Chapter 276 : Star-Absorbing Great Art

“Situ ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Feng was killed by Kong Xifeng. You can rest easy now. I also didn’t expect that old woman Kong Xifeng to be so good at acting. She fooled that idiot Situ Feng completely.”

Not ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍long after Ji Yuan returned to Forgotten Worry Island, he received a message from Hua Yaoyue.

…Situ ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Feng had died just like that?

Holding ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Messaging Talisman in his hand, Ji Yuan was somewhat dazed for a moment.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had originally thought that even if Situ Feng died, there would have to be quite a few twists and turns. At the very least, he would have to turn the tables several times, reverse the situation several times, and only then be killed with great difficulty.

Or ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍perhaps Kong Xifeng would go to kill him, only for him to escape with his life through all sorts of methods.

Yet unexpectedly, he had really died just like that?

A Nascent Soul Old Monster who had seized a body and re-cultivated was still a Nascent Soul Old Monster, yet he had truly died just like that.

Indeed, this was the first Nascent Soul Old Monster Ji Yuan had learned of who had died.

Ji Yuan still felt something was not quite right, so he sent Hua Yaoyue a Voice Transmission and asked, “Master, is it possible that Situ Feng didn’t die, and only a clone died instead, or perhaps he escaped through some other method?”

Hua Yaoyue’s reply arrived just as quickly as before.

“I was watching from right beside them. Are you questioning your Master’s strength or your Master’s eyes?”

Ji Yuan: “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. How could this disciple possibly question Master?”

“Heh. Normally, Nascent Soul Old Demons capable of Body Seizure aren’t that simple, but these few from the Shang Court are exceptions… Forget it, I can’t be bothered explaining it to you. In any case, before you possess Nascent Soul-level strength, if you encounter a Nascent Soul Cultivator who has seized a body, run as far away as you can.”

Hua Yaoyue truly did not want to explain because she simply could not be bothered.

Ji Yuan could only agree.

Afterward, no further reply came, so he put away his Messaging Talisman.

Thinking about it again, that made sense. If it had been anyone else, even a Peak Golden Core Stage cultivator attacking a Nascent Soul Old Monster who had seized a body might still have allowed that Nascent Soul Old Monster to escape.

But who had attacked this Nascent Soul Old Monster this time?

Another Nascent Soul, and one who had immersed herself in the Nascent Soul Stage for several hundred years and had already reached the end of her lifespan. How could the methods at her disposal possibly stop there?

…But looking at it this way, a Nascent Soul would still die if killed, so what was there to fear?

Improve himself and annihilate every enemy.

That was the true path of cultivation!

For a moment, Ji Yuan felt that the path he would walk in the future had become somewhat clearer and brighter. He immediately shook his head and stopped thinking about the matter.

Just as Hua Yaoyue had warned, Western Shang was about to launch an all-out offensive.

Shang Mountain… probably would not be able to hold for much longer either.

He still had to raise his strength as quickly as possible first.

Afterward, Ji Yuan entered the 【Meditation Room】 and once again took out the short section of finger bone left behind by the Sea-Crossing Old Devil. He sent his Divine Sense inside and took out the Yin Ghost Sect token.

Previously, he had only infused a trace of Spiritual Energy, so the Spiritual Door that appeared out of thin air had not lasted long.

Then what if he continuously infused Spiritual Energy and increased the amount of Spiritual Energy he poured in?

Since a door had appeared, Ji Yuan was quite interested in pushing it open and seeing what was inside.

If it was an opportunity, there was naturally no need to say anything more. He would simply take it out and refine it immediately.

However, that possibility was far too small. If that had truly been the case, the Sea-Crossing Old Devil would have taken it long ago.

If it was dangerous, Ji Yuan was not afraid either.

As large amounts of Spiritual Energy surged inside, a mass of Yin Energy once again emerged from the skull token and transformed into a double-leaf bronze doorway above it.

The doorway lasted for less than a single breath.

“Pssh——”

It vanished into thin air.

