Chapter 172
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Chapter 172: Reunion with Elder Seven
In the small room, Ye Yun sat cross-legged. Before him lay a pile containing over a thousand top-grade spirit stones.
After breaking through to the Qi refining stage during the trial, he had only briefly condensed his true qi and hadn’t yet dedicated himself to practicing the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique to further improve his true qi’s quality and physical strength.
The Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique naturally activated, causing true qi to circulate slowly within him.
Ye Yun grabbed a handful of top-grade spirit stones. The Little Absorption Technique immediately took effect, sending a raging torrent of energy surging through his palm. In an instant, his meridians filled to bursting point.
"Refine!"
Ye Yun remained calm—he’d experienced this countless times. At this level, he didn’t need the Heart of Immortals and Demons to intervene; ordinary refinement sufficed.
The Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique accelerated abruptly, converting streams of spiritual energy into true qi and nourishing his body. Within moments, the absorbed energy was entirely consumed.
Ye Yun felt power coursing through his limbs. The Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique grew smoother and faster with each cycle.
Activating the Little Absorption Technique again, another surge of spiritual energy flooded his body, only to be refined and absorbed. After several repetitions, his true qi reached maximum capacity.
He then used the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique to compress and purify his true qi, enhancing its quality further.
The Qi refining stage focused on true qi—the purer its condensation, the greater one’s strength.
For those below the Foundation Establishment stage, the absence of a soul meant gaps in power depended not on realm but on the quality and density of true qi and spiritual energy.
Ye Yun’s victory over Zhen Huacheng—who’d forcibly elevated himself to the sixth level of Qi refining stage—while still at the first level of Qi refining was due to his superior true qi. Remodeled by the Heart of Immortals and Demons and tempered by Thunder Spirit Qi, his physique surpassed peers by a hundredfold, allowing him to store vastly more potent true qi.
The saying "each realm is a world apart" applied only after condensing a soul at the Foundation Establishment stage. The Qi refining stage held fewer complexities.
With the Heart of Immortals and Demons, a robust body, and ample spirit stones, improving true qi’s quality and quantity was straightforward for Ye Yun. His true hurdle lay in advancing his realm—his powerful physique slowed progress, as stronger bodies demanded deeper comprehension of the heavenly path.
Few cultivated their physical form due to the excessive resources required and future bottlenecks.
Ye Yun paid no heed. As the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique flowed, he meticulously observed shifts in his body and true qi. He could now refine vast amounts of spiritual energy into pristine true qi without the Heart’s aid.
Yet, stuck at the first level of Qi refining, his true qi hit its limit after absorbing hundreds of top-grade spirit stones.
"Heart of Immortals and Demons, emerge," Ye Yun murmured inwardly.
The Heart, now attuned to his will, materialized near his chest. No longer confined to his dantian, it drifted freely, hiding wherever it pleased.
With the Heart’s presence, the remaining top-grade spirit stones glowed faintly as spiritual power streamed into Ye Yun’s palm, swallowed entirely by the artifact.
The Heart devoured the energy like a bottomless abyss, showing no reaction even after hundreds of spirit stones were drained.
Ye Yun waited patiently, continuing his cultivation.
Eventually, the Heart expelled a strand of exquisitely refined spiritual energy. The Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique effortlessly fused it with his existing true qi. Remarkably, this energy didn’t increase his reserves but elevated their quality instead—a testament to the Heart’s marvels.
Ten days passed. When Ye Yun awoke, his true qi churned like an endless tide. His strength had nearly doubled, and though his realm hadn’t risen, he sensed a breakthrough approaching.
Reaching the peak of the first level of Qi refining in mere days wasn’t unprecedented among genius disciples, but none at his level could rival the sheer volume and purity of his true qi.
Stepping from the Small Courtyard, Ye Yun stretched and gazed at Tian Zhu Peak’s sprawling vista.
"Soon, I’ll reach the second stage of Qi refining. By then, even Elder Lan, a seventh-level Qi refining expert, won’t intimidate me," he mused, smiling faintly.
Since obtaining the Heart of Immortals and Demons, Ye Yun’s strength improved rapidly. In mere months, he’d progressed from barely hoping to become an outer disciple to preparing for the inner disciple assessment – a transformation few would believe.
The only regret was the Thundercloud Lightning Sword’s mere three moves. The third technique, Divine Thunder Annihilation, had been created by later generations based on original teachings, its power far inferior to the authentic sword style.
As his cultivation level rose, Ye Yun increasingly felt his lack of Celestial Techniques. He desperately wanted to re-enter Zang Wu Pavilion to choose cultivation techniques.
Yet he knew outer disciples couldn’t freely access Zang Wu Pavilion. Only inner disciples earned sect contribution points through tasks or rewards. These points bought entry privileges.
His immediate goal was passing the inner disciple assessment to earn white robes.
With four days remaining before the assessment, restless energy drove Ye Yun to wander. He considered revisiting the spirit fields where he’d last encountered Elder Seven – was the old man still muddle-headed, drowning in medicinal wine?
Remembering wine, Ye Yun recalled the half-bottle stored in his Thunder Sound Metamorphosis ring. His current cultivation level made instant true qi recovery unnecessary, but the spirit-nourishing brew would prove more valuable at Foundation Establishment stage.
Absentmindedly wandering, he found himself before the spirit fields’ entrance.
"Stop! Identify yourself!"
The bark snapped Ye Yun from reverie. Two black robe disciples stood guard, one glaring fiercely.
"Senior brothers, I’m Ye Yun requesting audience with Elder Seven."
"Ye Yun? The trial survivor who took first in the assessment token competition?" The guard’s eyes widened.
"Your humble junior." Ye Yun inclined his head.
"They say you killed Zhong Ying and Zhen Huacheng before they could crush life-saving talismans?" the second guard pressed.
"They had chances," Ye Yun shrugged. "Why they stayed? Who knows. Either they fell or I did."
"Good riddance!" The first guard spat. "Zhen Huacheng acted high-and-mighty even after demotion from purple robes. Now he’s properly dead – spirit gone, debts cleared."
"History between you?"
"We were black robes together. He got purple while I’ve guarded these fields five years under Elder Seven." The guard’s shoulders slumped. "This is my limit."
"Never say never." Ye Yun smiled. "The Heavenly Sword Sect’s history brims with late bloomers. Enlightenment might strike tomorrow, propelling you to inner or even elite disciple status."
"Empty hopes." The guard remained despondent.
Ye Yun shook his head slightly. Cultivators could lose power, techniques, resources – but never their indomitable will. Without that driving core, even geniuses with infinite resources achieved nothing.
"Senior brothers, could you announce me?"
"Elder Seven’s temper…" The guard winced. "Come back with proper reason. Save us both a beating."
Ye Yun nodded, recalling the elder’s eccentricities. "Then I’ll return later. My gratitude for past favors remains." He bowed toward the fields.
"Enough dawdling! Get in here!"
The thunderous voice made both guards jump.
"At once!" Ye Yun bowed skyward before striding past the astonished guards.
As they watched him disappear, the guards exchanged glances. Elder Seven never summoned anyone.
This Ye Yun… he’s different.
