Encirclement!

The proper way for players to advance.

Was to raise their Cultivation Technique and physique together.

Then add points to intelligence as needed.

Because if intelligence did not increase, higher ranks would overwhelm the brain.

If...

You only increased your physique and advanced madly.

Then...

It would lead to one result.

You would become hollow.

This was a term unique to the player community.

It meant having only the realm, without the corresponding strength.

Zhang Qing had reached the Candlelight Realm.

That was because his physique had reached the requirement.

But his Cultivation Technique had not.

That was why the system had issued a warning.

His current combat power.

Was difficult to assess.

It would depend on actual combat.

Forcibly advancing...

Could be said to raise the upper limit while lowering the lower limit.

Overall, it was inferior to steady advancement.

But for now, it was Zhang Qing's best option.

Sit around and wait for death?

Impossible!

He opened the panel.

Zhang Qing!

Martial Realm: Candlelight Realm, Level 1!

Blood Volume: 2170/2170!

Physique: 101!

Intelligence: 5!

Cultivation Technique: Kaiyuan Art (Low-grade Glimmer, Great Perfection!) Sky-Opening Slash (Low-grade Glimmer, Great Perfection!) Chuan Shattering Steps (Low-grade Glimmer, Great Perfection!) Ox-Barbarian Strength (Low-grade Glimmer, Great Perfection!)

Attribute Points: 7!

Over two thousand health, a Starflash Realm health bar.

Combined with Great Perfection-level Cultivation Techniques.

Perhaps...

If he truly fought, he could suppress someone at the Great Perfection Glimmering Realm.

He might even be able to fight an ordinary Candlelight Realm expert!

After advancing, Zhang Qing let out a long breath and opened his eyes.

Only to suddenly discover.

Yang Man had come out.

She stretched out her hand, preparing to take Zhang Qing's pulse.

However.

Zhang Qing refused.

"You have guts," Yang Man said.

"Even if it means sacrificing your own potential, you still forced your realm to advance."

"Not bad."

Zhang Qing could clearly sense it.

Yang Man was much less wary of him now.

"Change is imminent. I need to strengthen my ability to protect myself," Zhang Qing said.

Then.

Yang Man gave Zhang Qing a set of clothes and a mask.

"This is the distinctive attire of the Ghoul Blood Hall. Wearing it while you travel will make you safer."

"Also, don't go back tonight. Stay here with me instead, or I can't guarantee your safety."

Zhang Qing accepted them.

Clearly.

In Yang Man's eyes, he was still useful.

Heh heh.

Woman, you're playing with fire!

Afterward.

Once Zhang Qing had changed into the clothes, he left the Ghoul Blood Hall and began walking around.

Yang Man watched Zhang Qing's retreating figure and also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Finally, I made him destroy his own potential!"

"If he uses spirit pills regardless of cost, I should be able to push him to the Starflash Realm. But after that, he will have no chance of further advancement."

"And with the Starflash Realm, combined with my identity as a healer of martial artists, we will need to rely on each other while traveling in the wilderness!"

"If I ultimately fail, I can still rely on him to escort me back to Sheep Emperor City."

Yang Man had deliberately given Zhang Qing the Blood Transformation Pill.

Whether Zhang Qing opened it or not.

Chuan Prefecture would receive the news.

At that time, the situation would become extremely unfavorable for Zhang Qing.

It would force him to use the Blood Transformation Pill to raise his realm.

That way.

Her goal would be achieved.

But in the end.

Zhang Qing was never her best choice. All this was merely an idle move for the next step.

When he reached the streets.

Zhang Qing pondered.

He understood very clearly.

He had little to do with driving the entire situation forward.

He was currently just a minor figure, incapable of truly influencing the situation.

No matter what he did, things would turn out this way.

All he could do was obtain the greatest possible benefit from this situation.

The Candlelight Realm.

Mm, it was barely enough.

The streets now still carried a somewhat festive atmosphere.

The Chuan Family's ancestral rite was a major event.

Only...

As Zhang Qing scanned the way, he did not see a single Specter.

Even...

There were far fewer Glimmering Realm health bars as well.