The Spiritual Energy Ji Yuan had poured into it was like a clay ox entering the sea, having no effect whatsoever.

‘It seems it has nothing to do with how much Spiritual Energy is infused. Ultimately, the activation condition is still wrong. If I want to succeed, I’ll probably need to rely on some other method.’

Since it was an item from the Yin Ghost Sect, Ji Yuan took the token to the 【Grave Mound】.

From within this cemetery, he dug out the Thousand Souls Banner and the Yin Ghost Flag.

He first summoned a Qi Refining Stage Yin Soul from the Thousand Souls Banner, then once again activated the doorway. Just as the doorway was about to disperse, he forced the Yin Soul to crash into the door.

The result… the Yin Soul and the doorway vanished together.

“Damn you.”

He had wasted a Yin Soul for nothing and obtained absolutely nothing. Ji Yuan was furious.

But after getting angry, all he could do was be angry for a moment.

As for the remaining two Yin Ghosts, he did not dare continue experimenting with them. There were only two of these things in total. If one died here, Ji Yuan’s methods and strength would be greatly reduced.

Even the Yin Ghost Formation itself would weaken because of it.

As for refining another Yin Ghost himself…

That would harm the harmony of Heaven.

With no other method available, Ji Yuan could only put the token into his Storage Pouch for now and wait to see whether he could unravel its mystery in the future.

Next, he returned to the 【Enlightenment Room】.

He then took out the completely black cheekbone from the finger-bone space. It still felt somewhat icy in his hand. Upon closer inspection, he could even see what seemed to be many tiny characters carved across the cheekbone, along with some strange runes.

Even before beginning the inheritance, Ji Yuan could already sense the profoundly mysterious aura emanating from the cheekbone.

An inheritance.

The inheritance of a Nascent Soul Technique could already be called a great opportunity of the Great Dao.

And now, Ji Yuan held such an opportunity in his hand… Only after calming himself did he infuse a trace of Spiritual Energy into it. Immediately afterward, a black ring of light lit up around the cheekbone, extremely conspicuous inside the 【Enlightenment Room】.

The cheekbone that had originally been held in his hand now floated up from his palm and finally hovered before him.

Ji Yuan sent his Divine Sense into it, and a massive flood of obscure and difficult-to-understand memories immediately surged in, squeezing into his Sea of Consciousness.

Even with a Divine Soul as powerful as his, he still felt a stab of pain.

After sitting there and recovering for quite a while, he finally found a line of text among the numerous memories.

《Yin Transformation Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》

This was the name of the technique.

Ji Yuan then immersed himself within it, carefully comprehending the profundities of this Nascent Soul Technique.

Even with the assistance of the 【Enlightenment Room】, Ji Yuan still spent several days comprehending before he finally finished reading through the entire 《Yin Transformation Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》.

And this was only a preliminary reading. He had not yet examined it in detail, yet it had already taken this long.

“Looks like the level 2 【Enlightenment Room】 isn’t very effective anymore. It only increases comprehension by a mere 20%. Even with comprehension as powerful as mine, I can’t keep up anymore.”

“And this is only a Nascent Soul Technique. What about even more profound Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Arts or Creation Divine Abilities in the future? Looks like I still need to continue upgrading the 【Enlightenment Room】. Unfortunately, I don’t know where I can find a Clarity Fruit Tree.”

As these thoughts flashed through Ji Yuan’s mind, he also came to understand the effects of the 《Yin Transformation Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》.

He also understood why the Sea-Crossing Old Devil had been able to form a Core with a single thought back then.

It was not that there were no conditions.

If there truly were no conditions and anyone who cultivated this technique could form a Core with a single thought,

then this would not merely be a Nascent Soul Technique. Perhaps not even a technique leading directly to the Mahayana Stage would possess such terrifying effects.

The true effect of the 《Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》 was not breakthrough, but… recovery.

The Sea-Crossing Old Devil could reach the Golden Core Stage with a single thought because the highest cultivation he had originally possessed was itself the Golden Core Stage.

