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[Seventeen Holy Essence received.]

The light was soft inside the quiet room.

Qi Yun, who was sitting cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze shifted, sweeping over the Taixu Jade Talisman on the small table beside him. A line of small, azure text on the Talisman’s surface was gradually fading away.

’The last batch of Youth Edition Talismans has been sold... It’s time to close up shop for a while and prepare for the assessment in six months.’

He picked up the smooth, warm Jade Talisman, his fingertip lightly brushing its surface. Jade light flowed, and a clear number appeared:

[Holy Essence: 739]

After three busy months and selling several thousand Youth Edition Talismans, his total earnings were these 739 Holy Essence.

’This amount of Holy Essence might not be as much as the reward from a single test-subject mission, but for a new Outer Mansion Disciple like me, it’s already a considerable fortune.

Working myself to the bone running errands for at least four hours a day only earns me twenty Holy Essence a month.

But by just drawing Talismans for two hours a day, my income is more than ten times that. What’s there to be unsatisfied about?’

Although he had discovered a huge business opportunity with the Youth Edition Talismans, Qi Yun did not choose to immerse himself in it.

He only drew Talismans for two hours each day to sell.

He spent the rest of his time cultivating the Innate Qi Heart Method, polishing his life’s Cultivation, and raising his Realm.

A Cultivator is a Cultivator; naturally, cultivation must come first.

Besides, Outer Mansion Disciples had an assessment every year.

Neglecting cultivation for business would be putting the cart before the horse, failing to recognize what’s truly important.

’Over seven hundred Holy Essence should be enough to last me until the assessment begins.’

Clutching the Taixu Jade Talisman, Qi Yun lowered his gaze, deep in thought.

’My aptitude is average. After switching to the Innate Qi Heart Method, my cultivation speed has increased slightly, but it’s still inferior to my peers’.

’And based on the past experiences of Outer Mansion Disciples in their first assessment, you need to be at least at the Qi Refining Third Layer to be safe.’

’Those at the Qi Refining Second Layer have a significant chance of being classified as Bottom Stream and deemed unqualified.’

Holding the Dharma Transmission Jade Talisman for the Innate Qi Heart Method, Qi Yun silently recalled every word of the Qi Refining Heart Method.

"The Qi Refining Realm has nine layers as its steps..."

"Connect with the Earth Veins, draw upon Earth Qi and Mountain Marrow, and cultivate True Qi to reach the Qi Refining First Layer..."

"When True Qi circulates throughout the body, all meridians are connected, and one can cultivate anywhere, that is the Qi Refining Second Layer..."

"Break through the miasma of the Purple Mansion, let True Qi enter and take control of the Dantian, where the Cultivation Skill will operate on its own, endlessly regenerating—that is the Qi Refining Third Layer..."

"After that comes sensing celestial phenomena, guiding the sun, moon, wind, and clouds; perceiving all living beings, intercepting the myriad thoughts of the mortal world, until Heaven, Earth, and Man unite as one, weaving the [Great Web of Enlightenment].

...seeking the latitudinal and longitudinal threads of the Great Dao to forge an unsurpassed immortal foundation."

He slowly opened his palm, and a wisp of Innate True Qi, faintly emitting a blazing white glow, appeared in his hand.

’A month ago, I broke through to the Qi Refining Second Layer.’

’The True Qi in my body is no longer confined to a single meridian and can travel throughout my entire body. Not only has my cultivation speed increased significantly, but the response speed of my True Qi when casting Magic has also become faster.’

’But if I want to break through to the Third Layer, I must accumulate more True Qi to shatter the miasma of the Purple Mansion and allow the True Qi to take control of my Dantian. Once achieved, it is permanent.’

’From then on, even if I don’t deliberately circulate my Cultivation Skill, the True Qi in my Dantian will automatically absorb Earth Qi to strengthen itself.’

’And what I lack right now is enough True Qi.’

At this thought, Qi Yun took the Mutton Fat Jade Bottle out of his Storage Pouch.

After a period of careful investigation, he had basically confirmed what kind of Treasure Pill the jade bottle contained.

