Beside the lake, inside the wooden cabin.
Tang San turned into Ding Dang Cat and pulled one Immortal Herb after another from his Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch.
Miraculous Ear Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum, Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Aromatic Silk Beauty, Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone.
Yu Xiaogang also tried to pick the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, but his deep-seated belief that he and Liu Erlong were siblings kept him from succeeding.
In the end, Xiao Wu picked the herb. Yu Xiaogang, who regarded her as his goddaughter, was quite pleased.
After handing the Immortal Herbs to everyone one by one, Tang San took a pale-purple ganoderma from the pouch.
The ganoderma was entirely purple, its jade-like stalk crystal clear and as exquisite as a work of art. Nine leaves grew from its crown, each brimming with potent purple medicinal energy.
It was the Immortal Herb Yu Xiaogang had long yearned for: the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma.
Yu Xiaogang took the herb with an excited heart, put it in his mouth, chewed it carefully, then swallowed it.
He chose a spot by the window, sat cross-legged, and began circulating his cultivation technique to absorb its medicinal energy.
The potent yet gentle energy spread from his abdomen. Yu Xiaogang circulated it through his meridians, then into his muscles and bones.
He felt as if he were immersed in a warm ocean. In that soothing heat, his body gradually came alive with renewed vitality. A little black grime began to seep out through his skin, and everything slowly started to change.
Time passed, and before long, the sun was setting.
The warmth in his abdomen was finally absorbed completely. Yu Xiaogang awoke from his cultivation and opened his eyes, only to find a foul stench coming from his body.
He inspected himself and saw that a thick layer of grime covered his skin. He immediately realized it must be the result of Marrow Cleansing, so he got up, left the cabin, and headed for his dormitory.
Fortunately, it was dinnertime, and few people were out and about on campus. Yu Xiaogang jogged back to his dormitory.
After adjusting the water temperature, he took off his clothes and climbed into the tub. The oily grime began to peel away from his skin.
Once he had washed himself thoroughly, Yu Xiaogang got out of the tub and drained the dirty water. He dried himself, got dressed, and opened the System Panel.
[Name: Yu Xiaogang] [Soul Power: Level 38] [Martial Souls: Luo Sanpao, Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon] [Skills: Mysterious Heaven Skill—Fourth Stage (80%), Purple Demon Eye—Panoramic View (80%), Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track—Minor Mastery (80%), Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon—Minor Mastery (80%)] [Updated Trait: Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew]
"I gained five levels of Soul Power in one go, and Luo Sanpao seems to have changed a little, too."
Yu Xiaogang released Luo Sanpao. Its round, chubby body was unchanged, but many golden stripes now covered its skin, giving it a mysterious, noble air.
Aside from the change in its appearance, Yu Xiaogang noticed nothing else different. He stopped dwelling on it, recalled Luo Sanpao, and opened the newly updated trait.
[Select the trait "Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew" to begin the corresponding task: Cultivate the Purple Demon Eye to the Micro-Insight Realm, 100%.]
"I'm still a long way off. I'll just have to work at it bit by bit." Yu Xiaogang shook his head helplessly.
His Purple Demon Eye was still in its first realm, Panoramic View. He had a long way to go before he could break through to the second realm, Micro-Insight, and bring his progress in that realm to one hundred percent.
He closed the System Panel and walked over to a full-length mirror.
His appearance had barely changed, but the wrinkles on his face had clearly disappeared, and he looked much younger.
"It feels like I'm twenty again. But I won't know how well it worked until I cultivate tonight."
Yu Xiaogang left his dormitory and returned to the cabin by the lake.
Only Tang San and Xiao Wu remained inside. When Yu Xiaogang returned, Tang San immediately asked him about the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma's effects.
"It worked wonderfully. My Soul Power went up by five levels," Yu Xiaogang replied with a smile.
"Five levels of Soul Power? Then you've broken through the Level 30 bottleneck, Teacher."
"No." Yu Xiaogang shook his head mysteriously. Under Tang San's puzzled gaze, he raised his left hand and channeled his Soul Power. A blue Dragon Soul flew out from his palm.
"Is that... the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul?" Tang San was stunned. Xiao Wu beside him looked just as astonished.
"That's right. My Martial Soul underwent a second mutation, awakening a second Martial Soul: the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon."
"I see. Congratulations on finally resolving that regret, Teacher." Tang San thought for a moment, then took a jade box from his Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch.
When the box opened, a golden ganoderma appeared inside.
It was transparent all the way through, as if cast from glass. A golden dragon-shaped shadow swam within, appearing and disappearing from view.
"This Immortal Herb is called the Nine-Rank Dragon Ganoderma. It's said to contain a drop of True Dragon Blood Essence, which should greatly benefit the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. Please take it, Teacher."
What a wonderful disciple! How could his teacher ever repay him?
Yu Xiaogang felt embarrassed and hesitated to reach out.
Seeing this, Tang San smiled and pressed the jade box containing the Nine-Rank Dragon Ganoderma into Yu Xiaogang's hands. Then he cautioned, "Its medicinal energy is fierce, though. For now, just wear it on you and use its aura to aid your cultivation. You can take it and refine it completely once your Soul Power reaches Level 70."
"Thank you, Xiao San." Yu Xiaogang put the jade box into his Soul Tool.
The three left the cabin and parted ways at a fork in the path.
Tang San and Xiao Wu went to meet the other Seven Monsters for a meal, while Yu Xiaogang hurried toward the cultivation grounds.
Inside a cultivation chamber in the Lightning Tower.
Yu Xiaogang sat cross-legged on the Lightning Strike Wood Cushion, released his Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, and drew on the lightning within the Lightning Absorption Stone.
Crackle!
The Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul continuously devoured the lightning surging from the Lightning Strike Wood Cushion.
Yu Xiaogang steadied his mind and began circulating the Fourth Stage of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
An unprecedented lightness spread through his body. It was like a stranded fish returning to the water: his Soul Power flowed with remarkable ease, and his body gradually relaxed.
Two hours later, Yu Xiaogang finished cultivating and opened his eyes once more.
He carefully sensed the Soul Power he had gained and couldn't help smiling with satisfaction.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never look down on a middle-aged man just because he's poor!"
Yu Xiaogang left the cultivation chamber and gazed up at the stars filling the sky. A surge of pride welled up within him.
"From this day on, the Path to Godhood lies beneath my feet!"
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