The storm is coming!

After wandering around for a while.

Zhang Qing returned to the Ghoul Blood Hall.

He found a corner in Yang Man's small courtyard and narrowed his eyes for a nap.

He hurried offline to make the most of his time.

Tonight would absolutely not be peaceful. He needed to prepare to stay up all night.

A short while later.

Zhang Qing logged back in.

Then he watched from a tall building somewhere within the Ghoul Blood Hall.

This was the spot with the best view.

It also belonged to the Ghoul Blood Hall, so it should be safe.

From here.

He could see the high platform where the Chuan Family would conduct their ancestral rite.

Time passed bit by bit.

The sky began to darken.

But Zi City was as bright as day.

The Chuan Family was about to begin their ancestral rite.

Figures flickered atop the high platform.

Zhang Qing could not see that far. He could only vaguely make out swaying health bars. The distance was too great for him to even see the numbers, but judging by their length.

They should all be direct descendants and elites of the Chuan Family.

Their health bars were all four digits, so even the weaker ones could not be that weak.

Immediately afterward.

The grand sound of instruments rang out.

The entire Zi City could hear it.

However.

The very next second.

A torrent surged directly forward, charging toward the altar.

Those were...

Members of the Tie Family!

The great battle had begun.

Sure enough.

The Chuan Family's ancestral rite was the signal for the two families to go to war.

Countless people slaughtered one another, utterly frenzied.

Zhang Qing eyed those health packs greedily, but he held himself back.

In this kind of situation.

Even Starflash Realm experts would tremble in fear.

He was only a half-baked Candlelight Realm. He should not get reckless.

The battle continued.

But Zhang Qing kept his attention fixed on the high platform.

Boom!

Suddenly, a deafening explosion rang out.

The entire Zi City seemed to tremble.

A terrifying shockwave swept directly across the entire city.

-1!

A number appeared above Zhang Qing's head.

That strong?

Even from so far away, the shockwave could still take one point of my health?

Then...

Zhang Qing narrowed his eyes and looked over.

He saw several figures appear atop the high platform.

But he could not see them clearly.

"Here!"

Suddenly, Yang Man appeared behind Zhang Qing and handed him something.

Zhang Qing took it and saw that it was a device like a telescope.

When he raised it and looked through it.

Good, now he could see clearly!

But.

It also made Zhang Qing shudder.

Chuan Kuangxue: 5899/5999!

The Chuan Family patriarch.

Above the Morning Sun Realm?

No!

If the Chuan Family patriarch were above the Morning Sun Realm, why would he need to perform the ancestral rite?

It seemed some secret art had increased his maximum Blood Volume.

He was already at the peak of the Sunrise Realm.

He was only a tiny bit away from surpassing the Sunrise Realm.

His Blood Volume was stuck at an awkward number.

He had not broken through.

The Chuan Family had deducted five drops of Pagoda Tree Ghoul Heart Blood. Could it be that the Blood Transformation Pill had failed to refine?

Impossible, right?

If it had failed, would he still dare perform the ancestral rite?

The next second.

The Chuan Family patriarch's health bar changed, and his overall maximum Blood Volume changed as well;

Chuan Kuangxue; 5909/6010!

He broke through?

Truly above the Sunrise Realm?

But the very next second;

Chuan Kuangxue; 5899/5999!

His health bar returned to normal.

What was going on?

"He can't possibly succeed!" Yang Man said.

"Even if the Blood Transformation Pill refined by the Chuan Family is genuine, he still can't break through!"

"The Morning Sun Realm is the sight of a blazing sun slowly rising."

"He's an old ghost with one foot in the grave, and he wants to break through?"

"Heh, surpassing the Morning Sun Realm isn't that easy!"

Zhang Qing did not reply and continued watching the battle.

He saw the people fighting the Chuan Family patriarch.

Three figures were besieging him;

Tie Kuangsheng; 5711/5800!

Yu Jiyuan; 5983/5999!

Insect Spirit Ghoul; /!

Wow, these old monsters all had Blood Volume bonuses.

And—

What kind of Specter had appeared?