The Qi Spirit Pill, one of the most useful and also most expensive Treasure Pills for the Qi Refining Stage.

A single pill could sell for nearly one hundred Holy Essence.

And that was if you could even find one for sale.

The miraculous effect of this Treasure Pill was its ability to temporarily enhance the "spiritual nature" of the user’s physical body, greatly increasing their Refinement efficiency of nature’s spiritual energy.

Normally, ten wisps of Earth Qi and Mountain Marrow could only be refined into a single wisp of True Qi.

But after consuming a Qi Spirit Pill, it could be converted into at least five wisps of True Qi. The specific results varied from person to person; for some who were particularly compatible with the pill’s medicinal power, it could even reach ten wisps.

’This shows that Tang Shun’s elder relative must hold a high position in the Sect. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have casually bestowed a Treasure Pill on the level of a Qi Spirit Pill.

And it was a full ten pills!

That’s almost a thousand Holy Essence! Most Outer Mansion Disciples probably go their whole lives without ever seeing that much.’

Stroking the jade bottle in his hand, a cold glint flashed in Qi Yun’s eyes.

’It’s a good thing I eliminated that ticking time bomb Tang Shun in time. If he had actually made it into the Sect, I’m afraid his backer would have already refined me into dust.’

The thought passed in a flash. Qi Yun opened the jade bottle and tipped out a Qi Spirit Pill. It was the size of a longan, crimson all over, and faintly wreathed in mist.

’The effect of one Qi Spirit Pill lasts for about three days, so ten pills will last for a month.’

’One month... that should be enough for me to break through to the Qi Refining Third Layer.’

He tilted his head back and swallowed the Treasure Pill.

As soon as it entered his mouth, the pill transformed into a sweet, warm current.

In an instant, Qi Yun felt as if every pore in his body had opened up. An indescribable comfort washed over him, as if nature’s spiritual energy was pouring into his body on its own.

’Time for seclusion!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Qi Yun waved his wide sleeve. A surge of True Qi burst forth, kicking up a gust of wind that slammed the room’s main door shut, sealing him off from everything.

...

「Wuji Holy Sect, Inner Mansion, Flower Moon Hall.」

At the very head of the great hall, a massive Jade Platform floated in the air.

On the platform sat a cross-legged elder with the face of a youth and the hair of a crane.

His hair and beard were completely white, yet his face was as ruddy as an infant’s. Only his lowered eyelids concealed the world-shattering ferocity that might lie within his eyes. A wide, black Daoist Robe made his aura seem as deep and vast as a prison.

Below the hall, two figures dressed in black robes knelt respectfully on the floor. A red moon was embroidered on their backs.

"Is there news?" The crane-haired elder opened his eyes a fraction, looking down at the two figures below. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an incomparably sharp, hostile energy that seemed to make the entire Flower Moon Hall tremble slightly!

"Reporting to the Master, according to the Black-clothed Servants responsible for the escort, the Young Master disappeared suddenly while staying in Anning County. He had his men search, but they couldn’t find him.

Your subordinate has already ordered the nearby Holy Sect Servants to conduct a blanket search. Within three days, there will definitely be..." Before the Black-clothed Cultivator below could finish, a Communication Jade Talisman at his waist suddenly began to vibrate urgently!

Not daring to hesitate, the Black-clothed Cultivator quickly took it out from his robes. After a single glance, his eyes shook violently. He swallowed hard and said nervously:

"Master, the Young Master... there’s news of the Young Master."

"He’s been found?" The elder’s voice was still calm, but the hostile energy filling the hall suddenly surged tenfold, like an invisible mountain crashing down.

"No... we found the Young Master’s... body..." Ashen-faced, the Black-clothed Cultivator used all his strength just to force out the words.

Dead silence.

But the ever-increasing cold in the hall made the two Black-clothed Cultivators feel as if their very blood was about to stop flowing.

Just as the two felt they were about to be submerged by the silent, bitter cold, a low, ghostly chuckle suddenly sounded.

"Heh... heh heh heh..."

The laughter gradually grew, carrying a low, hair-raising tone.

"Good..."

His voice suddenly rose, each word sounding as if it were about to bleed.

"Very good!!!"

...