Thus, by absorbing other people’s Spiritual Energy, he could rapidly raise his own cultivation.

His original peak seemed to have been Peak Golden Core Stage. According to the technique, he could therefore absorb the cultivation of people one major realm below him and rapidly recover his own cultivation until he returned to Peak Golden Core Stage.

This was the greatest spiritual effect of this technique!

It was precisely because of this that the Sea-Crossing Old Devil had only absorbed the Spiritual Energy of those ten Foundation Establishment elders back then.

Yet he had spared the remaining several thousand Qi Refining disciples.

It was not because Lord Sea-Crossing was kindhearted, but because they were useless to Lord Sea-Crossing.

Thus, the 《Yin Transformation Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》 alone was not its strongest form.

To truly bring out the effects of this technique,

it had to be paired with other “burst-power techniques”, such as techniques that forcibly increased one’s strength but caused one’s cultivation to fall afterward.

First unleash the burst of power and forcibly kill the opponent, then rely on the 《Yin Transformation Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》 to rapidly recover cultivation.

Only then was it the proper path.

Unfortunately, the 《Yin Transformation Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》 did not come with a corresponding burst-power technique.

If he wanted one, he would have to find it himself.

After thinking about it, Ji Yuan actually had a similar technique on him, and its name was… 《Divine Severance Technique》!

Sever the Divine Soul to preserve one’s life.

After his cultivation dropped by one minor realm, he could still rely on the 《Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》 to recover rapidly.

Even the Divine Soul he lost could be nurtured back through the 【Meditation Room】 and the 《Ninefold Soul Suppressing Scripture》.

With so many techniques stacked together, Ji Yuan astonishingly discovered something.

It seemed like he would suffer almost no loss, yet at a critical moment, he could preserve his life and even cause the enemy to suffer enormous losses.

As for its other spiritual effect,

that was the Yin Transformation Divine Water that came with the 《Yin Transformation Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》. Once cultivated successfully, he could condense immensely powerful Yin Transformation Divine Water within his Dantian.

Flowing water had no fixed form and could both attack and defend.

Moreover, once the Yin Transformation Divine Water touched an opponent’s Magic Treasure, it would cling to it like maggots attached to bone and rapidly corrode it. The method could be described as extremely vicious.

…Therefore, Ji Yuan liked it very much.

Wasn’t such an insidious move precisely the favorite of people like them from the Demonic Path?

Cultivate it?

Cultivate it!

How could he possibly not cultivate a technique capable of rapidly restoring his cultivation? As for the accompanying Yin Transformation Divine Water, that was merely an incidental benefit.

The only problem was that entering the technique was extremely difficult.

According to the technique, to enter the 《Yin Transformation Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》, he first had to concoct a semi-finished “Yin Transformation Water” and use it to corrode the bodies of ten cultivators at the same cultivation level, who also had to possess the same attribute… and they had to be slowly corroded while still alive.

Once the corrosion was complete, their Spiritual Energy would likewise be preserved.

He would then need to slowly absorb the Spiritual Energy they left behind. Once all of it had been absorbed, he would count as having entered the technique.

After that, he could cultivate it the same way he cultivated an ordinary technique.

‘It’s still rather difficult… The only good thing is that I don’t have to absorb them all at once and can accumulate them gradually. When the time comes, I’ll see whether I can find suitable enemies.’

Putting away this thought, Ji Yuan also stored the Nascent Soul Technique.

Now that one Nascent Soul Technique and ten Golden Core Techniques had all been collected, what about upgrading the 【Scripture Repository】?

Ji Yuan summoned the Panel and took a look.

【Scripture Repository: lv2 (Not Upgradeable)】

【Upgrade Requirements: Nascent Soul Technique ×1; Golden Core Technique ×10; Foundation Establishment Technique ×50; Third-Tier Demon Core ×3; Middle-Grade Spirit Stone ×1000. (Not Fulfilled)】

Damn it, Third-Tier Demon Cores again.

