Innate Immortal

Yang He's four yin meridians were not yet completely refined, but they were close.

Given the amount of yin qi in the Lore World, any cultivation progressed at a thousand miles a day, and besides... there was also a human-shaped spirit gathering array in the hall.

Yang He's peripheral vision swept over Madam Yin, who was protected by the imperial guards.

According to the timeline, Madam Yin should have been recently pregnant, but instead, her abdomen was as swollen as if she were ten months pregnant, and her body was slightly thin.

Faintly, veins could be seen covering the surface of her skin.

Yang He dared not touch Madam Yin, fearing it would agitate Nezha. If Madam Yin were to undergo ghostification prematurely, it would be like being attacked from both front and back.

In just a moment, the yin qi content in the hall surpassed that of Qing Lake.

Yang He diverted his attention to draw in external yin qi. The vertical eye between his brows revealed its profound nature, and immediately, the yin qi began to pour in, channeling into the pupil ghost.

Daoist Priest Qingfeng's face showed astonishment. After sensing the commotion Yang He caused while absorbing yin qi, he became even more convinced that his vision was failing. Otherwise, how could someone in the Acquired Realm absorb such a massive amount of yin qi?

"Hahaha, I'm becoming an immortal!!"

Miaoyin continued to speak deliriously, her face beaten until it was bloody and bruised.

Li Feng clicked his tongue and said, "Which Daoist lineage does the Five Lights Temple belong to? It's so sinister, only engaging in petty thievery."

Miaoyin did not reply, merely continuing to giggle foolishly.

Daoist Priest Qingfeng took out a Calming Heart Talisman and placed it on Miaoyin's forehead. "If the Living Immortal doesn't become immortal within seven days, it will turn to dust and ashes. Doesn't that mean it needs seven days to digest forty-nine pieces of human skin?"

Miaoyin regained some of her sanity. "That's what the ancient texts record."

"We have plenty of time. This old Daoist will think about how to reinforce the magic array."

Daoist Priest Qingfeng pondered, the frequency of killing and skinning would gradually slow down. Becoming immortal was not an overnight process; it required gradual transformation.

Yang He felt that the key to breaking the deadlock was to survive for seven days.

Even if he didn't intervene, Daoist Priest Qingfeng and the others holding the main hall should be fine. Perhaps letting things take their course would resolve the crisis?

Li Feng couldn't help but sigh, "I never expected the Five Lights Temple to be so outwardly glorious yet hide such sordid affairs. What Living Immortal? Only the Immortal Masters of Qianyuan Mountain can be called true immortals."

Miaoyin, who was already nearing her end, heard this and spoke with a final burst of energy.

"You don't understand at all!!"

"The Living Immortal undergoes a fire ritual every ten days. I'm detaining the attendants to prevent the Living Immortal from losing control. As long as the Living Immortal stays peacefully on the lotus throne, who cares if it's a true immortal or a false immortal?"

Miaoyin coughed violently, spitting out fragments of internal organs from her mouth and nose.

Yang He frowned slightly. "What about the other Living Immortals in the temple? Will they lose control because of this?"

"Living Immortals do not allow kindred to become immortal. When it finishes stripping forty-nine corpses, it will mercilessly eliminate all kindred..."

Miaoyin muttered, gradually losing her life force.

Daoist Priest Qingfeng looked at Yang He, awaiting his decision.

Yang He looked around and said, "The Living Immortal is mysteriously strange. I don't have confidence in venturing out rashly, so it's best to remain still and let things unfold."

"That makes sense."

Li Feng had brought plenty of provisions for this trip, and he hadn't abandoned them even during the chaos. It shouldn't be a problem for everyone to hold out until the seventh day.

"Junior Brother Qingfeng, you will be in charge of arranging everyone's daily routines."

"Understood."

Daoist Priest Qingfeng also calmed down. After thinking for a moment, he was about to ask Yang He a few questions when he saw Yang He staring thoughtfully at Miaoyin's corpse.

"Senior Brother Yang, are you worried the corpse will turn into a Malevolent Spirit? Junior Brother will handle it..."

The ghost hand appeared.

Yang He's mind moved, and the ghost hand directly burrowed into the corpse's flesh.

