Chapter 144
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Chapter 144: Qi Refining Stage!
The assessment quota for inner disciples numbered only thirty, yet all outer disciples could apply. This led hundreds of self-assured contenders to vie for the top thirty positions.
As for the rest, their time as outer disciples had taught them the futility of competing at their current strength. Though many had joined the earlier protests, their defiance was mere posturing. When pressed to act, they withdrew.
Elder Lan declared, “Today’s agenda covers these two matters. The competition for the inner disciple assessment begins tomorrow.”
After Elder Lan’s slaying of two disciples to make an example, the thousands of outer disciples below dispersed in silent compliance, all grievances extinguished.
“Ye Yun, you three may proceed to Zang Wu Pavilion now to select Celestial Techniques,” said Grand Elder Chunyu Yan, his gaze lingering on Ye Yun with peculiar interest.
“Our thanks, Grand Elder and Elder Lan.” The trio bowed before exchanging grins and heading toward Zang Wu Pavilion.
Zang Wu Pavilion
Standing once more before the pavilion, the three felt a wave of nostalgia.
“Brother Ye, what kind of Celestial Technique will you choose this time?” Yu Minghong’s demeanor had grown more excitable since emerging from the great tomb.
Ye Yun glanced at him. “I’ve relied on the basic cultivation technique until now. This time, I need a proper cultivation technique. Without one, condensing true qi will lag once I reach the Qi refining stage.”
Yu Minghong and Duan Chenfeng exchanged incredulous looks. *Slow?* In mere days, Ye Yun had climbed from the Fourth Level to the peak of the Seventh Level in the body refinement stage, teetering on the brink of Qi refining. With such talent, how could his progress ever slow?
“Brother Duan, what about you?” Yu Minghong turned, curiosity undimmed.
Duan Chenfeng scowled. “You’ve been oddly nosy lately. Why?”
Yu Minghong faltered, forcing a laugh. “Just… getting to know my seniors better.”
“Familiarity doesn’t permit prying.” Duan Chenfeng rapped the younger disciple’s head.
Chastened, Yu Minghong nodded with an awkward smile.
The trio entered Zang Wu Pavilion’s first layer, where faint glows shrouded floating Celestial Techniques.
“Never thought we’d return so soon,” Duan Chenfeng mused. An eighth-grade Celestial Technique could significantly bolster his prowess.
“True. If only we had more than one night to master these before the competition,” Yu Minghong sighed, eyes alight with hunger.
“To the second layer,” Ye Yun said, already moving toward the stairs.
The second layer housed seventh and eighth-grade Celestial Techniques. While purple robe disciples entered freely, black robe disciples like Zhen Huacheng—who’d clashed with Ye Yun here before—required task points for access.
Unhindered, they ascended.
The chamber split into two sections: one bathed in purple light labeled “seventh-grade,” the other in blue radiance marked “eighth-grade.”
“I’ll choose first!” Yu Minghong blurted, darting into the blue-lit area where techniques hovered like luminous fish.
Ye Yun and Duan Chenfeng followed at a leisurely pace. Unlike the first layer’s categorization, here all techniques mingled, demanding individual inspection.
“Finally, a real cultivation technique,” Ye Yun muttered ruefully. The basic cultivation technique had grown inadequate as his cultivation level rose. Without the Little Absorption Technique’s aid, he’d lag behind peers.
In cultivation, techniques were roots; Celestial Techniques mere branches. Strong roots nourished growth and weathered storms.
As Ye Yun reached for a hovering manual, its title gleamed: *Shattered Jade Blade Technique*—an eighth-grade Celestial Technique.
Ye Yun had no interest in any Celestial Techniques now. Since comprehending the Thunder Spirit’s power and fully mastering the Thundercloud Lightning Sword, all other techniques meant nothing to him. He’d also learned from Su Hao and others that only the first two moves of the Thundercloud Lightning Sword were authentic – the third move Divine Thunder Annihilation had been created by later generations based on the first two, while subsequent techniques had been lost to time.
With his Thunder Spirit power and Purple Shadow Sword, Ye Yun knew the sword technique’s true potential. If he could find the genuine third move and beyond, even breaking through to Foundation Establishment stage wouldn’t leave him lacking in offensive power.
His current bottleneck was strength. His spiritual power had peaked with no room for growth. He’d likely reach Qi refining stage soon, but continuing with basic cultivation techniques would make true qi condensation painfully slow. Finding suitable cultivation methods became crucial preparation.
Tanu Wood Divine Blade!
Heavenly Absolute Sword Technique!
Eight Steps to Annihilate Demons!
Ye Yun flipped through over a dozen manuals without finding a single proper cultivation method. Celestial Techniques proved plentiful, but true cultivation techniques remained elusive.
He suddenly recalled his previous selection of Thundercloud Lightning Sword hadn’t been his choice at all – the Heart of Immortals and Demons had chosen for him.
"Heart of Immortals and Demons," Ye Yun murmured inwardly with a faint smile, "Find yourself a suitable cultivation technique."
The artifact remained silent. As days passed, Ye Yun increasingly suspected the Heart possessed nascent intelligence that grew alongside his cultivation level. This brought both hope and unease – while its power could prove invaluable, what if its growing consciousness eventually turned against him like Hualun’s attempt?
Yet he quickly dismissed such concerns. An artifact of this caliber would naturally evolve with its user. For now beneath Qi refining stage, such worries were premature. The Heart’s previous owner had undoubtedly surpassed Golden Core stage, perhaps even Nascent Soul realm – realms Ye Yun could barely comprehend.
Shaking his head, Ye Yun resumed examining the glowing manuals. In the gentle blue light, three figures moved silently through the Zang Wu Pavilion’s collection, each engrossed in their critical search.
Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique!
His hand froze on a manual emitting faint script:
*Eighth-grade cultivation technique for Qi refining disciples. Cultivates both internal and external aspects, requiring massive resources but yielding physical sanctification and endless true qi flow upon mastery.*
Most abandoned physical cultivation due to resource demands – even Tian Zhu Peak’s purple-robed inner disciples couldn’t sustain it. Yet Ye Yun’s haul from Hualun’s tomb changed everything: mountains of top-grade spirit stones, countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures for body refinement. The ancient schemer had prepared thoroughly for dual cultivation’s demands.
Better still, Ye Yun’s Little Absorption Technique could process any exotic spiritual energy through the Heart’s purification. This technique was made for him.
Smiling, he claimed the manual and exited the blue-lit area where Duan Chenfeng and Yu Minghong still searched meticulously. Heading for the pavilion’s first layer, Ye Yun aimed to master this technique immediately. With success, his breakthrough to Qi refining stage might happen today.
The threshold of true cultivation awaited.
