Name: Ren Xiaoyao Lifespan: 17/200 Race: Mortals Talent: Heaven-Defying Comprehension Cultivation: Third Heaven of the Dao Realm Technique: Pure Yang Void-Breaking Astral Sword, Chaos God-Demon Body Refining Technique Spells: Nothingness Magic Items: Nothingness
The words before his eyes surfaced.
Although he had only come to this world half a year ago.
After the New Year.
Ren Xiaoyao had also grown a year older.
At the same time, Ren Xiaoyao's lifespan limit had reached two hundred years. This was what delighted him most, because it meant that accompanied by the growth of his cultivation, his lifespan would grow ever longer.
After entering the Third Heaven of the Dao Realm, Ren Xiaoyao discovered that his Spiritual Sense had grown even stronger.
Previously, when he was at the Dao Realm Double Heaven, the range Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense could detect was roughly within a radius of ten meters.
Now, Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense could already cover an area a hundred meters in every direction.
During this period, Li Chunfeng had also grown curious about Ren Xiaoyao's strength. He sparred with Ren Xiaoyao, intending to pass on some combat experience along the way.
Yet although Li Chunfeng had mastered all manner of exquisite top-tier martial arts, such as supreme footwork and terrifying sword techniques, he had never gained the slightest upper hand in his exchanges with Ren Xiaoyao.
Too slow!
But within Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense.
Li Chunfeng's speed had been slowed tenfold, a hundredfold.
Thus, no matter how superior Li Chunfeng's martial arts were.
He could not even touch the hem of Ren Xiaoyao's clothing.
On the contrary.
With a casual move.
Ren Xiaoyao could precisely find Li Chunfeng's weaknesses.
After several exchanges.
Li Chunfeng's face had turned green.
He simply had no skills he could teach Ren Xiaoyao.
He had once considered himself a genius.
But now.
He only felt that genius was merely the threshold for meeting Ren Xiaoyao.
Li Chunfeng's confidence suffered an unprecedentedly devastating blow.
When Ren Xiaoyao saw Li Chunfeng's dejected appearance.
He felt somewhat guilty as well.
But he truly had not meant to strike at Li Chunfeng.
Ren Xiaoyao had already suppressed his strength as much as possible, even using power comparable to Li Chunfeng's.
Yet even so.
With the enhancement of his Spiritual Sense.
He still suppressed Li Chunfeng until he could barely breathe.
Li Chunfeng looked at Ren Xiaoyao and asked curiously, "With your current strength, you are already among the finest in the martial world. Have you never thought of leaving the Imperial Observatory and venturing through the martial world?"
Venture through the martial world?
Ren Xiaoyao had no such intention.
He truly had no interest in competing fiercely with others.
Ren Xiaoyao shook his head and said simply, "The martial world is too vast, and it is dangerous as well. Though I have some cultivation now, I do not wish to be swept into the whirlpool of the martial world."
"True. The martial world is vast, far beyond our imagination."
Upon hearing Ren Xiaoyao's words.
Li Chunfeng was also taken aback.
Then he shook his head.
Master and disciple chatted idly.
From Li Chunfeng.
Ren Xiaoyao gained a deeper understanding of Great Gan.
Since Great Gan's founding.
The Martial Dao had flourished.
The founding emperor of Great Gan had once been the Sect Master of a great sect.
Thus, after Great Gan was founded.
Sects stood thick across the martial world.
Ten thousand sects contended in song.
However, there were too many sects.
This was not a good thing for the Imperial Court.
After all, the Imperial Court ruled the realm through force, using it to uphold the imperial family's dignity. Martial Artists were the most difficult group to restrain and govern, and also the most likely to violate prohibitions through force.
Especially those sects that commanded large numbers of Martial Artists.
Once they rebelled.
The Imperial Court would suffer grievous damage as well.
Thus, although Great Gan did not forbid martial arts.
It had always, openly and secretly, weakened the power of the sects.
By the time the Empress had taken power.
Eighty or ninety percent of the sects under heaven had been cut away.
Of the remaining sects.
Most obeyed the Imperial Court's summons and orders.
As for the very few massive sects that refused the Imperial Court's command.
They were known as Demonic Cults.
