Vitality Realm

Zhou Yi left the constables to clean up the scene while he headed to the village entrance, where he found his master resting with his eyes closed.

Hearing footsteps approach, Qu Yong opened his eyes and said to Zhou Yi, "Is it settled?"

It seemed Old Qin had already told his master.

Zhou Yi nodded at Qu Yong. "It's settled."

"That's good." Qu Yong said.

Zhou Yi seemed to want to say something, yet held back.

Qu Yong saw through him and said, "Do you want to know how strong the Vitality Realm is?"

Zhou Yi nodded.

Qu Yong smiled at Zhou Yi. "Go get some rest first. You don't need to patrol tonight. Once you've rested well, wait for me by the river tomorrow morning."

"Alright!" After replying to Qu Yong, Zhou Yi headed home.

After returning home, Zhou Yi took off the Patrol Team uniform damaged in battle. He lay on his bed and soon fell asleep.

Early the next morning, Zhou Yi rose before dawn. After getting dressed, he headed for Moon Creek River south of Qingzhu Village.

When he arrived at Moon Creek River, Zhou Yi found Qu Yong already standing by the riverbank.

Upon hearing his footsteps, Qu Yong turned around and said to Zhou Yi, "Do you remember me telling you that when one reaches the Vitality Realm, one's blood and vitality undergo a qualitative transformation?"

Zhou Yi nodded at Qu Yong. "I remember."

"At the Strength Channeling Realm, the denser your Vital Energy, the better. But the Vitality Realm is different. When you step into the Vitality Realm, your body compresses your Vital Energy, causing a qualitative transformation. Put simply, in the Vitality Realm, the paler the color of your Vital Energy, the greater the compression—and the greater its power."

After saying that, Qu Yong paused. "Didn't you want to see the strength of the Vitality Realm? I'll demonstrate it for you."

As he spoke, Qu Yong removed the long spear from his back. His Vital Energy clearly had not yet been compressed to the limit; faint red Vital Energy spread along the shaft of the spear.

Qu Yong casually thrust at the river. The air before the spear tip seemed to compress, and a huge air bubble swelled beneath the water. Moments later, the bubble burst, sending water splashing two zhang into the air.

Zhou Yi was instantly shocked by the sight, his pupils widening slightly. He had never expected the gap in strength between the Strength Channeling Realm and the Vitality Realm to be so enormous.

That ghost infant from last night probably would not have lasted even one move beneath his master's spear.

Qu Yong had just been about to show off in front of Zhou Yi when he saw Zhou Yi scratch his head and ask, "Master, if you're so strong, how did you let that scarecrow get away?"

Qu Yong's face instantly darkened as he said to Zhou Yi, "That scarecrow recovered too quickly. Besides, if I hadn't injured it, you wouldn't have been able to take it down so easily."

After hearing his master's explanation, Zhou Yi realized that the scarecrow's attack power had indeed not been strong. Its true strength had been its recovery ability.

Just as the two were about to continue talking, waves of white mist suddenly rose along the riverbank.

The sky, which had been bright with sunlight only moments ago, abruptly darkened. Zhou Yi and Qu Yong immediately sensed that something was wrong. Both placed their hands on their weapons and watched their surroundings warily.

The white mist by the river grew thicker and thicker, until Zhou Yi and Qu Yong could see only two meters around themselves. Perhaps it was an illusion, but Zhou Yi felt as though heads were bobbing within the mist, creating an unexpectedly bustling scene.

Sensing that something was wrong with the mist, Zhou Yi said to Qu Yong, "Master, I keep feeling like there are a lot of people inside that white mist!"

Qu Yong answered Zhou Yi gravely, "I feel it too."

As he spoke, Qu Yong took an Evil Warding Talisman from his clothes. The instant it was drawn, the runes on it flashed. Then it began to burn itself, turning to ash in the blink of an eye.

Qu Yong and Zhou Yi spoke at the same time. "Crimson Grade aberration!"

Seeing this, Qu Yong turned to Zhou Yi. "Stay behind me. We'll rush out first."

Zhou Yi did not try to show off. He nodded at Qu Yong and hid behind him.

Just as the two were preparing to act, the white mist began moving in a single direction with uncanny regularity.

While the two were still at a loss, the mist came swiftly and vanished just as swiftly. Soon, it passed by them. Once their vision returned, they saw that it was headed toward Gualin Mountain east of Qingzhu Village.

Neither knew why the aberration had not attacked them. Unable to figure it out, Qu Yong and Zhou Yi decided not to dwell on it.

At the very least, the appearance of a Crimson Grade aberration near the village was far from a good sign.

Rather than follow the aberration, the two ran straight back to the village, intending to ask Old Qin about it first.

After finding Old Qin, Qu Yong recounted what they had just experienced.

Yet even the well-traveled and knowledgeable Old Qin did not know what it was.

Qu Yong decided to take Old Qin to investigate it in person, while Zhou Yi was left in the village.

Before leaving, Old Qin gave Zhou Yi a Body Refining Technique as a reward for destroying the ghost infant.

After the two left, Zhou Yi returned home with the technique. Having witnessed Qu Yong's power and the white mist's abilities, he was more eager than ever to improve his strength.

The helplessness brought by the white mist was etched deeply into Zhou Yi's memory. He had thought his strength was already enough to protect himself, but the white mist's appearance had taught him a harsh lesson.

Even someone as strong as Qu Yong had not dared to act rashly in the face of the white mist.

After calming himself, Zhou Yi sat on his bed and opened the Body Refining Technique Old Qin had given him.