Nowadays, it seemed that no matter which building he wanted to upgrade, it required Third-Tier Demon Cores.

Yet with Ji Yuan’s current strength, he could not personally kill Third-Tier Demon Beasts… Of course, it was also difficult to find so many Third-Tier Demon Beasts all at once.

Unless he traveled far into the Endless Sea and hunted the sea beasts there.

Thinking of this, Ji Yuan could not resist opening the full building list. He wanted to count exactly how many Third-Tier Demon Cores he currently needed for building upgrades.

The 【Scripture Repository】 needed 3; the 【Bee Nest】 needed 3; the 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】… Damn it, this stupid thing actually needed 1 Fourth-Tier Demon Core. Why don’t you just go rob someone!

Right, he still had to find a way to get another 【Spiritual Energy Cannon】 later.

He had to see whether it would be more suitable to approach the Li Family or Yun Qianzai again.

The 【Enlightenment Room】 required 5 Third-Tier Demon Cores, and it even required one from each of the Five Elements!

The 【Heavenly Craft Workshop】 was the best. It was clearly a new building formed by merging 4 buildings, yet upgrading it only required 1 Third-Tier Demon Core.

Mm… From now on, his favorite building would be the 【Heavenly Craft Workshop】.

The 【Fish Pond】 required 1 ice-attribute Third-Tier Demon Core. This damn thing was truly rare, just like a Variant Spiritual Root.

It seemed that if he could not find a suitable one by then, he would just slaughter Monday.

Coincidentally, upgrading the 【Fish Pond】 also required the corpse of a Third-Tier Flood Dragon.

Killing Monday would achieve two things at once.

The 【Pigsty】 required two Fourth-Tier Demon Cores of the water and fire attributes, but it was already a level 5 building, so that was only reasonable.

The 【Spiritual Field】 still required two Fourth-Tier Demon Cores, and they even had to be wood-attributed.

So, calculating it this way, just at present, and without developing any new buildings, he already needed 13 Third-Tier Demon Cores.

As for Fourth-Tier Demon Cores, he also needed 5.

When it came to Third-Tier Demon Beasts, the one that had left the deepest impression on Ji Yuan was the Third-Tier Thunderstorm Flood Dragon in the Storm Zone.

He would need to kill at least 13 of those things…

Ji Yuan rubbed his glabella.

“What a pity. Hua Yaoyue is my Master. If only I were Hua Yaoyue’s Master instead. Then I could grab her every day and make her go out hunting Demon Beasts for me.”

After indulging in this fantasy for a while, Ji Yuan took out the nautical chart connecting the Abyssal Continent and the Cangluo Continent from his Storage Pouch.

He had not forgotten that Hua Yaoyue wanted a copy… After finishing the duplicate, Ji Yuan brought the Nascent Soul Technique with him and directly set off toward Forgotten Worry Island.

Half a day later, after arriving at Forgotten Worry Island and giving her the nautical chart, he asked Hua Yaoyue about the Spiritual Energy Cannon, wondering whom it would be more suitable to buy one from.

After hearing him out, Hua Yaoyue could not even be bothered to answer.

She merely told him to wait there.

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan knew Hua Yaoyue had already solved the matter for him. He then took out the cheekbone containing the inherited technique.

“The effects of this technique are pretty good. Master, take a look and see whether it’s useful to you.”

Ji Yuan presented it with both hands.

Even in Hua Yaoyue’s eyes, a Nascent Soul Technique counted as something fairly valuable. Even if she did not cultivate it, she could observe the Great Dao cultivated by another and thereby gain benefits for her own cultivation.

“Mm.”

Thus, Hua Yaoyue casually took it, infused Spiritual Energy, and swept it with her Divine Sense.

The technique that Ji Yuan had barely managed to finish reading after several days lasted only half a stick of incense before Hua Yaoyue.

“It is indeed quite good.”

