing the grounds of his Inner Mansion residence were so exceptionally spacious.

His old, ordinary courtyard in the Outer Mansion could never have accommodated such a behemoth.

’The cleansing mission down the mountain that the Elder Master mentioned should be coming soon,’ Qi Yun thought, his gaze calm as he looked at the altar.

’Before that, I must increase my strength as quickly as possible.

The situation down there is complex and fraught with danger. Only with a higher Cultivation can I handle whatever comes my way.’

He had already accepted the status of a Secret True Cultivator Disciple from the old man. But since he was a new initiate, some of the benefits afforded to a True Cultivator Disciple had yet to be transferred over.

However, he still had a rich haul of "spoils" from taking out two Demon Snake lairs in a row.

Over four hundred vibrant and succulent Blood Floating Luos!

Now was the time to put them to use.

He tossed the Immortal Herbs, each one brimming with immense Life Essence Qi, onto the blood-red sigil at the altar’s peak. The altar reactivated, and streams of Spiritual Light coiled around the herbs, refining them into crystal-clear, richly fragrant droplets of Treasure Medicine Essence.

Without hesitation, Qi Yun consumed the refined Treasure Medicine, one drop after another.

The pure and vast medicinal power was like a welcome rain, continuously nourishing his meridians as it flowed into his Dantian Purple Mansion.

This propelled the process of Condensing Qi into Essence forward at a rapid pace.

An unknown amount of time passed.

After all four hundred-odd Blood Floating Luos had been completely refined and absorbed, Qi Yun turned his senses inward. Within his Dantian Purple Mansion, he saw that the hazy radiance representing pure True Essence now suffused nearly half the entire region.

This meant his Cultivation had improved by leaps and bounds, and he now had one foot planted firmly over the threshold to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer!

But just as Qi Yun was savoring the surging, nearly overflowing power within his body, his brow furrowed slightly.

He felt a faint, bloating pain coming from his Dantian Purple Mansion.

The circulation of his True Essence was also not as smooth or natural as it had been before.

’My Cultivation has risen too quickly. My foundation is a little unstable,’ Qi Yun thought, his brow furrowed as he instantly recognized the problem.

Forcibly raising one’s Realm with Treasure Medicine was like building a castle in the sky—magnificent to behold, but built upon a flimsy foundation.

If he didn’t consolidate it soon, it would surely become a hidden danger later on.

Realizing this, Qi Yun decisively slowed his pace, no longer rushing to achieve his goals.

He began spending most of each day in seated meditation, using the Innate Qi Heart Method to slowly temper and purify the nascent True Essence. This would make it more compatible with his body, while also allowing him to adapt to and control his explosive new power.

「Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.」

One day, the Taixu Jade Order he wore on his person suddenly emitted a peculiar pulse.

An encrypted message appeared on the surface of the Jade Order:

[Order: Secret True Cultivator Disciple Qi Yun, you are hereby ordered to participate in the cleansing operation against the peripheral forces of the Yellow Springs Netherworld, Hehuan Palace, and the Zombie Alliance. This order is not compulsory. You may choose to refuse, but refusal will result in the automatic forfeiture of your eligibility for this operation and all related benefits.]

Staring at the clear, cold words on the Jade Order, Qi Yun slowly clenched his fists, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

’The mission to descend the mountain for training and cleansing, the one the Elder Master mentioned, is finally here.’

With barely a moment’s hesitation, Qi Yun raised his hand and swiped across the Taixu Jade Order, accepting the command.

He rose slowly to his feet. His aura was deep and stable; after half a month of consolidation, the previous sense of instability was gone. His Cultivation was now firmly established at the half-step to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer Realm.

A keen light glinted in his eyes as they opened and closed.

"It’s time to go down the mountain and take a look around."

The storms brewing at the foot of the mountain were waiting to pull him in.

...