There were four top-tier Demonic Cults in the martial world.
Mystic Moon Demonic Cult.
Illusory Sun Demonic Cult.
Wolf-Devouring Demonic Cult.
Seven Nights Demonic Cult.
But when Li Chunfeng spoke to this point, he paused before looking at Ren Xiaoyao and saying.
"These are only the claims on the surface, the martial world as seen by a True Person like my former self. Yet I have always felt that the martial world is not so simple. If one day you achieve the Heavenly Human Realm, perhaps you will see the true martial world."
Ren Xiaoyao nodded.
He did not continue Li Chunfeng's words.
Ren Xiaoyao had no intention of revealing his true strength to anyone.
Concealing one's edge at all times.
Was the foundation of preserving one's life.
Lantern Festival.
The Lantern Festival of this world.
During the day, Ren Xiaoyao continued absorbing spiritual energy to cultivate.
At dusk.
Liu Ruyan secretly came to the Imperial Observatory again.
Liu Ruyan moved lightly and carefully concealed herself, but Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense constantly covered the hundred-meter radius around him, so he had naturally discovered Liu Ruyan's presence long ago.
"Young Master!"
Liu Ruyan quietly pushed open Ren Xiaoyao's door and said softly, "Was it you who saved me last time? As soon as my injuries healed, I came to find you!"
Liu Ruyan's gaze remained fiery.
Making Ren Xiaoyao feel greatly uncomfortable.
"How could I have the ability to save you? My Master was the one who acted before. You knew that too, did you not? I merely persuaded my Master to spare you."
Ren Xiaoyao explained.
Liu Ruyan said with a sweet smile, "Either way, it proves that you hold me in your heart. If you had not spoken well for me, then with Li Chunfeng's temperament, an undercover agent of the Demonic Sect like me would have faced certain death."
Then.
Liu Ruyan took out a Jade Bottle from her robes and said.
"Inside is an Aperture Condensing Pill, a supreme-grade pill refined by Medicine King Valley many years ago. It can help me cross from the Subordinate First Rank to the Super-Rank Realm. But it can also restore the Acupoints destroyed within your body and help you regain your talent!"
"This pill is too precious, isn't it?"
Ren Xiaoyao froze.
He had heard Li Chunfeng mention Medicine King Valley.
It had once been a sect in the martial world devoted to refining Pills, and the most exceptional Pills in the martial world had all come from Medicine King Valley. In her early years, the Empress had taken Medicine King Valley's Youthful Countenance Pill, allowing her to retain her youth forever.
But Medicine King Valley had later been destroyed by the Empress.
This meant that every pill produced by Medicine King Valley was a unique remnant.
Once one was used, there was one fewer.
Yet Liu Ruyan was giving this precious pill to him?
"You should have heard that my father is the Devil Master. Though the Aperture Condensing Pill is scarce, my father still has some, after all. If I give you this one, he will surely grant me another."
Liu Ruyan gave a foolishly sweet smile, forcibly stuffed the pill into Ren Xiaoyao's hand, and said.
"Young Master, I am not giving you this pill to repay your life-saving grace. I truly like you and hope you will be well. Once your aptitude is restored, I will steal the finest Martial Arts Techniques from my father for you to cultivate."
"What are you seeking?"
Ren Xiaoyao only felt that his conscience could not bear it, and said, "I do not like you. You do not need to treat me so well."
"Sooner or later, you will come to like me."
After hearing Ren Xiaoyao's words, Liu Ruyan smiled sweetly and said, "Wait for me to come find you next time, all right? I will bring you even more surprises then!"
After saying that.
Liu Ruyan hurriedly left the Imperial Observatory.
Leaving Ren Xiaoyao alone in a daze.
Within the Capital City.
Inside an inn named Dragon Gate.
Within a private room of the Heavenly rank.
Liu Ruyan wiped the fine sweat from her forehead.
And sat beside a middle-aged noblewoman.
This woman carried herself with dignity and elegance, her skin delicate and fair. Though time had left traces upon her face, it could not conceal her mature charm.
This woman's identity was even more extraordinary.
She was Liu Ruyan's Master.
And the current Cult Master of the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult, Tantai Wanwan.