Hua Yaoyue returned the cheekbone to Ji Yuan, then began pacing back and forth through the pavilion as she slowly said, “No wonder that old demon, despite possessing only Peak Golden Core Stage cultivation back then, could become an honored guest of some Early Nascent Soul Cultivators. With this sort of life-disregarding fighting style…”

Hua Yaoyue shook her head.

“Using it occasionally is fine. If you use it too much, I estimate it will deepen your shackles, making future breakthroughs even harder, especially with that False Spiritual Root of yours.”

Hua Yaoyue glanced back at Ji Yuan and spoke with a trace of mockery.

“Yes.”

Ji Yuan cupped his hands in reply and silently memorized the matter.

Even after cultivating the 《Yin Transformation Spirit-Absorbing Scripture》, the Yin Transformation Divine Water could be used freely, but the Star-Absorbing Great Art had to be treated with extreme caution. Unless absolutely necessary, he could not use it.

Thinking about it, that made sense. The main reason the Sea-Crossing Old Devil had used the Star-Absorbing Great Art on Black Dragon Island was because he had already been driven into a desperate situation.

If he had been given even a little time to awaken beforehand, he would have developed his strength on his own first.

After waiting for approximately half an hour, someone suddenly requested an audience from outside the island.

Hua Yaoyue opened the formation and casually reached out. Two brand-new 【Spiritual Energy Cannons】 were immediately pulled inside by her and thrown onto the sandy shore of Forgotten Worry Island.

After all, these things occupied quite a lot of space. Even if she brought them into the pavilion, there would be nowhere to put them.

“Both are yours. Take them.”

Hua Yaoyue spoke casually.

“No, Master, who did you ask…”

These brand-new 【Spiritual Energy Cannons】 were probably only available within the sect. Could it be that Master had gone to ask the Sect Master Martial Uncle?

“I asked Kong Xifeng for them. I told her that if she didn’t give them to me, I’d go into the treasury and take them myself. So she had someone deliver them.” Hua Yaoyue casually explained.

…Good, good, good. Master was indeed worthy of being Master.

So Ji Yuan thought for a moment, leaned closer, and whispered:

“Master, this disciple is still lacking a few Demon Cores. Why don’t you ask the Patriarch for some of those too?”

“Third-Tier ones? How many?”

“Not many. Fifteen will be enough.”

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, Hua Yaoyue could not help glancing at him.

“If I make that request, that old woman Kong Xifeng might genuinely fight me to the death.” Hua Yaoyue still maintained her casual attitude.

“This…”

“If there weren’t anything major happening, asking would be fine. But now that the Righteous–Demonic War is underway, both sides are desperately short of Demon Cores, regardless of what tier they are.”

That was true. They were already desperately lacking pills and Talismans, let alone strategic resources like Demon Cores.

“Then this disciple will take his leave first.”

After speaking, Ji Yuan cupped his hands and prepared to descend to the shore, take the 【Spiritual Energy Cannons】, and return to Forgotten Worry Island to cultivate.

But just as he was about to leave, he heard Hua Yaoyue send him a Voice Transmission. “Wait a little longer. When the time comes, I’ll go get them for you.”

“What?”

Ji Yuan turned around and looked at Hua Yaoyue in astonishment. “Wh… when?”

Hua Yaoyue simply said four words.

“When the sect is annihilated.”

…Sect annihilation.

Was the Water Dragon Sect going to be annihilated?

Or rather, were all Six Immortal Sects of Eastern Shang going to be wiped out?

Could they truly not withstand it at all?

Even after Ji Yuan returned to Forgotten Worry Island, Hua Yaoyue’s final four words continued echoing through his mind… When the sect is annihilated.

‘If the Water Dragon Sect really is destroyed by then, where should I go?’

‘Master will most likely leave the Cangluo Continent. If that’s the case, then I’ll just leave with her when the time comes. Surely she wouldn’t abandon me and run away by herself.’

For a time, Ji Yuan could not avoid feeling a trace of anxiety toward the future.

But before he could remain anxious for long, Tu Yue washed it away, because she brought this month’s “Mysterious Yang Blood Amber”.