Strengthen Temple Keeper Talisman, Li Youming Ascends to Third Order

"Interesting."

"To think this cultivation method actually steals the righteous energy of human scholars to form a Haoran Qi capable of protecting a demon soul."

Li Yue raised an eyebrow slightly.

This was the first time he had encountered such a profound and mysterious technique among demons.

The demons he had slain previously, including the Tiger Spirit that had just died, had all seemed quite ordinary.

Even that Tiger Spirit—

It didn't even possess a 'Chang Ghost', clearly unaware of how to condense one.

However, this Spider Spirit's cultivation was far too weak.

Although his gaze, which carried the thunderous divine might capable of annihilating demon souls, was only at the low-grade fourth rank.

It was still not something this Spider Spirit could block with a single technique.

"Ah...!"

"You killed me... the lords of my Five Immortals Sect will not let you off...!!"

The Spider Spirit shrieked again, glaring at Li Yue with eyes full of venomous hatred.

It hated!

It hated that damned Tiger Spirit for inviting it to deal with such a terrifying existence!

It also hated the deity before it for showing absolutely no regard for its background as a demon of the Five Immortals Cave!

It regretted even more!

It regretted why it had succumbed to the temptation of the Tiger Spirit's strength and agreed to come here with it.

If it hadn't come—

It could have continued to lurk among the humans, occasionally devouring a few scholars and their entire families, paired with some human maidens; how comfortable that would have been!

The next moment.

The Haoran Qi was annihilated under the rolling thunder, and the Spider Spirit's demon soul followed suit.

The two massive demon corpses fell from mid-air, but vanished in the blink of an eye, having been collected by Li Yue into his "Divine Domain".

"The corpses of third-rank demons..."

"They should be worth quite a bit of divine power..."

A look of satisfaction appeared on the corner of Li Yue's mouth.

Of course—

The most important thing was that [Personal Quest--V] had been completed.

These two demons were truly excellent; to think they knew enough to deliver themselves to his doorstep.

He took a step forward and was already back in his "Divine Domain".

Looking at the two demon corpses, he opened the "Deity Shop" and sold them directly.

Although—

Demon corpses could also be fed to his believers.

Demon flesh and blood were highly nourishing for one's vitality.

But these man-eating demons were heavy with Sha, and consuming too much of their flesh could easily affect one's temperament, making them cruel and tyrannical.

Especially when the gap in cultivation levels was too great.

Therefore, he would not bestow the demons he killed upon his believers.

As for those the believers hunted themselves, he did not care.

If they were capable of hunting them, they were qualified to enjoy them.

"Not bad—"

"The corpse of the low-rank third-rank Tiger Spirit actually sold for forty-five units of divine power."

"The corpse of the high-rank third-rank Spider Spirit sold for even more, ninety-two units of divine power."

Li Yue was quite satisfied.

With this influx of one hundred and thirty-seven units of divine power, he was finally no longer a Principal Ninth Rank Orthodox Land God who could only cast a single 'Principal Ninth Rank Divine Art'.

He opened the "Personal Quest" interface and claimed the reward for [Personal Quest--V].

Suddenly—

Ten first-rank 'Blessing Talismans' and two second-rank 'Blessing Talismans' appeared out of thin air before him.

And within his body, an additional sixty units of divine power emerged.

At this moment—

His total divine power had reached two hundred and sixty-eight units.

Finally, his sense of security was greatly enhanced.

After all—

Although that Spider Spirit claimed the strongest demons within the range of Xuan County were only at the Fourth Rank limit.

What if a Fifth Rank demon happened to pass by?

He still had to reserve some divine power for emergencies; he needed to be able to cast at least three Principal Ninth Rank Divine Arts.

If three Principal Ninth Rank Divine Arts were unleashed.

Even a Fifth Rank limit demon, if not killed, would likely be severely wounded and forced to flee in a panic.

"This Tiger Spirit is that Third Rank demon from the Land of Demons."

"With the Third Rank demon and the Second Rank limit demons of the Land of Demons dead."

"The large number of humans there should all be brought into Four Seas Village, allowing the population of Four Seas Village to grow and the number of believers to soar..."

He murmured softly.

Feeling the divine power within his body, he suddenly discovered twenty strands of divine power appearing out of thin air.

