Chapter 104: Chapter 103: Changing Aptitude

"The True Cultivators of the Three Sects are starting to enter. The little whelps might not be able to hold on."

In Wuji Hall of the Taixu Mirror Heaven.

The moment Fan Wushi and the other Qi Refining Eighth Layer True Cultivators stepped into the [Peach Garden], they were instantly discovered by the Holy Sect Masters overlooking the entire Secret Realm.

A Master immediately spoke up, pointing out that once True Cultivators of that caliber entered the field, the Outer Mansion Disciples currently inside the Secret Realm wouldn’t stand a chance.

"It matters not," another Master soon chimed in nonchalantly, his tone as detached as if he were discussing worthless scraps. "They’re just a bunch of Outer Sect Talent. If they die, they die."

After all, in the eyes of most Masters, although the Outer Mansion Disciples were Apprentice Disciples being raised by the Holy Sect, they had yet to become True Cultivators.

And since they hadn’t become True Cultivators, they were still merely Talent.

And the nature of raw material is to be consumed. Perfectly suited to be used as bait.

"That may be so, but the Three Sects aren’t fools. Especially the Yellow Springs Netherworld—those old ghouls are as sly as they come."

"If they discover that there’s only a group of low-cultivation Outer Mansion Disciples in the [Peach Garden], they certainly won’t rush in."

"Ultimately, the Outer Mansion Disciples make for too small an enticement."

"You can’t catch a big fish with it."

"Mm, that makes sense."

"Indeed. Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

"Should we send in the Inner Mansion True Cultivators as well?"

The Foundation Establishment Masters in the hall broke into a flurry of discussion. The voices grew noisy, their opinions became muddled, and some suggestions even started to stray from the topic.

Just then, an overwhelming, terrifying pressure erupted from Nan Dou Master, who was seated at the head of the hall. Like an invisible giant hand, it instantly snuffed out all clamor and noise, rendering Wuji Hall quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

"A decree," Nan Dou Master’s voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable authority that resounded clearly throughout the hall. "The Nine Palaces, Five Mansions, and Twenty-Three Dao Fields are each to dispatch two True Cultivator Disciples into the [Peach Garden] immediately."

The moment Nan Dou Master spoke, the Foundation Establishment Masters present fell silent. After hearing their senior brother’s command, they all rose to their feet, their voices loud and unified:

"We shall obey Senior Brother’s command!"

...

The eleventh level of the [Peach Garden]!

A White Bone Skeleton let out a piercing, bizarre laugh. Trailing a surging, ink-green tail of corpse fire, it shot forward at an astonishing speed, pouncing madly toward three pale-faced Zombie Alliance Cultivators standing back-to-back not far away!

"Don’t come over here!"

The three of them, their faces twisted in terror, frantically urged the surrounding zombies to intercept the skull, which was cloaked in the shadow of death.

But the White Bone Skeleton, now unleashing its full power in a kamikaze-style attack, had already reached its maximum speed. With a few sharp turns and drifts, it left the clumsy zombies far behind.

It slammed ruthlessly into the three Zombie Alliance Cultivators!

BOOM—

A deafening, earth-shaking blast was accompanied by a small, rising mushroom cloud. A terrifying gale and shockwave ravaged the area, sweeping past and clearing everything within a radius of dozens of meters, leaving behind only a suffocating heat.

As Qi Yun skillfully manipulated the White Bone Skeleton to turn the three Three Sect Cultivators into cultivation Resources, the [Crimson Cicada Embryo Storage] in his hand suddenly emitted a warm aura.

His expression flickered slightly. Qi Yun lowered his gaze to the divine object in his hand, a treasure that could alter one’s aptitude, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

In the palm of his hand, the Jade Cicada had turned a flawless, warm yellow, and a gentle, translucent glow flowed across its surface.

A faint yet extremely pure and exotic fragrance quietly began to spread.

’It’s ready!’

Gazing at the perfectly mature [Crimson Cicada Embryo Storage], Qi Yun showed no hesitation. He tilted his head back, opened his mouth, and swallowed the divine object that could alter one’s aptitude in one go!

GULP—

At first, there was only a gentle warmth, as if he had drunk a mouthful of Warm Jade Nectar.

But the next instant—

BOOM!!!

An indescribable, miraculous power was instantly ignited and detonated within his body.

It was not a destructive impact, but rather a supremely vast and almost tyrannical power of ’life’.

With unstoppable momentum, it surged through his limbs, bones, meridians, acupoints, and even every inch of his flesh and blood!

"Ugh—!"

Even with Qi Yun’s willpower, he couldn’t help but let out a stifled groan.

His body began to tremble violently as countless rays of soft yet dazzling bright-yellow light shot out from the pores on his skin.

He transformed into a man-shaped cocoon of light!

Intense pain and extreme pleasure erupted simultaneously, weaving together into an indescribable, ultimate experience.

Qi Yun could feel his meridians being scoured by this power, like riverbeds being washed away and then reforged with Divine Gold.

They widened and strengthened at an unprecedented rate, becoming tougher and more accommodating.

All the obscure and hard-to-navigate acupoints that had previously impeded the flow of his True Qi were now effortlessly pierced and smoothed over by this torrent, becoming completely unobstructed.

Meanwhile, within his Purple Mansion Dantian, the core warm current from the [Crimson Cicada Embryo Storage] did not dissipate. Instead, it transformed into a miniature sun, suspended in the center of his Qi Sea.

It constantly radiated an incomparably pure energy, subtly nourishing and elevating the very essence of his cultivation foundation.

Countless tiny, foul-smelling black impurities, along with accumulated hidden injuries and old ailments, were forcibly expelled from the deepest corners of his body by this power and discharged through his pores.

They were then immediately purified and evaporated by the bright-yellow light flowing across the surface of his skin.

This process lasted for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

When the dazzling, bright-yellow light gradually receded, finally disappearing as it merged completely into Qi Yun’s body, he slowly opened his eyes.