Daoist Priest Qingfeng felt a chill run down his spine. He watched as the ghost hand rummaged inside the corpse and then produced charred vertebrae one by one out of thin air.

"Junior Brother Qingfeng, I'll leave the corpse to you."

"Uh, alright."

The ghost hand swallowed the yin bone, and the middle finger bone naturally formed.

Miaoyin had practiced the Bone Accumulating Fire Incantation, but in several decades, he only managed to accumulate seven vertebrae.

This showed how high the barrier to cultivation was in the Lore World.

Most mortals were probably like Miaoyin, only able to access heterodox path techniques and never reaching the Acquired Realm in their entire lives.

Daoist Priest Qingfeng was already considered to have excellent talent and aptitude, as he was able to join Qianyuan Mountain. However, his subsequent promotion to the Dantian Sitting stage (Fierce Ghost) was his limit.

By the time the Investiture War began, those in the Dantian Sitting stage wouldn't even qualify as cannon fodder.

Yang He sat down cross-legged, drawing external yin qi into his body.

Coincidentally, the Five Lights Temple formed a yin qi vortex centered on the main hall, which surged towards him. Soon, all four yin meridians were completely refined.

Ming Shan couldn't help but exclaim, "Master, has Martial Uncle already achieved immortality and enlightenment?"

"Probably not."

Daoist Priest Qingfeng hesitated and added, "To be valued by Immortal Venerable Taiyi, perhaps he is an Innate Immortal."

Yang He sensed that the pupil ghost was approaching a bottleneck.

He no longer hesitated, forcing down his disgust as he took out ghost eyes one by one and swallowed them. The ghost eyes dissolved and churned in his stomach.

The pupil ghost burrowed into his body, appearing in his stomach and intestines.

Yang He's mouth twitched, feeling somewhat like he was swallowing a golden core. Immediately after, all the blood in his body began to flow back into his stomach and intestines.

His external appearance transformed into a withered corpse, his heart almost stopped.

Daoist Priest Qingfeng was filled with surprise and uncertainty, feeling as though Yang He was undergoing a transformation from Acquired to Innate.

The Innate Realm required the refinement of all the blood in one's body. Cultivation was a process of transcending the mundane, and it also caused divine abilities to become closely linked with the body and soul.

But… it was impossible. How could Senior Brother Yang He only be in the Acquired Realm?

Moreover, with the Living Immortal lurking, who would dare to break through their realm in a place like this?

Yang He's consciousness was clear, observing the pupil ghost's metamorphosis. It seemed that due to his Spiritual Vision, the pupil ghost exhibited something extraordinary.

In the side hall.

The altar by the wall was lifted, revealing a dark passage leading directly underground. Hoarse voices could be heard wailing in pain from within.

"Become immortal!"

"Become immortal!!"

The Living Immortal had already peeled off twenty-one human skins, and its own form was subtly changing. Its limbs desperately tore at the swollen, wrinkled skin.

In the corners, earthen jars were placed, containing the imprisoned attendants.

They faced the Living Immortal with trembling fear, their mouths constantly pleading. The terrifying pressure was suffocating, making it difficult to breathe.

Thud.

The Living Immortal slammed into the wall, causing it to dent, and the skin on its face began to tear.

Suddenly.

The Living Immortal froze, and the terrified attendants stared at its back.

They watched as the Living Immortal covered its face, then turned and walked towards them step by step. The candlelight flickered, allowing them to vaguely see its skin being pulled apart.

"Living Immortal, don't kill me!!"

"Living Immortal, it's all Miaoyin's fault, we never..."

Their words were cut short.

From the Living Immortal's dark and grotesque skin, a fair and serene Guanyin face emerged. Simultaneously, twelve small heads were piled atop its head like a cluster of grapes.

These were the twelve faces of sentient beings mentioned in Buddhism.

All the attendants were stunned into silence.

"Do you… wish to follow me in cultivation to achieve immortality and enlightenment?"

"We do!"

"Living Immortal, we are willing!!"

The Living Immortal ignored the attendants. Instead, seven skinned corpses began to tremble, and then they stood up with their hands clasped together.

The skinned corpses forcefully scratched the Living Immortal's skin, helping it to achieve immortality faster!!