This brought the total amount of divine power in his body to two hundred and eighty-eight strands.

"Black-Striped Bee Spirit Honey, it actually sold five catties so quickly?"

"Was this bought by some deity from Blue Star?"

Li Yue's eyes flashed, and a smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Subsequently—

He cast his gaze outside the Divine Domain, toward the house beside the Land God Temple.

Li Youming's aura had already strengthened significantly; he had impressively promoted himself to the upper stage of the Second Rank!

"To go to the Land of Demons and gather those humans, the strength of an upper-stage Second Rank is still a bit weak..."

"Very well."

"I shall let your strength rise by another major realm."

Li Yue's expression was calm.

He extended his right hand.

Immediately, one hundred strands of divine power surged out, condensing on his hand to form a Strengthen Temple Keeper Talisman.

Condensing this divine power required one hundred strands.

However, since Li Youming had already promoted to the upper stage of the Second Rank, the excess divine power would return to his body after Li Youming's promotion.

Whoosh—

This Strengthen Temple Keeper Talisman shimmered with radiance, instantly rushing out of the Divine Domain and landing on Li Youming.

"Finally promoted to the upper stage of the Second Rank."

"With my cultivation improved, I can better fulfill the divine oracle of Lord Zhangyue."

Li Youming opened his eyes, feeling excellent.

With his cultivation improved, it was time to celebrate with a large cup of wine!

With his current strength, he felt that even if he were to face the wolf demon of Thousand Wolf Mountain again, he should be able to hold his own.

After all—

He did not practice martial arts, but rather the Qi Refiner path passed down by the deity; his combat power was a cut above martial artists of the same rank.

Facing those demons without any heritage, he held a significant advantage as well.

But just at this moment—

He saw a streak of deep blue radiance pierce through the wooden wall of the house, carrying a dense divine might, and flash directly into his body.

"A blessing from Lord Zhangyue!"

His heart was filled with wild joy.

Finally—

He, Li Youming, had finally received a blessing from Lord Zhangyue once again!

Boom—!

At this moment.

He felt as if a furnace had appeared within his body.

The furnace was filled with surging heat waves, and countless heat waves rolled and transformed into endless 'Qi', pouring into his dantian and sea of energy.

His dantian and sea of energy, which had just expanded after his promotion to the upper stage of the Second Rank, began to swell once more—!

In the blink of an eye, it had already pushed him to the limit of the Second Rank!

And that was not all.

The 'Qi' within his body spun frantically, suddenly forming a vortex deep inside him.

As the vortex rotated, the power of his blood and energy surged into his Dantian sea of Qi several times faster than before, transforming into 'Qi'!

In the midst of this rotation, the 'Qi' was also constantly being purified, becoming more refined than ever.

Li Youming knew.

He had already ascended to the Third Rank!

He found it somewhat hard to believe.

Had he really just ascended to the Third Rank level like this?

Back then, the Thousand Wolf Mountain wolf demon that had made the four villages tremble in terror was only at the limit of the Second Rank.

He felt that—

If he were to raise his hand and unleash a Lesser Golden Blade Art now, he could slay that Thousand Wolf Mountain wolf demon that had been impossible for him to defeat in his eyes!

"Third Rank..."

"In the martial path, the Third Rank is known as the 'Origin Essence Realm'. One can project essence energy externally, melting gold and severing iron; they are known as Great Martial Masters."

"In the county town, a Third Rank Great Martial Master is already the most formidable level."

"I, Li Youming, have actually reached the day where I become a Third Rank Great Martial Master!"

"Thank you, Lord Zhangyue!"

"I, Li Youming, shall surely devote myself to Lord Zhangyue until my heart stops beating!"

His heart was filled with immense excitement.

Meanwhile, the Strengthen Temple Keeper Talisman within his body continued to radiate light, pouring out vast amounts of 'Qi'!

His cultivation, having just ascended to the Third Rank, stabilized in the blink of an eye and then advanced to the mid-Third Rank!

A corner of the Strengthen Temple Keeper Talisman remained, but it could no longer increase Li Youming's cultivation.

This corner of the Strengthen Temple Keeper Talisman flickered, leaving Li Youming's body to return to Li Yue in the "Divine Domain," where it transformed into ten strands of divine power.