Perfect Reward

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

With the Coiled Dragon Halberd in hand and Little Black's help, Shen Yi passed through all eight regions on the outskirts of the ruins in just one month. Unfortunately, he never again encountered an opportunity for the Coiled Dragon Halberd to advance. Little Black, on the other hand, made a fortune every time, absorbing a great deal of energy.

"Next comes the Five Elements Lands."

With a call to Little Black, Shen Yi vanished into the teleportation array.

"Though the Five Elements Lands are fraught with danger at every turn, they are of tremendous help to cultivation."

Shen Yi was confident that, with the strength of his current body, he could withstand every trial here. However, he had other plans. The power of the Five Elements here was perfectly suited to aid his cultivation of the second layer of the Indestructible Scripture.

The Molten Flames of the Land of Fire Element, the bone-piercing ice of the Land of Water Element, the raging sand and flying stones of the Land of Earth Element, the body-rending golden light of the Land of Metal Element, and the poisonous miasma of plants in the Land of Wood Element—every one of them could serve as a means for his cultivation.

"Little Black, I can feel that your changes are becoming greater and greater."

Shen Yi stroked Little Black and spoke seriously,

"You're becoming more and more like a living creature."

During their cultivation in the Land of No Element, Little Black had likewise absorbed much Five Elements energy. Shen Yi increasingly felt that Little Black no longer emitted only deathly energy; it was becoming more and more like a vibrant living creature.

"Yiya, yiya!"

Little Black's large eyes spun round and round, wearing an utterly bewildered expression. It merely circled Shen Yi back and forth, occasionally spitting out a mouthful of Five Elements energy that left him dusty and disheveled, a truly sorry sight.

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

A sudden wave of longing rose in Shen Yi. He missed life at the Immortal Academy, missed Dean Feng Yang, and missed his fellow disciples.

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

With that thought, Shen Yi's mind stirred.

"Begin simulation."

Simulation begins. Remaining simulations this month: 0

Year One: You cultivated within the Grotto-Heaven Ruins and passed the trials perfectly.

Year Two: You decided to leave the ruins, but cultivators lying in wait discovered you. You barely escaped and returned to Ninghai Immortal Academy.

Year Three: You cultivated diligently.

Year Four: You cultivated diligently.

Year Five: You prepared for Foundation Establishment. The Immortal Academy was attacked. You successfully achieved Human Dao Foundation Establishment, but were killed in a single blow by an enemy cultivator.

Simulation ended. Reward obtained this time: one Foundation Establishment Pill, usable for Human Dao Foundation Establishment.

"I've finally escaped his clutches."

Shen Yi let out a long breath. Wang Shangren was indeed difficult to deal with, but since he could return to the Immortal Academy, there was still room for a turnaround.

"Human Dao Foundation Establishment?"

Shen Yi held the Foundation Establishment Pill, pondering something. In a moment of carelessness, Little Black swallowed the pill in one gulp, leaving him utterly helpless.

"Let's go. Let's see what the reward for this perfect clear actually is."

With a call, Shen Yi flashed forward and appeared in the room at the end of the corridor. He came before the flag and poured spiritual power into it once more.

The flag fluttered, and the skeletal phantoms slowly gathered together. An immense pressure suddenly spread through the air, making Shen Yi feel as though he were suffocating. Facing the golden projection that appeared before him, he actually felt an urge to kneel and worship. Forcing down that impulse, Shen Yi respectfully bowed to the projection.

"Not bad, successor. Neither servile nor overbearing. Very good."

The person in the projection nodded approvingly, then continued,

"This grotto-heaven was originally the cave mansion of a Golden Core Cultivator. Because he refined the souls of living people, I slew him, and this place became my cave mansion. I also altered it somewhat. The formation of Eight Gates, Five Elements, Two Principles, and One Origin—I myself considered it a world-shaking formation. Unfortunately, I was born with no love for killing, so I did not make any killing formations. I merely made it a trial for later generations."

Shen Yi's eyelids twitched involuntarily. He grumbled inwardly, You call this not liking to kill? This trip has shown me just how perilous this formation is.

"Later, I happened upon a mass of deathly energy. Out of boredom, I enlightened it and gave it intelligence. Unfortunately, I was already at death's door then and could not complete its enlightenment."

The projection gazed at Little Black, seeming to recall those days, before continuing, "Since you have passed all of my trials and gained its recognition, I shall pass down to you the greatest skill of my life. Memorize this Wing Transformation Art well. I was cautious throughout my life, and I relied on it to evade countless pursuits. Even Nascent Soul old monsters had no choice but to acknowledge the speed at which I fled. Successor, do not tarnish my reputation."

As he spoke, the projection pointed a finger, and a strand of divine sense entered Shen Yi's mind. The complete contents of the Wing Transformation Art appeared within it.

"Cultivation is not easy. I spent my life maneuvering across the world, relying entirely on four words: 'When the wind rises, run for it!' Remember this well, successor. Go!"

The projection pointed again, and another teleportation array appeared in the room. It was presumably the array leading out of the ruins. Then the golden light gradually dispersed, while the skeletal phantoms scattered once more into numerous teleportation arrays.

"This senior who specialized in running away is rather amusing. So this is how you came to be."

Shen Yi teased Little Black before appearing once again in the Land of No Element.

Given the current situation, he decided to first master the Wing Transformation Art. Once he succeeded, he would have more than a fifty-percent chance of escaping from a Golden Core Cultivator. This should also be the key to succeeding in the simulator's simulation.

Another half month passed, and Shen Yi finally became proficient in that technique.

"What incredible speed!"

A pair of wings formed from spiritual power emerged from Shen Yi's back. In a single instant, he crossed several hundred meters. Even ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators could not achieve such speed.

Little Black suddenly appeared beside him with a string of yiyas, leaving Shen Yi even more astonished. He secretly resolved to nurture Little Black into a true living creature. With its aptitude, it would surely become one of the foremost experts in this world in the future.

Retracting his Spirit Wings, Shen Yi returned to the room at the end of the corridor. He stored numerous manuals and magical artifacts in his Cosmic Ring, then rested there for several more days, bringing himself back to his peak state. Taking Little Black with him, he vanished into the teleportation array.

"Finally, I've returned to this world!"

As Shen Yi felt the air of the outside world, he dearly wished to shout aloud and vent the emotions in his heart. But the circumstances did not allow him to do so.

The instant he appeared in Youjin Mountain Valley, Wang Shangren, who was recovering in meditation, sensed Shen Yi's trace through the divine sense he had left behind.

"You little beast, so you didn't die in there after all! No matter how lucky you are this time, you won't escape my grasp!"

Wang Shangren moved, vanished from the Qingxuan Sect, and hurried toward Youjin Mountain Valley.

Shen Yi also sensed that ripple of divine sense. In an instant, he felt himself locked onto by an aura. With no time to think, he released his Spirit Wings, accelerated, and flew toward Ninghai Immortal Academy, leaving a golden afterimage in the sky.

"I hope that old bastard isn't too fast!"