Perfect Reward

The Coiled Dragon Halberd's promotion to a high-grade spirit artifact was a significant boon to Shen Yi.

With the help of the Coiled Dragon Halberd in his hand and Little Black, Shen Yi cleared all eight outer regions of the ruins in just one month. Unfortunately, he didn't encounter any further opportunities to upgrade the halberd. Little Black, however, profited greatly each time, absorbing a lot of energy.

"Next up is the Land of the Five Elements."

Shen Yi called out and disappeared into the teleportation array with Little Black.

"Although the Land of the Five Elements is fraught with peril, it greatly aids in cultivation."

Shen Yi was confident that his current physical strength was sufficient to endure the trials here. However, he had other plans; the Five Elements' power here would be perfect for helping him cultivate the second layer of the Indestructible Scripture.

The molten flames of the Land of Fire, the bone-chilling ice of the Land of Water, the raging sand and stones of the Land of Earth, the body-splitting golden light of the Land of Metal, and the poisonous miasma of the Land of Wood—all of these were means for his cultivation.

"Little Black, I feel you're changing more and more."

Shen Yi stroked Little Black and said earnestly, "You're becoming more and more like a living being."

During his cultivation in the Formless Land, Little Black had also absorbed a lot of Five Elements Qi. This made Shen Yi increasingly feel that Little Black emanated more than just death energy; it was becoming more like a vibrant creature.

"Yiya yiya!"

Little Black's large eyes darted around, appearing not to understand. It simply circled Shen Yi, occasionally exhaling a puff of Five Elements Qi, leaving him covered in dust and looking quite disheveled.

"I wonder how Junior Sister Jiang and the others are doing. After so long, they probably think I'm already buried here."

A thought suddenly arose in Shen Yi's mind, and he missed the life at the Immortal Academy, Dean Feng Yang, and his fellow disciples.

"Right, I wonder if that Wang Shangren is still around."

Thinking this, Shen Yi's mind stirred, "Start simulation."

[Simulation started. Remaining simulation attempts this month: 0]
[Year 1: You cultivate in the Grotto-Heaven Ruins and pass the trials perfectly.]
[Year 2: You decide to leave the ruins, are discovered by cultivators lying in wait, and narrowly escape back to Ninghai Immortal Academy.]
[Year 3: You cultivate diligently.]
[Year 4: You cultivate diligently.]
[Year 5: You prepare for Foundation Establishment. The Immortal Academy is attacked, you successfully achieve human-path Foundation Establishment but are killed by an enemy cultivator's single strike.]
[Simulation ended. Reward obtained: One Foundation Establishment Pill, usable for human-path Foundation Establishment.]

"Finally escaped the clutches of evil."

Shen Yi let out a long sigh. Wang Shangren was truly difficult to deal with. However, since he could return to the Immortal Academy, everything could still turn around.

"Human-path Foundation Establishment, huh?"

Shen Yi held the Foundation Establishment Pill, lost in thought. Without paying attention, the pill in his hand was swallowed by Little Black, leaving him feeling helpless.

"Let's go and see what this perfect clear reward is."

Shen Yi called out, his figure flashing as he appeared in the room at the end of the corridor. He approached the flag and injected spiritual energy into it again.

The flag fluttered, and a skeletal phantom slowly coalesced. A vast pressure suddenly permeated the air, making Shen Yi feel suffocated. Facing the golden projection before him, he had an urge to kneel and worship. Suppressing this urge, Shen Yi bowed respectfully to the projection.

"Not bad, descendant. Unassuming and unpretentious. Very good."

The person in the projection nodded approvingly and continued, "This Grotto-heaven was originally the cave dwelling of a Golden Core cultivator. He was killed by me for refining souls with living people, and this place became my cave dwelling. I modified it. The Eight Gates, Five Elements, Two Polarity, and One Origin formation—I myself consider this an astonishing formation. Unfortunately, I was born disliking killing, so I didn't make it a killing formation, merely a test for future generations."

Shen Yi's eyelids twitched involuntarily. He grumbled inwardly, You dislike killing? I've witnessed the dangers of this formation on this trip.

"Later, I accidentally obtained a mass of death energy. Bored, I enlightened it, causing it to develop sentience. Unfortunately, I was already on my deathbed then and couldn't fully enlighten it."

The projection's gaze fell on Little Black, as if recalling the past. It continued, "Since you have passed all my tests and gained its recognition, I shall impart my lifelong proudest ultimate skill to you. Remember this 'Wing Transformation Art.' I was cautious my entire life, relying on it to evade countless pursuits. Even Nascent Soul stage monsters had to admit my escape speed. Descendant, do not tarnish my reputation."

As it spoke, the projection pointed a finger, and a divine sense entered Shen Yi's mind. The entire content of the 'Wing Transformation Art' appeared.

"Cultivation is not easy. I roamed and schemed my entire life, all thanks to four words: 'The wind is tight, let's scram!' Descendant, remember this. Go!"

The projection pointed a finger again, and another teleportation array appeared in the room. It was likely the exit from the ruins. Afterward, the golden light gradually dissipated, and the skeletal phantom dispersed back into many teleportation arrays.

"This fleeing senior is quite interesting. So that's how you came to be."

Shen Yi teased Little Black and reappeared in the Formless Land.

Given the current situation, he decided to first master the 'Wing Transformation Art.' Once he succeeded, he had more than a fifty percent chance of escaping from a Golden Core cultivator, and this was likely the key to the simulator's successful simulation.

Another half a month passed, and Shen Yi finally mastered the technique.

"Such incredible speed!"

A pair of wings, formed from spiritual energy, materialized on Shen Yi's back. In an instant, he crossed hundreds of meters. Even ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't achieve such speed.

Little Black suddenly appeared beside him with a series of yiya sounds, astonishing Shen Yi even further. He secretly resolved to nurture Little Black into a true being, believing that with its potential, it would surely become a top-tier powerhouse in this world.

Putting away the Spirit Wings, Shen Yi returned to the room at the end of the corridor. He collected many secret manuals and magic artifacts into his Cosmic Ring. After recuperating there for several days, he adjusted himself to peak condition and, with Little Black, disappeared into the teleportation array.

"Finally, this world, I have returned!"

Shen Yi felt the air outside and desperately wanted to shout out loud, to vent the emotions in his heart, but the situation didn't allow him to do so.

The moment he appeared in Youjin Mountain Valley, Wang Shangren recovered from his meditation, and the divine sense left there had already detected Shen Yi's trace.

"You little beast, you really didn't die in there! This time, no matter how lucky you are, you won't escape my grasp!"

Wang Shangren moved, disappearing from Qingxuan Sect and heading towards Youjin Mountain Valley.

Shen Yi also felt the fluctuation of that divine sense. In an instant, he felt himself locked onto by a presence. Without time to think, he unleashed his Spirit Wings, accelerated, and flew towards Ninghai Immortal Academy, leaving a golden afterimage in the air.

"I hope the old man isn't too fast!"