Chapter 223: Stimulation from the Spiritual Consciousness Realm

The news of Xu Ning achieving the Spiritual Consciousness Realm spread rapidly within the School. This was the first time Li Qingqiu officially revealed the existence of the Spiritual Consciousness Realm to the Disciples.

Above the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Origin Realm is the Spiritual Consciousness Realm!

This left the Disciples greatly shocked. They finally realized the gap between themselves and the top experts of the School, and also understood that the path of immortal cultivation was far longer than they had imagined.

Jiang Zhaoxia and Shen Yue were deeply stimulated and began closed-door cultivation.

Shen Yue in particular was affected, as Xu Ning had specifically gone to find him. Although the two did not fight, the sense of oppression Xu Ning brought him was something he found unacceptable.

Never mind the Spiritual Consciousness Realm; he hadn’t even reached the Nourishing Origin Realm Eighth Layer yet.

Shen Yue’s state of mind became unprecedentedly anxious; he did not want to be left far behind by Xu Ning.

The news of Xu Ning achieving the Spiritual Consciousness Realm also served as a stimulus to other Disciples in the School.

More and more Disciples began to set aside their practice of Spells to focus on their cultivation levels, making the Martial Arts Stage less lively than it used to be.

Inside a courtyard.

Zhang Ping watched Yuan Qi depart. Looking at the Storage Pouch in his hand, his heart was deeply moved.

This was something Li Qingqiu had asked Yuan Qi to bring to him. Inside were Secret Manuals for Spells, Medicinal Pills, and Spirit Stones. He felt the Sect Leader’s high regard for him, which gave him a great deal of pressure; he was afraid of disappointing the Sect Leader.

However, at the thought of his recent cultivation results, his fighting spirit surged again.

He had already reached the Nourishing Origin Realm, Fifth Layer!

The effects of the vermilion bird blood surprised him. His cultivation speed had increased significantly, and his blood and Qi were also strengthening. He even suspected he could concurrently practice the path of a Body Cultivator.

He squeezed the Storage Pouch and took a deep breath.

“Perhaps, in the next Dharma Battle Assembly, I can also participate…”

Zhang Ping was cautious by nature, but that didn’t mean he lacked ambition. It was precisely because his ambition was large enough—larger than anyone else’s—that he was so cautious.

He decided to aim for the top ten of the next Dharma Battle Assembly, take the resources, and then lose the match.

He didn’t want fame; he wanted to become as strong as possible so he could do more for the Sect Leader in the future.

Just as he was about to turn back into the house, a figure walked in through the courtyard gate.

“Zhang Ping!”

Zhang Ping turned his head to look, his eyes widening as he saw a woman in purple looking at him with a face full of joy.

He was first pleasantly surprised, followed immediately by a feeling of trepidation.

The newcomer was none other than Murong Xi… A month later, the influence brought by Xu Ning’s Breakthrough finally subsided, and new matters began to attract the attention of the School’s Disciples.

Inside the Experience Hall.

Xue Jin sat in a chair, clutching a letter, his brow furrowed deeply.

Standing before the desk was a person, specifically the second of the Thirteen Sword厉, Zheng Yunqiao.

Zheng Yunqiao’s expression was grim as he said in a heavy voice, “The Xuanji Sect is not easy to deal with. Relying solely on the Experience Hall might be difficult. Should we ask the Sect Leader to send someone to assist?”

Xue Jin did not answer. The letter in his hand recorded casualties. In this operation against the Xuanji Sect, Disciples had actually been sacrificed, which made his mood very foul.

After a moment, Xue Jin took a deep breath and said, “No need. I will personally descend the mountain.”

“That won’t do. You need to oversee the Experience Hall, and your arm…” Zheng Yunqiao stopped halfway, afraid of hurting Xue Jin’s feelings.

Xue Jin looked at him and said, “One arm being unwell does not affect my ability to kill.”

Just as Zheng Yunqiao was about to continue his persuasion, a voice came from behind:

“One arm indeed doesn’t affect it, but you shouldn’t descend the mountain either. Your strength is already starting to be caught up to by other Disciples. Do not delay your cultivation any longer.”