"Ruyan, did you truly give that Aperture Condensing Pill to Ren Xiaoyao? This is not a good bargain. You must know that there are very, very many people who cannot tolerate his existence."
Tantai Wanwan advised.
Liu Ruyan shook his head and said, "A life-saving grace should naturally be repaid with my body. Even I will belong to him, so what does a mere Aperture Condensing Pill amount to?"
"I think you simply fancy his handsome face."
Tantai Wanwan rolled her eyes at Liu Ruyan and said, "Otherwise, you would surely have decided to repay him by serving as an ox or horse in your next life."
"Master!"
Liu Ruyan said coquettishly, "I simply feel that there is a certain charm about him. It seems as though he is different from everyone else."
"You little girl, you have fallen into the net of love!"
Tantai Wanwan poked Liu Ruyan's forehead with her finger and said.
"But whether this kid will do in the end depends on whether your father approves of him."
"Before returning to the Demonic Sect, he will visit the Imperial Observatory once more to see the Director. He should also meet Ren Xiaoyao, but if he does not think highly of Ren Xiaoyao, then even if Master speaks well of him, it will be useless. You should give up this thought as well."
After Ren Xiaoyao returned to his room.
He hesitated for a while.
But ultimately chose to open the Jade Bottle.
At once, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out from within.
Ren Xiaoyao had originally held little interest in this Aperture Condensing Pill.
But Ren Xiaoyao discovered.
That dense spiritual energy actually coiled around the Aperture Condensing Pill.
Ren Xiaoyao was puzzled.
Could Medicine King Valley gather spiritual energy to refine Pills?
Then wasn't that a means of cultivation?
"No. The spiritual energy within these Pills was not gathered through acquired means, but was carried by the medicinal ingredients themselves."
Ren Xiaoyao had seen through the essence of it.
Rare medicinal herbs, once they had grown for a century, could absorb the spiritual energy Between Heaven and Earth.
And when Medicine King Valley refined these Aperture Condensing Pills, it had likely used medicinal ingredients hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of years old. That was why the Pills had been infused with so much spiritual energy.
Ren Xiaoyao did not hesitate.
He directly swallowed the Aperture Condensing Pill.
Originally,
the Aperture Condensing Pill's medicinal effect was meant to repair Ren Xiaoyao's Acupoints.
But Ren Xiaoyao did not do that.
He absorbed every last bit of spiritual power within the Aperture Condensing Pill.
With just a single Pill,
he saved himself over a month of cultivation.
The power within Ren Xiaoyao's body increased once more. He was now roughly equivalent to twenty-two Directors, and Ren Xiaoyao naturally remembered Liu Ruyan's kindness.
At the same time,
this also gave Ren Xiaoyao a new idea for cultivation.
Besides absorbing the spiritual energy Between Heaven and Earth,
Ren Xiaoyao could also absorb the spiritual energy contained within Spiritual Medicine.
And this path
was faster.
It saved more time.
In truth,
cultivation had always been like this.
For ordinary cultivators,
merely crossing the first threshold into cultivation required decades. Every step afterward became harder than the last, and under normal circumstances, one had barely become a cultivator before old age and death were already close at hand.
Lifespan, to cultivators,
was also incomparably precious.
Only by entering more powerful realms
could one gain a longer lifespan.
Otherwise,
one would remain trapped within a certain realm,
until one's lifespan ran out and one died.
Therefore, relying solely on absorbing the spiritual energy Between Heaven and Earth was naturally unrealistic.
But Ren Xiaoyao was different.
He possessed the talent of Heaven-Defying Comprehension. In barely half a year, he had entered the Third Heaven of the Dao Realm without encountering any threshold at all. This was truly terrifying.
Yet Ren Xiaoyao also understood in his heart
that even with Heaven-Defying Comprehension,
the later one progressed in cultivation,
the harder it became to improve.
Ren Xiaoyao had to make plans in advance.
During the following period,
Ren Xiaoyao continued cultivating as usual.
In the blink of an eye, it was February.
That day,
an astonishing piece of news spread through the Capital City.
The Devil Master of the Demonic Sect had assassinated the Empress.
Though the attempt had fallen short at the final hurdle and failed,
he had still escaped unscathed.
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