The expressions of Xue Jin and Zheng Yunqiao changed drastically because they recognized who the owner of this voice was.

Xue Jin immediately stood up, while Zheng Yunqiao turned and bowed in greeting.

Jiang Zhaoxia stepped through the doorway. Only a major figure like him could barge in forcefully without being announced.

“Greetings, Master!”

The two spoke in unison.

Jiang Zhaoxia came to the desk, placed a Storage Pouch on it, and said, “Xue Jin, there is a cultivation method for a Divine Ability here. Practice it when you have time. As for the trouble your Experience Hall is facing, there’s no need for you to descend the mountain personally. I have already written a letter; it’s inside the Storage Pouch. Have your people take it to Li Sifeng. It’s time for that boy to contribute to the School.”

A Divine Ability?

Xue Jin was astonished and subconsciously looked at the Storage Pouch on the desk.

He was naturally pleasantly surprised by his Master’s arrangement, but he was afraid of troubling Li Sifeng.

“Would that be inappropriate? After all, Junior Martial Uncle Li is busy campaigning across the world,” Xue Jin asked hesitantly.

Jiang Zhaoxia said in a tone that brooked no argument, “This matter is settled. Hurry up and Cultivate to maintain your strength and status in the School. Don’t embarrass me.”

Having said that, he turned and left. The two immediately bowed to him.

Once his aura had faded into the distance, Zheng Yunqiao finally looked at Xue Jin and said, “Does it feel like Master is very angry?”

Xue Jin replied, “It’s likely that another one of the Sect Leader’s Disciples has made a Breakthrough.”

Zheng Yunqiao smiled helplessly. “Master really is something, having such a strong competitive spirit. Who can compare with the Sect Leader’s Disciples? Even him…”

Xue Jin glanced at him, and he immediately snapped to his senses, not daring to continue his reckless words.

Afterward, Xue Jin sat back down. Looking at the Storage Pouch on the desk, he didn’t feel particularly happy. In his view, once they sought help from Li Sifeng, it proved that the Experience Hall had botched the matter—or at least, it had been botched under his watch.

Zheng Yunqiao saw through his concerns and said irritably, “Eldest Senior Brother, what are you thinking? Junior Martial Uncle Li is the Hall Master of the Experience Hall. If he takes action, it’s still a credit to our Experience Hall. What are you thinking? Do you really consider yourself the Hall Master?”

These words woke Xue Jin up, causing him to give a bitter smile.

That’s true!

He had almost forgotten that fact.

Zheng Yunqiao looked at the Storage Pouch on the desk and asked curiously, “What is a Divine Ability? Eldest Senior Brother, can you let me have a look later?”

Xue Jin glared at him and said, “Your thoughts are getting bolder and bolder. Without Master’s permission, how could I transmit it on my own?”

Zheng Yunqiao curled his lip. He felt that Xue Jin was good in every way, except for being too rigid.

At the same time, he felt envious in his heart.

The Thirteen Sword厉 shared life and death, but Jiang Zhaoxia’s attitude toward Xue Jin was completely different from his attitude toward the others. Although the gap in Aptitude was an objective reality, how could they remain entirely indifferent?

…Night fell.

Inside the Immortal Cave, Li Qingqiu was sitting cross-legged on a stone bed practicing his skills. Chu Jing stood before him, reporting intelligence.

“According to news from the Dark Hall Disciples, Murong Manor is indeed hunting Auspicious Omens. That White Tiger is already dead; it’s said its blood was drained dry. All of this was on the orders of the Manor Lord of Murong Manor, Murong Zhilong.”

“Sect Leader, according to what Shen Yue said before, this Murong Zhilong is a peerless Genius with a chance of Entering the Dao. Now that he is collecting the essence blood of Auspicious Omens, could he become a great enemy of the Qingxiao Sect? My suggestion is to directly wipe out Murong Manor. I will arrange for people to do it, and you can just act as if you’re unaware.”

Chu Jing’s tone was fierce, as if that ferocious Mysterious Duke had returned.

Li Qingqiu opened his eyes, glared at him, and said irritably, “Keep your schemes in check. Don’t use your old ways of thinking to do things for the Qingxiao Sect. I had the Dark Hall investigate Murong Manor not to deal with them, but to investigate the refining method of vermilion bird blood.”

The fact that Zhang Ping’s Aptitude could be improved proved that vermilion bird blood could also improve the Aptitude of others. This made Li Qingqiu think of his own Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters.

Only by improving the Aptitude of his Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters could they go further and live longer on the path of immortal cultivation.

Chu Jing replied, “It’s still being investigated. Murong Zhilong’s martial arts are not to be underestimated. The cultivation of the Dark Hall Disciples isn’t very high, so I’m afraid of alerting the enemy. I’ve told them to be cautious.”

“Mhm, proceed slowly with this matter. I’ll give you two years; you must find the refining method for vermilion bird blood,” Li Qingqiu instructed.

vermilion bird blood was not as simple as ordinary Auspicious Omen blood. According to Zhang Ping, the vermilion bird blood Murong Xi gave him to consume was a piece of red jade. He heard from Murong Xi that rare treasures had been added to it.

“Understood.”

Chu Jing took his orders and departed.

After he left, Li Qingqiu pondered for a while before continuing to Cultivate… At dusk.

Bo Zhao and two fellow Yamen Runners from Pan City were advancing along the mountain path, returning to the Law Enforcement Hall. The three were exhausted; these past few days, they had been responsible for patrolling the Taikun Mountain Range, which had worn them out.

However, after this, they would have ten days of cultivation time. The thought of it filled them with motivation.

“That Xunxian Town is truly prosperous. From a distance, it looks just like the main street of a Prefectural City.”

“Yeah, we’ll have to find time to go for a stroll later.”

“Bo Zhao, are you going?”

“He definitely won’t go. He’s a cultivation maniac. His Aptitude is better than ours; we’d better not delay him.”

Listening to his two companions, Bo Zhao didn’t pay them much mind. He was recalling a Spell.

At the beginning of the month, he had used his own dao affinity to exchange for a Secret Manual for a Spell. Now his mind was filled with the practice of that Spell.

Just then, a companion pulled Bo Zhao and told him to look ahead.

They saw Cloud Color and seven women frolicking in the woods ahead, mainly surrounding two children.

Bo Zhao and the other two had escorted Cloud Color and the seven other women to the Qingxiao Sect. As Cloud Color became a focus of Li Qingqiu’s cultivation and grew famous in the School, the relationship between the two groups had drifted apart.

It wasn’t that Cloud Color deliberately distanced herself from them, but rather that they were embarrassed to be a burden to her. Cloud Color had repeatedly sent them Spirit Pills and Spirit Stones, making them feel they had received more than they deserved.

They had escorted her all the way, and it was indeed hard work, but Li Qingqiu had already rewarded them by making them Disciples of the Qingxiao Sect, allowing them to pursue the immortal path of longevity. They were content and didn’t want to trouble Cloud Color further.

“Pretend we didn’t see anything. Let’s go,”

Bo Zhao said in a low voice, and the three immediately quickened their pace.

The mountain path was winding; they could bypass the woods where Cloud Color and the others were.

However, they hadn’t gone far when Cloud Color suddenly appeared before them, giving them a big fright.

“Why are you hiding?”

Cloud Color said with a frown, her tone cold, making the three a little afraid.

They all wondered in their hearts: back on the escape route, why hadn’t they felt she was so fierce?

Bo Zhao hesitated to speak, but Cloud Color said directly, “Another batch of slots for the Tianshan Spirit Pool has come up recently. I applied for the three of you. Someone will speak to your Hall Master. Go back and prepare well; you’ll set out in five days.”

Having said that, she turned and walked back toward the woods.

Bo Zhao and the other two were stunned, their gazes following her back, their hearts filled with a complex mix of emotions.

It’s coming, it’s coming!